A weekend with the new Apple TV
The iPhone 6S and iPad Pro are cool and all, but the Apple gadget that I was most looking forward to this fall was the new Apple TV. It is, quite notoriously, the device that Apple has most publicly neglected over the years. Its last big update was way back in 2012, when Apple finally added 1080p support. And even that third-gen Apple TV wasn’t too exciting, since it looked exactly the same as the one released in 2010. So yah, it was about time Apple totally rethought its approach to TV. After finally getting to test one out over the weekend, I found that the new fourth-generation Apple TV was worth the wait — though there are still plenty of issues to iron out. Slideshow-338199
Knomo Review: The Elektronista is the Perfect iPad Purse for Pocket Lovers
Knomo’s Elektronista Digital Clutch is a bag that was created through a partnership with Danish tech blogger Christiane Vejlø, who founded Danish gadget site Elektronista. The Knomo Elektronista is designed to be both functional and fashionable, serving as clutch or a crossbody bag that can hold a wide range of gadgets and iOS devices, keeping them all organized in its myriad pockets.
The Elektronista is available in four colors: Blush, which is a pink shade, Grey, Black, and Navy. I’ve been using the Grey version for the last several weeks, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite small gadget bags. The Elektronista is made from a full grain leather that’s soft to the touch and the construction is flawless with not a stitch out of place, as I would expect from a high-end bag. It has gold hardware, including gold zippers and a removable strap that attaches to the back.
At $295, the Elektronista is one of the pricier bags that Knomo sells, but the company justifies that price tag with the bag’s solid construction, huge number of custom pockets, and perks like a built-in 3,000mAh battery. It unzips at the sides so it can be used at a desk as an organizer for electronic devices and other odds and ends, and then it zips back up so it can be used as a daily purse with a magnetic front flap that keeps the contents protected.
The unzipping feature also serves as a way for the interior storage to be accessed quickly, which is handy when you need to get at something fast. The pockets inside the Elektronista are all accessible when the purse is zipped up, but with so many different pockets, it can be hard to find things inside. It can also be difficult to access some of the lower pockets, such as the little change holder, when you’re in a hurry.
The Elektronista is essentially all pockets. At the exterior of the purse, there’s a pocket in the back, where I chose to keep my cell phone for quick access, and a zippered pocket on the front flap where I kept other things I needed to access frequently. For me, this was eye drops and chapstick.
US prosecutes man who hacked identities to help ISIS
Extremism and terrorism are complex things in the internet era, and US federal prosecutors are learning this first hand. The Justice Department recently charged Kosovo citizen Ardit Ferizi with leading a hacking team that swiped the personal data of US military staffers in order to help Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) supporters kill as many as 1,000 Americans. That campaign hasn’t panned out, as you might have guessed, but it makes the consequences of a typical data breach look timid by comparison.
Source: The Hill
Sony wanted Xperia Z4 to be in Spectre, but Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes refused
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It should be relatively obvious to most of you that the recent James Bond movies have been helmed by Sony, and that has meant plenty of product placement during their past movies. However, while Sony obviously has the financial clout to make these decisions, it appears that the crew working on the latest Bond film, Spectre, had some qualms about including some of Sony’s products. As the story goes, Sony wanted their latest device (at the time) the Sony Xperia Z4 to be in Spectre, however in particular, actor Daniel Craig and director Sam Mendes felt that using the Xperia Z4 went against what Bond stood for – even when offered $5 million USD to use it in the movie. According to an internal Sony email:
“BEYOND the $US factor, there is, as you may know, a CREATIVE factor whereby Sam and Daniel don’t like the Sony phone for the film (the thinking, subjectively/objectively is that James Bond only uses the ‘best,’ and in their minds, the Sony phone is not the ‘best’).”
I’m trying really hard not to yell out “oh buuurn” right now.
Sony wasn’t the only one trying to get their device into Spectre – Samsung was credited for offering the same $5 million USD fee and another $30 million on top of that to help market the film. We’re not sure which device ended up making it into the movie, but we’ll likely find out when the film is released globally later this week.
What do you think about Sony offering money to have the Xperia Z4 in Spectre? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Business Insider
The post Sony wanted Xperia Z4 to be in Spectre, but Daniel Craig and Sam Mendes refused appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Official Plex App Now Available for New Apple TV
The much-anticipated Plex app for the Apple TV is available for download on the new set-top box as of today, allowing users to stream content from their computers to the Apple TV using the Plex Media Server software. First announced in September, the official Plex app was still in review when the new Apple TV launched last Friday, but it’s now been approved.
For those unfamiliar with Plex, it’s a media server and personal library for content like TV shows, movies, and music. It’s designed to organize personal media collections, allowing videos and music to be streamed to TVs and other devices, locally and remotely.
Plex on the new Apple TV has a gorgeous interface that makes it easy to see all of your media content at a glance. Plex adds artwork for movies, TV shows, and music, plus it includes information like cast members, plot summaries, and Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Plex has long been available on set-top devices like the Chromcast and the Fire TV, and it’s popular with jailbreakers, but it has not previously been available on older versions of the Apple TV in an official capacity.
The Plex app for the Apple TV can be downloaded from tvOS App Store. While the app is free to download, it costs $4.99 in-app to enable streaming playback. Apple TV and iOS App Store apps are universal, so if you’ve already downloaded the app for iOS, it can be found in the Purchases section of the tvOS App Store. [Direct Link]
Discuss this article in our forums
Plex comes to the new Apple TV for free
The Plex team just delivered the first version of its media streaming app for the new Apple TV. Now that there’s an app store, Plex’s media player is accessible without any jailbreaking or even AirPlay sidestepping necessary and better yet, it’s free to use. All you’ll need is one of the double-height media players and the latest version of Plex Media Server to give it a try — no in-app purchases or PlexPass subscription necessary. At least for now, Plex says it’s using TVML for the app instead of writing a fully native version, which enabled it to get up and running in just five weeks.
Source: Plex Blog
Facebook tells some of its employees to switch from iOS to Android
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Let’s not beat around the bush – most social media networks have an iOS bias. Updates come out faster, features are implemented first, or their employees all prefer iOS over Android – whatever it is, the Android community is acutely aware of it. It’s also caught the attention of Facebook Chief Product Officer, Chris Cox, who thinks the preference of his employees to choose iOS devices is going to hamper Facebook’s attempts to spread into emerging markets.
“I am mandating a switch of a whole bunch of my team over to Android, just because people, when left up to their own devices, will often prefer an iPhone,” said Cox yesterday at a briefing at Facebook headquarters.
Now, we could harp on about bias till the end of time, but truth be told, Cox’s decision is extremely logical for Facebook. In emerging markets, the iOS platform isn’t particularly popular due to its high price, and the only lower priced products are naturally Android. This should give Facebook a better understanding of how lower spec Android devices work (or not work) with their app. To be able to know what this feels like, Facebook is also asking its employees to take part in “2G Tuesdays” where their devices can simulate a 2G network to see just how slow devices in aforementioned emerging markets are. Hopefully this will mean more of a focus on Android and better performance for lower spec devices in the near future.
What do you think about this change at Facebook? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Wired, Facebook via BGR
The post Facebook tells some of its employees to switch from iOS to Android appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
What is USB Type-C and why is it important?
Every aspect of smartphones are being improved every year. From screens, to processors, batteries, cameras and build quality, smartphones companies are always looking for ways to make their products seem “future proof”. Another aspect of smartphones that are changing are the USB ports used to charge and connect to other devices. Smartphones are beginning to use a new technology called USB Type-C, which involves a new port in the phone and the matching cord used to connect to a charger or other devices. Should you care about this?
USB Type-C capable phones use a new reversible cord that can be plugged into the device or host from using either end. This replaces the old USB system of having one end of the cord act as USB Type-A and the other side possibly acting as the USB Type-B or micro-B. Type-C is capable of not only reversible ends, but symmetrical connectors, meaning it doesn’t matter which way you plug the cord into your phone, similar to Apple’s Lightning cord.
The 24-pin double-sided connector is similar in size to the micro-B USB with the Type-C port measuring 8.4 millimetres (0.33 in) by 2.6 millimetres (0.10 in). The new Type-C system is meant to future-proof and provide a uniform experience when connecting devices, eliminating the hassle of identifying the right end of cords and right way of plugging in micro-USB cables.
Type-C will mean faster charging, quicker data transfer rates and thanks to the smaller connectors, smaller phones can be made too. The Type-C plug is compatible with the USB 3.1 standard meaning super fast data transfer rates when connecting to other devices such as laptops.
You’ll start to see USB Type-C ports on laptops now too thanks to better charging capabilities. This means you want have to mess with AC adapters anymore for charging your laptop, as Type-C can deliver power at up to 100 watts at 20 volts.
Should I be worried if I don’t have a Type-C port?
The answer is opinion based. However, Type-C is just now being adopted by manufacturers and will take at least a couple years to be considered the “universal” option. The Nokia N1 tablet was the first device to ever use this technology and the OnePlus 2 was the first smartphone a couple months ago to include the port. Plus, there are adapters for USB Type-C if you do need to connect your older hardware into something that uses the new port. All in all, you shouldn’t have to worry right now, as the tech is barely being introduced to the mainstream market right now.
Questions or comments about USB Type-C? Let us know below!
The post What is USB Type-C and why is it important? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Facebook is making some of its employees ditch their iPhones for Android devices
In a recent move to help its employees better understand what Android users need, Facebook’s chief product officer Chris Cox is forcing an untold amount of Facebook employees to ditch their iOS devices in favor of Android. The move is being made to help Cox’s staff realize how users in emerging markets are experiencing the social networking platform.
Cox said in recent press briefing:
I am mandating a switch of a whole bunch of my team over to Android, just because people, when left up to their own devices, will often prefer an iPhone.
Facebook serves over 1.5 billion people across the globe. And while subsidized iPhones have become more and more popular in Western markets, the ability to purchase an Android device for a fraction of the cost of an iOS device is a very big selling point among users in emerging markets. Android currently holds a massive 82.8% marketshare, according to IDC.
“What we’re really trying to do is build empathy inside of the company and to really appreciate that the people we’re building for look less and less like us,” says Cox.
Earlier this week, Facebook also introduced something called “2G Tuesdays”, where, every Tuesday, Facebook employees get a notification asking if they’d like their application to behave like it was on a 2G connection. If the employees say “yes,” the app will behave like that for the next hour, allowing them to understand what folks on slower data connections experience on a daily basis.
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5 problems with the Moto X Style (Pure Edition) and how to fix them
The Moto X Style (Pure Edition) brings together everything a lot of us want from our flagship smartphones: fantastic build quality, high-end specifications, a near stock software experience with some very useful features, and a relatively affordable price. Topping off an already great set of features, is the ability to customize the look of the phone for a little bit more of a personalized touch.
Of course, no phone is perfect. Like any smartphone or tablet out there, the latest Motorola flagship has seen its fair share of issues as well. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the common problems faced by Moto X Style (Pure Edition) users, and offer potential solutions on how to fix them!
Disclaimer: Not every Moto X Style (Pure Edition) owner will face these issues, and it is actually more than likely that you won’t come across any of the problems listed below.
Problem #1 – Gyroscope and compass issues
Some users have found that the gyroscope and compass sensors need to be re-calibrated in order to work properly. In the case of the gyroscope issues, users have found the camera to be taking pictures upside down.
Potential solutions:
- If you find your camera to be taking pictures upside down, regardless of which camera application you are using, you will need to re-calibrate the gyroscope. Of course, this isn’t the only way issues with the gyroscope show up, but that has been seen with the Moto X Pure Edition.
- Some users have found the compass while using a Maps application to be off the mark by about 20 degrees.
- In both cases, download an application like the GPS Status & Toolbox from the Google Play Store. Tap on the screen, look for the wrench icon up top, and tap on calibrate compass or calibrate pitch and roll, to address the above mentioned issues.
Problem #2 – Screen waking up while driving even with no notification
Users have found the screen to wake up at random times, even when having not received any notifications. This seems to occur primarily while driving, but there have been other instances, with the phone just resting on a table.
Potential solutions:
- With Moto Display, you have the option to choose what gestures you want to use, such as a wave of the hand to wake the display, or a double tap to wake. If you have the former gesture activated, the screen will wake up whenever it senses any hand movement close to the device. Unfortunately, the sensors seems to be quite sensitive, resulting in the screen waking up even at the slightest movement close to the device. If this issue is proving to be particularly annoying, the only option here is to turn off this gesture setting. The screen will still show your notifications whenever they arrive, and you can use a double tap for a quick glance at them as well.
Problem #3 – Dead pixels and blemishes on the display
Some users have found dead pixels on the display of the device. Others have seen a blue or red blemish on the screen, that is noticeable on dark backgrounds.
Potential solutions:
- For dead pixels, you can download an app like Pixel Fixer from the Google Play Store, and that should do the trick.
- In the case of the blemishes, they occur when there has been some additional pressure on the screen. You can run the pixel test above to see if that works, but it likely won’t if it is pressure-related. In this case, the only option may be to pick up a replacement device if possible.
Problem #4 – Speaker crackling
A large number of users have found some cracking with the top speaker. While it mostly occurs at the maximum volumes, a few have found it to happen at lower volumes as well. There also seems to be an audible popping sound after a notification alert happens, with the bottom speaker affected in this case as well.
Potential solutions:
- As far as the speaker distortion is concerned, Motorola has taken note of this quite widespread issue, and the problem might be on the software side of things. If that is the case, you will need to wait for a future software update for a permanent fix.
- Some users have found that it seems to go away with the volume set to one level below the maximum volume. It’s not the best answer, but does help.
- Playing around with the equalizer settings in the Settings menu, or turning off “Audio Effects” entirely has done the trick for some people.
- When it comes to the popping sound however, this seems to be a hardware issue, and the only option here will be to pick up a replacement if possible.
Problem #5 – Connectivity issues
As is the case with any new device, there is a chance that you might face issues with connecting to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Moto X Style owners have faced problems with Bluetooth connectivity in particular, when the connection dropping, or the device not working, even the phone is showing an established connection. This seems to occur when multiple Bluetooth devices are connected at the same time.
Potential solutions:
Wi-Fi issues
- Turn the device and the router off for at least ten seconds, then turn them back and retry the connection.
- Go to Settings – Power saving and ensure that this option is turned off.
- Use the Wi-Fi Analyzer to check how crowded your channel is, and switch to a better option.
- Forget the Wi-Fi connection by going to Settings – Wi-Fi and long tapping the connection you want, then selecting “Forget”. Re-enter the details and try again.
- Make sure the router firmware is up to date.
- Make sure the applications and software on the device are up to date.
- Go into Wi-Fi – Settings – Advanced and make a note of your device MAC address, then make sure that it is allowed access in the router’s MAC filter.
Bluetooth issues
- With issues when connecting to the car, check the manufacturer’s manual for the device and the car and reset your connections.
- Ensure that you are not missing a vital part of the connection process.
- Go to Settings – Bluetooth and ensure nothing needs changing
- Go into Settings – Bluetooth delete all prior pairings and try setting them up again from scratch.
- When it comes to issues with multiple device connection, only a future update will be able to address this problem.
Guides – Hard reset, wipe cache partition, boot into Safe Mode
Hard Reset
- Make sure that the device is switched off.
- Press and hold the volume down key for a few seconds.
- While pressing the volume down key, simultaneously press the power button, and then release both.
- In the menu, use the volume down key to navigate to Recovery, and tap the volume up key to confirm.
- When the Android logo shows up, press and hold the power button.
- Then press and release the volume up key to show the menu options.
- Select “wipe data/factory reset,” and press the power button to confirm.
Wipe cache partition
- Make sure that the device is switched off.
- Press and hold the volume down key for a few seconds.
- While pressing the volume down key, simultaneously press the power button, and then release both.
- In the menu, use the volume down key to navigate to Recovery, and tap the volume up key to confirm.
- When the Android logo shows up, press and hold the power button.
- Then press and release the volume up key to show the menu options.
- Select “wipe cache partition,” and press the power button to confirm.
Boot into Safe Mode
- With the phone on, press and hold the power key until the on-screen “Power off” option shows up.
- Long press on the on-screen button, and select “Boot into Safe Mode.”
And this concludes our roundup of some of the most frequent problems faced by Moto X Style (Pure Edition) owners, and what they can do about them. If you ran in any of these problems and you found alternative solutions, let us know and we’ll revisit the issue. For more Moto X Style (Pure Edition) discussions, or if you have any questions, check out our official forums!
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If you’re still unsure if you want to get the Moto X Style (Pure Edition), don’t let this list of issues faze you. These problems are generally manageable, and in the case of any software bugs, will be fixed with future software updates. For what its worth, you risk running into problems like this with most devices, and the Moto X Style (Pure Edition) remains a fantastic choice at this price point.
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