Wazombi Smart Shades review – CNET

The Good Wazombi’s Smart Shades have a clever base mechanism. The coming interchangeable wheels will make the device more flexible, and the developing firmware has exciting possibilities.

The Bad Right now, the device is too limited to appeal to anyone without continuous-loop, beaded-chain shades. Plus, the sluggish speed makes remote control unappealing.

The Bottom Line Despite its limitations, Wazombi’s device shows some potential — especially as the hardware and firmware continue to develop. Keep your eye on it, because in a few months, this could be a great buy.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

Wazombi’s Smart Shades are a simple product. The body of the device sticks to the wall beside your window, you feed the line from your shade into the wheel of the device, and it turns to crank your shade open or closed. The device alone costs $90 (about £64 or AU$118), but another $20 (£14 or AU$26) will buy a solar panel to power it — as opposed to the included Mini-USB charger. A free iOS- and Android-compatible app sets schedules and, in the near future, automations.

Right now, Wazombi’s device has some serious limitations — in particular a reliance on continuous-loop, beaded chain shades. The base technology is inelegant. But it’s also clever, and has potential. Wazombi is aware of many of the limitations it has, and plans fixes for most of them over the next few months. Though I would pass on the product right now, Smart Shades is worth keeping an eye on as it develops.

Wazombi’s clever device smartens your shades…
See full gallery

1 – 5 of 8

Next
Prev

The design of Wazombi’s Smart Shades is simple, but that simplicity introduces three problems:

• The device only works with hard-to-find and often-expensive continuous-loop, beaded-chain shades. If you don’t have these already, Wazombi’s gadget isn’t worth it.
• The wheel only turns so quickly, so opening or closing a shade can take from 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the weight of the shade. Though that isn’t much of an issue for automation, it makes remote control annoying and inconvenient.
• The price is higher than competitors like the $80 Teptron Move (slated for next month) or the $90 FlipFlic, which includes a solar panel (out next January).

View full gallery
Chris Monroe/CNET

Wazombi plans to fix the first two issues within the next three months — the first with affordable wheels personalized for different shade-types, the second with an adjustable turn speed. When those changes come, the device will be much improved.

Other exciting possibilities for Wazombi will come with further updates. The ability to automate shades based on the intensity of the sunlight entering the window — as measured by the solar panel — will be a big addition. And it should be active through a firmware update within the next few months.

After working with Smart Shades for a couple days, though, it seems like a clever product that lacks polish and flexibility. Hopefully, those will come as more features develop. But for now, unless you have continuous-loop, beaded-chain shades, I recommend waiting.

Bethesda says anyone can try Doom beta on 15 April, confirms DLC packs

Everyone will be able to get a taste of the new Doom’s multiplayer portion in less than two weeks.

Bethesda has announced an open beta that will run from 15 April to 17 April. Unlike past betas, which were limited in their availability, everyone with a Windows PC, Xbox One, or PlayStation 4 can join and experience the same content as the closed beta. That includes two modes (called Team Deathmatch and Warpath) and two maps (called Heatwave and Infernal).

Doom is a reboot of the Doom series, as well as the first major installment of the series since Doom 3 came out in 2004. Keep in mind this early access to Doom is all about the multiplayer component. The upcoming first-person shooter, which is developed by id Software and published by Bethesda, won’t get a full release on Windows, Xbox One, and PS4 4 until 13 May.

Bethesda also announced that id Software is planning both free and paid additions to Doom’s multiplayer component following the launch of the game. SnapMap, for instance, which is the mode that allows you to create multiplayer content, will get free content updates like map modules. Multiplayer will also receive free updates in the form of new game modes.

Id software will deliver three premium multiplayer DLC packs after launch as well. These will bring a number of new maps, hack modules, playable demons, weapons, and more. The first DLC will be available this summer.

Each DLC pack will cost $14.99 (£11.99), or you can get them all with the Season Pass for $39.99 (£29.99).

How to make your GIFs load fast every time – CNET

Alina Bradford

Have you ever excitedly turned a video into a GIF…and then realized it took forever to load on your phone? Or didn’t load at all?

It sucks the joy right out of GIF-sharing. An unoptimized GIF can look jumpy and strange and even look pixelated or jittery. The good news is that you can make fast-loading GIFs with just a few tricks.

Delete excess frames

The main reason why your GIFs load so slowly is likely because you have too many frames in the GIF.

Next time, delete one frame for every two that you use. Reddit user MichaelTunnell found that this method makes GIFs much faster and fixes the problems that can come from opening the GIF in different browsers. Just make sure you aren’t deleting an important frame, like a frame with text or a significant action, for the best look. Video & GIF Memes for Android lets you upload video you shot on your phone and edit frames.

You can also use the YouTube video editor to cut down some frames. This option is found under Advanced Settings > Enhancements > Trim. Once there, use click on the frame you want to trim, click on the Split button and drag the tab blue tab that appears on the frame to the left to remove the frame. Click on done. Then, to make it into a GIF, copy the YouTube link into the Giphy GIF creator or another online GIF creator. The video will be converted into a streamlined GIF.

Try color reduction

Another easy way to reduce a GIF’s size is by minimizing the number of colors used in the GIF.

Use your app’s color reduction tool to reduce the number of colors in each frame to 256 or less for the best speed. Most apps with this feature have a box where you type in the number of colors you want your GIF to use or a slider to adjust the number accordingly.

Your app doesn’t have this option? Upload your video to GIFCreator.me to adjust the colors.

Compress your GIF

Once you have your GIF just the way you want it, it’s time to reduce its size some more. Compression diminishes the file size of the GIF without reducing its quality, making it load more quickly. Simply upload your GIF to a site like GIF Optimizer or Ezgif.com to use their free compression tools.

7 quick cool ways to make a GIF

1 – 5 of 7

Next
Prev

​How to stream PlayStation 4 games to your PC or Mac – CNET

Sony

We’ve all been there. You want to play your PlayStation 4, but someone else is using the TV. There’s no need to throw a fit or start an argument. Sony has released an update for the PS4 that allows you to stream games right to your PC or Mac. It’s similar to the streaming feature on the PlayStation Vita.

The Remote Play feature should work on most desktops and laptops. Machines running Windows 8.1 or higher and OS X Yosemite or higher are supported. Your computer must also have at least 2GB of RAM, a 1,024×768-pixel or higher resolution display, and at least a 2.4GHz Core i5-520M processor

Sony recommends that for best performance you also have an Internet connection with upload and download speeds of at least 12 Mbps. You can check your connection speed here.

Here’s how to set up Remote Play on your PC or Mac:

Step 1: Update your PS4

• Head to Settings
• Select System Software Update
• Select Update (if available)

Dan Graziano/CNET

Step 2: Enable Remote Play on the PS4

• Head to Settings
• Click Remote Play Connection Settings
• Select the check box to Enable Remote Play

Step 3: Set the PS4 as your primary system

• Head to Settings
• Click PlayStation Network/Account Management
• Select Activate As Your Primary PS4
• Tap Activate

Step 4: Change the PS4’s power settings

• Head to Settings
• Click on Power Save Settings
• Select Set Feature Available in Rest Mode
• Make sure the box that reads “Stay Connected to the Internet” is enabled
• Make sure the box that reads “Enable Turning on PS4 from Network” is enabled

Dan Graziano/CNET

Step 5: Install Remote Play on your PC or Mac

• Click this link to download Sony’s Remote Play software on your PC or Mac
• Follow the instructions to install the software

Step 6: Game time

• Launch the Remote Play software on your computer
• Click the Start button in the Remote Play software
• Sign in to your PlayStation account
• The software will then search for your system. It should have no problem finding it as long as your PS4 is turned on (or in Rest mode) and connected to the Internet
• Connect your DualShock 4 controller to your computer using a Micro-USB cord and start gaming.

Spigen is offering a variety of Galaxy S7, S7 edge and LG G5 cases for under $4

Spigen is hosting another sale on its Amazon store, bringing the price of a variety of cases down to less than $4. The accessory maker is offering a number of case options for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge and the LG G5. Each case has it’s own coupon code, with prices either at the $2.99 or $3.99 mark. There are protective cases, slim cases, clear cases and even wallet cases available in this deal.

Here are the various case options, broken down by phone.

Galaxy S7

• Wallet S (Black) – $3.99 w/ code R8299QCW
• Ultra Hybrid (Crystal Clear) – $2.99 w/ code 8TYCERNN
• Tough Armor (Gunmetal) – $3.99 w/ code HVXCFTKC
• Thin Fit (Black) – $2.99 w/ code WAFBVJ6Z
• Slim Armor CS (Gunmetal) – $3.99 w/ code VTZ8SBXV
• Rugged Armor (Black) – $3.99 w/ code G4RI8T9O
• Neo Hybrid (Satin Silver) – $3.99 w/ code JGE38PIR
• Neo Hybrid Crystal (Gunmetal) – $3.99 w/ code Y2MNV4YI
• Liquid Crystal (Crystal Clear) – $2.99 w/ code 2TGZ6XTE

Galaxy S7 Edge

• Wallet S (Black) – $3.99 w/ code UNKQG5NW
• Ultra Hybrid (Crystal Clear) – $2.99 w/ code VWOKJEL3
• Tough Armor (Gunmetal) – $3.99 w/ code AJF3MX2K
• Thin Fit (Black) – $2.99 w/ code ZWRSEVXW
• Rugged Armor (Black) – $3.99 w/ code F92GV3LS
• Neo Hybrid (Crystal Clear) – $3.99 w/ code MGT9LEJR
• Liquid Crystal (Crystal Clear) – $2.99 w/ code D2R3SQ34
• Neo Hybrid (Satin Silver) – $3.99 w/ code YTLE3CWX

LG G5

• Thin Fit (Black) – $2.99 w/ code SYG4PR9J
• Ultra Hybrid (Crystal Clear) – $3.99 w/ code 485ZJ5DF
• Neo Hybrid (Satin Silver) – $3.99 w/ code 3TNWELR2
• Neo Hybrid (Crystal Clear) – $3.99 w/ code BE5THFZ2
• Wallet S (Black) – $3.99 w/ code QFI5BIEE

If you are interested in any of these deals, you’ll want to act quick as we don’t know how long they will last. Be sure to let us know which ones you pick up in the comments!

Can you use a Chromebook offline?

It’s more than a web browser. Your Chromebook can run real apps without an internet connection.

Chromebooks have a reputation of being an online-only machine. While that was true when they first came out, things have changed. There’s no doubt that having a connection to the internet is the best way to use a Chromebook — or any laptop for the most part — but Chrome OS has evolved and there are plenty of apps that let you do your thing while you’re not online.

Since the introduction of what Google called “Packaged Apps” it’s been fairly easy to build applications for Chrome that can be self-contained and run everything locally. Chrome has a file system, and programs can store data and retrieve it as needed. We tend to think of Chrome as a browser, but it’s more. It’s a full fledged application platform, and designed to let third party programs run outside of what we call the browser window. You don’t have to do things the same way Microsoft or Apple does to bring “real” applications to life, and Google — as well as plenty of others — are doing just that.

If you visit the Chrome store, you’ll find a nice selection of games, text editing and writing tools, entertainment features and utilities that don’t need an internet connection to run. You’ll even find tools web developers can use to package their own applications to work with Chrome while the user is offline. Familiar companies like Autodesk and Amazon have apps to use offline, you’ll find code editors for just about any language, and you can even play Cut the Rope without a network connection. All the apps you’ll find aren’t great (another thing you’ll find on any platform) and there are some serious holes in the selection if you need to do professional-level video, photo or audio editing. But with apps like Kindle and Evernote and Pocket available, as well as being able to play music and movies while you’re not connected, you’ll find plenty to do without a WiFi connection.

Google is well represented here, too. You can pin movies and TV shows through Google Play Movies and TV, use your calendar and email just like you would on any laptop offline, and you can even set up Google Drive to keep local files in sync with the same cloud you would use on any other computer — including your phone. And enabling offline mode in Google Docs allows you to use apps for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations any time you like that can easily be kept in sync online when you do have access to the internet.

Of course, every laptop is better with an internet connection. The web is the platform of the future, and we see Microsoft and Apple making their web services better every year, and making great ways we can use them from our computers. Google has a leg up here because they have been an internet-first company since the beginning. As they continue to improve Chrome — and get users familiar with the idea of Chromebooks by getting schools and businesses on board — the gap between Chromebooks and “real” laptops, whether genuine or perceived, will continue to close.

T-Mobile launches Enhanced Voice Services for clearer, more reliable calls

T-Mobile has announced the launch of Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), the moniker for what it calls a “true next-gen voice technology.” Most wireless customers are only now getting a chance to check out the benefits of Voice over LTE (VoLTE), but T-Mobile claims that EVS pushes things further with improvements over VoLTE across the board.

In all, there are three main areas of improvements that T-Mobile customers can look forward to with EVS. From T-Mobile:

• First, EVS improves voice call reliability in areas of weaker signal, which means the rare dropped call on LTE will happen even less frequently.
• Second, EVS provides even higher-fidelity calls than the HD Voice we were the very first in the US to introduce back in 2013. EVS does this with a broader audio frequency range, which translates to richer, more realistic-sounding voice audio.
• Third, EVS delivers all this more of the time and in more places. EVS works whether you’re on Wi-Fi or the T-Mobile LTE network.

Perhaps the most interesting detail of all is that EVS should provide improved call clarity even if you’re speaking to someone without an EVS-capable phone.

For now, EVS is only available on the LG G5, along with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The G5 works with EVS out of the box, while the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge recently received a software update that enables the feature.

While the initial pool of compatible phones is limited, T-Mobile says it’s hoping to enable the feature on seven phones by the end of the year.

The best Chromebooks

They all run the same software, but there are big differences between these Chromebook models

We’ve done our best to keep up with Chromebook coverage here at Android Central for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being that we use these machines every single day. We spend time with every Chromebook model we can get our hands on, putting in full reviews whenever possible.

With the rapid pace of releases pumping out new Chromebooks on a regular basis it’s hard to say what’s “the best,” but every so often we need to put our collective feet down and make a list — these are the best Chromebooks available as of November 2015.

Article updated in November, 2015

The best: Dell Chromebook 13

We can just come right out and say it — Dell has made the best non-Pixel Chromebook to date with the new Chromebook 13. This 13.3-inch Chromebook has a great metal build coated in durable soft touch material, along with a great backlit keyboard and a big glass-covered trackpad. The display is a 1920×1080 IPS panel that looks great in the non-touch matte version, but there are also models with a Gorilla Glass-covered touchscreen of the same resolution.

See at Dell

See at Amazon

At its lowest configuration — starting at $429 — you’ll be getting a new Intel Celeron processor that’s plenty capable when paired with 4GB of RAM, but if you have a specific reason for higher specs Dell will oblige and sell you one of several other configurations. You can spec up a Core i3 or Core i5 processor, up to 8GB of RAM and a touchscreen, but you can start pushing $800 quickly here.

The Chromebook 13 offers fantastic battery life, is built super well and really checks all of the boxes aside from being a bit heavy at 3.23 pounds. If you’re okay spending a little extra money to get something better than your standard cheap plastic Chromebook, this is the model to get — just make sure you choose the right configuration that works for your needs and budget.

Read our Dell Chromebook 13 review

Honorable mention: Toshiba Chromebook 2

We were extremely impressed by the first iteration of the Toshiba Chromebook 2 (in fact it was our top recommended Chromebook until the Dell was released), and Toshiba has made a simple refresh of the model late in 2015.

The latest Chromebook 2 bumped up to a new set of processors — either a new Celeron or Core i3) — and a backlit keyboard while keeping the same build, battery life and great IPS display. You’ll get 4GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a Celeron processor in the standard configuration, while it starts $100 less (MSRP) than the Dell Chromebook 13.

See at Amazon

It isn’t made nearly as well as the Dell and the battery life is also a bit shorter on the Chromebook 2, but you may find it worth it to save the difference in price. For a great idea of what to expect from the Chromebook 2, be sure to read our full review of the previous model below.

Read our review of the original Toshiba Chromebook 2

On a budget: ASUS Chromebook C201 and Chromebook Flip (C100)

Both of ASUS’ latest Chromebooks hit good price points, ranging from about $175 to $275 depending on the retailer. The cheaper of the two is the Chromebook C201, which is an 11.6-inch all-metal built laptop with a standard set of ports, a new Rockchip ARM processor (meaning it’s finless) and a solid IPS display.

You can pick up a model with 4GB of RAM, which we recommend, for just $200 and get a great device that’s built better than you’d expect for the price. If you’re really tight on cash you can save about $25 and go with the lower model with just 2GB of RAM, but we recommend you put off buying a few coffees the next week and just bump to the higher model.

See at Amazon

See at Google Store

Stepping up the scale about $75 on each model is the Chromebook Flip (aka the C100), which is built much the same as the C201 but has a touch screen that’s an inch smaller at 10.1-inches in total and is convertible into a pseudo-tablet with the screen flipping back completely.

It has the same metal build and internals as the C201, which are plenty usable, and while there are compromises made in order to make this Chromebook convertible it’s a good option if you need a small machine with great battery life and want to be able to touch the screen directly.

See at Amazon

See at Google Store

Read our ASUS Chromebook Flip (C100) review

Bigger screen: Acer Chromebook 14

Chromebooks are designed to be light and portable, but as the 11- and 13-inch segments have filled out manufacturers have started to move to larger screen sizes. If you need more screen real estate but still want some sort of portability, the Acer Chromebook 14 is the way to go.

Announced in April 2016, the Acer Chromebook 14 comes in checking a lot of boxes for those who want a laptop form factor but also lots of power and quality hardware. First off the laptop has an aluminum build, which you don’t always expect in a Chromebook, and it also has a 1080p display, Intel N3060 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and 12 hours of battery life. An extra bonus is that both of its USB ports are the faster USB 3.0 spec, which is great.

That all comes together for just a $299 price, which is phenomenal for everything that’s packed inside. There’s a lower-end model with less RAM and a lower-resolution display, but we just wouldn’t recommend it. This is going to be a great choice if you need a little bit bigger machine.

See at Amazon

For an even bigger screen, there’s also the Acer Chromebook 15, which is even bigger but a generation old at this point — you’ll have to really want that extra diagonal inch of space to go to this lower-powered model.

Money’s no object: Chromebook Pixel

If you’re looking for the best possible Chromebook experience, and don’t care how much it’ll cost you, look no further than the new Chromebook Pixel. The 2015 refresh of the Pixel actually cut the price by a considerable $300 and still jumping to the latest Core i5 processor and improving the screen a bit, while keeping the same wonderful build quality and simplistic design.

You’ll also be getting cutting-edge USB-C ports for charging and peripherals, which really is the way of the future. Spending $999 on a Chromebook really isn’t advisable for most people, but if you’re all-in on Chrome OS it may be worth consideration.

See at Google Store

It’s hard to go wrong with any of these picks

With these options, there’s something to satisfy most any need that you may have when it comes to picking out a Chromebook. Whether you’re buying for yourself, as a gift, or giving guidance to someone else for their own purchase, be sure to start here before making a buying decision. We’ll be keeping up with this “best Chromebooks” list as new models come out, so you’ll always be able to turn to it for the latest information.

Keep up with all of our Chromebook news

Apple code reveals you might soon be able to remove stock iOS apps

In the near future, you might not have to tuck stock iOS apps into folders.

Apple’s iPhone and iPad come pre-loaded with Apple-developed apps, such as Compass and Stocks, but unfortunately, you’re unable to remove these apps. Unlike third-party apps, which you can long-press on the home screen until they vibrate and become removable, stock iOS apps are permanent and can only be stowed in folders should you want to declutter your home screen.

All that could soon change, according to App Advice, which recently spotted new keys in iTunes metadata that suggested some stock apps might be removable one day. The keys are found on every app in the App Store and appear as “isFirstParty” and “isFirstPartyHideableApp”. They are now set to false but could be turned on during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

App Advice

App Advice noted Apple is expected to announce the release of iOS 10 at WWDC 2016 in June, so the company could conceivably use the same developer event to announce API adjustments that will allow stock apps to be hidden. Keep in mind Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, told Buzzfeed News last autumn that Apple is considering letting consumers remove stock apps:

“This is a more complex issue than it first appears,” Cook explained. “There are some apps that are linked to something else on the iPhone. If they were to be removed they might cause issues elsewhere on the phone. There are other apps that aren’t like that. So over time, I think with the ones that aren’t like that, we’ll figure out a way [for you to remove them]. … It’s not that we want to suck up your real estate; we’re not motivated to do that. We want you to be happy. So I recognize that some people want to do this, and it’s something we’re looking at.” 

Although Apple has been stalling on this functionality because it could mess with the core iOS experience, it seems like the company is giving in a little and will at least let you get rid of some stock apps in the near future.

Hands-free and secure: ExoMount Touch Air Vent Car Mount is 31 per cent off

We all get creative with our attempts at hands-free placement, but storing your smartphone in your car’s cup holder never quite seems right.

That’s where the ExoMount Touch Air Vent Car Mount comes in, which allows you to drive safely by allowing you to mount your phone with just one touch. For a limited time, you can pick one up for just $16.99 (£11.94) on Pocket-lint Deals.

Thanks to 360-degree rotation and swivel, the ExoMount allows for nearly any viewing angle, no matter the model of vehicle. Inside the mount, non-slip rubber grips will ensure your phone doesn’t go flying whenever you hit the brakes. Take that, cup holder.

Features:

• Mount your phone to your air vent w/ just 1 touch
• View your phone in any orientation w/ 360˚ rotation & swivel
• Keep your phone stable w/ non-slip rubber grip
• Use w/ smartphones, MP3 players & more
• Pop in a thick card to use it as a phone stand on your desk

Go hands-free on the road with ExoMount Touch Air Vent Car Mount, now 31 per cent off at Pocket-lint Deals.