The Public Access Weekly: Time of the preacher
This week something happened on Game of Thrones, and I cannot tell you what that thing is because I am two seasons behind (and I don’t give out spoilers). But I can tell you that a picture of Hodor did indeed appear in the elevator of the Engadget offices, so I look forward to finding out whatever terribleness that’s all about. Personally, I’m really excited about the premiere of the Preacher on AMC last Sunday– I’ve been meaning to re-read the comic series for a while, and given that I’m a big Walking Dead fan, I’ve got high hopes that AMC can pull this off. Did anyone else watch the pilot? What’d you think?
And, as I’ve mentioned previously, next week marks our official first anniversary of Public Access! That’s right, our very first posts went up last year on June 1st. In the past 365 days, our community content page has published over 575 articles, with more than 500,000 page views just since January. Over 1,300 people have signed up as members and four Public Access articles have made it to the Engadget home page. That’s terrific work, and we’re so excited to see what you publish next! Happy birthday Public Access members!
In order to celebrate our first year, there will be special posts and activities all throughout the month of June from special assignments, to retrospective posts, to videos and more. We’ll highlight everything that happens in the Public Access Weekly posts for those who want to stay in the loop. On June 1st, you can look forward to stories highlighting the twelve most-read stories from Public Access’ first year, and the twelve most-prolific contributors.
To kick the festivities off, here’s a fun fact you may not have realized: Every Public Access Weekly headline is actually a veiled (or not so veiled) reference to something that happened the week preceding it — usually a pop culture/music/entertainment reference. For example, this week’s headline “Time of the preacher” is a reference to the Willie Nelson song that appears in the pilot episode of AMC’s Preacher.
Now here’s where it gets fun: The Public Access member or reader who correctly guesses the most title references from the Public Access Weekly posts will be our next Q&A guest star! If you’ve ever wanted the chance to get profiled in our Q&A or answer pithy questions like “What is your worst tech habit?” then now is your chance! If you need to see all seventeen titles, just click here; we’ll also pull them all together in one official post with details on June 1st. Answers can be emailed to us up until June 15th.
Looking for something to read? Check out:
In Florida, a man who hid a cellphone jammer under the passenger seat of his vehicle was hit with a hefty fine — which provoked some strong thoughts and opinions in the comments section about driving safety, Bluetooth and OnStar and the FCC.
Amazon recently stopped offering refunds for items that dropped in price after a product had been ordered (which they used to do within seven day of the purchase); this was the general reaction:
This story about a hacker and a self-driving car in Las Vegas begins with the quote “I’m an idiot.” And it gets better from there.
Looking for something to write on? Mull over:
We posted the Wirecutter’s guide to the best PC gaming controller earlier today, in which the publication declared the Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller the best overall, and a lot of folks are weighing in with their objections in the comments. Can the best PC controller be a console device? What do you use for PC gaming? Write a review of your favorite PC gaming controller, or a how-to on select the right controller for PC gaming.
A lot of people had thoughts about what Microsoft is going to reveal next month at E3 — streaming devices, new consoles, cross platform play. What do YOU think Microsoft will have to show off at E3? Write up a post and predict the future!
Blizzard released Overwatch this week and while it won’t get ranked play until next month, early feedback and reviews are glowing with praise. Have you played it yet? On which platform? How do you like it? Does the current lack of ranked play inform your feelings at all? Write up a review of the game, and tell us how excited you are for the addition of ranked play to the game.
SpaceX’s next rocket launch and landing is just minutes away
Another sunny day in Florida, another launch and potential landing on a droneship for SpaceX. This time the company is launching the Thaicom 8 communications satellite, and the launch windows is just minutes away from opening. Naturally, you can watch the whole thing via livestream, either with hosts or without. SpaceX has a couple of successful missions under its belt now, but today’s landing is said to be a “very hot and fast first-stage reentry.”
Update: And we have a successful liftoff!
Update 2: And…yet another successful landing! The rocket is back on earth, standing on the I Still Love You droneship. The video feed dropped out just as the rocket came in, but came back just after the rocket touched down. That makes three successful sea landings in a row for SpaceX, while also launching cargo to orbit.
Weather 90% go for 5:40pm ET launch today. Droneship landing challenging — very hot and fast first-stage reentry pic.twitter.com/IU66G2SntU
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 26, 2016
Source: SpaceX Webcast
NASA’s first expandable habitat test on the ISS defeated by friction
NASA hopes that expandable habitats could dramatically expand livable space on the space station and Mars, but yesterday’s first test on the ISS failed. Today, NASA and habitat builder Bigelow Aerospace announced the cause of the problem. After being packed away for an extended time, friction between fabrics increased pressure to unpredicted levels, endangering the habitat.
The first three steps of the test went off smoothly, but then the habitat failed to fully inflate. While trying to manually expand the habitat, known as the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), it encountered higher forces and pressures than anticipated. In a Facebook post, Bigelow Aerospace explained that the BEAM was packed away for 15 months before attempting to expand, 10 months longer than planned.
Because of this extensive storage, Bigelow said that “there is a potential for the behavior of the materials that make up the outside of the spacecraft to act differently than expected.” According to Space News, a Bigelow Aerospace engineer said that the fabric material’s “memory” takes longer to reform into its intended shapes the longer it’s compressed and packed away.
NASA scientists are already including the additional pressures in a new unfolding procedure, which they plan to test tomorrow and will stream live on their site at 9:00 AM ET. If that doesn’t work, they’ll deflate the habitat and try again at a later date. If NASA can safely inflate it, they plan to use it for a two-year experiment to determine whether it’s safe for astronauts. Unfolded, the BEAM is seven feet long and 7.7 feet in diameter, but fully inflated it is 13 feet long and 10.6 feet in diameter. This makes it somewhat smaller than the Unity module, which is 15 feet in diameter and about 18 feet in length but seven times heavier than the BEAM’s 3,000 pounds.
Via: The Verge
Source: Space News
Take Amazon’s Alexa for a spin in your browser
Alexa’s gradual procession toward ubiquity is proof that the Echo speaker isn’t the heart of Amazon’s voice assistant, it’s the server farms that run it. Now you can tap into Alexa with the device sitting on your desk or lap thanks to Echosim.io, a website that replicates the experience of talking to Jeff Bezos’ smart speakers. Sign in with your Amazon info, give the website permission to access your microphone and you’re good to go.
From there, hold the site’s microphone and then ask about what’s on SyFy, if it’s going to rain tonight or a definition of the word “they.” Think of it as a try before you buy, or, if you’re a developer, a a way to test your mettle before fully committing to the platform. Amazon’s Glenn Cameron writes that by following the company’s tutorials, it should take less than an hour to build your first Alexa skill.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Echosim, Amazon
‘No Man’s Sky’ is delayed until August 9th
The rumors are true: No Man’s Sky isn’t coming out in June, as originally planned. Instead, the world will have to wait until August to play developer Hello Games’ ultra ambitious space-exploration game. Writing on the PlayStation Blog, lead developer Sean Murray says that the game will now launch this August 9th domestically and August 12th in the UK. The reason? He says a few bits weren’t up to snuff. “We understand that this news is disappointing,” he writes. “Making this game is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but we are so close now, and we’re prepared to make the tough choices to get it right.”
Originally announced back in 2013, No Man’s Sky only got a firm release date a couple of months ago. But the June 21st promise couldn’t be kept.
If you don’t know anything about the game, it’s a PlayStation 4 and PC title that allows players to explore a giant, procedurally generated universe. You’ll be able to fly around roughly eighteen quintillion (that’s a lot) planets, and disembark from your ship to explore each, cataloguing flora and fauna and completing challenges along the way. It’s being made by Hello Games, a small UK-based developer previously known for the Joe Danger stunt games.
Aaron Souppouris contributed to this report
Source: PlayStation Blog
Twitter for iOS Gains Support for Peek and Pop 3D Touch Gestures
The official Twitter app for iOS was today updated to version 6.54, quietly adding expanded 3D Touch support. As noticed by MacStories, the update enables Peek and Pop gestures within the Twitter app itself, allowing Twitter uses with an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus to preview content through a “Peek” and then quickly open it up with a “Pop.”
Peek and Pop gestures are available for previewing tweets, pictures, links, and user profiles, and with a swipe up on a Peek gesture, there are quick tools for sharing, reporting, muting, and blocking.
Twitter previously featured 3D Touch support, but it was limited to Home screen Quick Actions, allowing users to do things like search, create a new tweet, or send a direct message.
Twitter can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Tag: Twitter
Discuss this article in our forums
2016 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG review – Roadshow
The Good The G65 combines a timeless look and appeal with genuine off-road robustness and a heady dollop of luxury.
The Bad Beyond being catastrophically expensive to buy and run, the G65’s V-12 engine isn’t as nice as the V-8 in the much-less-costly G63 AMG. Like all G-Wagens, the G65’s recirculating-ball power steering doesn’t just take some getting used to, it’s comically bad.
The Bottom Line If you get it, you get it. If you don’t, you don’t.
I recently showed the SUV seen here to Rob, a car-loving friend. After studying its appearance, climbing in and around it, fiddling with the power driver’s seat and listening to the engine fire up, he offered up his first impression: “This thing is absurd. It…it makes no…no sense. It’s just so…stupid,” he stammered.
That comment was still hanging in the air when he quickly followed it up with, “So, how much do you think it’d be for a used one? I’d totally drive this.”
It didn’t take my friend more than 15 minutes of pawing around to arrive at the same conclusion that took me a week’s worth of driving to figure out. This 2016 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG — all $223,575-worth of 12-cylinder-powered Mesozoic-era Brinks truck — is at once ridiculous, terrible and amazingly wonderful. So amazing, in fact, that if I hit the PowerBall, my lizard brain would surely have me reflexively headed to my nearest Benz dealer.
Mercedes’ G65 AMG has a primal, lizard-brain appeal like few other vehicles.
Chris Paukert/Roadshow
Don’t judge, and don’t be surprised at the deeply conflicted thought progression of anyone pulled into this matte-gray planet’s orbit. Mercedes’ square-jawed, square-everything SUV is barely bound by the laws of nature, let alone those of reasoning and common sense.
Like some sort of four-wheeled yeti, this vehicle is a mysterious, age-old beast that’s been spoken of in hushed tones for decades under multiple names: G-Class. Geländewagen (“cross-country vehicle” auf Deutsch). G-Wagen for short. Slice one in half and study its rings like a giant sequoia, and you’ll find that whatever you call it, the G-Class dates directly back to 1979, making it one of the very oldest vehicles you can still buy new. Yet despite its advanced age and stratospheric price tag, the last couple of years have seen this SUV achieve its best-ever global sales tallies. (April figures alone were up 19.1 percent year over year in the US.)
In other words, the G-Class is having a moment.
2016
Mercedes-Benz
G65
AMG
is
a
singular…
See full gallery
1 – 6 of 55
Next
Prev
You needn’t actually lay eyes on Big Benz to know it’s unlike anything else on the road — all you have to do is hear it. From the sharply metallic rifle-bolt clack of its door locks to the singular, prolonged whir of the starter motor that brings its leviathan 6.0-liter bi-turbo 12-cylinder to life, there will be no confusing this Three-Pointed Star for a Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography or a Bentley Bentayga — essentially its only rivals in the $200K SUV Club. It’s a feast for the senses.
Even the door and hood hinges stand proud in the slipstream, each its own tiny little “@#%^ you” to aerodynamic efficiency.
And it’s murder on the wind. The G65’s bodywork treats the air the way its V-12 treats global warming: like a nasty rumor it’s singlehandedly trying to debunk. From an upright grille to fender-top turn-signal protuberances and lighthouse-vertical windows, the G-Class is so openly disdainful of the passing atmosphere that it feels like some kind of strategy — the sheet metal equivalent of one of those resistance parachutes that sadistic athletes use to build stamina, perhaps. Even the door and hood hinges stand proud in the slipstream, each its own tiny little “@#%^ you” to aerodynamic efficiency.
Lay off the G65’s throttle at freeway speeds and you can actually feel the bruising wind and the parasitic drag of its four-wheel-drive system slowing things down. With 6,000 pounds of German history on its back, it should come as no surprise that the G65’s handbuilt 6.0-liter V-12 is rarely loafing when on the move. You’ll find yourself calling upon its 621 horsepower — and more importantly, its scarcely fathomable 738 pound-feet of torque — on the regular.
This 6.0-liter bi-turbo V-12 generates 621 horsepower and 733 pound-feet of torque.
Andrew Krok/Roadshow
For an extra $78,000, buyers receive four additional cylinders amounting to an extra half-liter of displacement, meaning the V-12 is priced like all of its parts came out of a Ritz-Carlton minibar. Yet according to Mercedes, you’ll only be quicker than the $139,900 G63 to 60 mph by 0.1 second, with 60 mph arriving in a rapid 5.2 ticks. (OK, top speed is bumped up to 143 mph, an increase of 13). Thing is, I’ve driven the V-8 G63, and it actually feels quicker than this rig because it doesn’t have as narrow of a powerband. Playing the G65’s dozen cylinders only delivers max oomph within a very specific range of engine speeds. And while it isn’t as old as the box that it comes in, this hand-built M279 V-12 has its roots in an engine family that dates back to the late 1990s, and it doesn’t like to be hurried when cold.
At an extra $78,000, the V-12 is priced like all of its parts came out of a Ritz-Carlton minibar.
Let’s call a spade a spade: The G65’s engine isn’t as good as the one in the far less-expensive G63. Its raison d’être is to be the winner in the owner’s personal cylinder-waving contest, and as the first V-12 available in an SUV in nearly a quarter-century, well, mission accomplished.
While its engine isn’t modern, the G65 at least has a more up-to-date transmission that helps make the most of it. The seven-speed AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic gearbox has — you guessed it — seven speeds, and whether left to swap cogs by its lonesome or when using the manual paddle shifters, it does a good job of keeping the engine on boil.
Even if you’ve only been skimming this article or taken a glance at its photographs, you know the G65’s fuel-economy picture isn’t pretty. Eleven miles per gallon city and 13 mpg highway are the official EPA estimates, and single-digit real-world returns are likely, even without enthusiastic use. OPEC ministers, rejoice.
HTC 10 vs HTC One M9
HTC has always been known for their beautiful designs and build quality, but when it comes to the flagship race, their high-end offerings have been found lacking in key areas, particularly the camera, that makes it fall short against it competition. Unfortunately, HTC has had a rough go over the last few years, but the company is hoping for a reversal of fortunes with their 2016 flagship smartphone.
- HTC 10 review
- HTC One M9 review
HTC may have dropped the “One” moniker with their latest device, but this may actually be the one for you. How much of an improvement is the current HTC flagship when compared to its predecessor? We find out, as we take an in-depth look at the HTC 10 vs HTC One M9!
Buy the HTC 10 now!
Buy the HTC One M9 now!
Design
HTC has made a few tweaks to the design language with the 10, but these small changes go a long way in differentiating the current flagship from its predecessors. Both smartphones do feature a full metal unibody construction, and are made from the same high-grade aluminium materials. However, the HTC 10 doesn’t comes with the brushed metal finish that is seen with the One M9, giving the former a much cleaner and sleeker look. The HTC 10 also comes with chamfered edges all around the back, which has been a bit of a polarizing design element, but the silhouette look that it allows for is actually pretty great.
The biggest changes are seen up front though. The top and bottom sections of the One M9 come with the same metallic finish as the back, which really emphasizes the black border that is found around the display. With the 10, the top and bottom sections are now black, and helps the display blend into all the sides. The bezels on both phones are about the same thickness, but feels a lot less prominent with the HTC 10 because of this.
Another big change is the removal of the dual front-facing speakers with the HTC 10, and while a front-facing speaker is still found above the display, the one below has been removed, in favor of a fingerprint scanner, which is embedded into a capacitive home button. That being said, the HTC 10 does have a second speaker at the bottom and this comes with a subwoofer built in. Finally, the black bar with the HTC logo that is found with the One M9 is no longer there with the 10, which is definitely a big plus.
Both smartphones comes with the buttons on right side, with the power button placed below the volume rocker. However, while the power button with the One M9 did come with a textured pattern, this is far more prominent with the 10, making it far easier to find with your finger. The buttons of the One M9 also sit a little more flush with the body of the phone, but that isn’t the case with the 10, allowing for better tactile feedback.
The HTC 10 is slightly taller and wider than the One M9, which is understandable, given that the former features a display that is larger by 0.2-inches. The 10 is also slightly thinner, but heavier than the One M9, but the overall feel in the hand with both smartphones is about the same. The metal build does make both smartphones a touch slippery, and is more pronounced with the 10 because of its smooth finish on the back, and can take some getting used to. Both the HTC 10 and the One M9 are beautifully-designed smartphones, but the cleaner look up front and on the back give the 10 the advantage when it comes to design.
Display
The HTC 10 comes with a 5.2-inch Super LCD 5 display with a Quad HD resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 565 ppi, while the One M9 features a 5-inch Super LCD 3 screen, with a lower Full HD resolution, and resulting pixel density of 441 ppi. HTC finally made the jump the Quad HD with the 10, but 1080p is more than enough when it comes to the 5-inch screen of the One M9, and in fact, you won’t notice a significant difference in sharpness when comparing the two displays side by side.
What is notable however is the vast improvement in quality. The display of the One M9 features much cooler color temperatures, and almost has a greenish hue, which looks very unappealing. The display of the HTC 10 is far warmer, and does get much closer to true whites. Colors are very vibrant with the 10, with a saturation that almost matches what is found with the good AMOLED displays out there. The HTC 10 offers a viewing experience that is far more enjoyable when compared to the rather dull screen of the One M9, and it certainly isn’t difficult to pick a winner here.
Performance
As is always the case when comparing a current generation device with its predecessor, performance gets a significant boost, with the HTC 10 featuring the latest and greatest currently available. Under the hood is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, clocked at 2.15 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 530 GPU and 4 GB RAM, while the One M9 features an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, clocked at 2 GHz, and backed by the Adreno 430 GPU and 3 GB of RAM.
Not surprisingly, the performance with the HTC 10 is far better than what is seen with the One M9. Installing and opening apps takes much longer with the latter, and games take longer to load as well. With the One M9 coming with an older version of the Snapdragon 810, the device also tends to get uncomfortably warm when under heavy use, which further cripples the performance. The HTC 10 scores much higher in benchmark tests, but while that sometimes doesn’t translate to real world performance, the difference is easily seen here when comparing the two.
Hardware
In hardware, HTC actually removes a few features in order to accommodate the different design language of the HTC 10, but does also add some useful ones in their place. For starters, the IR blaster that is found with the One M9 up top is longer available with the 10. The IR blaster lets you control your television, cable boxes, sound systems, and other electronics, but with this not being as widely used, its removal makes sense when it comes to the latest flagship.
A more important feature that has been removed is the dual-front facing speakers that are seen with the One M9. This was one of the features that made the One M9 stand out from the crowd, and allowed for one of the best smartphone audio experiences around. The sound quality is simply fantastic, with crisp and clear audio, and the front-facing speakers created a very balanced sound.
On the other hand, the HTC 10 comes with a single front-facing speaker above the display, that is coupled with a woofer found at the bottom of the phone, that helps with the lows and mids. You do get nice sounding audio here, but it doesn’t match up to the quality of the One M9. However, where the 10 does take the lead in terms of audio is when using headphones, with the 10 featuring a Hi-Fi audio DAC, a headphone AMP, and Dolby enhancements, to allow for a great listening experience.
Of course, the reason for the removal of the dual front-facing speakers with the HTC 10 is to make way for the fingerprint scanner up front, that is embedded into the capacitive home button. The scanner is one of the best around, and is impressively fast and accurate. With a capacitive home button comes capacitive back and recent apps keys as well, allowing for more display real estate, when compared to the One M9 and its on-screen navigation keys.
While this isn’t a hardware feature, it is worth making a note of how loud the vibration motor of the HTC 10 is. It is one of the loudest we’ve seen, and if the phone is placed on a table, you will likely hear the vibration over the actual sound of the notification alert. The vibration motor of the One M9 is also very strong, but not nearly as loud.
The HTC 10 comes with a larger 3,000 mAh battery, compared to the 2,840 mAh unit of the One M9, but with the display of the former getting a bump in resolution, the battery life available with both is quite similar. Both smartphones comfortably allow for a full day of use, with around 4 hours of screen on-time, which is pretty good. Both smartphones also come with fast charging capabilities, but the HTC 10 charges faster, courtesy of a USB Type C (USB 3.0) port and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support.
Camera
The HTC One M9 comes with a 20 MP rear camera, with a f/2.2 aperture and no optical image stabilization, while the 10 features a 12 MP primary camera, with a f/1.8 aperture and OIS. One of the most disappointing aspects of the One M9 was its camera performance, and while the MP count has been reduced, the camera sensor comes with larger pixel sizes, allowing for much better low-light photography.
When it comes to image quality, the HTC 10 is far superior to the One M9. Looking at outdoor shots, photos taken with the 10 feature more color and higher contrast, and even appear sharper and with more detail, despite the reduction in megapixels. The One M9 camera is far more prone to overexposing a shot, and there always seems to be a haze over the photo. The HTC 10 does overexpose in some areas though, but when compared to the One M9, the former does a much better job with handling brighter areas. HDR also works better with the 10, even if the image sometimes appears to be a bit unnatural.
There is also a significant improvement when it comes to taking photos in low-light conditions. The One M9 utilizes a slower shutter speed in these situations, and coupled with the lack of OIS, you often get blurry shots, even with the steadiest of hands. There is a lot of loss in detail, a lot more grain, and the color reproduction suffers as well. HDR usually helps when taking photos in low-light, but it has the opposite effect with the One M9. It takes a lot longer to stitch the photos together, so you will end up with a blurry image every time, and the image will be way too bright.
HTC One M9 camera samples
HTC 10 camera samples
Interestingly enough, the front-facing 4 MP “Ultrapixel” camera of the One M9 is a lot better than the 5 MP unit of the HTC 10. You get a lot more detail with the One M9, and it exposes the shot better. The advantage the selfie camera of the HTC 10 has is with regards to video, with the front-facing camera also coming with OIS, allowing for very steady videos, which is perfect for vlogging. With video, the rear camera of the 10 also does a much better job, thanks to the availability of OIS, and the videos shot with the One M9 also seem to be too dark.
Software
Both smartphones are running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with the HTC Sense UI on top. However, the difference between the two version of the Sense are significant, with the latest version available with the 10 far more streamlined. The aesthetics largely remain the same, but HTC now retains a lot of Google’s Material Design elements, such as in the notification drop down, the Settings menu, as well as in the Recent Apps screen.
HTC has streamlined the software experience even further by removing duplicate apps. So now, you get Google Photos, Google Calendar, and Google Messenger, instead of HTC Gallery, and the HTC versions of the other two apps. It used to be redundant and a little confusing for users before, and it’s great to see HTC make this change. There were also a lot of other pre-installed games and apps that cluttered the One M9, but have been removed with the HTC 10.
HTC 10 screenshots
In terms of features, things remain mostly the same. You get lock screen shortcuts, a robust Themes store that lets you completely change the look and feel of the interface, and BlinkFeed, which a news and social media aggregrator. Of all the left screen experiences out there, BlinkFeed remains one of the best, and is a nice way to have all the information you may need in one page. There is also a great HTC widget that houses all your most used apps, with the list changing depending on your location.
HTC One M9 screenshots
HTC Sense has been one of the better skins of Android since the One M7, and while the jump from the One M9 to the 10 isn’t a major overhaul, the key changes and improvements that have been made make a huge difference.
Specs comparison
| Display | 5.2-inch Super LCD5 display Quad HD resolution, 565 ppi |
5-inch Super LCD3 display Full HD resolution, 441 ppi |
| Processor | 2.15 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Adreno 530 GPU |
2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Adreno 430 GPU |
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32/64 GB expandable via microSD up to 200 GB |
32 GB expandable via microSD up to 200 GB |
| Camera | 12 MP rear camera, f/1.8 aperture, 1.55µm pixel size, OIS, laser autofocus 5 MP front-facing camera, f/1.8 aperture, OIS |
20 MP rear camera, f/2.2 aperture 4 MP “Ultrapixel” front-facing camera |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 GPS + GLONASS NFC USB 3.1, Type-C 1.0 connector |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1 GPS + GLONASS NFC IR Blaster microUSB 2.0 |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh non removable |
2,840 mAh |
| Software | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow HTC Sense UI |
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow HTC Sense UI |
| Dimensions | 145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm 161 grams |
144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm 157 grams |
Gallery
Final thoughts
So there you have it for this closer look at the HTC 10 vs One M9! When it comes to these two HTC flagships, the 10 features notable improvements over its predecessor. While the One M9 does offer the better audio experience when using external speakers, the HTC 10 has it beat it pretty much every other aspect.
- HTC 10 review
- HTC One M9 review
The display is more vibrant, with brighter colors, and of course, a higher resolution. The design is much sleeker, and the software experience has been streamlined even further. The fingerprint scanner is a nice addition and works remarkably well, and HTC finally got things right on the camera side of things. Unless dual-front facing speakers are an absolute must have, the HTC 10 is definitely the better the choice between the two, and even then, the new speaker arrangement on the HTC 10 provides excellent audio.
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
Which is your pick out of these two and is the HTC 10 enough of an upgrade? Vote in the poll and let us know your views in the comments below!
Buy the HTC 10 now!
Buy the HTC One M9 now!
New algorithm performs complex DNA origami
Researchers from MIT, Arizona State University and Baylor University have developed a new algorithm that promises to simplify the arduous and complex task of assembling DNA into structures other than a double helix. These structures could eventually be used as everything from DNA storage modules to delivery vehicles for CRISPR enzymes and other medicines, but until now the process of creating them has been prohibitive.
Rather than starting from scratch and sequencing thousands of DNA base pairs by hand — a process that only a few experts know how to do at this point — the new process called DNA Origami Sequencing flips that around and starts with a geometric shape. A user simply plugs the desired shape into the algorithm, and the computer will determine the order of base pairs needed to twist and fold the DNA into that shape. As long as the shape fits certain parameters, the computer does all the work.
The algorithm, which gets the slick name “DAEDALUS” could have uses beyond medicine as well. For starters, it will make the processes behind DNA data storage much cheaper, but according to MIT associate professor Mark Bathe, the DAEDALUS algorithm could do for DNA sequencing what 3D printing did for macroscopic modeling.
US automakers recall 12 million more vehicles with Takata airbags
Faulty Takata airbag inflators resulted in the recall of 12 million more US vehicles from eight major automakers on Friday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posted recalls from Honda, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Ferrari and Mitsubishi over the airbag issue, The AP reports. Dangerous inflators from Japanese company Takata have so far led to the recall of up to 40 million airbag systems worldwide. Japan’s transport ministry also recalled an additional 7 million airbag systems on Friday.
Takata airbags contain a chemical that can degrade over time and cause an explosion of hot metal shrapnel in the vehicle. The chemical deteriorates when it’s exposed to high heat and humidity, and it takes at least six years to reach a critical state. So far, Takata’s inflators are responsible for 11 deaths and more than 100 injuries across the globe, with two additional deaths in Malaysia under investigation, The AP reports.
The US recalls mainly affect older-model vehicles in the Gulf Coast, where the climate is generally hot and humid. Honda has been hit particularly hard, with 4.5 million more inflators recalled just today. Here’s the NHTSA’s list of recalls for Friday, May 27th:
Honda: Certain 2003-06 Acura MDX, 2005-11 Acura RL, 2009-11 Acura TSX, 2010-11 Acura ZDX, 2008-11 Honda Accord, 2010-11 Honda Accord Crosstour, 2006-11 Honda Civic, 2005-11 Honda CR-V, 2003-11 Honda Element, 2010-11 Honda FCX Clarity, 2007-11 Honda Fit, 2010-11 Honda Insight, 2002-04 Honda Odyssey, 2003-11 Honda Pilot, 2006-11 Honda Ridgeline, certain 2006-10 Honda Gold Wing motorcycles.
Fiat Chrysler: Certain 2007-09 Chrysler Aspen SUVs, 2005-12 Chrysler 300, 2008-12 Dodge Challenger, 2006-12 Dodge Charger, 2005-11 Dodge Dakota pickups, 2004-09 Dodge Durango SUVs, 2005-08 Dodge Magnum wagons, 2004-08 Ram 1500 pickups, 2005-09 Ram 2500 pickups, 2006-09 Ram 3500 pickups, 2007-10 Ram/Ram 3500 cab chassis, 2008-10 Ram/Ram 4500/5500 cab chassis, 2007-12 Jeep Wrangler SUVs, 2006-09 Mitsubishi Raider pickups, 2008-09 Sterling/Bullet 4500/5500 cab chassis.
Toyota: Certain 2008-11 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-11 Toyota Corolla and Matrix, 2006-11 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-11 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-11 Lexus ES350, and 2009-10 Pontiac Vibes designed for General Motors by Toyota.
Mazda: Certain 2009-11 Mazda6, 2007-11 CX-7 and CX-9, 2004-11 RX-8, 2004-06 MPV, 2003-08 Mazda6, 2006-07 Mazdaspeed6
Subaru: Certain 2003-04 Legacy and Outback, 2006 Saab 9-2x made by Subaru, and 2003-06 Baja pickups. Also certain 2009-11 Legacy, Outback and Forester; 2006-11 Impreza and Tribeca.
Nissan: Certain 2005-08 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-04 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2006-10 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-11 Nissan Versa.
Ferrari: Certain 2009-11 Ferrari California and 2010-11 458 Italia.
Mitsubishi: Certain 2006-07 Lancer and Lancer Evolution cars.
Source: The LA Times
AIVAnet 