Video Review: Imation’s LINK Power Drive is an All-In-One Hard Drive, Battery, and Stand [iOS Blog]
Imation’s LINK Power Drive is a useful iOS accessory that combines multiple functions into one small, portable package. It’s a hard drive with 16 to 64GB of storage for backing up files or storing photos and videos to save space on your iPhone, and it’s also a 3,000mAh battery (enough for approximately one charge for an iPhone 6 Plus).
We were impressed with the LINK Power Drive’s compact size and its built-in Lightning cable, micro-USB cable, and stand. There’s a handy toggle to turn the battery feature on and off, and there’s an LED that shows the charge. The built-in battery can be charged via micro-USB and will charge your device whenever it’s toggled on.
The LINK Power Drive uses an accompanying Power Drive LT iOS app to manage files, letting users transfer files to the drive or play media files directly from it. There are also tools for automatically backing up the iPhone’s contact list and camera roll. Transferring files from a Mac or PC to an iPhone is easy with the Power Drive, as it’s possible to plug it into a computer, load up files, and then transfer them over to the iPhone using the app.
The app supports file types like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, MP3, M4A, MP4, MOV, BMP, GIF, JPG, PNG, and TIFF. It requires an iOS device that’s running iOS 7 and later, so you’ll need a newer iPhone to use the LINK Power Drive.
We had a couple qualms with the Power Drive – the app is unfortunately not optimized for the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus despite having received several updates across 2015, and it’s also a bit frustrating to have the app pop up every time the Power Drive is plugged in.
The LINK Power Drive can be purchased from Amazon.com in 16, 32, and 64GB capacities. At time this review was published, the 16GB version was priced at $71.70, the 32GB version was priced at $102.73, and the 64GB version was priced at $127.33.
Philips unveils a $5 LED lightbulb for thrifty environmentalists
Compared to filament bulbs, the up-front cost of LED lighting can put off plenty of people, even if they’d save cash in the longer term. Philips, however, is doing all that it can to trim the price of its energy-saving bulbs and has managed to craft a 60W equivalent that will cost just $4.97. If you head down to Home Depot starting May 1st or go to the website now, that deal gets even sweeter, since the company will sell you two for the price of one for the next 90 days.
It may not seem like the biggest news, but reducing the cost of low-energy lighting is vital in encouraging people to make the switch. It’s not bad for consumers either, since the hardware only costs just over a dollar a year to run, compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. That should help to silence the doubters and bolster the UN’s assertion that fixing climate change is affordable.
Filed under: Misc
Via: CNET
Source: MarketWatch
Adobe Lightroom quickly makes HDR and panoramas from multiple photos
Since the switch to Creative Cloud, Adobe has been rolling out major updates to its core software regularly. Today, Lightroom is the recipient, gaining a handful of tools that will speed up workflows on the desktop and across mobile devices. First, HDR and Panorama Merge create a single image from multiple RAW shots in a matter of seconds. As you might expect, there are a number of options for fine-tuning what Lightroom builds, but the new tools will save time spent manually creating a wide view or high dynamic range visual. There’s also a video slideshow option that can employ a combination of snapshots, video and music to lend a hand with a presentation or scrapbook file. To keep things organized, facial recognition helps find and sort the folks in your photos. Adobe says the software performs better too, claiming that it’ll handle edits up to 10 times faster than before.
If you’ll recall, there’s a version of Lightroom for mobile, too. Apps are available for both iOS and Android, and while the latter was only meant for phones at launch, Adobe says it’s ready for use on tablets now. Android users can also expect support for DNG files on devices running Lollipop, so you won’t have to worry about editing a smaller file on the go. If you’re looking to give Lightroom a try, you don’t have to pay for the full Creative Cloud subscription. The photography plan is still available for $10 a month, giving you access to Lightroom, Photoshop and mobile apps for much less.
Filed under: Software
Source: Adobe
Microsoft and Yahoo can end their search deal after October 1st
Yahoo’s renewed search deal with Microsoft is even more laissez-faire than it looks at first glance. A filing from the internet pioneer reveals that either company can call it quits from October 1st onward — all they have to do is send a breakup letter and sit tight for four months. There’s no sign that the companies are eager to end their pact, but the clause shows that the two tech firms aren’t as dependent on each other as they were back when they forged the original deal back in 2009. Microsoft has forged a number of other deals to use Bing (such as in Apple’s Siri and Spotlight), while Yahoo is confident that it can build up its own ad platform — and maybe, just maybe, revitalize its own search tech.
[Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft
Via: GeekWire
Source: SEC
The Darknet-shopping robot has been released by Swiss police
After spending a couple months in Swiss robot prison, the Random Darknet Shopper (RDS) is once again free to purchase random goods from the deepest corners of the Internet. The robot, originally designed as an art installation, was built to navigate the Darknet and autonomously purchase goods using Bitcoin currency. During its three-month run at Kunst Halle St Gallen art gallery in St. Gallen, Switzerland, the Shopper made a variety of purchases, most of which were completely legal. It did, however, also purchase 10 tabs of ecstasy from online retailer Agora, which is what instigated the authorities to step in. The cops confiscated the machine and the Molly. They also threatened the RDS’ creators with legal action. However, a panel of judges ruled in favor of the artists, known as the Mediengruppe Bitnik.
“In the order for withdrawal of prosecution the public prosecutor states that the possession of Ecstasy was indeed a reasonable means for the purpose of sparking public debate about questions related to the exhibition,” the duo recently wrote on their website. “The public prosecution also asserts that the over-weighing interest in the questions raised by the artwork «Random Darknet Shopper» justify the exhibition of the drugs as artefacts, even if the exhibition does hold a small risk of endangerment of third parties through the drugs exhibited.”
Filed under: Internet
Via: Techcrunch, Coindesk
Source: Bitnik.org
Xbox and HoloLens games now under domain of ex-Lionhead boss
Former Lionhead Studios boss John Needham is now in charge of internal development for several games and experiences on Microsoft’s Xbox and HoloLens platforms, a Microsoft spokesperson told Engadget today. Needham reports directly to Kudo Tsunoda, head of Microsoft Studios’ portfolio investments team and former creative director for Kinect Games. Needham took over as the head of Microsoft’s Lionhead Studios in 2013 and he’s been involved in the corporate gaming world since joining Sony Online Entertainment in 2001. As the leader of Lionhead, the studio behind Fable, Needham reported directly to former Microsoft VP Phil Harrison. Needham relocated to Microsoft’s offices in Redmond, Washington, for his new role.
A Microsoft spokesperson offered the following statement to Engadget today (partially repeating its announcement about Tsunoda’s move in March):
“With the exception of Halo, Gears of War, Forza and Minecraft, Kudo Tsunoda will lead the vision and experience development of our other Microsoft Studios portfolio investments in the United States, Europe and across our Global Publishing team. John Needham relocated to Redmond in a new role overseeing internal development for several games and experiences for both Xbox and Microsoft HoloLens reporting to Kudo. All up responsibility for Xbox EMEA will be overseen directly by Phil Spencer.”
This isn’t the only internal shakeup for Microsoft this year: Reports that Harrison would leave Microsoft cropped up in March, and the company confirmed the news in April. Harrison’s new startup, Alloy Platform Industries, deals in bleeding-edge consumer gadgets and licenses some technology from Microsoft, he told Games Industry this week.
Image credit: John Needham
Android Bot Collection + Plush Bundle, $19.99
Who said toys are reserved solely for snot-nosed kids or overly obsessed adults with no friends? The rest of us demand representation. As a well-adjusted contributing member of society, If I want to collect a set of action figures, comic books, or even sneakers, I’m going to do it. Be it Jordans, Star Wars memorabilia, or WWE wrestlers, there’s a great sense of pride and fulfillment that comes from hunting and gathering. Now, you can represent your allegiance to the Google brand by jumping into the Android collectible pool.
This Android Bot Bundle comes with (3) randomly chosen exclusive 3″ tall mascots. All packaged in a collectible box, you could lay claim to Green, Business Man, Taxi Bot, Yeti, Pinkey, Bear Tag, or Ruby Red. Once you’ve kicked off your collection, you’ll surely want to grab them all. In addition to this starter pack, you’ll also receive a lovable 6″ plush Gandroid bot that’s as soft as it is adorable. The best part? You get this entire package for just $19.99. That’s a perfect gift!
See more at deals.androidguys.com
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Cash in your old device with Sell My Phone
The dead simple process could score you some decent spending money
Let’s be honest, here. How many old phones do you have lying around your home? Whether they’re haphazardly stuffed inside that hideous junk drawer or are tucked away neatly in the original packaging and buried in a closet, chances are you’ve got one or two.
Why do we hold on to these obsolete hunks of plastic and electronics? It’s as if, somewhere deep down, we hope that one day these ancient relics will spew forth a genie that grants us three wishes as compensation for not sending them off to the junkyard.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s not happening. What should and could be happening, however, is you getting a nice wad of cash in exchange for that old phone. Interested? You should be.
Sell My Phone is an online service that recycles mobile devices and puts some coin in your pocket in the process. Don’t know how to dispose of that old tablet? Sell My Phone will take it off your hands with the highest cash value possible, refurbish it and provide an affordable device to someone looking for a bargain.
All devices are put through rigorous testing and anything that doesn’t make the grade is responsibly disposed of. They salvage each and every last component to reduce waste.
While the service is currently reserved for our friends in the UK, the process is staggeringly simple. You’ll visit their website and begin receiving an instant quote by entering a few pieces of information about your device, including the IMEI number.
Don’t know how to find the IMEI number? Don’t sweat it. They walk you through every step of the way! Next, you’ll chose your payment method and wait for your prepaid postage to arrive. Then, you’ll send your phone away to Sell My Phone and after a bit of testing, you receive your take! Easy money.
Whether you’re hard up for money and need to turn your on-hand assets into tangible cash or are just looking for a profitable way to purge your home of extra clutter, Sell My Phone is a service worth investigating.
The longer you wait, the more your device’s value will drop. Head on over and get a quote, today… and, uhh, maybe you can take us out to lunch with your newly discovered wealth!
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Nokia has plans to make smartphones in 2016
In a post by re/code, sources claim Nokia is ready to return to making smartphones as soon as 2016. When Nokia partnered and then sold off to Microsoft, they kept three small divisions, one of which is responsible for licensing patents. Nokia has been in the technology sector far longer than some of the newer competition, so their Nokia Technologies division owns over 10,000 patents. Those patents can make it much cheaper to get back into the smartphone market, as they don’t have to license as many patents as their competition giving them a great starting point.
After selling the majority of their business to Microsoft, Nokia Technologies has been designing and developing new products and software to license to other companies. Nokia is not allowed to sell smartphones through the end of this year, due to the deal they made with Microsoft when they sold their cell phone business, so news has been kept to a minimum on their plans to return to the smartphone market. Two products to come from this division: An Android app called Zlauncher, and an Android tablet called the N1 which is licensed and sold under a different name in China. According to the report, “Nokia has a lot of great stuff in development.”
By selling off their cell phone division to Microsoft last year, it allowed Nokia to escape the pressures of meeting numbers to satisfy the stock holders. We have all known Nokia to make great cell phones in the past, as they designed some of the best and most popular phones in the early 2000’s. They just got into the smart phone game a little too late and let Apple, Blackberry, and Samsung take all of their market share. Even when Nokia partnered with Microsoft, they still made great cell phones, but the problem was they ran Windows Mobile. Let’s hope they’ve taken the time to get back to their roots so they can make great smart phones for Android this time around.
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Adiós YouTube: Time to upgrade your old gear for many 2012 and older devices
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Google is dumping support for YouTube on a number of devices that, while old, are still very much part of many people’s lives. Select manufactured devices in 2012 and prior will cease to be able to use YouTube going forward. The list includes Sony TVs & Blu-ray Discs, Panasonic TVs & Blu-ray Discs, older iOS devices, and devices running older versions of Google TV. The reason lies in our own desire and need for more functionality and features.
Beginning April 20th, yesterday, the YouTube app on the mentioned devices, and plenty other offshoot devices, will stop working all together. If you are lucky enough to have Google TV version 3 or 4 on your device, then you can still bounce to the Play Store and get it updated to regain its use. Otherwise your YouTube viewing will be limited to the web browser from now on. In a nutshell, it might be time to consider moving up in the world if YouTube was a big part of your viewing experience. I am sure not many of you will want to spend a few hundred for a new TV, so you might consider a Google Chromecast
Moving forward Google will continue to push the YouTube app, and support it, for most devices manufactured from 2013 through today. Although, I am certain that in a few years those will probably end up getting axed as well.
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