B&O adds to its wireless speaker lineup with the Beolit 17

The Beolit 12 speaker was the first device introduced on Bang & Olufen’s Play line of audio gear back in 2012. It was followed by the Beolit 15 in 2015 and now the company has an even larger model: the Beolit 17. As you might expect, the larger size delivers more power for the wireless speaker with 240 watts. While the overall design remains the same, the Beolit 17’s speaker grill has been tweaked to remove the cable compartment. That change helps the device to pack that increased power and enhanced sound.

Speaking of design, you can expect similar premium materials we’ve seen on other B&O Play devices. The Beolit 17 retains the aluminum speaker grill and leather carrying strap from its predecessors. The top and bottom is made of what the company calls “a robust polymer” that will stand up to being hauled around as needed. There’s also a non-slip tray up top where you can lay your phone down without worrying about whether or not it will get scratched up.

Of course, when it comes to portable speakers, battery life is a key selling point. With the Beolit 17, B&O is claiming up to 24 hours of battery life, certainly enough to get you through an outdoor dinner party or a day at the park. This new model also features a new one-touch connection button that can be set to one of four modes in the Beoplay App. Those modes include Alarm complete with snooze function, Connect that resumes music where you left off, Remote for skipping/playing tracks and ToneTouch that employs your go-to audio preset. You can select from a number of ToneTouch sound settings in the Beoplay app as well.

If you’re looking for a new wireless speaker, the Beolit 17 is available now directly from B&O’s online store or from its third-party retailers. You can expect to hand over $499 (£449/€499) to nab one.

Source: Bang & Olufsen

Apple Aims to Make Every iPhone With an OLED Display by 2019

A new supply chain report claims that Apple is planning to use OLED for every iPhone model by 2019, with the company expected to adopt OLED panels for 60 million units of the iPhone 8 later in 2017, equating to around 40 percent of its total manufacturing run (via The Bell) [Google Translate]. Apple will double the adoption of OLED panels for the 2018 iPhone before completely migrating over to OLED-only models for 2019.

The same report claimed that both Samsung and Inteflex are currently gearing up production for flexible printed circuit boards (FPCB) for this year’s iPhone 8, with Samsung specifically beginning an expansion of its Electro-Mechanics plant in Vietnam to account for the increased Apple supply quota this year.

Apple plans to introduce OLED panels to all iPhone models by 2019. This year’s introduction accounted for only 40%, but next year it is expected to double to 80% and 100% next year.

For the 2017 iPhone line, Apple is expected to stick with LCD panels for two of the iPhones — currently referred to as the “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus” — while making the “iPhone 8” its first-ever mobile device to include an OLED screen. Today’s supply chain report said that Apple will use three suppliers to produce OLED panels, and orders for each will be decided and placed when production is started around April or May.

The iPhone 8 is currently rumored to include an edge-to-edge OLED display with an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded within the screen. The OLED display is widely agreed to measure 5.8 inches, while the primary area of user interaction will be 5.15 inches, and below that there will be a “function row.” The other two models are believed to keep the same aluminum design of current-model iPhones.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: OLED
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Facebook Begins Testing Reactions and ‘Dislike’ Button in Messenger

A few Facebook Messenger users have noticed that the company’s “Reactions” are available to use within the app and on the web, along with a long-requested dislike — or thumbs down — button (via TechCrunch). Similar to Tapback in the iOS 10 Messages app, to use Reactions in Facebook Messenger users simply have to hover over a specific message and tap the small emoji button.

Images via TechCrunch
From there, the app will provide the standard set of Facebook Reactions, including emojis for love, laughter, amazed, sad, and angry. Thumbs up is still available, as well as the all-new thumbs down, which Facebook has said in the past that it wants to avoid using on the main social media site to avoid overt negativity among friends and family members. When Reactions originally launched around a year ago, Facebook aimed for them to be a more nuanced and diverse way to react to posts that was more varied than a simple thumbs up or thumbs down response.

Facebook confirmed this new feature to TechCrunch, saying “We’re always testing ways to make Messenger more fun and engaging. This is a small test where we enable people to share an emoji that best represents their feelings on a message.”

But, according to a statement from the company, within Facebook Messenger the dislike button is being seen as a simple “no” response. Similar to iOS Messages and Slack, Facebook said that its Messenger app is used for coordination and planning, and the addition of message-specific reaction buttons helps streamline plans among large groups of friends.

As is the case with these small tests, it’s unclear whether or not Reactions in Facebook Messenger will expand to all users at one point. Last year, the company began testing out a disappearing post feature within Messenger in Poland and Australia, called “Messenger Day.” Earlier this year, it launched a similar feature, now called “Facebook Stories,” but within the mainline Facebook app for users in Ireland. Neither Snapchat-like update has launched worldwide.

Tag: Facebook
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How to bring back the app drawer on the LG G6

The app drawer is hidden by default on the LG G6. Here’s how to get it back.

It’s 2017 and we’re still removing application drawers from the Android user interface. If you’re equally as unsettled by this common practice, then at least be comforted by the fact that on the LG G6, you can bring back the app drawer if you please. Here’s how.

How to bring back the app drawer on the LG G6

On the Home screen, tap Settings.
Tap to enter the Display section of the settings panel.

Select Home screen.

Tap on Select Home.
Select Home & app drawer.

Enjoy!

That’s it! It’s an easy fix, but a fix a lot of G6 owners will need when they get their phones.

LG G6

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Samsung Pay goes live in India with support for Paytm

Samsung Pay officially launches in India.

Samsung rolled out registrations for early access to Samsung Pay in India last week, and the company has now officially launched the service in the country. Those that signed up for early access can now add credit and debit cards from qualifying banks, as well as link their Paytm digital wallets.

Samsung Pay currently works with the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy A7 (2016), and the Galaxy A5 (2016), and as of now there’s no mention if the service will be making its way to Samsung’s older devices at a later date.

To use Samsung Pay, you’ll need a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card issued by either Axis Bank, HDFC, ICICI, or Standard Chartered. SBI credit card customers can also avail the service, and Samsung has stated that American Express and Citibank cards will be added shortly. Samsung’s payments service works with both NFC and older card readers thanks to Magnetic Secure Transmission, and as such you’ll be able to use it at most retailers around the country.

Register for Samsung Pay

LG V10 will pick up Nougat update in Q2 2017, LG G4 in Q3

LG’s 2015 flagships will be updated to Nougat.

LG initially stated that it will not roll out the Nougat update to its 2015 flagships, but the company has reversed course following backlash in its home market. According to an LG official speaking to Korea Times, the LG V10 will pick up the update sometime in the second quarter, while the LG G4 will receive the update in the third quarter. That’s for the Korean market, and it is likely that we’ll have to wait slightly longer for the global

LG was worried that the hardware — specifically the Snapdragon 808 SoC — on the G4 and V10 would cause compatibility issues on Android 7.0 Nougat, but with the Nexus 5X featuring the same chipset and running Nougat without any problems, LG decided to offer the update to its flagships.

With profits from its mobile business shrinking, 2017 will prove to be a pivotal year for LG. Last year’s modularity experiment with the G5 failed to gain momentum with consumers, but the G6 is turning out to be a step in the right direction. Reliability issues with the G4 and V10 have also affected the brand’s image, and it looks like that is an area LG is looking to fix this year.

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Newer model: LG G5

Can a Chromebox replace my desktop computer?

Why pay for something you don’t need?

Traditional desktop computers are slowly but surely being phased out. The days when every household had a cheaply made (but hardly inexpensive) Compaq or HP computer and clunky monitor for the family room are long past, and outside of people with extreme needs only businesses are buying desktops. And not because our needs have drastically changed, but because laptops, convertibles and micro PCs can do all the things we want them to do. And it’s great not being chained to one desk to work and play on “the computer.”

First ask yourself if you need a desktop at all.

Where does a Chromebox fit here? That’s a question plenty of us have, including me. A Chromebox isn’t something you can just recommend to anyone because for most people a Chromebook or something like a Pixel C or iPad is just better and not stuck at home. Companies making PC hardware know this, too, and you can buy a surprisingly good laptop for around $300 now from Google or Microsoft. But there are some cases where a desktop computer is practical or even better suited than a fancy thin flippy book thing or a silver laptop.

We can start with a case where a Chromebox just isn’t going to cut it: gaming. Native Client and even HTML 5 were/are capable of some impressive stuff. But Chrome is caught in the catch-22 of nobody making hardware that’s really good at playing games because nobody is making really good games. Other than a handful of “adult” game clients (those ads you may have seen daring you to try at a popular adult video site) the only really cool “games” ever developed for Chrome came from Google as API demos. The landscape is bleaker when you want to add VR to the mix.

We’re OK with this. While it would be nice to have a few showcase games for Chrome, we don’t want it to turn into something that isn’t cheap and easy, like the money pit and time sink many of us have to play all those AAA titles. If you need a desktop computer for gaming, don’t waste your time looking at a Chromebox.

You don’t want a Chromebox if you’re a gamer. Use the right tool for the job.

But there are two other areas where a desktop PC could be a better choice than something portable, and chances are a Chromebox (or a Chromebase) is the best way to do them both: something for the kids or something for the entertainment center.

Chrome OS Buyer’s Guide

For the kids

Working mainstream technology into your kids’ lives isn’t easy. The products designed for children are safe and fun but can be a little boring once kids get to a certain age. And deciding when and how to introduce the young’ns to the internet and all the horrible things that live in it is one of the hardest things a parent will ever do. You can make the hardware part of the decision easy and buy a Chromebox. Chrome has a built-in supervised account feature, but there are also many other options available for parental controls through cloud services, application monitoring, and browsing proxies. I wish I had these things available on a sub-$200 computer when my kids were growing up.

Older kids can benefit from having a Chromebox if their school uses Google Apps for Education, too. The school login can live right beside a home login with different permissions for each account.

For the home theater

A Chromebox connected to a television is a no-fuss cheap way to make any model smart. A flip of the input source on your remote can take you to a full Chrome OS experience, complete with the best web browser available and all the apps and extensions you already use. It’s the perfect gateway to all your online entertainment as well as a front end for your local video library through a NAS or media server. Best of all, you already know exactly how to use it.

Chrome is the best way to find the best media the internet has to offer.

Android TV is great. I love my Shield TV and the world of apps and games and everything Google has to offer through it. But sometimes a web browser is just the best way to do things, and for entertainment, this is the case. Netflix.com is a thing and makes any Netflix app unnecessary. And why buy a traditional desktop PC for hundreds more when the first thing you’ll do is install Chrome?

The best Chromebox you can buy

If you have particular needs that require a Windows or Mac desktop PC, you know this and know that a Chromebox can’t replace it. But some things a desktop does better than a laptop are also better done with Chrome.

See at Amazon

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Nintendo Switch game saves are locked to one console

The Nintendo Switch is now in many gamers hands and, like us, we’re sure that the more they play with their new machines the more they will grow in love with its talents. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t have some strange caveats.

We’ve mentioned the lack of video streaming services in our extensive Nintendo Switch review, but a couple of other foibles have emerged that we hope Nintendo will address soon.

The latest concerns game saves. According to a report by Kotaku, confirmed by Nintendo, Switch save games are not only locked to an account, but also the console they were saved on. That means you cannot transfer them to another Switch – even if you need to replace yours due to a manufacturing fault.

• All the Nintendo Switch games: Launch titles and every game for 2017 revealed
• Nintendo Switch vs Wii U: What’s the difference?

All game saves are stored on the console’s built-in storage. They cannot be saved or transferred to a microSD card, even if it is empty. Games themselves can be installed on microSD, just not saves. Weird.

If you do manage to fill the measly 32GB of on-board storage you’ll also have to delete data to store more game saves.

Nintendo has said that the feature is relevant “at this time” which opens up the possibility of this changing in future, but just be aware that, should your Switch break you cannot currently continue that mammoth game of Zelda you’ve been storing.

The Morning After: Monday, March 6th 2017

Welcome to your Monday. We have wrapped up our coverage of MWC (all things mobile) as well as GDC (all things gaming) over the weekend, played laser tag with a smartphone, and learned that you can screw up an anti-harassment bot with typos. The big events aren’t over, either: SXSW kicks off later this week. We’ll be there.

It knows.AI continued its world domination at Mobile World Congress

It was hard to ignore the normalization of artificial intelligence at this year’s MWC. When it comes to the intersection of smartphones and AI, Motorola had the most surprising news at the show. In case you missed it, Motorola is working with Amazon (and Harman Kardon, most likely) to build a Moto Mod that will make use of Alexa. But it was certainly not the only company tapping AI for new features — and headlines.

Smart garbage cans are here.
The game is trash

Maybe you’ll litter less.

Plus augmented reality.Play laser tag in the real world with this smartphone attachment

Laser tag is fun, but in order to do so, you have to go to a special venue, get specialized equipment and basically block off the entire day. With the Inceptor, however, you don’t have to. This little accessory combined with a game called Father.io essentially changes any smartphone into a mobile laser tag machine, without the need for a plastic toy gun attachment.

William Gibson called. He wants his dystopian sci-fi future back.
The cyberpunk revolution begins with video games

The GDC showcases the latest projects from studios around the world, offering a first-hand look at the themes and trends driving the industry forward. This year? It’s all about cyberpunk. Walking among the flashy, flickering and noisy booths and all the surrounding events, the pattern becomes clear — a significant portion of these games have a strong sci-fi vibe, many of them dealing with the idea of futuristic corporate overreach and gritty technological espionage, reflecting the times we live in.

But wait, there’s more…

• Typos are kryptonite to Alphabet’s anti-trolling API
• Facebook tests out a dislike button
• Here’s what happened at GDC 2017

NHS to use Uber and startup Cera for at-home patient care

Healthcare startup Cera is teaming up with Uber to deliver patient care on the NHS’ behalf. The service, launched in November, matches “hundreds” of carers in the UK with the people who need them most. Today, the company is announcing a partnership with the Barts Health NHS Trust — which runs Mile End Hospital, Newham University Hospital and others — so that doctors can effectively prescribe the platform and help their patients receive timely care at home. The hope is that such a service will improve patient care while freeing up hospital beds in London.

Cera has inked similar deals with three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in north-west London: Harrow, Brent and Hillingdon. To meet the needs of each community, Cera will be relying on Uber and its fleet of app-hailed drivers. They will help not only carers to make their usual house visits, but also patients as they attend hospital appointments. Cera says its services will also help people to get out of the house and remain independent. They can hail an UberAssist, which will help with walkers and scooters, or an UberWAV, which is fully wheelchair accessible.

Uber has long positioned itself as an infrastructure company. We’ve seen hints of that vision before with services such as UberEats, which delivers restaurant food on demand. The new partnership with Cera, however, shows its potential as a larger transportation business. It can’t do everything — don’t expect Uber ambulances any time soon — but it could help other companies to shuffle their goods and staff around the country. The good publicity is timely too: the last seven days have been horrific for Uber, following CEO Travis Kalanick’s driver outburst, the company’s High Court defeat in London, and the reveal of a secretive tool called ‘Greyball’, which Uber reportedly uses to deceive authorities around the world.

Via: The Guardian