Texas explicitly allows driverless car tests

Self-driving cars have been roaming Texas streets for a while. Believe it or not, though, there hasn’t been legislation that directly permits autonomous vehicles — there just wasn’t a law banning them. The situation is clearer after this week, though. State governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill that explicitly allows driverless vehicles as long as they meet certain (fairly logical) conditions.

All self-driving cars have to obey existing traffic laws and carry insurance. They also have to record video, and the manufacturer has to accept liability as long as the self-driving tech remains unmodified. These aren’t exactly radical departures (many autonomous cars already have cameras, for one thing), but they establish a baseline. Critics are worried they’re too lenient, however. There’s no clear requirement that a human operator should be inside, and groups like AAA want a higher minimum insurance coverage than you’d see with conventional cars.

Even so, the new law is important. While it’s not going to change minds at Waymo and other companies that were already inclined to test in Texas, it could encourage others to set up shop if they were previously skittish. And testing in Texas is particularly important — numerous tech giants have offices in the state (particularly in the Austin area), and its warm climate makes it a good testing ground for vehicles that might not be ready to handle snowy roads.

Source: Texas Tribune

Gear Up: 808 Audio wants to power your summer playlists

808 Audio is an audio brand known for releasing quality products at an affordable price. We’ve reviewed a number of products over the years and are always interested in checking out new models.

As the summer season gets in full swing, it’s the time of year we find ourselves outside, riding bikes, taking walks, and lounging by the pool. For a lot of us, we love to put on some background music.

Though 808 Audio has a range of products, today we are going to look at its EarCanz Sport wireless earbuds and waterproof Canz H20 floating Bluetooth speaker. We’ve spent time with both of them and are ready to recommend each for your consideration.

EARCANZ Sport Wireless Earbuds

The EarCanz Sport Wireless Earbuds (About $50) are easy to pair right out of the box, which is convenient, and they can also be connected to more than one device at a time, so you can sync them with both your phone and tablet, and switch between the two effortlessly. We can watch a video on our tablet, and the audio will be interrupted with a phone call from the phone. Because of this one reason, they are worth it to us.

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These earbuds are also sweat and water resistant and boast up to 9 hours of playtime, which we found to be pretty accurate, depending on use.  The Sport Earbuds also have flexible ear hooks for a custom fit, and are quite comfortable to use daily.

There are a few things to note about all of 808’s products though, and that is their love of both bass and treble. It seems that extra bass appears when the track doesn’t really have any, but the sound is pure, and isn’t distorted at all. Maybe it’s not the best for podcasts or telephone calls, but it still works in both realms. If you’re a music lover, then these are great earbuds.

CANZ H2O Bluetooth Speaker

The Canz H2O (about $50) is wrapped in a waterproof silicon covering, so you easily take this speaker into the pool with you. It even floats, so you don’t have to use the lanyard that comes in the box.

A USB to micro-USB charging cable is included, but you’ll need to bring your own USB power source to charge them. 808 Audio promises eight hours of battery life from Canz H2O and we found this to be pretty accurate in our time with it.

As far as features go, the Canz H2O is pretty basic. It pairs easily, right out of the box, and the only control is the single power button that also doubles as a play/pause button. The sound is good, though there was a slight bit of distortion at higher volume levels. To us, this is to be expected in a $50 speaker.

In all, this is a good speaker to leave by the pool or take it in with you for an afternoon/evening party. It will last for about eight hours and is great for an extended playlist. There aren’t any forward or back buttons, so unless you bring your waterproof phone with you in the pool, you’ll not have control over playback.

Conclusion

Either of these products would be a good fit for those of you looking for an affordable listening experience. We like what 808 Audio puts out and feel like it recognizes its place in the space. Rather, it doesn’t try to be something it isn’t. The general approach seems to be putting out good, solid audio products with budget-minded buyers in mind. You can shop for 808 Audio at its website as well as retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

What it’s like to shop for smartphones in Shenzhen, a tech-lover’s paradise

If you want to buy a smartphone, there are a wealth of choices available both online and offline; but the majority of stores sell the same devices for the same price, and most don’t provide an exciting retail experience. What if you want something different like a used phone, or you want to haggle over the price?

If you’re in the U.S. or the U.K., your choices are limited to online services like eBay, Craigslist, and Swappa. If you’re in Shenzhen, China, it’s a very different story. We took a walk down the main electronic commercial street of Huaqiangbei in central Shenzhen, a street lined with stores selling everything from drones to Bluetooth speakers … and heaps of smartphones.

Gadget fans may have already heard of Shenzhen, as it’s home to most of the major manufacturing plants in which the world’s greatest devices are built. Many big and small-name hardware companies have offices and production facilities there, so it’s no surprise to find a sprawling retail area packed with the fruits of the workers’ labor on sale.

A street lined with stores selling everything from drones to Bluetooth speakers, and heaps of smartphones.

What’s it like? There’s a mixture of official, single-brand stores selling one type of phone, along with labyrinthine marketplaces that disappear deep into buildings. The latter is where you’ll find smaller shops selling all kinds of electronics and gadgets, and even single booths staffed by one person, selling everything from fidget spinners to parts and components for phones. Big-name Chinese smartphone brands have their own stores out on the main street. We passed Huawei’s store, an Honor store, an Oppo store, a Vivo store, and various others.

These shops operate like regular stores elsewhere, such as a carrier retail store, or an Apple Store. While Apple has official retail stores in China, Huaqiangbei is dotted with shops claiming to be official Apple resellers, and the Apple logo itself is a common sight strolling down the street. Samsung was also out in force when we visited, with a pop-up store showing off the latest Galaxy S8.

It seemed fitting to see what Huawei offered to its retail customers, considering Huawei is the third largest smartphone manufacturer in the world — and it’s widely popular in its home country. Perhaps its stores would be reminiscent of an Apple Store? After all, it has a strong retail presence, with a plan to build a network of retail stores in 1,000 Chinese counties. We chose to visit one which opened in 2016, that doubles as both a retail store and a service center. We met one member of staff there, named Seven, who walked us through a typical visit.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

“We have about 150 visitors each day,” he said, pointing out that in addition to coming in to buy a new phone or to get one repaired, others visit to have the intricate features explained to them in mini training sessions. There’s even a large seating area where you can relax and play around with Huawei’s phones and tablets.

What’s most impressive about this location is the repair work — a consultant checks in the phone, there are offline computers to back up your data, and a dedicated team of technicians behind a glass wall ready to restore your phone to health. It’s even possible to change a cracked screen, and most of the work is completed within an hour.

Seven said he was proud to work in the store. Huawei phones were way more prevalent around us on the street than they are in the U.S., or even the U.K. We asked him how the brand — which is less well-known internationally — is perceived in China. Roughly translated, he said the Huawei name means Chinese strength, and therefore is one that makes people proud. The store was pleasant, and we admired the methodical way of dealing with people who wanted to get their phone repaired in double-quick time.

There’s a strong chance fakes are on sale too, and you need a good eye to spot them.

Leaving the air conditioned goodness of the Huawei service center, we explored the stores nearby. Despite Xiaomi’s reputation, we didn’t pass any official Xiaomi-only stores, but the company’s devices are available everywhere, and for very competitive prices.

One such device in particular stood out, which we stumbled upon during a tour of one indoor market. A Xiaomi Mi Mix — the great-looking bezel-less phone — could have been ours for around 3,500 yuan, and that’s before we went into bargaining-mode. That’s about $515, at least $150 less than you’ll pay to import one, if you can still find one on sale.

The real gems are found in cabinets throughout these indoor markets. Apple iPhones of all generations are everywhere, along with assorted Samsung phones; but we also spotted a few Nokia phones — check out the yellow Nokia 1520 in one of the photos — and a massive Xperia Z Ultra. There are old phones, new phones, rugged phones, feature phones, phones we’d never seen before, and even a selection of luxury Vertu phones. It’s a phone-spotter’s dream.

But it was the Vertu phones that set alarm bells ringing, and kept our wallets firmly in our pockets. Walking around the indoor markets, we saw many expensive items, from Vertu phones to Beats headphones, to various big-name watches. Not all are boxed, and most are being sold by distinctly unofficial retailers, for lower-than-expected prices. While we’re sure some are genuine, there’s a strong chance fakes are on sale too, and you needed a cool head and a good eye to spot them.

This didn’t put us off, or detract from the experience. It added to it. The Huaqiangbei commercial street is an intoxicating, exciting shoppers paradise for tech-geeks, and it would take at least a day to explore everything it has to offer. We had just a few hours, and barely scratched the surface.

Online shopping is convenient, but shopping in Shenzhen is exhilarating. There are some days when only that will quell our need for some techy retail therapy.

The best true wireless earbuds you can buy

Let’s face it: No matter how excellent they may sound, we’re all tired of untangling the wires of our favorite earbuds.

Thankfully, as more and more listeners embrace the lack of a jack, an increasing number of companies have released completely wireless earbuds, pushing listeners towards the wire-free future.

So far, this burgeoning genre isn’t without its fair share of poorly functioning products. Whether it’s short battery life, poor sound, or shoddy connection, there are a number of flawed earbuds you’ll want to avoid. If we’re being completely honest, we’re strong believers that those willing to deal with a single cable between their earbuds will get better performance with halo-style and tethered Bluetooth headphones for a lot less money. That said, if you’re ready to leave the wires — all the wires — behind for good, we’re here to help.

Here are our favorite truly wireless earbuds, ranging from sweat-proof sports buds to basic in-ears.

Our pick

Why you should buy this: They look good, sound great, and always work as they should.

Our Score

The best fully wireless earbuds

Bragi The Headphone

The Bragi ‘Headphone’ is the whole package: Fully wireless headphones that offer solid connection, and great sound.

$149.00 from Bragi

Who it’s for: Those looking for the simple pleasures of great, hassle-free sound.

How much will it cost: $149

Why we chose The Headphone:

Sure, German startup Bragi showed a bit of hubris when it named its second generation fully-wireless earbuds “The Headphone,” but as far as we’re concerned, that’s about the only detraction from these excellent buds. Where the company’s first product — The Dash — failed, The Headphone succeeds. Offering good looks, great battery life, and impressive sound, The Headphone are streamlined and easy to use, rather than feature-packed and difficult to decipher.

Along with music streaming, The Headphone can also handle phone calls, and allow you to control playback and even access your phone’s digital assistant via tiny buttons on the buds themselves. Like many pricier headphones, they’ll also play/pause music when set them in or remove them from your ears. The only thing missing in the package is a portable charging case. However, with six hours of playback per charge, that shouldn’t be a problem for any but the most unrelenting daily listeners.

The earbuds are also great for wire-free beginners: They’re intuitive to use, and if you’re afraid of losing one you can purchase a leash from Bragi’s website to keep them strung together until you’re ready to set them free. Best of all is the price. For just $150, The Headphone earbuds are a killer deal that offers everything you want, and nothing you don’t.

Bragi The Headphone review

The best for long journeys 

Why you should buy this: They’re reliable, ultra-functional, and they sound good enough to be a smart upgrade from Apple’s EarPods.

Our Score

The best Apple product

Apple AirPods

Apple’s AirPods might not be the most comfortable, but they’re bursting with features that Apple devotees will love.

$159.00 from Apple

Who it’s for: Apple devotees, and those who like to wander from their phone.

How much will it cost: $159

Why we chose the Apple AirPods:

Apple’s iconic white earbuds have long been the bane of Apple-wielding audiophiles. The one-size-fits-some tubes are often tough to get correctly seated in your ears, and the sound quality is middling at best. But with its AirPods, the company has delivered a solid upgrade worthy of consideration.

While sound is still fairly muddy, the AirPods boast better audio chops than their wired counterparts, and they also pack in several useful features that work consistently (a rarity in the fully-wireless universe). Fans of Apple will appreciate Siri connectivity, intuitive touch controls, and accelerometers that recognize when the buds are in or out, pausing and playing automatically. They offer a solid 5 hours of music streaming per charge (among the best in their class), and even boast an extended range of around 100 feet without obstructions.

In addition, the Airpods come with a well-engineered charging case for 24 hours of total playback time on the go, and they work well for making or receiving phone calls — the ‘buds work independently, so you can take calls while looking like a member of the Secret Service. If you don’t mind the golf-tee look — and if you can get them to fit — Apple’s AirPods are worth a good look.

Apple AirPods review

The best for sports

Why you should buy this: You want fully wireless earbuds that love a good sweat as much as you do.

Our Score

The best for sports

Jabra Elite Sport

Jabra’s Elite Sport fit like a glove and keep your workout goals in site.

$249.99 from Amazon.com

Who it’s for: Those with an active lifestyle who need earbuds that stay put, keep up, and keep track.

How much will it cost: $200-$250

Why we chose the Jabra Elite Sport:

Jabra has added some of the best elements of its hearty workout buds to the fully wireless world with its Elite Sport headphones, giving fitness fanatics something new to drool over.

In addition to being sweat proof and waterproof — able to be submerged in shallow water for up to 30 minutes — the Elite Sport headphones also feature a built-in heart rate monitor, helping listeners keep track of their vitals during strenuous workouts. Perhaps most important, the earbuds come with a wide variety of eartips and support connectors, allowing you to draw up a secure fit that insures they won’t jostle around during your workout.

Beyond the gym, potential buyers will be happy to know that the Elite Sport offer solid sound quality with ample bass response, to help keep you rocking out longer and harder as you train for that half marathon or Crossfit event.

Jabra Elite Sport review

The best everyday audio enhancement

Why you should buy this: You’re looking to enhance or modify the sounds of the world around you, and jam out while you do it.

Our Score

The best everyday audio enhancement

Nuheara IQbuds

Nuheara’s IQbuds augment the sonic world around you while you jam out your favorite tunes.

$299.00 from Nuheara

Who it’s for: Those who are hard of hearing, or who have other specific live-audio needs.

How much will it cost: $200

Why we chose the Nuheara IQbuds:

Nuheara’s IQbuds’ will play your favorite tunes, of course, but their primary purpose is to help those hard of hearing control ambient sound and boost speech, augmenting their sonic environment.

The Nuheara do an excellent job separating words from background noise, turning difficult hearing situations into easy listening environments — all with the help of an extremely in-depth (but surprisingly intuitive) app. And unlike some competitors in the “wearable” genre, they also boast decent battery life for the genre, coming in at around 3.5 hours of music playback per charge with augmentation engaged.

Audio performance is relatively impressive, too, and best of all they work very efficiently, offering listeners a stable connection.

The IQbuds are also some of the most comfortable fully wireless earbuds we have tested thus far, making them perfect for longer listening endeavors in the real world.

Nuheara IQbuds review

The best cheap-seat earbuds

Why you should buy this: They offer a comfy, secure fit and passable sound performance at a crazy-low price.

The best cheap-seat earbuds

Axgio AH-T1

Axgio’s AH-T1 may not be fancy, but their $50 price point makes them easy to love.

$49.99 from Axgio

Who it’s for: Those who want to cut the cord, but don’t want to shell out for it.

How much will it cost: $50

Why we chose the Axgio AH-T1:

They’re not the most glamorous or the highest-fidelity option on the market, but for less than $50, Axgio’s AH-T1 do what many pricier fully wireless earbuds do not: They actually work, and work pretty well at that.

The clever, over-ear hook keeps these sweat-proof buds securely on your ears during a workout, while volume and playback can be controlled via a series of three buttons on either earbud. Pairing is easy, connection is solid, and at four to five hours, battery life is up there with the best smaller earbuds. While they don’t have a portable charging case, they do come with a handy carrying case, and you can even pair just one of the buds at a time for mono sound.

If you’re looking to cut the cord but don’t have a ton of money to drop on smaller, fancier earbuds, the AH-T1 are an excellent option that will stay put — even when you don’t.

Axgio AH-T1 video review

Best Google Pixel Cases

Whether you’re looking for something low-key or high-protection, these are the best cases for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

Not everyone uses a case on their phone, and those who do may not even use a case every day. But one thing is certain: your Google Pixel or Pixel XL is a very expensive piece of hardware, and that means you should consider the options for protecting it.

We’re not just talking about a drop from shoulder height onto concrete. There are also just little bits of daily life that can leave your phone looking less than pristine after a few months or a year. Now that the Pixels have been out for a while you have plenty of great case options that can help you keep your phone looking great for longer. Here are a few of our favorites.

Maxboost mSnap Thin Case

Maxboost has made a great and super minimal offering with the mSnap Thin Case. Available in turquoise, black and rose gold, the mSnap case offers complete protection of all edges without adding any unnecessary bulk. Little slits at the corners let the case stay super rigid but still fit around your Pixel.

The case cuts out relatively large holes around the camera, fingerprint sensor, USB port and headphone jack so you don’t have to worry about compatibility with other accessories or issues with not being able to access basic functions. Starting at $13, this is a great minimalist choice.

See at Amazon

X-Level Vintage Series PU Leather

If you’re looking for a case that has a bit more style and a natural feel, but don’t want to spend the big bucks on a proper leather case, check out the X-Level Vintage Series PU Leather case. For just $13 you can get a black, brown or pink-colored synthetic leather case that gives a bit of cushion to your Pixel or Pixel XL.

Sure it’s not “genuine” leather and the bottom of the phone isn’t completely protected, but this case will definitely provide daily protection from bumps and scrapes while also looking nicer than a generic rubber case.

See at Amazon

Otterbox Commuter

Otterbox is a company that is well-known for its protective offerings, but many are turned away by how bulky that can make your Pixel. The Commuter series is a great balance of protection and bulk, all while looking pretty great. Thanks to its inner synthetic rubber slipcover and the polycarbonate outer shell, you’ll have awesome protection in the event of a drop or fall.

The case allows for easy access to the ports and fingerprint sensor, and the buttons are raised so you can easily find them. Coming in at just under $40, it is more expensive than many of the other options, but worth every penny for the protection it provides.

See at Otterbox

Tauri Ultra Slim

The Pixel is a great looking phone, and you may not want to hide it under a case. That doesn’t mean you should leave your phone completely unprotected to show it off, and instead you should consider a great clear case. Tauri offers its Ultra Slim case in a variety of tinted colors, most of which can be seen through to still show off the beauty of the phone.

You won’t get extreme protection with this case, but it will prevent some dings and scratches from making your phone look older than it really is. Priced at only $8 there is very little reason to not pick one up for your Pixel to keep it safe.

See at Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor

If you’re looking to protect your Google Pixel but don’t want to make it super big and bulky, Spigen’s Rugged Armor is a solid pick for you. The case combines Military Grade protection with Air Cushion Technology for all of its corners, and the TPU material is flexible but protective.

Being fingerprint-resistant, the case will not only protect your phone but keep it looking clean and great. The front has a small lip to it, so if you place the phone face down the screen won’t touch the surface to prevent scratches. At only $13, you can’t go wrong with this slim case that offers great protection.

See at Amazon

Updated June 17, 2017: This list has been refreshed with updated pricing, links, and the latest information.

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Save 21% on the HomeSpot AirBeans X True Wireless Earbuds

The search for a great pair of headphones can be tedious and ultimately unsatisfying, especially if you choose the wrong ones. This is especially the case when you’re looking for great workout headphones. Earbuds are almost always better for working out, since you don’t have anything bouncing around on top of your head, but then you have the cord to worry about.

Truly wireless earbuds for $55 Learn more

Bluetooth headphones are perfect for just about every situation. Whether you’re working out or simply sitting at your computer enjoying tunes, Listening to your music wirelessly grants you total freedom of movement. You can usually even get up and walk away from the device you’re connected to without losing the signal.

The HomeSpot AirBeans X True Wireless Earbuds are a great solution to your wireless earbud woes. Most wireless earbuds are connected by a weird cord or have huge receivers built into them, but the AirBeans are about as discreet as wireless earbuds get. They retail for $69.99, but at Android Central Digital Offers, they’re only $54.99, a savings of 21%. They come with three different bud sizes so that they can fit any ear, and they’re totally wireless.

The AirBeans come with a sleek and convenient carrying case, which also acts as the charging cradle. Keep the case charged and you’ll extend battery life for up to 8 hours of playtime. In the box, you’ll get 2 Bluetooth earbuds, a charging cable, the charging case, the three sizes of ear tips, and a user manual. AirBeans use the latest Bluetooth technology, 4.2, which means they’ll work with all of your devices, new and old.

If you need a great pair of Bluetooth headphones but don’t want anything with huge receivers or annoying cords, then check out the HomeSpot AirBeans X for just $54.99 at Android Central Digital Offers and save 21%.

Truly wireless earbuds for $55 Learn more

Kick off summertime in this week’s comments thread

Sit back, relax and chat about stuff because it’s the weekend!

It’s the last weekend of spring. That means we are all gearing up for the heat, the sunshine and the fun outdoorsy times that come with summer!

I’m spending this one in style at a friend’s cabin on the lake to enjoy the weekend on his deck, drinking his beer and loving his rural broadband speeds. I might even wake up early and see if I can coax any trout up out of the deep water and onto the grill for lunch. Even if you still have to work, getting away from it all is important to do once in a while. Besides, his hot tub is way better than mine and I’m looking at a nifty “waterproof”-ish Lenovo Chromebook so what better way to test things?

Click me to see the big version!

We’re also gearing up for the OnePlus 5 to show itself in all its iPhone-looking glory. If even half the rumors are true and the price is right it looks like a phone that can stand toe to toe with anything from anyone, and won’t require you to take out a second mortgage to buy. We’ll know everything about the phone on June 20, but we already know that OnePlus isn’t the same company it used to be. That’s a good thing. It’s grown and we doubt we’ll see any more “show your boobs to win a phone” contests or other gimmicks going forward. And that’s important, even more than being able to make good stuff is.

Anyhoo, that’s next week and it’s the weekend right now. What y’all up to that’s good? Holler in the comments!

Using Cardboard Camera to capture and enjoy VR photos for Daydream

Cardboard Camera brings your photos to life when you view them with Daydream!

Cardboard Camera lets you take a panorama photo of the world around you, and then renders it into a format that can be viewed in VR. This means that you can strap on your Daydream View, and relive those awesome moments, complete with audio and depth.

Here’s how to get the best photos with this app!

Read more at VRHeads.com