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.

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.

This do-it-yourself autonomous cooler will follow you wherever you go

Why it matters to you

This self-driving DIY cooler won’t make your arms and back suffer if you want a cool drink on the beach.

OK, so having to lug your cooler down to the beach on a hot day probably does not rank up there in the top hundred problems the world faces. But, hey, we’re all for innovative uses of technology.

With that in mind, we have to applaud California-based hacker-engineers Aaron and Davis of Hacker House [who asked to have their last names withheld]. The duo leant their considerable expertise to constructing a robotic cooler — designed to trundle along automatically behind its owner, like a faithful dog which happens to contain chilled beverages.

“The cooler is controlled through an Android IoT app called Blynk,” Aaron told Digital Trends. “In the GPS streaming mode, the cooler will actively follow you. In the GPS waypoint mode, the user can send the cooler to a specific coordinate or instruct it to follow a path of coordinates. There is also servo inside the cooler that opens and closes the lid at the tap of a button. In the future, we’re interested in using computer vision and LIDAR to detect obstacles. We’ll probably have to add more computing power for that.”

Like any hacker worth his or her salt, Aaron and Davis are not hoarding the creation purely for themselves, however. They have posted instructions on the website Hackster.io, which details how similarly thirsty geeks can construct their own unit — using off-the-shelf DIY products, an Arduino, and a few other bits and pieces. The total build time is in the vicinity of 10 hours and, while it’s one for the slightly more advanced makers out there, at least you know there is a great relaxation-based reward at the end of it.

“I don’t think we’ll commercialize this one,” Aaron said when we asked if there is the chance of a possible Kickstarter or similar down the line. “We usually open source all of the code, materials, and instructions for our projects to show everyone that with the accessibility of today’s technology, you don’t need to be an engineer to create almost any device you can imagine.”

System memory sticks based on Intel’s 3D-memory tech won’t appear until 2018

Why it matters to you

Intel’s revolutionary 3D XPoint memory technology evidently won’t appear in mainstream system memory sticks for quite some time, but now we know Intel’s starting point.

Intel introduced its Optane-branded line of products in April in the form of “cache” sticks to speed up the data access process of hard drives. Offered in 16GB and 32GB capacities, these modules are based on Intel’s new 3D XPoint memory technology that combines the speed of traditional system memory (volatile) and the storage capability of a solid state drive (non-volatile). But where are the Optane-based system memory sticks Intel promised?

According to Mike Ferron-Jones, Intel’s director of datacenter platform technology marketing, Optane system memory sticks won’t appear until sometime in 2018. He said they will be big in capacity, affordable, and persistent, meaning all information stored within these memory sticks (DIMMs) won’t disappear when the host machine is turned off as seen with standard memory in PCs.

“Intel persistent memory will allow users to improve system performance dramatically by putting more data closer to the processor on nonvolatile media, and do it in an affordable manner,” he said. “This will truly be a game-changer when it comes to the way applications and systems are designed.”

The typical system memory stick only stores data while the PC is turned on. It connects to a special slot on the motherboard providing a fast, direct pathway to the processor. In turn, NAND Flash is a type of memory capable of storing data even while the PC is off, but it’s nowhere as quick as traditional memory sticks. These products connect to slower ports on the motherboard via PCI Express (also used by add-in cards) and SATA (also used by hard drives).

3D XPoint bridges the two technologies while also stacking memory cells vertically so that the resulting memory devices aren’t constrained capacity-wise by physical horizontal limitations. That’s one of the big selling points with “3D” flash-based technology, as the skyscraper-like structure provides faster data access because the information is sent to and from “floors” of storage “offices” rather that across a city-wide grid of cells.

That said, 3D XPoint promises to become the next step in the evolution of memory due to its speed, storage capability, and potential capacity. But many were seemingly disappointed that Intel launched 3D XPoint in the form of Optane-branded cache sticks to increase hard drive performance instead of full-blown solid state drives and system memory sticks.

However, Intel claims that these “cache” modules improve overall system performance by up to 28 percent, and hard drive performance access up to 14 times faster than a PC without an Optane module. Connecting to the M.2 slot (2280-S1-B-M) located on a compatible PC’s motherboard, they reside between the processor and SATA-based storage devices (hard drive, SSD, and others), and speed up performance by storing commonly used data and programs. But here’s the catch: Optane products only work with Intel’s seventh-generation processors.

Ferron-Jones indicated that Optane-branded system memory sticks won’t appear until Intel releases its “Cascade Lake” Xeon processor refresh in 2018. Intel partners began testing the memory sticks earlier this year, but when these system memory sticks will hit the mainstream retail space remains unknown.

Facebook fined for misleading officials during WhatsApp acquisition

Why it matters to you

After repeated conflicts with government officials, Facebook will have to take care to be more transparent as it continues to expand.

Facebook has received a fine of 110 million euros, or $122 million, from a European antitrust regulatory body for misleading officials during the company’s acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014.

The penalty concerns the linking of Facebook and WhatsApp accounts. When filing for the acquisition, Facebook stated to members of the European Commission, the group responsible for maintaining fair competitive practices in the region, that it would not be possible to automatically match user profiles on the two platforms.

According to the Commission’s statement, the technical possibility did exist back in 2014, and Facebook was aware of it. Two years later, the social media giant enabled the feature.

The Commission said it could and would have fined Facebook more, but the company has cooperated with the investigation thoroughly and admitted fault. The penalty has no bearing on the merger.

By cooperating with the European Commission, Facebook saved itself from being fined roughly another 140 million euros, which would have represented one percent of its revenue.

“Today’s decision sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information, and it imposes a proportionate and deterrent fine on Facebook.” said Margrethe Vestager, a member of the commission responsible for competition policy. “The Commission must be able to take decisions about mergers’ effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts.”

This news follows Facebook coming under scrutiny earlier in the week from Dutch and French officials for not being transparent about its collection of data, as well as how that data is used and provided to advertisers.

France’s privacy commission handed Facebook a small fine amounting to 150,000 euros, or $167,000, after the company was found to have collected “a massive compilation of personal data” for targeted advertising without users’ knowledge. The Netherlands’ Data Protection Authority is weighing a penalty as well, but has noted the company has so far cooperated with orders to end specific data collection practices.

The city of Zurich is reconstructed in 3D using only image and video data

Why it matters to you

Dynamic 3D modeling like this could help urban planners design smarter and more livable cities.

The city of Zurich, Switzerland has been reconstructed in 3D using millions of images and videos. Developed by researchers at ETH Zurich, the Varcity platform pulls from huge volumes of image data and uses algorithms to automatically stitch it all together.

There are millions of images of every major city in the world, many of which are shared openly online. The ETH Zurich team realized they could collect this image data — from standard photos captured by tourists to videos streamed through public webcams and use triangulation to replicate regions in detail.

“We combined all sources to provide a complete view of a city,” Hayko Riemenschneider, Varcity project manager, told Digital Trends. “The more data we have of an area, the more precise our models get.”

The team used machine-learning algorithms — developed over five years as a European Research Council project — that semi-automatically analyze the images and created a rough sketch of the city. “There is no manual 3D artist modeling work involved at all,” Riemenschneider said. “This makes the solution scalable to the whole city.”

They then augment the models with on-the-ground knowledge of the area in question. “Having knowledge — again, automatically deduced — about what part of a 3D model is a building, what part is a floor, and what part is a window or a balcony, allows to compress the data, or to abstract the data in a cartoon-like yet still 3D version,” Riemenschneider said. The idea behind abstraction is to help conceal faces and objects to maintain privacy. “Hence, even if data get lost in the wild, privacy is preserved,” he said.

The Zurich model is meant to demonstrate the algorithms that support Varcity. The researchers think their platform can help design smarter and more livable cities.

“There are a number of applications such as urban city planning, architectural design, traffic modeling, autonomous navigation and tourist guidance, as well as catastrophe response planning,” Riemenschneider said.

To showcase their model, the researchers have created a short video, which they will showcase in a Zurich cinema on Frida.

Android Pay coming to Canada, Spain, Brazil and others, debuts peer-to-peer payments

Android Pay is expanding to new markets, and expanding its U.S. capabilities.

Even though Android Pay is available in 10 markets right now, it’s been a relatively slow, plodding expansion for Google’s mobile payment platform. At Google I/O 2017, the company announced that it is expanding to a further five markets in the coming months, launching in Canada, Brazil, Russia, Spain and Taiwan. There have been numerous hints that Android Pay was imminently launching in Canada and Russia, so it’s nice to finally see the plan put on paper.

At the same Google I/O session, Google also detailed some interesting new ways that people will be able to make payments, both to vendors and retailers, and to one another through its first peer-to-peer operation.

• There’s the Google Payment API, which saves verified credit and debit cards to a Google account and allows users to quickly make payments in-app or on the mobile web. This is different to Android Pay because it’s not platform-specific — you can likely use it on iOS in addition to Android — and is not tied into Android Pay, so it can be used in all countries Google operates.
• There’s peer-to-peer payments using Google Assistant. You’ll be able to say things like “Ok Google, send $10 to Jane for pizza,” and a connected debit card will send the payment through. Pretty easy.
• A Card Linked Offers API will allow customers to see targeted offers based on location. Panera Bread is the first company on board with the enterprise, and users will see marketing offers when in store, often tied to a loyalty program like MyPanera. Pretty neat.
• Finally, Google is making it easier for loyalty cards to be added to its various marketing partners. If a customer is making a payment at a particular store that has hooked its loyalty program into Android Pay, users will get a notification asking whether they want to add their card and, once added, will begin collecting points with every transaction.

While personally I’m most excited about Android Pay coming to Canada, there are a lot of small improvements to the way users can send payments and use their loyalty that should make the experience better for everyone. That’s not to say all markets will get the above features — it’s likely the loyalty and peer-to-peer options will remain U.S.-only for a while yet — but it’s a good foundation.

What are you most excited about for Android Pay? Let us know in the comments!