Here’s how to watch Tesla’s Model X launch event
After dealing with many production delays over the past couple of years, Tesla’s finally ready to launch the Model X, its highly anticipated crossover. Later this evening, the company will hold an event at a factory in Fremont, California, where it is expected to make the latest member of the Tesla family official. Yes, there’s a lot we know about this electric vehicle already, but tonight we’ll likely learn details that were previously unknown — such as availability and how far it can go on a charge. The announcement is set for 8PM PT/11PM ET, and you can watch it live on Tesla’s website.
Source: Tesla
Google will let you finance a Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P through Project Fi
Unlike most other Nexus smartphones in the past, you unfortunately won’t be able to walk into your local carrier store to grab one of the newly-announced Nexus devices. Both the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are only being made available for purchase from the Google Store (at least for the time being) starting today, which means if you want one of the new devices you’ll have to shell out the full retail price. Even though Google’s move to sell its new smartphones exclusively online is great for the mobile industry as a whole, that still means us folks who’d like to pay monthly for a new phone won’t be able to do so.
That is, unless you’d like to sign up for Google’s own Project Fi network.
The Nexus 5X and 6P will be able to play nicely with all of the major mobile carriers in the United States, including Project Fi. And just like you would when signing up for Fi with a new Nexus 6, you’ll also be able to finance one of the new Nexus phones over 24 months. So instead of paying the full $379 or $499 for a new Nexus 5X or 6P respectively, you’ll be able to pay Google for the phone over a 24-month period.
When going through the signup process, you can choose to pay for your selected device in full, or over time. If you choose to pay over time, you’ll pay equal installments for two full years depending on how much your device costs. The base 16GB model Nexus 5X will cost you $15.79 per month, and the base 32GB Nexus 6P (currently unavailable) will run you $20.79 per month.
There is a credit check required, but the good news is that you won’t be required to pay a down payment. Simply pay for the tax on your device and you’re all set.
Related: Google Project Fi review – can Google make it as a carrier?
This is certainly a great option for folks who are still interested in purchasing a new Nexus device but don’t want to shell out hundreds of dollars up front. If you’re interested in signing up for yourself, head to the Project Fi website to get started. Oh, and be sure to check out some more Nexus event coverage, which I’ll link below.
With all of that said, does the option to finance a new Nexus through Project Fi make you any more willing to buy one of the new smartphones? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Nexus 5X hands-on: a look at Google’s new affordable phone
Mid-fall has always been a special time for Android fans, thanks to Google’s habit of releasing new Nexus devices and new versions of Android around this time. This fall is no different. Actually, it’s better: Google has launched two Nexus smartphones for the first time ever, and we’ve got to play with both of them following the company’s media event in San Francisco.
The Nexus 5X has some big shoes to fill. In spirit, it’s the successor to the Nexus 5, probably the most beloved Nexus smartphone to date. LG is at its third Nexus smartphone, but is it the charm we’ve been waiting for? We find out in our Nexus 5X hands-on!
Design and build quality
The leaks were spot on. The Nexus 5X features a clean front, but a rather busy backside, dominated by the center-mounted protruding camera. This is a design element that has become prevalent on new smartphones, but Google’s implementation sticks out both visually and physically, and is bound to be controversial. For what is worth, the company says it’s due to the need to accommodate a very large camera sensor.
Near the camera, we can see the dual LED flash and the window of the laser-based autofocus system (evoking the LG G4), as well as the vertical Nexus logo.
The Nexus 5X is built of plastic and comes in white, black, or “ice blue.” The plastic construction somewhat resembles the build of the Nexus 5, and that’s not a bad thing. At a little over 130 grams, this is a light device that feels pretty good in the hand. The volume rocker and the power button are placed on the right side, while at the bottom you’ll find the USB Type C port, making the Nexus 5X among the first smartphones on the market with this feature.
Display
The Nexus 5X keeps the Full HD resolution of its older namesake, but expands to a more modern 5.2-inch size. Quad HD has supplanted Full HD as the default resolution of flagship phones, but we won’t fault Google for keeping the Nexus 5X to Full HD, given the questionable benefits and increased power consumption of the higher resolution. Moreover, this looks like a very good LCD display, with nice brightness levels and color reproduction.
Hardware and performance
The Nexus 5X is powered by a hexa-core Snapdragon 808, along with 2GB of RAM. The Nexus 5 is living proof that you can run Marshmallow without any issues on 2GB of RAM and an older processor, but moderns apps have higher requirements, raising the question of whether the Nexus 5X is future-proof enough.
Unlike the more upscale Nexus 6P, the 5X still starts from 16GB of storage; that’s a little disappointing in this age of high resolution content and complex apps, and we’d recommend opting for the 32GB model if it’s possible.
Google adopted a USB Type C port for the Nexus 5X, and unlike the OnePlus 2, this is a true USB 3.1 connector that supports fast charging. That’s a welcome feature given that the 2,700 mAh battery does not come with wireless charging.
The other big hardware feature of the Nexus 5X is the fingerprint sensor on the back, which Google calls Nexus Imprint. This is supposed to unlock the device in 0.6 seconds, allowing you to bypass the lock screen. The circular fingerprint will also work with Android Pay and a number of third party apps, including the password manager LastPass.
Camera
The Nexus 5X (like the Nexus 6P) features a 12.3 MP camera, whose sensor features 1.55 micron pixels that are larger than the typical smartphone camera fare, thus allowing in more light in challenging situations. This sensor is paired with an f/2.0 lens, a dual LED flash, and a laser-assisted autofocus system. Unfortunately, there is no optical image stabilization. On paper, this sounds like a solid combination, but as usual, the devil resides in the details. One notable usability improvement is the ability to quickly launch the camera with a double tap of the power button.
Software
Perhaps the most visible user-facing feature in Android 6.0 Marshmallow is Google Now on Tap, which makes a contextual-aware version of Google Now available with a simple home button long press. Google also touts its biggest advancements yet in battery management and the Doze feature in particular should greatly extend standby times. The fingerprint authentication should make mobile security a bit less of a hassle and the new permissions system promises to give users more control over the info they share with apps.
There you have it, our first look at the Nexus 5X. Two years ago, the Nexus 5 was almost only alone in terms of what it offered for the money. The market has migrated downrange since then, and the Nexus 5X has some strong competitors in its price bracket. Our review will settle whether the Nexus 5X is a good buy or not, but tell us your impressions: what do you think of LG’s third Nexus?
The Nexus 5X is now official too, starting pre-orders at $379.99 USD
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It’s a wonderful day – the LG Nexus 5X is now official after the longest time of leaks and speculation, and it’s every bit the device the leaks suggested it was, which is good and bad. Under the hood, we have a Snapdragon 808 processor, 2GB RAM, 16 and 32GB storage variants, the same 12.3MP camera as the Nexus 6P on the back, and a 2,700mAh battery. The specs might look a bit paltry compared to the flagship killers of the day, but we’re expecting Android Marshmallow to give the Nexus 5X some spritely performance, so we’ll hold judgement on the 2GB RAM for now.
Like the Nexus 6P, one of the prime focuses of the Nexus 5X is its camera, which utilizes larger 1.55μm pixels to take better, sharper photos in normal and low light. We’ll have to see whether it can walk the walk when the devices start hitting people’s pockets. Also like the Nexus 6P, the Nexus 5X introduces “Nexus Imprint”, Google‘s version of a fingerprint sensor which will have native compatibility with Android Marshmallow.
In terms of availability, the Nexus 5X should be rolling out in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, and the United Kingdom – but check here to see if pre-orders have started in your region. Pricing-wise, the 16GB version will start at $379.99 USD, and the 32GB version will come in at $429.99 USD – both version will be available in white, black or mint green.
What do you think about the Nexus 5X?
Source: Android Police
The post The Nexus 5X is now official too, starting pre-orders at $379.99 USD appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google Play Music family plan is officially announced, $15/month for six users
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Hours before Google‘s press conference was supposed to start, the rumour that a Google Play Music family plan was about to be announced was coined, and lo and behold, the prophecy has been fulfilled. Google has announced its own Google Play Music family plan to combat similar plans from Apple Music and Spotify, and lets you share Google Play Music All Access between 6 different users for just $15 per month. Unsurprisingly, that pricing is exactly the same as Apple Music’s pricing, and a better deal than other competitors.
Unlike the new Nexus phones which are pretty much available straight away, Google says that it still hasn’t quite finished work on the Google Play Music family plan, but fully intends for it to be available later this year. This family plan works perfectly for the larger family who has been paying through the teeth for multiple accounts, but now can all be on the same subscription and still get unique, personalized music suggestions.
What do you think about the Google Play Music family plan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: engadget
The post Google Play Music family plan is officially announced, $15/month for six users appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Twitter may relax is trademark 140-character limit
Anyone who has ever tweeted in his lifetime knows the struggle of expressing their thoughts in Twitter’s 140-characters limit. More often than not, it is the English language that takes the beating with most of us tweeting away in SMS language – something that makes all of us look like middle school teens. Well, not anymore! If a re/code report is to be believed, Twitter is building a new product that will allows users to type and share longer tweets.
Although there are already some products that let users post blocks of text by converting them into images, Twitter’s new feature or product may allow users to actually write long-form tweets. Sources familiar to the development say that the debate has been going on internally at Twitter as to whether or not to tweak the trademark 140 character barrier.
Lately, the company has been looking for ways to provide more room for users to type by relaxing its character limit. It is considering to discount usernames and urls from the word count. If you remember, Twitter recently brought ‘retweet with comment’ option as well as direct messages feature that gave people some relaxation from the character limit.
Come comment on this article: Twitter may relax is trademark 140-character limit
Google and LG’s 5X is the Nexus for the rest of us
When Google (and Motorola) showed off the Nexus 6 last year, most nerds were excited. Others, making up a surprisingly vocal minority, reacted as though the companies dropped ice cubes down the backs of their shirts. Bigger isn’t always better, and they were more than a little concerned that the days of easy-to-grip Nexus phones were nearly over. They were wrong. To go with the big-screened Nexus 6P, Google once again teamed up with LG on a Nexus 5 — the 5X this time — and it’s shaping up to be the successor that N5 fans have been hoping for. Slideshow-324001
First off, yes, it nestles nice and easily into even small hands (mine are probably slightly above-average but there were some surprisingly tiny mitts at this event). The 5.2-inch 1080p IPS LCD, cutesy rounded aesthetic and the plastic body’s almost-nutty lightness make the Nexus 5X feel much more compact than it actually is. And as if it needed even more cute fuel, you’ll be able to get it in a fetching robin’s egg blue that’s a little reminiscent of that phone Nextbit is working on. Naturally, none of this would be worth a damn if the 5X failed as a phone, and it definitely doesn’t. You see, there’s a Snapdragon 808 (which we’ve seen in the LG G4 previously) and 2GB of RAM here — easily plenty of horsepower for anyone who doesn’t want/need to live on the bleeding edge of phone performance. I spent maybe a half hour with the thing in total and couldn’t get it to stutter or flip out, even with the non-final version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow running on it. Not bad.
It would’ve been easy for Google and LG to just shrug and phone things in with a weak-sauce camera, but that’s thankfully not the case. The Nexus 5X shares an impressive 12.3-megapixel rear camera with the 6P, which means it also shares those sweet, photon-slurping 1.55-micron pixels. Both did a solid job snapping photos in a weirdly lit, uncomfortably packed demo room, but we’ll have to wait until we get a review unit before we can pass any real judgment. The similarities don’t end there, either — Google really is looking at these things as siblings. Both have the Nexus Imprint fingerprint scanner (which worked well) and a USB Type-C charging port. While the 5X is a sort of love letter to a certain kind of Nexus fan, its limited memory options will make it harder for hardcore mobile nerds to take seriously. Yes, yes, Google has sunk plenty of cash and effort into building its cloud, and the original N5 didn’t have a memory card slot either, but it still sucks that the 5X will only be available with 16 or 32GB of storage and without any way to expand it further.
Speaking of which, you’ll be able to pre-order a Nexus 5X today, with the first shipments going out sometime in October. At this early stage, the hardware seems promising and Marshmallow already appears to be a worthy update (even if the nature of Android has already been changing a bit). We can’t blame you if you want more info before you pull the trigger — just stay tuned for our full review.
Get all the news from today’s Google event right here.
Playdate: We take on the Empire in ‘Disney Infinity 3.0’
It is a period of civil war. Sean and Tim, two video game streamers from the Engadget Alliance, have begun their first battle against the Galactic Empire. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, the pair enlists the help of Disney Interactive’s John Vignocchi to guide them through the wastes of Tatoonie, Hoth and Endor. Together, they’ll stream Disney Infinity 3.0’s Rise Against The Empire Playset on Twitch.tv/Joystiq, the Engadget Gaming homepage and in this post. Join them today at 6PM ET (3PM PT) and help the trio restore freedom to the galaxy…
http://www.twitch.tv/joystiq/embedWatch live video from Joystiq on www.twitch.tv
[We’re streaming Disney Infinity 3.0 at 720p through OBS, so rest assured this game will look dramatically better on your TV, through your PlayStation 4 at home.]
Google Maps now works on the Apple Watch
Sure, Apple Maps has improved significantly in the past few years since it launched, but for many Apple users it still doesn’t hold a candle to Google Maps. But if you’re an Apple Watch user who wanted to use your watch for directions, Apple Maps has been your only option — until today. A new update for Google Maps on iOS rolled out today that includes full Apple Watch support, among some other useful features.
When you open up Google Maps directly on your Apple Watch, you’re presented with two very simple options: directions to get you either to your home or your work (as already set in your Google account). It’s a smart but very minimalist way to use the Watch; it doesn’t look like there’s a way to actually display a full map here, unlike in the Apple Maps app. A force press on the screen lets you swap between driving, walking, and transit directions. You can also quickly tap to get directions to recent places you’ve navigated to in Google Maps. And, of course, if you kick off a route on your phone, it’ll appear on your Watch as you navigate to your destination and notify you of upcoming turns.
The other big change shows up on your phone, rather than on the Watch. There’s a new, much improved navigational element for swapping between walking, driving, and transit directions — and it shows you the expected time to your destination for each all in one view. The old method for swapping between direction types was pretty unintuitive, so we’re happy to see this change. But overall, the big appeal of this update is definitely for Apple Watch owners. It’s particularly timely given that WatchOS 2 and iOS 9 now support transit directions — this update makes it a lot easier for Watch users to stick with Google. Go get it now in the iTunes Store.
Source: iTunes Store
Self-assembling material could produce artificial veins
Most attempts at creating artificial veins don’t come close to replicating organic processes, but researchers at the Queen Mary University of London might change that. They’ve developed a technique that makes proteins and peptides self-assemble into tubular shapes that could stand in as arteries, veins and similar structures. There’s no 3D printing or moulds involved — you only need to guide the material as it builds itself. It can even grow and heal, so you’re not stuck if it needs improvements.
As you’ve likely gathered, the discovery could lead to vein implants that behave more like the real deal. That’s not just useful when you’ve suffered an injury, though. Scientists could also use these veins to study diseases like Alzheimer’s in conditions that are much closer to reality, which might produce better treatments. In short, these self-assembling tubes could improve your health across the board — not bad for a little piece of synthetic goo.
Via: MedGadget
AIVAnet 