Top 6 things to know about the Xiaomi Mi 6

There’s plenty to like in the Xiaomi Mi 6.

From the Full HD display to the Snapdragon 835 chipset and dual rear cameras, the Xiaomi Mi 6 has a lot going for it. The best part about the phone is that it is available for the equivalent of $420, making it an enticing proposition in this segment.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Mi 6 or are eyeing the device as a possible replacement for your current phone, here’s what you need to know about Xiaomi’s 2017 flagship.

It has a Full HD display

Xiaomi didn’t increase the screen size in the Mi 6 — it’s still the same 5.15 inches as the Mi 5 — and the screen resolution has also stayed the same. With a pixel density of 428ppi, it’s more than adequate. The panel itself is an IPS LCD that has excellent color accuracy and brightness levels. Xiaomi has been offering standout LCD panels for a few years now, and the situation is no different for the Mi 6.

You also get the usual MIUI features that make it easier to customize the display. There are options to adjust the color balance, and you also get a blue light filter that reduces strain on the eyes during night-time reading. Then there’s Sunlight Display, which selectively boosts the contrast to make the panel more readable when outdoors.

Powered by the 10nm Snapdragon 835

The Galaxy S8 became the first phone to offer the Snapdragon 835, but with the international variants of the phone powered by the Exynos 8895, the Mi 6 will be the first device running Qualcomm’s latest SoC in most Asian markets. The Snapdragon 835 has a boatload of new features, including a new octa-core semi-custom Kryo 280 CPU with four cores clocked at 2.45GHz and the other four at 1.9GHz.

The Adreno 540 GPU, meanwhile, is significantly faster than its predecessor and is designed to drive low-latency mobile VR experiences. Connectivity has also picked up a boost, with the Snapdragon 835 offering an X16 LTE modem that can hit Gigabit LTE speeds. There’s also Bluetooth 5.0, but you’re also going to need headphones or audio products that work off of the new standard to fully realize its benefits.

Dual rear cameras

The highlight with the Mi 6 is the dual camera setup at the back, which mimics what Apple has done with the iPhone 7 Plus. There’s a 12-megapixel imaging sensor with f/1.8 lens and 1.25-micron pixels that’s augmented by a secondary 12MP shooter with an f/2.6 lens and 1.0-micron pixels. The secondary sensor acts as the telephoto lens, offering 2x lossless zoom. It looks something like this:

The rear camera has 4-axis optical image stabilization (OIS), resulting in great shots in low-light conditions. You also get several a manual shooting mode, several filters with live previews, and a host of beautification effects directly in the camera app.

More memory but limited availability

The Mi 6 comes with 6GB of RAM as standard, and there are two storage tiers available — 64GB and 128GB. The model with 64GB internal storage retails for ¥2,499 ($360) in China, whereas the version with 128GB costs ¥2,899 ($420). Then there’s a limited edition ceramic model that is available for ¥2,999 ($435).

As the phone is limited to China, you’ll have to pay a premium to pick it up from resellers. Xiaomi has recently kicked off the first flash sale, and with subsequent sales we’ll likely see the phone become available on the likes of GearBest.

Android 7.1.1 with MIUI 8

Xiaomi doesn’t necessarily have the best track record when it comes to the software side of things, but this time around it is offering Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box. The Mi 6 runs MIUI 8, and you’ll feel right at home if you’ve used a Xiaomi device in the last 12 months.

There’s a smorgasbord of features available, and while most of them are designed for Asian markets, you get a ton of customizability. The global MIUI ROM that has the Play Store and Google’s services isn’t available for the device just yet, but it should be available soon.

There’s no headphone jack

The most polarizing feature of the Mi 6 is the lack of a 3.5mm jack. The omission isn’t going to factor heavily for those that have made the switch to wireless audio products, but customers that have invested in wired headphones will see it as a major drawback.

If you’re considering the Mi 6, you’ll have to either pick up a Bluetooth-enabled headset or resort to using a dongle to hook up your wired headphones to the device.

What do you think?

That’s a quick look at what’s on offer with the Xiaomi Mi 6. What do you think of the device? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Virgin Galactic tests Unity’s re-entry system for the first time

Virgin Galactic has successfully tested its newest spacecraft’s “feather” re-entry system for the first time. That’s what it calls the mechanism wherein the vehicle folds up its twin tail booms so that it can behave more like a more capsule and increase stability upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Virgin has conducted VSS Unity’s flight test from the Mojave Air and Space Port after testing its feathering mechanism on the ground extensively. It’s imperative for the company to make sure that its re-entry system works perfectly, seeing as it was created to replace a vehicle that broke apart after one of its pilots triggered the same mechanism below the ideal speed.

It will take some time for Virgin to crunch all the data it gathered during the flight, but it says initial reports from the pilots and ground control are “extremely encouraging.” Even if the system’s first test flight turns out to be a resounding success, the company plans to put its feathering system through even more. In future tests, Unity will activate its feather system shortly after release to see how it works in flight before the spacecraft has to land. It will be tested in lower altitudes and thicker atmosphere, as well.

Virgin Galactic will release its results in the future. For now, check out a video of Unity’s first feather deployment below:

Source: Virgin Galactic

The best commands for Google Home

The Google Home speaker finally went on sale in the UK in April and while it’s a neat little smart speaker, it has some catching up to do. The Amazon Echo has already managed to garner more than 10,000 skills and the Home has very few. While the search giant works with developers to build up its selection, there are still some very useful things you can do with the smart speaker. Here’s a selection of what we think are the best.

Cast music and video to other devices

One of the big draws for Google Home is the ability to use voice control on Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices. You can stream music from your phone over Wi-Fi from a variety of Chromecast-enabled audio apps Google Play Music, Spotify and TuneIn.

Control your home

Home automation is one of the connected speaker’s main skills, and it’ll enable you to control a variety of smart home devices with your voice, including Nest, Honeywell and Tado smart thermostats, Philips Hue lights and Samsung SmartThings products. Something as simple as “Turn on the heat” can warm the house when it starts feeling a little fresh inside the house.

Settle an argument

Sometimes the fairest way to make a decision or settle an argument is with the simple flip of a coin. Home can produce an electronic coin flip with the words “Hey Google, flip a coin.” If you want to complicate things a bit more, you can say “Hey Google, roll a die” or go one step further with “Hey Google, roll a 12-sided die.”

Be at one with the Force

As you’d expect from any self-respecting assistive gadget, there’s a selection of Star Wars-based Easter eggs on offer including, “Hey Google, these are not the droids you’re looking for”, “Hey Google, aren’t you a little short for a storm trooper?” and “Hey Google, who shot first?”.

Tune an instrument

Tuning your guitar just got a whole lot easier. Rather than fiddling around with an electric tuner or app, just say “Hey Google, tune my instrument” or you can ask for a specific note, for example, “Hey Google, play an B flat”.

Sort your life out

Google Home gets to know you based on your daily travel and activities and saying “Hey Google tell me about my day” will fire up a curated update for you including the weather, traffic on your usual travel route and any appointments you have in the diary.

Play a game

The game selection is pretty thin on the ground at the moment, but expect more to be added as third-party ‘services’ join the party. For now, try “Hey Google, Mad Libs”, “Hey Google, play Lucky Trivia” or “Hey Google, Crystal Ball”

Get nerdy

Not a Star Wars fan? No bother. Google Home has plenty of other sci-fi-related Easter eggs to try out including “Hey Google, are you SkyNet?”, “Hey Google, set phasers to kill” or “Hey Google, do you like Star Trek or Star Wars?”. And of course, the ultimate question – “Hey Google, what is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?”.

Tap into Google search

Probably one of the Home’s biggest advantages over the Bing search-based Amazon Echo is its ability to tap into Google’s superior search engine, complete with Maps, Translate and more. You can ask a vast range of questions from “Hey Google, how many species of shark are there?” and “Hey Google, how do I say ‘happy birthday’ in Spanish?” to “Hey Google, what is 7 x 350?” and even “Hey Google, how is GoPro’s stock?”.

Get Google Home to sing

If you can’t decide what listen music to listen to, you can have a little fun with Home. Just say “Hey Google, sing a song” and see what you get. Alternatively, try “Hey Google, can you rap?”, “Hey Google, drop a beat” or “Hey Google, beatbox”.

You don’t need to talk posh

Unlike some voice-control services, Google Home has been specifically developed to understand the UK’s many regional accents so you shouldn’t need to adjust your speaking voice to make yourself understood.

Get the news that’s most relevant to you

Rather than being stuck with American news sources, Google Home offers access to a number of outlets closer to home, including the BBC, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Financial Times, The Sun, The Economist, Sky News and Sky Sports.

Play with animal sounds

With what could be a useful educational tool or just something to keep the kids occupied for a while, Google Home lets you play with animals noises. You simply have to ask “Hey Google, what noise does a dog/cow/hippo make?”.

Indulge your inner film buff

Google has plenty of film-related Easter eggs on offer – just try chucking some of the best-known film quotes at it and see what happens. Kick things off with “Hey Google, who you gonna call?”, “Hey Google, party on, Wayne!”, and “Hey Google, always be closing.”

Follow-on questions

Google Home can recognise when you’re asking a follow-on question, so that you don’t have to keep saying “Hey Google” for related queries. For example if you asked “Hey Google, where is the nearest off-licence”, followed by “when does it close”, it’ll know exactly what you’re referring to.

Get chatty

If you get seriously bored, you can try and strike up a sort-of conversation with Google Home, kicking off with “Hey Google, I’m bored”. Try digging a little deeper with questions like “Hey Google, what are you afraid of?”, “Hey Google, what am I thinking right now?” or “Hey Google, do you want to take over the world?”. You can also try out some British phrases like “Hey Google, Bob’s your uncle”.

Try out some tech references

It’s also worth trying out some techie questions from straightforward stuff like “Hey Google, what are the three laws of robotics?” and “Hey Google, are you friends with Alexa?” to “Hey Google, do you speak Morse code?”.

Talk like a gamer

You’ll also find a few Easter eggs for gamers including “Hey Google, up up down down left right left right B A Start”, “Hey Google, is the cake a lie?” and the classic “Hey Google, all your base are belong to us”.

Be direct

Stuck for things to do? Get straight to the point and ask “Hey Google, what are your Easter eggs?”.

Intel fixed a business security bug after almost a decade

Intel has released a firmware upgrade that can patch up a security hole that has reportedly been lurking in various enterprise PCs for almost a decade. In a note that came with the update, the chipmaker said the vulnerability can be found in Active Management Technology, Standard Manageability and Small Business Technology, all of which are parts of Intel’s suite of processor features for enterprise systems. Your company’s IT division uses those to manage its computer fleet, but since they have a security flaw, an unauthorized network attacker can also use them to hijack PCs in your network.

According to security experts at SemiAccurate, “every Intel platform from Nehalem to Kaby Lake has a remotely exploitable security hole.” Since Intel launched the Nehalem architecture in 2008, the security vulnerability might have been around for almost a decade. They’ve apparently been trying to get Intel to fix it for years — they said that the fact that the chipmaker just did means someone with the leverage to get the company to do something could’ve been affected by the issue.

Problem is, the issue might not be over for everyone just because Intel has issued a patch. Computer manufacturers will have to release the fix through a firmware upgrade, and some might not care enough to do so. The tech giant has provided instructions on how to implement mitigations for computers that don’t get any firmware fixes. You don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to your personal computer, though: the issue doesn’t exist in Intel-based consumer PCs.

Source: Intel, SemiAccurate

Logitech Debuts New Slim Folio Keyboard and Case for Apple’s Latest iPad

Logitech today announced the debut of the Logitech Slim Folio, a Bluetooth keyboard and case that’s designed for the fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad that Apple debuted earlier this year.

The Slim Folio has been designed with what Logitech says are “large, well-spaced keys” that are “stretched from edge-to-edge” and a comfortable layout to make typing quicker and easier. It also features dedicated function and iOS shortcut keys to do things like switch between apps, bring up the search function, access the Home screen, and control volume without needing to touch the iPad’s display.

A folio-style stand locks into place at an ideal typing and viewing angle, allowing the iPad to be used equally well on a flat surface like a desk or a lap. Designed to be slim and light, the folio protects the iPad from scratches and bumps with stain resistant fabric that was originally developed for the luggage industry.

“The fifth-generation iPad is Apple’s most affordable iPad to date, but there’s still a learning curve typing on the new device if you’re used to a laptop or desktop keyboard,” said Michele Hermann, vice president of mobility at Logitech. “With four years of battery life, a lightweight design, and overall great typing experience, the Logitech SLIM FOLIO can help take your mobile computing to a new level, allowing you to enjoy laptop-like typing anywhere.”

The new iPad connects to the Slim Folio over Bluetooth LE, with the keyboard automatically activating whenever the iPad is put into a typing position. Replaceable coin cell batteries that last up to four years mean there’s no need for charging.

Logitech is offering pre-orders for the Slim Folio starting today from the Logitech website. The Slim Folio is priced at $99.99 and will be available globally in May.

Tag: Logitech
Discuss this article in our forums

Twitter users, there’s a ton of new live video content coming your way

Why it matters to you

Twitter hopes its live video offerings will be a hit with existing users while at the same time persuading others to sign up.

We heard yesterday that Twitter was boosting its live streaming offerings after inking a deal with news giant Bloomberg.

Turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg after the social media company on Monday night announced a major expansion of its live video efforts across not only news but also sports and entertainment.

Twitter has partnered with 12 media outlets in its biggest push into live video yet, among them Bloomberg, BuzzFeed News, the PGA Tour, MLB, The Players’ Tribune, and Live Nation. A number of the new live-stream shows mark an expansion of existing deals with several of the outlets.

The original content will offer users of the social media site “hundreds of hours” of exclusive, live, and original programming as the platform seeks to become “the first place to see what’s happening.”

Twitter has been struggling to grow its user base — currently at 328 million — as well as monetize its service, so it’s hoping that doubling down on its live video efforts will help to boost its business on both fronts.

The company has watched in dismay as Facebook continues to cash in on its live video offerings thanks to big payouts from advertisers keen to reach the social networking giant’s global base of 1.86 billion monthly active users.

Live video offerings

Twitter’s latest live-streaming efforts include a deal with Bloomberg that gives the platform its first around-the-clock live video feed. Alongside weekly MLB games already live-streaming on Twitter, users will also be able to access an exclusive weekly three-hour show featuring MLB game look-ins and highlights. Also, Live Nation will offer Twitter users real-time coverage of select concerts and original content, kicking off on May 13 with a live-stream of the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum Zac Brown Band. And golf fans already enjoying Twitter’s 70 hours of live competition coverage across 31 PGA tournaments can try out 360 video during The Players Championship between May 11 and 14.

At an event in New York City on Monday evening, Twitter chief operating officer Anthony Noto said that in the last quarter the social media service streamed “over 800 hours of live premium content” from around 200 partners across sports, esports, news, and entertainment, adding that the newly announced live deals are “a testament to the success of our only-on-Twitter experience, combining high-quality streaming video with our only-on-Twitter conversation.”

The partnerships represent a major move by Twitter as it seeks to attract both users and advertisers to make its business more competitive. Part of the challenge will be to persuade more users familiar with viewing short clips embedded in tweets to seek out long-form video content on its platform, though with 45 million unique viewers recorded in the first three months of 2017, it seems it’s enjoying some success in this quest.

What do you think? A smart step or too little too late? Sound off in the comments below.

Linksys adds bridge mode to Velop mesh, parental controls to App Enabled routers

Why it matters to you

Update your Linksys Velop mesh system or App Enabled router to get more features and some important bug fixes.

When you really need to get something done, then losing your internet connection can be a real drag. Router manufacturers keep looking for ways to keep us connected, from pumping out routers with more powerful radios to creating new mesh technologies that use intelligence instead.

Linksys has its Velop mesh network solution and “App Enabled” routers (formerly called Smart Wi-Fi Routers) that are aimed at both covering spaces with solid wireless connectivity and offering new features as technology progresses. The company is addressing both objectives with its latest updates, due on Tuesday.

According to Dan Albertson, a Linksys senior product manager, “These two new App features have been among those most requested by our customers. Many Velop customers need the ability to configure Velop in Bridge Mode to allow them to keep their existing router or gateway from their service provider in place for other services such as voice or IPTV while leveraging Velop’s whole-home Wi-Fi coverage and performance. Parental controls scheduling has been a feature in the Linksys browser-based interface but our users have told us they need the flexibility to manage internet access schedules for their kids’ devices from the Linksys App. These are just two features among many we’ll be rolling out to the Linksys App in the coming months.”

Accordingly, the Velop whole-home mesh Wi-Fi solution is getting a new bridge mode, which will accommodate users whose internet service providers (ISPs) provide hardware that cannot be removed or replaced. For these customers, the latest update allows Velop to be configured in bridge mode and connect to an ISP-provided gateway device. The feature can be simply configured by using the Linksys app to change the connection type.

Other features that the new Bridge Mode enables include:

• Dynamic Tri-Band selection: The Velop can dynamically select either the 2.4GHz band or one of the two 5GHz bands to provide the optimal connectivity for each client. This should help the solution enable 100 percent of the available bandwidth at the edge of the mesh network.
• One guest network: The system can now accommodate a guest network that supports all mesh nodes, with improved range and performance.
• Amazon Alexa support is being added.
• Auto firmware updates: The system can now automatically update the firmware, to ensure that the Velop system remains up to date with the newest security fixes and features.

In addition, the latest update for Linksys App-Enabled routers adds in a parental control scheduler to make it easier for parents to limit the amount of time their kids spend connected to the internet. The new feature is enabled via the Linksys app for Velop, Max-Stream, WRT, and EA series routers and systems.

The updates to Velop and App-Enabled routers is available as of Tuesday. Head over to the Linksys support site for more information on updating your Linksys router, including the automatic firmware update capability.

Amazon gives Prime to everyone in Manchester-by-the-Sea

Amazon just highlighted one of the bonuses of both producing movies and running the internet service that plays them: you can offer viewer perks that conventional studios can’t match. The online giant is giving away a year of free Prime membership (plus some Amazon popcorn) to every home in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts in order to mark the streaming availability of Manchester by the Sea on May 5th. It’s clearly a publicity stunt, and a modest one when it would cost just over $500,000 to give the entire 2010 population (a whopping 5,136 people) Prime access. However, the scale of the giveaway isn’t what’s significant here — it’s more the long-term ramifications that matter.

The move underscores the advantage Amazon has by controlling virtually the entire pipeline for its movies. If it wants to boost viewership for a movie, it can offer freebies and discounts whenever it wants instead of negotiating with a third-party service. And of course, it has the luxury of using one of the world’s largest online stores as a billboard. Rivals like Netflix and Hulu could try similar promos, but they still wouldn’t have separate stores to use for marketing.

Also, this serves as a not-so-subtle reminder to studios that their titles may play second fiddle to Amazon’s on Prime Video. They won’t necessarily mind too much given that it’s a subscription service — this is usually the last stop for movies after they’ve exhausted downloads and physical sales, so any viewers they get tend to be icing on the cake. However, it might give pause to smaller outfits sincerely hoping for exposure and revenue through a Prime Video deal.

Source: Amazon

‘Gears 4’ adds new maps, support for multiple graphics cards

It’s taken a while since Gears of War 4’s October debut, but Microsoft has finally added an often-requested feature for PC gamers: SLI support. That way they can take advantage of multiple GPUs to render the game at its maximum quality, instead of leaving silicon sitting unused. There’s also a new map in the update called Dawn, and the return of a Gears of War 2 favorite: Security. Of course, competitors can take each other on via PC or Xbox and with the new multiple GPU support (make sure you have the latest drivers from AMD or NVIDIA) there’s just one more reason to try it on the PC side.

Source: Xbox Wire, Gears of War 4 Forums

First ‘Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ DLC adds more reasons to replay

Nintendo’s latest Zelda game is such a smash hit that copies of the Switch version outsold the console itself. Now, for players who’ve already traversed every corner of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s open world, the company has revealed details of its first planned DLC expansion. Due sometime this summer, DLC will add the promised ‘Hard Mode’ where enemies are powered up by one level, have higher maximum levels and they slowly regain health — oh, and enemies and chests can be found in the sky.

A new Korok mask that shakes whenever Link nears one of their hidden locations will help players find all 900 of them, while new armor sets recall outfits from previous games (yes, Tingle is back, and so is Majora’s Mask). A “Trial of the Sword” challenge will let Link take out enemies to awaken “the true power of the Master Sword,” while the Hero’s Path mode will help keep an eye on where you’ve been in the last 200 hours. Finally, a new Travel Medallion will let players designate their current location as a place that they can instantly fast travel back to.

If you’re already interested, a season pass for both planned expansions is available for $20.

Source: Zelda.com