Google wants to stuff another device into the next Google Home speaker

What would make Google Home better?

This is a question Google has been apparently asking itself, especially since the market is currently exploding with Alexa-powered devices from not only Amazon but just about every other third-party manufacturer out there. And, according to The Information, which talked with an unnamed source, Google has come up with a possible solution: turn Google Home into a mesh Wi-Fi router.

In other words, it wants to take Google Wifi and chuck it inside of Google Home, allowing the speaker to not only to play music and answer your questions like normal but also connect to devices around your household and boost coverage in weak spots, such as the basement. The source specifically claimed that the next Google Home model may feature a built-in Wi-Fi with mesh networking.

• What is Google Wifi and how does the mesh router work?
• What is Google Home, how does it work, and when can you buy it?

The source also mentioned that the original version of Google Wifi – Google’s existing Wi-Fi system with mesh networking – had a microphone and a speaker so that it could double as a Google Home or at least offer Home-like interactions, but the company ultimately nixed that prototype because it didn’t want to confuse consumers. Now, however, it’s considering that again as a way to one-up Amazon Echo.

There’s no word on a launch date or pricing, but we imagine the company will want to stay between the $120 cost of Google Home and the $180 cost of the full-sized Amazon Echo. However, one Google Wifi unit costs $129, so the combined price of Google Home and Google Wifi is about $250, which may be a little too high-end for people looking to equip their homes with smart speakers.

You can now get the Windows 10 Creators Update – here’s how

Although Microsoft already announced a launch date for its next major update to Windows 10, it’s decided to let users grab it sooner.

Microsoft will officially start its multi-stage rollout of the Windows 10 Creators Update starting on 11 April, but if you’re excited and want it sooner, you can now manually download it through the Update Assistant. Microsoft already announced it would allow Windows 10 users to install the new version of the OS early. Keeping its word, the company has launched the upgrade a week prior to its official release.

So, here’s how to get the Creators Update now, early.

What is the Creators Update?

Since mid 2015, we’ve had Windows 10 in our lives. Microsoft has taken a more step-by-step update stance with Windows 10, delivering major updates about once a year, starting with the Anniversary Update in 2016, and now, the Creators Update. Starting 11 April, Microsoft will rollout the free-to-download Creators Update, and it brings a variety of new features, including a 3D-focused version of the classic Paint app.

Just check out these Pocket-lint guides:

• What’s new in Windows 10 Creators Update?
• The best new features from the Creators Update

Who can install the Creators Update?

Anyone with a device running a licensed version of Windows 10 is eligible to install the Creators Update. Go here to view the specifics on Windows 10’s hardware requirements.

How can you get the Creators Update early?

Microsoft announced in a blog post that it would make the update available as a manual upgrade about a week prior to the official release. So, starting 5 April, all you have to do is go here to download the Update Assistant (if you don’t already have it), and then follow the on-screen instructions to update. It downloads a disc image (ISO file) that can be used to install Windows 10 – and it should be pretty straightforward.

Do you want to wait instead?

No problem. After 11 April, when the update is “officially” ready for your device, you’ll receive a notification asking you to review your privacy settings before downloading the update. Check out Microsoft’s blog post for more details.

Are you a Windows Insider?

If you’re already in Microsoft’s Insider Program, now is a good time to to stop receiving Insider builds. Go to the Windows Insider Program section of the Settings app. You’ll be asked if Windows should “Keep giving me builds until the next Windows release.” Select that option if you want to continue to test previews of “cumulative Updates” until 11 April. After, your system will revert to receiving stable, non-beta updates.

It’s free to be Windows Insider, and as one, you get to test future Windows updates in beta. If any of you want to become an Windows Insider, just go to Microsoft’s Windows Insider website, sign into your Microsoft account, and click Get Started.

Over 8,000 Uber, Lyft drivers fail new Massachusetts background check

More than 8,000 Uber and Lyft drivers have been denied licenses to operate in Massachusetts under a new, stricter state background check law, according to the Boston Globe. The most common reason? Issues with the driver’s license status, including suspensions.

Under the new law, which went into effect in January, drivers for ride-hailing companies must undergo a two-part background check, one from the companies and one by the state. Out of 70,789 applicants, 8.206 drivers were rejected, according to a state review. Hundreds were turned down because they had serious crimes on their record, including violent or sexual offenses. Others had drunk or reckless driving offenses. 51 applications came from alleged sex offenders.

Uber has faced criticism in the past over its handling of background checks. District attorneys in Los Angeles and San Francisco filed a civil suit against the company in 2014, claiming it failed to unearth the criminal records of 25 drivers in those areas. But, both Uber and Lyft point out that the Massachusetts background check delves much deeper into a person’s history than theirs do, which is unfair to drivers who are trying to turn their lives around.

“Under Massachusetts law, Lyft’s commercial background check provider, like all consumer reporting agencies, is legally prevented from looking back further than seven years into driver applicants’ histories,” Lyft told the Boston Globe in a statement. “The state does not face the same limitation, which likely explains why a small percentage of our drivers failed the state’s background check while passing ours.”

“Thousands of people in Massachusetts have lost access to economic opportunities as a result of a screening that includes an unfair and unjust indefinite lookback period,” Uber said in its own statement. “We have an opportunity to repair the current system in the rules process so that people who deserve to work are not denied the opportunity.”

Massachusetts is hardly the first state to push back against ride-hailing companies. Now that Uber and Lyft are becoming ubiquitous across the country, and with self-driving cars on the horizon, over 30 states have passed regulations to tackle some of the companies’ thornier issues.

Via: Cnet

Source: Boston Globe

Your Pebble watch will still work after its servers shut down

After Fitbit bought the beleaguered Pebble last November, we bid a fond (and at times bitter) farewell to the first big fitness smartwatch. Its acquisition spelled the beginning of the end for the device, given how dependent it is on cloud services. Or so it seemed: Pebble just released a final update that liberates its lingering diaspora of smartwatches from online servers, allowing folks to keep using their devices and linked smartphone apps once Fitbit finally kills its cloud component.

“For example, if a Pebble authentication server can’t be reached, the mobile apps will let Pebble devices keep working,” the company’s blog post states in the tactful hypothetical. “The login process can be skipped, apps can be side-loaded, and the latest watch firmware (including language packs) can be installed.”

iOS users can update from the App Store, while those with Android phones can download via Pebble’s beta channel, for now. (A fully updated version of the app will come soon to the Google Play Store.) Community developers still creating for the sunsetted device can add an offline mode as well as a custom boot config to point the app toward a URL of their choice for updates. Pebble hasn’t forgotten you, loyal users. What might be its last patch will keep your fitness smartwatch ticking into the uncertain, Pebble-less future.

Source: Pebble blog

Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming keyboard review

Research Center:
Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming keyboard

The PC gaming market is a huge money-maker. It’s a major component in the progression of technology, and has even become a platform for desk jockeys to transform into athletes in the virtual arena. Logitech recognizes and supports the growing professional eSports industry, and now provides a new tool for their arsenal: the Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $130.

The selling point behind Logitech’s new mechanical keyboard is speed. As we previously reported in the product announcement, the company focused on three aspects when developing the Logitech G Pro — keystroke actuation, signal processing, and sending the information through the PC’s USB port. That starts with Logitech’s in-house Romer-G mechanical switches, which promises up to 25 percent shorter and faster actuations than competing mechanical switches, and a durability of up to 70 million key presses.

Super speed with an optional scarlet backlighting

As a reminder, actuation refers to the point where the pressed key creates an electrical contact recognized by the keyboard’s processor. Thus, the key switch needs to make this happen quickly without the process feeling “mushy” to the user. Mechanical keyboards are popular with PC gamers because of their durability, their reliability, and the sense of accomplishment they offer when a key is pressed and processed on-screen.

The Romer-G switch travels 1.5mm to create the electrical contact (3.0mm total travel distance), and takes 45g of force to travel that distance. By creating a switch with a short actuation distance, Logitech is looking to shave milliseconds off the user’s input. This is backed by fast keystroke signal processing ensures the correct actuated signal is sent to the PC. Per the company, the processor can accurately grab the correct signal despite all the “chatter” and “bouncing” caused between the contacts in the switch before making contact.

This helps in online-enabled games like Counter-Strike: Global Offense and DOOM. Game servers refresh the virtual game state multiple times per second to change the environment and player actions based on the inputs of all users. Thus, if the user’s keyboard strokes are processed faster, their input might be processed by the server before other opponents using slower keyboards. Logitech claims its new keyboard is 10 milliseconds faster than Razer’s BlackWidow Chroma V2.

More: Logitech G213 Prodigy review

Adding to the fast processing rate is the keyboard’s promise of a 26-key rollover. That’s an impressive number of keys to press simultaneously, given that humans only have ten fingers. But this feature means any combination of keys can be registered correctly and simultaneously for executing special commands properly on the first attempt. Our test using the free Aqua’s KeyTest tool verified that at least ten inputs were correctly registered at the same time without a hitch.

Built specifically with professional eSports athletes in mind

While all of this may sound like mumbo jumbo, this is relevant information to competitive PC gamers and professional eSports athletes. The specifications sound ideal for any PC gamer who wants the benefits of a mechanical keyboard without the bulk of added macro keys, media keys, and the number pad, all of which are absent here.

The keyboard’s overall dimensions are 6.02 (H) x 14.19 x 1.35 (D) inches, and its weight is 2.2 pounds without the USB 2.0 cable. Notice we said “without,” as the cable can be detached from the keyboard body for better storage. The connection is three-pronged, with the center consisting of the actual USB plug and the other two prongs serving as anchors. This helps keep the cord connected during play.

Customization for on-the-go PC gamers

The keyboard comes packed with on-board storage to house the user’s customized settings. This is where Logitech’s free software comes in for conjuring up profiles for specific games. Because eSports athletes can’t use additional software during tournaments, these settings must be configured, storage on the keyboard, or pre-loaded prior to a competition. Logitech’s tool manages that and saves the settings to the keyboard, for use with any PC the keyboard is connected to.

Bells and whistles are great, but what counts is whether the keyboard performs, and this one does.

Users can assign commands to the 12 function buttons. Logitech currently provides a huge list of supported PC games old and new in downloadable profiles including DOOM, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 4, Star Wars Battlefront, and more. These profiles don’t automatically assign commands to the function buttons, but instead require the gamer to assign the commands and then save the profile to the keyboard.

In a separate section of the Logitech Gaming Software tool, users can create profiles for each game that locks out unnecessary buttons. The provided DOOM profile merely locks the Windows key, the Function key, and the Menu key. But users can essentially lock any key they will never use, to prevent accidental key presses during heated gameplay. As an example, left-handed gamers using the arrow buttons to move around in virtual space may choose to lock the keys in the WASD region just in case.

The same holds true with the keyboard’s RGB illumination. The lighting section in Logitech’s software provides the means for setting the stage for a desktop-sized light show, or limiting the lighting to just the necessary keys. Thus, in addition to locking specific keys to prevent accidental keystrokes, users can create a lighting profile for each game to illuminate only the keys they use, which helps players better locate the keys they need in an instant.

More: Steelseries Apex M500 review

More specifically, the means for assigning illumination is found inside the tool’s Lighting Modes section. Here users will see an option to enable per-profile backlighting that will load up a list of installed games to select its pre-set lighting. However, these profiles can be modified to match the user’s gameplay style, enabling lefties to illuminate just the arrow keys and other needed keys when playing DOOM. This lighting profile can be saved directly to the keyboard.

A keyboard even the Scarlet Speedster will love

While all the bells and whistles are great, what counts in the end is whether the keyboard performs admirably or not, and it certainly does. Unfortunately, we didn’t have Razer’s BlackWidow Chroma V2 mechanical keyboard in-house for a performance comparison, but instead the company’s older full-size BlackWidow Ultimate 2013 model that relies on Cherry MX Blue switches. These switches require 50g of actuation force, so we really can’t compare the two models outside their audible differences.

That said, Cherry MX Blue switches are “clicky” in that they generate a very audible click, and require more force by the user to actuate the keystroke. The release point for the top metal contact is above the actuation point, creating a “free falling” effect that makes double-tapping difficult. Why Razer chose to use Cherry MX Blue switches in its keyboard is unknown given that Cherry MX Red units are ideal for PC gaming, but Razer now creates custom in-house switches for its mechanical keyboards, so the speculation is pointless at this point.

With Logitech’s Romer-G switches, we don’t really know all the hardware details that make them unique compared to Cherry MX switches. But on an audible level, they’re much quieter than Cherry MX Blue units by providing a dull, hollowed “thump” instead of a loud, sharp “click.” They also feel more “sensitive” in-game because of the low actuation force needed to initiate a keystroke. Barely pressing down on a movement key in DOOM showed a slight movement on-screen.

Of course, there are other factors adding to the illusion of keyboard “sensitivity” including the PC’s performance and the display’s refresh rate. To test this keyboard, we used an Alienware 17 R4 gaming laptop sporting the following ingredients:

Screen:
17.3 inch UHD 120Hz TN-WVA with G-Sync
Processor:
Intel Core i7-6820HK
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 w/8GB GDDR5X
Memory:
32GB DDR4 @ 2,400MHz

While Alienware provides a decent illuminated keyboard in its gaming laptops, it doesn’t replace the feel, response, and reliability of a mechanical keyboard. Whether customers with a gaming laptop will want to lug around an additional mechanical keyboard will likely depend on where and how they plan to play their games. But at least Logitech’s new G Pro unit is compact enough that it could fit into the laptop bag. Having a detachable USB cord helps in the portability factor too.

More: Razer BlackWidow X Chroma review

Outside the actual key switches, the key caps have a very light concave curvature, so the user’s fingers don’t feel “locked down” when moving from key to key. By comparison, the key caps used on Razer’s BlackWidow Ultimate 2013 keyboard are the same size (0.5” x 0.5625”) as what’s provided on Logitech’s unit, but they feel “deeper” than Logitech’s caps by sporting what feels like slightly higher boundaries.

Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming keyboard Compared To

Microsoft Universal Foldable…

Logitech G213 Prodigy

Steelseries Apex M500

Razer Turret

Razer Blackwidow X Chroma

Cougar Attack X3 gaming keyboard

Razer Deathstalker Chroma

Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard…

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop

Logitech K400

Microsoft Wireless Desktop 5000

Cooler Master Storm QuickFire

Logitech iPad 2 Keyboard Case by…

Cherry JK-0300

Logitech K750 Wireless Solar…

The overall build of the keyboard is solid, too. The top black plate features a dull finish matching the keycaps, the sides have a glossy finish and rounded edges, and the bottom plate consists of a dull finish with a pattern of glossy, slanted lines etched into the surface. The bottom also consists of five rubberized no-slip pads, and two angle adjustment legs packing an additional adjustment leg on each side. This enables the keyboard to sit flat, with a four-degree angle, or with an eight-degree angle. Nice.

Our Take

The Logitech G Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is a great choice. The on-screen response to keystrokes feels fast and sensitive, which is perfect for the professional eSports PC gamer. It’s compact, lightweight, and comes with a detachable USB. The keyboard’s customization is also a huge selling point for any PC gamer wanting an edge over the competition, whether it’s in a public tournament or general online gameplay at home.

Is there a better alternative?

The DT Accessory Pack

Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 hub

$10

Jelly Comb mechanical numeric keypad

$17

Glorious gaming wrist pad/rest

$25

That’s a good question. What we’ve reviewed so far in the mechanical gaming keyboard department consists of full-sized models packing the numeric keypad and dedicated macro keys. We need to test additional units before declaring if there is a better product, but Corsair’s new K63 mechanical keyboard is on the way for our testing. However, Corsair’s unit doesn’t specifically target the professional eSports crowd.

How long will it last?

The “tenkeyless” mechanical keyboard market for PC gamers and professional eSports players is here to stay, and Logitech is just one of the suppliers. Keyboards tend to be reliable, and we have no reason to think Logitech’s will be the exception. It could last you a decade or more.

Should you buy it?

Yes. Banging on its semi-quiet keys feels just right, and the on-screen response feels in-tune with the user’s brainwaves. That’s somewhat of an exaggeration, but the speed of the keystroke commands and the responsiveness of the actual keys should leave PC gamers feeling they’re getting things done rather than succumbing to the drawbacks of laggy input. The illumination and customizable profiles packed into Logitech’s new keyboard are icing on an already delicious cake.

AT&T will give you free HBO if you sign up for its “Unlimited Plus” plan

Why it matters to you

Looking for a new data plan? Free HBO access could be enough to convince you to go for AT&T’s.

AT&T wants you to sign up for its unlimited data plan. How is it going to convince you? Apparently by giving anyone who signs up for the “Unlimited Plus” plan free access to HBO. The carrier will offer users free HBO access either through the HBO Go app, or by adding HBO to your existing cable plan.

If you already have an AT&T video account and aren’t paying for HBO, the service will be automatically added to your account at no extra cost — and if you currently already pay for HBO, you’ll now get it free of charge. If you sign up for AT&T Unlimited Plus, that is. The promotion will go into effect on April 6.

More: Huawei wants to come to the U.S., and it might be looking to AT&T for help

AT&T and HBO seem to have a pretty good relationship. Just last month, AT&T began including a free year of HBO access to those that sign up for DirecTV Now. This new deal, however, seems a little better because you will apparently keep your HBO access as long as you stay on AT&T Unlimited Plus, which could potentially be a lot longer than a year. Before this promotion, access to HBO came with a $5 per month price tag.

The news also comes as AT&T is preparing to purchase HBO’s parent company, Time Warner, with a bid of approximately $85 billion.

U.S. carriers in particular are currently engaged in quite the war over who can offer the best unlimited data plan. Zero-rating schemes and free video have been a big part of these offerings in the past few months — and while HBO is currently unique to AT&T, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more similar offerings from other carriers in the near future.

Microsoft’s social-planning app ‘Who’s In’ hits iMessage

Why it matters to you

We all know the pain of trying to hammer out plans over text, and Who’s In aims to solve that problem.

Microsoft has just released a new iMessage app that’s designed to make it easier for you and your friends to figure out what to do and when to do it. It’s called Who’s In, and — at least on paper — it seems like one of the more useful social apps out of the company as of late.

With Who’s In, you can search for restaurants, activities, and events — or make your own — and put them to a group vote. The app will create a card for the hangout, and when other members of your chat tap on it, they can give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. You can also offer multiple times and dates, and leave it up to the majority to pick the best one.

More: Tumblr’s new iMessage app lets you create and share your own GIFs

That last point could be somewhat useful. Anyone who’s ever tried to organize anything over text with multiple people knows the grueling back-and-forth that inevitably follows. Opinions are split, a few people aren’t quite aware of what’s going on, and there’s always somebody who forgets to respond. Actually, on second thought, Who’s In probably won’t do you much good for that last problem.

Anyway, it’s a neat little tool that looks to save time and effort and could prove its worth — provided people can find and download it. Apple’s store for iMessage apps has been criticized for being poorly designed and confusing to use, which is obviously problematic for software that relies on awareness and adoption in social circles.

Who’s In is also Microsoft’s second iOS-focused social app released in as many days, following Sprinkles, an AI-powered photo-captioning app that can also guess your age and identify your celebrity doppleganger.

Who’s In not to be confused with Who’s Down, an app Google briefly tested a couple years back with college students that let users broadcast their availability. Despite the naming similarity, Who’s In doesn’t work quite the same way — and Microsoft is likely hoping it doesn’t suffer quite the same fate. The app is free and available on iPhone now.

Here are the best deals on accessories for the iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch

It’s expensive being an Apple fanboy (or fangirl). Not only do you typically pay a premium for Cupertino’s latest hardware, but Apple’s accessories can often cause sticker shock as well. Fortunately, when it comes to shopping for accessories, the Apple Store isn’t your only source.

Whether you’re looking to pair your newly minted iPhone with wireless headphones or simply need to restock on a few Lightning cables, we’ve rounded up some awesome accessory deals from Amazon and the DT Shop for everything from your iPhone to your MacBook. We will periodically update these deals in the future, so be sure to act quickly if you want to get the best prices.

Monowear Design Apple Watch strap

We featured Monowear’s straps in our roundup of the best available bands for the Apple Watch, and continue to enjoy wearing them. The Monowear straps are woven from durable nylon and come in a wide variety of colors, with gold, black, and silver metal buckles to match your watch case. They are available for both 38mm and 42mm Apple Watches, and are a good option if you want a water-resistant strap but don’t care for the look or feel of rubber. Normally $60, a 50 percent discount brings the Monowear Apple Watch bands down to $30 on Amazon.

$30 on Amazon

Supcase Unicorn Beetle iPhone 7 Plus case

Spring has sprung, so if you find yourself heading outside with your iPhone more frequently, it might be a good idea to get a shock-resistant bumper case to protect your tech. The Supcase Unicorn Beetle, available for $16 from Amazon, is a tough and durable case for your iPhone 7 Plus that doesn’t look or feel too bulky and awkward. The two-piece case fits around your phone and features a built-in screen protector, as well as a handy belt clip holster. Have the regular iPhone 7? Get this Supcase for $20 instead.

$16 on Amazon

FiftyThree Digital Stylus for iPad and iPhone

Your iPad isn’t just another tablet, so it deserves more than just another stylus. The attractive FiftyThree Digital Stylus allows you to work on any iPad or iPhone touchscreen with precision, and helps expand the versatility of multitouch. Unlike many styluses, the FiftyThree features a unique pressure-sensitive tip that lets you shift your hand to draw lines of various shapes and sizes without having to fuss around with different settings. Need to erase something? Just flip the pen around and wipe it away as if you were using a pencil. A $15 discount brings this sleek gold-colored stylus down to $45 on Amazon.

$45 on Amazon

Anker Folio iPad keyboard case

Anker makes a wide lineup of great accessories, and if you’ve been craving a physical keyboard for your iPad, this is your new best friend. The Anker Folio keyboard case features Bluetooth connectivity and iPad shortcut keys, allowing you to remain productive no matter where you are. The case also offers two ergonomic viewing angles for both typing and handheld use. The synthetic leather exterior provides an attractive cover for your iPad, and the Anker Folio automatically engages the tablet’s wake and sleep modes when opened and closed.

$33 on Amazon

Beats Solo3 wireless headphones

Now that the iPhone has gone headphone jack-less, you’re more in need of wireless headphones than ever. And if earbuds just aren’t your cup of tea, then maybe Dr. Dre’s Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones will do the trick. These headphones feature a wireless range of 30 feet and a battery that offers up to 40 hours of use before needing a charge. The fine-tuned acoustics offer crystal-clear audio and deep, rich bass response. The Beats Solo3 wireless headphones are normally priced at $300, but Amazon is now offering them at an $81 discount, which drops these over-ear cans down to $219.

$219 on Amazon

10-Foot Lightning cable 3-pack

Lightning cables are a must-have item for any Apple household. Our DT Shop currently offers this 3-pack of MFi-certified Lightning to USB cables that can be used to keep your iPhone or iPad fully juiced. MFi certification, originally made for iPod, ensures that these cables now work with other Apple devices as well. Each cable measures 10 feet, which gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to charging your gadgets. The 3-pack of cables now costs only $20 on the DT Shop.

$20 on DT Shop

Mbeat PowerTime Apple Watch dock

The $79 Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock is an add-on accessory that proudly displays your Apple Watch as it charges. However, if you don’t feel like dropping $79 on a dock designed to charge just one gadget, Mbeat’s PowerTime Apple Watch charging dock costs $39 and provides three additional USB ports that let you charge any USB-compatible gadgets in addition to your Apple Watch. Like Apple’s dock, it displays your Apple Watch as it is charging so you can still use it as your alarm clock. It’s currently 20 percent off its list price from the DT Shop.

$39 on DT Shop

Just Mobile AluBolt Deluxe Dock

The AluBolt Deluxe Dock puts your iPhone or iPad Mini on display while it charges. The MFi-certified aluminum dock features a built-in Lighting to USB connector so it can also be used for syncing your other Apple devices, and it’s compatible with open-bottom cases so you can leave your iPhone or iPad in its protective case while it charges. At just $40, the AluBolt dock is a solid solution for keeping your iPad Mini or iPhone on display while it powers up.

$40 on Amazon

Just Mobile Hover Dock

The low-profile Just Mobile HoverDock charging podium gives your iPhone the illusion that it’s hovering while docked. The aluminum base features a rubber bottom to prevent sliding, and also features retractable cable storage that keeps your wires neatly out of sight while charging your device. The unit was designed to work with most iPhone cases and can also be used to prop up your iPhone while you FaceTime. It’s currently available for just $28 from our DT Shop.

$28 on DT Shop

Hussar Magicbuds Bluetooth headphones

Wireless headphones are the future of the iPhone, but not everyone can afford to spend $159 on Apple’s AirPods. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable alternatives. Ideal for the gym, the ergonomic Hussar Magicbuds Bluetooth headphones are a highly rated and affordable option if you like the look of Dre Powerbeats but not their hefty price tag. The rechargeable battery offers up to nine hours of play time, and the Magicbuds can be paired with any Bluetooth-enabled device, which makes them ideal for current and older iPhones and iPads. Hussar’s in-ear headphones are currently just $29 from Amazon.

$29 on Amazon

Anker iPhone 6/6s Battery Case

Anker made its brand known with affordable and high-quality batteries and portable chargers, so it should be no surprise to see its name twice on our roundup. Apple devices generally offer very good battery life, but even the best batteries can unexpectedly die while you’re on the go. For those dreaded moments, Anker offers this battery charging case for the iPhone 6 and 6s. The slim case houses a 2,830mAh battery that according to Anker can increase the life span of your iPhone by 120 percent. The extended battery doesn’t add much bulk to your iPhone and is currently just $47 on Amazon.

$47 on Amazon

Inateck 13-inch MacBook sleeve

Today’s 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are smaller and thinner than ever, so why not protect them with a water- and bump-resistant sleeve? The Inateck 13-inch sleeve offers just that type of protection and is designed to fit the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air. It includes a small separate pouch for storing a mouse, and its magnetic closure prevents your MacBook from being scratched while sliding in and out of the sleeve. For a limited time, you can buy Inateck’s sleeve for just $14 at Amazon. Alternatively, you can get the 12-inch sleeve for the same price.

$14 on Amazon

UK scientists built a graphene sieve that turns saltwater into fresh drinking water

Why it matters to you

Millions of people around the world lack ready access to a supply of clean drinking water. A graphene-based sieve may hold the answer.

All-around wonder material graphene has an exciting new use case: acting as a sieve to turn salt water into drinkable fresh water.

The research, which could potentially have a massive impact when it comes to providing drinking water for millions of people around the world who currently lack an adequate supply of it, was carried out by researchers at the U.K.’s University of Manchester — and published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

More: MIT researchers have developed a spongelike material 10 times stronger than steel

“Graphene-oxide membranes are known to be promising candidates for filtration technologies, like desalination, whereby you turn salt water into drinking water,” Dr. Vasu Siddeswara Kalangi, one of the co-authors on the paper, told Digital Trends. “The reason this can’t be practically carried out, however, is because of a problem with swelling of the membrane when it comes into contact with water. As a result, it can’t be used for the desalination purpose. What we’ve done is to produce an effective and scalable methodology for restricting this swelling.”

The reason graphene-oxide membranes can act this way is due to the fact that water flows through the membrane’s tiny pores, while larger ions (read: large pieces of salt) are blocked from doing so. By working out how to avoid the swelling issue, the Manchester-based group has now found a way to precisely control the pore size in the membrane.

The work has been shown as a proof-of-concept, although we’re still a way off from this rolling out as a real world solution — although Siddeswara Kalangi certainly hopes that is on the cards. Fortunately, while methods for manufacturing large quantities of single layer graphene are still expensive, it is possible to produce graphene oxide using simple oxidation in the lab.

“Currently this technology has only been created at laboratory scale,” Siddeswara Kalangi continued. “What we need to do is to collaborate with companies for commercial and real-life applications. We also need to make sure that it will be both scalable and equally as effective at producing clean water at scale.”

The Fuoripista exercise bike may be more fun to look at than to ride

Why it matters to you

Here is exercise equipment in the form of art so you can benefit even if you never use it.

Most home exercise machines are purchased in the heat of a motivational moment and, in many cases, are little used or not at all. After a while, the bikes, step machines, treadmills, and ellipticals are relegated to back corners, garages, basements, or folded up and put under a bed. Milan’s Adriano Design has the answer to single-purpose workout gear. The studio’s Fuoripista will never be tucked away because it doubles as sculpture.

Assuming you were the lucky owner of this one-of-a-kind collection piece, even if you never turned the pedals one time, the gorgeous design would command a place of honor. Fuoripista, according to Adriano Design, is about desire and passion.

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“Fuoripista represents a new way of interpreting a fitness accessory, no longer gym exclusive but so beautiful that becomes an object of desire, to show off, to praise, one you would ride with pride and joy. A dream machine along with you would ride away some of the most spectacular cycling routes in the world, virtualised on a tablet mounted on its front.”

Depending on the angle from which you view it, the bike can look like a proud and defiant bull. It’s also not Adriano Design’s first rodeo in reimagining home entertainment pieces. Past designs include the Teckell foosball table, the Filotto pool table, and the Lungolinea ping pong table.

Fuoripista is shown as one of a collection displayed in a celebration of SalonSatellite’s 20th year. SalonSatellite is an annual opportunity for young designers to show their work to manufacturers and talent scouts.

Clearly, Adriano Design’s emotional concept for the home exercise bike goes in a different direction than sweating it out while you crank away the miles to a heavy metal playlist. “Fuoripista allows to enjoy a (riding) passion in full and without a compromise, with extremely performant technologies which you won’t have to hide under the bed, in the closet nor the basement, on the contrary, it gives a pleasure in every place it is displayed.”