Alexa will soon be talking a lot more with the upcoming Notifications update

Why it matters to you

Alexa will be getting even more helpful by alerting you to new information from your favorite skills.

Alexa, the electronic personal assistant present on many devices, will soon be more proactive in getting you important information as Amazon will be rolling out notification support to supported devices in the near future.

While Alexa has access to over 12,000 “skills” — the equivalent of apps on the platform — that can do everything from giving you the latest news headlines from your favorite publications, to sending someone a text, or even ordering food, there is no way for Alexa to alert you to new information waiting for you on its own. Thankfully, Amazon’s upcoming update for Alexa will change that.

With this update, Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show users will get notifications when they have new information waiting from one of their skills. When enabled, a flashing green LED will indicate that you have a new notification. Ask “Alexa, what are my notifications?” or “Alexa, what did I miss?” and the artificial intelligence assistant will fill you in. For example, say you have been waiting for an update on the status of your most recent Amazon purchase and you notice that you have a notification. After asking about it, Alexa may then inform you that your order has shipped and will give an estimated delivery date.

When the feature becomes available, users will need to opt-in to the service and then individually enable each skill you want notifications on. A number of skills will support notifications at launch, including Accuweather, The Washington Post, Just Eat, Life360, and Amazon shopping updates, with more coming in the future. Further, device manufacturers who develop Amazon Voice Service (AVS) devices will be able to add the feature, expanding device support for notifications beyond the Echo devices in the future.

Amazon will be rolling out the notifications feature in the coming months and you can sign up here to get notified when the feature becomes available.

Apple Watch 3: News and rumors

The Apple Watch is the best-selling smartwatch ever released, and it’s certainly a great product, but there’s always room for improvement. While the Apple Watch Series 2 did alter the Series 1 for the better in a few key areas, it’s the rumored Apple Watch Series 3 that may offer what we really want to see.

But what exactly will the release of the Apple Watch Series 3 bring? The device is shaping up to be quite an interesting one. Here’s everything we know about it so far.

Sensors

Rumor has it that Apple may be stepping up the health tracking capabilities on the Apple Watch for Series 3. According to a report from BGR, the new Apple Watch may be able to monitor blood glucose levels. Apple has reportedly been interested in helping tackle diabetes for some time now, and the glucose monitoring feature could be a game-changer for diabetics. Around 30 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from diabetes.

Currently, the only way to monitor blood glucose is to get a blood sample. According to the report, the Apple Watch’s glucose monitoring will be noninvasive.

Smart bands

Apple may introduce a whole slew of new functionality with the Apple Watch Series 3 through a series of interchangeable “smart bands,” which will add different functions to the Apple Watch quickly and easily. That will give the Apple Watch a modular design, and allow users to add features without having to pay more for the Apple Watch outright. It’s possible that the glucose monitoring system will be introduced as a smart band rather than as core functionality to the Apple Watch itself.

A SIM card and LTE

The Apple Watch Series 3 may be the first in Apple’s portfolio to support LTE connectivity, although rumors about such a feature have spread since the very first version, indicating it’s something Apple often experiments with ahead of launch.

At the end of March 2017, an analyst from Susquehanna Financial Group published findings from a data-gathering trip to Asia, and claimed, “several parties” said the new Apple Watch would have a SIM card slot and support LTE connectivity. The analyst met with Qualcomm and Broadcom, among others, during his trip. Additionally, Apple may be investigating a low-power LTE chip for use in the Apple Watch 3 to ensure battery life doesn’t suffer.

This fits in with a previous Bloomberg report, which stated company engineers weren’t able to finalize a cellular design for the Apple Watch without compromising battery, and was reportedly invested in “low-power cellular data chips.”

The addition of LTE would make phone calls possible directly from the Apple Watch, and the Susquehanna analyst says Apple will push its wireless AirPods as the ideal companion product for the job.

Display

The Apple Watch Series 3 won’t use the same touch panels as its predecessors. According to DigiTimes, Apple will source glass-film capacitive glass from Biel Crystal or General Interface Solutions.

The reason: Apple is reportedly unhappy with the yields of its current glass manufacturer, TPK. The firm has been unable to produce the Apple Watch’s particular brand of glass at scale, reportedly because of the smartwatch’s curved surface.

Moreover, a new report suggests that Apple will not be using OLED in the Apple Watch Series 3. Rather, it will be employing a new display technology called micro-LED. Back in 2014, Apple acquired LuxVue, a company that specializes in the technology, and now it appears the iEmpire is leveraging this company to bring micro-LED screens to market.

It would certainly make sense for Apple to begin testing out micro-LED tech in its smaller hardware, like the Apple Watch. After all, as Apple Insider points out, producing these panels is quite difficult, and as such, it’s likely not yet ready for application on say, the newest iPhone. That said, the smaller screen of Apple’s wearable makes it an ideal first candidate.

Battery

A report from DigiTimes, meanwhile, mentions two key improvements to the Apple Watch Series 3 — performance and battery life. The Apple Watch has never been a high performer and it has always suffered from battery life issues, so improvements in those areas will certainly be welcome changes. Still, the Apple Watch Series 2 battery can generally last for around 2 or more days — so if Apple is seriously focusing on battery life for the Series 3, it’s possible that it’s also introducing new features that could put a bigger drain on the battery.

Design

Many are hoping that the Apple Watch Series 3 will bring with it a major redesign, however if recent reports are anything to go by, unfortunately this may not be the year we see that happen. According to a report from DigiTimes, which sources Chinese publication Economic Daily News, the overall design of the third Apple Watch will remain the same, despite the fact that it will include a few new key features.

What that means is that those hoping for a round Apple Watch may have to wait a little longer, if one is ever released at all. While round smartwatches have become quite a trend in the Android Wear market, the Apple Watch has stuck with a four-cornered form factor.

Release date

So when will we get the new Apple Watch? The report from DigiTimes suggests it will land at some point in the third quarter of this year, meaning that Apple could be shifting to a yearly upgrade cycle for the Apple Watch.

We’ll keep this post updated as we learn more about the Apple Watch Series 3.

Article originally published in January 2017. Updated on 05-16-2017 by Christian de Looper: Added news that Apple is looking into glucose monitoring and introduction of smart bands.

Samsung has already sold more than 5 million Galaxy S8 units, report says

Why it matters to you

These kind of numbers indicate that Samsung’s demise amid the Galaxy Note 7 debacle was greatly exaggerated.

It looks like the Samsung Galaxy S8 is on track to be one of the most popular phones ever. Samsung has confirmed that it has sold 5 million units during the first few weeks of the phone’s availability.

“Although we cannot provide detailed figures, the sales are going smoothly around the globe. The combined sales already are beyond 5 million units,” Samsung stold Korean publication The Investor.

The news is good for Samsung. There was some skepticism over how well the Galaxy S8 would sell following the disaster that was the Galaxy Note 7. Clearly, the damage to the brand that was suffered during the Galaxy Note 7 debacle was not enough to seriously threaten future sales. Another report claims the the 5 million figure could actually be low — YonhapNews, another Korean publication, suggests the company sold a 7.2 million units so far. Not only that, but new reports indicate that while Samsung has sold 5 million units to end users, it has shipped 10 million units to carriers and retailers, so it is on track to reach far beyond that 5 million mark.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus enjoyed the best pre-sale period in Samsung’s history. Still, Galaxy S8 figures do not come close to the launch of Apple’s iPhone — typically Apple sells 40 to 75 million iPhone units per quarter, though of course, that includes all iPhone sales, not just the sales of the latest model. Samsung’s strategy has been to launch more phones rather than focusing on one or two per year and, as such, the company sells more units than Apple overall — but it cannot pin those figures on one or two specific launches.

It will be interesting to see how well the Galaxy S8 sells after a few more months and how its sales compare to the dominant iPhone.

Heatworks Model 3 adds an app to its next-gen tankless water heater

Why it matters to you

Unless you’re a fan of cold showers, your water heater is of the utmost importance to your household. Now, make it as energy efficient as possible with the Heatworks Model 3.

Three years ago, we told you about Heatworks Model 1 — a revolutionary tankless water heater that met with great success on Kickstarter, ultimately raising more than $430,000 from an adoring public. Now, three years later, we’re on to the third model of the next-generation water heater. Meet the Heatworks Model 3, heralded as the world’s most advanced Wi-Fi-enabled tankless water heater. This time, it comes with an app.

So how does it work? As the Heatworks team explains on its new Kickstarter page, “Rather than coils or traditional heating elements, our Wi-Fi-enabled water heater uses our patented Ohmic Array Technology to heat water.” This in turn translates to endless, on-demand hot water, because water itself is used as the heating element. And according to Heatworks, that also means that the hot water that emerges from one of these units is “purer than water from any other water heater available today”

While the Model 1 was groundbreaking for its time, the latest iteration of the product promises to be even further ahead of its predecessor. Heatworks promises that it has not only improved, but supercharged its technology, providing customers with twice the power and twice the hot water capabilities of the initial model. In fact, one Model 3 unit is said to produce a rise of 41 degrees Fahrenheit at a 4.0 gallons per minute (GPM) demand or an 82 degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature at a 2.0 GPM.

But perhaps the best feature is the amount of energy (and therefore money) you’ll save with this tankless heater. The Model 3 promises to be 99-percent efficient, reducing the overall cost of heating a household’s water by around 40 percent. And you won’t have to worry about replacing the Model 3 — thanks to its Ohmic Array Technology, water heats instantly without heating elements, using graphite electrodes rather than traditional metal heating elements. That means that you won’t have to worry about scaling or corrosion over time, no matter how hard or soft your water may be.

And because we now live in the 21st century, the Model 3 is of course mobile-connected. The Heatworks app will let you monitor the amount of hot water and energy used on a given day, keep tabs on your favorite shower temperatures, and more.

You can pre-order a Heatworks Model 3 from Kickstarter for $389, with an estimated delivery date of October 2017.

Want six months of free cellphone service? Republic Wireless hopes you do

Why it matters to you

Republic Wireless wants to save you money on your cellphone bill, and this offer should do it.

What’s better than cheap wireless service? Cheaper wireless service. Republic Wireless, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which delivers discounted cellphone coverage over a patchwork of Sprint, T-Mobile, and Wi-Fi towers, is launching a new promotion that will give new customers who sign up six months of free service.

The new Republic Wireless plan requires that you bring an approved Android device (running Marshmallow or later) and order a $5 SIM card — Republic Wireless will waive shipping. But once you check those two boxes, it’s downhill from there — unlimited talk and text service, plus 2GB of 4G LTE data, is free for six months. That’s a $30 per month value.

You’re not limited to the free 2GB data bucket option, of course. You can opt for 1GB of data and have it free, or upgrade to a 10GB, $90-per-month talk and text plan.

You’ll have to activate your SIM card before June 7 in order to take advantage of the promotion.

Republic Wireless’s plans aren’t perfect, of course. If you don’t opt for the limited-time promotional line, you’re stuck choosing from one of the devices in the carrier’s storefront. This past summer, Republic Wireless stopped issuing refunds on monthly data its subscribers didn’t use. And unlike Google Fi, where the phones switch between T-Mobile and Sprint at will, Republic Wireless customers have to choose between Sprint or “GSM” (T-Mobile) phones based on whichever carrier has the best service near them.

But its rates are undeniably cheap — especially compared to the competition. After Republic Wireless spun off from parent company Bandwidth in December, it launched a $15 per month plan for unlimited Wi-Fi calling and texting. AT&T’s least expensive equivalent starts at $45 a month.

“The past five years have been an incredible ride as we’ve worked hard to save our customers tens of millions of dollars off their cell phone bills,” Republic CEO Chris Chaung said in a statement. “However, the best days are still ahead of us. With this extraordinarily talented [staff] and all the benefits this spin-off provides, we will accelerate our mission to provide remarkably simple and affordable ways for people to stay in touch.”

The MVNO market has seen a substantial uptick in recent years. US Mobile, an MVNO founded in the beginning of this year, expects to grow from an initial 20,000 subscribers to 100,000 by the end of this year, representing an annual rate of 30 percent. TracFone, another MVNO, added more customers in June 2016 than in any other month in the last two years.

Allo hints at Duo integration, new group chat-sharing features in future update

Why it matters to you

Using Duo, Google’s video calling service, alongside Allo should become a little easier thanks to a future update.

Google has made a habit out of revealing features it intends to introduce in the code of apps currently on the Play Store. Allo, in particular, has been a recent beneficiary of this practice, with news of chat backups and group incognito conversations being teased behind the scenes long before those features actually debuted.

Well, 9to5Google has torn down the latest Allo APK, and wouldn’t you know, it happened again. In addition to personalized stickers generated based on your selfies, Allo 11 carries evidence of a handful of other features that could debut in the coming weeks and months.

First, Duo integration. Duo is Allo’s video chat focused sibling, and a future update should allow you to make Duo calls from within Allo. The presumption is that, upon initiating a call, you’ll be redirected to Duo. However, if you don’t have the app installed, Allo will suggest you get on that.

There are also new features to get your friends into group conversations much quicker. Eventually, you will be able to push out invite links, and reset them if they go bad. You will also have the option of sharing QR codes — when other users scan them, they can instantly join your chat.

Finally, there are new settings related to Google Assistant lurking in the background, though the report does not elaborate as to what they might entail.

It is worth reiterating that finding mention of features in code is never a guarantee they will appear in a reasonable timeframe, or at all. That said, these seem like pretty safe bets, and Google likes to discreetly push these kinds of changes out individually. Chances are we may not even know when these features finally hit our devices but they give us a good idea of what to expect from Google’s messaging service going forward.

Allo 11 is rolling out right now on the Play Store, so you should be receiving it shortly if you have not already.

This robotic fish patrols the ocean, gathering water quality info as it swims

Why it matters to you

This robot fish is doing its part to make sure your seafood is contaminant-free.

A robotic fish could soon be patrolling the waters near you, used to monitor water quality by checking pH levels to make sure they fall within normal levels.

The polycarbonate and latex robot is the work of researchers from the Technical University of Madrid and the University of Florence. They hope that it can be used in fish farms, where it will play a valuable role in keeping aquaculture systems at an optimal level.

“We designed a bio-inspired fish robot that is able to swim according to the directives sent in form of chemical messengers,” Giovanna Marrazza, an associate professor of Microbiology and Molecular Biology who worked on the project, told Digital Trends. “The concentration of hydrogen ions in the environment is detected by an electrochemical multi-sensor platform. The acquired signal is then transformed into an electronic signal to be used in robot electronics control.”

These special pH sensors mean that the robot fish can detect and highlight the areas of acidity or pollutant concentration, modifying its autonomous swimming if it senses a change in the water quality that requires it to take a closer look.

While it might sound like a gimmick to shape a robot for fish farms like a fish, however, Marrazza noted that there is a good reason for it. For one thing, the fish shape turns out to be pretty good for swimming (funny how evolution works, huh?). It also minimizes fish stress, which allows it to patrol the water without upsetting the area’s (living) residents. This could be particularly useful if the fish robot is later repurposed for fish-related behavioral studies. It can even use its tail to easily and quickly reveal its welfare and “emotions” to people watching on land.

Marrazza said that, at present, the robot is just a proof-of-concept and not quite ready to roll out into the real world. “It is necessary to continue the research, and we are looking for a source of funding or an entrepreneur who wants to invest in this exciting project,” she said.

You can read a research paper on the project, titled “Bio-inspired fish robot based on chemical sensors,” here.

Get your pre-orders ready, Apple could unveil three new MacBooks at WWDC

Why it matters to you

Apple doesn’t typically announce hardware at WWDC, but stiff competition might prompt the firm to upgrade its hardware more frequently — and that’s a good thing for users.

Disappointed by the latest MacBook Pro refresh? Well, you might be in luck. Apple could be planning to unveil a new slate of MacBooks at this year’s WWDC in a bid to win back some loyalists who fled after the most recent update late last year.

Just which models are due for an update? According to Bloomberg, there are three new MacBooks in the works, all of which will likely feature updated 7th-generation Intel processors. It’s unclear, however, which particular MacBooks will be graced with much-needed updates.

Bloomberg claims Apple is working on an updated version of its 12-inch entry-level MacBook, and is even considering a refresh of the wildly popular, ultra-portable, and woefully outdated MacBook Air.

These two products might see a physical redesign, but if the MacBook Pro is set to receive some internal upgrades, it’s likely that’s all it will be — the external design was revamped just last year, so don’t get your hopes up that we’ll see any fancy new colors in the MacBook Pro lineup.

Still, Apple is facing increasing pressure from competitors like Microsoft, and a more aggressive laptop and desktop release schedule could help win back some Apple loyalists who have been disappointed with the company’s update schedule recently.

Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop is just one of many premium laptops taking aim at the now-ancient MacBook Air, which Apple hasn’t updated in over two years. Manufacturers like Dell, Asus, and Acer have all released premium, high-quality, high-portability laptops in direct competition with the MacBook Air, but according to Bloomberg, Apple still sells a fair number of the venerable ultrabooks.

That enduring popularity is definitely a good thing for customers hoping to see a modern take on the MacBook Air, which would not only benefit from an internal refresh but an external one as well. The old design is starting to look a little dated, and if brought in line with the MacBook and MacBook Pro, a brand-new Air could look pretty slick.

The 2017 World Superyacht Awards winners include two with double wins

Why it matters to you

Peruse this year’s superyacht award winners for inspiration for your ideal yacht.

If you’re going to check out superyachts, start with the very best. Boat International Media’s World Superyacht Awards 2017 winners were announced last weekend, at the 12th annual presentation event held in Florence, Italy. Comparable to the film industry’s Academy Awards, World Superyacht Awards winners take home Neptune trophies instead of Oscars.

Fifteen of the world’s biggest and best superyachts were selected for 17 awards from 60 nominees. Two vessels, Dilbar and Sybaris won two awards each.

The following is a summary of the winners.

Dilbar — Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000gt and Above and Motor Yacht of the Year Awards

Boat International Media

Dilbar won both the Displacement Motor Yacht of 3,000gt and Above and Motor Yacht of the Year Awards. Her 180-cubic-meter swimming pool and 30,000-kilowatt diesel electric power plant are the largest of any yacht. Plus, what other superyacht has two helipads?

Sybaris — Sailing Yacht of 40-meters and Above and Sailing Yacht of the Year Awards

Boat International Media

Sybaris won both the Sailing Yacht of 40-meters and Above and Sailing Yacht of the Year Awards. The 70-meter sailing vessel has deceptively low-profile styling, a luxurious interior, technical innovation, and highly rated sailing ability.

Glaze — Voyager’s Award

Boat International Media

The 49-meter Glaze won the Voyager’s Award for the most daring and inspiring expedition by a superyacht. The cruise was along North West Australia’s rugged coastline, much of which is poorly or totally uncharted.

Cloudbreak — Displacement Motor Yachts of Between 1,500gt and 2,999gt Award

Boat International Media

Cloudbreak is an explorer superyacht designed specifically to support mountaineering, hiking, and snow sports. Cloudbreak won the Displacement Motor Yachts of Between 1,500gt and 2,999gt Award.

Joy — Displacement Motor Yachts of Between 500gt and 1,499g Award

Boat International Media

Joy impressed with her spacious decks, full height sliding glass panels, and active noise attenuation when underway. Joy won the Displacement Motor Yachts of Between 500gt and 1,499g Award.

La Passion — Displacement Motor Yachts of Below 500gt — 43 meters and Above Award

Boat International Media

La Passion won the Displacement Motor Yachts of Below 500gt — 43 meters and Above Award because of her interior and exterior design, seaworthiness, and hull efficiency. This is the first yacht launched by SARP Yachts.

Superyacht X — Displacement Motor Yachts of Below 500gt, 30-42.9 meters Award.

Boat International Media

The Displacement Motor Yachts of Below 500gt, 30-42.9 meters Award went to X, an explorer yacht. X was praised by the judges for her power and range as well as loads of space on the main deck for toys.

Galactica Super Nova — Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 50-meters and Above Award

Boat International Media

Galactica Super Nova won the Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 50meters and Above Award. She was judged for her performance, build quality, appearance, and facilities, including an outdoor cinema.

Amore Mio — Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts of 40-49.9 meters Award

Boat International Media

The winner of the Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts of 40-49.9 meters Award, Amore Mio, won because of her versatility as a “summer house on the sea.”

Gipsy — Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts of 34-39.9 meters Award

Boat International Media

Gipsy’s simple lines and optimized use of space appealed to the judges. Gipsy is lived in year round and won the Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts of 34-39.9 meters Award.

Botti — Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts of 30-33.9 meters Award

Boat International Media

Botti’s 32.3-meter design, including a bimini-covered sundeck, a bathing platform, and a foredeck lounge with a cinema. Botti won the Semi-Displacement or Planning Motor Yachts of 30-33.9 meters Award.

My Song — Sailing Yacht of 30-39.9 meters Award

Boat International Media

The sailing yacht My Song is a comfort-filled cruising yacht that also does well in races. For that combination, My Song won the Sailing Yacht of 30–39.9 meters Award.

Narvalo — Judge’s Special Award for Quality and Value Award

Boat International Media

The explorer superyacht Narvalo won the Judge’s Special Award for Quality and Value Award. Narvalo scored on the basis of her spacious staterooms and living spaces as well as her long range, well-equipped and sturdy tender, and high level of autonomy.

Legend — Rebuilt Yachts Award

Boat International Media

Legend started as a 34-year-old Russian tugboat. Little remains of that source vessel. Her hull was extended 3.6 meters and now includes a bathing platform, a 16-person swimming pool, and a helipad.

Aquila — Refitted Yacht Award

Boat International Media

The 85.6-meter Aquila has no visible resemblance to her former self, which was the reason for her Refitted Yacht Award.

Everything Flo is packing in her Gear Bag for Google I/O 2017

It’s basically just sunscreen and some phones.

If there’s one thing that stuck with me after attending last year’s Google I/O, it’s to always wear sunscreen. If you’ve ever had to carry a giant bag full of things on top of sunburned shoulders, then you know the pain. And that pain is not fun to have lingering around when you’d rather be soaking up developer sessions and checking out the latest Android-based demonstrations.

This year, I’m packing a ton of sunscreen. Bottles of it. I’m bringing the spray kind, the lotion kind, and some for my face — I’ll probably slather a bunch in my scalp, for the days I forget my hat. I’m packing a couple of other neccesary things, too — a laptop, a couple of smartphones— but I’m attempting to keep it my kit as concise and as whittled down to the necessary as possible so that I’ve enough room to carry all that sunscreen.

The bag: Something I bought off of AliExpress

I couldn’t do the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger anymore. The more gear I’d cram into it, the more my back seemed to ache for days after merely an hour with it on. So, I switched to this little backpack I found on AliExpress a few months ago, though it’s quickly turned into one of my favorite carry-all. And it was pretty affordable, too!

This off-brand bag is big enough to fit my MacBook Pro and Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Insert (the link takes you to the new version of the product). There’s also a front pocket that fits my phone and my wallet perfectly, and there’s enough room inside to store rolled-up sweater, too. Google I/O will likely be in the upper digits towards the mid-afternoon but at night fall it can get pretty chilly in the South Bay.

Also inside: So much sunscreen

As a pale-skinned woman who burns considerably after only minutes in the sun, I’ve gotten into the habit of carrying some very heavy duty sunscreen. My favorite is the Alba Botanica Hawaiian sunscreen. It smells nice and it’s water resistant, and it’s kept me protected through various hikes through the California Redwoods and beyond. It’s also available in spray form, which is convenient for quick touchups throughout the day.

On my face, I wear Tarte Guard Sunscreen, which offers all the protection without the grease. But if you’re put off by the bright pink bottle, Dr. Jart’s Every Sun Day UV Sunscreen is a great Korean-made alternative that’s also dermatologist-tested and cruelty-free.

See at Amazon

The phone: Pixel XL

I remember last year, I was already struggling with the Nexus 6P around this time — I vividly remember pulling over while navigating around Mountain View because the phone had randomly shut down in the middle of my route. You can bet there was plenty of screaming and cursing happening that day.

I don’t expect to run into the same issue with the Pixel XL, but that’s because it’s been so consistent since I adopted it last October. I know that I can trust it to post to Twitter, Instagram Stories, and Snapchat without shutting down on me, as well as provide ample battery life for answering the barrage of Hangouts messages and emails I’ll be fielding throughout the entire week. It also takes the best photos, and it’s the only phone I have in my arsenal with the absolute latest version of Android.

See at Google

The smartwatch: LG Watch Style

To be very honest with you, faithful Android users, I’ve long since ditched Android Wear 2.0 for the hybrid Fossil Q (also pictured here) because I don’t like having to charge a watch every single night. But during major event weeks, I’ll switch to the LG Watch Style, which is one of the most comfortable smartwatches for those with smaller wrists. I like to have the notifications pop up as they appear, not to mention it’s much more convenient to respond with a simple “ok” on Android Wear than it is to always have my phone in my hand.

See at Google

The other computer: Samsung DeX

I’m not actually planning to use the Samsung Galaxy S8+ to cover Google I/O. I’m actually bringing it to test out the Samsung DeX, which I’ll be using in my Mountain View hotel room to decompress at the end of each day. I’m impressed with what I’m seen from Samsung’s “desktop experience” thus far, but the real test will be whether it makes sense for me to travel with a mouse, keyboard, and HDMI cable in tow, too.

See at Best Buy

Other gear and accessories

There are a couple of other necessities I’m packing with me. My battery pack this year will be the AUKEY 20,000 mAh solar-powered battery pack, which is quite dense and will certainly add a bit of weight to my bag. But it’s got multiple ports for the crew to charge along, and I never have to worry about it running out of juice as long as the sun is still shining.

I’m also bringing along a Polaroid wide-angle lens, which easily screws on to the existing 40mm lens already affixed to my Canon SL1. This makes it so that I can widen the shot of the crazy sculptures placed throughout the Shoreline and switch back to the pancake lens when I need to snap a photo of a screen, for instance.

Coming to Google I/O?

Are you making the trek to Mountain View for Google’s annual developer conference? Leave a comment and tell us what you’re packing for the event!