Make better cocktails with this LED-covered Bluetooth stick
The idea of using technology to make a better cocktail is hardly new — companies as big as Google on down to the smallest startups are trying to enable those of us with no mixing skills to make a passible Martini or Manhattan. The latest is the MixStik, an LED-covered stick you connect to your phone with Bluetooth. Once the MixStik is paired with your phone, you simply pick a cocktail recipe with the corresponding app — the stick then lights up with colors that correspond with your selected drink’s ingredients. Just drop the stick into the glass, fill it up according to the directions,and you should theoretically have your desired cocktail mixed to the correct proportions.
The MixStik has a few other nice things going for it. For example, you can tell the app what ingredients you have on hand and it’ll suggest drinks that utilize your current stores. It also comes with a “setup” mode that measures your shaker so it can suggest the right amounts of each ingredient. And fortunately, the price isn’t too prohibitive — the MixStik will cost $39 when it hits Kickstarter at the end of September. That’s a good deal cheaper than the $100 to $150 the company behind MixStik originally asked for a “smart shaker” last year. As noted by TechCrunch, it looks like the MixStik is a simpler, smarter, and less expensive device. Normal Kickstarter caveats still apply, but the MixStik could be a good accessory for those looking to up their cocktail game.
Source:
MixStik, TechCrunch
Tags: cocktails, drinks, kickstarter, mixedrinks, mixstik
The Wirecutter’s best deals: Bluetooth speakers, 48-inch TV and more
This post was created in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Fluance Fi30 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Street Price: $150 MSRP: $200 Deal Price: $100
This matches the best price we’ve ever seen on these speakers, which we saw briefly a bit over a year ago. Since then, it’s typically sat at $150, with a couple quick drops to $120. The $100 price may be due to a newer model they’ve released, the Fi50, which is available at $200 and we’ll be testing in the future. This price is available on the white, bamboo, and black models.
The Fluance Fi30 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is our budget pick for best home Bluetooth speaker. Brent Butterworth said, “The Fi30 doesn’t have a lot of bass, and like the Wren V5BT, it doesn’t really play loud enough to fill a large room with undistorted sound. In our testing, Lauren and John both criticized it for sounding midrange-heavy. But the midrange is pretty smooth, and while the sound isn’t spacious or lush in any way, there’s enough treble detail to hear high-pitched instruments such as cymbals and glockenspiel clearly. Voices sound more sibilant than they do with the Marshall Stanmore or the Wren V5BT, but no more so than with many other wireless speakers we’ve tried that cost two to three times as much.”
Sharp LC-48LE653U 48-Inch LED TV
Street Price: $460 MSRP: $600 Deal Price: $430
This is the best price we’ve seen on this model. It’s been $460 since we posted our recommendation with a brief drop down to $450, and if you’re trying to get the best value on a tv around $500, an extra $20 off can’t hurt.
Although you should know our guide for the best $500 TVs isn’t final yet, the Sharp LC-48LE653U is our favorite pick so far. Chris Heinonen said, “Our main $500 pick for the time being is the Sharp LC-48LE653U. This $460 48-inch TV offers 1080p resolution, Netflix support, three HDMI inputs, and good picture quality for the money (according to current reviews). At this price level, it has the best picture quality, size, and features for the dollar compared with the competition.”
Cambridge SoundWorks OontZ Curve Bluetooth Speaker
Street Price: $30 MSRP: $70 Deal Price: $18
This matches the lowest price we’ve seen on this speaker, and it’s still the lowest price we’ve seen on this to date. The $18 price applies to three different colors: blue, silver, and black.
This is our pick for a super-inexpensive and super-portable option in our best Bluetooth speaker guide. Brent Butterworth said, “It has more bass than you’d probably expect from a device of its size, and plays loud enough (and then some) for all the uses we outlined above. Battery life is rated at only 5 hours, but one of our testing samples played Steely Dan’s “Aja” for 14 hours at full volume, and the other lasted 13.5 hours.” He also gave it particular praise for its fit, finish, and features.
Street Price: $450 MSRP: $450 Deal Price: $250
You can save $200 off the street price of this Fujinon lens by grabbing this deal from Amazon. It’s still $50 shy of the lowest price ever, but it’s the lowest the lens has dropped in more than a year. This deal is available on both the black and silver versions.
The Fujinon XF 27mm F2.8 lens is our pick for the best pancake lens in our guide on the first Fujifilm lenses you should buy. Amadou Diallo said, “Measuring less than one inch thick, pairing this 41-mm-equivalent lens with a small Fuji camera like the X-M1 or X-A2 makes for a camera/lens combination you can easily stow in a coat pocket.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
Filed under:
Cameras, Home Entertainment
Tags: BluetoothSpeaker, CambridgeSoundworks, CameraLens, fluance, Fujinon, sharp, TV
Google changes the way we will interact with watchfaces on Android Wear
Android Wear is a constantly evolving platform, with Google constantly adding more and more useful features. Today, Google has announced an update to Android Wear that may completely change how we interact with our Android Wear watches.
BITS
As displayed above, tapping on various parts of a watchface can now do more than just activate voice actions. Based on how the developer implements it, tapping on a part of the watchface can now bring interactions with various features. So instead of a voice action or opening an app on the watch, the user can just interact with a watch face that has the features they’re looking for. Anything from weather, notifications, activity goals, and more.
In order to take advantage of these features on various watchfaces, you’ll need Android Wear version 1.3, which will start rolling out over the next few weeks. Once you have it, you can use any of the watch faces in this collection.
Further, Google has now added Google Translate to this update, allowing you to translate from your wrist. It will start with support for 44 languages, including with offline support. It will work similarly to the phone app, where two people just talk, and the translation will appear on the screen.
Keep a look out for more information on the update to specific Android Wear devices.
SOURCE: Official Android Blog, Google Translate Blog
The post Google changes the way we will interact with watchfaces on Android Wear appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Active tipped for November launch
Annoyed with that 3000 mAh battery on the Galaxy Note 5? Then the Galaxy Note 5 Active could be the device for you as sources say the device, that is tipped for a November launch, could have a massive 4100 mAh battery.
The more durable variant of the Note 5 phablet will also be IP68 waterproof compliant and will appear on AT&T in week 46 of 2015, which puts it around November 8th.
What puts cement behind the Galaxy Note 5 Active rumour? Samsung did the exact same thing with the Galaxy S6, releasing an ‘Active’ version of the device containing a larger battery. Learning from what Samsung has done in the past also could mean that the Note 5 Active won’t have the same glass and metal design that already released Note 4 has and instead will feature a more ‘drop-friendly’ material.
Is the Note 5 Active the device for you?
Source: PhoneArena
The post Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Active tipped for November launch appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sony SmartBand 2 is officially unveiled
Earlier today, Sony officially announced its new SmartBand 2 wearable. Following recent leaks, the band will replace the current Sony SmartBand and focuses on improving fitness tracking and notifications.
The new SmartBand 2 will include many improvements over its predecessor. It includes an all-new “advanced heart rate tracking” technology for better fitness tracking and more accurate results. It will also include new options such as coaching, which will provide tips throughout your day as well as fitness reminders to keep you healthy.
The SmartBand 2 will sync up with your smartphone therefore giving users notifications right at their wrist. It will include new LED’s as well as vibrations to make sure you don’t miss a thing. Sony estimates the new band will bring about 2 days of battery life on a single charge. In addition it will be IP68 certified for anything life brings your way. But that’s not all! Just in case you loose your phone or leave it laying around the house, Sony has implemented a new feature that will notify users with a short vibration if they happen to suddenly walk away from their smartphone.
The SmartBand 2 will be compatible with Android devices running Android KitKat or higher. In addition iPhone users will also be able to use the latest band so long as they are running iOS version 8.2 or higher. The SmartBand 2 will be available in 4 colors beginning with standard Black and White options first with Pink and Blue at a later date. The new band will hit stores starting in September and will cost €119 or about $133 USD. You can check out Sony’s official promo video for the SmartBand 2 below.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: Sony Mobile
Come comment on this article: Sony SmartBand 2 is officially unveiled
Android 6.0 Marshmallow Google Now launcher made available for download
Non-Nexus users can now also experience the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow Google Now launcher on their devices as the apk file has been made available on the web.
The new launcher has been extracted from Google’s latest Android M Developer Preview 3. Unfortunately, the developer preview version does not come with the new exciting Google Now on Tap feature, and the launcher does not feature the vertical app sorting layout on non-preview ROMs, as it is currently only available on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The new Google Now launcher includes performance improvements and new wallpapers, and is available on Reddit for anyone with a supported Android device.
Come comment on this article: Android 6.0 Marshmallow Google Now launcher made available for download
Interactive watch faces and new Translate features are coming to Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks
Android Wear is bringing new interactive watch faces and easier translation options. A new update will be rolling out to current Android Wear smartwatches shortly. Google believes the addition of these new features will let users absorb key information in very little time.
Google’s new interactive watch faces make it easier to see key information in a timely manner and help people stay connected. With just a tap on the watch face, a new glance view will show users key information such as the weather, new emails, the day of the week, reminders, your daily step count and more. From the view, users will be able to launch a specific app with just a tap, or change your watch face in 2 easy steps. Google says the new watch faces will help people stay connected with the included feature giving users easy access to sharing emoji’s and photos with their loved ones. This can all be done directly through your home screen for quick and easy navigation. Google says the update will be rolling out in the coming weeks.
Google Translate will also get a major revamp on Android Wear smartwatches. It can now be activated via a twist of the wrist. The update brings support for more languages and will put ease of use first and foremost. The update will be hitting the Play Store shortly and will automatically push the update to your connected smartwatch. All the details on Google’s new enhancements can be seen at the source link(s) below.
Source: Android Blog, Google Translate Blog (1,2)
Come comment on this article: Interactive watch faces and new Translate features are coming to Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks
Apple Creates Massive Floral Window Installation at Selfridges to Promote Apple Watch
Apple today launched a new Apple Watch advertising effort in London, decorating the 24 windows of the Selfridges department store with a massive floral installation. Each window has flowers that were inspired by the flowers that can be found within the “Motion” face on the Apple Watch.
Design magazine Wallpaper has shared photos and details on the installation, which uses 3D flowers created through a range of methods from resin casting to 3D printing. Each window also displays an Apple Watch with a watch face that matches the flowers.
Image via Wallpaper
There are eight different flower variations decorating the windows, each of which was scaled, sculpted, and hand-painted by artists, a process Wallpaper describes as “painstaking and meticulous as the original photography.”
Earlier this year, Apple Human Interface Chief Alan Dye explained the effort that went into each of Apple’s “Motion” watch faces. Apple shot all of the animated flower, butterfly, and jellyfish photos used in the watch face. For the flowers in particular, Apple shot photos as they bloomed, with one single flower taking 285 hours and more than 24,000 shots.
Image via Wallpaper
For the window installation, artists created 24 large, 50 medium, 240 “small plus” and 5,525 small flowers, split across the aforementioned eight varieties. Paul Deneve, formerly the CEO of Yves Saint Laurent, had a hand in the window designs and gave a statement to Wallpaper.
We are thrilled that the flowers of the Apple Watch face have inspired such a beautiful design and to see it come to life in this amazing installation, reflected in all 24 of Selfridges’ historic windows,’ says Paul Deneve, Apple’s vice president of special projects.
Apple’s flower installation follows two other installations that have been used to decorate the Selfridges department store, including “Chromosphere,” which displayed the Apple Watch in colored orbs of light, and “Butterflies,” featuring a huge kaleidoscope of fluttering butterflies.
Image via Retail Design World
Selfridges in London is the home of the iconic Wonder Room, a section of the department store that sells luxury jewelry and watches. The Apple Watch is sold from a pop-up shop located towards the entrance of the Wonder Room, with all models from Sport to Edition available for purchase.
Deal: LG G Flex 2 can be yours for just $290, in new condition
Despite some initial performance issues, the LG G Flex 2 is both a powerful and attractive handset with some pretty impressive internals including a Snapdragon 810 processor, 3GB RAM, and32GB storage with microSD for expansion. Of course, the handset has also quickly become overshadowed by more impressive flagships from Samsung, HTC, and even LG itself with the LG G4.
For those that are looking for a capable handset at an aggressive price point and don’t mind if their phone won’t win any popularity contests, you might want to your attention to Ebay. Right now, well-known seller qualitycellz is offering up the G Flex 2 for just $290 in brand new condition! The only catch here is that this is the AT&T version, though the device is unlocked and ready for use with any compatible GSM network.
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At this price, the G Flex 2 even undercuts low-cost darlings like the OnePlus 2, OnePlus One, and the upcoming Moto X Style (aka Moto X Pure Edition). Not sure if the G Flex 2 is the phone you’ve been dreaming of? Be sure to check out our full review for a better idea of what to expect. Just remember that since the review was written, LG has issues a few software updates that have improved performance and so many of these early troubles should no longer be a problem.
7 ways to reduce data consumption on your Android smartphone
Cellular data used to be something we took for granted, until carriers switched to tiered plans. Even the so-called unlimited options throttle you after using a certain amount of gigabytes, making data a resource we hold very dear. Are you trying to make the best out of your precious megabytes? Let us show you some of the best tips for conserving data consumption and making your limited internet last longer, all without murdering your experience!
1. Turn on data compression on Chrome!
Most of you are probably Android supporters. And hence, you are also likely Chrome users. Did you know Google’s popular browser has a feature that can reduce data consumption significantly? Google states this option should save you about 50% in data. All without you even feeling a difference. In fact, you may feel some changes – browsing will get faster!
What Chrome’s data compression option does is route all your web browsing through Google’s servers. The Search Giant then takes the website’s data, compresses it, optimizes it for the smaller screen and sends it back to your device.
All you have to do is open Chrome, tap on the 3-dot menu button and select Settings. Click on Data Saver and then toggle the option in the top-right corner. You are done!
2. Download Opera Max
Google’s data compression feature is awesome and all, but it only works within Chrome. What about all the other apps? They sure are spending a lot of precious internet juice. Those who want system-wide compression can have it with Opera Max, a data management app which comes from a major Chrome competitor – Opera (duh).
This application is pretty awesome, as it essentially does the same as Chrome’s data compression, but for every single app in your smartphone. As a result, the user can save about 50% data on everything they do with their devices.
It is also possible to micro manage consumption by blocking specific apps from accessing data through mobile access (or WiFi, though I don’t see the point in that). The Opera Max home page will then show you a detailed description of how much data you have been saving. Those megabytes sure add up quickly!
Download Opera Max from the Google Play Store!
3. Restrict background data
Some apps just spend too much data, even when the smartphone is not in use. It’s actually one of the greatest features on Android, as background data allows you to keep everything updated and monitored while you are off doing other things. The deal here is that not every app needs to stay active at all times.
Go into Settings > Data Usage and select the app you want to restrict data for. In the stats you will see two types of data: foreground and background. If you find background data is too high and you don’t need the app to stay active, simple toggle the switch that is labeled as “Restrict app background data”.
4. Update apps only via WiFi
This one is a bit of an obvious one for many of us, but plenty of users out there continue updating their applications over cellular connections. This is OK if you choose to do it, but how many times have you noticed all your apps were auto-updated without your consent, spending all them precious GBs? Hopefully not too often, but if this is an issue, we can show you how to stop it from happening again.
Just open the Google Play Store and tap on the hamburger menu button (three horizontal lines parallel to each other). Hit the Settings option and then select the “Auto-update apps” button. Hit “Auto-update apps over WiFi only”.
5. Keep an eye on your account syncing settings
We love our active syncing and push notifications, but having these also means the phone has to keep checking servers for any new content. You must also realize many apps and services are set to keep sync by default, and often we don’t even use them!
This is why you should keep an eye on your account syncing options. Just go to Settings > Accounts. For the sake of showcasing useless services, let’s just jump into your Google accounts and select your most used one. In my case, all toggles are turned on, so I am syncing app data, Calendar, Chrome, Contacts, Docs, Drive, Gmail, Google Fit, Opinion Rewards, Photos, Play Music, Google+, Keep, Slides and many others. Now, I know for a fact I don’t use about 20% of these, so I can turn them off and save myself some precious data! Do the same for other accounts, as well.
6. Avoid streaming content
As much as we hate it, it is the awesome stuff that uses up the most data. This includes streaming videos and music, as well as looking through high quality images or GIF files. Try to avoid these at all costs if you really want to take care of your internet usage.
Now, we know a smartphone is worthless without your media, but there are ways to stay entertained responsibly. Users can opt for storing music and videos locally. If you absolutely must stream, make sure you jump into the settings and set quality at lower rates. Likewise, you can decrease resolution in YouTube and other video streaming apps.
7. Cache everything you can!
Certain apps allow for storing data locally. These include popular ones like Google Maps and Google Play Music. Make sure you cache as much content as you can while you are on a WiFi network. Then you can go out and enjoy your content without spending any of your precious data.
Wrapping up
So there you have it, guys! These are just some of my favorite tips for reducing data consumption without sacrificing your experience too much. I could give you many other tips, but they would deem your smartphone useless. I wanted to find a good balance. By using these techniques, you can enjoy your phone while also spending data responsibly.
Do you have any other tips you want to share? Are you planning to adopt any of these? Have you been applying them already? Hit the comments and let us know!
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