QUICK LOOK: Ventev portable power solutions
In the market for some new accessories to enhance your mobile experience? You’ve got a really sweet Android phone and now it’s time to add a few goodies.
There are a ton of companies out there offering up portable batteries, external power sources, cords, and other general smartphone accessories. We’ve played with a bunch of ’em over the years and have come to appreciate a handful of brands. One such company, Ventev, has been putting out one solid product after another; we have always been impressed with its offerings.
We recently had the chance to check out a number of newer items from the Ventev and think you’d enjoy learning a little bit about each. Let’s get to it!
The Ventev wall charginghub 200 plugs into your existing outlet and adds a 2.4A output as well. Essentially, you’re adding a USB output to an existing outlet without giving up that existing plug in the wall. It takes up about twice as much space (width) as a normal plug however it’s practical and provides a convenient place to plug in your phone or tablet.
If you need to charge up on the go there are two options we reviewed: The powercell 3015c battery charger with micro usb cable and the powercell 10000+ battery charger. As the names likely tip you off, the former provides 3000mAh of juice that can be taken with you on the go. Not much thicker than, say, a small stack of credit cards, this guy comes with an integrated Micro USB port, on/off button, and an LED battery level indicator. You can push the power button to find out how much do you have left based on four indicator lights. We liked how shiny and sleek this one was, and appreciated the orange accents found in the sides.
For those who need more, the powercell 10000+ gives you 10,000mAh battery and features built in cords (a few inches) for both micro USB as well as lightning ports. Simply peel out the one you want or need and plug it in.
The top of the unit has an LED power display which tells you how much juice is left using a scale of 0-100%. There’s a battery check button sitting directly next to it that can be pressed to pull up the current read out. A nice, albeit handy feature that we appreciate is that you can plug this one directly into the wall. No dock, no extra cords.
Note, you do have to push the power button to get this one enact charging. Don’t forget – when you plug your phone in, it wont start charging until you literally turn it on.
If you are like me, then you tend to charge two or three devices at a time, perhaps on the nightstand or office table. The usbcharginghub 400 takes an existing outlet and turns it into four USB ports. The cord is 5 feet long so there’s plenty of length to tuck this one behind the desk or in a moderately hard to reach place.
One of the four outlets is 2.4A while the other three are your standard USB outlets. If you need to charge a tablet or a quick charge-capable device, you will want to use the 2.4A port, however overnight charges work just fine on all four.
When it comes to charging devices at the wall, on the desk, or out and about, we need to make sure we have the right cables. To that end Ventev offers a variety of options. On the absolute short end of things is a Universal 6-inch USB cable. On one end you have the standard USB port, on the other hand you have your micro USB port. Indeed, it’s 2.1A compatible so you can use it to charge up or sync your information to and from a laptop and a phone.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have a six foot cable that is also tangle-free. Not quite ribbon-like, it is still a flat cable that is offered in a variety of colors. We’ve played with gray, blue, and the traditional orange from Ventev. These are stylish and easy to identify. If you plug in a variety of devices, my recommendation is to choose different colors for different devices.
Head over to Ventev’s website and you’ll find a whole host of products that work with general smartphones and iPhones. Some are device-specific while others cast a wider net and work for just about anything you’ll use.
The post QUICK LOOK: Ventev portable power solutions appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The OnePlus X may have been spotted being certified in China, could launch October 12
It’s been rumoured that the OnePlus X could launch in October, with the handset maker even sending out invitations to its ‘Next Big Step’ event in India for October 12. If October 12 seems familiar to you, it’s also when OnePlus’ Open Sale is occurring, where you’ll be able to pick up a OnePlus 2 without an invite. Back to the OnePlus X though, and it’s believed to have been spotted being put through its paces on China’s Quality Certification website, with model number OnePlus E1001.
While it isn’t confirmed that the OnePlus E1001 is, in fact, the upcoming OnePlus X, it’s quite the coincidence. Especially considering the OnePlus CEO, Liu Zuohu, posted a teaser on his Weibo page that oddly enough had the letter ‘X’ written on it. The Oneplus X is believed to use either the Snapdragon 801 or MediaTek’s Helio X10 MT6795 processor, have a display that’s around 5-inches in size and a price tag of around $249.
It’s just a couple of days to wait until all is revealed, does the thought of a ‘Mini‘ OnePlus handset appeal to you? Let us know in the comments.
Source: cnBeta,
Via: GizmoChina, 2
Come comment on this article: The OnePlus X may have been spotted being certified in China, could launch October 12
‘Steve Jobs’ Releases in Select Theaters as First Full Scene Debuts Online
The much-anticipated Steve Jobs film today releases in select theaters across the United States, following its debut at a few film festivals throughout September and October. To coincide with the film’s release, on its YouTube channel Universal Pictures has published a handful of new TV spots, inside looks, and the first full clip from the movie. In the scene, Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak confronts Michael Fassbender’s Steve Jobs over the impending launch of the NeXT Computer.
Alongside the scene, Universal shared four new TV spots for the movie that have been promoting its release over the past few weeks, most of them centering around Rolling Stone’s four-star review of the film. The company also shared “a look inside” the newly released film, including short interview clips with its cast and crew that focus on writer Aaron Sorkin and director Danny Boyle.
The first impressions of the film at festivals in Telluride and New York have been largely positive, centering on Fassbender’s performance and the risky, yet rewarding liberties that Sorkin takes with certain aspects of Jobs’ life. Currently, the film sits at a 91 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 50 fresh reviews to 5 rotten.
Steve Jobs launches today in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles and will see a slow rollout to more select theaters in places like Toronto and Boston on October 16. The actual, wide release is set for closer to the end of the month on October 23.
Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are now available SIM-free
Apple is now selling unlocked versions of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, giving you options if you’d rather not be tied to a contract or want a handset that works in other countries. The downside, of course, is that you’ll pay the full retail price without those carrier subsidies — starting at $649 for the (controversial) 16GB iPhone 6s at Apple Stores or online. In addition, Apple has started rolling out its latest iPhones in 36 new countries, including Mexico, Russia, Taiwan and Spain. They’re now available in 48 nations, and will hit about 80 more by the end of the year.
Via: 9 to 5 Mac
Source: Apple
ICYMI: Smart measuring leggings, 3D-printed Adidas and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: LikeAGlove’s new smart leggings that measure your body, then match you to the perfectly-fitted pair of jeans just went on pre-sale for $40. A new camera that reminds us of Lytro because of post-photo focusing abilities uses spider eyes as inspiration for its rig of 16 lenses with different focal lengths. But, it’ll cost you at least $1,300. So soak that in for awhile. Meanwhile Adidas wants to 3D-print midsoles that are designed specifically for customer’s foot contours.
And just because it’s Space Week, we are briefly touching on the news that NASA found blue skies and frozen water on Pluto, while giving you a way to get calm again in case that news simply reminds you that Pluto isn’t technically a planet anymore. Total jerk move, right?
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
ICYMI: Smart measuring leggings, 3D-printed Adidas and more
Today on In Case You Missed It: LikeAGlove’s new smart leggings that measure your body, then match you to the perfectly-fitted pair of jeans just went on pre-sale for $40. A new camera that reminds us of Lytro because of post-photo focusing abilities uses spider eyes as inspiration for its rig of 16 lenses with different focal lengths. But, it’ll cost you at least $1,300. So soak that in for awhile. Meanwhile Adidas wants to 3D-print midsoles that are designed specifically for customer’s foot contours.
And just because it’s Space Week, we are briefly touching on the news that NASA found blue skies and frozen water on Pluto, while giving you a way to get calm again in case that news simply reminds you that Pluto isn’t technically a planet anymore. Total jerk move, right?
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
A robot made me (marginally) better at ping pong
We’re back for a rematch. The ping-pong robot has had an upgrade or two, and in Rocky-style, your rival is now your trainer. Yep, the newest demo from Omron (a company better know for its healthcare products), aims to help you play it at table tennis. The entire table has been upgraded into a display, showing the predicted path of the ball, and even where the meatsack player should be hitting it. Slideshow-327648
To handle the additional task of where the ball goes once the robot hits it, it involves more processing power — and thus a new computer behind it all. (Appearance-wise, the robot looks just as eerily spooky as last time). It’s meant to be a showcase of the company’s skills in automation: the robot seems to return more shots than last time (clever girl), and the “training wheels” easy option is a welcome addition. There’s a degree of pressure playing ping-pong against a robot in front of a crowd of trade show attendees — it’s a good warm up. We’re hoping the next model brings one important upgrade: smacktalk.
The US government won’t force backdoor access, but still wants it
Here’s some good news: the government has decided not to push for a law that would force tech companies to include backdoors in their software. The move means that your encrypted communications from services like WhatsApp and iMessage, will remain unreadable to law enforcement officials. That said, it’s not the win for privacy and freedom that you might hope it to be, since officials are still going to be ringing up CEOs to quell their resistance. The Washington Post quotes one spokesperson saying that the National Security Council is “actively engaged” with these firms to “ensure they understand” the risks that come from encrypted dick pics. This is probably the right time to remind everyone that, when asked, the FBI’s director James Comedy couldn’t name a single investigation that was hindered by encrypted data.
@JimmyChalk @evacide Worst case scenario is silent capitulation from the companies. The Administration is now publicly counting on it.
— Nate Cardozo (@ncardozo) October 9, 2015
The EFF is similarly cynical about the news, describing it as a “partial victory” for privacy campaigners across the land. The organization feels that the government will now spend much more time and effort to pressure companies like Apple and Google to include secret backdoors — from behind closed doors. That’s why it’s throwing its weight behind the Save Crypto movement, which is looking to raise 100,000 signatures on the White House’s online petitions site. The movement is backed by plenty of high-profile names in the tech industry, including the CEA, Mozilla and Twitter. And, if that isn’t enough to sway the administration’s mind, perhaps they should consult with a former director of the NSA — who said only a couple of months ago that adding backdoors would make America more vunlerable to a cyberattack.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Source: EFF, Washington Post, Save Crypto
Heat and your phone: Experiment time!
A
t long last, the generation of the problematic Snapdragon 810 powered devices seems to be drifting off on the horizon. We’ve already heard multiple rumors about the 820 and what devices it could end up powering, but today we’re going to be focusing on what’s already here, namely the 810 and 808.
As overheating is one of the characteristics so prominent in these chipsets, we decided to set up an experiment to see just how heat really affects the performance of a phone. This is obviously not a very scientific experiment, but it nevertheless paints an accurate picture of what happens when the CPU is a bit too hard at work. This is also not focused on the 810: It is tested on the G4 with the Snapdragon 808, giving a better overall picture on what happens with a device under heat.
Firstly, we began heating up the G4. With the screen brightness on 100%, we gave it the hairdryer treatment. No, this is not cheating: We want to see what happens with extreme heat, not how the chipset handles strenuous tasks, remember? (Albeit a bit exaggerated). The phone hit 133°F (56°C) in a few minutes, and was a too hot to comfortably handle.
Now, to get some idea of the performance, we ran the Antutu benchmark. For those of you that aren’t sure what that is, it is an application designed to measure your device’s speed, and gives you a total score based on the test outcome.
A few minutes passed, and we were given a score of 24,246.
Considering that the score of a G4 at normal temperature is around 49,000 (and the G2 comes in at 33,300), the heat had a massive visible impact on how well the phone performed. The device was slower and was dropping frame rates heavily. In other words, the heat totally ruined not only the synthetic benchmark, but also real life performance.
It should be mentioned that thermal throttling most likely also took a knock to the CPU. While heat can naturally stymie performance, software would’ve kicked in that told the phone to switch off some cores (the G4 has 6 cores) and limited the speed of the remaining cores. This was all the fuss about the 810 as well: OEMs were forced to deliberately slow down your phone.
Heat also degrades and damages components within your device, which is the reason throttling happens. This happens with all electronics.
During this time, the battery had 11% swiped off (in less than seven minutes) and the camera was only showing a black screen, a testament of the other side effects that can plague your phone under extreme temperatures. While it’s likely that your phone won’t reach 133°F by itself (at least, we hope), this does give an overall impression of what happens inside your beloved Android.
Then, I let it cool down itself for twenty minutes. As I was intending to send it to the freezer, I didn’t want to experience a case of spontaneous glass breakage which occurs when glass (the screen, in this case) shatters due to sudden temperature changes. Fortunately this was unlikely, and I placed it in a plastic bag before situating it in the depths of my freezer.
Another twenty-five minutes had passed before I promptly removed it and began testing again. Trying not to touch it with my warm hands, the temperature registered at 35ºF (1.6ºC). Running the application resulted in a score of 51,707, more than double the previous score, and slightly higher than the average score which was not stipulated as an exact number.
The frame rate was also significantly higher, coming in with an average of 32 fps as compared to the overheating 17 fps. This was displayed on Antutu while testing graphics.
However, there was very little gain with colder temperatures if you can recognize that the score was a bit more than that of standard room temperature. I suppose if we really want to see a boost, some liquid Nitrogen will be required, but we don’t quite want a shattered phone.
And that concludes our test, at least with the G4. We can clearly see that heat made a huge impact on the total performance, while coldness of the same extent only made marginal differences. We can only hope that this is not again the subject of topic as the new chipsets await their entrance.
The post Heat and your phone: Experiment time! appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The DMV is publishing self-driving car accident reports
The California DMV has released the reports for a full year’s worth of self-driving car accidents. From the accounts in the paperwork none of the eight accidents involving Google’s cars can be blamed on autonomous technology. In fact, six out of eight of the accidents were drivers rear-ending one of the company’s retrofitted Lexus RX450h SUVs, half of those while the robotic vehicle was stationary. It’s worth noting that all the accounts come from Google, which is required by law to file documents within ten days of a collision.
Google began publishing accident reports (with the exact language as used in the DMV paperwork) in May of this year, so the events detailed by the DMV are all known. Only one other company, Delphi Automotive, has had a car involved in an accident in the past year, and that was while the vehicle was being driven by a handler, rather than a machine. However, there are no less than ten companies testing self-driving vehicles in the state, and Apple is at least considering entering the fray. The DMV’s willingness to publish full reports means that Apple and any other company testing vehicles needs to be prepared for Google-like public transparency while working on their self-driving projects.
Source: California DMV
AIVAnet 