Google Photos gains wireless Apple TV compatibility on iOS
Why it matters to you
Google Photos can back up your photos, and now it can send them to the big screen, too, at least for iOS users and Apple TV owners.
Google Photos has finally made its big-screen debut, as an iOS update released Monday, April 24, brings the ability to wirelessly send media to an Apple TV using AirPlay. While the Apple TV compatibility isn’t available on Android, since it’s an Apple-To-Apples wireless system, Android Google Photos users have a few new editing options with an update released the same day.
With the iOS update, version 2.14.0 can send both photos and video to a TV paired with an Apple TV media player. The feature is made possible by Apple’s AirPlay, a tool that allows for wireless data sharing or even screen sharing between iOS devices.
While AirPlay has allowed Apple users to send videos to the TV from their smartphone using the iPhone’s Control Center, the Google Photos capability brings the feature to photos and videos that aren’t stored directly on the smartphone. Google Photos is a popular app largely because storing 16 megapixel images and 1080p videos is free — and frees up space on your smartphone to add more new photos or apps.
The app has been praised as a free backup solution for photos and video since its launch in 2015, but Google has been working to make the app more than just a back-up solution. The app is bulking up as a mobile photo editor, too, with recent updates bringing the ability to automatically correct white balance or even stabilize Apple Live Photos.
Outside of the backup and editing features, the app also aims to organize media using Google-search style features. Artificial intelligence has boosted the platform’s capabilities, making it possible to find all the photos of the same person, automatically generate albums, or search photos even without manually adding tags. The platform also offers Facebook Memories inspired features, but works with every photo, even the ones that were not shared publicly.
Along with the Apple TV compatibility, the latest iOS update also includes enhanced performance.
An Android update released the same day brings new filters to enhance photos in one touch, along with more advanced editing options such as adjusting lighting and color. Android users also now have more options for automatically generating movies from related still photos.
AMD slips up as leak indicates its Vega GPUs are coming ‘this quarter’
Why it matters to you
If you’ve been waiting to build a new gaming PC around AMD’s Vega GPU architecture, then you’re wait might be coming to a close.
AMD has made some waves lately with its new Zen architecture and Ryzen processors, offering a line of CPUs with competitive performance to Intel’s Core processors and even more competitive pricing. Now, AMD fans are waiting for the company to make its next move by introducing its next generation Vega GPUs.
Until now, AMD hasn’t provided any information on when Vega might be officially introduced, leaving gamers waiting impatiently for stronger competition with Nvidia’s Pascal architecture. Today, however, it looks like AMD might have let the cat out of the bag, with its AMD Poland Facebook page indicating that Vega will arrive this quarter, as Wccftech.com reports.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that someone at AMD Poland spoke out of turn, and so this information should be considered unverified at this point. But there’s other information that seems to confirm an imminent release, such as a Vega GPU showing in CompuBench benchmark results — something that usually happens shortly before a new component is released.
In addition, AMD has now provided Vega OpenGL support for Linux, and the company has apparently devoted 80 percent of its driver engineers to Vega optimization for the past few months. Simply put, while nobody knows when Vega will arrive, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that it’s going to show up in gaming PCs sooner rather than later.
By the CompuBench results, Vega will offer at least competitive performance compared to the Nvidia GTX 1080 but significantly lower than the GTX 1080 Ti. Without knowing where in the Vega line the tested GPU is positioned, we don’t know if that’s low-end, midrange, or high-end Vega performance. Nevertheless, AMD fans should have some tantalizing options to choose from.
AMD 687F:C1
GTX 1080 Ti
Catmull-Clark Subdivision Level 3:
81.251 mTriangles/s
245.95 mTriangles/s
Catmull-Clark Subdivision Level 5:
239.511 mTriangles/s
353.415 mTriangles/s
Subsurface Scattering multiple view:
6,262.991 mSamples/s
9,610.488 mSamples/s
TV-L1 Optical Flow:
56.729 mPixels/s
64.918 mPixels/s
Level Set Segmentation – 128:
10,281.757 mVoxels/s
N/A
Level Set Segmentation – 256:
10,844.834 mVoxels/s
N/A
AMD recently released a new Radeon RX 500 Series of GPUs based on its current Polaris generation, and so anyone who wants decent AMD gaming performance without spending serious money has that option to consider. But otherwise, it’s looking like anyone planning on a truly high-end gaming experience won’t have too long to wait before they’ll be able to look outside of Nvidia’s lineup when choosing their next GPU.
‘Pokémon Go,’ Citymapper among Google Play Store’s best of 2017 nominees
Why it matters to you
These are some of the best Android games and apps currently available on the platform, and many are free to try.
It’s that time of year again, as Google has just announced its nominees for its best Play Store games and apps of 2017. The contenders were broken out over 12 categories, and had to adhere to a set criteria for consideration. All of the apps in the running have high user ratings, achieve Google’s marks for technical performance, and have received an update or been launched since April of last year.
The categories span everything from Standout Indie Game to Best Accessibility Experience and Best Social Impact. Headlining the list are the nominees for Best App and Best Game.
For Best App, it’s a battle between public transit utility Citymapper, motivation coach Fabulous, language learning app Memrise, finance manager Money Lover, and GoPro’s video editor Quik. Citymapper has been recognized by New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority and The New York Times, and was also listed as one of Google’s favorite apps of 2016. Fabulous previously won Google’s Material Design award for Most Charming Engagement.
The five apps up for Best Game are last summer’s augmented reality phenomenon Pokémon Go, Nintendo’s recently released strategy RPG Fire Emblem Heroes, massively multiplayer online RPG Lineage II Revolution (which is gearing up for a worldwide debut after a successful launch in South Korea), visual novel hub Choices, and action game Tranformers: Forged to Fight. All of these titles are free to play with in-app purchases, and some feature ads.
There are far more nominees up for top honors, including really useful tools like IFTTT that can automate a variety of tasks and integrate with hundreds of web-based services. There are also apps that can do enormous good, like ShareTheMeal, which allows users to feed a child in need with a single tap. You can see the full list in Google’s blog post. The winners will be announced at Google I/O, which is set to kick off on May 17.
Connected indoor grill ensures your meals are always cooked to perfection
Why it matters to you
This smart grill advances the trend toward kitchen appliances that have the capability to act as our partners in food preparation.
In September of 2014, we dubbed the Cinder Sensing Cooker a George Foreman Grill “on steroids.” Back then, it was called Palate and debuted at TechCrunch’s Disrupt event. It was also labeled a “smart grill,” and while it’s still app-controlled, its creators now deem it a “sensing cooker.”
What that means, according to Cinder, is that you can cook food at a precise temperature, then sear it all in the cooker, simply by setting a few parameters on the accompanying iOS app or by turning the Cinder’s dial. The beautiful device’s two aluminum non-stick plates have embedded sensors that regulate the temperature to within a quarter of a degree Fahrenheit.
It can caramelize onions, grill a Panini, and sear a steak. You can even cook a frozen chicken breast in it. If you’re in the middle of draining pasta when the chicken’s done, the Cinder can go into “holding” mode for up to two hours, maintaining the food’s temperature. The machine can go as high as 550 degrees Fahrenheit, and its sear function can take as little as 45 seconds.
Using the app, you can scroll through a range of foods until you find the one you want. You can pick how pink you want your steak, for example, and the Cinder does the rest. The creators compare it to sous vide, though without any need for water, because it uses a similar, temperature-precise method. Indeed, each of the grill plates’ heating nodes is electronically controlled hundreds of times every second within a single degree of your set temperature.
And we finally have good news to share when it comes to actually getting your hands on a Cinder Grill (and thereby “cooking to restaurant perfection”). The team has launched an Indiegogo campaign to bring the kitchen appliance to market, and with a month left, has already raised nearly $40,000. You can pre-order one for the early bird price of $329 with an expected shipment date of October 2017 (to the U.S. and Canada).
Article originally published in March 2015. Updated on 04-25-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news that the Cinder Grill is now available on Indiegogo.
‘SuperHot,’ ‘Wilson’s Heart,’ and ‘The Unspoken’ are free in Nvidia VR bundle
Why it matters to you
Free games are always welcome, especially when you just spend a lot on a new headset and graphics card.
Nvidia and Oculus VR partnered to offer an introductory virtual reality bundle to gamers looking to step into the virtual world. When you buy an Oculus Rift headset and Oculus Touch controllers alongside an Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti, 1070 or 1060, you get three games for free.
The three games that have been put up for this promotion are the time-bending shooter, SuperHot; the psychological thriller, Wilson’s Heart, and The Unspoken, a spellcasting, wizard dueling game set in a mysterious version of Chicago. All games are compatible with the Oculus Rift and offer a great introduction to virtual reality gaming for new buyers.
Bear in mind that you need to buy through one of Nvidia’s retail partners to take advantage of the deal. Currently, only Amazon and Newegg have signed on, so if you want to secure your free games, make sure you use one of them for now.
There is a wide range of bundles to choose from, though. Because Nvidia is offering the free games with a variety of hardware, you can buy a relatively cheap GTX 1060 alongside your new headset and qualify for all the free games, or opt for a brand new laptop. The most expensive bundle right now is the ROG Strix 17.3-inch gaming notebook with a GTX 1070, but you don’t have to splash out several thousand dollars if you don’t want to.
Some of the bundles are limited, however. If you want to take advantage, you may need to do so sooner rather than later.
All games are compatible with both the Oculus Rift headset and its Touch controllers, offering intuitive interaction with the virtual world. They are far from the only ones though. If you do pick up one of these bundles, or an Oculus Rift by itself, be sure to check out our list of the best games you can play on the platform right now.
Insta360 Air 360-degree camera review
Research Center:
Insta360 Air
Virtual reality headsets and 360-degree videos are trends that don’t show signs of disappearing in the near future. That means you may want to start taking and sharing this type of media, ready to amaze and delight your friends and social media followers. Except, 360-degree cameras can be invariably expensive to buy, often difficult to use, and almost always another sizeable gadget to carry around.
The Insta360 Air camera neatly sidesteps all those problems. It’s affordable, compact, and genuinely easy to use. But its biggest convenience: It plugs into the USB port on an Android phone for a direct, instant connection and power. It has limitations – namely, resolution – but for Android users looking to dabble in 360-degree creation without breaking the bank, the Air is an interesting gadget.
Design and features
The Insta360 Air is about the size and shape of a golf ball. The spherical camera has two lenses on opposite sides of each other, and a USB connector underneath. When not in use, it slips into a rubber protective case that keeps it secure and prevents the lenses from being scratched (the rubber does attract dust and lint, however, and it’s impossible to wipe off). Aside from some subtle branding, the black and gray colors of our review camera looks very ordinary, but you can buy versions in brighter colors.
The Air has no battery. So you don’t have to worry about charging it, but it also will deplete your phone’s battery quicker.
It’s solidly made, and when attached to a phone the USB connector is mounted securely. We tested an Air with a USB Type-C connector, but it’s also available as a Micro USB option. Apple iPhone users shouldn’t feel left out: While the Air is exclusively for Android (5.1 or higher), Insta360 makes a different 360-degree camera with a Lightning connector, called the Nano, for iPhones.
The Air is highly portable. It’s so small that it’s easy to keep in a bag, or inside a pocket, if you don’t mind the unsightly lump. Unlike larger, standalone 360-degree cameras that require you to juggle two devices, the Air isn’t intrusive. Plugged into a phone, spherical photography becomes available at all times; this makes us want to take more 360-degree photos.
Other 360 cameras employ Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (or both) to wirelessly connect to a phone for photo transfers or use as a live viewfinder, but it’s not always reliable, and rarely quick to set up. The Air’s direct connection, however, is easier to do and more stable, too. The app pops up automatically when the camera is attached, and you’re not likely to have a dropped connection. The downside to this approach, as we mentioned, is that it only works with devices with the compatible USB-type port.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Because it draws power from the phone, the Air has no battery. This has both pro and con: You don’t have to worry about charging it, but it would deplete your phone’s battery quicker.
As for storage, the Air also relies on your phone. If your Android device supports a MicroSD card, we suggest saving content to it.
App and controls
The camera can only be controlled through the Instant360 Air app. Plug the camera into an Android phone and the app launches instantly – just the wrong way up. By design, you need to turn your phone around (right side down) to use the camera. It’s not a big hassle, but it’s annoying should you need to access another app. Interestingly, when our phone went to sleep while the camera was plugged in, the app would relaunch the correct way.
You can choose to contribute your own photos to Insta360’s own image-sharing social network or keep them private.
The Home page displays 360-degree images and videos from around the world, taken and shared by other Insta360 camera owners. It’s like Insta360’s own image-sharing social network, and you can choose to contribute your own photos to it or keep them private. All the content you take are found within the Album tab. Lastly, there’s a Settings tab where you log into your Insta360 account, Facebook account, and adjust various options for the camera and the app. (You can download and play with the app, even without a camera, to get a feel for what using the Air would be like.)
The app has a few guides that introduce features to new users, but it’s not a difficult camera to use. Anyone used to using a smartphone camera probably won’t need them. The button to activate the camera is on the Home tab, but we’d rather there was a permanent shortcut that we could access from anywhere in the app. After all, it’s the main reason we’re using it.
The Air not only takes 360-degree stills and video, but it can also live-stream 360-degree content to Facebook, YouTube, Periscope, or Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) server. These modes are selected using buttons above the shutter release, which changes color to indicate mode. A selection of live filters can be placed over the image, and there’s a manual exposure control, plus a timer.
A feature we really like is the option to view the standard forward-facing image, along with a stretched-out panoramic view directly underneath. The latter function is useful for seeing what’s all around you – making sure no one is making stupid faces behind you while you’re recording.
After you take a picture, there’s an option to adjust the horizon, add filters, or convert the file to VR mode for viewing in a headset. You can also view the picture in the default fish-eye look, or pick a perspective view, a spherical crystal ball view, or a fun “Little Planet” view for a really unusual visual style.
We experienced no connectivity problems, the app was stable, and it worked perfectly on a Huawei Mate 9 and a Huawei P10 Plus. However, the LG G6 presented a few problems: The phone constantly questioned whether it should charge up the camera (it shouldn’t) and refused to alter the USB mode permanently, resulting in disconnects during video use.
Photos and video
The dual fisheye camera lenses on the Insta360 Air take still images at a 3,008 x 1,504-pixel resolution, and video at 2,560 x 1,280 pixels at 30 frames per second. Stitching happens in real-time through the app. By comparison, the Air’s resolution is lower than the massive 5,472 x 2,736 pixels for stills from the second-generation Samsung Gear 360, or the 5,660 x 2,830 from the LG 360 Cam. Samsung’s new Gear 360 also shoots video at 4,096 x 2,048 pixels, blitzing the Insta360 Air.
You can’t compare it to a traditional camera – you’ll have fun with the Insta360 Air, and produce satisfactory images
This means the final image is more pixelated, and not as high quality as the standalone models we mentioned. Zoom into shots taken with the Air and it’s noticeable: Quality is not terrible, but in these times of amazing smartphone camera photos, we’re used to having more than enough detail visible in the images we take, and notice the drop in quality when it’s not there.
The camera has trouble handling challenging lighting environments, despite having a constant f/2.4 aperture. Under the bright sunlight of Barcelona, Spain, where we first tested the camera, the sky was often completely washed out as it struggled to adapt. Exposure can be tweaked, but we wish the camera’s auto-exposure did a better job.
Granted, this isn’t a professional-level 360-degree camera. It’s made for sharing unique photos with your friends, and for that the Little Planet view is best. It looks cool, and doesn’t show the camera’s shortcomings. Share the larger fisheye pictures, and the quality is a little disappointing – almost like you’ve deliberately uploaded a low-res version of the picture to conserve your data plan. It’s not all bad news: We like the way it shades the area around the base of the image, minimizing boring shots of the ground so our eye is drawn to the bulk of the image. We love zooming in and out on the Little Planet-style shots too, giving us plenty of creative control over the final image.
Viewed on your phone, or on your Facebook page, the standard still images look fine in the smaller sizes. There’s little evidence of any stitching except for a pair of warped hands if you were holding the camera when you took the photo. Stitching shows up more during video, and Facebook Live video is only shot at two megapixels, which is too low for modern standards. However, Insta360 isn’t responsible for this restriction, and it may change in the future. For now, you get better results in terms of pixel density from shooting a Facebook Live video with the camera on your phone, and foregoing the 360-degree viewpoint.
Expectations need to be kept in check with the Insta360 Air, which is actually what needs to be done with 360-degree photos altogether. They don’t present the same creative opportunities of a still photo from a standard camera, leave nothing the imagination, and there’s no chance for framing a perfect shot. It’s all or nothing. Provided you understand this – you can’t compare it to a traditional camera – you’ll have fun with the Insta360 Air, and produce satisfactory images.
Sharing
If sharing photos on social media is where the Insta360 Air shines, then it needs to be easy to do. We’re happy to say it’s incredibly simple to share photos, but again, your expectations need to be realistic. This isn’t the fault of the camera though; it’s the lack of widespread 360-degree photo support on the web.
Through the app you can share directly to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or through a custom link. The latter uploads your picture to Insta360’s own server, where it can be viewed in its 360-degree entirety. Facebook and YouTube also support scrollable 360-degree photo and video support, and although Twitter and Instagram don’t, Little Planet shots can be shared on Twitter.
The cool new feature, however, could be the aforementioned 360-degree live broadcasting, to Facebook, Twitter/Periscope, and YouTube. To live stream you must sign-in to the relevant service (at the time of writing, Twitter wasn’t available, but will come in a future update). To go live on Facebook, the process is managed through Insta360’s app, and is very similar to going live through Facebook’s app. It worked each time for us, and the video posted has that familiar swipe-around-to-see control system you’ll have used before on the social network. Live 360-degree streaming isn’t a common feature, and to find it on a very competitively priced camera is a pleasant surprise. For example, Samsung has only just introduced the feature on its second-generation Gear 360.
Everyone can get his or her 360-degree shots out into the world quickly and easily with the Insta360 Air. The process is the same as sharing any image from any app, and will be familiar to almost everyone. The image people end up seeing is determined by the platform to which it’s shared, and the creative choices you make though the app. If your goal is to take fun, easily sharable 360-degree photos, where image quality isn’t the primary concern, this is a camera for you.
Insta360 Air Compared To
Samsung HMX-QF30
JVC HD Everio GZ-VX815
Sony Handycam HDR-PJ430V
Samsung HMX-W300
Olympus LS-20M
Sony HDR-CX130
Flip UltraHD (Third Generation)
Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5K
Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5
Kodak Zi8
Flip MinoHD 2nd Generation (120 Min)
Sony HDR-TG5V
Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder
Flip Mino
Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2
Price, availability, and warranty
The Insta360 Air costs $130 (it’s sold through Amazon), which is less than half what you’ll spend on the original Gear 360 and likely the sequel as well, or the Ricoh Theta S. It’s also less expensive than the Giroptic iO, a 360-degree camera that uses the same approach as the Air. Even when you consider the drop in image quality, the low price makes up for it. Insta360 provides a one-year warranty on its camera, which covers failures and defects in the device itself.
Our Take
The Insta360 Air is a fun, easy-to-use, and affordable introduction to 360-degree stills and video for consumers. It neatly sidesteps the often-frustrating connection woes associated with standalone 360-degree cameras – all inside a highly portable and convenient package.
Is there a better alternative?
The DT Accessory Pack
Huawei Mate 9
$571.75
SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSDXC + Adapter
$21.99
KobraTech Mini Phone Tripod
$19.95
Outside of models from unknown brands you can import from China, the Insta360 Air is one of the cheapest ways to get started with 360-degree stills and video, and the fact it has live streaming built-in makes it even more of a bargain. The LG 360 Cam cost around $200 at launch, but can be found for less now. It shoots higher quality images, but lacks the convenience and live-stream capability.
You’ll spend at least $350 if you want one of Samsung’s Gear 360 cameras – the second generation model’s price hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’s likely to be very similar – and more again if you want a Ricoh or similar camera.
While the Insta360 Air is made for an Android phone, if you’re also in the market for a new phone to go with your 360-degree camera, we were impressed by the $250 Giroptic iO, which operates only with the Apple iPhone but an Android version has just been announced. Giroptic’s app is very simple to use, and it also has the same live streaming capabilities. Although more expensive, the iO is the closest competitor.
How long will it last?
There’s nothing to suggest the Insta360 Air will break, especially if it’s kept in the rubber case. However, if you’re not careful, it’d be easy to snap off the camera from the USB connector if you drop it or accidentally knock it against something. It’ll need to be a hard knock, but if it does snap off, it’d be a serious problem.
Provided Insta360 continues to keep the app updated and compatible with future Android versions, the camera will operate indefinitely. The low resolution does mean the images it produces may not age very well either, and will look out of date quite quickly. If you buy the Air, know that you will be an early adopter and playing with nascent tech. You should definitely anticipate stronger products in the near future, like Ricoh’s upcoming 4K Theta.
Should you buy it?
Yes, it’s affordable and gives Android users the opportunity to create 360-degree content. It balances acceptable quality images and video with a competitive price, while adding value with live streaming, easy sharing features, and quick connectivity.
Aukey 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger review
Research Center:
Aukey 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger
Nowadays few of us would consider “roughing it” in the wilds without taking along at least a smartphone, and perhaps even a tablet or laptop. The problem with that is, when we get too far away from civilization — or our cars, at least — for more than a day or so, there’s no way to keep our mobile devices charged. You can take along a portable battery pack, but if you’re off the grid for very long at all, then the issue becomes keeping it charged. The answer, of course, is a solar power charger, such as the Aukey 20-watt Portable Foldable Solar Charger ($50) we’re reviewing here today.
There are scores of portable solar power sources available, ranging from $30 to $300 and beyond. Some, such as the Kogalla Solar Storage Bank ($200), come with rechargeable batteries that allow you to store power for when the sun is not shining. Others, including the ECEEN Foldable Solar Charger ($34) and today’s review unit, the Aukey 20W solar charger, do not. Many come with only one USB port, though, whereas the Aukey model comes with two. Designed with the backpacker in mind, it’s the only $50 solar charger we know of that generates enough juice to allow you to charge two mobile devices at full power at the same time.
William Harrel/Digital Trends
William Harrel/Digital Trends
William Harrel/Digital Trends
William Harrel/Digital Trends
While unpacking Aukey’s portable solar charger, our first impression was that it’s rugged and very well built. Folded up, it measures 12 inches wide, by 6.9 inches deep, by 1.2 inches high, and resembles a small black canvas handbag. Consisting of three solar panels, it unfolds to measure 19.7 inches wide, by 12 inches deep, and 0.2 inches high. It weighs just under two pounds—not a lot to add to the load of your backpack. Designed to stand facing the sun or attached to your backpack as you walk, it comes with four chain-link-like fasteners that hook into nylon loops at each of the panel’s four corners.
A flap on the back of the center panel opens to reveal a mesh bag with zippers for holding your mobile devices, cables, and other accessories. Inside the bag resides a small metal box containing a two-port USB charging mechanism. Aukey says that for the most part the solar charger itself is waterproof, but admits that the USB ports and charging apparatus are not. In other words, it will hold up to a little rain, but it’s not immersible.
Big Bang for Little Bucks
Where the Aukey solar charger stands apart from its most direct low-cost competitors is its three 7W panels, which combined absorb around 20 watts of solar energy. That converts to five amps of charging power split between the two USB ports, or about 2.4 amps per port. Aukey says that the solar unit has a power conversion efficiency rate of 23.5 percent, which is, for the techies among us, indeed efficient.
Aukey’s portable solar charger is rugged and very well built.
While 2.4 amps may not sound like much, here’s a little perspective: a PC USB port delivers about 0.5 amps; an iPhone charger provides 1.0 amps; and an iPad charger (and several other tablet chargers) is rated at 2.1 amps. Hence, 2.4 amps is more than enough to charge most mobile devices. In most cases, the Aukey 20W solar charger should charge at speeds comparable to a standard wall charger.
As mentioned, there’s no battery. This panel is designed to charge your mobile devices directly. On overcast days, or when you’re hiking beneath a never-ending canopy of trees, you’re out of luck. But Aukey’s solar charger is inexpensive enough that you can afford to buy a small portable battery, such as, say, ChargeTech’s Plug, or perhaps something cheaper (with lower capacity, of course) like the LinearFlux PokeCharger Portable Battery.
Warranty information
Aukey guarantees its 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger for two years under normal use.
Our Take
The Aukey Portable Foldable Solar Charger is a relatively light, well-built, and well-designed three-panel charger that generates enough clean renewable energy to charge two mobile devices (yours and your hiking partner’s) at about the same speed as a wall charger. It doesn’t come with a battery for charging when you’re not hiking or camping in sunny conditions, but its low $50 price tag makes purchasing a portable battery a viable option.
Is there a better alternative?
When it comes to portable solar chargers, you really do have a lot of options, but not many that provide this much charging power at such a low price. The Kogalla Solar Storage Bank mentioned earlier is lighter, has a battery, and it too can charge two devices simultaneously. In addition, the Kogalla model allows you to charge the battery via a microUSB power source during no-sun conditions. But it costs significantly more.
How long will it last?
After carrying it around with us for a while and using it to charge our mobile devices several times, it certainly appears to us that the Aukey 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger will last awhile. Our main concern regarding durability is water resistance, or lack thereof, because the solar charger’s ports could let in moisture. Make sure you have a water-tight pack to stow it in on rainy days.
Should you buy it?
If you need to charge your mobile devices quickly and efficiently while you’re off the grid, we say yes—especially if you need to charge more than one device at a time. If, on the other hand, you prefer a more complete solution with a battery for additional power when there’s no sun, there are many of those solar options available, too. The bottom line here is that this is an useful, inexpensive solution.
Aukey 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger review
Research Center:
Aukey 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger
Nowadays few of us would consider “roughing it” in the wilds without taking along at least a smartphone, and perhaps even a tablet or laptop. The problem with that is, when we get too far away from civilization — or our cars, at least — for more than a day or so, there’s no way to keep our mobile devices charged. You can take along a portable battery pack, but if you’re off the grid for very long at all, then the issue becomes keeping it charged. The answer, of course, is a solar power charger, such as the Aukey 20-watt Portable Foldable Solar Charger ($50) we’re reviewing here today.
There are scores of portable solar power sources available, ranging from $30 to $300 and beyond. Some, such as the Kogalla Solar Storage Bank ($200), come with rechargeable batteries that allow you to store power for when the sun is not shining. Others, including the ECEEN Foldable Solar Charger ($34) and today’s review unit, the Aukey 20W solar charger, do not. Many come with only one USB port, though, whereas the Aukey model comes with two. Designed with the backpacker in mind, it’s the only $50 solar charger we know of that generates enough juice to allow you to charge two mobile devices at full power at the same time.
William Harrel/Digital Trends
William Harrel/Digital Trends
William Harrel/Digital Trends
William Harrel/Digital Trends
While unpacking Aukey’s portable solar charger, our first impression was that it’s rugged and very well built. Folded up, it measures 12 inches wide, by 6.9 inches deep, by 1.2 inches high, and resembles a small black canvas handbag. Consisting of three solar panels, it unfolds to measure 19.7 inches wide, by 12 inches deep, and 0.2 inches high. It weighs just under two pounds—not a lot to add to the load of your backpack. Designed to stand facing the sun or attached to your backpack as you walk, it comes with four chain-link-like fasteners that hook into nylon loops at each of the panel’s four corners.
A flap on the back of the center panel opens to reveal a mesh bag with zippers for holding your mobile devices, cables, and other accessories. Inside the bag resides a small metal box containing a two-port USB charging mechanism. Aukey says that for the most part the solar charger itself is waterproof, but admits that the USB ports and charging apparatus are not. In other words, it will hold up to a little rain, but it’s not immersible.
Big Bang for Little Bucks
Where the Aukey solar charger stands apart from its most direct low-cost competitors is its three 7W panels, which combined absorb around 20 watts of solar energy. That converts to five amps of charging power split between the two USB ports, or about 2.4 amps per port. Aukey says that the solar unit has a power conversion efficiency rate of 23.5 percent, which is, for the techies among us, indeed efficient.
Aukey’s portable solar charger is rugged and very well built.
While 2.4 amps may not sound like much, here’s a little perspective: a PC USB port delivers about 0.5 amps; an iPhone charger provides 1.0 amps; and an iPad charger (and several other tablet chargers) is rated at 2.1 amps. Hence, 2.4 amps is more than enough to charge most mobile devices. In most cases, the Aukey 20W solar charger should charge at speeds comparable to a standard wall charger.
As mentioned, there’s no battery. This panel is designed to charge your mobile devices directly. On overcast days, or when you’re hiking beneath a never-ending canopy of trees, you’re out of luck. But Aukey’s solar charger is inexpensive enough that you can afford to buy a small portable battery, such as, say, ChargeTech’s Plug, or perhaps something cheaper (with lower capacity, of course) like the LinearFlux PokeCharger Portable Battery.
Warranty information
Aukey guarantees its 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger for two years under normal use.
Our Take
The Aukey Portable Foldable Solar Charger is a relatively light, well-built, and well-designed three-panel charger that generates enough clean renewable energy to charge two mobile devices (yours and your hiking partner’s) at about the same speed as a wall charger. It doesn’t come with a battery for charging when you’re not hiking or camping in sunny conditions, but its low $50 price tag makes purchasing a portable battery a viable option.
Is there a better alternative?
When it comes to portable solar chargers, you really do have a lot of options, but not many that provide this much charging power at such a low price. The Kogalla Solar Storage Bank mentioned earlier is lighter, has a battery, and it too can charge two devices simultaneously. In addition, the Kogalla model allows you to charge the battery via a microUSB power source during no-sun conditions. But it costs significantly more.
How long will it last?
After carrying it around with us for a while and using it to charge our mobile devices several times, it certainly appears to us that the Aukey 20W Portable Foldable Solar Charger will last awhile. Our main concern regarding durability is water resistance, or lack thereof, because the solar charger’s ports could let in moisture. Make sure you have a water-tight pack to stow it in on rainy days.
Should you buy it?
If you need to charge your mobile devices quickly and efficiently while you’re off the grid, we say yes—especially if you need to charge more than one device at a time. If, on the other hand, you prefer a more complete solution with a battery for additional power when there’s no sun, there are many of those solar options available, too. The bottom line here is that this is an useful, inexpensive solution.
NFL players can now sell their health data, thanks to Whoop partnership
Why it matters to you
With this new partnership, the NFLPA gives players a shot at improving performance while selling their data for a bit of extra income.
The National Football League Players Association has partnered with human performance company Whoop in a deal that will allow athletes to monitor and sell their own health data, Bloomberg reports. This is the first partnership between a professional sports players association and a wearable technology.
The deal will supply current and incoming NFL players with the Whoop 2.0 wearable wristband, which measures biometric data 100 times every second, automatically sending the information to Whoop’s mobile and web application. By measuring biometrics like heart rate and temperature, the wearable will help track strain, recovery, and sleep patterns. Once the data is analyzed, the company makes recommendations on how to increase performance and decrease injuries through training and recovery.
“Our mission at Whoop is to empower athletes,” Will Ahmed, founder and CEO at Whoop, said in a statement. “This partnership with the NFLPA is truly the first of its kind in that athletes will finally become both healthier and wealthier by collecting, controlling, and ultimately having the ability to sell their own health and performance data.”
Players will own their data and have the choice to sell it or keep it private, according to the NFLPA. The association said multiple layers of privacy have been put in place to ensure the data is secure.
“Every day, NFL players produce data that can translate into physiological and financial opportunities. We see partnering with Whoop as the first step in harnessing this exciting technology,” said Ahmad Nassar, President of NFL Players Inc. “We are excited to have Whoop and its innovative, holistic monitoring technology serve as our first OneTeam Collective deal. Together, we’re paving the way towards a new frontier where athletes are empowered by data.”
In December, Whoop partnered with Major League Baseball to conduct the largest performance study ever in a United States professional sports league. Among the findings were that pitchers have the best cardiovascular fitness and need to most rest between performances.
Holy cowskin! Company’s transparent leather comes in array of bright colors
Why it matters to you
Looking for a futuristic, albeit slightly creepy, material for your next jacket to be made out of? This ultra-colorful transparent leather might be the answer to your prayers!
As tech geeks, we may not be the best choice to talk about cutting-edge fashion. We do know a bit about cool materials science, however — which is why we were excited to hear that Netherlands-based ECCO Leather has developed and launched a crazy new material it describes as the world’s first soft and transparent cowskin leather.
If you’ve ever wanted a coat that resembles the translucent, leathery wings of Batman villain Man-Bat, well, today’s your lucky day!
The pliable (and, just as importantly, water-resistant) material is called Apparition, and was developed by researchers at ECCO after a three-year period spent studying ancient Egyptian and Greek tanning techniques. It’s available in a range of vibrant colors, and its creators hope that it will soon pop up in everything from bags and shoes to jackets and shirts.
“The technique of keeping the leather soft, is obviously a trade secret,” said Sruli Recht, creative director and lead of the ECCO Leather project. “It came out of the challenge of rethinking leather aesthetics in terms of both visual and touch properties. We asked ourselves: ‘What would be the Holy Grail of leather?’ I would say it would be creating a futuristic material that still maintains the properties that we know, love, and require from leather.”
Recht said the goal became translucent leather. He added that ECCO was deeply inspired by what other designers and tanneries had achieved in the realm of transparent and translucent leathers over recent years, “but our aim was to identify concrete ways we could combine our deep tanning experience with the significant horsepower of our state-of-the-art [research and development] facility in the Netherlands to push the technology forward, solving practical issues that have eluded the industry up to now, like lasting pliability and the ability to get wet.”
The results, we have to say, are a tiny bit Silence of the Lambs — but pretty cool, nonetheless.
AIVAnet 