Google Pixel: A real-world review, one week later

What do the Android Central editors think of the Google Pixel after a week?

Google’s Pixel phones have been out for just over a week now, and some of us have had them for far longer. We’ve written three reviews and ten times the number of editorials, and yet there’s more to say about these amazing devices — so we convened a roundtable to do just that.

First, Pixel or Pixel XL? And Why?

Daniel Bader

I have been enjoying the smaller Pixel more than I thought. It has the right combination of size and power for my liking, and it’s extremely usable in one hand.

More than anything, it just works. I know that’s overrated in a market that values features over function, but for what I use my Android phone for, the Pixel does the best job right now, period.

Jerry Hildenbrand

Pixel. With the same service and the same apps, it actually has better battery life for me (though not really enough to make a difference) and it’s easier to carry. I’ve mentioned it before, but riding around in a wheelchair all day means keeping my phone in a shirt pocket works better for me, and the Pixel works better for a shirt pocket.

Andrew Martonik

I used the Pixel XL first, and I actually found it much more comfortable to use than I first expected, though it pushes the upper limit of what I can safely manage in one hand for my usual tasks. After receiving my smaller Pixel, that’s the one I’ve settled on. Having the same great experience in a smaller size is wonderful, and battery life has just been ever so slightly less — a worthy tradeoff for me. Going back to the XL isn’t completely out of the question, but I’m just enjoying the Pixel more right now.

Russell Holly

For me, it’s all about the Pixel XL. While I appreciate a good small phone, and the PIxel is exactly that, the slight difference in daily battery life means I can do things like drop a wireless hotspot for 45 minutes while finishing a thought on my laptop and never have to worry about my phone making it through the day. I’m very much over feeling like I need to carry a battery backup or my quick charger with me places. This phone lasts me all day, and that’s what I wanted.

Also, Daydream View is going to be awesome through the larger Pixel.

Harish Jonnalagadda

I really liked the in-hand feel of the smaller Pixel, but the added battery life and the denser display of the Pixel XL won out in the end. The Pixel XL is much more usable one-handed than the 5.7-inch Nexus 6P, and the battery easily lasts a day even when connected to a cellular network throughout, with Bluetooth and location services enabled. After using the LG G4 for most of last year and the G5 for a few months earlier this year, I now look for all-day battery life when buying a phone. And in that regard, the Pixel XL delivers.

Marc Lagace

I got my hands on the smaller Pixel and haven’t had the opportunity to hold the Pixel XL. But after using some bigger phones for a while (RIP Note 7), it’s been really nice coming back to a phone that’s a bit more compact and easy to use one-handed. While I’m sure I’d enjoy the extra battery life and the crisper display found on the Pixel XL, I’m more than satisfied by what the Pixel has offered so far.

What’s your favorite thing about the phone so far?

Daniel Bader

That would be a tossup between the software itself — the day-to-day goings-ons of bug-free, smooth-as-butter experience, plus Nougat’s excellent notifications and multi-window support — and the camera.

The camera was surprising. It went from, “Oh, this phone takes great photos,” to “Holy crap, look at this photo. And this one. This is one I took in near pitch black that came out amazing with little grain.”

I’m not saying it’s the best camera on a smartphone today, but it takes great photos almost every time and I have to give Google props for that.

Jerry Hildenbrand

All of the things that aren’t there.

I don’t want IR blasters or iris scanners or SD cards. I want a piece of tech that lets me stay connected with “my people” that has a great way to use the services I like to use when doing it. The Pixel stays out of the way and lets me do that.

Andrew Martonik

It has to be the overall fluidity and consistency of performance. I’ve never used an Android phone that’s this quick to open and switch apps while also never slowing down or skipping a beat. Everything is super stable, and so smooth it’s remarkable.

Russell Holly

It’s just so damn fast. The camera is fast. The launcher is fast. Switching between apps is fast. I’ve been using the phone for over a week and my Pixel hasn’t lagged or visually dropped frames or completely frozen in place. The same can’t be said of my last three phones, a list that includes the iPhone 7 Plus, the Galaxy Note 7, and the Nexus 6P.

Harish Jonnalagadda

The performance. The phone just flies! It’s remarkable how seamlessly the Pixel handles everything you throw at it. There’s no lag anywhere, and I never got the feeling that I was waiting for an app to launch. I’m wary of switching back to phones with manufacturer skins, even those in the high-end segment. Once you get used to the Pixel, everything else feels slow.

Marc Lagace

It’s a toss-up between Google Assistant and the camera. I’ve enjoyed using Google Assistant so far, and am pretty excited to see Google develop it further as time goes on — but mostly I’m just a big sucker for hilarious easter eggs and random fun, and Google Assistant is chocked full of both.

But the camera — my goodness, the camera! It’s lived up to the hype and then some in my books. Every time I’ve shown someone a photo or video i’ve taken with the Pixel, they’ve been blown away by the quality. Every time. It’s that good, folks.

Where do you think Google could have improved?

Daniel Bader

On the smaller Pixel, battery life has been an issue. In Toronto, during my normal daily routine, I typically get to 9pm before I need to top up, after taking the phone off the charger at 7am or so. That’s pretty good.

But I’ve been traveling for the past few days, and have been penalizing the battery with roaming and constant hits to Google Maps. That really annoyed the Pixel, and I was almost empty after five hours on one of those days. It’s not the end of the world — the Pixel charges quickly, and I have quite the collection of portable battery packs — but it is something to consider for the average road warrior. This is a daily driver, not a day-and-night driver.

Jerry Hildenbrand

I know thin flat phones are trendy, but they aren’t the most ergonomic thing in the world. A bit of curve in the rear would make the phone feel like it was a better fit in the hand. It might not actually be better, but things we can see or touch trump facts. The HTC 10 nails this, and I wish that had been the phone Google was chasing instead of the iPhone.

Andrew Martonik

On the hardware side, missing waterproofing is a real downer — a phone this expensive should have the feature. In terms of software, Google really has to figure out how it’s going to combine Google Search, Now and Assistant into one cohesive product. The parts are there, but they have to be combined in a smart way.

Russell Holly

Assistant is cute, but needs some muscle behind it immediately. It’s barely able to keep up with Google Now when it comes to basic commands, and as much fun as the follow-up question system is in concept it barely works in practice. This is a big step forward for Google because of what it means for the future of personal assistant software, but it’d be great if it was useful all the time.

Harish Jonnalagadda

The Pixel gets all the basics right, but it’s missing fringe features like water resistance. It’s a tough ask to convince customers to shell out over $600 for a phone when there are very capable handsets for under $400, and Samsung has done a great job of distinguishing its flagships with curved displays, wireless charging, and water resistance. The Pixel makes up for it through sheer performance, an excellent camera, and Google Assistant, but an IP68 rating would have definitely made it a more compelling option.

Marc Lagace

I would have really liked to have seen better water resistance to match what Apple and Samsung are offering with their flagship devices. Also, the lack of an SD slot is disappointing. I’m rocking the 32GB Pixel, so I’m slightly paranoid about running out of storage space. Other than that I’ve found the build quality and performance to be on point.

The camera: is it as good as they say it is?

Daniel Bader

Yes, I’m rehashing here, but the Pixel’s camera is impressive. One thing to note that is that smaller phones usually get punished in some way compared to their larger counterparts, often by lacking optical image stabilization or featuring a less capable sensor.

The Pixel’s camera is identical to that of the Pixel XL’s, and has proven to shoot great photos in almost any condition. I spent a lot of time talking about this in our latest podcast, but what’s impressed me most is how usable the low-light photos are given the lack of OIS, proving that software is perfectly capable of minimizing noise and shake with the right engineering work. And Google has that in spades.

Just look at the speed of HDR+. Google has been touting this feature for years, but it’s only now proving its mettle in the camera department. This is evolution at its best.

Here’s one of my favorite photos:

Jerry Hildenbrand

It’s better. Almost impossibly better. Reason says there is no way the camera can be this good without the traditional means to keep pictures from blurring when the light is low or you’re moving too much. Yet it is. I had little faith in seeing any real improvement over the Nexus 6P, but I was wrong. So wrong.

Here’s one of my favorite photos:

Andrew Martonik

It’s as good as they say it is, and it’s better than I ever could’ve imagined. You see, Google has talked a big game about its Nexus cameras for years … and now, it has delivered entirely. The Pixels not only take excellent photos, they take consistent photos and they do it quickly as well. That’s just the perfect combination.

Here’s one of my favorite photos:

Russell Holly

This is, without a doubt, the best smartphone camera I’ve ever used. At least, in full auto anyway. I wish Google would implement a proper manual mode so we could have some extra fun, but in full auto the camera is outstanding. It pulls light in from basically nowhere, everything is nice and crisp, and the slow motion is absolutely beyond belief.

Here’s one of my favorite photos:

Harish Jonnalagadda

I have a knack for taking out-of-focus images from phones that have great cameras. I usually resort to taking several shots, out of which I get one that’s passable. That isn’t the case on the Pixel. I consistently got great shots without putting in any effort, and the ability to create GIFs in burst mode is an added bonus. Easily the best camera I’ve ever used on a phone.

Here’s one of my favorite photos:

Marc Lagace

Man. As I already mentioned, the camera is probably my favorite part of the phone. It’s super quick to load and takes great photos and videos regardless of the conditions. I went to a concert the day after getting my Pixel and yea, I’m one of those guys who likes to take videos at rock shows. I was blown away by the quality when I reviewed them the next day!

Here’s one of my favorite photos:

What about battery life? Is it in line with your expectations?

Daniel Bader

I’m going to talk about the Pixel XL here, because I also have that one. It’s really good, better than the Nexus 6P with the same battery size, and certainly good enough to get through a whole day. As I said above, I’m worried, not disappointed, with the smaller Pixel’s uptime, but that it pulls 12-14 hours on a 2770mAh battery is no small feat.

But the Pixel XL’s cell is 25% larger, and that shows in practice. I’ve never finished the day short of 10% battery life — even long days, when I stay up editing these wonderful people — and that’s encouraging. I find the XL a bit big for my liking, otherwise it would easily take the place of the smaller Pixel in my pocket, but you shouldn’t have any qualms opting for the more expensive model if size is a concern.

Jerry Hildenbrand

It’s better than the Nexus 6P or BlackBerry Priv with the same apps and services running. I can’t say how good it is other than it’s not yet been dead when I go to bed and plug it in. That has happened before with other phones. Battery life does take a bit of a hit when I’m somewhere with a bad mobile signal, but that’s to be expected. No complaints so far!

Andrew Martonik

The Pixel XL offers all I need and more in terms of battery life, making it through my full day with some 20-30% to spare. If I push it hard, I’ll end with at least 10% left. I never had to scramble to a charger on the XL. The smaller Pixel isn’t as great, regularly finishing the day about 10% lower than my XL did — most of the time that’s fine, but on a tough day I really needed Battery Saver come 9 p.m. to make it until bedtime.

Russell Holly

I can regularly get through a 17-hour day with four hours of screen on time and still have 15% remaining when I plug in before bed. I’ve never had an Android phone without a 4,000mAh battery onboard deliver that experience. After Google’s promises of Doze on the go, this phone meets my expectations and then some.

Harish Jonnalagadda

I’ve been using the Pixel XL for nearly a week, and I haven’t had to enable Battery Saver yet. I’d call that a win.

Marc Lagace

I’ve been using my Pixel pretty heavily throughout the day and it typically reaches 15% battery life by the late evening end of the day. I also appreciate how quickly it charges for the times where I’ve forgotten to plug it in overnight.

Let’s talk software: do you think Google did everything it could to separate itself from its partners?

Daniel Bader

I think there’s something to be said about simplicity. In my experience, Android is better when Google calls the shots, since it has always, with some exceptions, had users’ best interests in mind.

If you look back on examples where companies like Samsung, LG, Huawei et al. decided to augment Android with their own interpretations of features yet to launch on “stock” Android, they’ve either been abandoned after a generation, or had little developer support. Samsung’s Multi Window is perhaps the only example of a feature that developers adopted in any great number because the API was mature and easy to integrate with. But even then, now that Google has a multi window API of its own, developers will like default to that one when Samsung launches Nougat on its battery of devices.

All that is to say I believe Google wields far more influence over the Android developer community than its manufacturing partners (rightfully so, since it builds Android), and on the Pixel those features are showcased as they were intended.

It could even be said that the Pixel software’s lack of affect, its simplicity and polish, alone separates from its partners, and now that Google is marketing a phone designed and engineered in-house, there is even more reason to think of “stock” Android as the canonical version.

Jerry Hildenbrand

Look at an LG V20 and ask me again.

Yes. Something like a Moto Z will have similar software, but that’s because Motorola chooses not to alter Google’s design too much. The Pixel software follows the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) software design they’ve used since the G1. With Android 7.1 it’s refined to do the relatively few things it does remarkably well. Sometimes, less is more.

Andrew Martonik

Everything? No, I wouldn’t say so. You can tell that Google has put some extra work into the Pixel’s software experience that it didn’t (or couldn’t) do in previous Nexus phones, and that goes much deeper than a new launcher and Google Assistant. Google did a lot to make the software fast and extremely cohesive, and that helps differentiate itself from most phones — aside from any discussion of what that means for its partners.

Russell Holly

Yes and no. When you pick up this phone, it’s clear you’re using something different in the launcher and the wallpapers and the audio tones. That said, there’s still very little that makes “Pixel” particularly different from “Nexus” in day to day use. I guess an argument could be made for the way you can access Assistant everywhere being the big thing that separates this phone from everything else, but as I covered earlier it’s not a huge feature for me yet.

Harish Jonnalagadda

Google has significantly added to the software experience when compared to the Nexus line, and that’s evident from the second you start using the Pixel. That said, Google Assistant needs a lot of work before it becomes the all-encompassing virtual assistant that Google envisions.

Marc Lagace

Well, it’s unlike any other Android phone I’ve used. I like the tweaks they made to the app drawer, and everything runs smoother and faster than anything else I’ve tried. I also really like the way Google Assistant was integrated into the OS and look forward to see it evolve over time.

Is this really the iPhone of the Android world?

Daniel Bader

That’s a dumb question, Daniel. But seriously, yes in some ways this is the Android community’s equivalent of the iPhone — if you mean updates from the source, a focus on imaging, and the proper marriage of hardware with integrated services.

Google is even trying (and failing) to recreate iMessage and FaceTime with Allo and Duo, respectively.

The Pixel will never actually be anything like the iPhone, at least this round, since Android is so vast that Google relented much of its fate long ago. But by trying to take back at least a small semblance of the messaging, the aspirational side of Android, Google has created something iPhone-like, and I think that’s a good thing.

Jerry Hildenbrand

Yep. Outside of the appearance, the Pixel is a conduit for the apps and services it provides and nothing more — exactly like the iPhone. No bells, whistles or gizmos added to distract attention away from the one thing on the screen you’re looking at is a decision, not an accident. Like the iPhone, the Pixel brings you a core software experience designed to be augmented by the things you want rather than the things the company who built it says you want. And it does it in an unassuming package.

Andrew Martonik

In terms of this being an in-house made vertically integrated phone experience, sure. There are clear differences in philosophy and execution between Google and Apple — this isn’t an iPhone, it’s Google’s version of the iPhone “model” of making a phone. It controls the whole stack: sales, hardware, software, apps, services, and even the carrier.

Russell Holly

Sure? I’m not sure how it matters whether this phone is like an iPhone or not. There’s a market out there for a phone made by Google with dedication to software updates and actual product support by Google. If that makes this an iPhone than sure, whatever.

If your reasoning for calling this an iPhone is that it’s expensive and locked down to Google’s experience, consider this me laughing directly in your face followed by continuing to enjoy this phone.

Harish Jonnalagadda

In the sense that Google controls both the hardware and software side of things, yes. In every other aspect, the Pixel is like any other high-end Android phone. It represents Google’s vision for Android, but you’re free to tinker with it any way you like to make it truly yours. Try doing that on an iPhone.

Marc Lagace

I feel like comparing the Pixel to the iPhone is supposed to be like throwing shade Google’s way. But if the Pixel is Google’s ideal vision for an Android phone, and that feels reminiscent to Apple’s iPhone, then so be it. At least I didn’t have to replace all the stock iOS apps with the Google equivalents as I’ve done with every iPhone I’ve ever owned.

Any final thoughts? Is it worth the $649+?

Daniel Bader

No waterproofing is a serious knock against this phone, and you can be damn sure the Pixel 2 will have it. But when I consider the price I paid for the Pixel against the value I perceive it brings me, I don’t think $649 is asking too much.

Would it sell more if it were $549, or $399? Sure, but then it wouldn’t sit in the same category as the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7, and that’s the market Google wants to pursue, and be seen pursuing, with the Pixel.

Jerry Hildenbrand

No phone is worth $600. But if that’s the price put on the best phones, then yeah. There is nothing built by anyone else that has these features or this hardware, and if they are worth that much, it’s hard to argue the Pixel isn’t. $600 is also what the Nexus One cost after tax and shipping. And the Nexus 6 cost me $700 before either.

In any case, only you should care how you spend your money. The Pixel is worth as much or more than anything else out there.

Andrew Martonik

I absolutely understand the hesitation from a lot of people to spend $649 to $769 for a phone — be it a Galaxy S7 edge, Moto Z, LG V20, iPhone 7 or Pixel XL. There are tons of great phones out there that will set you back $2-300 less, and they’ll give you a solid experience. But if you’re willing to spend $649+ on any phone out there today, you’d be crazy not to consider the Pixels.

Russell Holly

Like the HTC 10, I feel like these phones are about $100 off the mark. Samsung earns their price tag by stuffing every feature under the sun in their phones, and the law of diminishing returns abides. This phone is very nice, and I’m happy to pay slightly above my perception of its value for the experience I’ve gotten so far, but this phone would be damn near perfect if it were either $100 cheaper or included things like waterproofing and wireless charging.

Harish Jonnalagadda

I have no issues with the Pixel XL’s $769 retail price. That’s a significant discount when compared to the phone’s asking price in India, which is $1,010 (₹67,000). Google is pushing the overall experience with the Pixel, and that commands a premium. One that I’m willing to pay.

Marc Lagace

Honestly? Probably not. It’s a fantastic phone, but unless you’re comfortable with re-upping on a carrier contract for a discounted price, I don’t understand how people can justify spending so much on a phone. Then again, we’re living in a world where the latest flagship phone from any manufacturer is going to run you upwards of $700 or more, so it is what it is. And the Pixel is arguably the best of the best right now.

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Daily Briefing: LG tries to fix what’s broken, and Samsung goes all-in on AI

This was the best Friday since last Friday. Here’s what you need to know for October 28, 2016.

I was on a plane today and saw someone in the waiting area with a Galaxy Note 7. I facetiously tweeted out that I could either ignore the problem and hope for the best or tackle him and remove his phone forcefully. In fact, I did neither: I let the flight attendant know that I thought I saw someone using a Note 7, but by then I had lost him in the crowd, and they said they’d be making an announcement.

Airport waiting areas are really interesting for a number of reasons. It’s a concentrated area full of diversity, people anxious to return home or begin their adventures. It’s also full of technology. These days, I keep a look out for the phones people are using, and the equipment they use to stay connected. Tablets, even iPads, appear to be less common than they were a couple of years ago as smartphone sizes have grown. I see a lot of Galaxy S6s and 7s, a lot of iPhones and, in the U.S., quite a few Droids. I still even see some BlackBerrys in business class.

These pocket computers have taken over our lives. Have you welcomed your new phone overlord, lately?

The LG V20 is now available in the U.S. and Canada

It’s not exactly the perfect phone, but if you’re looking for basically the only phone with expandable storage and a removable battery, the LG V20 is the only game in town. And today it is available from T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, U.S. Cellular, Wind Mobile and Videotron in the U.S. and Canada, respectively. More

Stranger Things stickers arrive for Allo Messenger

Are you a fan of Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things? If so, you can find a new set of Hawkins-style stickers for Allo Messenger through the app. Coffee and contemplation in time for Halloween.

Google Play and Android apps coming to Lenovo’s Thinkpad 13 Chromebook

The message behind this video and its catchy tune is that Android app support will soon be available for Chromebooks for Business, and that Lenovo plans to enable them for their 13-inch Touchscreen model Thinkpad 13 Chromebook. There’s been no word on other Chromebook for Business partners (like HP or Dell) as of yet. Here’s hoping!

Sunshine team returns to unlock the Verizon Pixel’s bootloader

It’s that time of year again when every would-be Android tweaker starts hitting up XDA Developers for news of that elusive mechanism to unlock the latest hottest phone’s bootloader. Right now, though, that phone is the Pixel, and most of the models are easily opened, thanks to Google’s liberal stance on “fastboot oem unlock.”

The Verizon and EE models of the Pixel, though, are not unlockable out of the box, which has led to the Sunshine team coming back from the dead to crack the Pixel’s bootloader. You may remember Sunshine from the work they did on various HTC and Motorola models over the years, and given that the Pixel is HTC-built, this makes a lot of sense.

Action Launcher October 2016 update is available

The October 2016 update for Action Launcher is now available. Developer Chris Lacy notes a bunch of new features and enhancements that are available in this release. You’ll notice better support of Quickcuts, an option to pick a global icon style and much more. If you are an Action Launcher user, you’ll want to check this update out.

Pocket Casts update brings app shortcuts and shared lists

Shifty Jelly, purveyors of fine podcasting apps, has returned with a new version of Pocket Casts for Android, adding multi window and app shortcut support for those few running Nougat, and a fantastic shared list feature for everyone else. More

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 will focus on camera and AI improvements

Samsung has a lot riding on the release of its next flagship, the Galaxy S8, which is likely coming in February. In an interview with WSJ, Samsung’s Lee Kyeong-tae, vice president for mobile communications, said that the phone will feature a “slick design and an improved camera, as well as an enhanced artificial-intelligence service.” More

Barnes and Noble is considering the Google Play Store for the Nook

An FCC listing suggests that Barnes and Noble is looking to adopt the Play Store for its Nook tablet. Once a direct competitor to Google’s Nexus tablets, the forthcoming 7-inch Nook might have the Play Store already installed, according to the sample user manual included in the filing.

Blue Coral Galaxy S7 edge 4G+ is coming to Taiwan and Singapore

If you were lusting for a Blue Coral version of the Note 7 just before the phone was recalled, (and then recalled again, and then discontinued, and then…) you have a chance to live your dream… if you live in Singapore or Taiwan. It’s coming on November 5 for $1098 SPD ($789 USD). Via

The Google Pixel has been rooted

Anything can happen if you will it. Chainfire, a revered developer in the Android community and the brains behind SuperSU, has announced that he’s managed to successfully root the Google Pixel.

Victory is mine! Full systemless root achieved. Boot image mods only, /system fully intact, dm-verity switchable. #pixel

— Chainfire XDA (@ChainfireXDA) October 27, 2016

It appears that full SuperSU support for the Pixel and Pixel XL is in our future.

Make your Vines into GIFs with Giphy’s new tool

Coming soon!

That’s it for this week! See you on Monday, folks. Be safe out there.

Windows 10 Creators Update: 6 new features Microsoft didn’t announce

Microsoft’s next major Windows 10 update has a few hidden features.

While at its 26 October event in New York City, the company announced the Creators Update, an update coming to Windows 10 in early 2017. Microsoft also demoed a bunch of features we can expect: the ability to work with, export, and print 3D objects, as well as a new Paint 3D app, support for VR headsets, game broadcasting, and a streamlined way of communicating with friends. But Microsoft didn’t detail everything.

Thurrott.com looked closely at a fast promo video (above) for the Creators Update that Microsoft released earlier this week, and it discovered other additions in the Windows 10 Creators Update.

We’ve listed the biggest changed below.

• Microsoft Windows 10 Creators Update: What’s new?

The People bar

Microsoft

Microsoft demoed how the Creators Update will put your favourite people into the Windows 10 taskbar. In other words, it’s bringing a quick-access-like option for you to quickly contact a friend or loved one. It’s described as a faster way to connect and share with people directly from the taskbar. You can share with someone via mail, messenger, Facebook, Twitter, and of course, Skype.

Although Microsoft demoed its people integration in the Windows 10 taskbar, it didn’t say that the feature would extend to breakout widgets that let you quickly send Skype or emails to your favorite friends. You’ll be able to switch between those apps within the same window. So far, according to Microsoft’s video, it looks like only Microsoft’s apps will be available in this feature. 

Groove Music Maker

Microsoft

Microsoft might have a new Groove Music Maker app in the works. In the video, you can see a simple-to-use music creation tool that’s touch-enabled. You’ll be able to select riffs from a library, add sounds from different instruments, adjust the the BPM and length of tracks, etc.

Edge tab browser

Microsoft

Microsoft’s Edge browser will get a tab browser option that lets you navigate open tabs with the page-preview open. A session manager is also coming to Edge, which makes it easier to restore tabs from old browsing sessions.

Custom Accent colour

Microsoft

With the Creators Update, you’ll get access to a colour picker with advanced options. It’ll let you select a custom colour and preview how it’ll look across Windows, so you can better match the look of your system to a specific wallpaper. 

Windows 10 themes

Microsoft will soon sell themes for Windows 10 in the Windows Store. To complement custom accent coloure, Microsoft will add a “personalization” hub in the Windows Store. It’ll offers themes that change the look of Windows 10. There will also be franchise themes, like Minecraft and League of Legends, and it’s thought they’ll also extend to the Xbox dashboard. 

Microsoft Word full pen support

Microsoft

Microsoft is bringing full pen support to Word, according to its video. You’ll be able to edit and delete text and leave comments.

Zip around Taiwan on the faster Gogoro S electric scooter

Gogoro’s battery-powered scooter left us rather impressed after our test ride in Taiwan back in 2015, and the startup has since sold over 14,000 units locally plus rolled out 240 GoStations nationwide for customers to quickly swap batteries — as opposed to having their electric scooters plugged in for hours. To keep the momentum going, today the company announced the Gogoro S, a high-performance model equipped with the new 7.2 kW G1-S motor which pushes the scooter from zero to 50 km/h or 31 MPH in just 3.7 seconds — a notable improvement from the 4.2 seconds with the original 6.4 kW G1 motor, which is already quite quick. But for the sake of safety, the top speed is still capped at 95 km/h or 59 MPH.

The vehicle has a maximum horsepower of 9.65 hp at 5,000 rpm, and for the first time, Gogoro has also made the front suspensions’ stiffness adjustable to suit one’s preference. In addition to the larger brakes to match this performance jump, the Gogoro S comes with exclusive 12-inch six-spoke wheels coated in glossy black paint, which go well with the matt graphite gray body and the dark titanium gray pedals. Even the seat is stiched with a big “S” and the word “performance” toward the back end, just so passersby know not to mess with you.

The Gogoro S will be available for purchase in Taiwan tomorrow for NT$123,000 (about US$3,890). For those who don’t have the need for speed, they can still opt for the more affordable Gogoro Plus which costs NT$108,000 (about US$3,410), or the original Gogoro for NT$98,000 (about US$3,100), or the Gogoro Lite for just NT$88,000 (about US$2,780). These three models share identical performance, with the main differences being their color choices, bundled add-ons and the lack of certain automated features plus customization on the Lite.

It’s also worth mentioning that in Taiwan, electric motorcycles are subsidized by the government as an attempt to wean off reliance on their air-polluting counterparts. The subsidy varies depending on the municipality, with New Taipei City covering NT$24,000 (about US$760) for new purchases, and an extra NT$3,000 (about US$95) for those who are getting rid of their two-stroke motorcycles, meaning the Gogoro S can be as cheap as NT$96,000 (about US$3,030) for residents in that area.

The vehicle prices go on top of a monthly subscription fee for using the GoStations, and it’s very much like how we pay for our mobile data, except it’s by kilometers instead of gigabytes. For instance, there’s an NT$799 (US$25.25)/month plan that lets you ride 600 km each month, with every extra 1 km costing NT$1.50 (about 5 US cents). To put this into context, this will just about cover weekday commutes between, say, Apple Campus and Googleplex for a month, but the Gogoro scooters are obviously more suited for shorter distances.

While Gogoro has yet to roll out its battery network — either with GoStations or with GoChargers — outside of Taiwan, its scooters are already available as rentals in Berlin by way of Coup. For just €3 ($3.29) you can rent this electric scooter for 30 minutes, and for €20 (about $22) it’s yours for the whole day. Gogoro is also expected to deploy in Amsterdam some time this year.

Via: Engadget Chinese

Source: Gogoro

NASA’s New Horizons has sent back its last data from Pluto

The New Horizons probe had just one shot at gathering as much data from Pluto as it could, a process that took more than a day. But it’s taken the past fifteen months to actually receive all 50-plus gigabytes of data that it captured. NASA announced this morning that the probe has finally sent back the last bit of data, a Pluto and Charon infra-red sequence. Next up, NASA plans to double-check the data it’s received before wiping New Horizons’ data recorder. Its next stop: the Kuiper Belt.

“The Pluto system data that New Horizons collected has amazed us over and over again with the beauty and complexity of Pluto and its system of moons,” Alan Stern, New Horizons’ mission head said in a statement. “There’s a great deal of work ahead for us to understand the 400-plus scientific observations that have all been sent to Earth. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do—after all, who knows when the next data from a spacecraft visiting Pluto will be sent?”

Source: NASA

GM’s car-sharing service arrives in Los Angeles

Maven, General Motors’ car-sharing service, is finally coming to the City of Angels. Though Maven has been around in other cities for awhile now — Ann, Arbor, Mich., Boston, New York City and San Francisco to name a few — its move to Los Angeles is a pretty interesting one due to the city’s car-centric culture. Essentially GM’s answer to services like CityCarShare and ZipCar, Maven makes it possible for residents of Los Angeles to live a car-free life, but still have the convenience of a car if they want it.

To start, you’ll need to register and then use the app to reserve a vehicle of your choice. At first, Maven will only have 60 vehicles available at more than 24 locations in the city, but there’s always a chance it’ll roll out more if the service gets popular enough. Those locations include downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, South Park and areas near the University of Southern California.

You can rent cars for $8 an hour — that cost includes both fuel and insurance. As you might expect from a GM service, all of the available cars are part of the GM family. They include the Chevrolet Cruze, Malibu, Tahoe and Volt, the GMC Acadia and Yukon, plus Cadillacs like the ATS, CTS, CT6, XT5 and Escalade. And, of course, they’ll all come with the OnStar service built right in.

‘WALTR 2’ for Mac Lets You Quickly Transfer Any Content to Any iOS Device

Softorino today announced the launch of its next-generation WALTR app, introducing WALTR 2 for Mac. WALTR 2 builds on the features introduced with the original WALTR app, making it easier than ever to transfer any file from a Mac to an iOS device.

With WALTR 2, you can transfer all kinds of media file types to an iPhone or iPad, even if they’re not in a format that’s normally compatible with iOS. It supports music, ringtones, videos, PDFs, ePubs, and more, converting files when necessary. If you transfer an MKV or AVI, for example, WALTR 2 will convert it to a usable format and put it directly in the built-in iOS video app.

The same goes for music — upload any music file and it’ll be transferred to the Music app with no loss of quality. Uploaded music is even properly recognized in Apple Music.

Using WALTR 2 is simple. You open the WALTR 2 app, plug your iPhone or iPad into your Mac (or use the new Wi-Fi feature) and then simply drag and drop the file you want to transfer to an iOS device into WALTR 2. WALTR 2 works with all iPods, iPads, and iPhones, starting with the iPod Classic from 2001.

With Automatic Content Recognition for music, movies, and TV shows, WALTR 2 can fill in metadata information, and a new Wi-Fi detection feature allows WALTR 2 to automatically find nearby iOS devices so transferring content can be done without a USB cable if desired. File transfers go much quicker with a cable though, with Softorino promising average transfer speeds of 2GB per minute.

New to WALTR 2 is support for ePUBs, PDFs, and audiobooks, which are automatically uploaded to the iBooks app. WALTR 2 can also be used to upload full-length ringtones to the iPhone and it supports subtitle files. Supported audio formats include MP3, FLAC, APE, ALAC, AAC, AIFF, WAV, WMA, OGG, OGA, WV, TTA, and DFF, while supported video formats include MKV, AVI, MP4, MOV, MPEG, m2ts, 3GP, WMV, H264, and H265.

WALTR 2 is available for download from the Softorino website for $39.95. Existing WALTR users can upgrade for $19.95. Downloading the app offers users with a 24-hour free trial to try it out.

We’re also giving away 10 copies of WALTR 2 to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

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a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (October 28) at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time through 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time on November 4. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 4 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond before new winners are chosen.

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Teardown Reveals New MacBook Pro Without Touch Bar Has Removable SSD

The new entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar has only been available for a day and just made its way into Apple retail stores, but OWC has already managed to take apart one of the machines to get a glimpse inside.

The teardown is still underway, but OWC can confirm that the new MacBook Pro has a removable SSD, meaning it is replaceable and can potentially be upgraded after purchase. Previous MacBook Pro models have also featured a removable SSD, but the MacBook SSD is soldered to the logic board, so it was unclear if the new MacBook Pro would continue to offer a removable SSD due to its thinner body.

OWC has noted a number of other observations about the new MacBook Pro:

– Solid State Drive module is removable
– Bottom was more difficult to remove than previous generations, but it was not glued
– Speaker module needs to be removed to pull SSD back
– SSD had very strong tape covering the interface port
– Laptop automatically turns on when you open it regardless of pressing power button

OWC’s discoveries only apply to the 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar. It’s likely models with a Touch Bar have a similar build, but the internal hardware is different because it incorporates a new component. We’ll need to wait a few more weeks to see what’s inside the higher-end 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro machines, as they won’t be available until mid-November.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: Retina MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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