Engadget Live heads to Austin, Texas on October 16th!
It’s been a while since our last Engadget Live event (we love you, Los Angeles!) and even longer since we visited Austin. So, on October 16th at 7PM, we’re taking over the Austin Music Hall to bring gadget lovers and awesome tech companies together. Entry is free, but we’re also offering you the chance to beat the crowds and get in an hour early for $15. Get your free ticket or purchase an early-access pass here.
Ford (which has been sponsoring of all this year’s Engadget Live events) wants you to experience the voice-activated SYNC 3 system first-hand. So, you’ll get to hop inside a 2016 Ford Escape (complete with that new car smell) or try out SYNC 3 through standalone screens located throughout the venue.
We’ll also have our friends at Lenovo show off, and maybe even give away, some of their latest notebooks and tablets. And Drizly (the marvelous app that helps you get booze delivered) will give away a free drink to the first 250 guests (who are 21 and older, of course).
So if you’re going to be in or around Austin on October 16th, come join us! Get your free ticket (or purchase an early-access one) right here. And if you’re interested in sponsoring the event, shoot a note to sponsors[at]engadget.com.
Get the Huawei P8 GRA 4G smartphone on gearbest for $432.89
In order to get the deal use coupon code P8GRA when checking out to receive your early bird discount
Gearbest is offering a sweet deal on Huawei’s P8 GRA, offering it at a low price of $432.89, a savings of over $150 off MSRP and lower than competitor websites like Amazon.com.
For $432 you get a very premium build with the Huawei P8 GRA with a very powerful Kirin 930 Octa-core 64-bit chipset. To go along with the beefy processor, you will get 16GB of memory and 3GB of RAM to keep things running smooth and efficiently. This device from Gearbest also has dual-sim capabilities which is great for those of you who travel overseas, or if you don’t want to use that dual sim you could instead use it for expandable memory via microSD.
Huawei made sure to focus on making this a high-quality device with an aluminum build with a thin rectangle body. It is definitely a classy device.
With a 13MP main camera, with a f/2.0 lens and optical image stabilization, Huawei definitely knew that the camera was an important feature to its customers. No one wants blurry or discolored photos of their past when they can get quality pictures. There is a new super-bright mode for capturing low light shots, along with a Photosphere 360 degree panorama mode included in the updated software. According to reviews, the camera is impressive.
In the front you will get an 8MP shooter and with Huawei’s software you can expect nothing but superior selfies.
The Huawei P8 GRA currently runs Android 5.0, and sports a 5.2″ 1920 x 1080p display. If ordering within the US make sure this phone is compatible with your network.
Network:
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, support host
2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G WCDMA 850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz
4G FDD-LTE 1700/1800/2100/2600MHz
For a mid-range price of $432, you can’t go wrong with Huawei’s high spec’d P8 GRA. Make sure to grab your deal at gearbest.com before it expires. Use coupon code P8GRA at checkout.
The post Get the Huawei P8 GRA 4G smartphone on gearbest for $432.89 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The Gamebeat: A portable gaming controller and phone case in one design
Gaming on mobile devices is not as user friendly as controller based setups like you have at home. Playing games like Grand Theft Auto on your Android device is fun while you’re out and about, but can be extremely frustrating when you need precise controls that you cannot get from on screen buttons. I personally have never liked games like that on my Android devices because I leave on screen controls for games like Words with Friends where precision is not vital to the success of winning the game.
Of course there are companies that offer wireless gaming controllers for your device, but they are huge and are not really portable. Most even require their own charging cable because the battery is so large.
In comes a project that is looking for funding over at Indiegogo called GameBeat, which is a case and game controller all in one design to keep things mobile.
What is the GameBeat? (from the indiegogo campaign)
2. The GameBeat case has a specially designed friction hinge, which is sewed into the case when it’s manufactured. It locks in place at any angle the user wants up to the 360 degrees (so it won’t bother you when you aren’t gaming). It is strong enough to hold your phone at any angle you want (like Lenovo yoga ultrabooks), but also soft enough to easily open and close it. Both the phone and the GameBeat controller can easily detach from the case.
– 4 sizes and 4 colors (pink, black, white, blue) of universal* cases are available :
- up to 4.5” smartphones
- from 4.5” to 5” smartphones
- from 5” to 5.5” smartphones
- from 5,5” to 6” smartphones
*Universal means it fits on any smartphone model or manufacturer. So no matter if you have Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Lenovo… smartphones, they will fit on the case.
For the LG G line and all the other smartphones with the volume buttons on the back, special cases with the cut out on the back will be manufactured.
Funding for the Gamebeat is still in very early stages which means you can pick one of these up for $45 if you get in now. $45 is much cheaper than those other bulky options especially if you consider you are getting a phone case too. Check it out over at indiegogo.com. The first 100 backers will get in for $45, the next 500 will get in at $60, and the rest will get in at $70 which is $15 off the suggested retail price. This bluetooth gaming controller is expected to ship before next summer.
The post The Gamebeat: A portable gaming controller and phone case in one design appeared first on AndroidGuys.
You can now order and pay for your Starbucks before you get to the store
Stopping into your local Starbucks to get your early morning caffeine fix can be both rewarding and stressful. On one hand, you leave the store with a nice, warm beverage that will help you start your day. On the other hand, though, waiting in line can get pretty annoying, especially when you’re on your way to work or in a time crunch. To help customers out with that problem, Starbucks today announced a new feature for its Android application that will make ordering and picking up drinks much more convenient. Mobile Order & Pay, a feature that launched in select markets back in 2014, is now available nationwide on both Android and iOS.
This new feature lets you choose a participating location from a map view, browse, select and even customize food and drink items. The application will then estimate the timeframe the order will be ready, and you can even pay for your order from within the app. When you arrive at your Starbucks location of choice, your menu items will be ready and waiting for you at the bar.
Mobile Order & Pay will only work at company-owned Starbucks locations. Starbucks plans to roll this feature out to select locations in the U.K. and Canada sometime in October, as well. The update is now live in the Play Store, so head to the link below to get started.
[TA Deals] Get the Circuit Scribe Basic Kit for 16% off!
If you’re looking at taking up a new hobby, you might want to consider electronics. Tinkering with circuits and learning about transistors and resistance can be quite a project, and normally, sets to get you started are quite pricey. However, we’re running an awesome deal on a starter set, the Circuit Scribe Basic Kit for 16% off
The kit is a great starter kit for those that just want to see what electronics is all about. It comes with six modules (e.g. a battery, LED lights, a NPN transistor, and so on), a Circuit Scribe pen, a Circuit stencil, a steel sheet, a workbook, and a Jumper sticker sheet.
Here’s a glance of what you’ll be doing with the Circuit Scribe Basic Kit:
- Draw circuits using a pen filled w/ conductive silver ink
- Tinker w/ your circuits using 6 modules: battery adapter, LED light, etc.
- Easily interact w/ circuits thanks to modules’ simple & easy-to-use designs
- Learn about basic electronics concepts: transistors, resistance, etc.
- Easily trace circuit designs using the circuit stencil
- Use the workbook’s lessons to expand your understanding of electronics
Normally, this starter kit retails for $60, however, for a limited time we’re giving our readers 16% off bringing the price down to just $49.99. It’s an awesome kit, and it’s perfect for the child wanting to learn a little more about electronics or anyone that’s interested in the field, really.
Anyone picking a kit up today?
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Get the Circuit Scribe Basic Kit for 16% off!
The official Starbucks app now lets you order and pay for coffee from your phone
Starbucks customers located in the United States who have the Starbucks app installed on their handset are in for a little treat today as the coffee bean giant has just updated its official Android application with the facility for users to order and pay for their beverages directly from their smartphone.
The upgrade also allows adopters of the app to customize their order. For example, if you’ve purchased a cappuccino, you’ll be able to choose whether or not you’d like chocolate sprinkled on top or not.
Unfortunately, this functionality only works in Starbucks owned shops and not franchises, but there’s still hoards of them scattered all over the States – so there should be one close to you. The company has announced that the feature will roll out to Canada and the UK next month.
To install the update on your smartphone, simply open up the Play Store, toggle the hamburger menu by swiping in from the left-hand side of the screen, select ‘My Apps’ and click on ‘Starbucks’, then all that’s left for you to do is hit the update button.
Come comment on this article: The official Starbucks app now lets you order and pay for coffee from your phone
Teen Receives Call From Tim Cook, iPhone, and Apple Internship After Apple Watch Saves His Life
Apple has been putting a significant focus on health-related topics in recent months, led by the Apple Watch’s health and fitness sensors and associated app functionality. In fact, just a few weeks ago at its “Hey Siri” media event, the company showed off some Apple Watch apps that could help doctors keep track of patients and even read the heartbeat of a baby still in its mother’s womb.
Now, the Apple Watch is becoming known as a lifesaver, as well, with a story emerging over the weekend about a teenage football player’s abnormal after-practice heartrate and his Apple Watch’s tracking that led him to determine something was seriously wrong.
Paul Houle Jr., a 17-year-old Tabor Academy senior in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, discovered after practice one day that he had pain in his chest and back when taking deep breaths, along with a rapid heart rate.
“After practice I went and took a nap, my heart rate was still at 145.” He went to the hospital, where he learned he had heart, liver and kidney failure, which could have been fatal if not for his watch.
“If my Apple Watch hadn’t shown me it was 145, I would have done nothing about it.”
Houle was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that occurs after intense exercise results in the leaking of enzymes and proteins into the blood from muscle cells. Some cases can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal and when Houle arrived at the hospital he was suffering from simultaneous heart, liver, and kidney failure.
Although initially a skeptic of the Apple Watch, Houle’s father is now a convert and has recently purchased Apple Watches for both himself and his wife, thankful for the lifesaving intervention of Apple’s product in his son’s life.
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Since Houle’s story surfaced late last week, word of the ordeal reached Apple CEO Tim Cook, who contacted Houle with a personal phone call a few days after his diagnosis and recovery. “I got a phone call from a California number,” said Houle. “And he said ‘Hello, my name is Tim Cook, CEO of Apple.’” Cook proceeded to offer the Cape Cod teenager a brand-new iPhone and a summer internship at the company’s corporate headquarters in Cupertino next year.
Amazon discounts Prime subscriptions to celebrate its Emmy wins
If you haven’t heard, Amazon original series Transparent won five Emmys over the weekend, including Jeffrey Tambor nabbing Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. To properly celebrate, the online retailer is discounting the cost of Prime for new members this Friday. From 12:00 AM ET to 11:59 PM PT, signing up for the annual subscription will set you back $67 instead of the usual $99. Of course, opting for Prime gets you access to Transparent (season 2 starts in December) and other movies and TV shows in addition to music streaming, free two-day shipping and more.
[Image credit: Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images]
Source: Amazon
Engadget giveaway: win a Kilburn portable speaker courtesy of Marshall!
Whether you’re listening to Motörhead, Spinal Tap or Taylor Swift, the Kilburn portable Bluetooth speaker should do it justice. It may not be the biggest of Marshall’s speaker lineup, but it’s the first to offer a built-in battery for true portability and provides up to 20 hours of listening on a charge. You also get all the classic rock n’ roll flourishes that you’d expect from Marshall, including knob controls for volume, bass and treble (only up to 10, sorry) along with a cloth covered grill and guitar-like strap. It’s the perfect complement to the company’s new London phone, as well. We have two of these powerful boomboxes for a duo of Engadget readers this week. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. Two (2) winners will each receive one (1) Marshall Kilburn portable speaker.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Engadget and AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until September 23rd at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Grab this Arduino starter kit from Makeblock for 46 percent off
Open-source platforms like Arduino have considerably lowered the barrier of entry for robotics, but it can still be daunting (and expensive) for a beginner to get started. The Makeblock Arduino Starter Robot Kit gives you the know-how to build your own electronics through hands-on instruction, with no programming experience required. Right now, Engadget readers can get one for 46 percent off — just $79.99 plus free shipping.
The Makeblock Arduino Starter Robot Kit includes a microcontroller board and all the parts needed to build your choice of a robotic tank or an equally awesome three-wheeled car. A series of guides introduce you to programming, helping you gain a familiarity with the board which will allow you to control physical objects using sensors. Master basic robotics skills as you work on this project and you’ll soon be prepared to put your new skills to use, creating anything from a game console to a home alarm system.
The instruction is approachable for a beginner — including kids aged 10 and up — and offers a gentle learning curve so you’ll have fun along the way. Whether you’re looking for an engaging new project in your spare time or want to learn how to build more advanced hardware, this Makeblock kit is the perfect place to start. Grab yours for 46 percent off while supplies last.
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