Amazon’s new Snowmobile collects data instead of blasting through powder
Moving large amounts of electronically stored data is both difficult and time consuming. Current internet technology limits how quickly data can be transferred using the internet. While a few pictures on your phone can be uploaded in seconds, backing up all the data for an entire corporation can take years. This is a problem Amazon Web Services, the cloud-based computing arm of the online retailer, is currently dealing with. They now have a solution: the Snowmobile, literally a massive mobile server.
The Snowmobile is an expansion of Amazon’s Snowball service. Amazon ships an 80 terabyte Snowball storage unit to customers. Once they uploaded their data, the customer would ship the Snowball back to Amazon so the data could be directly transferred to a server. Amazon designed the Snowball to deal with high network costs, long transfer times, and security concerns at come with moving large amounts of data over the internet.
For some customers, the Snowball simply didn’t provide enough space. This led to the development of the Snowmobile, a semi-truck with 100 petabytes (or 100 million gigabytes) of storage that Amazon will use to directly transfer and move digital data from a customer to one of their data storage facilities. Essentially, they send customers a truck-sized hard drive that will physically move all of your stored data. Although it may sound strange to use a truck to move digital data, moving 100 petabytes over fiber internet could take more than 20 years. According to Wired, a Snowmobile can do a full New York to Los Angeles trip in 10 days, including the data transfer time.
Pricing is based on how much data is stored on the Snowmobile per month. Amazon is charging $0.005 per gigabyte, which is relatively inexpensive. Do the math and you’ll find that a fully-loaded truck will set you back $500,000. Amazon obviously believes there will be enough demand to invest in the Snowmobile.
Amazon Web Services has storage facilities worldwide, with several scattered throughout the United States. This means the turnaround time for a Snowmobile can be days, not years. For Amazon’s part, they’re taking Snowmobile security and encryption very seriously. The company will provide dedicated security personnel, GPS tracking, alarm monitoring, and 24/7 video surveillance. Customers have the option of a security escort vehicle to accompany the Snowmobile while in transit. The truck itself will be tamper-resistant, water-resistant and temperature controlled.
Related Video:
Via: Wired
Source: Amazon
Cybersecurity commission calls for increased investment and innovation
In April, President Obama officially formed the The Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity to examine the country’s electronic vulnerabilities in the wake of high-profile hacks like that of the Office of Personnel Management in 2015. Today that commission finally wrapped up its duties and delivered a comprehensive report to the President (and the public) identifying areas of weakness and offering concrete steps to improve.
Many of the recommendations are obvious, though getting them fully implemented will certainly be tricky. Setting stringent authentication requirements for all federal employees and contractors, is an admirable goal, but getting all the various agencies and departments inline will be easier said than done. The same holds true for getting all federal agencies to adopt the Cybersecurity Framework set forth by the Obama in 2014 — a fact that the commission readily acknowledges saying:
“…many agencies are not yet using the Cybersecurity Framework. They may be reluctant to do so because they are focused on the many requirements that they face, or because they do not understand how they can make productive use of the Framework within the larger context of managing their operations.”
The commission’s solution, to simply have the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandate it, might be effective, but it’s certainly not ideal.
Many of the other recommendations involve improved collaboration between various government agencies and the private sector. Including incentivising companies to implement cyber risk management principles and actively work with the government to “identify, protect from, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure.”
This collaboration extends to increasing both public and private investment in research, development and establishing industry standards around security. This includes developing a “integrated government–private-sector cybersecurity roadmap for developing usable, affordable, inherently secure, resilient/recoverable, privacy-protecting, functional, and defensible systems. “
One area of the consumer market singled out in particular is the internet of things (IoT). The importance of which was made all the more clear by the recent attack against a popular DNS service that brought down major swaths of the internet, including Twitter, Spotify and New York Times.
Perhaps the most important and difficult recommendations focus on updating our laws and educating the public. Because, as the report goes out of its way to highlight, simply building security systems isn’t enough, every individual has a part to play in protecting the country against hackers, criminals and cyber spies.
President Obama released a statement embracing the commission’s recommendations, but with his time in office winding down, there’s only so much he’ll be able to implement. The president directed the commission to brief Donald Trump’s transition team “at their earliest opportunity.” You can read the entirety of the commissions report for yourself right here.
Facebook could fight fake news with curated articles
The proliferation of fake news on its network has haunted Facebook since the presidential election. Initially downplaying its impact, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has come around to start speaking on the social platform’s action plan, including cutting off ad money. But now they have a new plan to ensure their users get quality content with actual facts: Handpick publications themselves.
Sources tell Business Insider that the new feature, called Collections, will serve up stories and media from sources chosen by Facebook. The social media titan has been courting entertainment and media companies in the last few weeks to create content for the new section. Early partners have been told that their created content will be inserted directly into users’ News Feed, giving it a much broader reach.
But the entertainment focus reason enough to expect that Facebook will likely use Collections to both editorially curate superior content and compete with Snapchat. Its Discover section is seen by its 150 million daily users. But other information, from its partner list or whether Collections will include advertising or when it will debut, is currently unknown.
Source: Business Insider
Users Find Some New MacBook Pros Suffer From Major Graphics Issues
Since new MacBook Pro models launched last month, an increasing number of early adopters have reported serious graphics issues on Apple’s latest notebooks. The glitches and other problems appear to be most prevalent on built-to-order 15-inch models, but standard 13-inch and 15-inch configurations are also affected.
MacRumors reader Jan Becker, for example, said the graphics began to glitch on his new high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro, equipped with built-to-order AMD Radeon Pro 460 graphics, while transcoding video with Adobe Media Encoder in Premiere Pro. The notebook subsequently crashed.
Becker claims when he took his MacBook Pro to an Apple retail store to be replaced, an employee said the graphics issues are likely a hardware problem. He later claimed he received a phone call from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, where it allegedly has a team of engineers looking into the issues.
Apple called me from Cupertino. They put together a group of engineers to get to the root of this. I re-created the incident while I was on the phone with them and sent them the log files of the crash. They also want to “capture” my MacBook Pro with all the files on it to investigate more.
The most common symptoms reported by users include brightly colored flickering, full-screen checkerboard patterns, screen tearing, and other visual artifacts. Affected systems may subsequently experience unresponsiveness or a kernel panic, sometimes resulting in the MacBook Pro crashing.
15-inch MacBook Pro with AMD Radeon Pro 460 graphics with full-screen visual artifacts
The high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and built-to-order AMD Radeon Pro 460 graphics appears to be most commonly afflicted, but several users have reported similar issues on 15-inch models equipped with standard AMD Radeon Pro 450 or AMD Radeon Pro 455 GPUs as well.
MacRumors reader Jayselle recorded his 15-inch MacBook Pro with AMD Radeon Pro 455 graphics flickering while connected to two external LG displays.
It is not entirely clear if the issues are a hardware or software problem. The graphics appear to act up most when users are completing intensive tasks, such as transcoding video with Adobe Media Encoder, syncing large photo libraries with Photos, or using other Adobe apps such as Photoshop and Lightroom.
It would initially seem the issue is limited to 15-inch MacBook Pro models with dedicated AMD graphics, but there are a few isolated reports of graphics issues on 13-inch models with integrated Intel Iris 540 and Intel Iris 550 graphics — including the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a standard row of function keys.
User complaints extend to the Apple Support Communities and other MacRumors discussion topics, indicating the graphics issues are rather widespread, but not all users are affected. Some speculate the latest macOS Sierra beta may fix the issues, but evidence remains anecdotal.
Separately, a number of users are reporting brief glitches during the boot up process on new MacBook Pro models, particularly along the bottom of the screen. It appears this issue is related to FileVault 2 startup disk encryption, as the glitches go away for many of these users once the feature is disabled.
As insurance, Apple’s extended holiday return policy is currently in effect. MacBook Pros purchased or delivered between November 10 and December 25 are eligible for return until January 8, 2017 in the United States, Australia, and Canada, or January 20 in the United Kingdom and some other European countries.
Select 2011-2013 MacBook Pro models have exhibited similar graphics issues in the past, including distorted video, no video, or unexpected system restarts. Apple accordingly launched a Repair Extension Program offering free repairs and refunds, but not before facing a class action lawsuit over the matter.
Apple appears to be aware of and is investigating these latest graphics issues, but it has yet to publicly comment on the matter. Apple been actively exchanging MacBook Pros for affected customers, according to users. Schedule a Genius Bar appointment or contact Apple Support to facilitate this process.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid review – Roadshow
The Good Tweaks to the electrified side of the 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid’s powertrain yield 1-2 additional mpg across the board. The sedan’s cabin sees a variety of styling and quality improvements. Sync 3 and the addition of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay revolutionize the Ford’s dashboard.
The Bad Performance is decent for an eco car, but the the 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain is a bit underpowered for this class of vehicle. The eCVT’s dynamic performance leaves a much to be desired.
The Bottom Line The 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid makes many small, but positive changes that make this already competent midsize hybrid yet easier to recommend.
I’ve been a fan of the Ford Fusion Hybrid’s particular flavor of economy and efficiency for two generations, dating back to when the hybrid model was introduced in 2009. The second generation sees a subtle but significant mid-cycle refresh for the 2017 model year with better tech, improved efficiency and subtle style and packaging changes.
Hybrid powertrain improvements
The 2017 Fusion Hybrid sees styling tweaks to both its front and rear fascias, but the engine room for the second generation model hasn’t changed much at all. It’s still home to 2.0-liter, Atkinson-cycle engine that makes 144 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque. That petrol-powered engine is mated to an 88 kW electric motor and a 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. All together, the Fusion’s hybrid powerplant sends 188 combined horsepower in the direction of the front wheels via an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT).
The electric portion of the powertrain has been tweaked and now can drop into a fully electric driving mode at speeds up to 85 mph. The revised regenerative braking system, which draws from lessons learned on the Focus Electric, now allows the car to recapture up to 94 percent of energy when coming to a stop, improving efficiency.
How much of an improvement? Well, not a whole lot, but every little bit counts, right? EPA-estimated fuel efficiency is up to 42 mpg combined, 43 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. That’s a 1 mpg bump to the combined figure and 2 extra mpg on the highway.
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On the road, the hybrid system feels almost exactly like last generation, which is to say pretty good. Of course, the Hybrid is tuned for efficiency, so the outright acceleration won’t win many drag races but the Fusion still boasts enough electric torque to feel peppy off of the line in the city and for confident merges at highway speeds. The eCVT saps pretty much all of the fun during more the dynamic driving you’d experience on a good, curvy road, but generally felt unintrusive and smooth during more relaxed commuter-type driving.
Also, the Fusion Hybrid’s steering and handling feel a bit more dialed in and direct than I remember the previous model feeling, which makes the sedan feel more precise and confident during quick lane changes and when tucking into an off-ramp. I’d go so far as to say that the Fusion is almost fun to drive, if you can temper your expectations a bit.
All-new Sync 3 infotainment
The cabin sees a variety of small quality of life changes and improved materials, depending on the trim level chosen, but the most obvious change to all Fusion models is the switch to dial-type gear selector. The rotary selector is twisted to toggle between forward and reverse gears and takes up less vertical space in the cabin. With an eCVT behind the scenes anyway, I’m alright with this interface change and welcome the removal of one more thing to bump into. Having driven cars from Jaguar to Chrysler that feature rotary gear selectors, this wasn’t a very big change for me. Passengers, however, reacted with varying degrees of wonder and revulsion at the odd knob on the console.
Ford’s LCD Smartgauge digital instrument cluster is just as gorgeously rendered and packed with information as it has ever been and a new EcoSelect feature allows the driver to toggle even more fuel efficient operation from the powertrain and climate control systems.
Antuan Goodwin/Roadshow
As you’d expect from a hybrid that runs partially or completely on silent electric power, the cabin is very quiet, which allows the optional Sony stereo system to do its thing with clear audio and very little distortion from the speakers or rattling from the cabin even at fairly loud volumes.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid review – Roadshow
The Good The Malibu hybrid beats the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry hybrids with better efficiency and cleaner looks.
The Bad That battery takes up a lot of room in the trunk. Be prepared to pack light.
The Bottom Line The Chevrolet Malibu hybrid drives exceptionally smoothly and offers many safety features not found in other mid-size hybrids.
A report issued by AAA says that gas prices may just sink to a national average of below $2 per gallon for the first time since 2009. Looks like Chevrolet picked a terrible time to introduce the 2016 Malibu Hybrid. And that’s too bad, as this fuel-sipping hybrid delivers an excellent ride wrapped up in a sleek little package.
The Malibu is Chevrolet’s midsize sedan, slotting in between the compact Cruze and the full-size Impala. This year the Malibu is completely redesigned and features a whole host of safety features and driver’s aids.
This is the first year the Malibu is offered as a full hybrid. Previous models were available as a mild hybrid, where the electric motor functions merely as a power booster to the gasoline powered engine. The gasoline engine in mild hybrids shut off during braking, coasting, and when stopped, saving fuel.
Chevrolet
The first thing I noticed was how easily it switched from the electric motor to the 1.8-liter gasoline engine. It’s very quiet and seamless, with no telltale jerk on the chassis.
The second thing I noticed was the new braking system. Many early hybrids suffered from a non-linear braking feel, a result of capturing the kinetic energy from the braking and storing it in the battery. The system has gotten better over the years, and the Malibu Hybrid shares the same blended regenerative system as the new Chevrolet Volt. The result is smooth braking from first touch to final stop.
Also borrowed from the Volt are the two electric motors and the transmission. However, the Malibu gets a larger engine and a smaller battery than its brother: a 1.8-liter four banger good for 122 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque and a 1.5 kWh battery. Combined, the electric motor and engine produce 182 horsepower. The Malibu can cruise at speeds up to 55 mph on electricity alone, but I found it difficult to do as it requires a very light touch on the throttle.
The Malibu can jump off the line quite quickly with all that electric torque behind it, but in the end the 122 horsepower isn’t enough to maintain that kind of rapid acceleration. Still, it’s a fun little burst of speed that can brighten up your day.
While most buyers of the Malibu hybrid won’t be out for late-night drives on twisty roads, neither will they be disappointed in the handling of this mid-size sedan. The steering feels a tad light but it has a good on-center feel. The ride is neither harsh nor floaty, providing enough stiffness to keep the car from rolling too much in the turns while soaking up the bumps in the mean streets of San Fransisco. In all, it’s a comfortable place to spend a commute.
Hulu is now offering its originals and Bond in 4K
Streaming service, Hulu is making sure your next 4K UHD TV has content. That is as long as you’re a super fan of James Bond or enjoy its library of originals. Also you’re going to need a Xbox One S or a PlayStation 4 Pro.
Subscribers that have a fast enough broadband connection (minimum of 13 megabits per second) and one of the supported consoles will be able to watch 20 Bond films including Dr. No, The Man with a Golden Gun and GoldenEye in blazing 4K as well as Hulu originals like 11.22.63, The Path and Chance.
It’s a not a huge library compared to 4K offerings from Netflix and Amazon. Plus, both those services have offered UHD for a while now. In other words, Hulu has a lot of catching up to do and no amount of super-spy gadgets is going to change that.
Via: Variety
Telltale announces Guardians of the Galaxy series for 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy the latest franchise to get the Telltale treatment.
2017 is shaping up to be a banner year for fans of Star-Lord, Rocket and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Telltale has announced Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series, a five-part episodic series of games to be released on Android, as well as PC, console, and iOS in early 2017. Check out the preview trailer:
As with previous Telltale series, episodes will be released periodically and bought individually or all together with a season pass. Previous franchises that Telltale has tackled include Batman, Minecraft, The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones. This is their first attempt at developing a game for a Marvel property.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a surprise late-summer hit in 2015, with a sequel due to hit screens next spring. While nothing is currently know about the story or the release schedule for the Telltale episodes, logically it would make sense to expect the first episode to launch in early 2017, to build hype leading up to the film’s release in early May.
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Google On app gets revamped ahead of Google Wifi release
New UI update, name change coincides with release of Google Wifi.
Google is preparing for the imminent release of its new router — Google Wifi — by updating the Google On app that was released alongside the OnHub routers manufactured in partnerships with T-Link and ASUS. Say goodbye to Google On, and hello to its shiny new successor, Google Wifi, as obtained by Android Police.
Photo credit: Android Police
One of the biggest changes to the app UI is the inclusion of three tabs at the top, which should make things smoother for navigating around to access the app’s different functions. Whether you want to review which devices are connected to your network, prioritize a specific device for faster speeds when streaming high-quality video, or set up a guest Wi-Fi network, it’s all the easier within the new app.
The Google Wifi app also adds support for the new Family Wi-Fi Pause feature, which allows you to temporarily disable internet access on certain devices to make time for genuine family time without the distractions of screens. It’s a great feature for parents struggling to limit their kids tech time around the dinner time or at bedtime.
The update is still rolling out through the Google Play Store, but if you’re eager to see the changes for yourself you can download the APK from APK Mirror and go from there.
Andrew’s Favorite Tech of 2016
2016 Andrew’s Favorite Tech
Everyone at Android Central has spent an amazing amount of time with mobile technology, accessories and gear throughout 2016. The goal is simple: use all of this stuff, find out what works the best and let you know the merits of what we determine to be the cream of the crop. 2016 was a fantastic year for new technologies to be released but also for older ones to mature.
Whether you’re looking to buy for someone else or just get the best of the best for yourself this holiday season, here are my personal picks for my favorite tech of the year. It starts with phones, but goes so much further: accessories, smartwatches, headphones, fitness products and even some non-mobile gear. Read on and see what I’ve enjoyed in 2016.
Google Pixel
Not only is this the best phone to ever wear Google’s name, it’s the best Android phone to date. Fantastic build quality, great software, top-end internals and the best camera available today all add up to a great total package. If price is no factor, you can’t go wrong with the powerful, smooth and compact Pixel. If you need extra screen real estate and battery life, I have no hesitation recommending the Pixel XL either.
From $649 Buy Now
OnePlus 3T
The OnePlus 3T gives you almost everything you expect in a flagship phone, but does it at a dramatically lower price. You get all of the top-end specs, great features and slick software for just $439 — that’s a fantastic combination. It destroys the competition in the $400 price category, but also gives top-end phones a run for their money, and that’s impressive.
$439 Buy Now
Google Pixel C
Yes it’s a year old, but then again it’s the only big tablet I’d recommend today. The hardware is fantastic, Nougat makes it far more useful and its perfect integration with the optional (but seriously, not really optional) keyboard accessories turn it into a pseudo-laptop capable of getting some work done. It’s a lot of money to spend on an Android tablet today, but I still use mine daily and enjoy it.
$499 Buy Now
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8.0
Not everyone wants a big, bulky tablet like the Pixel C. The Galaxy Tab S2 is where I go when I want something that’s compact, insanely light and easy to carry around. For me it’s perfect for casual reading and watching some soccer matches in bed on weekends. The screen is also fantastic and Samsung’s software gets the job done, even though it’s stuck back on Marshmallow for now.
$399 Buy Now
Chromecast Ultra
This tiny media streamer does what most people want: sit behind your TV waiting for commands, and quickly stream all of the content you want in the blink of an eye. The new Chromecast Ultra is insanely fast and capable of fantastic picture quality in 4K and HDR, provided you have the internet speed to support it. There’s actually a good chance that you don’t have (or expect to have) a 4K TV, though — if that’s the case, go pick up two second-gen Chromecasts instead.
$70 Buy Now
Google Home
I’m generally skeptical of “smart” home technology, but Google Home has fit right into our lives sitting on a shelf in the kitchen. We use it for timers, alarms, music, videos (to the Chromecast Ultra) and requests for random bits of information. It has a pretty great speaker considering its size, it fits nicely with our modern home decor and is a reasonable price to give it a try. It has a ways to go in its capabilities compared to the lofty expectations Google set from the start, but for now it’s proving worth the money.
$120 Buy Now
Xiaomi Mi Box
I still like my NVIDIA Shield Android TV, but it’s a bit old to be recommending to new buyers at this point and is still expensive. For those who need a step up from the capabilities of the Chromecast Ultra, I have no problem recommending a Mi Box for the same price to get a full Android TV experience. Just know that with the extra capabilities comes more complexity — some people would prefer to not deal with individual apps, remotes and a big box that has to find room in your entertainment center.
$69 Buy Now
Moto 360 (2015)
It’s tough to make a sales pitch for any smartwatch at this point, but Android Wear is the best way to go if you’re an Android fan. Though it’s old, things haven’t really changed much since the Moto 360 (2015) was introduced — and now you can have it for a solid discount off of its original retail price. If you want a smartwatch with deep Android integration, this is the one to get for now.
From $349 Buy Now
Samsung Gear S3
If you want additional capabilities in your smartwatch, the Gear S3 is basically the only place to go. The new Gear S3 Frontier and Classic are both big and rather bulky — meaning many will prefer the Gear S2 still — but if you can manage the size you’ll get a very nice-looking and well-built watch with more software features than you can shake a stick at. You’ll probably ignore most of the features after the first few weeks, but what you’re left with is a great screen, nice always-on watch faces and communication with your phone for notifications and glanceable information.
$350 Buy Now
Acer Chromebook R13
The Acer Chromebook R13 is the best $399 computer you can buy. It’s well-built, has a great screen and can run over 1 million Android apps on top of all the things Chrome can do. When you want to step up from an entry-level laptop but don’t want to break the bank, the Acer Chromebook R13 is where you should look first.
$399 Buy Now
ASUS Chromebook Flip
For the crowd who want a cheaper and/or smaller machine, the Chromebook Flip is still an excellent choice. It has a good screen, a solid-enough metal build and performance that beats its price. The keyboard will be cramped for anyone with bigger hands (like myself), but then again it’s also super compact and light — you can carry it around in a bag and forget its there, just like any tablet of the same size.
$239 Buy Now
Anker PowerCore Speed 10000 QC battery
When it comes to mobile batteries I value compact designs over extra features and ports. This Anker PowerCore battery offers 10,000 mAh of capacity and Quick Charge 3.0 support over its single USB port, and is smaller than any other battery of this capacity. That’s why it’s in my bag every single time I leave the house, whether it’s for the afternoon or for two weeks.
From $24 Buy Now
iOttie Easy One Touch 3 car mount
When Android Auto finally released its standalone mode for phones, I went looking for a good inexpensive car mount and landed on the well-reviewed iOttie Easy One Touch and am completely impressed. Its two-piece suction cup design locks it down on your dashboard super tight while being completely removable and replaceable, which is extremely important. The “one touch” design is the killer feature, though: just press your phone in, and it automatically clamps down to the right size. Pinch in again, and the phone pops out.
$25 Buy Now
JOBY GPod Mini Magnetic tripod
To take your smartphone photography to the next level, you’ll want a tripod. The problem is tripods are big and bulky … unless you get an awesome super-compact tripod like this one from JOBY. Not only do the legs articulate and wrap around things for tons of positioning, they also have strong magnetic feet to keep things stable whenever possible. I mount phones on this for time lapses and smooth video, and it’s even strong enough to hold my Olympus camera in a pinch. Be sure to pair it up with a good smartphone tripod holder like the one JOBY itself offers.
$13 Buy Now
AKG N60NC headphones
Though I’m continually tempted by the more expensive Bose competition, I’ve been using the AKG N60NC noise-cancelling headphones for most of this year. I travel a lot and these have served me well on every train ride and flight. The noise cancellation is great considering these are smaller on-ear headphones, and while they don’t have Bluetooth connectivity they’re also extremely small and fold up into a small pouch rather than a hefty case. At about $100 less than the Bose QC35 headphones, these are worth a look if you value compactness and price.
$269 Buy Now
Samsung LevelOn
Samsung’s LevelOn headphones come in a couple different flavors, but in either case offer a nice and even-cheaper alternative to Bose and my AKG headphones. They offer both Bluetooth and wired connectivity, as well as active noise cancellation and are a $100+ less than the competition. The on-ear cups can get a little uncomfortable (at least for my ears) after a few hours straight of listening, but you can’t argue they look great and offer tremendous value — not something we can say about every Samsung accessory out there.
$130 Buy Now
Xiaomi Mi Headphones
When you don’t need noise cancellation — they’re actually rather open and leak sound considerably — Xiaomi’s on-ear Mi Headphones for an excellent value and great sound. They’re super comfortable thanks to the rotating ear cups and are built extremely well with great metal accents and a braided tangle-free cord that includes a mic and play/pause button (sorry, no volume keys). For all of this, you would expect to pay more from bigger brand names.
$129 Buy Now
Google Daydream View
I know it’s exclusive to just a couple of phones right now, but if you’re at all interested in VR (and have a compatible phone) you should be picking up a Daydream View rather than a simple Cardboard viewer. The headset is very comfortable, actually looks cool and pivotally includes a remote for navigation and games. That’s a lot to get for just $79, and worth it even if you just use it now and then to play some games or show off to your friends and family.
$79 Buy Now
Samsung Gear VR
Obviously there are far more people who could take advantage of a Gear VR when compared to Daydream View, and the new model is set up to immerse you using a Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+, S7, S7 edge or Note 5. You’ll want to invest in a controller if you’re going to play games, but outside of that this is a fully contained headset that’s comfortable and has dramatically more content available for it than Daydream View does.
$99 Buy Now
Samsung Gear Fit 2
After so-so “Fit” efforts in past generations, the Gear Fit 2 is actually a fantastic fitness wearable. It’ll track everything from your regular movements to intense workouts without any of your own intervention, displays it all on a nice screen and includes GPS for all of the runners out there. It’s a little bigger than some non-screen trackers, and gets less battery life due to its features, but it also has the added benefit of bringing some smartwatch functionality like notification mirroring and glanceable information. More people should be checking out the Gear Fit 2.
$148 Buy Now
UA Healthbox
If you want to go all in with a fitness tracking system, Under Armour and HTC have you covered with the Healthbox. The UA Band is a simple fitness tracker you can wear daily with great battery life, and you can simply pair it up with both a heart rate monitor and a connected scale to get a full picture of your fitness and body in the UA Record app. It’s a big investment that’s really situated for the more hardcore workout enthusiasts among us, but perhaps you have some big aspirations for 2017.
From $350 Buy Now
Samsung Gear IconX
Samsung’s Gear IconX are smart, totally wireless earbuds that are tuned specifically for those who want to work out or run without the distraction of wires. The battery life is short and the sound isn’t great, but those features pale in comparison to the extreme ease of use, totally wireless experience and fitness tracking abilities.
$185 Buy Now
Timbuk2 Classic Messenger
This is the messenger bag that has been on my back for hundreds of thousands of miles traveled to a dozen countries, carrying all of my gear and looking good while doing it. Timbuk2 makes excellent bags and accessories, and while this may be more than you’re used to paying for a bag I can say it’s worth the money (and more). Pick up an off-the-shelf design for about $99, or customize one to be totally unique for a bit more. I recommend checking them out in store, if you can, before buying so you know just what size you need.
From $99 Buy Now
AIVAnet 