Apple Discounts 64GB iPhone SE From $499 to $449
Apple has lowered the price of the iPhone SE with 64GB of storage from $499 to $449 in the U.S. following its iPhone 7 event yesterday. Likewise, the monthly installment price now starts at a lower $18.71 per month through carrier financing. The 16GB model remains $399.
Apple released the iPhone SE in March 2016 as a low-cost successor to the iPhone 5s, much to the delight of customers who prefer a 4-inch screen. Apple has not disclosed iPhone SE sales numbers, but in April the company said demand for the device was “very strong” and higher than expected.
Meanwhile, Apple has doubled the storage capacities of two iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models while giving them a $100 price drop each. The year-old smartphones now come in 32GB and 128GB storage capacities for $549 and $649 respectively.
Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Tag: Apple retail
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AirPods Impressions: Potential ‘Game-Changer’ With Good Design, but Will They Stay in the Ear?
To compensate for the lack of a 3.5mm headphone port on the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple yesterday introduced the “AirPods.” The wireless headphones give users 5 hours of music playback, and come in a carrying case that doubles as a battery pack, holding an extra 24 hours of charge in a small, 2-inch tall frame.
Following the keynote presentation yesterday, Apple let a few members of the press test out its new pieces of hardware, including the iPhone 7, Apple Watch Series 2, and the AirPods. Although the noisy showroom made it tough for many journalists to judge the headphones’ sound quality — which Apple says is “rich, high quality AAC audio” — many left impressed with the new technology, and curious to see how they’d perform on a day-to-day basis.
Images via TechCrunch
TechCrunch noted the subtle advantages of AirPods and their existence in the Apple ecosystem, mainly the seamless way that the headphones pause music automatically whenever users take them out of their ears, and resume the same track when returned. The site was less sure of the design of the AirPods, particularly whether or not the small headphones would stay in place during jogs or other strenuous workouts, although the “long tail” of the AirPods “actually goes a ways toward helping them fit better in the ear.”
It’s an interesting aesthetic choice, one that bucks the recent trend of fully wireless Bluetooth headphones, which are largely circular. These maintain the EarPods’ long tail, which actually goes a ways toward helping them fit better in the ear.
As far as how well they’ll actually stay in there if you, say, go for a jog, it’s hard to say, though the buds could certainly benefit for some sort of anchoring system akin to what you get on sportsbuds from companies like JayBird.
As a counter-argument to everyone’s concerns over whether the AirPods can become dislodged while moving, USA Today digital editor Natalie DiBlasio posted a short video on Twitter to test out the AirPods’ resistance to jumping and shaking around. Only 9 seconds long, DiBlasio’s test is still interesting as proof that the AirPods appear lodged well enough in her ears as to resist her movement test, although a long run with more sweat and motion could prove a more daunting task for Apple’s wireless headphones.
Alright, the Apple wireless Air Pods are in! Let’s see how they do with some jumping and shaking. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/FZaReT24f4
— Natalie DiBlasio (@ndiblasio) September 7, 2016
CNET’s editors gave some of the more positive impressions of the AirPods, calling the new headphones “game-changers,” with the caveat of the device living up to Apple’s promised potential of high quality music and a consistent connection. There still remains worry over how different sized ears will work with the AirPods, which could cause unfortunately negative experiences for some users.
If they’re as easy to pair with your phone and have as rock-solid a connection as Apple is saying they have, they’re going to be game-changers. The fact is, once you go totally wireless, it’s hard to go back to wires, and with Apple’s backing behind this new type of headphone — and a $159 price tag that’s not too outrageous — you may soon be looking at a lot people wearing the same white earbuds but with no wires between them.
Wired left impressed with what the AirPods could do for the wireless headphone market, particularly in the hassle-free set-up process, but was noticeably more hopeful for “something that looks and sounds better” than the AirPods to come down the line in the future. For what Apple’s made now, the site still noted that the AirPods were “much lighter” than other Bluetooth headphones, and they “nestled comfortably” in the ear.
I hope that AirPods don’t scare everyone else off from trying to make Bluetooth headphones. I don’t think they will, because they don’t sound good enough. And these aren’t the ones that will ship in the box with your iPhone 7; you get the standard EarPods when you buy an iPhone, which connect over Lightning now. (There’s also an adapter.) But hopefully Apple has set the bar for how easy it should be to connect Bluetooth headphones, and how responsive they should be. If someone can copy that, and make something that looks and sounds better, we might not miss the headphone jack at all.
Since the features of the AirPods are so focused, much of the other reactions and impressions for the device echo similar opinions as the ones we’ve collected above. It sounds like Apple’s made a quality, if high-priced, pair of wireless headphones that might be aimed more at casual music listening than intense workouts, undoubtedly a market the new Beats headphones will help bolster. For more impressions on the AirPods, check out the sites below:
– Engadget
– Macworld
– The Verge
– The Telegraph
Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: AirPods
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How to unlock your phone for use with another carrier – CNET
Happy with your current phone but not your current network? Thanks to the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, it’s perfectly legal to unlock your phone and switch to a new carrier.
Unlocking your phone is legal, but some restrictions, as they say, may apply. Your phone needs to be fully paid for, whether you have a completed installment plan or come to the end of a two-year contract. If you have a prepaid phone, carriers can’t lock you in for more than 12 months.
In addition, the phone you seek to unlock must not be reported lost or stolen and your account must be in good standing.
We’ll cover how the big four carriers in the U.S. — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon — handle unlock requests. Before we get to the carriers, however, you should check to see if your phone is locked.
Find out if your phone is already unlocked
You may not need to request your carrier to unlock your phone. Verizon, for example, largely sells unlocked phones.
The sure-fire way to check to see if your phone is unlocked is to call your current carrier and ask. If you aren’t up to the task of navigating customer service and you have a GSM phone (uses a SIM card), you could swap in a SIM card from another carrier to see if it works. If you can make a call or send a text with the new SIM card, then your phone is unlocked.
Now, let’s have a look at the carriers.
Verizon
Verizon states on its Device Unlocking Policy page, “We do not lock our 4G LTE devices, and no code is needed to program them for use with another carrier. We do not lock our 3G devices, other than our non-iPhone 3G World Devices.”
In other words: If you have a recent iPhone with 4G LTE service, you will not need to unlock your phone. If you have a locked 3G World Device phone with Verizon, you can use unlock code 000000 or 123456 or call 800-922-0204 for help.
Verizon’s 3G Prepaid Phone-in-the-Box phones can be unlocked after 12 months of service.
AT&T
With AT&T, you can avoid calling customer service and use its Device Unlock Portal to unlock your phone.
Although the law states that a carrier can’t lock prepaid phone customers more more than 12 months, AT&T cuts that service time in half. For prepaid or GoPhone accounts with AT&T, you can unlock your phone after six months of service.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile will unlock your phone but restricts you to two unlock codes per line of service per 12 months.
For prepaid plans, you can unlock your phone after 12 months of service. You can also unlock it if it’s had more than $25 in refills for basic phones or $100 in refills for smartphones.
If you have an Android phone, you can use T-Mobile’s Device Unlock app to request T-Mobile unlock your phone. Others will need to contact customer support at 877-746-0909.
You can read the details of T-Mobile’s policy here.
Sprint
Sprint automatically unlocks recent phones. Sprint will automatically unlock any phone released after February 2015 once the installment plan is completed or the device is otherwise paid off. Sprint adds one restriction in addition to the usual bits about your account being in good standing and your phone not being reported as lost or stolen: Even if you paid in full for your phone up front, it needs to be active Sprint’s network for at least 50 days before you can unlock it.
For older phones, Sprint will send you an unlock code when you have paid in full for your phone. It will notify you when you are eligible for the unlock code. You will need to contact Sprint customer service at 888-226-7212 to get the unlock code.
You can read the fine print for Sprint’s unlocking policy here.
Closing caveat
For older (read: non-LTE) phones, you must take in account that Sprint and Verizon are on the CDMA network, and AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. These two 3G networks are not compatible with one another. To muddy the picture further, Verizon 3G phones aren’t compatible with Sprint 3G and vice versa even though they both use CDMA. Generally speaking, however, swapping a SIM card from one unlocked GSM 3G phone to another will be met with success (AT&T to T-Mobile or vice versa).
Switching a 4G LTE phone to another carrier is less complicated because all the carriers got on the same page with LTE for their 4G coverage.
In the end, it’s a good idea to check with your intended new carrier if your phone is compatible before attempting to switch.
For more, I’ll turn it over to CNET’s Marguerite Reardon on the ins and outs of switching carriers.
Getting Apple’s iPhone 7? Here’s your upgrade checklist – CNET
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iPhone 7 packed with new features
Drag
Now that Apple’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are officially coming on September 16, it is time to start preparing your current phone in anticipation of upgrading (if you absolutely must be on the bleeding edge of tech, of course).
Here are six tasks that should be on your upgrade check list:
Create an encrypted backup
Using iCloud Backup is super-convenient due to the fact that you don’t have to do a single thing. Each night while you’re sleeping and your phone is charging, iOS and iCloud work together to make sure it’s backed up.
Restoring is just as easy: You enter your Apple ID during initial setup, then wait while iCloud restores settings and reinstalls apps.
But iCloud Backup falls short in one aspect of the process — it doesn’t restore all of your account passwords. So after restoring your device from an iCloud Backup, you will spend the next 30 minutes entering passwords in iOS settings and various apps.
However, if you use iTunes to backup your iOS device with the box labeled “Restore iPhone Backup” checked, that backup will copy all passwords and information stored on your iOS device. In the end, you save yourself the headache of entering passwords; if you can even remember all of them, that is.
You can find instructions for the process here.
More from Apple’s event
- Apple’s AirPods may look weird, but they’ll change the headphone market
- iPhone 7 Plus ups photo ante with 2 rear cameras
- Super Mario is coming to iPhone at last
- iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Watch Series 2: Everything you need to know about Apple’s announcements
- Full coverage of Apple’s event
It’s best if you wait until the new iPhone arrives before creating your backup, instead of creating one now and losing at least a week of conversations and photos.
Wipe it clean
If you plan to sell your phone (more on that later), there are a few things you should do to ensure your personal info is wiped from the device.
First, disable Find My iPhone in Settings > iCloud. After that’s turned off, delete your iCloud account from your device. Finally, open Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to factory reset your current phone.
Research upgrade options
Not only do you have the traditional option to upgrade through your wireless carrier, but Apple also offers its own upgrade program.
Apple debuted its iPhone Upgrade Program alongside the iPhone 6S last year, and has continued to expand its availability by adding it to its online store earlier this year.
Apple’s program works a lot like wireless carriers’ yearly upgrade programs, like AT&T Next: You agree to make monthly payments, determined by the final cost of your device. After 12 months of payments, you can trade your iPhone in and upgrade to the newest iPhone.
Phones purchase through the Upgrade Program are unlocked, compatible with any carrier in the US. Additionally, AppleCare+ is included with all devices purchased through the program.
If Apple’s program doesn’t work for you, it’s still a good idea to research your carrier’s current plans, comparing them to competing carriers in order to find a better deal.
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Get some cash for your current phone
Most trade-in services allow for locking in a price ahead of a new iPhone’s announcement and extending the amount of time allotted before sending in your old device. This lets those people get the best deal possible for their old device, receive the new iPhone, and then send in the former device to recover some of the cost.
While prices might slide now that the iPhone’s announcement has passed, you can still get the most money possible for your phone by getting that set up now before the phone releases next week.
Of course, there are more options than just trading in your device and calling it a day. Swappa, eBay and Craigslist are just a few other options you have.
For a complete list of sites, services and more selling options for your soon-to-be-outdated device, check out this guide.
Repurpose your old phone
Sometimes an old phone is more valuable to you when it’s repurposed. There are plenty of uses for old devices, such as turning it into a security camera or converting it into a psuedo-iPod for one of your kids.
For more ideas, complete with a list of apps to achieve your end goal, but sure to read this guide.
2017 Jaguar XE review – Roadshow
The Good The 2017 Jaguar XE’s aluminum construction makes for light and stiff handling, while the all-wheel-drive really digs into the corners. An attractive look and comfortable ride add to the allure of this British sport sedan.
The Bad Neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto feature in the infotainment system, and searching destinations in navigation requires drilling down through menus. Orange and green for head-up display colors look lurid.
The Bottom Line The 2017 Jaguar XE brings excellent driving dynamics to the compact sport sedan segment, making it a first generation hit, although its serviceable infotainment offerings lack the wow factor of some of the competition.
Next to the gorgeous F-Type, the new Jaguar XE looks conventional. It’s a small sedan that wouldn’t be out of place in the company parking lot next to the legions of BMW 3-Series and Audi A4s that tend to be the favorite of the up-and-coming executive class.
However, the XE is a far more important car to Jaguar than the F-Type, as its base price of $35,000 potentially brings far more buyers to the brand.
More importantly, it is a really good car, relying on advances in automotive engineering to keep it light while maintaining safety and handling. Jaguar calls the construction of the XE “aluminum intensive,” meaning aluminum makes up about 75 percent of its structure. Curb weight comes in at a paltry 3,670 pounds, a minimal amount by today’s standards.
The base model, the XE 25t, comes with a turbocharged direct injection 2-liter engine, good for 240 horsepower. Surprisingly for this class, and in light of difficulties experienced by Volkswagen, Jaguar also has a diesel XE on offer, this one known as the 20d, using a 2-liter turbo-diesel boasting average EPA fuel economy of 36 mpg, more than 10 better than the 25t.
As a completely new model, Jaguar designed and engineered the XE from the ground up, relying on aluminum to keep the car light and stiff.
Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
I, however, spent a week with the 35t AWD in R-Sport trim. This car comes with the XE’s top engine, a supercharged 3-liter V-6, good for 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque and, as the name suggests, all-wheel-drive. R-Sport is essentially a top trim, adding features such as blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist, along with a body kit showing off more aggressive air intakes.
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Direct power
When I put the eight-speed automatic transmission in Sport mode and switched Jaguar’s Configurable Dynamics setting to Dynamic, the connection between accelerator and power delivery felt direct and immediate. It was if my right foot had a direct line to the driveshaft, without all the intervening engine control electronics and plumbing. Flooring it made the little XE leap forward with no hesitation.
Give credit to the supercharger, that engine-driven impeller shoving air into the cylinders, and direct injection engineering ensuring a full fuel burn. The automatic transmission did its part as well, its Sport mode hanging onto a gear even as the tach needle blurred past the 5,000 rpm mark.
When merely putting along in traffic, where this sort of power response would prove annoying, I dialed the Configurable Dynamics setting down to Normal, or even Eco, reducing the throttle and steering sensitivity. The change was immediate, the XE assuming the character of a content house cat, letting me relax into the the sort of mindless driving that characterizes most commutes.
You can select seat insert colors on higher trim XEs.
Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
The XE’s aluminum structure really comes through in the handling and ride quality. I could feel the car’s light weight at the steering wheel, and that’s a good thing. You might equate heavy with “planted” but the XE’s lightness gave a it quick and nimble character. It felt extremely maneuverable, responding precisely to my steering inputs both on the twisty mountain road and when diving into a traffic opening.
Beyond lightness, the XE’s body felt stiff, an essential quality for good handling. Going into a turn, I was impressed with the precise steering, while the rigid body kept the tires in contact with the pavement. At tire squealing speeds on hairpin mountain roads, the XE felt balanced and confident. Hitting some wet patches, the back-end shimmied out but a combination of traction control and steady steering input brought the car neatly back into line without destroying my fun.
Hitting that Goldilocks zone, the XE is stiff, but not too stiff for an everyday comfortable ride. In Dynamic mode, the adaptive suspension retains pliability, adding to the comfort while allowing some lean in hard cornering. It strikes an important balance between an elegant weekly commute car and a satisfying weekend backroads driver.
New maps, with satellite view
Cabin appointments in this model included lightly bolstered sport seats and a drive selector dial that rises up from the console when you hit the ignition button. Although the front row seats make the XE cabin feel roomy, the rear seats look like they belong in a coupe. Taller passengers won’t welcome the experience. 16 cubic feet of trunk space, the “boot” in British parlance, comes in about average for the segment.
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2016) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The new Fire HD 8 ships September 21.
Amazon
Amazon’s new Fire HD 8 looks a lot like last year’s Fire HD 8, but there are a few key differences, the biggest of which is the new lower price tag. Much lower, in fact: $90 or £90, which converts to about AU$115. By comparison the Apple iPad Mini 4 costs $400, £379 or AU$569.
The previous generation Fire HD 8 started at $150 (£130 or AU$215). That model came with only 8GB of storage while this new one includes 16GB, with an expansion slot for adding microSD memory cards up to 200GB in capacity.
While the quad-core processor is a new chip, Amazon says the real performance boost will come from a bump in RAM from 1GB to 1.5GB. And battery life life, thanks mostly to software enhancements, is up to 12 hours.
The other noteworthy feature addition isn’t available yet, but will be in the next few months: Alexa, the cloud-based voice service, makes her debut on Fire tablets. To activate Alexa, you’ll have to press a virtual button (with the Echo you simply have to say her name — so long as you’re connected to the Internet). You can use voice commands to tell Alexa to play music, launch games, read audiobooks, deliver weather reports and more.
It’s also worth mentioning that Alexa won’t be available only on the new Fire HD 8. She’s also coming to the Fire HD 10, Fire and last year’s Fire HD 8 tablets via a free over-the-air software update in the coming months.
Shipping September 21, here are the new Fire HD 8’s key specs and features:
- 8-inch widescreen (1280×800 pixels) HD display with over a million pixels (189 ppm).
- Quad-core 1.3 GHz processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. That’s 50% more RAM than the previous generation Fire HD 8 for faster performance when playing games or launching apps.
- Twice as much storage: 16 GB or 32 GB options with support for up to 200 GB of expandable storage via microSD.
- 4,750 mAh battery for up to 12 hours of mixed use battery life for a full day of power.
- Amazon says the Fire HD 8 is twice as durable as the iPad Mini 4, as measured in tumble tests.
- Front- and rear-facing cameras with free, unlimited cloud storage for all photos taken on Fire devices.
- Fire HD 8 stereo speakers are custom-tuned with Dolby Audio for immersive, high-quality sound.
- Fire OS 5 includes a user interface that replicates the look and feel of a magazine, making browsing and searching for your content easier than ever–now with support for Comixology and Twitch.
- The Amazon Underground app store offers thousands of premium apps, games and even in-app items for free, including extra lives, unlocked levels, unlimited add-on packs and more.
- On Deck: For Prime members, On Deck automatically keeps your Fire tablet current with popular Prime movies and TV shows, as well as Amazon Original Series. If you aren’t a Prime member, On Deck downloads first episodes of Amazon Original Series.
- Amazon-exclusive features: ASAP, X-Ray, Second Screen, Family Library, Amazon FreeTime, Prime Video downloads, Blue Shade, Word Runner and more.
- Screen sharing: Let an Amazon expert guide you remotely through any feature on your screen.
- Available in four color options: Black, magenta, blue and tangerine.
Wireless Fast Charging explained
Qi Fast Charge brings faster and more efficient charging without any change in how we use it.
The Qi charging standard has come a long way since it was first specified. What started as a very slow and very wasteful technology to recharge low-power devices (like the battery in your phone) has expanded to include things that need more power like a laptop and the Wireless Power Consortium has even demonstrated the tech powering kitchen appliances at 1kW. But for most of us, the biggest advance has been the introduction of wireless fast charging.
Any Qi-enabled phone will charge on any Qi pad, even if Fast Charge isn’t available.
Qi (pronounced Chee and roughly translated to “spiritual energy”) is a charging standard. The Wireless Power Consortium — think a group of electrical engineers that really love chargers and the smart people who make things that need to be charged — developed the specification in 2009. The first version supported wireless power transfer up to 4.999 watts, and it works by using two coils and some computer logic that sends a signal across the gap when they get close to each other, then uses magnetic induction to produce electricity on the receiver side. In the early days, you had to waste a lot of power creating an oscillating magnetic field in the base that was strong enough to induce the same oscillation and field in the receiver in order to charge your phone. And even then it charged very slowly. It was more of a convenience thing than an efficiency thing.
More: Wireless charging, in plain English
The folks at the WPC have kept expanding and developing the standard and besides additions like a medium-power mode that can provide up to 120 watts, they have been working on three specific ways to make it better: a longer range (it’s up to 40mm now), higher output done safely, and less wasted power in the form of heat.
In June of 2015, the WPC released the latest version of the standard and increased the power transfer to 15 watts without any increase in the amount of wasted electricity as heat. That means the current created by the receiver coil (the one inside your phone) has increased by 300% and charging is faster, without either coil getting any hotter.
Using a charger and a phone with the “Fast Charge” label you can charge a typical phone (for example, the Galaxy Note 5 and Samsung’s Wireless Fast Charger) to about 50% in 30 minutes, or charge fully in 90 minutes. While not as fast as a wired quick charge solution, this is a lot faster than it used to be.
Like every quick charging specification the tech has to monitor the transfer rate, the temperature, and the amount of charge the battery has. From a “cold” state, it takes about a fair amount of time for things to reach the point where they need to be scaled back. Reducing the amount of electricity provided (the base modifies the frequency and wavelength of the magnetic field created by its coil) is done to protect the battery and electronics inside your phone from getting too hot. At this point, the current (watts are a measure of current) generated is dropped until the battery is full, at which point it shuts down. Your phone monitors itself and sends a signal to the base to indicate that things need to change.
A lot of engineer speech is involved here, because of the subject matter. Essentially, your phone and your charger carry on a little electronic conversation.
- Phone: I need some power!
- Base: OK, I’ll start my end. Make sure you stay close enough so the way my coil hums makes your coil hum, too. If I see your coil stop humming I’ll turn everything off.
- Phone: Gotcha. Staying close.
- Base: I see that you are using the latest Qi standard, so I’ll go full speed ahead until you give the word.
- Phone: OK, I’m getting warm, so scale things back a little.
- Base: OK. Lowering the frequency and pitch of my coil’s hum so things don’t get any hotter. Let me know when we’re done.
- Phone: My battery is full. You can stop now.
This is exactly how Qi charging has always worked. The only differences are changes to the resonant circuits in both the phone and the base that allow the coils to oscillate at a higher frequency with less damping (resistance) and less radiated energy (wasted energy in the form of heat) production. The current generated is higher while the resistance and heat produced are lower than previous versions, so more juice can flow from the coil in your phone to the battery without things getting too hot too fast. These changes were part of an update to the Qi standard, and everyone who is part of the WPC — Belkin, HTC, Lexus, Motorola, Samsung, Verizon and the rest of the 230+ members — can use the design to build chargers and devices that need charged and be sure everything is compatible.
Qi Fast Charge can generate up to 300% more current than the original specification.
The Qi specification has nothing to do with any USB charging standards and is generally followed to the letter by everyone involved. It’s also freely available to anyone after a short term of WPC members-only access so everyone can use it — even a startup who might not have an extra $20,000 for the annual fee. Generally, you don’t have to worry about the things you buy not meeting the full specifications. It just works. And now it works even faster.
For us as consumers, there isn’t a lot to think about. If our phone is Qi Fast Charge compatible and we use a charging base that’s also Qi Fast Charge ready, our phone will charge faster — about as fast as using an old (not quick charge) wall plug and cable. The system is designed to slow down before things get too hot and shut off completely once the battery is full — we don’t need to intervene at any level. Qi is also backwards compatible so all your devices that use it will charge with any charging base, even if Fast Charge isn’t available. The one thing we should do is to use the proper wall plug to make sure the right amount of current is available to the charging base and it doesn’t overheat or charge too slowly.
If you like the convenience of wireless charging, make sure the next charging base you buy is Fast Charge ready!
Amazon brings Alexa to the $89 Fire HD 8 tablet
Amazon has refreshed its $89 Fire HD 8 tablet, bringing Alexa functionality to the device along with a slew of spec upgrades. You can now interact with Amazon’s voice assistant to control media playback, launch apps and games, check the weather, set a reminder, find news, and more.
As for the specs, the Fire HD 8 has the same 8-inch 1200 x 800 display as last year’s model, but you now get 1.5GB of RAM, double the storage at 16GB or 32GB, and a larger 4750mAh battery that can last up to 12 hours on a full charge. The tablet is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core CPU, and will be available in Black, Magenta, Blue, and Tangerine color options. There’s also a 2MP camera at the back that lets you record 720p video, a VGA front camera, and dual-band Wi-Fi.
Amazon has steadily added more features to Alexa over the course of the year, and made the voice assistant platform available for third-parties, leading to devices like the Triby.
The Alexa experience on the Fire HD 8 won’t be as seamless as that on an Echo as the tablet doesn’t have an always-on listening mode, but by bringing the voice assistant to its budget tablets, Amazon gets to significantly widen Alexa’s userbase and enhance its AI smarts. Amazon has mentioned that the 2015 Fire HD 8, the $50 Fire, and Fire HD 10 tablets will receive Alexa functionality with an upcoming software update to Fire OS 5 in the coming months.
The all-new Fire HD 8 is now up for pre-order, with the 16GB model retailing for $89 and the 32GB version for $119. That’s for the editions with lock screen ads. If you don’t want to see ads, you’ll have to shell out $104 and $134 respectively. Amazon will commence shipping on September 21.
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How to disable auto Bluetooth audio streaming on Samsung Galaxy phones
Are you bothered by your music playing every time your Galaxy phone connects to your vehicle’s Bluetooth? Here’s how to fix it.
Owning a Bluetooth-enabled car stereo makes life easier in many ways. Once paired to your Samsung Galaxy phone, you’ll be able to quickly connect your phone every time you get in your car and receive phone calls and text messages hands-free while you drive.
It also enables you to play music from your phone on demand, and by default you may notice it automatically playing the tracks stored on your Galaxy phone as soon as you turn on the vehicle. If you find autoplay to be more of a nuisance than a useful feature, here’s how you can toggle media audio from playing in your Bluetooth car stereo.
Swipe down from the top of the screen to pull down the Notification shade.
Tap the Settings icon.
Tap Connections.
Tap Bluetooth
Tap the Settings icon next to the paired device you’re having issues with.
Tap the Media audio toggle switch to turn it off.
This will turn off all audio media from playing via Bluetooth in your car — an admittedly extreme option for fixing autoplay issues. When you decide you want to play music through your car stereo, you’ll have to go back into your phone’s Bluetooth settings and re-enable media audio.
£90 Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet gets supercharged to the max
Amazon has announced a new version of its 8-inch high definition tablet that not only comes with better battery life and more RAM, it’s just £89.99.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 has an 8-inch 1280 x 800 display, quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 1.5GB of RAM and 4,750mAh battery to offer up to 12 hours of battery life.
It comes with two different storage options, 16GB and 32GB, and is capable of extending that by up to a further 200GB through a microSD card slot. Front and rear cameras are present, as is Dolby audio through its stereo speakers.
The tablet is pre-loaded with Amazon’s proprietary Fire OS 5 system, which now has support for Twitch and Comixology, with the latter offering direct access to digital comic books as part of its pre-installed features.
All other Amazon-exclusive features are available too, including Amazon Underground, the company’s free app store that gives users the chance to nab games and applications at no cost, even though they often come with hearty prices on other formats.
Four colours of the Amazon Fire HD 8 will be available – black, magenta, blue and tangerine – and it is now listed for pre-order on Amazon.co.uk. It ships from 21 September. You can find out more information on its store page.
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