Best Micro-USB cables

Wherein we help you pick a great Micro-USB cable.

Whether you have a smartphone, tablet or wearable, odds are that you’ve got a Micro-USB cable (or three) laying around. They’re ubiquitous. Just in case you don’t, here are some of our favorites.

• EZOPower Micro-USB cable
• ReTrak Premier Series Retractable Micro-USB cable
• Anker 10-foot Nylon Braided Micro-USB cable
• Monoprice Premium Micro-USB cable
• Anker PowerLine Micro-USB cable

EZOPower Micro-USB cable

If you need a longer yet inexpensive Micro-USB cable, the EZOPower Micro-USB cable works very well.

It’s six feet long, so you have plenty of length to play with, whether you’re charging your phone in your car or at home. With charging speeds of 2.1A, you’ll top up your battery in no time at all.

Additionally, with its data transfer rate of 480Mbps, you can sync music or other files from your computer to your phone in seconds.

See at Amazon

ReTrak Premier Series Retractable Micro-USB cable

If you’re tired of dealing with messy cables while traveling, the ReTrak Retractable Micro-USB cable may be the one for you.

Available in black in addition to seven bright colors, this Micro-USB cable retracts neatly into a small case — forget about wasting time winding and unwinding cables — a light tug pulls the cable into its casing. When expanded, this Micro-USB cable reaches a length of 3.2 feet in total.

Also, it has a transfer speed of 480Mbps, so you can sync music, pictures, or anything else from your computer to your phone in no time at all.

See at Amazon

Anker 10-foot Nylon Braided Micro-USB cable

Anker’s 10-foot Nylon Braided Micro-USB cable is a good choice if you have limited power outlets in a large room and you need the reach.

Constructed of braided nylon, this cable is strong, durable, and resists tangling. Anker claims that this cable has a lifespan of more than 4,000 bends, and customer reviews seem to back this up. Its gold-plated connectors aid in resisting corrosion as well.

Another benefit of this cable is that it gives you a 480Mbps data transfer speed, as well as fast charging.

If you want a durable, extra-long Micro-USB cable that’s fast, the Anker 10-foot Nylon Braided Micro-USB cable is the one for you.

See at Amazon

Monoprice Premium Micro-USB cable

The Monoprice Premium Micro-USB cable is well-rated by consumers for its durability and speed.

Sheathed in polycarbonate housing, its gold-plated connectors resist corrosion, and are durable besides. The housing is also slim, making this cable easy to use in tight spaces and easy to store as well.

Additionally, its 28/23 AWG wire means that it will charge up your device quickly because of its wider diameter — and with six feet of cable, you’ll have enough play to connect your phone, whether you’re in your bedroom, living room, or in the car.

If you’re looking for a longer Micro-USB cable that’s long-lasting, capable of fast charging speeds, and has a slimmer form factor, look no further than the Monoprice Premium Micro-USB cable.

See at Amazon

Anker PowerLine Micro-USB cable

The Anker PowerLine Micro-USB cable is rated highly by consumers because it is very durable and performs its job well.

Made of Kevlar — the same stuff that bulletproof vests are made from — this cable isn’t going to fray or otherwise break down any time soon. In fact, Anker boasts that it has a 10,000 bend lifespan, which customer reviews appear to confirm.

Additionally, its heavier-gauge wires are able to charge your device fast.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive Micro-USB cable that will last for years without fraying and coming apart at the ends, the Anker PowerLine Micro-USB cable might be your best choice.

See at Amazon

And you?

We’ve laid out our picks for best Micro-USB cables, but how about you? What Micro-USB cables are you using and why are they awesome? Let us know in the comments below.

ICYMI: The Sleep Number bed keeps you cozy all night long

Today on In Case You Missed It: There were more beds at CES this year than we’ve ever seen before, but I was seduced, yet again, by the new model for the Sleep Number bed. Even though I’m a bit of an everything-connected-to-the-internet hater. Last year’s Sleep Number model introduced a plethora of sleep-tracking sensors, integrated inside the mattress. But the 2017, Sleep Number 360 version kicks it all up a notch. It can use that data to adjust the firmness of the bed as you turn during the night, as well as pre-heat the foot bed warmer just before your usual bedtime. Probably best of all for couples: It raises the side of an offending nighttime snorer and ends the noise, no elbows required. The bed will run $1099 and start rolling out in the spring.

As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

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

Netflix made a game featuring some of its top shows

When Netflix isn’t commissioning award-winning programming and movies, some members of its team dedicate some of their time to building fun little projects. We’ve already The Switch, a Netflix and Chill button that can automatically dim the lights, activate your phone’s Do Not Disturb feature and prepare Netflix for the streaming ahead, but its latest proposition isn’t about watching what it has to offer, it’s all about gaming. Netflix Infinite Runner, as the name suggests, is an endless running game that features the most popular characters from four popular original shows: Narcos, Marco Polo, Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things.

Netflix has confirmed that the game is totally them, but it’s currently only being promoted on its Spanish and Indian social media accounts. Each “level” is set in the world of the show in question, so you’ll jump through the jungles of Columbia with Pablo Escobar and hurdle prison guards as Piper Chapman. The Hawkins National Laboratory also makes an appearance, complete with a low-res version of the Stranger Things theme tune (the same can be said for all shows).

Before you get too excited, the game is very basic. Jumping isn’t super responsive and the hitboxes on the non-playing characters are a lot bigger than they need to be, so you’ll likely find yourself restarting the game over and over, at least to begin with. But if you’ve got a few minutes spare and fancy trying your hand at Netflix’s new side-scroller, you can get involved here.

Source: Netflix Infinite Runner

Streaming topped all forms of US music consumption in 2016

Remember in early 2013 when Apple hit 25 billion iTune song downloads? And Tim Cook said it took Sony 30 years to sell 220,000 Walkmans? Well, fast-forward just under four years, and Billboard has revealed that Americans streamed 431 billion songs in 2016 alone, surpassing total digital sales of songs and albums for the first time in history. That’s thanks to a large of choice of sites, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google Play, Deezer and others.

In fact, folks in the US streamed more songs per day (1.2 billion) than the 734 million that were downloaded during the entire year, the ratings company said. As with similar increases in the UK, streaming increased 76 percent from last year, a figure that helped the music industry grow a solid three percent over 2015. “The music industry continues to grow at a healthy rate, and 2016 showed us that the landscape is evolving even more quickly than we have seen with other format shifts,” said Nielsen SVP David Bakula.

The music industry continues to grow at a healthy rate, and 2016 showed us that the landscape is evolving even more quickly than we have seen with other format shifts.

Six songs alone, including Desiigner’s “Panda” and Rihanna’s “Work,” accounted for 500 total on-demand streams. Drake led everyone by a long way, however, with 5.4 billion total streams, and also sold the most digital songs and albums. A big part of the increase is because of Hip-hop and R&B, genres that accounted for 22 percent of music consumption, but a disproportionate 28 percent of streams.

Rounding out the good news, physical album sales also increased as a share of total album sales for the first time in a decade, and vinyl sales hit 13 million — the most since 1991, the year Nirvana’s Nevermind came out. The latter stats are the most surprising, as you’d expect physical album sales to be on a strong downward curve, and that’s clearly not the case. Despite warnings from the RIAA, it seems that having a better alternative to piracy has not only increased industry profits, but passion for music overall.

Via: Pitchfork

Source: Neilsen

Homeland Security classifies election infrastructure as critical

The Department of Homeland Security has officially classified election systems as critical infrastructure in order to keep them safe from tampering. Election infrastructure includes storage facilities, polling places, voter registration databases, voting machines and other systems that help manage the election process and report and display its results. DHS’ announcement came after US intelligence confirmed that Russia influenced the presidential elections, mostly by hacking into the country’s computers. If you’ll recall, cyberattackers infiltrated not just the Democratic National Committee’s machines, but also over 20 states’ election systems. However, none of the machines that were compromised were used for vote tallying.

It took a couple of months for DHS to come up with an official stance, since some states were opposed to it. They were (and still are) worried that it could lead to increased federal regulation and oversight. Georgia Secretary of State Brian P. Kemp, one of its biggest critics, called the action “a federal overreach into a sphere constitutionally reserved for the states.”

The classification would allow the government to offer more federal help to state and local governments that need it. Plus, it would require DHS’ secretary to conduct security checks for emerging and imminent threats. It gives Homeland Security the power to withhold information from the public to prevent information about vulnerabilities from leaking to the wrong people. If the Obama administration’s international cyber rule proposal passes, it would create an additional layer of security, as well. Its addition to the rule list would forbid countries from conducting online activities targeting others’ critical infrastructure.

Source: Homeland Security (PDF), AP

The Morning After: Saturday, January 7th 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

CES 2017 is in full swing, and we’re ready to hand out some hardware. Find out how you can participate in our Best of CES 2017 awards, and catch up on some of the action from yesterday’s Engadget live stream. The Saturday stage schedule includes Geohot, Aisha Tyler and more.

It’s all up to youPick your favorite gadget from CES 2017

CES is almost over, which means it’s time to hand out some “Best of” hardware. Get your vote in by 6PM ET to have a say in who receives the coveted People’s Choice award.

Except when it’s up to usIntroducing the 15 Best of CES 2017 finalists!

We’ll do the choosing in these categories, judging “Best of CES” winners in categories ranging from accessibility tech to Robot/Drone. The best TV, best PC and all the rest will come from these selections, so get familiar before we live stream the results at 8PM ET Saturday night.

Self-lacing sneakers are just the startNike designers on the future of footwear

Tinker Hatfield and Tiffany Beers joined us on the Engadget stage to talk about self-lacing sneakers (like the new HyperAdapt 1.0), 3D printed shoes and more. There weren’t any Air Mag giveaways, but they did drop a few gems on the design process and mentioned that the next generations of HyperAdapts are already in development.

Grain techHow Amber Agriculture is trying to build the “smart farm”

This startup’s finger-sized sensor goes inside grain silos to help prevent spoilage. That way farmers can monitor temperature and humidity from their smartphone, and manage crops more efficiently. The first field trials are still in the future, but co-founder Lucas Frye believes serious long-term good could be possible.

That’s good, right?Faraday Future claims 64,000 pre-orders for the FF 91

Troubled (potential) carmaker Faraday Future has a positive data point to report. After unveiling its first car a few days ago, the company says over 64,000 people have signed up to pre-order. What it didn’t say, however, is how many of them laid down $5,000 for a priority reservation and how many opted for the free standard option.

Apparently, exploding phones aren’t a problemSamsung expects that its profits in Q4 will be higher than last year

Despite its disastrous Galaxy Note 7, Samsung is forecasting operating income for Q4 that’s up 50 percent from the same period in 2015. Demand for its OLED screens and memory chips are driving the boost, although its mobile division reportedly also had strong results thanks to the Galaxy S7 and other older models.

Do we still have to rate self-driving Ubers?Auto supplier Delphi shows off a turnkey autonomous solution

While Delphi isn’t a big name among car buyers, it makes the parts that go into their cars. This year at CES, the company is showing off what it can do for self-driving cars that navigate the streets more like a human, although its tech is probably coming to ride-sharing services first.

An Apple TV and Roku alternativeHands-on with the Dish AirTV

Can this $130 device handle everything from 4K Netflix to Sling TV, to over-the-air broadcasts? Judging by Billy Steele’s experience during a CES demo, the answer is yes. The familiar Sling TV-based UI is smooth to operate using the included remote, while the only real concern is its unusual blue and white color scheme.

But wait, there’s more…

• The Engadget Podcast Ep 22: Filmore Jive
• Samsung’s S Skin tries to make one of our editors beautiful
• The Smartcane alerts your family in case of a fall
• The first Hyperloop test is now just months away
• Sony’s Kaz Hirai: 4K and HDR are here, robots are coming

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

Valve’s Steam Controller interface now works with Xbox gamepads

Arguably, one of the best things about Valve’s Steam Controller is its software component — an interface that allows user to assign any button of their controller to a myriad of keyboard functions. Its a feature that lets gamers make any PC game playable by controller — even if it was only designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard. The interface is so good, Valve enabled it for PlayStation 4 controllers earlier this year. Now they’re enabling it for pretty much everything else: the latest version of Steam’s beta channel will let you fully customize the Xbox 360 gamepad, the Xbox One controller and any other input device that uses the Xinput standard.

It’s a good update, but there’s a reason it’s still on the beta channel. Right now, there’s no way for Steam to differentiate between different kinds of Xinput controllers — the configuration interface can’t tell the difference between an Xbox One gamepad, a 360 controller or a generic Xinput device. This makes it hard to save controller specific profiles, and means some gamepads with fewer buttons won’t be compatible with community gamepad profiles.

Still, it’s a good step forward in compatibility for PC gamers. Once the bugs are worked out, you’ll be able to play almost any PC game with almost any game controller.

Source: Valve

Uber and Honda face lawsuit after crash leaves rider paralyzed

Questions about Uber’s driver screening aren’t about to go away any time soon. A Dallas woman is suing Uber and Honda after her ridesharing driver ran a red light, leading to a crash that left her paralyzed from the chest down. The lawsuit alleges that the parties involved (including the driver and the Odyssey minivan’s owner) not only didn’t provide adequate safety, but let the driver operate the vehicle without insurance. He had also been arrested for drug and gambling charges that should have been red flags, according to the suit.

An Uber attorney had no comment when asked by Dallas News, but we’ve reached out ourselves and will let you know if there’s more to add. However, Uber’s background checks across the US primarily focus on screening out crimes that would directly affect passenger safety, such as reckless driving, sexual assault or violence. The driver’s charges wouldn’t have been considered as a result. Drivers automatically receive commercial insurance when they’re working, though, so the claim that the driver wasn’t insured might not hold up.

It won’t be surprising if Uber presses for a settlement. The company has historically preferred payouts to fighting screening-related cases in court — like many companies, it would rather not deal with the negative publicity and other ramifications of a prolonged legal battle. The question: will Uber see a need to reevaluate its policies after this incident? It’s difficult to completely prevent crashes like this, but there are concerns that Uber could have done better.

Via: Daily Dot

Source: Dallas News

Hushme’s voice-masking headset could save your sanity

This device is not a punishment, nor was it designed to deny you pleasure. It is, however, meant to preserve the quality of life of the people around you… especially if you work in open offices like some of us at Engadget do. The Hushme works as a pair of Bluetooth earbuds, but the real draw is the voice mask attached to them — they snap together in front of your mouth thanks to some surprisingly strong magnets, allowing you to take your phone calls in relative peace and quiet.

Even better, there are ways two ways that your conversations are shielded from the world at large. A pair of thick cushy pads does a decent job muffling your voice, but the Hushme team added a series of sounds that’ll play through some external speakers to obscure things even further. I know what you’re thinking: wouldn’t that also disrupt the peace and quiet around you? You bet! Normally that would be a dealbreaker for a device tailor-made to keep the decibels down, but the list of extant and forthcoming sounds might make the whole thing worth it.

A Hushme staffer, for instance, strapped on the headset and let the sounds of some R2-D2-style beeping drown out his explanation of the company’s plans. Heavy, Darth Vader-ish breathing is a potential option too, as are more soothing choices like the sound of rain or a gentle wind.

What’s more, Hushme reps floated the idea of straight-up voice changing as a possibility, which is thematically a little silly when you consider the device’s goals. Really, we’ll just have to wait and see — Hushme plans to get a crowdfunding campaign going this year, and the headset is expected to sell for around $200.

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

Keurig and Anheuser-Busch work on an in-home beer maker

Just because Keurig didn’t succeed with its Kold soda machine doesn’t mean it’s giving up on the prospect of making cold beverages at home. It’s partnering with Anheuser-Busch InBev on developing an “in-home alcohol drink system” — in other words, a Keurig for booze. It’ll build on the technological foundations of the Kold, and the plan is to eventually cover many types of drinks. Beer is the obvious fit given AB InBev’s roots, but the companies would like to offer “spirits, cocktails and mixers,” among other options.

The two are just getting started, so the timing and pricing are very much up in the air. And prices could easily dictate whether or not Keurig’s machine works. One of our biggest gripes with the Kold was that you were paying a lot for what’s normally an occasional treat, rather than a daily fixture like coffee. Alcohol has a similar issue, especially since it’s a social drink — it’s frequently a good excuse to get outside and meet your friends. If the machine or pods are inordinately expensive, it might be hard to justify buying the system when it’s only going to be used for the occasional house party or end-of-week reward. If you can’t stand bars or pubs and don’t live near a beer or liquor store, though, this might be just what you’ve been waiting for.

Via: Bloomberg

Source: Keurig Green Mountain (PDF)