Ford to build a 300-mile electric SUV and hybrid Mustang

Ford just made a big electric vehicle announcement, saying it will build a hybrid Mustang and F-150 truck, along with a fully electric SUV with 300 miles of range, all by 2020. The $4.5 billion investment will make it the latest automaker to fully commit to a heavily electric and hybrid roadmap, joining Mercedes, Volkswagen and others. “Our investments and expanding lineup reflect our view that global offerings of electrified vehicles will exceed gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 15 years,” says President and CEO Mark Fields in a statement.

All told, the company will launch 13 electrified (hybrid or EV) vehicles, with seven coming in just the next five years. Along with a 300-mile-range SUV, a hybrid Mustang and a hybrid F-150 truck, Ford will also build a Transit Custom plug-in hybrid taxi and, interestingly, two electrified police cars. It’ll invest $700 million and add 700 new jobs in its Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant, “to create a factory capable of producing high-tech and autonomous vehicles,” the company said in the same press release.

At the same time, the automaker is cancelling plans for a $1.6 billion plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and will instead build the next-generation Focus in an existing Mexican plant. “This will make way for two new iconic products at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, where the Focus is manufactured today — safeguarding approximately 3,500 US job,” the company wrote.

The US automaker already has a number of plug-in hybrid cars, but the Focus Electric is its only pure EV in the US. Unlike models from Tesla, GM and Renault, to name just a few, the 2017 Focus is limited to just 100 miles, which is actually a step up from last year’s model. Ford CEO Fields recently complained about soft demand for EVs, despite over 400,000 orders for Tesla’s Model 3. However, the company is certainly aiming at its base by launching electric versions of its iconic Mustang, F-150 and cop cars.

Along with the new cars, Ford will build an “ultra-fast charging network projected to be significantly faster than the most powerful charging system deployed today,” presumably meaning Tesla’s Supercharger. The company will build out 400 sites in Europe in the near term with “access to thousands of high-powered charging points” by 2020. What’s more, Ford says it’s piloting wireless charging tech in the US and Europe “that makes recharging as easy as pulling into a parking spot so drivers never forget to recharge.”

Despite the news, Ford’s EV plans are mild compared to more dramatic recent announcements by Volkswagen and other automakers. Its decision to cancel the Mexican plant is a surprise, because Fields specifically said he wouldn’t do that as early as last month in the face of criticism by President-elect Donald Trump.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Source: Ford

Dish brings Alexa and multi-room music to Hopper DVRs

Until recently, the world of voice-controlled computing, nay, voice-controlled living, seemed like it was still a few years away from becoming mainstream. Amazon’s Alexa platform, however, has made it easy for companies to bolt-on the technology to their existing products. Case in point: Dish has announced that you’ll soon be able to pair your Hopper DVR with the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot in order to change channels just by speaking.

The innovation won’t be arriving for a little while, but Dish feels confident that the option will arrive in the first half of the year. So long as your Hopper is connected to the internet, you can use natural voice commands to go to individual channels or bring up movies on-demand by saying “go to AMC” or “Find Game of Thrones.” You can also search for content via genre or by star, simply by bellowing Matt Damon’s name into the ether.

At the same time, Dish is also revealing Dish Music, a service that lets you play music from various streaming services via the Hopper. If you have multiple DVRs in different rooms of your home hooked up to audio equipment (or your TV), then you can use them as a multi-room audio setup. The product is compatible with a wide range of audio services, including iHeartRadio, Tidal and Amazon Music, among others. In addition, if your home theater speakers are DTS Play-Fi enabled, then they’re instantly compatible with the new offering. If you own a Hopper 2 or Hopper 3 DVR, then you’ll be able to access the new feature at some point in February 2017.

Bringing multi-room audio to your DVR is a canny move by Dish, simply because it makes its product more valuable at the expense of alternatives. After all, why go out and spend big bucks on an expensive new multi-room audio gear if you can just wire another Hopper up to your bedroom TV’s speakers?

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Source: BusinessWire, (2)

Earin’s latest wireless earbuds tout AirPod-like controls

Fancy the subtle tap-based controls of Apple’s AirPods, but want something that’s not quite so conspicuous (or conspicuously targeted at iPhone owners)? Earin wants to talk. It’s introducing its second set of wireless earbuds, the M-2, and they promise a taste of AirPod-like control in a subtler design. You only have to tap an earbud to pause your music or answer a call — no reaching for your phone or fiddling with buttons. It’s not as sophisticated as the AirPods (you won’t be talking to Siri as easily), but the simplicity remains a big deal.

The M-2s are also more ergonomic than their cylindrical ancestors. Battery life hasn’t changed much, though: you can expect 3 hours on a charge, and the magnetic charging capsule will give you a total of 12 hours of listening. This is more for your workout than a long flight, in other words. Earin hasn’t divulged pricing, but the new earbuds should hit shelves near the end of the first quarter.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Source: PR Newswire

CES 2017: Kingston Debuts World’s Largest USB Flash Drive With 2TB Storage

Kingston Digital has introduced the DataTraveler Ultimate GT, the world’s largest USB flash drive with 2TB of storage space and USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds.

The DataTraveler Ultimate GT has double the capacity of Kingston’s DataTraveler HyperX Predator 1TB flash drive released in 2013.

The flash drive is bulkier than average, but it is still much smaller than a full external SSD. The stick is designed with zinc-alloy metal casing for shock resistance.

DataTraveler Ultimate GT ships in February and will be available in 1TB and 2TB capacities. Pricing was not disclosed, but well above $1,000 is likely.

Tag: CES 2017
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CES 2017: iDevices Unveils Wireless Wall ‘Instant Switch’

iDevices today announced the latest product in its smart home lineup, debuting the iDevices Instant Switch, a remote wireless wall switch. Designed to pair via Bluetooth with existing products, the Instant Switch works with HomeKit and Alexa-enabled accessories.

iDevices has designed the Instant Switch to work anywhere with either a built-in Command adhesive backing that allows it to be attached to any wall or an iDevices wall plate that allows it to fit over any standard two-screw wall plate.

Because it’s peel and stick, it can be put on any wall, and it includes two CR2032 coin cell batteries that allow it to run for two years without needing to be charged.

When paired with an iDevices’ Wall or Dimmer Switch, the new Instant Switch enables a three-way control configuration. Instant Switch can be set up to control any device, like lights, from any room in the house.

“The whole point of a smart home is that it’s customized to your life and intended to make it easier,” said Chris Allen, CEO of iDevices. “Instant Switch gives users the ability to choose how they want to lay out control points in their home, regardless of where original outlets or switches are located. Our belief is you shouldn’t have to permanently modify your home to get the control you desire.”

iDevices is showing off the Instant Switch at CES this week. It will launch to the public in mid-2017 and it will be priced at $49.95.

Tags: iDevices, CES 2017
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Google Home Wish List 2017

Here’s how I’d like to see Google Home improve.

Google Home is quickly growing more capable as a connected home accessory. New features are being added at a steady pace, and now that third-party developers are able to extend their services onto the platform we’re going to see an exciting ramp-up in capability moving into the next year. I’m excited to see what third-party teams bring to Google Home, but I’d also like to see Google add some unique features of their own to really help this platform stand out.

Here’s my Google Home wish list for 2017.

Intercom Mode

The first thing you do when setting up a Google Home is tell Google what room you have the speaker in, which means the Google Home app knows where all of the speakers are in your house. I’d like to use that as a communication tool across the house, and I think Google Home is well built for the feature.

I’d like to be able to ask my office Google Home to connect to the Play Room Google Home so I can check in on the kids, or have my spouse call to me from the bedroom if the puppy has made a mess in the hall (again). Few people have multiple Google Homes, so this may not be a priority for Google, but it’d be pretty useful nonetheless.

Better app control

Being able to access Google’s apps on my Google Home is expected, and awesome. The limited control I currently have, however, is not awesome. I would like to see Google dramatically expand the capabilities of their own apps through Home.

Google Keep, for example, should give me access to all of my lists and not just the grocery list. My to-do list is a big part of my Keep usage, and being able to check things off without grabbing my phone would be a great use case for me.

The same goes for Google Play Music. Being able to link all of the speakers to play music through the house is awesome, but more often than not the people in the house don’t all want to listen to the same thing. I need my Hamilton Mixtape while I’m in the kitchen, and the kids would rather listen to something else in the Play Room. Right now you can’t do that, unless you specify YouTube Music for one of the speakers. Do better, Google!

Show me on my screen

If apps that have a visual component could interact with Google Home through either the Chromecast with the Google Home app installed, it’d be incredible. I’d probably use this every day.

Someone taps my Ring Doorbell and I get a notification through Google Home, I’d like to be able to say “show me” and have the video from Ring shot straight to the Chromecast in my office. If I get a notification about motion from my Nest camera, I’d like to be able to say “on screen” and have that app load on my tablet. Google Home could truly connect my house this way, and it seems like that would be useful to a lot of people.

Wi-Fi management

Many new routers let you give individual devices nicknames, and control when they are connected to the network. I think controlling that with your voice would be a powerful parenting tool.

If I’m in the bedroom winding down the day and want to check and see if any of my kids are active on the network when they shouldn’t be, it would be cool to ask Google Home “Who is awake?” and get a reply with active device nicknames. It would also be nice to be able to say “quiet time” or “dinner time” and have Google Home restrict Wi-Fi access to an approved list of devices.

What do you want from Google Home?

So what do you think? What feature would you like to see Google Home add? Are you more about music and movies, or should Google Home be the gateway to full house control? Share your thoughts with us!

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• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
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Linksys sets sights on Google Wifi with the Velop mesh router

The Velop is a mesh router that connects to Amazon Alexa.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen mesh networking gain momentum thanks to the likes of Eero and Luma. Google also joined the fray with the Google Wifi, and now Linksys has launched its own mesh networking solution called the Velop. The modular system is made up of invidiaual nodes that you’ll have to place around your house to maximize coverage.

Each Velop node is a tri-band AC2200 class device with 2×2 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO and three Wi-Fi radios that can cover up to 2,000 square feet, but you’ll ideally need more than one to get coverage throughout your house. Standalone nodes can function in four modes — router, range extender, access point, and bridge — and can be configured through Linksys’ Android app.

The system switches between the three radios to find the “optimal path” from the modem to each individual node. The system also supports Amazon’s Alexa platform, allowing you to enable or disable the guest Wi-Fi network with your voice. Each node has two Ethernet ports, which are hidden at the bottom along with the power connector.

Linksys is selling the Velop as a standalone unit for $200 or in packs of two or three for $350 and $500 respectively. The pricing makes it costlier than the $299 retail price for a three-pack of Google Wifi. That said, Linksys has been in the networking game for far longer, and the hardware itself is a notch above what Google is offering.

The Velop system is now up for pre-order on Amazon, Best Buy, and direct from Linksys, and will be up for sale starting January 15 from Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Fry’s, Newegg, Microcenter, Staples and Linksys.

See at Best Buy

This $7 car charger will look like it is built into your car

Right now you can pick up Aukey’s 2-port USB car charger for just $7 with coupon code AUKCARS7. This car charger, unlike many others, sits pretty flush with most of the cigarette adapters, so you won’t really even notice that it is there. Being relatively flush, there is less of a chance that you’ll knock it out or bang it around by accident while moving in your car, and being able to charge two devices at the same time is a great feature.

Remember, you need coupon code AUKCARS7 to get the discount here. Odds are it won’t last long at this price, so be sure to act quickly if you want one!

See at Amazon

Xiaomi Mi Mix review: Lose The Bezel

Bezel. It’s a mainstay of phones everywhere. Heck, you need it to put in things like an earpiece, right? Or do you? (dun dun dun!) The Xiaomi Mi Mix has figured out a way to push its display all the way to the edge. Is it worth it?

MrMobile brings the Xiaomi Mi Mix to the U.S. and sees what it’s like to live life all the way to the edge. How will it respond to our networks here? Does it do more than provide a flashy screen? Can Michael Fisher find a private place to talk on the phone? Hit that play button to learn all this and more.

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Best Wallet Cases for the Google Pixel

What are the best wallet cases for my Google Pixel?

Wallet cases offer and elegant and functional way to keep your phone, cards and cash around in one place while cutting down on the amount of stuff one needs to carry around.

The cases we’ve assembled here are for the 5-inch Pixel, so you won’t want to get one of these if you’ve got the larger Pixel XL.

• BELK Retro Slim Wallet Case
• Procase Flip Cover Card Case with mirror
• Abacus24-7 Pixel Wallet Case with RFID Blocking
• Abacus24-7 Pixel Slim Wallet Bumper Case

BELK Retro Slim Wallet Case

This stylish option features a slightly weathered look for the polyurethane leather on the outside, and is available in six colors to match your style. Simply snap your phone into the TPU case on the inside and enjoy the full protection that a wallet case such as this provides.

There are three slots for your cards and ID, along with a pocket for storing folded bills or receipts. The front cover is held into place with a magnet to complete the look.

See at Amazon

Procase Flip Cover Card Case with mirror

This wallet case from Procase features a little makeup mirror on the inside of the cover, making this a great case for women on the go. The mirror takes up a spot where a third card slot or ID holder would be, but you still have two slots and the cash pocket for carrying things.

This is arguably the most stylish option on this list, available in four color options, each coming with a matching wrist strap.

See at Amazon

Abacus24-7 Pixel Wallet Case with RFID Blocking

This case is made from vegan-friendly synthetic leather and offers protection for both your phones and your cards. The interior TPU case keeps your phone safe and secure while ensuring access to the headphone jack, charging port and fingerprint scanner on the back, while the front cover blocks out RFID scanners to keep your cards secure from skimming attempts.

There’s a transparent slot for your ID, with two other slots for your credit and bank cards, along with a cash pocket. This case is available in three colors as well.

See at Amazon

Abacus24-7 Pixel Slim Wallet Bumper Case

If you’re looking for a more minimalistic wallet case, you might want to consider this option. Forgoing the typical front cover found on other wallet case options, this bumper case features a card slot on the back that you might be able to squeeze two cards into if you try really hard.

It’s available in four color options, with the black case featuring stylish red stitching.

See at Amazon

What’s in your wallet case?

Did your favorite wallet case not make our list? Let us know in the comments!