Motorola Moto Z2: What’s the story so far?

The Motorola Moto Z was launched in 2016 as Motorola’s first crack at a modular mobile. The Z series was brought in to replace the flagship X series. Now, in 2017, Motorola has reintroduced the X series, but kept the Z range at the top of the family tree.

• Motorola Moto Z: A modular muddle

Following the recent release of the Moto Z2 Play, it would be fair to assume Motorola is planning a successor to the ‘regular’ Z smartphone. And there is evidence to suggest Motorola will release such a flagship phone later this year, so we’ve compiled all the rumours surrounding specs, design and features here for all to see.

• Motorola Moto Z2 Play: All the mod cons

Motorola Moto Z2: Release date

• Possible early-June announcement
• Late-July release based upon previous generation

Pinning down an exact release date is proving very tricky right now. Motorola announced the previous Z-generation of phones in early June 2016, so given the majority of smartphone manufacturers work on a yearly cycle, we could see some light shed very soon.We have seen a leaked presentation slide that only mentions the Z2 Play and the Z2 Force, with no ‘regular’ Z phone in sight. Although even then, it doesn’t mention release dates for either of those phones. But that hasn’t stopped online portals from suggesting Motorola is keeping it under wraps.A leaked photo of the Z2 Play, picked up by Android Authority, showed a date of 8 June on the display. Today is 8 June and we haven’t heard anything just yet, but fingers crossed we’ll hear something more official soon.When Motorola did announce the Z-series in 2016, they weren’t released until late-July, so we’ll stick with a late-July release for the Z2 for the time being.

Motorola Moto Z2: Design

• Modules are a certainty
• Slim build, no 3.5mm headphone port
• Glass front, likely to have a metal build

The previous Moto Z was incredibly slim at 5.19mm at its thickest point. It’s likely the Moto Z2 will come in at a similar size, which will mean once again that there will be no 3.5mm headphone port. Instead you’ll have to rely on a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, USB-C headphones or Bluetooth wireless. The slim design was used so when modules were attached to the back, it wouldn’t make the phone overly bulky.Android Authority was once again responsible for an image leak purporting to be the Moto Z2. The phone features in the photo does look remarkably similar to the Moto Z2 Play, but Motorola phones have tended to follow a similar design language. The image was also just of the front of the device, showing a front-facing camera, home button with a fingerprint scanner likely to be built-in and a glass-covered front. It doesn’t show the rear and therefore the rear-camera or module attachment pins.The rear-camera can be different across the Z-series, so being able to see it would have helped to distinguish which phone it is.

Motorola Moto Z2: Hardware

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor expected
• 4GB of RAM
• Previous generation had 32GB storage, Z2 should have the same.

Being a flagship device, we expect the Moto Z2 to come with flagship specs. A recent Geekbench benchmark test, picked up by Pocket Now, shows the Z2 to have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 4GB of RAM, putting it on par with the Samsung Galaxy S8.

In terms of storage, we haven’t heard any rumours, but the previous Moto Z has 32GB internal storage with microSD expansion. We’d expect the Z2 to come with the same, or better.The biggest selling point of the Moto Z2 will be the modules that can attach to the back. Roland Quandt, who has been responsible for some accurate leaks in the past, has posted images of a second-generation Moto Z device with a Hasselblad camera module, a battery pack and a JBL speaker.

Motorola Moto Z2: Display

• 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display
• Adaptive brightness a likelihood

The previous Moto Z smartphone had a gorgeous 5.5-inch 2560 x 1440 QHD display. We’d expect the Z2 to come with the exact same. It’s highly unlikely Motorola would reduce the size of the display, and any bigger it will be encroaching on phablet territory.

Motorola Moto Z2: Camera

• Lower megapixel count that Moto Z
• Larger pixels for better lowlight shots
• Laser autofocus, OIS

As for the camera, Android Authority predicts it will have a dual-lens setup on the rear, and usually reliable tipster Ricciolo has said it will be lower in megapixel resolution, but the pixels will be larger to help it fare better with low-light shots.

2017 #motoz #motox #Lenovo enhanced low light images LOWER MP Bigger μm Quality Lenses Laser AF OIS 😉 FIX this!Sorry for being TOO AHEAD !

— Ricciolo (@Ricciolo1) 16 July 2016

The camera will also allegedly have laser autofocus and optical image stabilisation.

Motorola Moto Z2: Price

Determining a price for the Z2 is just as hard as pinning down a release date. Nowhere has mentioned how much it may cost when it’s released. For now, we’ll assume it will cost somewhere in the region of £500, the same as the previous generation Moto Z. 

Plantronics’ trio of RIG headsets deliver Dolby Atmos on Xbox One, Project Scorpio and Windows 10

Plantronics has announced a new three-strong range of gaming headsets for Xbox One, upcoming Project Scorpio and Windows 10 PCs that support Dolby Atmos. The three headsets: RIG400LX, RIG600LX and wireless RIG800LX (pictured left to right), will be able to give gamers a more immersive experience by creating a more enveloping soundfield.

• Project Scorpio vs Xbox One S: What’s the difference?

We all know how Dolby Atmos can add an extra sense of immersion to movies in the cinema, with speakers placed all around you. And it’s the same with games; if you can hear enemies creeping up behind you, your reactions should in theory, be much quicker.

The Plantronics headsets don’t just deliver 2D sound and fill in the gaps, but they take the full Atmos soundtrack data on games, which is decoded by the Xbox One or Windows PC and then sent to the headphones.

The RIG800LX are the only wireless pair in the new range, and come complete with a 24-hour battery life and “lag-free wireless connection”. Inside the earcups are 40mm drivers that promise decent levels of bass and minimal distortion. A noise-cancelling microphone makes sure your fellow gamers can only hear you, and it can be muted by flipping it up and out the way.

Volume levels can be controlled using a dial on the earcup, and you can choose one of four EQ settings to adjust the sound signature.

The wired 400LX and 600LX models meanwhile make full use of Plantronics’ LX1 amplifier, complete with three EQ settings and dual control dials for balancing between game and chat.

Both pairs feature 40mm drivers to deliver “crisp, powerful sound” and a “balanced soundstage with distortion-free bass”.

Each pair of headphones comes with a code to let you activate the Dolby Atmos for Headphones setting on both Xbox One consoles and Windows 10 PCs. A license is required to activate Atmos on Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and so Plantronics is bundling a free code with each of these three pairs of RIG headphones. 

In addition to providing Dolby Atmos sound, all three headsets are lightweight, have sound isolating earcups and audio controls on the cables.

• Xbox One gets Dolby Atmos support at last, also adds streaming for Oculus Rift
• Xbox One S HDR games list: All the games you can play in HDR
• Dolby Atmos explained: What is it and how do I get it?

The RIG400LX, RIG600LX and RIG800LX will be available from the fall for $99.99, $129.99 and $149.99 respectively.

Best iPad Pro 10.5 cases: Protect your new Apple tablet

Apple announced the iPad Pro 10.5 at its WWDC developer conference in June. The new, slightly redesigned iPad bridges the gap between the now discontinued iPad Pro 9.7 and the larger iPad Pro 12.9, bringing a 20 per cent increase in display size but a 40 per cent reduction in bezels for a similar footprint to 2016’s model. 

The iPad Pro 10.5 offers all the features and functions you’d expect from a Pro model with the latest processor, Smart Connector, Apple Pencil compatibility and a lovely slim metal build. As with all tablets or smartphones though, no matter how beautiful their designs, putting some form of protection on them is normally a good idea.

There are numerous cases already available, some of which are minimal to keep the design traits visible, while others are more rugged to offer better protection. We have rounded up some of the best cases for the Apple iPad Pro 10.5 we have found so far but we will be updating this feature as more catch our eye.

• Apple iPad Pro 10.5 preview
• Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad Pro 9.7: Should you upgrade?

Apple

Apple

The Apple Smart Cover protects the iPad Pro 10.5’s screen and it is available in seven colour options in the silicone finish or four in the leather option. Open it and the screen will wake up, while closing it will send it to sleep and the cover will fold into a stand when open too.

PRICE: From £49 from Apple

Apple

Apple

For those looking to use the iPad Pro 10.5 as a working-on-the-move device, the official Apple Smart Keyboard is a good option to consider. This case will protect your screen when closed, act as a stand when open and the full-size keyboard connects via the Smart Connector.

PRICE: £159 from Apple

Apple

Apple

The Apple Leather Sleeve for the iPad Pro 10.5 comes in four colours and it protects your tablet with a soft microfibre lining. As you’ll probably have noticed, there is also a little convenient pocket for the Apple Pencil too, though the Pencil itself is of course sold separately.

PRICE: £129 from Apple

Amazon / ESR

ESR

The ESR case for the iPad Pro 10.5 has a synthetic leather exterior, coupled with a microfibre interior lining. There is a hand strap, Apple Pencil holder and organiser pocket and it features the automatic sleep and wake functionality.

PRICE: £17.99 from Amazon

Amazon / i-Blason

i-Blason

The i-Blason Supcase Heavy Duty iPad Pro 10.5 case has a front cover with raised bevel edges and it is made up of a polycarbonate hard shell and flexible TPU to withstand drops and shocks. 

PRICE: £21.99 from Amazon

Logitech

Logitech

The Logitech Slim Combo cover is a slightly cheaper alternative to Apple’s Smart Keyboard. It is both a case and keyboard, with the detectable keyboard connecting to your iPad through the Smart Connector. The Slim Combo is available in black and blue colour options.

PRICE: £119 from Logitech

Pad & Quill

Pad & Quill

The Pad & Quill Oxford Case for the iPad Pro 10.5 offers protection for both the front and rear of your new tablet, as well as a 25-year leather warranty and a leather Apple Pencil holder built in. It is available in two colours.

PRICE: $130 from Pad & Quill

Amazon / Poetic

Poetic

The Poetic Lumos iPad Pro 10.5 cover has an integrated pencil holder for those that have the Apple Pencil. It is made with a tactile grip feature with micro grips for stronger grip position and it has an open slot for docking into the Smart Keyboard case.

PRICE: £4.95 from Amazon

Amazon / Moko

Moko

The Moko case is made up of hard back design with a leather and microfibre front. It comes in a series of colour options and it offers access to all ports and functions, whilst also automatically waking or sending your iPad to sleep when it is opened or closed.

PRICE: £6.99 from Amazon

Amazon / Sparin

Sparin

The Sparin Smart Slim PU Leather Case for the iPad Pro 10.5 offers full access to all controls, all round protection and it offers an auto sleep and wake feature, like the Apple Smart Cover.

PRICE: £10.99 from Amazon

OnePlus just confirmed the design of OnePlus 5 with an official image

OnePlus doesn’t care about keeping its next phone under wraps.

The company is set to announce the OnePlus 5 in less than two weeks, but we already know a lot about the phone through leaks. And now, thanks to OnePlus, we even what it looks like. Sure, a high-res image of the OnePlus 5 surfaced a few days ago, showing off the dual-camera setup and overall look of the device’s top half, but OnePlus has just one-upped that leak with an image of its own.

On the official OnePlus Twitter account and OnePlus Google+ page, OnePlus posted an image of the OnePlus 5 with the tagline “Dual Camera. Clearer Photos.” So, that’s that then. Everyone knows what the OnePlus 5 will look like when OnePlus officially unveils it in 12 days. It’s unclear if the company planned to reveal the phone over social media or if it felt pressured by the recent image leak.

• Dual lens cameras: The history running up to iPhone 7 Plus
• OnePlus 3 review: The flagship killer we’ve been waiting for

Whatever the reason may be, the cat is out of the bag now, though the phone won’t be officially unveiled until 12pm EST on 20 June. At that event, we will likely hear more specific details, including features, pricing, and a release date. In the meantime, check out Pocket-lint’s rumour round up for more information about what the phone is thought to feature and maybe cost.

We also have a guide on how to stream the OnePlus 5 event.

A continuous hard edge, refined over 3 years. https://t.co/KVXBWmhBt8 pic.twitter.com/KBNppQ0R0U

— OnePlus (@oneplus) June 8, 2017

This is the GoPro Fusion: the company’s all-in-one VR camera

GoPro surprised everybody when it teased its “Fusion” 360-degree action camera back in April. Mostly because GoPro rarely teases anything (Karma, perhaps being the exception), preferring to show up out of nowhere with a glossy release video and launch event. The half-reveal didn’t tell us much, just that there was a camera coming in the fall, it had a resolution of 5.2K, a feature called “OverCapture” that would allow you to “punch out” a regular video from the spherical capture and well, that was kinda it.

Today the company is willing to show a lot more leg, as it were. In fact, GoPro is using the Mountain Games (which it sponsors) as a platform to show it to the world for the first time. We’re here, and we’re getting the chance to try it out for ourselves to see if it really is the “ultimate GoPro.” In the meantime, here’s a first look at the actual device itself.

We already knew from the teased image what the Fusion would look like. With its gunmetal gray exterior and grip-friendly textured edges, it’s not dissimilar to the Hero5 Black. But there are some key differences. Obviously, the main one being that there are two lenses, one on the front and one on the rear.

Secondly, it’s a shade bigger than the current Hero5 Black, it’s also fully square, and not oblong like the teaser images implied. The two lenses are set into the body without the typical GoPro square/flat protection cap. This is so that the camera can get an unobstructed view through 180-degrees, and not just straight ahead of it.

Despite having two “equal” sides, one of them has the classic small LCD display for showing what mode the camera is in. There are of course the usual power and highlight buttons too. We weren’t able to get a look at the battery, yet, but hopefully we can get a sense on how much power it packs after some time with it. For now, here’s what GoPro’s Fusion 360 cam will look like!

A video game trailer has been nominated for an Academy Award

Despite being one of the biggest entertainment mediums on the planet, it’s rare to see video games getting the mainstream recognition that they deserve. Now, it looks like that’s beginning to change, as, for the first time in history, a video game trailer has been nominated for an Academy Award. The promotional video in question is for this year’s intriguing philosophical world simulator, Everything.

With its thought-provoking trailer running at almost 11 minutes long, the promo video highlights the interconnected nature of, well, everything. Overdubbed with a speech from renowned British philosopher, Alan Watts, the trailer uses in-game footage to show life in all its strange and wonderful forms. Thanks to its length and intriguing subject matter, this clever promotional video now stands a shot at winning an Academy Award for best animated short film.

Interestingly, This isn’t the first time that the game’s developer, David OReilly, has flirted with cinema. Using his gaming expertise and incorporating it into cinema, OReilly created the holographic video game scenes in Spike Jonze’s brilliant sci-fi flick, Her.

For those who are curious about a game that lets you play as everything from an atom to a traffic cone, Everything is out now on PS4, PC and Mac. With the video already winning the Jury Prize for Animation at this year’s Vienna Shorts film festival, perhaps it will go on to be the first ever video game trailer to win an Academy Award.

Source: Eurogamer

OnePlus shows off the OnePlus 5 amid image leaks

It’s only been two days since OnePlus announced the June 20th launch date for its upcoming OnePlus 5 flagship phone, but it didn’t take long before a couple of image leaks popped up, courtesy of Android Police and Slashleaks. With that dual camera, LED flash, antenna bands and shade of gray, commenters were quick to point out the unfortunate resemblance between this device and the iPhone 7 Plus, which is presumably why OnePlus decided to post the above image to make a point. Indeed, from this angle, the OnePlus 5 appears to feature a more unique outline running from the side to the top, but the rest is still practically identical to the iPhone 7 Plus.

Exclusive: This is the OnePlus 5 https://t.co/VFHfAD528b pic.twitter.com/I81iT5y7Ip

— Android Police (@AndroidPolice) June 6, 2017

Despite the seeming identity crisis, the OnePlus 5 is set to be quite the performance beast — a role which its predecessors have played in each of their own generation; not to mention that it’ll likely be priced competitively like before. The company has already revealed that this phone will be using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chipset, and yesterday, @evleaks added that it’ll come with a whopping 8GB of RAM, according to some source code he dug up on Amazon India’s website. The dual camera will also be enhanced by DxO’s input, but of course, we’ll be the judges of that when we get our hands on a review unit. Here’s hoping that there will at least be a new color design to drive more differentiation, and hey, maybe OnePlus still has a trick or two up its sleeve for June 20th.

A continuous hard edge, refined over 3 years. https://t.co/KVXBWmhBt8 pic.twitter.com/KBNppQ0R0U

— OnePlus (@oneplus) June 8, 2017

Via: Engadget Chinese

Source: OnePlus

iOS 11 users will never have to memorize a WiFi password again

Modern life with all of its technological conveniences can be an absolute wonder. Yet when you go to a friend’s house and they spend 30 minutes trying to dig out a WiFi password from under their rug, all of that wide-eyed wonder quickly turns to rage. Luckily then, it looks like Apple has found a way to counter this devastating first world problem with iOS 11. According to 9to5 Mac, a new WiFi sharing feature will notify iOS 11 users when a visitor wants to join their network, automatically sharing their WiFi password with them if the host approves their request.

This isn’t the first new feature that has been outed for Apple’s latest operating system. Other leaks and rumors have stated that the upcoming OS will bring with it expanded NFC capabilities as well as the handy-sounding offloading feature. While no exact release date has been set for the new software, iOS 11 is will be coming to iPods and iPads this fall.

Via: The Verge

Source: 9to5Mac

‘Pokémon Go’ anniversary events to take place in real life worldwide

Pokémon Go is coming up on its one year anniversary and Niantic is planning a major celebration. Events are scheduled around the world but the biggest will be Pokémon Go Fest taking place in Chicago on July 22nd. There aren’t many details about the event just yet other than that it will take place in the city’s Grant Park.

For those in the US who can’t make it to Chicago, Niantic says there will be a number of related events across the country. Additional Pokémon Go celebrations will take place across Europe from June through September. The company also teased “Pikachu Outbreak” — an event happening in Yokohama, Japan in August where they will be testing a “unique Pokémon Go experience.” And lastly, Niantic announced Solstice Event, an in-game event running from June 13th through June 20th that, among other bonuses, will include increased encounter rates for certain Pokémon.

Niantic and the Pokémon Company have launched a few in-game events in the past and it’s not unreasonable to expect some game changes to be introduced for the anniversary. Pokémon Go has been downloaded over 750 million times and while game play has dropped quite a bit since it launched, there are still around 65 million users around the world.

“It’s been an incredible first year for Pokémon Go thanks to the passion and dedication from the global Trainer community,” John Hanke, CEO of Niantic said in a statement, “As part of the first anniversary, we’ll be giving players around the world the chance to enjoy fun in-game events, engage with friends and other Trainers at real-world events, and much more.”

Tickets for Pokémon Go Fest go on sale June 19th at 10AM Pacific / 1PM Eastern.

Source: Niantic

Hawaii defies Trump with law upholding Paris climate accord

Nearly 1,500 US local governments and companies have vowed to uphold the Paris climate deal, but Hawaii is the first state to make its defiance legally binding. Governor David Ige signed Senate Bill 559, committing the state to keep up its end, despite US President Trump opting out of the 195-nation deal. “Hawaii and other Pacific Islands are already experiencing the impact of rising sea levels and natural disasters,” said Ige. “That means we need to be first when it comes to creating solutions.”

Hawaii passed the law for both environmental and economic reasons. Referring to the state’s massive tourism industry, Ige’s advisor Scott Glenn told Reuters, “when climate change is threatening our reefs and threatening our weather … then it’s threatening our economy, too.”

“Hawaii is seeing the impacts firsthand,” Ige said. “Tides are getting higher, biodiversity is shrinking, coral is bleaching, coastlines are eroding, weather is becoming extreme.” Half of the states coral reefs have been destroyed by CO2 bleaching and “flooding happens on roads where it never did before,” a resident told the LA Times.

Aloha Tower will shine green throughout the week to show Hawaii’s support for the #ParisAgreement https://t.co/see4uoHFR9 pic.twitter.com/6UIBPRx80C

— Hawaii DOT (@DOTHawaii) June 8, 2017

The Aloha State already has tough environmental standards, and aims to be completely powered by renewable energy by 2045. It receives generous amounts of sun for its solar panel farms, but was one of the first regions to install a Tesla Powerpack station on the island of Kauai to even out grid loads.

Other states, including California, New York and Washington, have signed onto the United States Climate Alliance, essentially binding themselves to the Paris deal. However, Hawaii’s law requires state officials to create a detailed plan to deal with sea-level rise and climate change as a whole, in alignment with the Paris pact.

To signal its support for Paris, the state lit up Honolulu’s Aloha Tower in green for a week, much as New York, Boston and other cities did. “If the president is not going to lead on climate change, it’s on the states,” said Hawaii Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. “We’re not going to sit on the sidelines.”

Source: State of Hawaii