Netgear releases two (slightly) cheaper Orbi models

Mesh WiFi networks, which use a handful of base stations to eliminate black spots in your home, are great but for one thing: the price. After all, dropping the better part of $500 on a router set is pretty steep when you’ve got bills to pay and food to buy. Netgear feels your pain, which is why it’s adding a pair of cheaper models to its Orbi range of whole-home routers.

The Orbi, if you weren’t aware, costs $400 and comes with a pair of AC3000 units that push data around 4,000 square feet of space. The hardware also contains a tri-band router, with the third band kept back to promote data sharing between the units. That’s a step up from the dual-band routers that have peer-to-peer and device traffic going out at the same time.

The new models are romantically-named the RBK40 and RBK30 (the “original” Orbi is codenamed RBK50, fact fans). The RBK40 ditches the AC3000 gear for AC2400 networking, although you’ll still get coverage over that same 4,000 square foot of space. In every other respect, the kit remains the same, so it’ll be up to you to decide if $350 is worth paying for a slightly compromised service.

The RBK30, meanwhile, will set you back $300, and ditches the second Orbi device in favor of a wall socket-mounted repeater. In addition to using AC2400, the cheapest model in the range will only cover areas of 3,500 square feet — making it better suited to smaller homes and apartments. But, then again, if you’re already blowing $300 on something, that extra $100 for the flagship gear doesn’t seem like much.

In addition to the new gear, you can also buy the individual Orbi repeaters as standalone products if your home is bigger than the top line model can cover. The wall-socket repeater will set you back $150, while the other two are $200 and $250, respectively.

The new Netgear Orbi devices are available today from all good retailers.

Razer’s 2017 Blade Pro boasts a new CPU and THX certifications

If you’ve been eyeing one of Razer’s “professional gaming laptops” since December, you’re going to want to wait just a little bit longer. That’s because the company announced today that it’s releasing a new iteration of its flagship laptop, the Blade Pro. It now features a seventh-gen quad-core Intel i7 CPU and faster RAM than what was offered on last year’s model. Additionally, the new model has earned THX certification for both video and audio.

THX’s video certification process was used to calibrate and test the laptop’s resolution, color accuracy and playback performance. The sound certification measured voltage output, frequency response, distortion, signal-to-noise ratio and crosstalk. That goes for both the built-in speakers themselves and the headphone output. The Blade Pro’s video capability is already top notch thanks to its NVIDIA GTX 1080 video card and 4K screen but its speakers are, well, laptop speakers, and there’s always room for improvement when it comes to laptop audio.

The THX certification essentially guarantees that the new model will sound (and look) as good as it possibly can. Combined with the laptop’s top-of-the-line hardware, this certification cements the Blade Pro’s position as both a VR/gaming and design/production rig.

Other than the upgraded CPU and RAM, not much else has changed since since last year’s model. The Blade Pro still weighs 7.7 pounds and measures less than an inch thick. It still features Razer’s “Chroma” backlighting and has the same short-throw mechanical keys and 17.3-inch display. And, as with last year’s model, the updated Pro comes with 32GB of RAM, supports up to 2TB of external RAID 0 storage and offers both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The new Blade Pro goes on sale in the US and Europe in April and rolling out worldwide later in the month, starting at $4,000 (£3,800/€4,500).

Adidas’ All Day app aims to help you stay fit and eat healthy

Earlier this month, at SXSW, Adidas teased it was working on new, “open” digital fitness products. And today we’re getting a clearer picture of its strategy, thanks to the introduction of All Day, an app for iOS and Android that’s designed for “versatile” athletes. What this means, according to Adidas, is that the application will focus on a series of health aspects: movement, nutrition, mindset and rest. This isn’t just about hardcore workout sessions, as is the case with most fitness apps.

All Day features a collection of written and video tutorials, which show you anything from quick yoga moves to “green” recipes, and uses your smartphone to track distance covered and calories burnt throughout your day. Adidas says right now the app is focused on women, since data it collected suggest they are the key users in the wellness space, though there will be additional content geared toward men later on.

Naturally, the app can pair with Apple’s Health Kit and Google’s Fit platforms, making it easier to keep track of your data. Adidas is releasing a beta of All Day today for iOS and Android, but you’ll want to sign up quick if you want to try it out because access will be limited. The sportswear giant says the app will have its full rollout later this summer.

Comcast could chase cord-cutters with ‘Xfinity Instant TV’

For years we’ve seen Comcast preparing to distribute video like an internet service instead of traditional cable methods, and now there’s word it will roll the project out widely. While recent rumors indicated Comcast has signed deals preparing to compete with other video services nationwide, Reuters says that “Xfinity Instant TV” will only be available for Comcast internet customers when it launches later this year.

It’s an expanded version of what we already know as Comcast Stream, the $15 per month cloud DVR-equipped package it’s been testing in a few areas since 2015. In something that’s probably not a coincidence, it launched the same month Comcast announced that for the first time ever it had more customers subscribing to internet service than TV.

Keeping things limited to its own area would make the service different from Dish Network’s Sling TV (which is apparently still coming to Comcast’s X1 cable platform), and AT&T’s DirecTV Now. While it wouldn’t make a difference for “cord-cutters” living outside the Comcast footprint, the company is clearly doing whatever it can to keep hold of customers who don’t want to pay for a cable box or traditional large bundle of channels.

Comcast has one big trick up its sleeve to top potential competitors: Stream doesn’t count against the recently-expanded 1TB bandwidth cap. The company maintains it’s an “IP-based managed network” instead of an internet video service, and I’d be surprised if Xfinity Instant TV is any different.

Source: Reuters

Square Reader Launches in the United Kingdom for £39

Payments company Square today announced that it has officially launched within the United Kingdom, bringing its popular Square Reader to small and medium businesses within the UK Square’s UK debut marks the company’s first European launch, but its products are already available in the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

In the UK, the Square Reader will cost businesses £39, and will act just as it does in other territories by connecting to a mobile smartphone or tablet, turning the device into a payment receptacle through the use of mobile wallets or physical credit cards. Every transaction that occurs in person will have a 1.75 percent flat fee charged to businesses, while all online, telephone, and electronic invoice transactions will incur a 2.5 percent fee.

After it’s set up, businesses will be able to browse the Square software built for mobile devices to track real-time sales data, invoicing and digital receipts. In its announcement today, Square said that the UK is a prime target for its technology because the average UK adult carries less than £25 in cash, while 70 percent of UK shoppers prefer card payments. Despite these statistics, “half of the UK’s 5.4 million small businesses do not yet take card payments.”

“We founded Square to empower small businesses with tools to accept all forms of payment and to make a sale anytime, anywhere,” said Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square. “We look forward to working alongside the millions of entrepreneurs and thriving small and medium-sized businesses across the UK, especially those who do not yet take card payments.”

In the United States Square has been a partner with Apple over the past few years, launching an NFC reader that introduced Apple Pay and other mobile wallets to small businesses for the first time, while also recently giving them the opportunity to obtain free processing fees when processing transactions through Apple’s mobile wallet.

Tags: United Kingdom, Square
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Facebook Launches Camera Within iOS App With Effects, Filters, and 24-Hour ‘Stories’

Facebook today is officially rolling out its long-in-testing upgrade to the main Facebook mobile app on iOS and Android, bringing a number of changes focused on the addition of an all-new camera, filters, themed effects and “Facebook Stories.” The company’s 24-hour post Snapchat clone was reported to have launched a few weeks ago, but a Facebook spokesperson contacted MacRumors at the time and confirmed that the feature was still in testing ahead of a wide launch, happening today.

The new camera can be found in the top left of the Facebook app’s main news feed, or users can swipe right on their news feed to open up the camera (similar to Instagram). Here users can take pictures and selfies using masks, filters, and “reactive effects,” where they can interact with dynamic objects such as falling snow. Style effects apply a Prisma-like artistic filter onto an image in real-time.

Brands and advertisers are also joining in on the Facebook camera launch, with users able to take selfies using filters for upcoming films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Alien: Covenant, and Wonder Woman. Facebook said that the company will consistently update all of these effects in the camera “to give you fun new effects to explore,” and even more customization is coming down the line as well.

Over the coming months, we plan to introduce new ways for the Facebook community to create their own frames and effects that can be used on any photo or video created with the new Facebook camera. Our goal is for the camera to be a home to hundreds of dynamic and fun effects that give you new ways to connect with friends, family, and your community.

We hope that with the new Facebook camera, Stories and Direct, it will be easier than ever to see the world through each other’s eyes, and we can’t wait to see the photos and videos you create. In the meantime, here’s one of my own in my tropical island disguise, hiding from work with my cat Ebi.

The launch of the Facebook camera on iOS and Android is also bringing Facebook Stories to the masses for the first time. The feature hasn’t changed since it was originally in testing in January, or since it launched as Instagram Stories last summer: users can post images and videos, add silly effects and captions, and watch them disappear forever after a 24-hour period.

For users who don’t want to share publicly, a new Direct option will allow Facebook friends to share the same disappearing posts directly to one another. When shared through Direct, a friend or family member will be able to look at the photo or video one time, replay it, and write a reply, but after that it’ll be gone forever — similar to Snapchat’s own chat section.

Facebook can be downloaded from the iOS App Store for free [Direct Link], and the update should begin appearing for users throughout the day.

Tag: Facebook
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Lenovo Moto G5 Plus review

Research Center:
Lenovo Moto G5 Plus

Last year’s Moto G4 Plus was the budget phone to beat. Lenovo’s stateside subsidiary, Motorola, put out an uncompromising budget phone that pleasantly surprised us with a camera that matched the performance of pricey flagships, a processor that crushed every task we threw its way, and a battery that lasted a full day without a recharge.

But a lot changes in a year. Now, there’s more mid-range competition than ever – especially from Chinese phone makers like ZTE and Huawei. Meeting expectations isn’t good enough. Breaking through requires innovation and an exceptionally low price point.

More: Motorola Moto G (2015) review

We tested the Moto G5 against the budget market’s best to see how it measured up.

A bland design

If you happened upon a side-by-side picture of the G5 Plus and G4 Plus, you’d be hard pressed to find similarities between them. Short of some holdover hardware and signature Moto styling, the G5 Plus shares little in common with its predecessor.

That’s both good news and bad news.

Take the G5 Plus’s fingerprint sensor, for example. In contrast to the squarish, cuff link-shaped button on the G4 Plus, the new one is oblong, indented, and much easier to press. The earpiece is narrower than the one of the G4 Plus, and the G5 Plus’s power and volume rocker are noticeably sturdier.

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

The G5 Plus’s removable cover is contoured and bordered at the edges, with a faux-aluminum band that runs its length. The water-resistant cover is technically metal, but it felt more like a hard plastic and a little cheap. It’s also exceptionally slippery —  enough to have us longing for the grippy back cover on last year’s model.

We aren’t fans of the gigantic camera that sticks out on the back, either. Unlike the G4 Plus, which stuffed the rear sensor into an oval-shaped bulge near the phone’s top edge, the G5 takes a page from Motorola’s Moto Z Force, housing its 12-megapixel snapper in a protruding, circular eyesore. Its pitch-black color scheme clashes loudly with the subdued gray of the G5’s back cover, and looks out of place.

Luckily, not everything is a step down. We’re fans of the G5’s 5.5-inch screen size, which affords a decent amount of real estate without sacrificing compactness. The front and back are pleasingly minimalist, save a “Moto” logo beneath the earpiece and etched branding on the rear cover. The SIM card slot is more accessible — it’s on the G5’s top as opposed to behind the removable cover — and Motorola made the wise decision of retaining the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Somewhat oddly, though, Motorola opted for a MicroUSB port rather than USB Type-C. It’s not a good move considering the increasing ubiquity of USB-C, even on budget phones like Huawei’s Honor 6X, ZTE’s ZMax Pro, and Samsung’s Galaxy A series. The Type-C port allows for faster charging, a reversible charger, as well as data-transfer.

Zippy performance

The Moto G5 Plus’s design sins don’t carry over to the rest of its hardware. It features an LCD screen that’s the same size and resolution as last year’s G4 Plus — 5.5 inches and Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). It’s got wider-than-average viewing angles, too.

The G5’s 5.5-inch screen size affords decent screen real estate without sacrificing compactness.

The phone is responsive, thanks to the 4GB of RAM and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. You get the option to choose between 32 and 64GB of internal storage, and it’s expandable via a MicroSD card slot.

In our testing, the Snapdragon 625 zipped through day-to-day tasks like a pro. Save the occasional stutter when swiping between the home screen and the Moto G5’s built-in Google Now feature, it didn’t exhibit lag or hiccups. Apps launched almost instantaneously, and no number of Chrome tabs, open Word documents, lengthy emails, and high-resolution PDFs slowed it down.

The benchmarks bore that out. The Moto G5 Plus scored 463 in 3D Mark’s Sling Shot Extreme test, ahead of Huawei’s Honor 6X (which scored 378) and last year’s Moto G4 Plus (384). It scored an 803 and 63,190 in Geekbench 4 and Antutu, respectively, well behind flagships like Lenovo’s Phab 2 Pro (3,176 in Geekbench 4) and the OnePlus T3 (144,131). But that’s to be expected – the Phab 2 Pro and OnePlus T3 sport Qualcomm’s newer, more powerful 800 series processors.

Typical battery life

Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 625 is one of its most power-efficient processors yet, but Motorola is taking no chances. It packed the G5 Plus with a 3,000mAh removable battery, which lasts roughly a day, give or take a few hours.

More: Lenovo gives cheap phone buyers a choice by splitting the Moto G in three

An especially hectic afternoon of back-and-forth emailing, messaging, and browsing with Chrome drained it to about 30 percent by 9 p.m. A second, lighter workday of browsing social media, music streaming, and reading news got it down to 50 percent. Based on our testing of the G5 Plus, most people should be able to eke out a day and a half.

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

The G5 Plus doesn’t take long to charge, thanks to Motorola’s proprietary TurboPower technology, which the company claims can supply up to 80 percent battery in 35 minutes of charging. Rapid charging tech isn’t as uncommon as it used to be — LG’s G6 and HTC’s U Ultra support it — but it’s still a relative rarity among budget phones, and a major plus for the G5 Plus.

Another cool feature is near-field communication, or NFC. Motorola made the bizarre decision to omit the tech from last year’s G4 Plus, but atoned for that mistake this time around. That means Android Pay, Google’s payments platform that lets you complete transactions by tapping in-store terminals, will work just fine.

Unfortunately, the G5’s sound system doesn’t exhibit the same level of improvement. It consists of a single speaker that doubles as the phone’s earpiece. The quality is a bit better than last year’s model. It’s less prone to distortion at high frequencies, especially in acoustic tracks, but we found it equally tinny and lacking in bass. Suffice it to say, you’re better off picking up a pair of earbuds or headphones.

A solid camera

The G5 Plus’ camera packs an impressive collection of tech. Motorola outfitted the f/1.7 aperture, 12-megapixel sensor with phase detection autofocus, laser autofocus, and dual-LED dual tone flash.

With good lighting, the G5 Plus held its own against the competition, and was comparable with other budget phones like the ZTE Blade V8 Pro. We were especially impressed by the sensor’s color reproduction, which seemed a lot more accurate to our eyes than the sometimes oversaturated Blade V8 Pro’s camera. Images tended toward the cooler end of the color spectrum — the G5 Plus rendered our office carpet a little grayer than the Blade V8 Pro, for example — but skin, skies, and street corners came out crisp, bright, and clear.

Low light was a different story. The G5 Plus struggled to make out subjects indoors in our testing, and had trouble resolving fine details and shadows in our office’s fluorescent lighting. Shots in a dim storage closet turned out particularly disappointing, with enough noise and grain to render them pretty much unusable.

When it came to videos, the G5 Plus’ handily outdid its predecessor. It’s capable of shooting in 4K at 30 frames per second (FPS), an improvement over the G4 Plus’s 1080p cam. But we were most impressed with the G5 Plus’s auto-stabilization, which smoothed out shakiness almost as well as Google’s Pixel phone.

The G5 Plus’s wide-angle front camera is a solid performer, too. Selfies taken with the G5 Plus were detailed, sharp, and free of obvious grain.

The Moto G5 Plus’s camera app offers hasn’t changed much from the G4 — you can toggle things like high-dynamic range, flash, and an automatic timer. With Quick Capture enabled, two quick flicks of your wrist will launch the camera app, and two subsequent flicks switch between the front and rear camera.

A manual exposure setting lets you adjust the amount of light the G5 Plus’s sensor lets in, and what’s neat is the built-in image recognition technology recognizes barcodes and QR codes in pictures.

Close to stock software

While some smartphone makers prefer to shovel third-party apps and bloatware on users, Motorola continues the trend of offering a barebones experience, akin to stock Android.

More: Motorola Moto G review

Any changes Motorola has made are genuinely useful. Moto Display, a tweak of Android’s ambient display feature that lights up your phone’s lock screen when a message or call comes in, lets you preview notifications by tapping and dragging them downward, or dismiss them by swiping left or right.

Motorola’s other contribution — Moto Actions — offers gesture-based shortcuts for launching apps and triggering settings. You can make a tomahawk-like chopping gesture to turn the flashlight on or off, and swipe up to shrink the screen for one-handed use.

Motorola also fixed a major niggle we had with last year’s Moto G4 Plus: The fingerprint sensor’s relative uselessness. Despite its prominent position below the screen, you couldn’t use it as a home button — the G4 Plus’s onscreen buttons were the only way to navigate through apps and menus.

The G5 Plus, in contrast, offers a programmable button that ties those functions to swipes and taps. A leftward swipe replaces a back button; a rightward swipe opens a list of recent apps; and a press and hold locks the phone.

Pricing and availability

Motorola adopted a confusing launch strategy for the G5 Plus.

In Europe, it’s launching the lower-end G5 alongside the G5 Plus. The screen is smaller than the G5 Plus, coming in at 5 inches, and the Snapdragon 430 and 2GB of RAM are a step down. The G5 sports a smaller 2,800mAh battery, lacks NFC, and only comes in a 32GB storage option.

The G5 Plus’ camera struggles indoors, but is plenty capable in daylight.

If you’re able to choose between the G5 and G5 Plus, we heartily recommend the G5 Plus. It’s got a superior camera, better autofocus, faster processor, and NFC — features that make it more than worth the premium.

In the U.S., Motorola isn’t selling the G5. Instead, it’s offering two versions of the G5 Plus: A $230 model with 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM, and a $280 model with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The hardware is otherwise identical.

It’s a judgment call between the two. If you want the lowest price and are willing to make do with a slightly slower phone, the 32GB G5 Plus is the obvious call. If you’re desperate for the extra storage or can’t browse the web with fewer than a dozen open tabs, you’ll come to appreciate the $280’s upgrades. We think the upgrade is worth it.

Lenovo Moto G5 Plus Compared To

Xiaomi Mi5S Plus

ZTE Axon 7 mini

Xiaomi Mi Mix

Huawei Mate 9

Meizu Pro 6

Huawei Honor 8

Nextbit Robin

Huawei Honor 7

Huawei P8

Motorola Droid Turbo

Sony Xperia Z3

HTC Desire Eye

Motorola Moto X (2014)

Sony Xperia Z2

LG G2

Warranty information

The Moto G5 Plus comes with a standard 12-month warranty that covers any damage that occurs as the result of a manufacturing defect. As is the industry norm, you’re on your own when it comes to accidental damage. Motorola offers a premium option, Motorola Care Accidental Protection, that includes coverage of additional mechanical failure and accidental damage (e.g., water damage and broken screens). It’s available for $70 for 15 months or $100 for 24 months). Separately, it offers an extended service plan for $20.

Our Take

The G4 Plus was one of our favorite budget phones, and the G5 Plus meets the high bar set by its predecessor — mostly. In a market filled with low-cost competitors that match — and in some cases best — the G5 Plus’s design, camera, sound, and processor, it’s not quite as compelling as it once was.

Is there a better alternative?

Possibly. The Moto G5 Plus’ main selling point is the nearly stock Android software experience. Couple that with solid specs, camera, and day-long battery life — you’ll find that the G5 Plus may be tough to beat.

Still, If you prefer nicer design over near-stock Android, there are two great alternatives: the Honor 6X and the Axon 7 Mini. Huawei’s Honor 6X boasts an all-metal design, a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, a dual camera setup, and a 3,340mAh battery — all for $250. ZTE’s $300 Axon 7 Mini, meanwhile, also has a gorgeous all-metal design, a Full HD display, 16-megapixel camera, and Hi-Fi stereo speakers.

The DT Accessory Pack

LK HTC U Ultra case

$8

Avidet HTC U Ultra case

$7.59

amFilm HTC U Ultra screen protector

$8

If you miss the old grippy Moto G4 design, you’re in luck. The $230 ZTE Blade V8 Pro is another solid budget option that looks just like it. It has a 5.5-inch, Full HD screen, Snapdragon 625 chip, and dual 13-megapixel rear cameras that can create fun images with bokeh effects.

How long will it last?

The G5 Plus should last about two years. In terms of software updates, Motorola used to be very reliable — even with monthly security patches — but it has fallen back a bit under Lenovo. The company chose not to update the 2014 Moto X and 2015 and 2014 Moto E to Marshmallow – even though the newest of the bunch was less than eight months old. In July, it refused to commit to Google’s security patches – monthly updates that secure Android against newly discovered exploits, malware, and viruses.

To be fair, Motorola announced that 15 of its phones would be updated to 7.0 Nougat by the end of this year, and it has a better reputation than ZTE or Honor for timely updates. But know that if you pick up a G5 Plus, it might be a while before it gets Android O.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Moto G5 Plus is a fine budget phone, but the competition has never been tighter. Take a look at the range of similar options from the likes of Huawei and ZTE.

Still,  if you’re looking for a phone that does everything “well enough” on stock Android, the Moto G5 Plus remains your best bet.

August Home becomes the most flexible voice-controlled smart lock

Why it matters to you

Users no longer have to choose their smart lock based off their voice-control platform of choice.

The appeal of a smart lock becomes evident the moment a user crawls into bed and realizes they forgot to lock the front door. With the addition of modern voice control platforms, this is even easier.

August Home, known for their smart locks and smart home access services, announced that its Smart Lock now works with the Google Assistant on Google Home. This addition makes August the first smart lock on the market to support all three major voice-control platforms. Whether a user prefers Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant, the August Smart Lock will be compatible.

More: Hey Siri, lock my door! How the ‘August’ secured my smart apartment

“Voice control continues to be a significant driver of smart home adoption and the Google Assistant on Google Home is a key partner in delivering a great user experience,” says August Home CEO Jason Johnson. “Today users can lock and check the status of their lock using the Google Assistant. We are also working with the Google team to develop a safe and secure way to allow unlocking via Google Assistant.”

On its own, the August Smart Lock allows users to lock or unlock their door with their personal smartphone. Additionally, virtual keys can be created for guests and an activity log keeps track of anyone who activates the device all day, every day. By pairing it with the Smart Keypad, owners can come up with unique entry codes for family, friends, and service providers. Completing the ultimate home access setup is the Doorbell Cam. Whether at the home or not, users can see and speak with visitors at the door using their personal smartphone.

Normally available for $230 on August’s website, the Smart Lock sells on Amazon for the discounted price of $180. The unit comes in both dark gray and silver variations.

August Home becomes the most flexible voice-controlled smart lock

Why it matters to you

Users no longer have to choose their smart lock based off their voice-control platform of choice.

The appeal of a smart lock becomes evident the moment a user crawls into bed and realizes they forgot to lock the front door. With the addition of modern voice control platforms, this is even easier.

August Home, known for their smart locks and smart home access services, announced that its Smart Lock now works with the Google Assistant on Google Home. This addition makes August the first smart lock on the market to support all three major voice-control platforms. Whether a user prefers Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant, the August Smart Lock will be compatible.

More: Hey Siri, lock my door! How the ‘August’ secured my smart apartment

“Voice control continues to be a significant driver of smart home adoption and the Google Assistant on Google Home is a key partner in delivering a great user experience,” says August Home CEO Jason Johnson. “Today users can lock and check the status of their lock using the Google Assistant. We are also working with the Google team to develop a safe and secure way to allow unlocking via Google Assistant.”

On its own, the August Smart Lock allows users to lock or unlock their door with their personal smartphone. Additionally, virtual keys can be created for guests and an activity log keeps track of anyone who activates the device all day, every day. By pairing it with the Smart Keypad, owners can come up with unique entry codes for family, friends, and service providers. Completing the ultimate home access setup is the Doorbell Cam. Whether at the home or not, users can see and speak with visitors at the door using their personal smartphone.

Normally available for $230 on August’s website, the Smart Lock sells on Amazon for the discounted price of $180. The unit comes in both dark gray and silver variations.

Make it so: Honor spaces out with teasers for April 5 smartphone launch

Why it matters to you

Honor, the smartphone brand that combines high-tech cool with budget-friendly prices, has a new phone coming on April 5, and it may have a VR twist

Smartphone brand Honor has a new phone coming on April 5, and it has gone mad with space-themed teaser images and videos, which at first glance don’t give much away about the identity of the new device. However, dig a little deeper and there are some hints at what Honor is preparing for us.

The event will take place on April 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the U.K., which translates to 2:30 a.m. PT and 05:30 a.m. ET in the United States, suggesting that whatever we’ll see will only get a European launch for now. Honor is holding the event online, which it calls a, “virtual launch event,” and tells us we should prepare ourselves for a, “experience a new dimension of smartphone.”

More: Our review of the Honor 6X

A series of follow-up tweets through the HonorUK Twitter account built on the space theme introduced with the first teaser, which was filled with planets on the background, with the outline of a smartphone body overlaid on images of galaxies. The new phone will be, “ready to push the limits,” according to one message, while another poses the cryptic question:

I am fast, I exceed my limits and speed of light is my second name…. What am I? 5th of April > https://t.co/qpsuVKefog #NewHonorSmartphone pic.twitter.com/o6UF5Savfe

— Honor UK (@UKHonor) March 28, 2017

Beware, the crazy animation in the tweet may have bring on a seizure before you can work out the answer.

Apparently all will be revealed on April 5, and while there is still plenty of time for additional teasers and some well-placed leaks, we can take a wild guess and speculate Honor will launch the Honor V9 in Europe. The phone was recently announced in China, where it’s sold with a VR headset. Although the phone has Android 7.0 Nougat installed, it won’t have Google Daydream support in China; but that may not be the case in Europe. All the talk of extra dimensions and virtual launch events in the teasers certainly points us in that direction, and we’re excited at the chance of a really affordable Daydream-ready phone.

Nothing’s certain yet, although a poll on Honor’s official Facebook page for the April 5 event agrees. The Honor V9 is at the top of its list, beating the also highly desirable Honor Magic into a distant second place. We’ll keep you updated on the event right here.