13-Inch MacBook Air Models Now Have 8GB RAM as Standard Option

In addition to releasing the next-generation 12-inch MacBook with faster specs and a Rose Gold color option, Apple has announced that its two 13-inch MacBook Air configurations now ship with 8GB of RAM as a standard option starting today.

13-inch MacBook Air models previously had 4GB of RAM for stock configurations, with 8GB of RAM available as an upgrade option for built-to-order models. 11-inch MacBook Air models continue to have 4GB of RAM for base configurations.

Apple did not make any other changes to the MacBook Air lineup, which is awkwardly positioned between the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook and the MacBook Pro. In fact, there is some speculation that the MacBook Air might eventually be discontinued, but for now it lives on with older Broadwell processors and no Retina display.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Air (Don’t Buy)
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Amazon Echo is on sale for $153 for one day only

Amazon’s Deal of the Day includes a 15% discount on the Echo, which is now available for $153. The Amazon Tap is also on sale for $111.

The Bluetooth speaker plays music from a variety of sources including Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and more, and the always-on microphones let you issue voice commands from anywhere in the room. An ever-growing list of integrations means that you can do more with the Echo, such as control your connected lights, order pizza, and even book an Uber.

The deal is valid for one day only, so if you’re interested, head to Amazon from the link below to get your hands on the Echo for $153.

MORE: Amazon Echo review

See at Amazon

Thanks Tony for the tip!

CREO Mark 1 is now available in India for ₹19,999

The CREO Mark 1 made its debut in the Indian market last week, and the phone is now up for purchase at Flipkart as well as the company’s website for ₹19,999.

The phone features a 5.5-inch QHD display, a MediaTek Helio X10 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB internal memory, 21MP camera, 8MP front shooter, LTE, and a 3100mAh battery with Quick Charge tech. The software side of the equation is where CREO has lavished its attention, offering a stock UI interlaced with custom features such as Sense, Retriever, and Echo. The Mark 1 also comes with a custom engraving option, which is available if you buy the phone direct from CREO.

For more on what’s on offer with the Mark 1, check out our hands-on post:

MORE: CREO Mark 1 hands-on

See at Flipkart

Global variant of Galaxy S5 starts receiving Marshmallow

Samsung commenced Marshmallow rollout for the Galaxy S5 in South Korea (SM-G900L) late last month, and the update is now hitting the global variant of the phone (SM-G900F). The SM-G900F variant is sold in Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia, with the update rolling out to users in Sri Lanka.

Samsung is known to roll out updates in countries with a relatively minor userbase, following which they’re made available widely. It looks like that’s the case with the Galaxy S5 as well. There’s no timeframe as to when we’ll see the update becoming available in other regions, but we’ll let you know once we hear more.

‘I ❤ Android’ t-shirts are now available in India!

Can’t get enough of Android? Now you can display your affection for the operating system with this limited-edition “I ❤ Android” t-shirt, available directly in India.

We’ve teamed up with MakeMyMerch, a crowdfunding site run by the good folks over at Redwolf. You can buy the t-shirts in black, navy blue, red, royal blue, and maroon, and we have both men’s and women’s sizing options available. At the front, you have the “I ❤ Android” message displayed, with the ❤ symbol encased inside the Android mascot. On the back, you’ll find our beloved Android Central mascot Lloyd.

The t-shirts are available for ₹600, and are on sale until Thursday, May 5. Head down to the link below to grab yours today!

See at MakeMyMerch

Moto X Force receives huge discount in India, now on sale for just ₹34,999

The Moto X Force launched in India for ₹49,999, but you can now pick up the 32GB edition of the phone for as low as ₹34,999 on Flipkart. The e-retailer has slashed ₹15,000 off of the price of the 32GB model, and the 64GB variant has also received a substantial price cut of ₹16,000 and is now available for ₹37,999.

The Moto X Force comes with a 5.4-inch QHD shatterproof display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 SoC, 3GB of RAM, microSD slot, 21MP camera with PDAF, 5MP front camera, LTE, and a 3760mAh battery with Quick Charge tech.

There’s no mention as to how long the deal will last, so if you’re on the lookout for a power-packed phone from Motorola, head to the link below to get the Moto X Force.

See at Flipkart

Leaked PS4K “NEO” specifications suggest better processor and graphics for PS4.5

Rumours of a new PlayStation 4 model are building momentum with the latest report suggesting that the upgraded machine will feature a faster processor and better graphics chip.

Gaming website Giant Bomb claims to have received details on what is being dubbed the PS4.5 or PS4K from multiple sources. It says that they reveal several key specifications and facts, one of which being the console’s codename: Neo.

The site also states that the Neo version of the PlayStation 4 will have an octa-core processor running at 2.1GHz – the conventional PS4 runs at 1.6GHz. The GPU is claimed to be an improved AMD GCN with 36 CUs running at 911MHz, a bump over the standard model. And the memory will faster, with the 8GB of RAM running at 218GB/s rather than 176GB/s.

READ: Sony PlayStation 4K: What is PS4.5, when is it coming and how will it affect VR?

Contrary to some other PS4.5 reports, the 4K output of the new version will not be for gaming.

Game Bomb says that it has seen documents that suggest the Neo will upscale games to a 4K resolution in the console itself, but it doesn’t seem to support native 4K gaming.

It is also likely, we feel, to be able to playback Ultra HD 4K Blu-rays with HDR processing. Indeed, it is our belief here on Pocket-lint that 4K movie playback is the main reason for Sony to upgrade the console in the first place, not gaming even though that could benefit too.

Developers will be able to make use of the hardware upgrades to offer a “more stable frame rate” and “higher visual fidelity”, but not at 4K natively. And they will also need to ensure that a version of the game without the enhancements is available on the same disc.

It is thought that enhancements could even be downloaded separately if a Neo is recognised when the disc is first inserted.

Rumours hint at an E3 unveiling of the new hardware this June, so we don’t have long to wait to find out if this is all bang on the money or simply hokum.

Super engines are coming from 3D printed ceramics breakthrough

Scientists have made a breakthrough with the material, ceramic, which could mean car, jet plane and spaceship engines that are better than ever.

Ceramics are amazing, they can withstand extreme temperatures and are largely impervious to friction and scratching. This means they’re the ideal material for use inside an engine where friction based wear and overheating are major issues. The problem is ceramics are difficult to make into complex shapes. Or they were.

Ceramics are currently used in high-end car brakes, for housing microelectronics and in thermal shielding tiles in spacecraft. But since they can’t be manipulated easily without weakening them they’ve had few other applications.

Now scientists at HRL Laboratories in California have developed a way of making ceramics in a 3D printer. That means previously impossible shape manufacturing can now be achieved. Check out the video below for the science of how it’s done.

The lab is owned and funded by Boeing, DARPA and General Motors showing this breakthrough is focused on jet engines primarily.

The use of ceramics in engines should mean far less wear and a greater heat resistance. That should mean jet engines that can run at far higher efficiencies for more power and longer life spans.

Expect to see this tech advancing space travel, flight and one day even cars.

READ: Hoverboard and jetpack spawn extreme Flyboard Air

Anki Overdrive v1.3 update makes it better for families, here’s why

Anki Overdrive launched last year and freed slot car racing from its slots. At the same time it turned simple racing into augmented video game battles.

Its premise is simple, connect the flexible track to make a circuit and the robot cars will automatically keep themselves on course. This leaves the player free to use the smartphone app to control the speed, steer and trigger various weapons and attacks.

The action happens on the living room carpet but it’s extended to a video game experience with the sound, visuals and campaign modes offered on a smartphone or tablet screen.

As you’d expect, it’s been very popular with families. However, the launch version of the software had a few shortcomings. After the Team Play addition of version 1.2, it wasn’t until the latest 1.3 update that Anki Overdrive became the perfect family friendly racing experience.

Here’s why…

READ: Anki Overdrive review: App-controlled car racing fun for all the family

Anki Overdrive v1.3 changes

The first big change is the addition of two modifiers across the different game modes. Balance cars makes a huge difference to families as it ensures a level playing field for all the racers.

Previously, if someone had played a lot of Anki Overdrive and upgraded their car’s performance and weapons it would be almost impossible to beat them with a un-upgraded car. Now, with balance cars mode selected this means that family members of different abilities still have a chance of beating even the most experienced of racers.

The next addition to Anki Overdrive is a one shot kill modifier. This takes its queue from Golden Eye’s classic golden gun mode where all it takes is a single bullet to bring down your opponent.

Turn this modifier on during a race and it creates a knife edge competition. Whereas previously a lead car could preserve its damage and armour, now anyone can be taken down with one shot. This means that the lead changes hands much more often. For a family it simply opens the playing field to more potential winners.

Like Mario Kart’s blue shell power, this might be unpopular to experts who are used to leading out a race from the front, but for those of us who bring up the rear, like in Mario Kart, it means we have a chance to disrupt the race and get in on the action.

The final change in the latest update for Anki Overdrive helps families reduce the setup time for each race. Once the track has been laid and scanned you don’t have to rescan the course for subsequent battles.

This solves the problem of having to scan a course before each and every race. This really didn’t make sense if you hadn’t changed the course so it’s good to see this tweak enhance the experience.

Combine these new updates to the app with various bundles and discount deals at retail and Anki Overdrive is the perfect racing experience for families.

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Dlodlo V One: Is VR about to get fashionable?

Dlodlo might not be a company that’s easy to spell correctly, or pronounce, but it is one that is doing its best to make virtual reality fashionable.

Let’s face it, the current VR options aren’t exactly the prettiest. The likes of HTC Vive and Oculus are both big headsets involving various other gear and even if you wanted to, you couldn’t just pop them on and go for a stroll watching VR down the street.

Then you have the other side of the VR coin with Samsung’s Gear VR, Google Cardboard and other smartphone-powered headsets, which would allow you to do this, but again, they aren’t small, nor particularly fashionable looking.

Chinese company Dlodlo on the other hand, is hoping to solve all your VR problems. Or at least the one that stops you being able to experience virtual reality in the park, without looking like an idiot. It’s V One portable VR glasses look like a pair of sunnies and they come complete with what the company calls a D Box for touch control and the DLOS VR ROM operating system.

The V One glasses are just 16mm thin and weigh 78g. The 2K display offers a 1600ppi and a 100-degree field of view and the company claims the 10ms latency display solves vestibular vertigo. The D Box features a quad-core 64-bit CPU and a double cluster 64-bit GPU on board, powered by the custom OS called DLOS VR ROM, which is based on Android Lollipop. This device can be smartphone and PC powered.

Dlodlo announced the V One portable glasses would be released before the end of 2016 at an event in New York. The company’s co-founder and VP wouldn’t detail a price at the IFA Global Press Conference, but he did say the NY event would take place towards the middle of the year.