Mophie Juicepack for Pixel XL: A beast of battery burden

What do you get someone who has a nearly perfect phone? More battery life, of course.

Google’s Pixel XL is a lot of things. It’s the phone to have if you’re into tinkering. It gets updates before any other phone. It’s got a camera that’s considered one of the best available today.

But battery life? That’s not always been its strongest asset, even considering its 3,450mAh capacity.

For years, the Mophie Juicepack has been the go-to battery case. Mostly for the iPhone, but more recently for Samsung’s Galaxy S line. And now, it’s available for the Pixel XL.

What you need to know: This case will make the phone thicker. Longer. Heavier. It’ll make the fingerprint sensor harder to get to.

And it’ll increase battery capacity by more than 75%.

Notice I don’t say “battery life.” Actual usage time is one of those things that very much will vary from person to person, even with the extra 2,950mAh. But with that sort of increase, you know that you’ll be running much longer than you would have otherwise. (And reminder that you gain wireless charging with this thing.)

The soft-touch coating on the case is exactly what we’ve come to expect over the years — just about perfect, if still prone to the oil from your fingers. The seam where the top half of the case meets the bottom is well out of the way and nicely matched in any event. And the case itself should do its usual protection job.

Oh, this doesn’t feel like a Pixel XL anymore. There’s nothing svelte about this phone when it’s wearing a Juicepack. I’m now showing 9.75 ounces on the scale (up from the naked phone’s 5.83 ounces). The flat back is demolished by what I want to describe as something more whale-like.

We’ve all seen these cases before. They’re beasts.

See at Amazon

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Get a lifetime subscription to premium web development courses for $50

A career in web development is a career well-invested in today’s marketplace. Many companies are moving to an entirely online business model, and if you’re looking for job security, you’ll want to get in on the development side if you’re at all interested. Or maybe you’re already a developer, but you have been for 20 years and haven’t kept up with current technology and trends.

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Going back to school can be costly and probably isn’t the most efficient way to use your time, especially if you’re already in a full-time career. You need online courses that you can access from anywhere, at any time, on your own time. But those can be expensive as well, so where do you look?

Look no further than Android Central Digital Offers and this great deal on a SitePoint Premium Courses Lifetime Subscription. You’ll gain access to over 80 ebooks, 70 courses, and 300 tutorials, covering everything from coding in CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and more to key coding frameworks and libraries, like jQuery, Node, TypeScript, and more. Typically you would get a lifetime subscription to all of this content for $49.99 but use the code MEMDAY15 for an additional 15% off, which lowers the price to $42.50. These courses and ebooks together generally retail for $450, but at iMore Digital Offers, you save over 90%.

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If you want to stay relevant in the web development world, you need to update your skills and learn the latest techniques. Check out SitePoint Premium Courses, but don’t check them out for $450. Check out a lifetime subscription at Android Central Digital Offers for $49.99 and don’t forget to use coupon code MEMDAY15 at checkout for an additional 15% off!

The Morning After: Weekend Edition

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to the weekend. If you have an extra day off, then that may provide time to catch up on our new Tomorrow section, plus the latest Google Search feature and Apple’s plan for AI.

Let’s talk about the future.Welcome to Tomorrow, the home of stuff that hasn’t happened yet

This week we launched a brand new section on Engadget, which is dedicated to bringing the future into focus. Our launch week stories have covered everything from prosthetics to binge watching to the art of nuclear war — and there’s much more to come.

You think?Apple is reportedly working on a dedicated mobile chip for AI

On-device machine learning is suddenly a highlight feature for smartphones, and unsurprisingly there are rumors Apple is going to improve the iPhone’s capabilities in that area. Google and Qualcomm have a bit of a head start in AI, but we’ve already seen the folks in Cupertino whip up dedicated hardware to boost things like motion tracking and wireless audio. It’s unclear how soon the “Apple Neural Engine” could arrive, but we’ll be looking for more information at WWDC.

Wonder what we’ll find there?Google Search has a new tab: Personal

Given how much data Google probably has accumulated about you, there’s no surprise that its latest search option is all about one person. If you take a look at the Personal search (currently available on the web for most), it will pull up results from your Gmail, Google Photos and other linked sources. It could be more convenient than switching tabs, or just when you want an NSA-level view on everything you’ve shared with big G.

Guac is still extraChipotle finds malware exposed credit card info across the US

Another day, another restaurant’s credit card systems have been hacked. This time Chipotle is up, and if you ate at one of its locations during March or April, your card information might have been exposed.

Helium, not hydrogenSergey Brin’s big airship plans

The latest set of rumors around Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s dirigible project suggests that when completed, it will be the largest flying object in the world. At 200m long, it should be easy to see when Brin takes it out for a test drive, or in normal operation splitting time between deliveries of humanitarian supplies and luxury air yacht trips for the exec’s family.

Too real to kill.Truly intelligent enemies could change the face of gaming

Using AI to create nuanced and challenging virtual rivals could make games more realistic than ever — but have we considered all the possible downsides?

But wait, there’s more…

• Nokia’s throwback phone is too basic for 2017
• NASA’s Juno mission discovers Jupiter is really weird
• Bad Password: The Facebook president and Zuck’s racist rulebook
• Everyone’s favorite useless Pokemon gets its own game
• Microsoft’s new Surface Pro is both lighter and quieter

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

ICYMI: Control D-ing this show

Today on In Case You Missed It: When this show was announced on Engadget two years ago, we promised to find you the offbeat tech and science news you might have missed while following the previous day’s big headlines. I’ve felt a great responsibility covering innovations from the likes of NASA and MIT, plus discovering promising cancer studies and environmental inventions aimed at saving us all. I’ve learned so much from writing this show for you. And let’s be real, it’s probably the best job in tech journalism since very few autonomous car inventions could go without a Russian dash cam montage and I’ve needed to (ahem) carefully review options before selecting the perfect moment.

With about 500 episodes under ICYMI’s belt, it’s time to move on. This is the last time you’ll see In Case You Missed It on Engadget’s front page and if I’m honest, it’s for the best. ICYMI has been a blast, but doing this show takes a lot of time that we could be using to make even more videos. Right now we’re most excited about the stripped down, informative daily show we plan to unveil next month. Stay tuned!

I’ll still be obsessing about new odd products and science achievements via Twitter, plus working on investigative projects for the new show I produce and host, The Future IRL. We launched it justtt before I went on extended medical leave, because #greattiming.

And by the way, those two things mentioned at the beginning of the show can be found here and here. I also want to thank the great supportive viewers I’ve gotten to know on social media through this show, your news tips and jokes were always a bright spot. You can always find me here: @mskerryd.

The first ‘steps’ of this giant mech make a baby giraffe look graceful

At this point, humanity has a pretty good track record for taking ridiculous science fiction and turning it into science fact. Just scroll through your favorite tech blog and take note of all the crazy stuff you see — we have jetpacks, flying cars, artificial intelligence, and lasers that can melt the engine block of your car. But there’s one particular sci-fi staple that we haven’t really brought to life quite yet: mechs. Essentially robots that you can drive, these mechanical monsters have shown up in movies, books, and video games for decades, but haven’t made the transition into the real world — until now.

Thanks to an engineer by the name of Jonathan Tippett, planet Earth finally has a giant mech it can be proud of. Prosthesis, from Furrion Robotics, is billed by its creators as “the world’s first exo-bionic racing mech” — and Digital Trends was there to watch it take its first very tentative steps.

It wasn’t so much a test run as it was a test wiggle.

If the name rings a bell, that’s probably because you saw the prototype at CES 2017. The mech made a huge splash at the show, but back then it wasn’t operational — it was just a hunk of pistons and steel trusses cobbled together in the shape of a robot. It  wasn’t until last week that Prosthesis was ready for its first real-world test run.

Thing is, it wasn’t so much a test run as it was a test wiggle. The bot has progressed in leaps and bounds in the five months since CES, but actual leaping and bounding are still a bit too advanced for it. Just like a human toddler, Prosthesis has to walk before it can run, and crawl before it can walk.

As such, the first live demo was admittedly a bit underwhelming. We showed up to the event hoping to see a giant robot going for a jog, but all we got was a bit of wiggling and a few stationary squats. While it wasn’t exactly a jaw-dropping display of technological muscle, it was impressive nonetheless.

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

Adam Balkin/Digital Trends

With Prosthesis, even something as seemingly insignificant as a squat takes a great deal of skill. Movement isn’t initiated with traditional inputs like a joystick or a steering wheel. Instead, each leg of the mech is mapped to one of the pilot’s arms or legs, so if the pilot’s limb moves, so too does the corresponding mech limb. It’s radically different from just about every other control scheme used for heavy machinery, so learning the ropes takes a fair bit of practice.

Oddly enough, that’s sort of the point. Furrion’s ultimate goal is to eventually create a mech racing league that drives robotics technology forward in the same way NASCAR and Formula One have driven engine tech forward. In these mech races, human pilots will compete against each other, so Prosthesis’s steep learning curve was intentionally left intact to preserve the athletic, skill-based elements that are necessary for good competition — or at least that’s how Tippet tells it. We have a sneaking suspicion that Furrion might not have all the kinks worked out quite yet, but in either case, we’re excited for what the future holds.

We don’t expect to see a full-fledged robot racing league any time soon, but Furrion is optimistic. The company says that Prosthesis will be walking and running (at up to 20 miles per hour, no less) later this summer, and that the yet-to-be-organized mech racing league will get off the ground within a couple years.

We’re not holding our breath on this one — but rest assured that if and when the first mech races start up, we’ll be on the sidelines with a foam finger and a Furrion hat.

Amazon UK’s new video options will require a TV licence

Live TV viewers in the UK are supposed to pay a fee that supports services and content from the BBC. Lately, despite changes that closed the “iPlayer loophole,” that still doesn’t apply to people who only watch streaming video on-demand, so some cord-cutters can avoid the charge. However, the TV Licensing agency is reminding people that as Amazon UK rolls out its new Channel add-ons with live TV, it means that viewers are again responsible for paying the fee.

Amazon’s packages include channels like Eurosport, ITV Hub+ and Discovery, so as TV Licensing spokesperson Jason Hill explains “If you watch or record live TV, either through your TV or live online through a website, then you need to be covered by a TV Licence…Around 94 per cent of people are correctly licensed so are already covered to watch live TV online.” Currently, an annual colour TV Licence costs £147.

Source: TV Licensing

Hisense 4K TVs look for a place to fit on crowded shelves

At CES we were quite impressed by the Hisense lineup of smart TVs, and now the company says its 2017 models are arriving at retail. The H6D, H7D, H9D and H9D Plus series cover a range of price points and sizes, with 4K models ranging from the 43-inch H6D for $348 to the top of the line H9D Plus 65-inch with advanced motion processing and ULED edge LED lighting for $2,000.

There’s no word yet on other items like versions with Roku technology built in, but its freshly redesigned platform includes access to Amazon, Netflix, YouTube and Vudu, which should cover most of the bases. We’re also keeping an eye out for the 4K Laser Cast TV projector, but until then, these will have to do battle in the crowded midrange 4K TV segment. That won’t be easy, a look at the competition shows Vizio’s M-Series selling a 65-inch model for $1,200 that compares very well to the 65-inch H9D with a price about $100 higher.

Source: Hisense

Apple Orchard Road in Singapore Officially Opens to the Public

Apple today officially opened up its first retail location in Southeast Asia, Apple Orchard Road in Singapore, to the public at 10:00 a.m. local time. The store marks the newest addition to Apple’s next-generation retail rollout, following similar design principles and community-focused values seen at Apple Union Square in New York and Apple Dubai Mall.

So honored to spend some time this morning with Apple’s head of retail @AngelaAhrendts at Apple Orchard Road. She’s a rock star!! pic.twitter.com/E2E8dZxYS8

— MuttonsInTheMorning (@muttons) May 27, 2017

As the first Apple retail store in Southeast Asia, Apple Orchard Road has received a lot of attention over the past few weeks leading up to its grand opening. Reports began to ramp up in early May when Apple put up a mural in front of the store that displayed large “Apple Loves Singapore” artwork in various places. Upon closer inspection, the details of the artwork represented different “Creative Pros” who will now help run Apple Orchard Road’s “Today at Apple” programs.

After the opening date was announced, Apple removed the barricades from the storefront, unveiling the design of the inside of the store for the first time. Earlier this week, the Cupertino company then allowed members of the press to visit the store and take pictures of its next-generation design, which included a curved staircase inspired by Apple Park and an upstairs “town hall” gathering space for Today at Apple sessions.

Apple Orchard Road is the newest step in the company’s plan to eschew more traditional retail establishment principals where the only purpose is to visit the store to buy something, and encourage customers to be inspired by the products through Today at Apple. When the company announced the new sessions would begin expanding worldwide in May, Apple senior vice president of retail, Angela Ahrendts, said that Today at Apple was catalyzed by Apple’s “desire to educate and inspire the communities we serve.”

Ultimately, Ahrendts hopes that the next generation refers to Apple as a meeting spot similar to the communal nature of a place like Starbucks. “Starbucks figured it out, you know? Being a gathering place for – right? ‘Meet me at Starbucks,’” Ahrendts said. “And you know, I’ve told the teams, ‘I’ll know we’ve done a really, really great job if the next generation, if Gen Z says, “Meet me at Apple. Did you see what’s going on at Apple today?”‘”

Tags: Singapore, Apple retail
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Now you can design Google Photo Books on iOS or Android

Among the many things Google announced at I/O 2017 last week, one of them was the ability for people to create and order physical albums with Google Photos. The only problem with that, however, is you could only use it through a desktop browser. Thankfully, the search giant has updated its Photos app on iOS and Android to support the new feature, letting you use your mobile device to easily order a book of your favorite images — which can be created automatically using Google’s AI.

The softcover albums (7-inch, 20 pages) will cost you $10, while the more premium hardcover (9-inch, 20 pages) is $20. Unfortunately, you’re only able to buy one if you’re in the US, and there’s no word on whether Google plans to bring the service elsewhere anytime soon.

Source: Google Photos (Twitter)

BMW’s latest motorcycle concept links futuristic style and tech

No doubt, BMW has come up with some cool conceptual vehicles lately, with a color-changing Mini and a futuristic, self-driving Next 100 auto. Its Motorrad Vision Next 100 motorcycle, revealed last October, is maybe the coolest yet with a gyroscopic system designed to keep riders upright and safe no matter what. It also looks pretty, well, rad. The company’s latest electric motorcycle, the BMW Motorrad Concept Link, is based on the first Next 100 but brings a more refined, commuter-friendly style to the idea of a zero-emission electric motorcycle.

The Concept Link has a long, low profile with a flat bench seat which covers the “flat energy packs in the underfloor.” There’s a diagonally rising handlebar section, too, and a windshield upon which BMW says it will project “speed, navigation and battery information.” Secondary information will be displayed below that on a large flat panel which can be controlled via programmable buttons on the handlebars. BMW says that the Concept Link will have access to your calendar and next destinations, letting the bike plan fast or more scenic routes while choosing music for your trip. Oh, and you’ll open and close the sliding door on the luggage compartment — also under the seat — with gestural controls enabled by some sort of futuristic jacket.

While concept vehicles like this are super fun to gawk at, the chances of them hitting the road exactly as pitched are minimal. Still, having a slick-looking future commuter motorbike that runs on electricity and connects to our mapping apps and streaming music is a neat future that we’d all probably like to live in.

Via: The Verge

Source: BMW