Amazon promises to eliminate racial gaps in delivery areas
Just two weeks after a Bloomberg report revealed glaring racial gaps in Amazon’s same-day Prime delivery areas, the online retail giant has promised to eliminate those dead zones by expanding the service “to every zip code of the 27 cities where Prime Same Day delivery is currently launched,” Amazon said in a statement today.
The controversy started when Bloomberg’s analysis showed same-day deliveries were unavailable in predominantly black or Hispanic zip codes in at least six major cities including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City and Washington, D.C.
The dead zones were brought to the attention of the National Black Caucus, which immediately began monitoring the situation and initiated an FTC investigation, while simultaneously calling on Amazon to take swift action. That outcry worked, apparently. As of today, Amazon has expanded to Roxbury, a largely African American neighborhood in Boston where the service was previously unavailable despite being surrounded by same-day delivery areas.
In a statement to USA Today earlier this week, Amazon claimed race was not a deciding factor in determining which neighborhood got the service, but pointed to a number of other factors including, “distance to the nearest fulfillment center, local demand in an area, numbers of Prime members in an area, as well as the ability of our various carrier partners to deliver up to 9 p.m. every single day, even Sunday.”
Charter acquisition of Time Warner Cable approved by the FCC
It feels like forever since Time Warner Cable agreed to merge with Charter Communications, for an estimated $55 billion. But today, nearly a year after the two companies struck a deal, the Federal Communications Commission has finally granted its approval. The announcement follows FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and the US Justice Department green-lighting the merger in April, which confirmed that it was only a matter of time before it became official.
It’s worth noting that Charter is also acquiring Bright House Networks, a regional TV and internet provider, as part of the agreement between it and the government. Additionally, last month Wheeler revealed there would be some caveats for Charter, including not being be able to impede access to streaming content. Namely, Charter can’t set data caps for subscribers or charge for service based on usage — and there might be more compromises.
A detailed release of the conditions for the merger will be released over the coming days, according to a statement from the FCC. Nevertheless, this positions Charter as the second largest cable and internet service in the US with 24 million subscribers total, right behind Comcast’s 28 million.
Persistence pays off, folks.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Tweetbot makes it easier to go on Twitter rants
Tweetbot 4 brought some much needed features to the third-party Twitter client, such as a Stats and Activity Tab plus a revamped iPad app. Now there’s a new version of the app that’ll be sure to please those who love to post a whole bunch of tweets in a row. See, in the default Twitter app, you have to either use a hashtag or manually reply to yourself if you wanted related tweets to appear in a single chronological thread. The latest Tweetbot 4, however, has introduced a new feature called Topics, which lets you group together those tweets way, way easier.
Just tap the gear menu in the Compose screen and you’ll see the option for starting a Topic. Once you create one, you’re able to write up multiple tweets and have them automatically chain together. You can even have it so the same hashtags appear throughout. The topics are stored in the cloud, so you’re also able to start a tweetstorm on your iPhone and then continue it on your iPad (you’ll soon be able to do the same on the Mac version too).
The update brings a number of other changes, like larger images on the iPad app and a more thorough mute function (a muted user now won’t show up on Mentions, Lists or Searches either). But the ability to quickly and easily go off on Twitter rant (or live tweet an event) is by far Tweetbot 4’s latest and greatest feature. Yes, Tweetbot 4 does cost money — $9.99, to be exact — but that could be worth it if you do a lot of Twitter rants. Kanye West, listen up.
Source: Tweetbot 4 on the App Store
Watch NVIDIA announce some big news tonight at 9pm ET
If you’ve been eagerly awaiting NVIDIA’s next batch of high-end video cards, you might want to tune into its Twitch channel at 9 pm Eastern. The company will be livestreaming an elaborate media event it’s holding in Austin, Texas. While they’re not saying much about what’s being announced (only that there will be “lots” of news), recent rumors suggest that it’ll be the first public unveiling of its new cards, the GTX 1080 and 1070. They’re said to be based on NVIDIA’s Pascal architecture, which debuted on its P100 card last month.
The event also follows a mysterious marketing campaign for something called the “Order of 10,” wherein unmarked packages were sent to several technology media folks (including me) leading them to a website filled with puzzles. It didn’t take long to figure out that the whole thing was an NVIDIA joint, and that it was a not-so-thinly veiled reference of its upcoming 10-series video cards. NVIDIA is also hosting a major media event in Austin this week, so it makes sense for the company to try to make a big news splash.
I’ll be covering the event live from Austin (keep an eye on my Twitter account for updates), and you can also view the whole thing on Twitch below.
Source: Twitch (NVIDIA)
Naim mu-so Qb review – CNET
The Good The Naim mu-so Qb is impeccably designed and looks every inch a $1,000 speaker. The Qb sounds great for a product of its impossibly compact dimensions. The number of inputs it offers is obscenely good.
The Bad Equivalent performance can be had with the Sonos Play:5 for half the price, and other high-end speakers can offer bigger, stereo sound. The app is nowhere as slick, capable or easy to use as Sonos’.
The Bottom Line A luxurious wireless speaker with good sound and amazing design in a compact size, but it’s not cheap.
What comes to mind when you think of the term “wireless speaker”? Is it a $50 Bluetooth speaker? Maybe the $200 Bose SoundLink Mini? Or perhaps something even higher quality like the $500 Sonos Play:5?
Above those popular conceptions of the wireless speaker lives in a select group of “high-end” models which start at about a grand in the US and continue climbing from there. In these loftier climes reside models you’ve never heard of, like the Devialet Phantom ($1,990), the Raumfeld Stereo L ($2,400) and the Naim mu-so ($1,499) — all rich in design and sound quality, but too rich for most shoppers’ blood.
Now Naim is aiming just under the $1,000 barrier with the mu-so Qb. It’s a more compact version of the original mu-so, but still keeps much of the same technology and design elements. Arguably, it also sounds better.
The Qb is the perfect size to slot into the corner of most rooms. But it’s no shrinking violet, and can also take the limelight with a gripping musical performance. Of course you can do a lot better (with a dedicated stereo) for the money, and one major competitor, the Sonos Play:5, sounds just as good for half the price. But it’s also twice as big and not nearly as cool-looking. If you want a beautiful, compact wireless speaker and have a grand to spend, the Naim mu-so Qb stands out.
The Mu-so Qb retails for $1,000 in the US, £595 in the UK and AU$1,295 in Australia.
What’s in a Naim?
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Naim mu-so Qb is a stylish cube shaped speaker featuring an acrylic base, uniquely modern lines, and a giant touchscreen with a volume knob on top.
Sarah Tew/CNET
While the original mu-so resembles a TV soundstand, the Qb is much smaller at about 8 inches square. Despite its diminutive size it still manages to pack in five drivers, with an angled “stereo” midrange and tweeter pair in addition to a low-end woofer. Naim says it wasn’t able to build a bass port into such a small speaker, so instead it includes dual pistonic bass drivers to work in tandem with the woofer.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
As with the mu-so before it, the Qb is gorgeously designed, with an all-metal chassis and the same iconic control console at the top of the device. The console is reportedly milled from a piece of aluminum and has a great, smooth feel when used as a volume control. The front and sides are covered with a removable grille, and you can buy other colors such as orange and blue.
As part of the mu-so wireless family, the speaker supports multiroom playback for up to five other networked Naim devices, and will play music up to 24-bit/192kHz. The system supports 802.11b/g wireless, though it’s disappointing not to see N or even AC.
Of course this wouldn’t be a 2016 music player unless it included Bluetooth (with aptX) and AirPlay as well, but it also bundles a 3.5mm analog, a digital optical and a USB port.
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Sarah Tew/CNET
Naim was one of the first high-end brands to fully embrace digital media, and the mu-so line is capable of linking the company’s Uniti products into a multiroom system with the use of an app. The Naim mu-so app for Apple and Android offers streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal, as well as streaming from your network over Wi-Fi. Disappointingly it can’t play music from your phone unless you use Bluetooth (competitors can use Wi-Fi), and this is especially annoying given the company’s audiophile heritage.
2016 Toyota Prius liftback review – Roadshow
The Good The Toyota Prius exceeded its already impressive EPA estimates for fuel economy, delivering 59 mpg combined over 500-plus miles of testing. The new rear suspension boost comfort and driveability. The available suite of driver aid technologies includes automatic parallel parking and a well sorted adaptive cruise control system.
The Bad Toyota’s Entune system dumps nearly every function under the “apps” bucket and could use a rethink and redesign. We couldn’t get the automatic perpendicular parking to work consistently. The exterior design is… polarizing.
The Bottom Line The 2016 Toyota Prius is the most fuel efficient car without a plug, but it’s also surprisingly easy to live with thanks to its spacious comfortable cabin and an assortment of smart tech amenities.
“It’s hideous! What was Toyota thinking?!” “Kill it with fire.” “I wouldn’t be caught dead driving something that looks like that.” “It’s not so ba–oh, wait, yes it is.” This is a very brief selection of reactions I encountered during my week with the new 2016 Toyota Prius. I get it. The new Prius is ugly, but it’s also better. Trust me.
Between the new squinty face and too busy rear end is a revised version of one of the most fuel efficient self-contained powertrains on the road, a more aerodynamic version of one of the slipperiest production car bodies to ever grace a wind tunnel and handling that’s remarkably good… for a Prius. The new Prius is more spacious and more comfortable than ever and it’s packing a loadout of premium tech and driver aid features.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
Hybrid Synergy revised
Beneath the Prius’ hood is a mostly familiar version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) powertrain. The system pairs a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine with a 53 kW electric motor. The gasoline engine supplies 95 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque and the electric motor adds 71 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque to the mix. Peak system power is stated at 121 horsepower, because hybrid math is never as simple as addition; total system torque is not stated.
Surplus and recaptured energy is stored in one of two possible battery packs. Every trim level above the base model is packing a new 0.75 kWh (3.6 ampere hour) lithium-ion battery pack that is physically more compact and about 35 pounds lighter than before. Less weight means more efficient acceleration and braking for the new Prius. The base “Prius Two” trim level makes use of the same 1.31 kWh (6.5 ampere hour) nickel metal-hydride battery pack as the previous generation.
Doing more with less
Fans and followers of the previous generation Prius’ specs may notice the new model’s stated output and battery capacity is lower than before. This new Prius is about doing more with less.
The new lithium ion battery pack, for example, has a smaller total capacity, but that’s only half the story. Hybrid vehicles never use all of their total capacity because fully discharging or recharging a battery can reduce its effective lifespan and these batteries have to serve the driver for 10-plus years. So the old NiMH battery pack only used about 40-percent of its total capacity. The new Li-ion pack has a much larger 70-percent effective capacity. So the effective capacity of both battery packs is is the same 0.525-ish kWh, but the Li-ion pack has the additional efficiency advantage of being about 40-percent lighter — more from less.
The HSD powertrain is down about 13 horsepower overall, but — thanks to the new battery pack — the vehicle has less weight to accelerate than before, which helps its city fuel efficiency. Further, the Prius is more aerodynamic, which boosts the highway efficiency. The body sits 20mm lower, active shutters in the grille reduce turbulence at speed and the hybrid’s new look hides elements that help lower the coefficient of drag from an already impressive 0.25 CD to 0.24 CD — you’d be hard pressed to find a more slippery production car for sale.
Additionally, the electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT) that links the gasoline and electric motors has undergone a redesign, replacing the second of its two planetary gearset with a simpler two-axis design. That’s a lot of engineering babble, but the result is less friction in the transmission, which allows the Prius to make better use of its reduced power.
And now the answer to the question you’ve come here for: how much more efficient is this new Prius. The stated EPA estimated fuel economy for the 2016 Toyota Prius sits at 54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway and 52 mpg combined — up 2 to 3 mpg across the board. As I learned during my hundreds of miles of testing, that’s just the start…
Rear double wishbone suspension
The Prius has never been a car that’s known for its exceptional driving dynamics and this fourth-generation model doesn’t redefine that reputation. However, Toyota does make major strides in the right direction with a totally new rear suspension setup for the liftback. Out goes the old torsion beam rear axle; in its place the automaker has fitted the Prius with an independent, double wishbone suspension.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
The new suspension doesn’t transform the eco car into an eco carver, but it does help the Prius feel more planted over bumps, quieter on the highway and more stable during cornering, emergency lane changes and off-ramp acceleration. The new rear suspension also frees up a bit of space in the rear stowage area, which grows from 21.6 cubic feet to 27.4.
Yes, it’s still a driving appliance. Driving one isn’t engaging or exciting, but in its own way, that is freeing and relaxing when you’re stuck in a traffic jam, but you look up and see that at least you’re getting 50-plus mpg, you’re comfortable and the cabin is quiet relaxing and spacious. The Prius is sort of an un-driver’s car, which for enthusiasts can be a hard sell. Fortunately, the Prius isn’t a car for enthusiasts and it doesn’t really need your or my approval. Its numbers speak for themselves.
The Prius features a few driving modes that allow some flexibility from the hybrid powertrain. The normal mode is the baseline; power mode increases the sensitivity of the throttle, allowing the driver maximum acceleration; and the eco mode tweaks the performance of the powertrain for maximum fuel efficiency. The last setting is an EV mode that allows very limited electric-only driving, but the setting only works at very low speeds, with a very light throttle application and for a very limited range. Drivers interested in a more comprehensive EV experience should either wait for the upcoming Prius Prime or, just buy a Chevrolet Volt.
Under the influence of the eco mode, I was able to average 59 mpg over 562.1 miles driven, beating the EPA’s estimates for the Prius by 7 mpg. I didn’t hypermile. I didn’t drive like a granny. I just set the Prius to eco and drove it like a regular, boring car and it delivered amazing fuel economy that I was so so excited about that I found myself sharing screenshots of the trip computer on Twitter.
Entune Apps and nav
In the center of the dashboard is a 7-inch color touchscreen that is home to Toyota’s Entune suite of infotainment tech. I’m not the biggest fan of Entune for a few reasons.
My biggest problem is that Toyota’s organization of features seems a bit, well, stupid. Nearly every feature is tucked under the Apps submenu, which means that gaining access to basic functions requires an extra key-press just to see the list. Meanwhile, the useless Home screen has a button all its own. Navigation isn’t an “app,” Toyota, and neither is hands-free calling.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
When connected to a smartphone running Toyota’s Entune host app, the Prius gains access to over a half dozen actual connected applications in its dashboard — though, not all of them are useful. In the useful column, there are Bing, Facebook Places and Yelp search that help drivers to find businesses for navigation, while Slacker, iHeartRadio and Pandora provide streaming audio. In the useless gimmick column, MovieTickets.com and OpenTable access allow the driver to find and buy movie tickets and make dinner reservations from the dashboard while parked, features that I’d rather tackle on a smartphone before I get behind the wheel.
VNYL’s wireless turntable lets your pals follow along on Spotify
Perhaps you’ve heard of VNYL: the $39 record subscription service that sends you three new albums a month based on your musical tastes. After offering the vinyl aspect of the audio equation, the company is looking to provide the gear you’ll need to spin those records, too. TRNTBL (we should’ve seen this coming), is a belt-driven wireless turntable that connects to your speakers, headphones and other devices via Bluetooth and AirPlay. Despite its claims, the gadget isn’t the first wireless turntable as both ION and Audio Technica have Bluetooth-equipped models of their own.
So what’s the hook here? Well, TRNTBL identifies what’s playing on the device while its spinning, so you can share it via your collection of social channels. It also shares what you’re playing to Spotify, where a couple of things happen. First, it builds a playlist of what’s spinning on the gadget based on that identification process — similar to the collection that’s automatically built when you Shazam songs. There’s also a “Tune-In” feature that lets your pals follow along on the streaming service in real time or access the playlist from the beginning you’ve started. VNYL says the feature is kind of like Periscope, but for music.
What’s more, the turntable works with Sonos’ audio gear, streaming uncompressed audio to the speakers just like you were pulling it from Apple Music, Pandora and others. Finer details are a bit scarce for now, but if that’s enough to temp you, TRNTBL is up for pre-order now for $351. It’s set to ship this summer, and when it does, the price jumps to $420 (yes, really). You’ll have the option of two colors, and both the black and white models feature gold accents and hardware.
Source: VNYL
Should you upgrade to the HTC 10 from the HTC One M9?
A lot has changed for HTC in the past twelve months, and that’s reflected in a radically different flagship for 2016.
This year’s HTC flagship, the HTC 10, lands on store shelves a little later than in previous release cycles. As such, we’d already seen high-end offerings from Samsung and LG before HTC had tipped its hand. And owners of the HTC One M9, last year’s decent (if unspectacular) flagship will have had ample opportunity to be tempted away from team HTC over the past few months.
But HTC fans can be a notoriously loyal bunch, and many will have been waiting on the next big thing from the Taiwanese firm. And to be sure, there’s plenty to like about the new HTC 10. But is it worth the upgrade from an M9 after a year of use?
Read on to find out.
Hardware
HTC is one of the few smartphone manufacturers able to boast an iconic design language. Metal curves. Polished edges. Big, prominent branding. Front speakers. But the company has changed things up a bit this year. Whereas the HTC One M9 was very much a direct continuation of the metal design HTC had been refining since the M7, the HTC 10 is more of a re-imagining of this design language.
The brushed metal patterns are gone, as is the weird plastic “shelf” around the sides. And the metal actually feels more like metal in the newer handset, as opposed to the coated metal used in the M9. And around the front, HTC has cleaned things up considerably, with no space wasted by front-facing logos and additional real estate freed up by the removal of the dual speaker setup. As an overall design, the HTC 10 strikes us as more of a complete thought.
While both phones feel relatively similar in the hand, they’re pretty far apart aesthetically. The M9 featuring an eye-catching brushed metal pattern and a two-tone finish in the silver model, while the HTC 10 mixes things up with an enormous reflective chamfer around the back. Your preference here will largely come down to personal taste.
Whereas the M9 was barely distinguishable from its predecessors, the HTC 10 spins things off in a slightly different direction.
With the move up to a 5.2-inch screen, the HTC 10 is slightly larger than its predecessor, but not excessively. The main difference is in the width of the phone — and in a market dominated by ever bigger handsets, we’ve been able to one-hand the HTC 10 with comparative ease. The new model also takes a significant stride forwards in display quality, with the jump up to a Quad HD resolution, with a brighter panel and more vibrant colors. It’s no match for Samsung’s SuperAMOLED in daylight, but it’s impressive in its own right.
Audio has historically been a huge area of focus for HTC, and although the HTC 10 discards the M9’s front-facing speakers, the new BoomSound Hi-Fi setup, where a front-facing tweeter is combined with a bottom-facing woofer, works well enough. There are absolutely some cases where you’ll notice more distortion than earlier HTC speakers — particularly when moving the phone around in one hand.
Overall, however, the move is a positive one, and it’s backed up by some serious power behind the HTC 10’s headphone jack, which is able to drive high-end cans with more power than the older model. Upgrading to the HTC 10 also bags you 24-bit high-res audio support, if that’s your thing.
So what’s replacing the second speaker around the front? Well, it’s a surprisingly quick fingerprint scanner, which also doubles as a home key. Easier unlock security is a big reason to upgrade, with fingerprint scanners being increasingly common in high-end phones. And as a side benefit, the move away from on-screen keys also frees up valuable screen space for your content.
This year’s HTC flagship also gets a customary bump in battery capacity — 3,000mAh, up from 2,800 — which is combined with QuickCharge 3.0 support for even faster charging than the 2.0 standard used in the M9. What’s more, you’ll benefit from the less frustrating, reversible USB Type-C connector.
The small increase in battery capacity gives a noticeable improvement in longevity, perhaps thanks to the more efficient Snapdragon 820 processor. The HTC 10 isn’t the best performer in this area, but you’ll get a solid day out of it, and we found it less prone to serious battery drain during heavy use than the M9.
| Operating System | Android 6.0.1 | Android 6.0 (with update) |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8202×1.6GHz + 2×2.1GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8104x2GHz + 4×1.5GHz |
| RAM | 4GB | 3GB |
| Display | 5.2-inch QHD Super LCD 5 | 5-inch 1080p LCD |
| Rear Camera | 12MP Ultrapixel + OIS, f/1.8 lens | 20MP, f/2.0 lens |
| Front Camera | 5MP Ultrapixel + OIS | 4MP Ultrapixel |
| Storage | 32GB + SD | 32GB + SD |
| Qualcomm QuickCharge | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Battery | 3,000mAh | 2,840mAh |
| SIM | nanoSIM | nanoSIM |
| Audio | HTC BoomSound Hi-Fi Edition | HTC BoomSound (headphones + front speakers) |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1 Gen. 1 | micro-USB |
| IR Blaster | No | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Size (mm) | 145.9×71.9×9.0 | 144.6×69.7×9.61 |
| Weight | 161g | 157g |
Software
The HTC 10 also marks a turning point for HTC’s software. The software experience on the M9, even with its Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, was about as highly differentiated as anything from HTC in recent years. Menus, buttons, dropdowns and apps had a unique HTC design language which could be traced back to Sense 5 on the M7. And the Sense 7 user experience was also centered around HTC’s suite of apps, including Calendar, Gallery, Scribble and Music.
A turning point for HTC Sense — for better or worse.
The HTC Sense of 2016 is a different beast entirely. For starters, there’s no version number anymore, at least officially. And the UI as a whole has been significantly pared back from, and now channels a Material Design look and feel as part of an interface that closely matches Google’s vision of Android.
What’s more, many of HTC’s own apps have been cut, including Calendar, Gallery and Music, and replaced with Google’s versions as part of a closer collaboration between the two companies.
Certain UI elements like the notification shade and Settings app are pretty much carbon copies of their vanilla Android counterparts. Elsewhere, the default HTC theme is packed with the dark greys, whites and teal accents that dominate stock Marshmallow.
But several tentpole HTC features remain, including the BlinkFeed home screen reader — now with prominent News Republic branding — and the Sense home screen launcher, with its lightning-quick animations and trademark clock widgets.
The other big change on the home screen is the addition of Freestyle mode, a new option accessible through the HTC Themes store that lets you replace the standard grid of icons with cartoonish backgrounds and stickers representing your favorite apps. (And aside from this, you’ve also got a multitude of themes to choose from in the Themes store if you’re looking for a slightly different visual style without going completely nuts.)
If it sounds like there’s not a lot to see in the HTC 10’s software setup, it’s because there really isn’t. It’s streamlined, fast and a bit more Googley than what you’ll have come to know on the M9.
Camera quality
Let’s just say this up front: The leap from M9 to HTC 10 gives the biggest improvement in photo quality of any generational jump in HTC phones. If camera quality is important to you, you’re absolutely going to want to upgrade.
tl;dr: You’re going to want to upgrade if image quality is important to you.
The star of the show is the new 12-megapixel “Ultrapixel 2” camera, which sees HTC returning to the idea of larger pixels on the sensor itself for better low-light performance. It’s a lower overall resolution than the M9’s 20-megapixel shooter, but don’t let that fool you. The HTC 10’s camera is backed up by optical image stabilization, a brighter f/1.8 lens and laser autofocus, making it one of the best Android cameras for low-light photos.
HTC’s software processing has come on in leaps and bounds too. Whereas the M9 struggled in certain lighting conditions, with generally poor dynamic range, the HTC 10 handles just about all daylight scenes with ease. The new Auto HDR mode kicks in when needed to provide more detail where there’s too much light, or not enough.
You’ll also benefit from HTC’s completely redesigned camera app, with quick controls for toggling frequently-used features like HDR and flash, and other controls consolidated into a new slide-out menu over on the left.
And when it comes to video, the 10’s camera benefits from 4K capture, with smoother footage than the M9 thanks to its optical stabilization. The ability to capture high-resolution audio at 4K also sets the HTC 10 apart from competitors — and of course last year’s model.
With its Ultrapixel-equipped front camera, the HTC One M9 was an above-average selfie-taker, however the manufacturer has been able to improve upon this further with the addition of OIS in its new “UltraSelfie” camera. It’s a 5-megapixel resolution sensor behind an f/1.8 lens, and it’s able to capture about as much detail as any front-facer we’ve used on an Android phone.
On the whole, there’s no real contest here: The HTC 10 is light years ahead of its predecessor when it comes to photography.
Bottom line
With the predictable regularity of yearly upgrades, smartphones don’t always move on significantly from generation to generation. As we saw last year with the move from the HTC One M8 to M9, the overall experience hadn’t changed all that much, historical issues with camera quality remained and battery life had actually regressed.
The HTC 10 is a big, important, meaningful upgrade.
This year it’s a different story. The HTC 10 is a big, important meaningful upgrade from the M9 in just about every area. The physical hardware is a more modern interpretation of HTC’s classic design language. The company’s focus on audio remains, although it’s expressed in a different way. The software experience is significantly pared back, with a default visual style in keeping with modern Android. And the overhauled camera setup has seriously impressed us.
If you’re on the fence, you can take our word that the upgrade is absolutely worth it. The bigger question might be whether you should opt for the HTC 10 or one of its equally competent rivals. Nevertheless, if you’re in the HTC camp, the company’s latest is a solid upgrade, and comes highly recommended.
HTC 10
- HTC 10 review
- HTC 10 specs
- These are the HTC 10 colors
- Our first photo and video samples
- Meet the Ice View case
- Join our HTC 10 forums
HTC
Verizon
No, Apple Music doesn’t delete your files – CNET
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James Martin/CNET
Earlier this week, frustrated Apple Music subscriber James Pinkstone took to a blog to warn fellow users about a potentially catastrophic issue with Apple’s streaming service.
According to the post, Apple Music deleted 122 GB of music from Pinkstone’s laptop without his permission. Making matters worse, Pinkstone had composed some of the music himself, and the original WAV files he created were converted to lower-quality audio files during the process.
According to Pinkstone, Apple support representative “Amber” told him the behavior he was describing was intentional and a frequent complaint of fellow users. In other words, this is how Apple Music was supposed to work. That’s not the case, but nonetheless something happened to Pinkstone’s library.
Thankfully Pinkstone had a recent backup of his music library and was able to recover everything he thought he’d lost.
The entire story is reminiscent of what popular Apple blogger Jim Dalrymple went through shortly after Apple Music first launched.
Your music, synced with Apple Music
When you sign into Apple Music and enable iCloud Music Library on a Mac, iTunes begins matching the songs in your personal library with songs in Apple’s catalog. If a song matches, Apple adds its own version of the song to your library. When there isn’t a match, Apple Music uploads a copy of your song after temporarily converting it to a AAC 256 Kbps file.
The original files stored on your Mac are not converted — only the uploaded and synced file is changed.
Matched and uploaded music is then made available on any device linked to the same Apple ID you used to sign up for Apple Music.
Related stories
- Review: Apple Music
- Apple Music makeover may add lyrics, black-and-white design
- Apple Music streaming subscription chopped in half for students
But this is where it can get confusing (as if it wasn’t already). Any songs or albums you download from Apple Music on a secondary device, meaning Android, iPad, iPod, iPhone, or Mac is just a copy of the original song. And because that copy is now linked to Apple Music, you will lose access to it 30 days after canceling an Apple Music account.
However, you will not lose access to the original files stored on your computer. The only way you would lose access to the original file is if you delete it from the Mac it was uploaded from.
The solution? Back up your original library
The best thing you can do when syncing your music with a third party service such as Apple Music is to back it up first. Either use Time Machine to store a local copy, or upload it to a cloud service such as OneDrive, Dropbox or Google Drive.
As long as you have the original files, you will never lose access to them. They are, after all, your property.
There’s no telling why or how Pinkstone’s music library was deleted from his computer, but the nuances of Apple Music’s file handling and misinformation after the fact by “Amber,” the Apple support representative who told Pinkstone this was normal, didn’t help the matter.
Xiaomi 20000mAh Mi Power Bank review: High quality for $25
The $25 Xiaomi 20000mAh Mi Power Bank has it all.
Xiaomi is primarily known for its phones, but the vendor also makes a slew of accessories, including power banks. The latest product in this category is the 20000mAh Mi Power Bank, which offers the largest battery capacity yet.
The Chinese vendor approaches its accessories the same way it handles phones, which means that you can expect a well-designed power bank offering great value for money. And that’s true for the brand new 20000mAh power bank as well, which is available for just ₹1,699, or the equivalent of $25.
Design and charging
The 20000mAh power bank comes in an environmentally friendly ABS plastic housing with a textured pattern aimed at improving grip. The design is a switch from the anodized aluminum casing seen on the 5000mAh, 10400mAh, and 16000mAh power banks. The plastic makes for a far better finish, as it doesn’t make the surface of the power bank nearly as slippery as the aluminum design. The casing is also scratch-resistant, and can withstand heat up to 90 degrees Celsius (not that it gets that hot itself). With an overall weight of 338g, the power bank is lighter than the 350g 16000mAh version, which is impressive.
Going with a plastic case makes the battery much lighter, but keeps durability high.
The 20000mAh Mi Power Bank features six high-density batteries from Panasonic and LG, and has two USB ports that allow you to charge two devices simultaneously. The dual USB ports offer a combined output of 5.1 volts at 3.6 amps, which translates to 18.36 watts. Each port is capable of outputting up to 2.1 amps, and you can also use the power bank to charge USB Type-C devices. However, the output from a single port falls short of the recommended Quick Charge 2.0 spec, which means that you’re looking at solid but generally longer charge times. You’ll have to go elsewhere if you want a battery that can quickly juice up a dead Quick Charge phone.
There’s a four-LED capacity indicator at the top of that shows the charge remaining, with each LED corresponding to a 25% charge. The power bank automatically switches on and off as soon as you connect a device, but there’s a dedicated power button on the right as well. Xiaomi bundles a one-foot long flat micro-USB cable out of the box, but I prefer these Monoprice cables.
The power bank has a micro-USB input for recharging, but there isn’t a wall charger included in the box. I used a Tronsmart Titan — which delivers the suggested 12V/1.5A charge — and it took over eight hours for the power bank to fully charge.
Capacity and authenticity
20000mAh is a lot of capacity, and to ensure that the power bank delivers all that power safely, Xiaomi uses what it calls “nine layers of circuit chip protection,” which provides protection from circuits shorting out, input and output overvoltage, overcharge and overdischarge, output overcurrent, and more. The USB power control and charging chips are made by Texas Instruments, which are far more reliable than what’s commonly used in products in this price range. As noted above, Xiaomi aims to use high-quality battery cells from reputable manufacturers as well, which not only keeps capacity figures consistent but also improves safety.
Given Xiaomi’s brand cachet and the nature of the hardware on offer, the vendor is susceptible to counterfeits from third-party sellers, who use low-quality batteries packaged in a similar casing. To combat the issue, Xiaomi issues a 20-digit security code on the packaging of the Mi Power Bank, which can be verified on its official website. If you’re buying a Xiaomi power bank from anywhere other than its own portal, a safe practice is to verify before using the power bank to ensure its legitimacy.
Should you buy it?
For its asking price, the 20000mAh Mi Power Bank offers a lot — it has a huge capacity, output for two devices, good components and a rugged exterior. If you don’t need Quick Charge speeds, it offers everything you’d need in a big portable battery.
As for availability, you can get your hands on the power bank directly from Xiaomi’s official website in China and India. Stock is released in limited quantities, so you have to wait until the next flash sale comes along to get your hands on one. As Xiaomi’s website is inundated by hundreds of thousands of visitors during a flash sale, it is recommended to install the Mi Store app and buy the power bank through that instead. Both times we were able to procure the power bank were through the Mi Store app.
See at Xiaomi India
See at Xiaomi China
Those in the U.S. and other Western markets can buy the 5000mAh, 10400mAh, and the 16000mAh variants of the power bank from Xiaomi’s global site, but as of now the 20000mAh offering isn’t available yet and the 16000mAh model is out of stock. The 5000mAh power bank retails for just $9.99, while the 10400mAh variant is available for $13.99. While the 20000mAh power bank offers a higher capacity, the internal circuitry and safety features are standard across Xiaomi’s range.
See at Xiaomi U.S.
If you’re looking for a battery with Quick Charge speeds, there’s the $20 Aukey 10400mAh Power Bank, which is Quick Charge 2.0 certified. There’s also the $59 RAVPower 20100mAh Portable Charger, which offers Quick Charge 3.0 as well as USB-C input.
AIVAnet 