Control your Roomba with just your voice via this new Alexa integration
Why it matters to you
The Roomba is already one of the easiest vacuum cleaners to use, given that it’s autonomous, but now that it has an Amazon Alexa integration, things just got even easier.
If autonomy in and of itself doesn’t make your Roomba the best vacuum cleaner of all time, perhaps voice activation will do the trick. Everyone’s favorite self-driving vacuum cleaner just added an Amazon Alexa integration, allowing you to communicate with your cleaning assistant with nothing more than your voice.
Thanks to the launch of the Roomba 890 and Roomba 690 Wi-Fi-connected vacuuming robots, your autonomous cleaning device is smarter (and more obedient) than ever. “Expanding the benefits of connectivity from our top-of-the-line Roomba 900 Series through our popular Roomba 800 and 600 Series robots gives more of our customers the opportunity to experience the added functionality and control our connected app gives our robots,” said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. “This is an important next step in making the benefits of smart home technology available to everyone.”
Both the Roomba 890 and the Roomba 690 Wi-Fi connected bots can be scheduled to clean up to seven times a week (which is to say, every day) using the iRobot Home app. And because the Roomba skill for Amazon Alexa is now available across the entire range of connected Roomba vacuums, you can control just about any one of these cleaners just by talking to it — or rather, to Amazon’s virtual assistant. To get Roomba to start tidying up, simply say, “Alexa, ask Roomba to begin cleaning.”
“Adding Wi-Fi connectivity and iRobot Home App support to our Roomba 890 and 690 vacuuming robots enriches our customers’ interaction and experience,” said Christian Cerda, COO of iRobot. “We’ve built customer-centric features directly into the app — from scheduling cleaning jobs, to notifications and direct access to customer support — allowing for more customized, powerful cleaning assistance, every day.”
The Roomba 690 is now available for purchase in the U.S. for $375, while the Roomba 890 will be available in the U.S. by the end of the second quarter.
Roomba’s associated iRobot Home app now comes with a Clean Map report, which displays information concerning the dirtiest floor areas and total space cleaned.
“iRobot is aggressively pursuing opportunities within the connected home to improve our customers’ experience with our cleaning robots,” Angle noted. “The latest updates for the iRobot Home App make cleaning with an iRobot Roomba vacuuming robot even more user friendly, with voice-activated commands, enhanced mapping features and useful post-cleaning reports. These are exciting next steps toward our vision of an ecosystem of home robots that work collaboratively and further enable the smart home.”
The latest Roombas from iRobot, the 900 Series, promise to combine “adaptive navigation with visual localization,” helping these bots create a map of a home as they do their chores. Clean Map reports then allow you to see these maps. The new app feature also lets you know which areas of your home feature the highest concentrations of dirt or debris, so you might adjust your cleaning (or usage) habits.
Article originally published in March. Updated on 05-02-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of widespread availability of Amazon Alexa integration with Roomba.
Samsung could pass Intel to become the world’s No. 1 chipmaker
Why it matters to you
A shift in power could break more than two decades of Intel dominance, and see Samsung control two key positions in the tech industry.
Samsung may be poised to take Intel’s position as the top chip manufacturer in the world. If it happens, it’s likely to sting too, because Intel has held the prized top spot for the last 24 years. The shift in power hasn’t happened yet, but research company IC Insights predicts it will happen before we’re halfway through 2017; but only if the recent high prices of memory chips continues.
Its data suggests Intel will log $14.4 billion in semiconductor sales at the end of the second quarter this year, while Samsung will edge past it with $14.9 billion in sales. This would be up from the $13.5 billion Samsung made at the end of March, and a 4.1 percent increase over the same period last year. Intel was still ahead at the end of March, with $14.2 billion in sales.
Samsung has its memory chips to thank for its prosperity, and the considerable global interest in premium, high-performance smartphones, but particularly in China. Its chip manufacturing division is its highest earner, and the combination of demand and price increases in the memory market are likely to keep it that way.
At the beginning of 2017, data showed Intel had a 15.9 percent market share, with Samsung in second position with 11.8 percent, a place it has held for 15 years. Should the switch take place, it will see Samsung occupy two important positions in the industry, based on market share. Recent data from IDC shows it is still the top smartphone manufacturer, despite the Note 7’s recall last year, with an almost 23 percent share of the market.
The Korean electronics giant is investing in its semiconductor business to increase its chances of toppling Intel. Following on from a $1 billion pledge on a new chip production plant in Austin, Texas, IC Insights sees Samsung spending up to $12.5 billion on similar facilities around the world over the coming year. Intel has invested $7 billion in its own Arizona factory this year, while IC Insights sees a slightly lower total investment in the industry than Samsung, at $12 billion.
Samsung could pass Intel to become the world’s No. 1 chipmaker
Why it matters to you
A shift in power could break more than two decades of Intel dominance, and see Samsung control two key positions in the tech industry.
Samsung may be poised to take Intel’s position as the top chip manufacturer in the world. If it happens, it’s likely to sting too, because Intel has held the prized top spot for the last 24 years. The shift in power hasn’t happened yet, but research company IC Insights predicts it will happen before we’re halfway through 2017; but only if the recent high prices of memory chips continues.
Its data suggests Intel will log $14.4 billion in semiconductor sales at the end of the second quarter this year, while Samsung will edge past it with $14.9 billion in sales. This would be up from the $13.5 billion Samsung made at the end of March, and a 4.1 percent increase over the same period last year. Intel was still ahead at the end of March, with $14.2 billion in sales.
Samsung has its memory chips to thank for its prosperity, and the considerable global interest in premium, high-performance smartphones, but particularly in China. Its chip manufacturing division is its highest earner, and the combination of demand and price increases in the memory market are likely to keep it that way.
At the beginning of 2017, data showed Intel had a 15.9 percent market share, with Samsung in second position with 11.8 percent, a place it has held for 15 years. Should the switch take place, it will see Samsung occupy two important positions in the industry, based on market share. Recent data from IDC shows it is still the top smartphone manufacturer, despite the Note 7’s recall last year, with an almost 23 percent share of the market.
The Korean electronics giant is investing in its semiconductor business to increase its chances of toppling Intel. Following on from a $1 billion pledge on a new chip production plant in Austin, Texas, IC Insights sees Samsung spending up to $12.5 billion on similar facilities around the world over the coming year. Intel has invested $7 billion in its own Arizona factory this year, while IC Insights sees a slightly lower total investment in the industry than Samsung, at $12 billion.
Samsung’s Bixby can’t speak English yet, but can rap insults to Siri in Korean
Why it matters to you
Samsung has launched voice functionality for its virtual assistant, Bixby, in Korea, ahead of its English debut in the next few months.
Bixby is the name given to Samsung’s virtual assistant installed on the new Galaxy S8 smartphones, and although it can’t speak English yet, there is evidence it’s quite adept at rapping its native Korean. Videos showing its skills have been posted on YouTube, and have overshadowed other, more standard examples of the assistant’s brand-new voice feature. Plus, in true rap style, in some of the rhymes Bixby allegedly takes a shot at archrival Siri.
One of the lengthier videos gives us more than three minutes of Bixby rapping in a female voice, while a shorter clip from another YouTuber sees the assistant’s male voice take over the rapping duties. According to one Reddit post, this rap includes the phrase, “I am better than Siri.” While such a phrase is sure to have Samsung fans whoop and shout with glee, one could argue that in reality Siri’s grasp of multiple languages, and wider availability, does give Apple’s assistant the edge at the moment.
If you’re grabbing your own Galaxy S8 ready to ask Bixby to belt out a rap, it’s not going to work unless you’re in Korea. Samsung started releasing voice features through an update to its Korean phones this week, and promises English voice support will come during the first half of this year.
Bixby’s voice features are relatively basic at the moment, including bookmarking web pages, sharing photos on social media, taking screenshots, and opening the Bixby Vision feature. A further video shows Bixby performing some actions, such as displaying recently taken pictures and creating an album of the results, plus taking a screenshot and sending it to a contact.
It’s inevitable English-speaking Bixby will do all this for us, but the more pressing question is, will it also rap for us? Most virtual assistants have quirky features like this just waiting to be discovered, as it helps give them a slightly more “human” personality, and encourages exploration. We’ll find out what Bixby can do in the coming months.
Pillsy, the world’s first smart pill bottle, conditions you to take your meds
Why it matters to you
Pillsy, a pill bottle that syncs with your phone, uses principles from behavioral psychology to ensure you get your daily dose.
Managing medication is hard enough when you’ve got one pill to remember, but juggling multiple supplements, vitamins, and prescriptions is a recipe for disaster. Medication nonadherence — not taking medications as prescribed — is responsible for 125,000 deaths in the United States each year, and costs the health care system about $300 billion annually.
It’s a problem that Pillsy, a smart pill bottle that keeps track of daily doses, aims to solve.
Company co-founder Jeff LeBrun conceived of the idea when he and his wife struggled to follow a pill-taking routine.
“I tried reminders on my phone, but they would often go off when I was nowhere near my pills,” he said. “And [though] my wife is a very capable person who is good at almost everything she does, [even] she found that it was difficult to remember to take these new vitamins on a regular basis.”
Pillsy isn’t very complicated, and that’s the point — the team set out to build “[something] accessible to as many people as possible.” Every Pillsy packs a Bluetooth 4.0 radio, an open/closed sensor (the second-generation model has a load sensor), and a battery than lasts for more than 12 months on a charge.
A smartphone app does most of the heavy lifting. Pillsy automatically senses when the pill bottle is opened and closed, and sends an alert via SMS, lock screen notification, and/or phone call when you forget a dose. It monitors for double doses, and keeps track of how many pills are remaining.
A family sharing feature lets you choose you monitor a loved one’s doses and get weekly reports. And if you use Pillsy to keep track of vitamins, the app syncs a nutrient report to Apple Health, Apple’s wellness platform on iOS.
Trouble keeping track of medication is the leading cause of placement in nursing homes, LeBrun said. But the problem cuts across generational lines — young people are statistically worse at taking their pills than the elderly, LeBrun said.
“It’s really not that surprising,” said LeBrun. “Today, most people are simply handed new pills and told to take them once or twice a day, but with none of the tools needed to build a new habit. There are no visual cues, no rewards, and no regular support. A short discussion with a doctor or a pharmacist is simply not enough.”
LeBrun’s solution is the “habit loop,” a concept in behavioral psychology that posits developing a new habit requires (1) a cue, (2) the desired action, and (3) a reward.
To that end, the Pillsy app ships with a motivational chat bot that provides helpful advice. If a user skips doses, Pillsy’s bot asks them why, so they can drill down to the core reasons and get back on track.
“Most pills that have longer-term benefits don’t come with a trigger or a reward,” LeBrun said. That’s bad news for prescriptions. “Research has shown that most people forget the prescription instructions that are given to them verbally only 10 minutes after leaving the doctor’s office.”
The team has already had success. They’ve recruited dozens of beta testers who are using it to help with prenatal vitamins, antidepressants, ADHD medications, and drugs to treat cancer and HIV. And LeBrun’s wife — one of Pillsy’s first beta testers — went from taking vitamins 40 percent of the time to taking them over 98 percent of the time.
“I wanted Pillsy to be friendly, fun, and easy-to-use,” said LeBrun. “Pillsy is intentionally simple to use, but we believe it can help many people take control over an important part of their help. We’re starting with a smart pill cap, but our ambitions are actually much greater.”
Pillsy is available for prepurchase starting today.
Gigabyte targets graphics pros, PC gamers with Pantone-certified laptop
Why it matters to you
Gigabyte’s new 15-inch laptop, with its Pantone-certified screen, meets the needs of not only the PC gaming crowd, but graphic artists and ad designers as well.
On Tuesday, Gigabyte introduced the Aero 15, the world’s first Pantone-certified laptop built for professionals. But don’t let that “pro” label fool you: There’s enough hardware under the hood to make it a decent PC gaming solution. The big selling point, however, is the laptop’s 15-inch screen built for consistent, accurate colors for photographers, ad designers, and graphic artists.
The Pantone aspect is important because it means the display can match the colors used in the physical Pantone color space. Pantone colors are generally used in the printing process although paints, plastics, and fabrics rely on this color space as well. Typically, we see displays boast support for Adobe RGB, sRGB, and several others. But the Aero 15 is the first laptop to support a color space that was established in the early 1950s and is still in use.
“Before each and every Aero 15 leaves the factory, they are calibrated individually with the calibration technology provided and strictly governed by X-Rite Pantone,” the company said. “This further ensures that each display is showing consistent and accurate colors, so professionals know exactly what results they will be getting.”
As for the Aero 15 hardware, here is the base design:
Screen size:
15 inches
Screen resolution:
1920 x 1080
3840 x 2160
Screen border thickness:
5.1mm
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
Graphics memory (dedicated):
6GB GDDR5
Memory:
2x DDR4 slots up to 32GB (2,400MHz)
Storage:
2x M.2 PCI Express Gen3 x4 SSD slots
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (Intel 8265) (2×2)
Bluetooth (?)
Sound:
Dolby Digital Plus
Battery:
94.24 watt-hour
Keyboard:
Backlit, 16.8 million per-key colors
Ports:
1x Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (10Gbps)
1x USB 2.01x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort
Dimensions:
14.01 
x 9.84 (D) x 0.78 (H) inches
Weight:
4.62 pounds
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home
So that’s the foundation. Here are the three individual models and their starting configurations:
Aero 15W-GN4
Aero 15W-OG4
Aero 15W-BK4
Resolution:
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Memory:
16GB
16GB
16GB
Storage:
512GB
512GB
512GB
Color:
Green
Orange
Black
Customers in North America should expect several variants of the three Aero 15 units shown above to reflect the higher resolution option, more storage capacity options, and additional memory configurations. The starting price is a hefty $1,899.
On the display front, the company didn’t indicate what type of panel technology it’s using. For the 3840 x 2160 option, the company associates the resolution with wide viewing angles, indicating the possible use of In-Plane Switching technology that’s known for ultrawide viewing angles and super-rich colors. Gigabyte may simply be using the older Twisted Nematic tech for the 1920 x 1080 resolutions, which is ideal for PC gamers due to its fast response times and high brightness.
That said, Gigabyte is openly targeting both the professional graphics crowd and the PC gaming community with the Aero 15. It’s a “powerhouse” according to Gigabyte, enabling digital artists and designers to take a break from their graphic-intense work to play immersive VR at 90 frames per second without the need for a second PC.
Right now, we don’t know the exact availability date or all the price points, so stay tuned.
Gigabyte targets graphics pros, PC gamers with Pantone-certified laptop
Why it matters to you
Gigabyte’s new 15-inch laptop, with its Pantone-certified screen, meets the needs of not only the PC gaming crowd, but graphic artists and ad designers as well.
On Tuesday, Gigabyte introduced the Aero 15, the world’s first Pantone-certified laptop built for professionals. But don’t let that “pro” label fool you: There’s enough hardware under the hood to make it a decent PC gaming solution. The big selling point, however, is the laptop’s 15-inch screen built for consistent, accurate colors for photographers, ad designers, and graphic artists.
The Pantone aspect is important because it means the display can match the colors used in the physical Pantone color space. Pantone colors are generally used in the printing process although paints, plastics, and fabrics rely on this color space as well. Typically, we see displays boast support for Adobe RGB, sRGB, and several others. But the Aero 15 is the first laptop to support a color space that was established in the early 1950s and is still in use.
“Before each and every Aero 15 leaves the factory, they are calibrated individually with the calibration technology provided and strictly governed by X-Rite Pantone,” the company said. “This further ensures that each display is showing consistent and accurate colors, so professionals know exactly what results they will be getting.”
As for the Aero 15 hardware, here is the base design:
Screen size:
15 inches
Screen resolution:
1920 x 1080
3840 x 2160
Screen border thickness:
5.1mm
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060
Graphics memory (dedicated):
6GB GDDR5
Memory:
2x DDR4 slots up to 32GB (2,400MHz)
Storage:
2x M.2 PCI Express Gen3 x4 SSD slots
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (Intel 8265) (2×2)
Bluetooth (?)
Sound:
Dolby Digital Plus
Battery:
94.24 watt-hour
Keyboard:
Backlit, 16.8 million per-key colors
Ports:
1x Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (10Gbps)
1x USB 2.01x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort
Dimensions:
14.01 x 9.84 (D) x 0.78 (H) inches
Weight:
4.62 pounds
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home
So that’s the foundation. Here are the three individual models and their starting configurations:
Aero 15W-GN4
Aero 15W-OG4
Aero 15W-BK4
Resolution:
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Memory:
16GB
16GB
16GB
Storage:
512GB
512GB
512GB
Color:
Green
Orange
Black
Customers in North America should expect several variants of the three Aero 15 units shown above to reflect the higher resolution option, more storage capacity options, and additional memory configurations. The starting price is a hefty $1,899.
On the display front, the company didn’t indicate what type of panel technology it’s using. For the 3840 x 2160 option, the company associates the resolution with wide viewing angles, indicating the possible use of In-Plane Switching technology that’s known for ultrawide viewing angles and super-rich colors. Gigabyte may simply be using the older Twisted Nematic tech for the 1920 x 1080 resolutions, which is ideal for PC gamers due to its fast response times and high brightness.
That said, Gigabyte is openly targeting both the professional graphics crowd and the PC gaming community with the Aero 15. It’s a “powerhouse” according to Gigabyte, enabling digital artists and designers to take a break from their graphic-intense work to play immersive VR at 90 frames per second without the need for a second PC.
Right now, we don’t know the exact availability date or all the price points, so stay tuned.
The best smartwatch you can buy
The smartwatch phenomenon began in earnest during 2015, but now it’s in full swing. Although we only saw a handful of new smartwatches in 2016, the latest and greatest smartwatches are a big improvement over the unsightly first-generation models. Now we have a number of attractive smartwatches from tech companies and fashion brands alike.
There is a smartwatch on this list for everyone, whether you’re a businessman or a woman. We’ve also included a variety of smartwatch operating systems on this list, so you can find the watch that works best with your phone.
Our pick
Why should you buy this: It’s the best smartwatch
Our Score
The Best
Apple Watch Series 2
It’s simply the best, by far. There’s little comparison at the moment.
$369.00 from Apple
Who’s it for: Anyone with an iPhone who wants a smartwatch
How much will it cost: $370+
Why we picked the Apple Watch Series 2
The Apple Watch Series 2 is beautifully made, comfortable to wear, comes in different materials to suit most pockets, and there’s a choice of straps that should ensure it can fit in with most people’s style. Plus, it comes in two different sizes — 38mm and 42mm — so it’ll look equally at home on male and female wrists.
The key to the Apple Watch’s success is the variety of styles, sizes, and price points. Watches are very personal and people want to customize them and make their watch unique. Apple even partnered up with fashion and sportswear brands like Hermes and Nike to make special versions of its Series 2 Watch. Now, it’s waterproof up to 50 meters, you can swim with it, and it has GPS onboard; it’s the ultimate smartwatch for active people.
Style isn’t the only thing we love about the Apple Watch Series 2. Its WatchOS 3 operating system is much easier to use than the original version of the OS. Also, apps load super fast, thanks to the new processor and dock feature, which stores your most-used apps for quick access. We love the unusual, fun messaging features, such as being able to send haptic taps directly to another Apple Watch. Add in fitness tracking, a heart rate monitor, an array of apps, a solid notification system, plus a growing range of accessories, and the Apple Watch sets the overall standard for current smartwatches.
As far as downsides go, it’s expensive at $370+ — particularly if you choose anything but the Watch Sport. You can get a number of third-party watch bands to help knock down the price though. Here are some of our favorites. It also only works with the iPhone, but it’s an Apple product, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.
Read our full review
The best Android Wear smartwatch
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Why should you buy this: It’s good-looking, gender neutral, and has solid specs.
Our Score
The Best Android Watch
Huawei Watch
Huawei’s watch is the classiest Android Wear device for men or women, and is water resistant.
$349.99 from Amazon
$249.99 from Best Buy
Who’s it for: Anyone who wants a classy, round smartwatch that’ll work on iOS or Android
How much will it cost: $300+
Why we picked the Huawei Watch 2
The Huawei Watch 2, the follow-up to the stellar Huawei Watch, was worth the wait. This time around, it’s available in two styles: The Sport and Classic. The Classic model isn’t available in the U.S. yet, and there’s no LTE in the U.S. variant of the Sport.
The Sport is available in black, titanium grey, or concrete grey, and it’s one of the best-looking Android Wear 2.0 device available. It’s technically impressive too, with the 390 x 390 pixel, 1.2-inch AMOLED screen, which surpasses most other Android Wear watch displays in terms of sharpness.
Android Wear runs smoothly on the watch, and even though it’s not our favorite smartwatch OS, the new version is a big step forward in terms of design and ease of use. You can read our hands on with Android Wear 2.0 here. It’ll also work with both iOS and Android devices, though iOS functions are limited. If you have an iPhone, we still recommend the Apple Watch Series 2 ahead of Huawei’s Watch 2. However, for Android users, it doesn’t get better than this.
For those who like to work out, there’s a heart rate monitor for fitness tracking, and the Google Fit or Huawei Workout app will keep tabs on your exercise sessions. GPS will save your jogging and cycling routes to your smartphone. You can also pair Bluetooth earbuds to the watch to listen to music without a phone.
The Huawei Watch 2 isn’t meant for swimming, but like the Apple Watch Series 2, it is IP68 water resistant and can handle 30 minutes in 1.5 meter of water.
If you though the Huawei Watch was large, you may be surprised to hear that the Huawei Watch 2 is even bigger. The 45mm circular body is just barely compact enough to fit on male and female wrists, but it’s definitely skewed towards men with bigger bones. However, the design is sleek enough to appeal to everyone.
The Huawei Watch 2 lasts 1-2 days on a charge depending on how much you use it, and it has a magnetic charger that’s easy to use. It’s cheaper than most Android Wear flagship devices at $300 for the Sport model.
Read our full review
The best Samsung smartwatch
Why should you buy this: It is the best smartwatch for Samsung users
Our Score
Best Samsung
Samsung Gear S3
Samsung’s Gear S3 is bigger, but also a lot nicer than many Android watches.
$349.99 from Amazon
$349.99 from Samsung
Who’s it for: Anyone with a Samsung phone who wants a stellar smartwatch
How much will it cost: $350
Why we picked the Gear S3 Frontier
Samsung’s Gear S2 was a hit, and its Gear S3 Frontier is even better. It’s a traditional-looking sporty smartwatch with classic Swiss design elements and a 46mm diameter casing. It’s thicker and sporty, traditional-looking watch bezels with an index. The larger size isn’t for everyone, but it’s ideal for people who like bigger, chunky watches. Those with small wrists and women who don’t like big masculine watches should consider the Gear S2 Classic instead.
The Frontier’s index is numbered like the dial on most outdoors watches, and it has a stainless steel case that is waterproof up to 5 meters for 30 minutes, thanks to an IP68 rating. The steel of the Frontier is coated with a dark color and has a silicon band. You can use any 22mm strap with the two Gear S3 Frontier, but Samsung sells its own straps. All of them are really gorgeous and connect with the classic pin mechanism you’ll see on most watch straps.
It’s a powerful smartwatch with Samsung’s Always-On display technology, which ensures the watch face is always visible in full color. It boasts built-in GPS and tons of fitness features like the ones you’d find on its fitness trackers. The Frontier is fully focused on outdoor tracking and it even comes in an LTE variant, for those who want to use the watch as a standalone device.
The smartwatch uses the same innovative, circular Tizen-based interface as the Gear S2, and you use the same rotating bezel for navigation. It’s the best smartwatch OS other than Apple’s WatchOS. It also offers mobile payments with Samsung Pay, and this time it can use both NFC and MST technology, so you should be able to use it at any normal register, even if it doesn’t have NFC support. The improvements make it a great smartwatch for Samsung phone owners. It will work with other Android phones, but some functions aren’t as well-developed for non-Samsung phones. Now, the Gear S3 will work with iPhones, thanks to the new Gear S app. It’s a bit hard to connect, though, and some features won’t work.
Read our full review
The best smartwatch by a fashion brand
Why should you buy this: It’s a classic Fossil watch made with high-quality materials
Our Score
The Best Smartwatch by a Watchmaker
Fossil Q Founder
The Fossil Q Founder is perfect if you like a traditional, manly, chunky watch, but still want Android Wear.
$204.00 from Amazon
Who’s it for: Men who like big, bold Fossil watches, but want to try out Android Wear
How much will it cost: $275+
Why we picked the Fossil Q Founder
If the Huawei Watch 2 is our favorite Android Wear smartwatch for wrists of all sizes, then the Fossil Q Founder is the one to buy if you love a chunky watch. The chrome version is absolutely gorgeous, and treads the fine line between being satisfyingly large without being cumbersome. It’s a delight to look at, and you’ll be proud to wear it. This is the smartwatch for fashion-focused folks who love Fossil’s design aesthetic.
The technology inside the Q Founder isn’t all that different from other Android Wear watches, though it does have an Intel chip and 1GB of RAM. The Intel chip doesn’t make it that much faster in everyday use. Some people will be put off by that distinctive ‘flat tire’ display with a cut-off bottom, but it doesn’t detract from the watch as a whole. The price is also extremely reasonable, especially given the brand name and gorgeous design.
It runs Android Wear and offers basic fitness tracking like other smartwatches. It has already received the Android Wear 2.0 update, which makes it easier to use and more consistent with modern design. The Q Founder offers IP67 water-resistance, too, so it’s safe from splashes. The battery will last you about a day, so you’ll have to charge it every night on the semi-impractical charging pillow.
Fossil also sells a few more Android Wear smartwatches, including the Q Wander for women and the Q Marshal for men who like slightly smaller watches. We currently prefer the Q Founder, but we’ll update the post once we get the Q Marshal in to review.
Read our full review
The best Android Wear smartwatch for women
Why should you buy this: It’s the best-looking smartwatch if you have smaller wrists
Our Score
The Best Android Watch for Women
Motorola Moto 360 (2015)
Motorola’s second-generation Moto 360 is the only Android Wear watch that offers size and customization options.
$299.99 from Motorola
$284.99 from Amazon
Who’s it for: Anyone with an iPhone who wants a smartwatch
How much will it cost: $300+
Why we picked the Motorola Moto 360, 2nd gen
The original circular smartwatch is back with a vengeance, and although the trademark ‘flat tire’ display remains, the watch now comes in two sizes — 46mm and 42mm, to suit men and women. Everything from the bezel’s finish to the color of the strap can be altered in Moto Maker, allowing you to create a watch that’s completely to your taste.
It’s also the only Android Wear watch on this list that we can recommend to women. Third-party straps work with the Moto 360, too, the 46mm version works with 22mm straps and the 42mm version works with 18mm straps. It’s easy to find good, cheaper options online than you’d get from Motorola.
Android Wear runs on the Moto 360, so it’ll work with Android and iOS devices, though it’ll be better with Android. The Android Wear 2.0 update will likely hit the watch as soon as Google makes it available. The Moto 360 has a 1.4-inch 360 x 325 pixel LCD screen and typical processing power for a smartwatch. The battery differs in size depending on which model you pick, but expect a day-and-a-half use.
Prices vary, at the moment, but you can find the watch online for less than $300. It may be getting up there in age, but so are many Android Wear smartwatches. The second-generation Moto 360 is the one to buy if you’re a lady who likes smartwatches.
Read our review here
How we test
We test smartwatches just like we test smartphones. We use them every day and test out all the marquee features. We strap them to our wrists (no matter how silly they look), and walk around town with them, making calls and exercising to test out the workout features. We pair them with different phones and test the experience when the watch is connected to phones different OSes. We dunk water-resistant smartwatches in water and take outdoorsy watches on hikes. We download tons of apps and discard the lame ones to determine how strong the app ecosystem really is, and we go to cafes that accept mobile payments and buy lattes with our wrists.
Basically, we get lots of weird looks, but it’s worth it.
Which smartwatch OS is best?
Each smartwatch operating system is different. Apple’s Watch OS 3.0 and Samsung’s special round Tizen OS for the Gear S line of watches are the two best smartwatch OSes in terms of design, features, and ease of use. Android Wear has fallen behind, and that’s reflected by low sales and lukewarm enthusiasm from its manufacturing partners — We haven’t seen many new Android Wear devices in 2016. Android Wear 2.0 looks better and solves many of the OS’ problems, but it still involves a lot of swiping and isn’t intuitive to use. It doesn’t support mobile payments, either.
In contrast, Apple’s WatchOS is dead simple and so is Samsung’s Tizen. Both offer fully-featured fitness tracking that’s easy to access and intuitive interfaces. On the Gear S watches, you just twist the bezel in a circle to navigate through quick launch apps, your full library of apps, and settings. Each app is made to suit the circular OS, so navigation is easy to figure out. You always have a back button if you get lost, too. The addition of Samsung Pay also takes Samsung’s watches to a new level with mobile payments.
The same could be said of Apple’s WatchOS. It’s attractive, apps are easy to find with a press of the digital crown, and you have access to quick launch apps in the Dock with the press of a button. Apple pay works on WatchOS, too. WatchOS 3 is even simpler than Samsung’s interface now that Apple has cut down on a few pointless menus and boosted the companion app.
In terms of app support, Apple’s OS has the best and most plentiful apps that we use on a regular basis. Android Wear is second and is starting to develop a decent number of apps, and Samsung’s app store is a distant third. There are not a lot of useful apps on Tizen.
Winner: WatchOS by Apple
Should you buy a smartwatch now? Probably not
So you think you want a smartwatch? Are you sure? Are you flush? Are you unashamed to rock bleeding edge tech very publicly on your wrist? OK. Proceed!
The problem with smartwatches is that you really don’t need one. Yeah, it’s nice to have the time and notifications on your wrist, and fitness tracking is cool, but you could really just buy a fitness band for a third of the price. A fitness band won’t do as much, but smartwatches are still very niche and not necessary. That’s the problem. One-day battery life is also hard to swallow for some people, so if you’re adverse to charging multiple gadgets every night, stay away.
We think the Apple Watch is the most useful, and if you’re looking to buy an Apple Watch, the Series 2 is a great buy. It’s brand new and Apple isn’t likely to replace it super quickly. It took nearly two years in between the first and second Apple Watches, so you’re in for a wait if you want the Series 3. If you’re okay spending the dough and realizing that this is still early days for the samrtwatch, it’s the one to buy.
If you’re looking for an Android Wear watch, you may as well go ahead now. 2016 was a rough year for the operating system as hardly any manufacturers released a new watch, but now that Android Wear 2.0 is out, plenty have been announced.
Although no one needs a smartwatch, these are the best ones you can buy right now at this very moment, so let’s get ticking!
Kobo’s new Aura H20 still survives a dip in the deep end, holds even more books
Why it matters to you
If you’re in the market for an affordable, durable new ebook reader, you might consider the Kobo Aura H2O.
Ebook readers are not as popular as they once were. Sales fell from a record 23.2 million units in 2011 to 14.9 million units in 2012 and that downward trend is expected to continue. But that is not stopping Kobo, the Toronto, Canada-based e-reader company, from doing all it can to prop up the remains.
On Monday, Kobo announced a refreshed version of the Aura H2O, an affordable, waterproof ebook reader with an anti-glare screen and blue-light filter that minimizes eye strain.
Notable upgrades include the internal storage, which has been bumped to 8GB from the last-generation model’s 4GB. That is enough to hold 6,000 ebooks, Kobo said, or 36,000 if you add an additional 32GB of memory via its microSD expansion slot.
The new Aura H2O packs improved silicon, too. A Freescale Sololite processor and 512 MB of RAM — double its predecessor’s memory — keeps the H2O humming for up to two months on a single charge, and makes page turns “quick and seamless.”
Kobo’s HZO Protections will keep the Aura H20 safe for up to 30 minutes in three feet of water.
Beyond those changes, though, the H2O is not all that different from the model that came before it. Like the first-generation Kobo H2O, the new H2O packs with Kobo’s HZO Protection, which keep water out of the tablet’s ports even when it is fully submerged (Kobo said it is safe for up to 30 minutes in three feet of water.) And it sports a 6.8-inch screen with the same resolution — 1430 x 1080 (265ppi) — as 2016’s model.
Like the rest of Kobo’s ebook reader lineup, the H2O ships with Kobo’s TypeGenius software, which lets you fiddle with the weight, sharpness, size, font type, and margins of ebooks. Highlighting and note-taking tools are in tow, too, as is a built-in word dictionary.
The Kobo Aura H2O supports a wealth of file formats and supported languages include English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Italian, and Portuguese, and more.
Aura H2O will retail for $180 when it goes on sale May 22 in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, and Turkey. It will come to Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines in July; and to Mexico and Brazil “later in the year.” Pre-orders begin on May 15.
Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends
Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends
The H2O fits right below the Aura One in Kobo’s lineup in terms of pricing, but the only real difference is the screen size. The $230 Aura One features a slightly larger 7.8-inch display with a 300ppi resolution, but the same processor, blue-light filter, processor, and storage capacity. In other words, you are not sacrificing much with the H2O.
Kobo’s biggest competitor was — and is — Amazon, which dominates the ebook reader market. In 2010, the internet retailer’s Kindle accounted for 62.8 percent of all ebook reader sales and Amazon is estimated to have 65 percent of the U.S. market.
But none of Amazon’s Kindles are waterproof and the cheapest Amazon equivalent — the Kindle Voyage — costs $200 for half (4GB) the H2O’s storage.
WhatsApp beta lets you pin your most important chats to the top of your inbox
Why it matters to you
Your WhatsApp inbox can quickly become overwhelming, with hordes of messages pouring in from your many contacts. Pinned chats could help you keep things organized.
You’re a popular person, so it’s no wonder that your friends are blowing up your WhatsApp. But let’s be honest: You don’t have time for all those messages clogging up your inbox, especially when they detract attention from the folks who actually matter.
Thankfully, there’s now a way to cut through the noise. WhatsApp looks to be testing a new feature that will let you pin your most important conversations at the top of your inbox, so you always know what mom or dad has to say, even if Cousin Bob is trying to get your attention with 10 messages in a row.
As first reported by Android Police, WhatsApp beta 2.17.162 and 163 have added the new feature, which allows you to designate certain WhatsApp contacts as VIP. Simply tap and hold any chat you’d like to access a pin icon in the action bar alongside the delete, mute, and archive options. Once you’ve pinned the conversation, it’ll stay at the top of your WhatsApp list, even if you have more recent chats. Think of it as a pinned tweet — it’ll always be at the top of your feed.
For the time being, it looks as though you can only pin three chats at a time. If you try to add more, you’ll get a toast notification informing you that your action isn’t allowed. But don’t worry — if one of your parents does something to annoy you, you can always unpin them from your favorites, and replace them with your favorite aunt or someone less insufferable.
WhatsApp is also experimenting with a special Change Number feature in the new beta, which ought to make it a lot more straightforward when it comes to changing the mobile number associated with an account. For now, it looks like you’ll have to get WhatsApp beta 2.17.162 or 163 in order to access any of these new features, but it seems safe to assume that the popular messaging app will be rolling out these updates en masse relatively soon, too.
AIVAnet 