The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $49 on a Vantrue dashcam

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

Apple iPad (5th Generation)

Street price: $330; MSRP: $330; Deal price: $300

A nice drop on the new iPad lowers the price to $300 for the 32GB model. This $30 off sale is also available for the 128GB size ($400 with discount). Silver, Gold, and Space Gray colors are all eligible for the discount in both storage capacities. We’ll continue to track the new iPads for future sales but at present these match the lowest prices we’ve seen for it. Shipping is free.

The 5th gen iPad is our new top pick in our Best Tablet guide. Dan Frakes and Nick Guy write, “The 2017 standard iPad—the 9.7-inch non-Pro model, officially called the “iPad (5th generation)”—is a familiar device. Its body is almost exactly the same as that of the 2014 iPad Air,2 and except for improved processors, its internals mostly match those of the iPad Air 2, the model it replaces (and our previous top pick). Yet the 2017 iPad remains the best tablet on the market for most people because of that familiarity: It shares its predecessor’s unique combination of performance, features, hardware quality, app selection, and accessory ecosystem, and improves on its value.”

Roku Streaming Stick (3600R)

Street price: $50; MSRP: $50; Deal price: $40

While we’ve seen the Roku media streaming stick as low as $35, it typically sells for at least $10 more. The aforementioned $35 pricing tends to be offered during the holiday season only – otherwise, the Roku stick doesn’t dip below $40 (with a few rare exceptions), so this is as low as you’re likely to find one if you’re looking to cut the cord or just add a great streaming interface to your setup. Shipping is free.

The Roku Streaming Stick is our pick for the best media streamer. Chris Heinonen writes, “The Roku Streaming Stick is the best media streamer for most people because it offers the largest selection of streaming content, a clean and responsive user interface, and a useful search function.” He continues, “The Streaming Stick offers the same interface, speed, and content as the more expensive Roku 2 and 3. It also has a private listening mode so you can watch your content without disturbing others. You also get an RF remote instead of IR, so it doesn’t need to be in sight to work.”

1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones

Street price: $80; MSRP: $100; Deal price: $69

This is a new low price on our runner-up pick earbuds under $100. If you have a Costco membership, they’re available for only $65. If you don’t have a membership, don’t fret – the $4 surcharge isn’t too much of a burden and doesn’t detract much from the great deal price. We normally see these earbuds stick close to the $100 price range with occasional drops down to $80, so this is a great deal price to pick them up. Shipping is free.

The 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones are our runner-up pick in our guide to the best earbuds under $100. Lauren Dragan writes, “For iPhone or Android users that require a three-button remote, the 1More Triple Driver headphones are a wonderful choice. Via a switch (according to 1More), one model works with iPhones and most Android devices, too. Although our panel wasn’t as in love with the sound of the Triple Driver as we were with the Marshall, everyone agreed that the 1More performed vastly better than the majority of the other headphones we tested this round.”

Vantrue OnDash R2 2K Ultra HD 2.7 Inch LCD Dashboard Camera

Street price: $129; MSRP: $160; Deal price: $80

While there have been other deals on the R2 at $90 with a $10 gift card, this is only the second time we’ve seen a deal for this Vantrue dash cam at a flat $80. It’s available with free standard shipping. This sale lasts until Saturday, May 20th.

The Vantrue R2 is our runner-up pick for the best dash cam. Eric Adams writes, “Its packaging, instructions, and general usability are on a par with the Z3, and its image quality is also top notch. While just as crisp as the Z3, the R2’s images have slightly more contrast. This makes them more attractive, but not quite as useful as they could be in different scenarios, as some areas tend to be too dark, and the night vision is also a hair darker.”

Turning to quality and value, Adams writes, “It also has a slightly wider 170° field of view, which exceeds our preference just a bit. But we’re hair-splitting here: Both the R2 and our top pick, the Z3, are sensational cameras…. If you like its slightly better photographic output or you need a dash cam right away and the Z3 is unavailable, we recommend the R2.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursdays, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

Russia reportedly tried to hijack Pentagon Twitter accounts

The Russians aren’t just hacking emails to influence US politics. According to a report sent to US counterintelligence officials last month, Russia has started to use Twitter in it’s attack on our country. The report round that Russians sent infected messages to more than 10,000 Defense Department Twitter accounts, each tailored to the individuals’ interests and tastes. The attached malware connected those users to a server that gave Russia access to the victim’s Twitter account. Imagine thousands of legitimate Twitter users with the legitimacy of actual government officials sending out authentic-sounding misinformation and you’ll have an idea of the panic this may have caused among intelligence officials.

“At any given moment, perhaps during a natural disaster or a terrorist attack,” writes Time‘s Ben Wiseman, “Pentagon Twitter accounts might send out false information. As each tweet corroborated another, and covert Russian agents amplified the messages even further afield, the result could be panic and confusion.” It isn’t clear, however, whether any accounts were compromised by the Russian attempts, which were made after the 2016 election.

The problem isn’t confined to Twitter, of course. Facebook recently reported that it had found fake accounts on its own social network created to manipulate public opinion with fake news and disinformation. Time notes that government officials believe the original 2016 email scandal is only a small, more visible part of an ongoing Russian attempt to attack the foundation of the American democratic system. “If there has ever been a clarion call for vigilance and action against a threat to the very foundation of our democratic political system,” testified former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, “this episode is it.”

Via: The Hill

Source: Time

Apple CEO Tim Cook Spotted Testing Apple Watch-Connected Glucose Monitor

Apple CEO Tim Cook has allegedly been spotted testing a prototype glucose monitor that’s connected to his Apple Watch, reports CNBC. Cook, who is said to be aiming to understand how his blood sugar is affected by food and exercise, has been seen wearing the device around the Apple Campus.

Cook also mentioned the glucose monitor in a February meeting with students at the University of Glasgow. It’s not clear if the device he spoke of in Glasgow is the same one he’s been wearing around the Apple campus.

“I’ve been wearing a continuous glucose monitor for a few weeks,” he said. “I just took it off before coming on this trip.”

Cook explained that he was able to understand how his blood sugar responded to foods he was eating. He made modifications to keep his blood sugar more constant.

Current continuous glucose monitoring systems require a small sensor that’s worn under the skin to monitor glucose levels. Advanced systems from Dexcom include a transmitter, which can display glucose information directly on an iPhone or Apple Watch.

An iPhone-connected Dexcom continuous glucose monitoring system
Rumors have suggested glucose monitoring is the next major health issue Apple is aiming to tackle. The company is said to have a team of biomedical engineers working on developing sensors for non-invasively monitoring blood sugar levels. Apple is allegedly working on a continuous monitoring solution that would not require an under-skin sensor.

Apple’s glucose testing is reportedly far enough along that the company has started conducting feasibility trials at clinical sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, and consultants have been hired to sort out regulatory issues.

According to a recent rumor from BGR, Apple could be planning to add a non-invasive glucose monitoring sensor to a future version of the Apple Watch, perhaps through the addition of a smart band that would add functionality to the Apple Watch without requiring the sensor to be built into the watch.

Cook has said in the past that Apple does not want to put the Apple Watch through the FDA approval process, something that would need to happen for Apple to introduce a glucose monitor, so a modular add-on smart band could be an ideal solution for adding more advanced health tracking features without subjecting the Apple Watch itself to FDA oversight.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Tag: Tim Cook
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

CBS Sports for Android (review)

Overview

This sports app is a go-to source for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS and NCAA sports news, scores, and more. This one-stop sports app is available for all of your electronic devices, such as iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

Besides offering a large amount of features, like lightning fast scores, stats, and news, CBS Sports also offers a wide variety of different games you can interact with and even receive weekly cash prizes.

How to Use

In order to get started, you can find the app in Google Play and iTunes Store for a free download. Once you have completed the download on any of your devices, you are ready to indulge in all of the amazing features the app offers.

The app has a great look and feel to it, and offers you the ability customize your feed to match your favorite teams. That being said, when you first launch the app, expect to look through and select each of your favorite teams by searching through each sport category. Once you have customized your feed, make sure to allow push notifications so that you can be alerted about updates, such as scores, upcoming games, and stats. After you completed those steps, you will advance to the homepage of the app where you can toggle between scores, news, and teams.

Key Features:

The app has a very friendly user-interface. You can easily navigate between sports, leagues, and teams. The ability to cater your news and notifications, to your personal preference is easily manageable by simply selecting what you want to see. At the bottom of the app, you will find three tabs: Scores, News, and My Teams. For each tab, it will show only the news you want to see, in order to add another team, you simply select add at the top of each tab.

Think of the My Team tab as your home base for your favorite team. If you want to see something regarding your team, whether it is news, standings, or stats you can simply go there for your one-stop feed. If you hit your side panel tab at the top left of the page, you can also check into live radio Ex. Tiki and Tierney. You will also find access to College Sports Live and the CBS Sports Network there.

• CBS Sports Radio: Ability to live stream radio by simply pressing volume on or off to hear the latest gossip.
• Chromecast Enabled: Option to cast CBS Sports on demand and live video to your TV, and control video playback and volume directly from the app.
• Live Video: Get on-demand access to highlights, analysis, and original video programs.
• News, Standings, and Schedules: Personalize teams news and tweets you wish to see. Standings for every league, including college rankings. All of your teams schedules are easily displayed in one platform.
• Special Events: Access to a multitude of events, such as: NCAA March Madness, NBA Draft Day, PGA Tour, and more!

Conclusion

Overall, the app is very useful and clean-cut. There are not a lot of distractions, that being said there are some banner ads occasionally, but they no disrupt the usability and enjoyment of the app, which in most cases they do. The app is well organized and pretty straight forward. You can select what you want to see and about whom. Once you are done managing what you want to see, the app really does give a personalized touch and feel when navigating through the content. Besides for the apps main intended purpose, the extra features are entertaining depending on what you are into.

All in all, CBS Sports app is a reliable source for all your sports needs. CBS has a lot of Insider Information, which helps you stay up-to-date with what is going on around the world. I really enjoyed the look, feel and use of the app, i suggest downloading it for free on Google Play or iTunes Store.

Duolingo, the free language-learning app, says kon’nichiwa to Japanese

Why it matters to you

Duolingo, one of the world’s largest free translation platforms, is adding the language that users have requested most — Japanese.

There’s a reason Duolingo, one of the world’s largest free translation platforms, is consistently ranked one of the best ways to learn a new language. Its courses, which include Spanish, French, German, and almost two dozen others, combine gamified activities, flash cards, and voice recognition to ease language learners into foreign vernacular. Even better? It’s completely free on iOS and Android devices. And starting Thursday, it’s available in a new language: Japanese.

“This is by far the most requested and highly anticipated course launch in Duolingo’s five-year history, Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “No matter what we’d share on social media, tons of people would respond with, ‘That’s nice, but when are you launching Japanese?’”

The inherent complexity of the Japanese language, which the Duolingo team said necessitated the development of a “completely new way to teach,” made it challenging to adapt to Duolingo’s existing app and web formats. The solution was a holistic curriculum that covers all three Japanese writing systems: Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.

“While some courses get away with using only Romaji, the representation of Japanese sounds using the Western alphabet, learning all three [forms] helps people communicate more effectively,” Duolingo said.

Duolingo’s Japanese course walks beginning speakers through all Hiragana characters (about 50 in all), 50 Katakana characters, and 100 basic Chinese Kanji characters. They’re divided into themes like travel, food, and hobbies, all of which consist of a “practical mix” of vocabulary and grammar. You’ll find questions pertaining to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for example, as well as popular Japanese subculture like anime.

Duolingo said the new course teaches all the vocabulary and grammar you need to pass the JLPT N5, a popular Japanese language proficiency test. And it abides by the JF Standard, a Japanese-language education framework for describing language ability.

“As a native Japanese speaker, it was an honor to help build this course so that millions of people can learn the language,” Hideki Shima, a senior software engineer at Duolingo, said in a press release. “I’m also proud that we created new formats and content to ensure the course’s effectiveness.”

Duolingo’s new Japanese course follows the introduction of a “language assistant” for iOS. The “Duolingo bot.” Much like the chatbots in Facebook Messenger, Microsoft Skype, and Google Assistant, it responds to language questions conversationally, providing corrections and suggesting responses where appropriate. It’s also smart enough to ramp up the complexity as you progress in a language.

It comes on the heels of Tinycards, a Duolingo’s AI-powered take on flash cards. The app is designed to teach math, science, geography, history, and more — you unlock levels as you go, and fill up a strength bar by answering cards correctly.

Duolingo is launching Tinycard decks for Hiragana and Katakana alongside the new course.

Duolingo, an outgrowth of a Carnegie Mellon University project that tasked students with translating basic words and phrases, now counts more than 170 million people among its active users. It was named the Best Education Startup at the 2014 Crunchies, and was the most downloaded app in the education category in Google Play in 2013 and 2014.

Web pages using Google’s AMP platform load twice as fast as before

Why it matters to you

Google’s AMP technology is speeding up the web. Now it’ll only take half as long to load an AMP-enabled web page.

Google’s making a bigger push for a faster mobile web. During a developer session at its 2017 Google I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California on Wednesday, the search giant gave an update on Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), an internet platform designed to speed up web pages.

Google said that AMP-enabled pages accessed from Google Search now load “twice as fast” as they did before, thanks to key optimizations made on the service’s back end. The AMP cache, which stores slimmed-down web pages on Google’s servers, now uses Google’s Brotli compression algorithm to reduce document size by 10 percent in supported web browsers, and compresses images 50 percent more efficiently without affecting quality.

Google also announced new AMP partners. Starting later this year, Tencent Qzone, China’s largest social network, and Weibo, the country’s third-largest website, will adopt AMP pages. Twitter said it would begin linking to AMP pages from the Twitter app for Android and iOS and Twitter Lite, its new, lightweight web app designed for low-end phones on unreliable connections. Tumblr said it would publish its 340 million blog pages across 500,000 domains in AMP. And E-Commerce giants eBay and Zalando pledged to implement AMP in the coming months.

They join recent adopters like Squarespace, Reddit, Flipkart, TripAdvisor, Disney, Drugs.com, the NFL, The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Food Network, Parse, Vox Media, Conde Nast, CBS Interactive, Tumblr, Bing, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and hundreds of others.

Google said that as of August 2016, AMP-enabled sites have created more than 150 million AMP documents across 232 locales and 104 languages.

The I/O announcements build on AMP’s growing momentum. At Google’s 2017 AMP Conference in New York City last week, the company announced that Baidu, China’s largest search engine; and Sogou, another Chinese search engine; and Yahoo Japan would implement accelerated pages. Google said that as of last year, AMP-enabled websites have created hundreds of millions of AMP documents across 232 locales and 104 languages.

And they follow on the heels of new features. AMP Lite, an optimized version of AMP that kicks in over slower internet connections and on low-end smartphones, results in a 40 percent reduction in data transfer. Another, AMP Bind, allows internet retailers like Gap.com to build product pages with interactive elements like color and size selectors.

“We’re taking advantage of AMP to upgrade experiences,” AMP product manager Rudy Galifi told Digital Trends. “We’re very transparent, and we’re continuously collaborating with AMP partners. The community is going to weigh in.”

Western Digital is adding 10-terabyte drives to its Red range

Why it matters to you

If you need maximum storage on your network storage system, Western Digital’s new drives offer massive amounts of space in a compact form factor.

Western Digital now offers up to 10 terabytes of storage space in a single network-attached drive, with brand-new entries in its Red and Red Pro ranges. This has been made possible with the use of helium inside the drives’ hermetically sealed casings, which makes it possible for thinner platters and therefore more of them in the same form factor.

Although solid-state storage is the darling of fast-booting systems and gamers everywhere, the humble hard drive still holds up when it comes to larger-scale storage. Although hardly cheap — a 10TB hard drive from the Red Pro range will set you back $535 — that is thousands of dollars cheaper than an equivalent solid-state option.

The standard Red drive is a little cheaper, with a price tag of $495, though both feature the same fourth-generation HelioSeal technology, the original version of which Western Digital acquired when it purchased HGST in 2012. That led to the creation of WD’s 8TB drives and paved the way for this latest release in its network storage range.

Red and Red Pro iterations of this design were expected, as it released a 10TB version of its enterprise-focused Gold range in 2016.

The Red drive operates at 5,400 RPM, while the Red Pro version ups the ante to 7,200 RPM. Both drives however come with 256MB of cache. They also support 3D Active Balance Plus, which we’re told improves overall drive performance and reliability.

Both Red and Red Pro ranges are fully compatible with Western Digital’s My Cloud Pro Series network storage systems, so they can be integrated in existing systems seamlessly. The integration process is also said to be improved thanks to WD’s NASware 3.0, which also improves drive reliability.

Both 10TB drives should already be available from select U.S. retailers, and all purchases come with a three-year warranty included as standard. The Red Pro drive however, enhances that with a five-year warranty, which covers its slightly inflated price tag.

Lenovo updates its mobile PC lineup with a beefy gaming laptop, a 2-in-1, more

Why it matters to you

Lenovo is addressing the entire mobile PC market with a new 2-in-1 device, several laptops, and the company’s most powerful mobile gaming rig to date.

Lenovo revealed a huge lineup of laptops slated to arrive in May and June spanning the gaming, mainstream, premium, and 2-in-1 markets. Everything you will see in the following pages will ship with Windows 10 and support Windows Hello via optional fingerprint readers. For most of the non-gaming laptops, Lenovo is shooting for narrow bezels in the display area, such as cramming a 14-inch screen into a 13-inch chassis.

Lenovo Legion Y920

For starters, let us check out the gaming notebook. Shown above, Lenovo says this new entry in its Legion portfolio is its most powerful mobile gaming laptop to date, packing up to a GeForce GTX 1070 discrete GPU and options for two high-performance seventh-generation Intel Core i7 processors. However, the screen resolution is locked to 1,920 x 1,080, so owners wanting Ultra HD gaming will need to connect the laptop to a compatible, external display via the DisplayPort connection.

Other features that stand out with Lenovo’s latest mobile gaming rig include a mechanical keyboard with full RGB backlighting and effects, Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and what appears to be a dual-storage configuration. The laptop is not exactly lightweight but that is expected due to all the hardware crammed inside. It’s even virtual reality-ready thanks to all the included ports.

Screen size:
17.3 inches
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
Display type:
IPS with Nvidia G-Sync
Processor:
Intel Core i7-7820HK
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Graphics:
Up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB GDDR5)
System memory:
16GB DDR4
Storage:
512GB SSD
1TB HDD
Audio:
2x two-watt JBL speakers
1x three-watt bass subwoofer
Connectivity:
Killer Wireless AC 1535
Bluetooth 4.0
Ports:
4x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
1x gigabit Ethernet (Killer LAN)
1x HDMI
1x DisplayPort
1x SD card reader (6-in-1)
Keyboard:
Mechanical with RGB lighting and effects
Camera:
720p
Battery:
Six-cell 90 Watt-hour Li-Polymer
Dimensions (inches):
16.7 x 12.4 x 1.41
Weight:
10.14 pounds
Materials:
ABS plastic
Starting price:
$2,700
Availability:
June 2017 (online)

Lenovo IdeaPad 320S

File this device under Lenovo’s “premium clamshell” family of laptops. Both versions of the IdeaPad 320S are mostly the same outside their obvious screen size differences. What sets them apart is the use of a discrete Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics chip in the larger model along with a second storage option. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, we do not have the actual processor information, but Lenovo is likely offering the same Intel chips across both laptops.

Note that these two laptops include a USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-c port. This is a new trend in laptops although it is no faster than the other full-size USB 3.1 Gen1 port provided on the 320S. It also won’t charge a mobile device, so the addition of the Type-C port seems more like keeping up with the latest trend rather than providing something faster that is capable of device recharging.

 
14 inches
15.6 inches
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
1,920 x 1,080
Display type:
IPS
IPS
Processor:
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Graphics:
Integrated
Nvidia GeForce 940MX (2GB)
System memory:
8GB DDR4
8GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 256GB PCIe SSD
Up to 512GB PCIe SSD
1TB HDD
Audio:
Harman speakers with Dolby Audio
Harman speakers with Dolby Audio
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x USB 2.0 Type-A
1x HDMI
Keyboard:
Backlit
Backlit
Camera:
720p
720p
Battery:
Three-cell 52 Watt-hour
Three-cell 52 Watt-hour
Dimensions (inches):
12.9 x 9.31 x 0.76
14.3 x 9.9.2 x 0.78
Weight:
3.74 pounds
4.18 pounds
Materials:
ABS plastic
Metallic touch paint
two-color tone-on-tone design
ABS plastic
Metallic touch paint
two-color tone-on-tone design
Starting price:
$740
$750
Availability:
June 2017
June 2017

Lenovo IdeaPad 320

This laptop belongs to Lenovo’s “mainstream clamshell” family of devices. Offered in two sizes, the smaller 15.6-inch unit will sell with touch and non-touch options whereas the 17.3-inch model will focus on a higher screen resolution. Based on the specs, customers will see a number of different configurations for both form factors consisting of processors up to Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7, up to 16GB of system memory, and up to 2TB of storage via a mechanical hard drive. Both will rely on integrated graphics provided by the Intel chips.

What is interesting about the IdeaPad 320 is that it includes an optical drive for reading and writing DVDs, which is not all that common on laptops as of late. The keyboard does not offer any backlighting, so you need a book light or a flashlight while secretly typing in the dark. Like the 320S, this notebook has a USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C port that does not charge and is not any faster than the two supplied full-size USB 3.1 Gen1 ports.

15.6 inches
17.3 inches
Screen resolution:
1,366 x 768, optional touch
1,600 x 900, no touch
Display type:
TN
TN
Processor:
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Graphics:
Integrated
Integrated
System memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 2TB HDD (SATA 3)
1x DVD-R/W drive
Up to 2TB HDD (SATA 3)
1x DVD-R/W drive
Audio:
Dolby Audio
Dolby Audio
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth
Wireless AC
Bluetooth
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x Ethernet
1x SD card reader (4-in-1)
1x Headphone/mic combo
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x Ethernet
1x SD card reader (4-in-1)
1x Headphone/mic combo
Keyboard:
Standard no backlighting
Standard no backlighting
Camera:
Up to 720p
Up to 720p
Battery:
Two-cell 30 Watt-hour
Two-cell 30 Watt-hour
Dimensions (inches):
14.9 x 10.2 x 0.9
16.4 x 11.5 x 0.9
Weight:
4.85 pounds (starting)
6.17 pounds (starting)
Materials:
ABS plastic
Soft and metallic touch paint
Two-color tone-on-tone design
ABS plastic
Soft and metallic touch paint
Two-color tone-on-tone design
Options:
Fingerprint reader
Fingerprint reader
Starting price:
$440 (non-touch)
$490 (touch)
$490
Availability:
June 2017
June 2017

Lenovo IdeaPad 720S

This is Lenovo’s premium thin and light solution measuring at just 0.63-inches thin. Weighing 3.4 pounds, the laptop will ship in several configurations with processors up to Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7, up to 16GB of system memory, and up to 512GB of storage. It will also be powered by a discrete GeForce 940MX graphics chip from Nvidia.

Note in the specs that unlike the IdeaPad 320 and 320S, the Type-C port on this laptop is powered by Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. As a comparison, Thunderbolt 3 is capable of up to 40Gbps whereas USB 3.1 Gen1 only moves at 5Gbps and USB 3.1 Gen2 zooms at 10Gbps. That said, Thunderbolt 3 tech is fast enough to support Ultra HD video output and external graphics chips.

Screen size:
14 inches
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
Display type:
IPS
Processor:
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce 940MX
System memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 512GB SSD PCIe
Audio:
JBL speakers with Dolby Audio
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth
Ports:
1x Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x HDMI
Keyboard:
Standard backlit
Camera:
720p
Battery:
Four-cell 56 Watt-hour
Dimensions (inches):
12.6 x 8.78 x 0.63
Weight:
3.4 pounds
Materials:
Top – Magnesium/aluminum
Bottom – Aluminum
Options:
Fingerprint reader
Starting price:
$970
Availability:
June 2017

Lenovo Flex 5

Finally, we have Lenovo’s latest mainstream multi-mode 2-in-1 device. Arriving in two flavors, the Flex 5 will rely on seventh-generation processors from Intel up to the Core i7, a discrete GeForce 940MX graphics chip from Nvidia, and up to 16GB of system memory. The specs indicate dual storage options, too, spanning an SSD (up to 512GB) and a hard drive (1TB).

As the specs show, the Flex 5 will feature a flexible 360-degree hinge enabling four viewing modes: laptop, stand, tent, and tablet. The device will also have optional support for Lenovo’s Active Pen stylus for on-screen handwriting, illustration, and so on. The Flex 5 specs report an option for a fingerprint reader too supported by Windows Hello for password-free access.

14 inches
15.6 inches
Screen resolution:
Up to 1,920 x 1,080
Up to 3,840 x 2,160
Display type:
IPS
IPS
Processor:
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Up to seventh-gen Intel Core i7
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce 940MX
Nvidia GeForce 940MX
System memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 512GB SSD PCIe
1TB HDD
Up to 512GB SSD PCIe
1TB HDD
Audio:
Dolby Audio
Dolby Audio
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless AC
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports:
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x SD card reader (4-in-1)
1x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x HDMI
1x SD card reader (4-in-1)
Keyboard:
Standard backlit
Standard backlit
Camera:
720p
720p
Battery:
Three-cell 52.5 Watt-hour
Three-cell 52.5 Watt-hour
Dimensions (inches):
12.9 x 9.01 x 0.8
14.33 x 9.72 x 0.8
Weight:
3.9 pounds
4.4 pounds
Materials:
Top — Polycarbonate plastic and 30 percent glass fiber
Bottom — PC-ABS Plastic blend
Top — Polycarbonate plastic and 30 percent glass fiber
Bottom — PC-ABS Plastic blend
Display modes:
Laptop
Stand
Tent
Tablet
Laptop
Stand
Tent
Tablet
Options:
Active Pen support
Fingerprint reader
Active Pen support
Fingerprint reader
Starting price:
$720
$830
Availability:
May 2017
May 2017

Microsoft is experimenting with a new Windows 10 ‘Control Center’

Why it matters to you

This new Windows 10 feature would make it much easier to access some vital system settings.

Microsoft is working to make Windows 10 look better and work more efficiently, and it showed off a host of new features at its Build 2017 developers conference aimed at doing just that. There is an entirely new Fluent Design System on its way that will let developers optimize apps for different devices, and it is coming in the next major update, Fall Creators Update coming later in 2017.

One of the more confusing aspects of Windows 10 that Microsoft has been slow to address is its schizophrenic nature regarding system settings, with the old school Control Panel vying with the new Settings app for users’ attention. Perhaps to help users gain quicker access to various system settings in the meantime, Microsoft seems to be experimenting with a new “Control Center” concept, as Windows Central reports.

The company released Windows Insider preview build 16199 on May 17, which focused on a number of improvements to some new Windows 10 functionality. Buried in the original blog post announcing the new build was a single screenshot that showed off a new highly focused Action Center pane that would bring a number of key settings in a single location.

Windows Central

The new Control Center would be accessed via a settings cog icon in the system tray and would let users quickly access a number of key settings. It would also include a handy slider for setting display brightness. Microsoft deleted the image, suggesting that it did not actually intend to let this particular cat out of the bag. Windows Central’s sources indicated that the feature is present in Microsoft’s internal testing builds.

The creation of the new Control Center could mean that the Action Center itself might be broken into different tasks, with a completely separate Notification Center and the current Quick Actions moved into the Control Center. Microsoft experiments with many features throughout the operating system’s development and this one, like many others, could be canceled and never make its way into Fall Creators Update.

If the Control Center does arrive, however, it could provide for a welcome improvement in accessing Windows 10 settings. Merging the Control Panel and the Settings app remains a much-desired next step in making the operating system easier to configure, but adding a Control Center could certainly ease the way in the meantime.

Become a master caster with these Google Chromecast tips and tricks

Chromecast has become a staple in living rooms across the country, thanks in no small part to the clever device’s rapidly growing app support. Capable of streaming Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Spotify, and literally hundreds of other services, at just $35, Chromecast is a worthwhile investment for those looking to smarten up their TV on the cheap.

In addition to its staple video and music streaming, Chromecast offers a bevy of other useful features that can easily get overlooked. From mirroring your full desktop on your TV to turning your big screen into a personal photo album, there are plenty of tips and tricks you can use to get a richer Chromecast experience. To help you master your Chromecast, we’ve put together a breakdown of our favorite lesser-known features that allow you to get the most from your streaming adventures, whether you’re new to the device or a Chromecast vet.

First things first: You’ll want to download the Google Cast extension for your Google Chrome Browser via the Chrome Web Store. This extension allows you to send content to your Chromecast from your browser, and it’s crucial when executing many of the tips and tricks listed below.

Setting up Chromecast

If you’ve already setup your Chromecast, skip to the next trick, but we wanted to help you get things rolling in case you’re new to the product and just pulling it out of the box. Here’s the essential equipment: a TV with an HDMI input, Wi-Fi accessibility, a free USB port or power outlet, and a computer, smart phone, or tablet with either Google’s Chrome browser or the Chromecast app installed. Simply plug the device in to your TV’s HDMI port, give it power, then visit the Chromecast setup page to download the necessary app, and the Chromecast will walk you through the rest.

Note: If after connecting your Chromecast to your Wi-Fi network, you still can’t “see” the Chromecast from your Chrome browser casting extension or compatible apps (such as Netflix), you may need to make some adjustments to your Wi-Fi router. Visit the aforementioned Chromecast page for troubleshooting help.

Connect Chromecast to Google Home

If you’ve already got a voice-operated Google Home device and you are looking to use your voice to search YouTube or to see the weather on your Chromecast-connected TV, you’ll be happy to learn that you can quickly connect your Chromecast to your Google Home ecosystem.

Make sure the two devices are on the same network, then open the Google Home app and find the “More settings” tab. From there, click the “TVs and Speakers” tab, where you’ll see a list of connected devices. To link the Chromecast to Google Home, just tap the plus symbol in the bottom of the screen. Once added, you’re off to the races.

Use Chromecast as an audio streaming device

Bluetooth is great for streaming audio to newer hi-fi systems and wireless speakers, but what about all those notifications? You can bypass those, and still use your phone while you jam out thanks to a slew of iOS and Android music apps with Chromecast support, including Pandora, Google Play Music, and Spotify.

If you’ve got modern A/V receiver, amplifier, or powered speakers with an optical input, using the Chromecast to stream is as simple as setting your TV audio to “external speakers,” (typically in the settings menu under sound), and connecting an optical cable from your TV’s audio output to your audio device’s optical input. Have an older amplifier with only analog inputs? Just get an optical to RCA adaptor online and plug into the RCA input of your sound system.

But you want better sound, you say? While most modern TVs will do just fine pumping out your stereo signal, you may get better sound quality by simply connecting your Chromecast directly to an HDMI input on your A/V receiver and using your phone as both the controller and the viewing window to see what’s playing.

Mirror your Android phone using Chromecast

Fans of vertical integration will appreciate that Google has brought Android and Chromecast together, allowing users with most Android devices to “mirror” content from those devices to a big screen via Chromecast. The service is available on most Android devices with Android OS 4.4.2 or higher. To start mirroring, simply connect your Android device to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast, open the Google Cast app and tap the navigation drawer in the top left. Tap the “Cast Screen” button, select your Chromecast, and voila! All that is on your phone is now available for viewing in the bright lights of your HDTV. To end casting, open the navigation drawer again, tap the Cast Screen button, then select Disconnect.

Experience 3D virtual reality without the clunky headset

This tip is a bit more expensive and complicated than others on our list, as you’ll need a 3D TV, an Android phone, and Google’s freemium cardboard app to pull it off. If you find yourself in this category, keep reading. To use the feature, you’ll first want to activate SBS mode on your 3D TV, typically via your television’s settings menu. Then, download the cardboard app on your smartphone and launch it. After that, simply mirror the content of your smartphone to your television as directed above, and put on your 3D glasses packaged with your TV, allowing you to enjoy a 3D experience akin to virtual reality from the comfort of your living room.

Score free offers from popular apps

Google often goes out of its way to thank its Chromecast users with an abundance of monthly freebies. The tech giant offers deals for apps like Hulu and Google Play among others, many of which include access to free movies, extended streaming trials, and months of unlimited music. Simply visit Google’s Chromecast offer page to see a list of available offers, or if you prefer, access them through the options menu in iOS or Android.

Stream a slideshow using Google Slides

Got a slideshow you want to broadcast on the big screen? If you use Google Slides, you can stream your presentations over Chromecast. First, make sure that whatever device you are streaming from is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast. Then, click the “Present” button in the upper-right corner of your slideshow to open a drop-down menu, and select “Chromecast.”

How to stream local videos

Although Chromecast doesn’t work like an Apple TV or Roku, you can nonetheless stream videos stored on your computer or network if Chrome supports the file type on your PC or Mac. With a Chrome browser open, hit CTRL+O for PC or Command+O for Mac and locate the video you wish to play. This gives you the option to choose local videos from an installed hard drive, an external hard drive plugged in to your computer, and some network locations.

Check out the natively supported file formats here or move onto our next tip for playing additional file types.