‘Overwatch’ adding ranked play next month
Blizzard’s much-publicized shooter Overwatch is finally out today, but it released without one very important component: Ranked play. Don’t worry though. Lead game designer Jeff Kaplan has assured the community that feature is coming, as early as next month.
In a recent Facebook Q&A session, Kaplan made sure to note that ranked play would be part of a special content update in mid to late June. It was originally included in the game until Blizzard made note of some issues within competitive mode that caused lower-skilled players to be matched up with higher-skilled players. This obviously caused balancing concerns, especially when the entire point of ranked mode is to gain ground on the leaderboards.
Overwatch is very much a competitive game that’s ripe for the addition of ranked mode. There’s still a good month’s worth of practice to be had if it’s a part of the game that concerns you, so there’s plenty of time to brush up on your skills before testing them against the rest of the world. And with the amount of players who signed up for the beta before the game’s release, you’re going to want all the practice you can get.
Source: Facebook
Pod-based marijuana vaporizers are coming
As the wave of marijuana legalization lifts the country out of its longstanding fog of prohibition, one former Keurig executive and his 40-something marijuana enthusiast friend have found a way to ride it all the way to the bank: By creating a vaporizer with single-serving, disposable pot pods. Because, in the future, everything will come in a pod.
The device, which is unsurprisingly being called the “a Keurig for marijuana,” is actually named the CannaCloud. And it was designed by Massachusetts resident Michael Bourque, who had a bad experience buying weed in a parking lot off of “a guy that looked like ZZ Top” one time. Although legalization would eliminate that point-of-sale problem entirely, in Bourque’s blissfully mellow vision on the future, no one will ever have to deal with smoking harsh joints or even touching plant matter at all, if that’s their vibe.
Let’s ignore for a moment the fact that there are plenty of other vaporizers already on the market — in both pocket and tabletop size — that accomplish exactly the same function as the CannaCloud, but without the need for device-specific pods. That barrier didn’t stop millions from from buying into Keurig’s coffee machines, of course. And that is what Bourque’s business partner and former Keurig Green Mountain VP Dave Manly is banking on.
After showing the device to a focus group, “people said, ‘Oh my God, how fast can I have one of those?’” Manly told the Boston Globe. “Which is exactly what people said when they saw the Keurig.” It is unclear whether or not this focus group included any actual marijuana consumption.
On the bright side, CannaKorp promises a variety of strains to suit the user’s desired effect, and they do boast a number of cultivator-partners. While there’s no release date yet, CannaKorp just raised a $1.58 million seed round with the plan to launch sometime in 2017. The device will reportedly cost somewhere in the $149-$179 range and there’s also an accompanying device called a “CannaMatic” meant to help growers grind and package their product. All that’s left to do is figure out how to handle the inevitable trash pile of cashed CannaCups.
‘Error 53’ Plaintiffs Criticize Apple’s Reimbursement Effort, Aim to Keep Lawsuit Alive
In February, Seattle-based law firm Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala (PCVA) brought a class action lawsuit against Apple over the “Error 53” bug, which bricked iPhone 6 models with select third-party components. Apple quickly responded, confirming the error and issuing an updated version of iOS 9.2.1 to fix the error. Earlier this month, Apple moved to dismiss an amended version of the class action lawsuit. However, PCVA and the plaintiffs have now moved to keep the lawsuit alive, according to AppleInsider.
Apple argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because the company issued a fix for the error and offered to reimburse customers who had paid to have their devices replaced or repaired. However, the plaintiffs are now arguing that Apple failed to properly alert users to the reimbursement program. They argue the “vague” announcement on Apple’s website and a support document published in April isn’t sufficient enough to inform affected customers.
The plaintiffs also claim having trouble in getting touch with Apple about reimbursement, with one plaintiff claiming they were never sent a reimbursement notice and another saying they were disconnected from Apple support twice when trying to contact the Cupertino company about the program.
The controversy first started in February, when users who had their iPhone 6 models repaired by third-party technicians were seeing the mysterious “Error 53” that bricked their phones. The error showed up when devices had parts replaced with components not sourced from the original device, with the not-matching components affecting the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and causing iOS to fail Touch ID validation checks.
Several law firms considered suits against Apple, but PCVA brought its forward. The parties will meet in a motion hearing on June 16.
Tags: Error 53, lawsuits
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Turn an old liquor bottle into a lamp in 10 minutes – CNET
Maybe you splurged on an expensive bottle of wine, somehow got your hands on a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle or stumbled upon a very unique liquor bottle at an antique store. A great way to commemorate the experience or showcase an unusual bottle is by turning it into a piece of decor.
One of the easiest ways to do this with a wine or liquor bottle is by turning it into a lamp. Here’s how it’s done.
What you’ll need
Converting any old bottle into a lamp is surprisingly easy.
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Taylor Martin/CNET
To start with, you will only need four items: an empty bottle that looks cool or holds some sort of meaning or value, a bottle lamp kit, a shade and a light bulb. You can find the bottle lamp kit at most hardware stores for around $12 (directly converted, about £8, AU$17) and it will include almost everything you’ll need for the conversion. If the lamp shade you have requires a harp, you can also find a harp kit for as little as $4 (about £3, AU$6) at your local hardware store, as well.
The tools you will need are a Phillips head screw driver, scissors or a knife, pliers and possibly some wire strippers. I also ended up needing some electrical tape. Duct tape could also work, but if you take your time with electrical, the end product will look a little better.
Turn any old bottle into a lamp
Despite being sold as a bottle lamp kit, meant to help you turn a bottle into a lamp, most kits I found don’t accommodate the standard bottle opening for wine or liquor bottles. So you may need to do a little additional work to get one of the adapters to fit your bottle.
All the corked bottles I have on hand measure 0.75 inches (1.9cm) across the inside diameter of the bottle opening. The kit came with three different adapter sizes — 5/8, 11/16 or 1-inch (1.6, 1.7, 2.5cm) — none of which fit.
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Taylor Martin/CNET
You want the adapter to fit snugly in the neck of the bottle. If none of the adapters fit your bottle, choose the adapter that is slightly smaller than the opening of your bottle’s neck. Take the electrical tape and neatly wrap it around the outside of the adapter until the fit is very tight.
Thread the included screw down into the adapter you modified with electrical tape until there is approximately 0.25 inches (0.64cm) of the screw sticking out of the bottom of the adapter. You will likely need a pair of pliers to help thread the screw all the way through. Place a dish rag over the screw to protect the threads, grip the screw with the pliers and use your hand to twist the adapter over the screw.
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Taylor Martin/CNET
After threading the screw into the adapter, work the adapter down into the bottle neck, making sure the side with the nut is on the top. Once the adapter is fully inserted into the neck of the bottle, place the included ring on the screw. The ring is purely for aesthetics, to cover the adapter and make the finished product look more polished.
The socket for the light bulb comes in three separate parts. The base, which mounts onto the screw you have now inserted into the bottle neck; the socket with the power switch; and the power cord.
You will need to attach the power cord to the socket. Do this by threading the loose ends of the cord through the black plastic channel on the base of the socket. Pull approximately 2 inches (5.1cm) of the power cord through the channel and tie an overhand knot with the cord to keep it from sliding out of the socket. Gently pull the two leads at the end of the cord apart. Your documentation will note which of the two leads are neutral and positive.
Use a Phillips head screwdriver to loosen the neutral terminal, place the exposed wire of the neutral wire under the head of the screw and tighten the screw onto the wire. (In my case, the neutral terminal was a silver screw and the neutral wire was ribbed.) Repeat this step for the positive terminal and lead which, in my case was the brass screw and smooth wire.
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Taylor Martin/CNET
Once you have the wires properly connected to the socket, slide the top part of the socket down onto the base until you hear a click. Screw the base of the socket onto the adapter in the bottle, and use the locking screw to hold the entire socket assembly in place.
Finally, place the lamp shade on top of the socket and screw in a light bulb. Flip on the power switch and the lamp should turn on.
In total, I spent about $22 (£15, AU$30) on this project. You can typically find a cheap lamp for less money, but if you’re looking to decorate with a bottle that has meaning or looks really neat, $22 and a few minutes of your time is a pretty small investment for a unique and functional piece of decor.
Find out how much time remains before your laptop is fully charged – CNET
If you are waiting for your laptop’s battery to charge fully before heading out for the day, both OS X and Windows 10 will show you the time remaining.
Your battery will charge faster, of course, if you leave the lid closed and the screen off. If you are attempting to eek out the last few minutes of charging before running out the door, however, OS X and Windows 10 offer a quick glance at the time remaining before you reach 100 percent battery power. Both platforms also show the time remaining in System Preferences and Settings, respectively. Here’s where to find that info.
OS X
On a MacBook, you can click on the battery icon in the menu bar to see how much time remains before your battery is full. And because you click instead of just hover over the icon, the window remains until you click your touchpad again or hit a key, which lets you keep an eye on the minutes that remain.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
Alternatively, you can go to System Preferences > Energy Saver. On the Battery tab, the current battery charge percentage and the Estimated time until full is displayed.
Windows 10
On a Windows 10 laptop, when you mouse over the battery icon in the system tray, you can see how many minutes remain to a full charge. The time remaining stays on screen for only a few seconds, so if you want to keep an eye on the time remaining without continually tapping on the battery icon, head to Settings > Battery saver where you can watch the countdown to a full charge.
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
On battery power
The opposite holds true for the above advice when you are on battery power. Clicking the battery icon in the OS X menu bar or in the Windows 10 system tray shows you how much time remains before your laptop’s battery runs out. You can also see the battery life remaining in System Preferences in OS X and Settings in Windows 10.
For more, check out CNET How To’s guide to Windows 10 and guide to OS X El Capitan.
Verykool Spark LTE SL5011 review: All that glitters is not gold
If you haven’t caught wind of verykool yet, it’s an affordable phone maker that you should be keeping an eye on. The company has been around for a while now, which means that its phone-building skills are now to very compelling levels. Earlier in the year, I reviewed the verykool Maverick SL5550 and came out fairly impressed.
Now there’s a new kid on the block – the compact Spark LTE SL5011. This 5″ phone brings pushes value to a new height, with fine-tuned refinements and aesthetics that even premium smartphone users will gawk at. Let’s check out how the Spark LTE ranks in the grand scheme of affordable unlocked phones.
Design
I’ll cut to the chase; verykool nailed the Spark LTE’s design. It’s a beauty. The second you unpack it, you’ll be blown away by the kind of build that the bargain price could get you.
The device is flanked by a premium metal frame, that has a smooth, reflective matte finish. Shiny chamfers are then trimmed out on each edge. You’d typically find this kind of detail on smartphones 3x the price. It makes me happy that the Spark’s metal brings the same eye-candy and premium feel that my flagship daily driver does (making me question how much I spent).
The power button and volume rocker share the same material, and they’re nicely tactile and firm to the press.
Only, I wish that the power button was under the volume rocker; it’s placed too high, in my opinion. But that’s a minor gripe on a 5″ phone. Also, a fingerprint scanner is no where to be found on the Spark.
One of my complaints on the Maverick was the cheap-feeling, glossy back cover. I’m glad that verykool listened; the Spark has a much nicer matte cover.
Despite having a smooth finish, it’s a lot less slippery than the glossy cover. I also think that, together with the shiny metal frame, the presentation of my white/gold model looks super classy. The Spark also comes in black/silver.
However, I must mention that shortly after unpacking the unit, I noticed these faint dark smudges on the back cover. But they disappeared after some use. I’m thinking that it’s some residue from the finish out of its manufacturing, so I’d recommend verykool to condition it before packing the phone up. Another minor gripe is the camera hump; it sticks out like on the Galaxy S6. This is OK, but the camera lens cover isn’t recessed. So I’m seeing hairline scratches appear on it.
The bottom is simply and symmetrically laid out. There’s a microUSB port at the center and two audio grills on either side (for the microphone and external speaker). Then there’s two plastic strips for antennas. On the top you’ll just find the 3.5mm headphone jack and more antenna lines.
The front of the Spark has fairly average sized bezels (by today’s standards). The glass has subtle 2.5D curves at the edges. Though, it doesn’t curve directly into the metal frame; there’s a thin plastic lining between the glass and the frame.
This phone interestingly goes with capacitive buttons instead of on-screen (like the Maverick). A nice addition is a tiny LED flash on the top left, so you can continue to take selfies even in the dark.
Performance
Let’s take a quick look at what the Spark LTE’s is packing:
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6735P (quad-core, 1.0Ghz)
- Memory: 1GB of RAM
- Display: 5″ 720p IPS LCD
- Storage: 16GB internal and up to 64GB microSD
- Camera: 13MP rear and 8MP front, both with LED flash
- Battery: 2,200mAh (non-removable)
- Connectivity: 4G LTE CAT 4 (bands: B2/4/5/7/17), HSPA+, GSM bands: 850/900/1800/1900Mhz
- Software: Android 5.1 (Lollipop)
Despite the premium exterior, the specs bring us back to the reality that we’re looking at a budget smartphone. The quad-core MediaTek MT6735P processor is capable enough, but 1GB of RAM is just too low these days. To me, that’s the biggest letdown of this phone, and it shows in the performance.
While the Spark can be snappy, occasionally, there are delays in operations (i.e. opening/switching apps). Don’t get me wrong, it’s in no way an unusable experience. But I feel like an extra gig of RAM could’ve gone a long way. You don’t want the user to look at their buddy’s phone and notice that it doesn’t hang as much.
On the storage side of things, I’m glad that there’s 16GB and not 8GB. And you can bump that up by 64GB with a microSD card. The SIM tray that you eject from the side nicely accepts two cards, from either side. You can either tack on a microSD card or a second SIM card.
Considering the size and price of the Spark, a 2,200mAh capacity battery is in the ballpark that I’d expect. It performed modestly in my experience, but don’t expect superb battery life. It should get the job done (get you through the day) unless you’re a heavier user.
Available internal storage out of the box.
Battery drain throughout a day of use and idle while sleeping (long slope at the end).
Display
I was satisfied with the Maverick’s display when I reviewed it. I appreciated that verykool was using a competent IPS LCD screen; I’ve seen some terrible displays on budget phones. Fortunately, the Spark shares the same sentiment.
Its 5″ screen shows decent colors and good viewing angles. It can also get sufficiently bright to view outside. No, it won’t compete with more brilliant displays from top-end manufacturers, but its definitely great for the price. Some may scoff at the 720p resolution, but I think it’s sufficient on a 5″ panel (~ 294 ppi).
Camera
The Spark packs 13MP rear sensor. On the surface, that sounds great, but we have to be mindful that it’s not all about megapixels. Its f/2.2 aperture lens and 1.12µm pixel size implies modest performance. On the front, we also have a high megapixel 8MP shooter.
Verykool’s camera interface works sufficiently. The capture speed is average, which is fine with me; I’ve seen some slow cameras even from pricier smartphones. The buttons are laid out intuitively. Along the top you have toggles for HDR, flash, and camera switching between the back and front. There’s also a shutter activating gesture (peace sign with your hand) that you can toggle.
You’ll also see various modes along the left. Some of these are recognizable, like panorama and face effects, but others are verykool’s own specialty. Live Photo Mode is a gif-like capture (or moving set of pics), Motion Track Mode keeps an object focused during movement, and Multi-angle View Mode lets you capture angles of a subject and slide about it.
My only gripe with the software is the shutter button. I complained on my Maverick review that you have to hit the shutter button dead center or it won’t take, leading to frequent misses. Unfortunately, it’s the same on the Spark. But you can capture with the volume buttons to sidestep the virtual button.
Camera Samples
The reproduction is just OK, to my eyes. It’s not hard for dynamic ranges to get the best of the camera and blow out the lighting. HDR only helps a little bit. Also, the images are too fuzzy for a 13MP camera. You can pull off some decent shots in good lightning conditions, but if you look closely, they’ll all have noticeable blur.
Software
It’s a good thing that verykool keeps the custom software to a minimum. You won’t get a completely stock Android experience, but very close. Verykool throws in some of its own apps (i.e. gallery, browser, calendar). I do wish manufacturers would not bother with that and just use Google’s solutions. It’s a wasted effort. Verykool also includes its own app with additional features, if you like that kind of thing.
We’re looking at an Android 5.1 build (Lollipop), so it’s not the most current, but acceptable. The software doesn’t use Google’s launcher, so while you’ll get Material Design’s look, the animations/transitions aren’t all there (i.e. the pop up app drawer. Though, folders do pop up the stock way).
Final Thoughts
I think that the Spark LTE is a great evolution for verykool. It’s fortunate that I got to try the Maverick, because I can see how the brand is progressing. It’s doing a great job refining those rough edges and increasing value.
Although, there’s still more work to do. My biggest gripe with the meager 1GB of RAM. That must change. The camera performance also has plenty of room for improvement. While other aspects of the phone are aggressively closing the gap between pricier phones, the camera is still significantly behind.
But with all that said, the fact is that the Spark LTE runs at only $179 retail, and that’s a bangin’ value. You get a lot of phone for that price.
Verykool Spark LTE SL5011 product page
Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer review – CNET
The Good The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer uses its mighty motor and auger to cold press an impressive amount of juice from even the most troublesome produce. The machine is small, sturdily built, and is simple to operate. The Omega J8006 is also very easy to clean by hand and uses dishwasher-safe parts. The machine can operate as a pasta maker or basic food processor in a pinch.
The Bad The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer costs a lot more than less capable centrifugal juice extractors. The Omega J8006’s food chute has a small opening that only accepts chopped or diced produce.
The Bottom Line The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer doesn’t come cheap, but it offers outstanding juicing performance and is a breeze to clean, both making the machine a shrewd purchase for the juicing set.
The Omega J8006 is an excellent juicing machine.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Compared with cheaper centrifugal models, the $300 Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer is a big investment. If you’re serious about making fresh fruit and vegetable drinks at home though, this machine’s excellent cold-press juicing abilities and superb design more than offset the steep price.
Looking more like a stand mixer or a sewing machine than a juicer, the Omega J8006 may not seem like it can crush produce items and unlock their nutritious nectar. Looks can be deceiving, though, and sure enough, the Omega J8006 excels at transforming raw ingredients into liquid. In fact, it extracted more juice from our trial oranges than any other machine I’ve tested to date, earning a high 76.8 extraction percentage (based on amount of ingredients, remaining pulp, and extracted juice).
It’s a higher result than the Hamilton Beach 67601A (71.8 percent) and Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus (66.4 percent). The VonShef Premium Slow Masticating Juicer, another cold-press juice-maker, couldn’t keep up here, either (64.5 percent). That said, both the Omega J8006 and VonShef appliances create juice that’s clear, lacks foam, and generally has a cleaner taste than their centrifugal counterparts.
The Omega pulled moisture from leafy greens with ease as well, notching an impressive average extraction percentage of 44.2 when processing kale and trouncing the VonShef’s weak kale showing (18.6 percent). More importantly the J8006 produced very consistent juice amounts during each respective test, the only product I’ve yet seen to do so.
Which juicer is best for you? (pictures)
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Also key, the Omega J8006 uses few parts (all dishwasher-safe) and creates less waste material, making cleanup a cinch. Add to this skillset the ability to stand in as a pasta maker, food processor, even coffee grinder in a bind and it’s clear why this juicer should be on your short list despite having a high price. If cash is tight, however, you can enjoy similar though less consistent performance by choosing the $80 Hamilton Beach 67601A Juice Extractor.
VonShef Premium Slow Masticating Juicer review – CNET
The Good The VonShef Premium Slow Masticating Juicer efficiently juices citrus and hard fruit. The cold-press machine also operates more quietly than centrifugal juice extractors.
The Bad The VonShef Premium Slow Masticating Juicer clogs often and has trouble chewing through fibrous kale leaves. The appliance uses a complex design with numerous parts that are tricky to assemble and break down. None of the juicer’s components are dishwasher-safe.
The Bottom Line Though relatively affordable for a cold-press machine, the VonShef Premium Slow Masticating Juicer clogs often, is overly complex, and is a pain to clean.
The VonShef Premium Juicer looks nice but had trouble performing.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Priced below the bulk of typical cold-press machines, the $200 VonShef Premium Slow Masticating Juicer certainly plays the role of fancy home juice extractor. It’s large, sports a pair of collection cups and spouts, and boasts an eye-catching red paint job. The juicer’s tower stands tall and imposing and has at its heart a menacing plastic auger, a drill bit-like piece that pulls in fruit and wrings liquid from produce slowly but with lots of torque.
Unfortunately, this kitchen gadget’s performance falls short of its imposing profile and grandiose name. First, the VonShef Premium Juicer is a jigsaw puzzle of many parts: eight in all, not counting the main unit that houses the machine’s power cord and electric motor. Second, these components must be aligned precisely or they won’t fit together. Worst of all, none of the juicer’s parts are dishwasher safe, so you’ll have to clean the entire contraption by hand. The VonShef Premium’s narrow food chute compounds these annoyances because you have to slice and dice produce into small chunks before you juice.
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The appliance did remove a decent amount of liquid from fruit and citrus, managing an average extraction of 64.5 percent when processing oranges (which means that 64.5 percent of the orange turned into juice, and the remaining percent was pulp). By contrast, the Omega J8006, a competing cold-press juicer, fared much better here (76.8 percent).
Running leafy and fibrous kale leaves through the VonShef Premium proved to be this machine’s undoing. The machine scored a low average kale extraction of 18.6 percent (compared with the Omega’s 44.2 percent) and clogged frequently, producing no juice at all.
All of these factors combine to paint a picture of a cold-press juicer that is relatively less expensive than its competition for a reason. For a juice extractor with satisfying results, you’d be wise to splurge on the $300 (about £210 or AU$410) Omega J8006, which makes more juice, produces less waste, and cleans up with minimal hassle.
Now Apple is thought to be making an Amazon Echo-like speaker with Siri
Amazon Echo has been doing so well that not only Google wants to copy it but now Apple as well.
Amazon recently admitted that it’s having trouble keeping Echo in stock due to high demand. It also launched two additional versions of the Bluetooth-enabled speaker, indicating once more that Echo is a success for the retailer. It therefore isn’t hard to see why Google unveiled in May a similar device called Google Home. Like Echo, Home has a built-in assistant that can answer questions and help with daily tasks.
Eager to jump on board this new trend of always-listening speakers, Apple is supposedly now developing a competitor to Amazon Echo and Google Home. The company’s speaker will feature Siri, according to The Information. It will also be able to control smart home devices and work with third-party apps, as Apple is reportedly opening up Siri so that developers can finally leverage the voice assistant’s powers.
Although Apple has been working on this Siri speaker long before Echo ever arrived, expect the company to continue taking its time on this project. Apple will likely release a Siri software development kit first (maybe even in June during its annual WWDC conference). This SDK would let any developer use Apple’s voice assistant, whereas only a select few developers and companies, such as Yelp, now have access.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Apple’s Siri speaker will make waves since it is so late to the game. We can imagine the product being successful if it comes out of the gate being able to work with several apps, thus making it more useful than what’s currently offered by the competition.
Google gives its Nexus Player the axe
Good luck trying to find a Nexus Player after today.
Google has quietly stopped direct sales of its set-top box, meaning you’ll have to buy it from third-party retailers that still have some stock left. The Nexus Player can no longer be found on the Google Store, but Google issued a statement about it still being available on some retail sites.
The device, which is shaped like a hockey puck and manufactured by Asus, debuted in 2014 as the first set-top box running Android TV, but now it faces stiff competition from not only other boxes and televisions that come pre-loaded with Android TV (such as the Nvidia Shield and 2016 TVs from Sony and Sharp), but also Google’s own Chromecast, which is available in the form of a HDMI dongle and TVs with built-in Google Cast.
The Nexus Player was a little media streamer that simply introduced Android TV at a low price. It wasn’t powerful enough to run heavy apps or games, and so it certainly didn’t showcase Android TV. Keep in mind Android TV is still alive and well. We’re assuming Google is either getting ready to replace the device with a new one, or maybe it’ll let third-party manufacturers take the wheel.
Xiaomi, for instance, recently announced it is developing an Android TV media streamer that supports 4K content.
AIVAnet 