Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 3.1 to Developers
Apple today seeded the second beta of watchOS 3.1, Build 14S464, to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first beta and three weeks after releasing watchOS 3 to the public.
watchOS 3.1 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General -> Software Update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone. watchOS 3.1 requires an iPhone running iOS 10 to install.
watchOS 3.1 appears to focus on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements rather than outward-facing changes, as no new features were discovered in the first beta. We’ll update this post with anything new that’s found in the second beta.
watchOS 3 brings a new interface to the Apple Watch, with a dedicated App Dock and instant launch apps. There are new Activity sharing features, a “Breathe” app guides you through daily deep breathing sessions to cut down on stress, and there are new Reminders, Find My Friends, and Heart Rate apps.
Three new watch faces are included, and an SOS feature can automatically call emergency services. A revamped Messages app makes it easier to reply to incoming texts, plus there’s a new “Scribble” feature for writing replies on the Apple Watch face with a finger.
Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Apple Releases Third macOS Sierra 10.12.1 Beta for Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Sierra 10.12.1 update to public beta testers, one week after seeding the second public beta and one day after seeding the third beta to developers. It’s been two weeks since Apple released macOS Sierra to the public.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program will receive the 10.12.1 macOS Sierra beta through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
Those who want to be a part of Apple’s beta testing program can sign up to participate through the beta testing website, which gives users access to both iOS and macOS Sierra betas. Betas should not be installed on a primary machine due to the potential for instability.
macOS Sierra 10.12.1 appears to focus mainly on bug fixes and performance improvements to address issues that have surfaced up since macOS Sierra was first released. It also includes album support in Photos for the new Portrait feature in iOS 10 on the iPhone 7 Plus.
macOS Sierra is a major operating system update that introduces features like Siri support, cross device copy paste, improved iCloud functionality, the ability to unlock a Mac with the Apple Watch, an Optimize Storage option, and more.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
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This trick lets you navigate around your iPhone’s busted bits – CNET
No home button, no problem: navigate around your iPhone’s busted bits
Assistive Touch can be a massive help if your iPhone’s buttons are breaking down or broken off.
by Daniel Van Boom
Close
Drag
Phones break, no matter how advanced they get. Especially if their owners are uncoordinated, like me.
Thankfully, iPhones have a workaround that’ll help you navigate even if one or more of your buttons are broken. In the video above you’ll find how to activate assistive touch, which can act as a home button, volume knob, mute button and much, much more.
Emerson Sensi review – CNET
The Good Emerson’s $160 Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat costs less than many other smart-home models, its button interface and app are thoughtfully arranged and it works with Amazon’s Alexa.
The Bad The Sensi doesn’t come with algorithmic learning, remote sensors or geofencing capabilities; the thermostat hardware is on the plain side of the spectrum.
The Bottom Line The Sensi is a solid option if you’re looking for a smart thermostat upgrade that still manages to keep things simple.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Emerson’s Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat doesn’t rely on algorithms, remote sensors, geofencing or any other high-end smarts a la Nest’s Learning Thermostat, Honeywell’s Lyric or the Ecobee3. In fact, it’s really just a basic-looking programmable thermostat with a related app. So, why should you buy it over the competition?
Let me count the ways:
- It’s affordable — the Sensi has an MSRP of $160, but is widely available at stores like Home Depot for $129 and on Amazon for just $104. Nest and other connected models cost as much as $249. Amazon’s UK site lists Sensi for £341 through a reseller, so it’s much cheaper and easier to find in the US.
- It’s easy to use — Both the thermostat and the app have thoughtful, logical layouts that make usability a breeze.
- It works with Amazon’s Alexa — You can pair any Alexa-compatible device with Sensi for fast voice control integration.
If you’re on the hunt for a thermostat upgrade, but don’t want or need all of the fancy extras, the Sensi’s semi-smartness still makes it much simpler to heat and cool your home. I definitely recommend it.
Don’t overlook the understated Sensi smart…
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Sensi, part one
If I were to come across the Sensi on a store shelf alongside other connected thermostats, I would assume someone put it there by mistake. This thing is pretty utilitarian-looking. It’s way better than the 20-year-old, barely functioning model in my house right now, sure, but decidedly lacking in the dazzling design department.
All thermostats, all the time:
- What’s a C-wire, and why should you care?
- Honeywell finds a new look for its latest Lyric thermostat
- Same great Nest thermostat, now with even better looks
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Honeywell’s next-gen Lyric thermostat sings the same old tune
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Thermostat buying guide
- Have a radiator? This thermostat wants to make it smarter
- How to find a great thermostat for just 30 bucks
Since the advent of the Nest Learning Thermostat in 2011, a $249 smart model designed by two former Apple employees, a number of manufacturers have turned away from the practical rectangular white box look and have instead tried to add a dose of modern design into the mix.
Emerson didn’t do that with the Sensi, but it isn’t all bad news — its buttons are responsive, its display is large and it’s easy to read from a distance, as well as different angles. The app and Amazon Alexa integrations, too, are simple to configure and create a number of opportunities for remote access.
But before all that, you have to install your Sensi.
First stop? Check here to see if your wiring is compatible and be sure to visit Sensi’s support page if you have installation questions. As always, consult a professional if you aren’t comfortable going the do-it-yourself route, but a basic familiarity with thermostat wiring should have everything up and running in minutes. It took me roughly 10-15 minutes, but the holes in my wall from the old thermostat conveniently lined up with the Sensi’s, so I took a slight shortcut.
Click through the gallery below for a tutorial on how to install a Sensi thermostat; this covers everything from removing your old thermostat to pairing the Sensi to the companion app.
Google Pixel arriving on October 20, according to Canadian carrier
Google’s Pixel phones may arrive on October 20 — at least at the carrier level — according to one Canadian carrier.
A sponsored Facebook post issued yesterday by Rogers, Canada’s largest carrier — and not the same one that leaked Pixel details over the weekend — says that the devices will be available 16 days after pre-orders go live, if they do indeed begin today.
Like the Bell and Carphone Warehouse leaks, Rogers refers to Pixel as “a phone by Google,” which increasingly looks like where the marketing line is leaning, and supports the “made by Google” that we saw teased last month.
Follow our Google Pixel liveblog starting at 9am PT / 12pm ET
We’ll know everything later on today, so stay tuned!
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Everything we know so far
- New navigation buttons
- Google UI + circular icons
- Android 7.1 Nougat
- Pixel vs Pixel XL
- Older Nexus phones
How to set up and control smart thermostats using Amazon Echo
How do I control my thermostat with an Amazon Echo?
Using your phone to control your smart thermostat is cool, but using your voice is even better. If you’re using a smart thermostat and are planning on adding an Amazon Echo to your setup, there’s a good chance you’re able to connect the two and do some very interesting things. Here’s everything you need to know about setting up and controlling your smart thermostat through an Amazon Echo!
- Nest Thermostat
- Ecobee3 Thermostat
- Honeywell Thermostat
Nest Thermostat
Nest Thermostat is supposed to be the thermostat that learns from you and eventually makes it so you never have to touch it, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to speak and cool things down. To add Nest to your Amazon Echo:
Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap the menu button and select Smart Home from the list.
Swipe down until you see Get More Smart Home Skills and tap on the arrow.
Type “Nest” in the search box and tap the first result with the Nest logo.
Tap Enable Skill.
Log in to your Nest account.
Select Accept.
Once you have your Nest Thermostat connected to Amazon Echo, there’s a couple of ways you can give commands. You’ll need to know the name of your thermostat to give commands to your Echo, which can be found and adjusted in the Nest app. To control your Nest Thermostat with your voice:
- Set a specific temperature with “Alexa, set (thermostat name) to 70”
- Incrementally raise and lower temperature with “Alexa, lower the (thermostat name) by 5 degrees”
- Give 2 degree increase or decrease commands with “Alexa, cool down (thermostat name)”
These voice commands will not work if your Nest Thermostat is set to Away, Auto-Away, or Off. You also won’t have any voice control if Emergency Heat or Emergency Shutoff modes are active. To return normal functioning order with these modes enabled, you’ll need either the Nest app or be touching the Nest Thermostat.
See at Amazon
Ecobee3 Thermostat
Your Ecobee3 can already do a ton of clever things, but Amazon Echo opens up a massive array of voice commands. To connect your Ecobee3 to your Amazon Echo:
Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap the menu button and select Smart Home from the list.
Swipe down until you see Get More Smart Home Skills and tap on the arrow.
Type “Ecobee” in the search box and tap the first result with the Ecobee logo.
Tap Enable Skill.
Log in to your Ecobee account.
Select Accept.
Once your Amazon Echo and Ecobee3 Thermostat are connected, there are several kinds of commands you can speak. The only thing you have to keep in mind is the name of your thermostat, as designated by the Ecobee app. If you don’t give the specific name, Alexa will ask you to confirm with the name you have assigned to the thermostat. You can:
- Set a specific temperature with “Alexa, set (thermostat name) to 70”
- Incrementally raise and lower temperature with “Alexa, lower the (thermostat name) by 5 degrees”
- Give 2 degree increase or decrease commands with “Alexa, cool down (thermostat name)”
If your Ecobee 3 is set to Auto Mode, Alexa will reply to your commands by letting you know it is “aiming” for a set temperature. This means you can request the temperature will be set to 70 and Ecobee will keep the house in a range of 68 and 72 just as if you’d set it using the panel on the wall.
See at Amazon
Honeywell Thermostat
If you have a Honeywell Lyric, Lyric Round, or Total Connect Comfort thermostat, you can connect an Amazon Echo and use your voice to control the temperature. To connect any of these thermostats to your Echo:
Open the Alexa app on your phone.
Tap the menu button and select Smart Home from the list.
Swipe down until you see Get More Smart Home Skills and tap on the arrow.
Type “Honeywell” in the search box and tap the first result with the Ecobee logo.
Tap Enable Skill.
Log in to your Honeywell account.
Select Accept.
Controlling your Honeywell thermostat with Amazon Echo is simple. You just call out to Alexa just like you would for any other command and:
- Incrementally raise and lower temperature with “Alexa, lower the temperature by X degrees”
See? Simple. Most of your thermostat features still require the Honeywell app, but quick temperature changes are just a sentence away.
See at Amazon
Google Pixel event preview: How to watch, stream and vent
How to follow along with the Pixel event
Google’s Pixel event is one of the most anticipated announcements of the year. Sure, it’s going to have phones — we know all about those already — but it’s also likely to give a deep dive into a bunch of other stuff Google has been working on, much of which was teased at Google I/O this past summer.
What to expect
Aside from the phones, we’re likely getting a look at the new Chromecast Ultra, a 4K streaming stick that may cost less than most pairs of shoes. The Chromecast — and Google’s Cast platform — has been a quiet success over the past few years, selling in the millions and proving that people just want to easily stream content to their televisions or connected speakers. Now, in 4K.
More: What to expect from the Google Pixel event
We’re also looking forward to seeing Google Home, which was first teased at I/O in May, in its finished form. The ideal companion to the company’s Assistant platform, Google Home will take on Amazon’s Echo for $129, if rumors are to be believed.
And there are other things to expect, too, including the first Google Daydream headset that, once again, was introduced at Google I/O. Really looking forward to that.
We may also see the introduction of Andromeda, Google’s reported combined mobile/desktop operating system, finally fusing Android and ChromeOS. We’ll see.
Where to follow along
Google is streaming the event on YouTube, so if you want to follow along you can do that. We’re also going to be liveblogging the event from both San Francisco and Toronto, which will be even more fun.
Follow our Google Pixel liveblog starting at 9am PT / 12pm ET
Watch Google’s #madebygoogle livestream of the Pixel event
Join us to chat in our Pixel forums
Find us on social media!
- Snapchat
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Everything we know so far
- New navigation buttons
- Google UI + circular icons
- Android 7.1 Nougat
- Pixel vs Pixel XL
- Older Nexus phones
Best Android Phone With Removable Battery
There’s something to be said about removable batteries. They just save you time, which is often worth a lot! If you’re looking for the best phone with a removable battery, the LG V20 is your best bet.
Best overall
LG V20
See at LG
Note: The LG V20 isn’t widely available in the U.S. at the time of writing, but should be shortly. Nevertheless, we’ve used a pre-production unit for long enough to feel like it satisfies our evaluation criteria for this guide.
The V20 is probably LG’s best phone ever, and that’s not just because it has one of the most coveted features for many phone enthusiasts: a removable battery. No, the V20 is a powerhouse, featuring a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and all the audio and camera features to satisfy the most hardcore of spec heads.
But if you’re looking for a phone with that replaceable cell, the V20 is the tops: the back metal cover is easily removed, and the battery replaced in a snap. And because LG sells verified replacements, you can rest safe knowing that it is safe, and charged quickly, either inside the phone itself or through an optional external charger.
Bottom line: The V20 is one of the best smartphones of the year, period, but it’s definitely the best choice for someone looking at buying a high-end device with a replaceable battery.
One More thing: The V20 can shoot 4K video with SteadyShot 2.0, which keeps tracking and panning ultra-smooth. Of course, 4K video uses a lot of battery, which is where a second cell, and a tripod, could come in handy.
Why the LG V20 is best
A big phone that can last two or more days.intro
If you’re buying a phone with a removable battery, you likely know exactly why — because you don’t like the new trend towards sealed devices and the potential issues they cause. Imagine if the Note 7 had a removable battery, and how much easier the recall could have been.
The LG V20 has a 3,200mAh battery on its own, but the fact that the battery cell can easily be replaced with another fully-charged equivalent negates the need for fast charging. That the V20 still supports fast charging through its USB-C port is an added bonus, because it means you don’t necessarily need an external charger for the second battery. Just plug it in for an hour to top it up to 80% or so, and put back the primary cell, and you’re good to go.
Aside from battery life, the V20 is an amazing phone, with a unique Second Screen experience, Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box, and all the specs you could want from a top-tier phone.
Best for less
LG G5
See at Amazon
The LG G5 is better than the reviews let on. In fact, there’s a lot to like about LG’s first modular phone, its Friends notwithstanding: it has a beautiful 5.3-inch display, excellent performance, and great cameras. It also has, yes, a removable battery. While the 2,800mAh cell may not be as big as that inside the V20, who cares? This smaller phone has all the juice needed to power you through a whole day, and because it has been on the market for a few months already, it, and replacement battery cells, are easy to find for less.
Bottom-line: The G5 may not be the great follow-up to the G4 many were hoping for, it’s still a great, powerful phone with an awesome removable battery and plenty of character.
One more thing: If you are a fan of photography, the LG CAM Plus is a camera grip add-on with an additional 1,140mAh of battery power, along with a two-stage shutter button and more.
Conclusion
The V20 is the best phone with a removable battery you can buy right now. And because it seems like LG is the only company making high-end Android phones with removable batteries, it may stay that way for a long time.
Best overall
LG V20
See at LG
The V20 is probably LG’s best phone ever, and that’s not just because it has one of the most coveted features for many phone enthusiasts: a removable battery. No, the V20 is a powerhouse, featuring a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and all the audio and camera features to satisfy the most hardcore of spec heads.
But if you’re looking for a phone with that replaceable cell, the V20 is the tops: the back metal cover is easily removed, and the battery replaced in a snap. And because LG sells verified replacements, you can rest safe knowing that it is safe, and charged quickly, either inside the phone itself or through an optional external charger.
Bottom line: The V20 is one of the best smartphones of the year, period, but it’s definitely the best choice for someone looking at buying a high-end device with a replaceable battery.
One More thing: The V20 can shoot 4K video with SteadyShot 2.0, which keeps tracking and panning ultra-smooth. Of course, 4K video uses a lot of battery, which is where a second cell, and a tripod, could come in handy.
AIVAnet 