Google tweaks the Pixel C’s interface to match its smartphones

Google will probably put the promising but ultimately ill-fated Pixel C tablet out to pasture before too long — it’s been on sale for a year and a half now, after all. But that hasn’t stopped the company from giving the device some attention in Android 7.1.2; users on Reddit as well as 9to5Google have both confirmed the new software update contains a bunch of tweaks for the Pixel C interface. Chief among those is a new multitasking view designed for the tablet’s bigger screen. Instead of the scrolling list of open apps, the Pixel C app switcher now displays a grid of your eight most recent programs.

The rest of the tweaks here are meant to unify the interface with Google’s own Pixel smartphone. That means rounded app icons abound for Google’s own apps as well as third-party offerings that have updated their look. There’s no more “all apps” button at the bottom of the tablet screen; instead, you’ll swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see every app you have installed.

The last notable change is that the Pixel’s weather and date widget is now in the top right corner of the screen. The Google search bar is gone, replaced by the “G” logo in the top left that you can tap or swipe across to get to the search app. Unfortunately, in classic Android tablet fashion, tapping that new weather widget brings you to a weather page that’s only viewable in portrait mode — super annoying if you have your tablet docked to its keyboard in landscape mode.

The update has been available to those installed in the Android beta program for a while now, but it should be available to all users as of today. Go over to the settings app and check the “about” menu for the system update.

Source: Reddit, 9to5Google

Tesla’s SUV demand is catching up to its sedan

You’d think that Tesla would sell far fewer units of its pricier, slightly frumpier-looking Model X SUV than its mainstay Model S sedan, but that’s not the case these days. The electric car maker has revealed its production levels for the first quarter of 2017, and it’s apparent that the gap has closed dramatically in recent months. Tesla delivered about 11,550 Model X vehicles at the start of the year, or just 1,900 shy of the 13,450 Model S cars that found owners in the same period. It’s a stark contrast to a year earlier, when Tesla supplied 12,420 sedans and just 2,400 SUVs — buyers clearly are clearly willing to trade a bit of cash and style for some extra capacity.

The kicker: the gap might have been even narrower in ideal conditions. Tesla notes that there were “severe” Model X part shortages in the first two months of 2017, and that it just didn’t have the time to ship every last example to customers in the period. To put it another way: expect a big bump in Model X numbers during the spring.

As it stands, this was still a banner quarter for Tesla. The company’s rapidly increasing production goals led it to set yet another delivery record, with 69 percent more EVs trading hands versus a year earlier. With that said, there’s just a few months to go before Tesla starts Model 3 production. However well the Model S and X are doing right now, they’re going to seem like small potatoes before long.

Via: The Verge

Source: Tesla

Soccer icon Maradona threatens to sue Konami

You may have been excited to see sports legend Diego Maradona in Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2017, but the superstar himself is… less than thrilled. Maradona has threatened to sue Konami for allegedly using his likeness in the game without permission. We’ve reached out to Konami for its side of the conversation, but it’s reasonable to presume that this could get messy if a lawsuit goes ahead. That seems likely when Maradona’s lawyer, Matias Morla, has vowed to “crack down” on the PES2017 developer.

Video game licenses for athletes have been a thorny subject for years, and it’s seldom just a matter of signing an agreement and calling it a day. You frequently have to worry about faces, names and jersey numbers as separate concerns, and a misstep can cost you dearly. Even using tattoos without permission can get you into trouble. It’s possible that Konami thought it was abiding by the rules and still didn’t get Maradona’s full permission, assuming this is anything more than a simple misunderstanding.

Source: Diego Maradona (Facebook), Matias Morla (Twitter)

Apple hopes to sell premium TV channels in a bundle

Apple’s attempts to offer its own TV service haven’t panned out. However, it appears to have a Plan B: offer a bundle that includes just a handful of channels you can already watch on its devices. Recode sources understand that Apple is pitching a deal that would offer HBO, Showtime and Starz for one price. It’s not certain whether or not you’d get a discount over the $35 per month it costs to subscribe to each network individually, but the focus would be on convenience. There’s even talk of Apple potentially selling the bundle as a stand-alone product — presumably, as more than just a collection of existing apps.

The tech giant doesn’t have any agreements at this stage, according to the tipsters. None of the involved companies have commented so far. With that in mind, it’d be easier to clinch this deal than Apple’s reported previous plans, which had it working on a many-channel service akin to PlayStation Vue or Sling TV. It’s simpler to negotiate with a smaller number of providers, of course, but all three are already embracing internet-only TV. It’d be much harder to press for deals from less internet-friendly networks that are more likely to dig in their heels.

Source: Recode

Apple Could Offer HBO, Showtime, and Starz Channels as ‘Premium TV Bundle’

Apple is considering offering HBO, Showtime, and Starz television channels in a combined “premium TV bundle” to be delivered to viewers via Apple TV and iOS devices, according to a new report on Sunday.

Apple already enables users to buy the named channels individually, but according to a source who spoke to Recode, Apple has approached the three networks about rolling them up into a single paid package similar to how conventional TV operators market their channels.

However, unlike paid TV operators like Charter, which usually require consumers to subscribe to a basic range of TV channels before offering a premium bundle, Apple wants to provide the package as an upfront standalone option for all its consumers.

Apple has yet to nail down a deal with any of the networks, according to industry sources, while representatives from HBO, Stars, and Showtime declined to comment on the report. Apple also didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Apple currently offers HBO for $15 a month, Showtime for $11 a month, and Stars for $9 a month, but Recode had no information on the price of any possible bundle package.

Apple’s attempts to set up a traditional streaming bundle of TV channels have come to nothing in recent years, despite rival companies like Google and Hulu announcing plans of their own.

In 2015, Apple was in talks for a streaming television service that would bundle several popular live channels and on-demand television at a price point of approximately $30 per month, but Apple canned the project after being unable to establish the necessary deals because content providers were reluctant to unbundle their channels.

The company’s assertive negotiation tactics with cable providers have also been blamed, with Apple executives accused of making demands networks aren’t prepared to meet. Content providers meanwhile have been reluctant to agree to Apple’s terms for fear of potentially compromising their traditional revenue streams.

Apart from its TV subscription service ambitions, Apple is said to be building a “significant” business centered around creating original, scripted television shows and possibly even movies, for a possible launch by the end of 2017.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums

German court: Rat out your adult children’s illegal downloads, or pay the fine yourself

Why it matters to you

You may love your family members, but do you love them enough to pay their fines for illegal downloads?

Your little rascals are your responsibility, even after they’re not so little, a German court rules, and that applies in every sense of the word. In this digital age, there are quite a few senses, perhaps the most costly being our kiddos’ penchant for downloading computer games … illegally. Late last week, the European nation’s top court determined that parents must either spill the beans on their adult children’s wrongdoings when it comes to illegal downloads, or pay the price themselves.

The decision, which places obligation to the law above obligation to family, came after a particular case in which members of the same clan said that being related to one another meant that they wouldn’t have to testify against each other. Germany has now voiced its disagreement. Moving forward, parents are under a legal obligation to alert authorities if their kids have illegally downloaded content — be it movies, music, or games — over the family’s internet connection.

More: Breaking the law not your thing? Here are 10 sites for free, legal music downloads

Copyright law is serious business, clearly.

Should parents neglect to hold up their end of the bargain, they’ll have to pay the price. Should the children be caught in their wrongdoing, it is the parents who will be asked to pay the fine, even if the child in question is legally an adult (over 18 years of age).

That said, state prosecutor Christian Rohnke assured nervous Germans that no one will have to “deliver their children at knifepoint.” To be clear, it isn’t automatically the case that parents will end up paying for their children’s mistakes — rather, should an illegal download be discovered in a household’s browsing history, the name on the internet contract will be asked to pay the fine for the crime if he or she does not want to reveal which member of the household is to blame.

So heads up, German parents. We know you love your kids, but are you willing to cough up for their downloads?

Google Pixel vs. Samsung Galaxy S8: Which is the better Android phone?

Well folks, the wait is over. Samsung has finally taken the wraps off of the long-awaited Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, two phones that are tipped to be the most powerful and stylish phones of 2017. As the powerhouses they are, however, they’re sure to go up against some competition — like, for example, the much-loved Google Pixel.

More: Everything we know about Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus pricing and availability

The Google Pixel may be a few months old now, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t hold its own. How do the two phones compare? We put their specs head to head to find out.

Specs

Google Pixel

Samsung Galaxy S8

Size
143.8 x 69.5 x 7.3mm (5.6 x 2.7 x 0.2-0.3-inches)
148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0mm (5.9 x 2.7 x 0.3-inches)
Weight
143g (5.0 oz)
155g (5.5oz)
Screen
5.0-inch AMOLED
5.8-inch AMOLED
Resolution
1,080 x 1,920 pixels (441 pixels per inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (570ppi)
OS
Android 7.1 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Storage
32/128GB
64GB
MicroSD card slot
No
Yes
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Samsung Exynos 9 Series 8895 (International)
RAM
4GB
4GB
Connectivity
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
Camera
12MP rear, 8MP front
12MP rear with OIS, 8MP front
Video
2,160p at 30fps
2,160p at 30fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 4.2
Yes, version 5.0
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, iris scanner
Water resistant
No
IP68
Battery
2,770mAh
3,000mAh
Ports
USB-C, headphone jack
USB-C, headphone jack
Marketplace
Google Play
Google Play
Color offerings
Very Silver, Quite Black, Really Blue
Black, silver, orchid grey, blue (international), gold (international)
Availability
Google Play, Verizon
April 21
Price
Starts at $650
Starts at $720
DT review
4 out of 5 stars
First take

In the specs department, there’s unsurprisingly a clear winner.

When the Google Pixel was released, it featured a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, a chip that was the best choice available to Google at the time. Months later, Qualcomm’s out with a new, better chip: The Snapdragon 835. We don’t yet know exactly how much better the Snapdragon 835 performs compared to the Snapdragon 821, but early benchmark results indicate the new chip is a good 20 percent or more than its predecessor.

Processor performance isn’t the only thing to consider here — but it is perhaps most important. Both phones offer 4GB of RAM. but when it comes to internal storage the Google Pixel offers options of either 32GB or 128GB, while you only have a choice of 64GB on the Galaxy S8 sits in at 64GB. The base model of the Galaxy S8 offers more than the base model of the Pixel, but what’s more is the Galaxy S8 offers a MicroSD card slot, so you can expand on your storage by up to 256GB.

Considering the fact the Galaxy S8 has a much better processor, the better performing device is unsurprisingly the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8

The best laptop you can buy

If you’re looking to buy a laptop right now, the answer is Dell’s XPS 13. It’s light, portable, powerful, beautiful, and reasonably affordable. We recommend it not only over every other Windows notebook, but also Apple’s MacBook line and Google’s Chromebooks.

Still, if you insist, we have picked out the best MacBook for MacOS die-hards, the best Chromebook for those who desire an affordable laptop with a super-light OS, and the best laptop if you’ve $600 or less to spend. We’ve also selected the best 15-inch laptop — though it, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the Dell XPS 15.

Our pick

Dell XPS 13

Why should you buy this: It’s portable, fast, attractive, and reasonably priced.

Our Score

The best

Dell XPS 13 (Kaby Lake)

Portable, powerful, and beautiful, nothing offers the same value as Dell’s flagship XPS 13.

$1,616.99 from Dell

$1,147.11 from Amazon

Who’s it for: Everyone except gamers.

How much will it cost: $800 to $1,600

Why we picked the Dell XPS 13

Dell’s XPS 13 blends a metallic exterior with carbon-fiber interior. It’s a look that’s premium, yet inviting. The XPS 13 is the kind of cool new toy that you’ll be itching to show everyone willing to look.

The super-thin InfinityEdge bezel is another highlight. Most laptops have a half-inch to an inch of plastic surrounding the display on all sides. The XPS 13 has less than a quarter of an inch. That’s as functional as it is beautiful, as it makes the system smaller and lighter.

Does that make the XPS 13 too small? Nope. The touchpad is as large as the competition and the keyboard is a breeze to use. The system even squeezes in a large battery, which means most models can last a full day before needing a charge (the top-shelf Core i7 model with a 3,200 x 1,800 panel is borderline, though it can manage eight hours if you’re easy on it).

There is just one oddity you should know about — the web cam. The bezels are so thin there’s no room for it, so it’s below the display, rather than above. That makes for an awkward angle. Most people won’t care, but it will bug you if you video conference while traveling.

Cutting edge 7th-generation Kaby Lake Core i3, i5, and i7 processors are available along with a selection of solid state hard drives and up to 16GB of RAM. The Core i7 models don’t have the Core i7-6500U found in most expensive ultrabooks, but instead opts for the 7th-generation Core i7-7500U, which boasts quicker integrated graphics and a higher maximum clock speed.

But the XPS 13 doesn’t earn the “best laptop” title because of its premium configuration. The laptop starts at just $800, and can be handsomely equipped for $1,000. These entry-level versions don’t have the fastest available hardware, but they retain the same design, features, and battery life as the most expensive. Nothing else offers the same overall value, and many competitors feel hopelessly out of date when placed next to Dell’s flagship.

Before buying, be sure to read our XPS 13 buying guide.

Our full review

The best Mac

MacBook Pro 13-inch (without Touch Bar)

Why should you buy this: You refuse to use Windows.

The best Mac

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (without Touch Bar)

Apple’s notebook will appeal to commuters, Apple adherents, and anyone who despises the finicky touchpads on Windows PCs.

$1,499.00 from Apple

Who’s it for: Anyone who refuses to use Windows.

How much will it cost: $1,500

Why we picked the MacBook Pro 13-inch (without Touch Bar)

Most people are looking at a Mac for one of two reasons. Either you’re a fan of MacOS and refuse to use Windows, or you’re attracted to Apple’s brand and want to buy one based on the company’s reputation.

If you’re in the first group, then nothing we say will sway you. In that case, we recommend you purchase the MacBook Pro 13 without Touch Bar. Why not one of the more expensive models with the highly-anticipated OLED Touch Bar where the function keys used to reside? In our opinion, the Touch Bar just doesn’t add enough functionality, certainly not enough to justify an extra $300 to an already high price tag.

If you’re looking at a Mac based on its reputation, we suggest you reconsider. The company has allowed its computers to fall by the wayside. All Mac models equip Intel processors that are one or two generations behind the latest, as even the recently updated MacBook Pro line features processors from Intel’s 6th-generation lineup, not the new 7th-gen. MacOS is a fine operating system that does its job, but we think Windows 10 is even better. Finally, Apple’s laptops are much too expensive for the hardware they offer.

Apple does have one big benefit — service. The company tends to cover defective hardware that others might refuse to service, and you can take your Mac to a retail store if you need help. This might sway users who are particularly concerned with potential problems. But a Mac is not bombproof, and most modern laptops can easily last five years. We don’t think fear of an ambiguous future problem that may or may not happen should be what guides your buying decision.

Our full review (with Touch Bar)

The best Chromebook

Acer Chromebook 15

Why should you buy this: You want a nice, barebones laptop for less.

Our Score

The best Chromebook

Acer Chromebook 15

Looking for a cheap laptop to use as a second PC? You can’t go wrong with the Acer.

Who’s it for: Students, people who need only basic functionality, anyone who wants a cheap laptop to use as a second PC.

How much will it cost: $200 to $300

Why we picked the Acer Chromebook 15

Chromebooks — laptops that run Google’s Chrome OS — have become a popular budget laptop over the last few years, and we quite like them at Digital Trends. The Acer Chromebook 15 is a great example of their strengths. It has a 1080p display, fast Intel processor, and plenty of memory, all starting at $300 when the product first came out. No Windows notebook priced at $300 comes close. And today you can get it for less even than that.

If you’re looking for a budget laptop, Chromebooks are a good choice. But these systems rarely sell for north of $500, with the obvious exception of Google’s Chromebook Pixel, which is too niche for us to recommend. The price brings limitations, of course. You won’t find a Chromebook with a quad-core processor, a fast solid state drive, or an optional discrete GPU.

Even if Chromebooks were equipped to compete with the best laptops, the operating system would hold them back. Chrome OS, which is designed around Google’s Chrome Web browser, is wonderfully simple and intuitive, but it can’t run “normal” software. It only runs extensions and Web apps. So while you can access Word Online, for example, you could never install Word.

This, of course, means you’re reliant on Wi-Fi access, which isn’t a problem in most situations but becomes a very big problem if the Internet cuts out. Google has upgraded Chrome OS over time to combat this. Now, you can download your Gmail inbox and Google Drive content for offline access, and apps have offline modes for use away from Wi-Fi.

Our full review

The best 2-in-1 laptop

HP Spectre x360

Why should you buy this: You want a great laptop and a good tablet.

Product Card: The HP Spectre x360 is a 2-in-1 without compromises, combining stellar performance with a flexible, premium-built chassis.

Our Score

The best 2-in-1 laptop

HP Spectre x360 13-w023dx

The HP Spectre x360 is a 2-in-1 without compromises, combining stellar performance with a flexible, premium-built chassis.

$1,099.99 from Best Buy

Who’s it for: Anyone who needs versatility on top of performance.

How much will this cost: Starts at $1,050

Why we picked the HP Spectre x360

2-in-1 laptops are still something of an acquired taste, but if you’re not sure about laptops-as-tablets, the HP Spectre x360 might change your mind. First and foremost it’s a stylish, lightweight, and powerful ultra-portable laptop.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the tablet mode. The HP Spectre x360 is not a great tablet, if only because it doesn’t quite fold flat against itself and is just a tad too heavy to use as a tablet for any extended period of time. The Spectre is a laptop first and tablet second, you’re not going to be getting something as comfortable to use as, say, a Microsoft Surface or an Apple iPad, but being able to flip the screen around and use the Spectre as a tablet is a nice touch.

Think of it as a really versatile ultra-portable laptop, like a Swiss army knife with an HP logo.

Coming in at just over half an inch thick, it’s not the smallest laptop in its class, but it’s just as thin as the Lenovo Yoga 910, and a little bit lighter at 2.85 pounds. In other words, it’s very small. Toss it in a bag and you’d never notice the extra weight.

The form factor is particularly impressive when you consider the kind of power it packs. There are three configurations with three different price points, starting at $1,050, and topping out at $1,500, but each one has a 7th-generation Kaby Lake processor under the hood. The unit we reviewed is available for $1,300, and has a 7th-generation Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

That extra performance really shows. Not only did it perform spectacularly well in our benchmarks, it turned out excellent performance as an everyday workhorse. It’s quick, snappy, and versatile, everything you could want out of an ultra-portable laptop.

Our full review

The best budget laptop

Asus Zenbook UX330UA

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Why should you buy this: You want an affordable PC that’s also a joy to use.

Our Score

The best budget laptop

Asus Zenbook UX330UA-AH54

The Zenbook starts at $700 and has fantastic specs — far better than what you’ll find from other competitors.

$699.00 from Amazon

Who’s it for: Everyone except gamers, other power users.

How much will it cost: $600 to $800

Why we picked the Asus Zenbook UX330UA

The Dell XPS 13 starts at $800. We don’t think that’s a lot for a laptop, but the world obviously disagrees; the average selling price of new laptops has hovered around $600 for years.

One option is to watch out for a sale. You shouldn’t have to wait long. Refurbished models have sold for as little as $470, and new systems sometimes dip near the $600 mark. Keep an eye out for coupons on Dell’s site and for sales at major retailers including not just the usual suspects but also the Microsoft Store, which carries a selection of the best Windows laptops.

If that doesn’t work, then we suggest the Asus Zenbook UX330UA, another ultrabook we’ve awarded an Editor’s Choice. The Zenbook isn’t as powerful as the Dell XPS 13, and doesn’t emulate the Dell’s strikingly thin bezels. But otherwise, it’s an incredible machine.

And its value can’t be beat. The base model, which is routinely priced at $700 on Amazon, has a 7th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, eight gigabytes of RAM, and a 256GB solid state drive. That’s twice the memory and storage of the $800 Dell XPS 13 — and far better than what you’ll find in other competitors. We’re not sure how Asus makes money off it.

Our full review

The best large display

Dell XPS 15

Why should you buy this: You want a sleek PC, but also need excellent performance.

Our Score

The best large display

Dell XPS 15

Beyond great a quick CPU and powerful graphics card, the Dell XPS 15 can be kitted out stellar 4K display.

$999.99 from Dell

Who’s it for: Power users, and those who want a big, beautiful display

How much will this cost: $1,000 to $1,650

Why we picked the Dell XPS 15

Okay, the XPS 13 is great, but maybe you want a larger display. You’re not alone. Sales figures have continually shown 15-inch systems beating their smaller rivals. We think this is partially because good, small laptops aren’t cheap — but some people just want a bigger display. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Fortunately, Dell also has the XPS 15. It’s great for all the same reasons the XPS 13 is great and, because it’s larger, can be optioned with the fastest hardware available today including a quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics, and a 4K display. It’s easily the best all-around 15-inch laptop on the market today.

The XPS 15 starts at $1,000, though, which is a steep sum. Is there anything more affordable?

There is, but nothing stands out as the clear winner. Acer’s Aspire E15 is affordable and powerful, but not attractive. Asus’ X555UB-NH51 looks and feels more luxurious, but is priced higher without a performance bump. Dell’s Inspiron 15 Gaming is a powerful do-it-all entry that can even serve as a budget gaming laptop, but its display is disappointing. Acer’s Chromebook 15 can’t be beat in value, but you have to be alright living with Chrome OS.

Yes, that’s a lot of options. Picking a budget 15-inch is a tough choice, but if you’re tired of looking and just want a name, go with the Acer Aspire E15 (make sure you buy one with a 1080p display). It’s ugly, but it’ll do the job well enough at an extremely low price.

Our full review

Should you buy now, or wait?

Intel has recently announced its new 7th-generation processors. If possible, it’s a good idea to wait until you see an update to the 7th-gen hardware before buying the particular model you have your eye on.

But it’s not critical. The new generation isn’t that much quicker than the previous version, and the battery life gain in 7th-gen is minimal. If you can buy a 6th-generation model at a slight discount, or you have reason to believe the 7th-gen update won’t come soon, go ahead and make a purchase.

AMD also has new hardware available. While we don’t generally recommend AMD over Intel in laptops, the company’s APUs can make sense in some affordable systems. Keep and eye out for the new chips, which are detailed in this post.

How we test

You’ve read our laptop reviews. You’ve read our conclusions. And now you’re wondering how we came to them.

Good question. Reviews often lack context, which is evident in the wildly different scores some laptops receive from different publications. Conflicting opinions can actually make buying a laptop more difficult if the review’s criteria isn’t made clear.

Allow us to lift the veil. Here we’ll explain the benchmarks we use for objective testing and the perspective from which we approach subjective topics. We don’t expect everyone to agree with our opinions, but we hope that sharing our process will leave you better equipped to decide what laptop best fits your needs.

Android 7.1.2 rolling out to some Pixel C and Nexus Player users

Android 7.1.2 brings the Pixel Launcher to the Pixel C and it’s apparently begun a wider rollout.

Along with the Nexus Player, people have reported to Android Police that they are seeing the update today to bring the two devices up to speed with the newest version of Android. There have been scattered reports of people getting the build on their tablet in the past days, but this seems to be less scattered and more focused.

A rollout right about now matches well with word from the Canadian carrier Rogers who has plans to push a substantial update on April 3 for the Pixel phones. We were told the 7.1.2 update would contain “bug fixes and optimizations, along with a small number of enhancements for carriers and users” and Rogers says their April 3 update will enable VoLTE and bring the latest updates.

Android 7.1.2 may not be chock full of features for most of us, but it’s great to see it on the way after an apparently successful beta period. And for Rogers customers, they’ll have a little more to look forward to in the near future.

Android Nougat

• Android 7.0 Nougat: Everything you need to know
• Will my phone get Android Nougat?
• Google Pixel + Pixel XL review
• All Android Nougat news
• How to manually update your Nexus or Pixel
• Join the Discussion

Roland founder and music legend Ikutaro Kakehashi dies

It’s a tragic time for both music and technology. Ikutaro Kakehashi, best known as the founder of Roland Corporation, has died at 87. The engineer turned corporate leader got his start making electronic drums and rhythm pattern generators, but it was after he founded Roland in 1972 that he hit the big time. His company quickly became synonymous with electronic music effects, and the machines built under his watch didn’t just become popular — they changed the cultural landscape.

Electronic music, ’80s pop and hip-hop in particular owe a lot to Kakehashi’s firm. The TR-808’s unique ‘sizzling’ drum and hand clap sounds were crucial to genre-defining songs from the likes of Afrika Bambaataa and Nine Inch Nails, and it’s so iconic that artists have sometimes based their albums or even careers around it. Think 808 State, or Kanye West’s 808s and Heartbreak. And that was really just the start of Kakehashi’s biggest accomplishments.

He also got the ball rolling on MIDI, the standard that helped kickstart digital music composition. The TR-909 (the first drum machine to use MIDI) and TB-303 bass synth were crucial to modern dance music’s early days, launching genres like acid house. And many PC gamers will have a soft spot for the SC-55 Sound Canvas, the first General MIDI sound card. It was a big step toward computer-based tunes that sounded as good as what you heard from recording studios, and represented PC music’s gold standard for years.

Kakehashi gradually bowed out of his company, retiring in 2013, but not before receiving honors ranging from a Technical Grammy through to a spot on Hollywood’s Rock Walk of Fame. In some ways, those accolades almost sell him short. While Kakehashi wasn’t as singularly responsible for redefining music as someone like synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog, it’s safe to say that the industry would have gone in a very, very different direction if he hadn’t been around. He’ll be missed.

Source: BBC