IBM will use artificial intelligence to produce Wimbledon highlight packages

Why it matters to you

Having debuted at The Masters, and now being employed at Wimbledon, IBM’s Cognitive Highlights tech could improve the quality and scope of sports broadcasts.

For more than two decades, IBM has served as the official information technology supplier to Wimbledon, one of the biggest events on the international pro tennis calendar. This year, the company will introduce Cognitive Highlights, a new implementation of artificial intelligence that will help fans keep up with all the tournament’s biggest moments.

Cognitive Highlights is a project developed by IBM Research in collaboration with IBM iX. It was first shown off at the 2017 Masters Golf Tournament, where a proof-of-concept version was able to select the best shots of the most compelling moments from a live video feed.

The system set to be employed at Wimbledon goes one step beyond this functionality. Using computer vision and other cutting edge AI technologies, Cognitive Highlights will assess footage and automatically produce highlight packages for individual matches that will be rolled out across digital platforms shortly after play comes to a close.

Wimbledon is a 13-day tournament, and hundreds of hours of video footage will be accumulated over the course of the competition. A total of 18 grass courts will play host to the best players in the world, highlight packages haven’t been traditionally produced for matches played outside of the most popular courts. The streamlined process offered up by Cognitive Highlights means that fans will have better access to a broader selection of play than ever before.

The technology works by combining information recorded by an on-court statistician with data from an array of different sensors. Everything from the number of aces accomplished by a particular player to the speed of individual serves is taken into account.

However, Cognitive Highlights also analyzes how the crowd responded to particularly exciting moments. The system was trained to recognize cheering from the crowd and how players reacted, using audio and video footage gathered at previous iterations of the Championships.

AI has come a long way in recent years, and we’re starting to see some hugely effective applications for the technology, doing jobs that would be too time-consuming or otherwise impractical for a human. Cognitive Highlights certainly fits that mould, and it looks set to give tennis fans more of the Wimbledon coverage they crave when the Championships get underway on July 3.

New app gets rescuers to cardiac arrest victim three minutes ahead of ambulance

Why it matters to you

Cardiac arrest can rapidly turn fatal and this app can shed minutes off the time until aid arrives.

A new smartphone app is helping bring aid to victims of cardiac arrest an average of three minutes before professional first responders arrive. That might not sound like a lot of time but it can be a life-saving difference, since every minute increases a victim’s chance of survival by ten percent.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading natural cause of death in the United States, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and it takes just a few minutes to turn lethal if it goes untreated. Created by the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), The First Responder App is intended to minimize the lag time between a victim’s cardiac arrest and when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is initiated, by informing bystanders who can help.

To do so, the EHRA app is designed to be integrated into existing emergency systems and uses GPS tracking to locate trained rescuers who are able to quickly respond and administer aid. When emergency services are notified of a victim suffering cardiac arrest, the operator sends out first responders and also contacts trained rescuers through the app to direct them to the scene of the incident.

“We saw that initiatives like those were kicked off in other countries but none of those had a real model in terms of ‘real world functionality,’ as they all neglected data security, legal and insurance aspects.” Christian Elsner, CEO of the University Clinic Schleswig Holstein and EHRA spokesperson, told Digital Trends. “Secondly, we were very interested in the data for a scientific purpose.”

The First Responder App underwent trials with about 600 rescuers in Lubeck, Germany, where 36 percent of cardiac arrests were met by an app rescuer over three minutes before the professional first responders arrived. (Meanwhile, Sweden is testing first responder drones.)

“With every minute chances to survive rise by ten percent,” said Elsner. “Our ‘proof of concept’ [is that] three minutes earlier in 36 percent of the cases would translate into 5,000 to 10,000 people surviving more per year in Germany alone.”

The organizers of the projects are now taking their idea to emergency service agencies such as fire departments and hospitals around the country. The app is currently only available on the iOS Store but will also be available on Android by September.

Token is a ring you can use to make payments, store your passwords

Why it matters to you

There have been many efforts to replace your wallet and keys — Token comes close with its smart ring.

Going abroad? You’ll have to call your credit card company and give them a heads up, just to prevent them from marking your purchases as fraudulent (which still might happen). Logging into Twitter or Gmail? If you have two-factor authentication, you’ll have to wait to get a pin from an SMS, or confirm your authenticity via an authorized device. A new smart ring called Token is trying to make it all simpler, with the help of your fingerprint.

Token is both the name of the ring and the company that’s behind it, which was founded in 2016. The ring won’t track your calories or steps, but it can perform more powerful tasks that may make your everyday life a lot easier. The circular ring — which comes in sterling silver, rose gold, and black — contains Bluetooth and NFC connectivity, along with a fingerprint and optical sensor. First, place your ring finger’s print on the sensor, which is located on the inner ring. Then put the ring on, and the optical sensor detects that you’re wearing it. The optical sensor recognizes when the ring is off, and will then shut it down so it cannot be used until your finger reauthorizes it.

At launch there will be six main functions of the Token smart ring: Store your passwords, allowing you to log in with just two knocks; unlock your front door; tap and go with more than 50 transit systems worldwide; replace your workplace access card; unlock your car; and add your credit card to make payments at more than 15 million stores.

The end of passwords

Token can save all the passwords you use to log into various sites and devices. For example, if you connect your laptop to your ring via Bluetooth and save your password, the next time it’s locked, simply knock twice on a hard surface and you’ll be logged in automatically. The same applies to websites, and Token is working with partner companies in the FIDO (Fast Identity Online) Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to make experience smooth. The ring can even act as your second factor authentication, as well as your first.

Managing these credentials is done through the companion app — add your usernames and passwords during the initial set up of the ring, and you can delete them at any time. The company said the Web Authentication Application Programming Interface (API) will be supported by Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple’s Safari, “so your Token ring will be able to communicate directly with Gmail through Chrome with no apps involved for creating or using credentials.”

Payment ring, and transit

Token’s NFC sensor allows it to make payments at contactless terminals, just like Apple Pay or Android Pay — except you don’t need to make an account to use it. Simply add your card information in the app, and you can start making payments at stores with NFC terminals. The company has worked with Mastercard and Visa to make sure Token is accepted as a secure payment device.

It also means that the ring will work with public transportation services that use tap-and-go NFC systems — like London, and San Francisco. More than 50 transit systems worldwide use NFC, and 30 more are set to go live in 2018, including New York City.

Open doors, start cars, access your workplace

Token has also worked with a third-party company to build a smart door lock that can open with the NFC ring. It’s called Token Lock.

There’s also the Token Car Plug, which connects to your car’s On-Board Diagnostics (OBD), and it allows you to use Token to unlock your car with two knocks when nearby. The company has also worked to make the ring HID SEOS-enabled, meaning you can ditch your work access card.

There’s a lot Token will be able to do when it ships in December, but the company said it’s looking to more third-party companies to add support for other devices and services.

Token is waterproof up to 50 meters, and the company claims a two-week battery life. It charges inductively via a dock, and to check the ring’s battery life — just tap it twice and you’ll see either green, orange, or red.

The ring — which comes in U.S. sizes 6-12 — will cost $250 for the sterling silver variant, whereas the 14K rose gold model and black rhodium color will be $300. There are three bundles at launch: $350 for Token and Token Lock; $350 for Token and Token Car Plug; and $400 for all three. They’re all available for pre-order now at Tokenize.com. The Token app supports Android, iOS, Windows 10, and MacOS.

European Commission fines Google $2.73B for anticompetitive practices

Why it matters to you

Google has 90 days to amend the way shopping results factor into its search engine, or risk seeing its $2.73 billion penalty get significantly larger.

Earlier this month, reports began to circulate that Google was likely to be hit with a hefty fine following a major investigation into alleged anticompetitive practices conducted by the European Commission. Now, the organization has confirmed that the search giant will be forced to pay $2.73 billion in sanctions.

The Commission’s investigation into Google’s activities emerged in October 2016. The issue revolves around its practice of serving up web results that prioritize products sold via its shopping service, which is being interpreted as an unfair advantage over other retailers offering the same items.

A press release issued Tuesday by the European Commission lays out the charges being leveled against Google in no uncertain terms. Not only does the company stand accused of giving prominent placement to its own shopping service, it’s alleged that it also demotes rival services in order to promote its own.

Having now investigated Google’s practices for several months, the Commission has officially issued the fine of $2.73 billion, with that figure being settled upon as a result of the “duration and gravity of the infringement.” In addition, the company must modify its conduct with 90 days to avoid being subject to penalty payments equaling up to 5 percent of the average daily worldwide turnover of its parent company, Alphabet.

“Google has come up with many innovative products and services that have made a difference to our lives,” said Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. “That’s a good thing. But Google’s strategy for its comparison shopping service wasn’t just about attracting customers by making its product better than those of its rivals. Instead, Google abused its market dominance as a search engine by promoting its own comparison shopping service in its search results, and demoting those of competitors.

However, Google doesn’t seem to plan on taking the decision laying down, and maintains that its shopping service is designed to deliver a streamlined experience for consumers that helps them find the products they’re looking for quickly.

“We believe the European Commission’s online shopping decision underestimates the value of those kinds of fast and easy connections,” wrote senior vice president and general counsel Kent Walker in a blog post published in response to the ruling. Google is currently mulling whether or not to appeal the decision.

Best tips for getting started with the OnePlus 5

So you just got your OnePlus 5. Let us help you get the most out of it right away.

When you unbox your brand new phone, it can be enticing to jump right into setting it up how you’ve been using your previous phone without any consideration of the new features you now have. So after you get through setup and start downloading your apps, we encourage you to take a few minutes and check out some of what the OnePlus 5 has to offer that makes it unique.

These are the first things you need to do with your OnePlus 5.

Choose capacitive or on-screen buttons

The debate on capacitive versus on-screen navigation buttons will rage on, but this isn’t the place for that argument — because the OnePlus 5 lets you choose whichever you prefer. You’ll find the toggle for it in Settings and then Buttons — switch between the two at any time.

If you decide to go with capacitive keys, take the extra few minutes to configure long-press and double-tap actions for the buttons as well. For each of the three buttons, you can have something else happen when you long-press or double-tap them, including actions like opening menus, opening the camera, turning off the screen, pulling down the notification shade and more. It’s a huge point of customization if you want to spend the time on it.

Decide if you want that screen protector

Like many phones, the OnePlus 5 comes out of the box with a pre-installed screen protector. It’s actually a decent protector, but it really detracts from the experience of touching the Gorilla Glass 5 on the front directly.

Just take off that screen protector and touch the glass.

It may be worth keeping the screen protector on there for a day or two if you’re on the fence about the phone and may return it or sell it on to someone else. But if you plan to keep your OnePlus 5, you should bite the bullet and remove that screen protector to really enjoy the phone fully.

If you’re tough on phones and must have a screen protector, we recommend going with one of the purpose-built tempered glass protectors from OnePlus directly.

Actually unbox the charger

If you’re a typical smartphone nerd like us, you have more phone chargers than you know what to do with. But when you get your OnePlus 5, there’s a good reason to actually take the in-box charger out and have it handy. The OnePlus 5 has a proprietary fast charging system called “Dash Charge” that requires both an approved charger and cable to work, and that means you’ll need to use the one in the box or another sold by OnePlus.

Dash Charge is darn useful — unbox the charger.

Dash Charge is a really smart piece of technology because it lets the charger do more of the work than the phone, letting your phone charge up faster without getting warm. It has the benefit of charging super fast, but also letting you retain near-max charging speeds even while playing a game or using hardware-intensive apps like navigating in car mode.

That doesn’t mean your OnePlus 5 won’t charge quickly off of another charging brick you have, but it won’t be anywhere near the charging speed that a proper Dash Charge charger can offer.

More: Essential accessories for the OnePlus 5

Customize your status bar

One of the OnePlus 5’s biggest features is its bevy of unique software customization options that are available without rooting or modifying the phone’s firmware. A perfect example is the option to choose which icons show up in your status bar: go to Settings then Status bar and you’ll see tons of choices.

You can change the battery bar style and add a battery percentage indicator, choose how you want time displayed and even show your active network speed up there. The best part is the “icon manager” that lets you turn off icons you have no interest in showing — like the auto-rotate, Bluetooth, VoLTE or NFC icons that will always be turned on.

Check out Reading Mode

The OnePlus 5 has a new hardware sensor that can better identify ambient lighting, and it leverages that for a new “Reading Mode” to help reduce eye strain when reading on the phone. With Reading Mode on, the screen shifts to a near-greyscale color palette that’s much easier on your eyes. You’ll find it in Settings then Display and Reading Mode.

Reading Mode can help save your eyes during long reading sessions.

The best way to seamlessly use Reading Mode is to select specific apps that will toggle on the mode when you open them. For example it would be a good idea to turn on Reading Mode when you open the Kindle app, the Android Central app, or your favorite news aggregation service.

If you want to use Reading Mode more sparingly in apps, you can also add a toggle for it in your notification quick settings.

Configure gestures

OnePlus has iterated on its idea of screen-off gestures to let you configure exactly what you want to happen when you perform one. The phone supports swiping an O, V, S, M or W on the “off” display to perform actions — for each one, you can choose to do things like open the camera, open the flashlight or launch a specific app you have installed.

In addition to the active on-screen gestures, OnePlus also uses this area to include toggles for flipping the phone to mute incoming calls, swiping with three fingers to screenshot and double tapping the screen to wake it.

Get acquainted with the Alert Slider

Every company handles notifications and Do Not Disturb in different ways. OnePlus has stuck with a three-stage hardware switch to handle the duty — it’s called the “Alert Slider” and it’s found up above the volume rocker on the left edge of the phone.

This may be the biggest change in daily use for most people.

The specific actions can be customized, but the Alert Slider has three basic locations (from bottom to top): “ring,” “do not disturb” and “silent” that are pretty self-explanatory. In the settings, you can slightly tweak how each acts: “ring” can include vibration or not, “do not disturb” can handle various alerts in different ways, and “silent” can completely mute media and vibration if you so choose.

Because all sound is handled by the Alert Slider, that means that you can’t set automatic rules for Do Not Disturb — it’s likely a change from what you’re used to, but it also feels like a better way to handle things for most people.

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• OnePlus 5 specs
• Which OnePlus 5 model should you buy?
• Camera comparison: OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

Ad-subsidized Nokia 6 goes up on Amazon for $179 along with $99 Moto E4

Amazon’s lineup of ad-subsidized phones now include the Nokia 6 and Motorola’s latest entry-level phone.

Ahead of its availability in early July, the Nokia 6 is now up for pre-order on Amazon for just $179. Like the Moto G5 Plus, Amazon is offering a Prime Exclusive edition of the Nokia 6 with lock screen ads, knocking $50 off the retail price of the device. Amazon is also kicking off sales of an ad-subsidized version of the Moto E4 — which will retail for just $99 — along with the Alcatel Idol 5S, A50, and A30 Plus.

The Nokia 6 is the first Nokia device to be sold in the U.S. following HMD Global’s acquisition of the brand name, with the phone featuring a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 1.4GHz octa-core Snapdragon 430 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 16MP f/2.0 camera, 8MP front shooter, 3000mAh battery, and dual Dolby Atmos speakers. The phone will be compatible on AT&T and T-Mobile, and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box.

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Meanwhile, the Moto E4 comes with a 5.0-inch 720p display, 1.4GHz Snapdragon 425, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, fingerprint sensor at the front, 2800mAh battery, and Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. Amazon is knocking $30 off the retail price for the Prime Exclusive version, and the phone itself will work on all four major carriers in the U.S. — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.

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Amazon is adding three new Alcatel phones to its lineup — the Idol 5S, the A50, and the A30 Plus. The Idol 5S is the most interesting of the lot, offering a Snapdragon 625 and a 5.2-inch Full HD display for $199 if you’re willing to put up with lock screen ads — or $80 off the retail price of the standard variant. The A50 is available for $99, and the A30 Plus is listed for $79.

The Moto E4 will start shipping out on June 30, and the rest of the phones in the lineup will be heading out to customers starting July 10. Interested in taking a look at all the new additions? Head to the link below to explore Amazon’s Prime Exclusive collection.

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Amazon Expands Lineup of Best-Selling Prime Exclusive Phones with New Unlocked Devices including Nokia, Alcatel, and Motorola

SEATTLE—June 27, 2017—(NASDAQ: AMZN)— Amazon today announced five new additions to its best-selling Prime Exclusive Phones lineup, offering Prime members incredible prices on the latest unlocked phones. The new Nokia 6, the debut Android device in the U.S. from HMD Global, initially available only on Amazon and the first Nokia phone in the Prime Exclusive Phones lineup, will be available for only $179.99—saving Prime members $50 off the full retail price. Alcatel is also expanding its lineup in the program with three new devices: the Alcatel IDOL 5S for only $199.99 for Prime members ($80 off the full retail price—the largest discount ever offered for a Prime Exclusive Phone), the Alcatel A50 for only $99.99 for Prime members ($50 off the full retail price), and the Alcatel A30 PLUS, available for only $79.99 for Prime members (also $50 off the full retail price). Motorola’s recently announced Moto E4 will be offered at $99.99 for Prime members ($30 off the full retail price). These Prime Exclusive Phones are available for pre-order starting today at http://www.amazon.com/prime-exclusive-phones.

Since launching last summer, Prime Exclusive Phones have been consistently featured in the top 5 best-selling unlocked phones list on Amazon and are among the top rated unlocked smartphones available on Amazon.com. Additionally, the Prime exclusive Moto G5+ has been featured in the top 3 new releases for unlocked Android phones since it launched in March.

“One year ago, we introduced Prime Exclusive Phones as a way to bring the freedom of unlocked Android devices to our Prime members—at incredible prices,” said Charlotte Maines, General Manager, Prime Exclusive Phones. “What began with two phones, the BLU R1 HD and Moto G4, has now grown to 10 smartphones in our Prime Exclusive lineup—many of which are among the best-selling and top-rated unlocked phones available on Amazon. We’re delighted by the reaction we’ve seen from Prime members and are excited to add even more options for our customers with these brand new phones from Alcatel and Motorola, and our newest addition to the program—Nokia phones.”

Introducing Nokia 6

The Nokia 6, the newest unlocked Android device in the U.S. from HMD Global, features a polished aluminum design with diamond cut edges available in Matte Black or Copper and a beautiful 5.5″ Full HD IPS laminated display. It offers a 16MP phase detection autofocus rear-facing camera and 8MP autofocus front-facing camera, Android 7.1 Nougat, a fingerprint sensor, powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, and dual Dolby Atmos speakers. Nokia 6 comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with support for up to 128 GB more via microSD card, and is available for only $179.99 for Prime members (regularly $229.99) compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile. Learn more about the Nokia 6 here.

“Pairing the superior craftsmanship and distinctive design of the Nokia 6 with the ease and reliability of Amazon, makes this the perfect match,” said Maurizio Angelone, Vice President, Americas, HMD Global. “We are thrilled to bring the quality and detail of a high-end phone experience to a new generation of Nokia fans, while offering existing fans the same unparalleled quality they have come to love.”

Alcatel Adds Three Brand New Phones

The Alcatel IDOL 5S features a sleek metal and 2.5D curved glass design, with a 5.2″ Full HD display and a 12MP rear-facing camera with dual-tone flash and 8MP front-facing camera. It comes with Android 7.1 Nougat, 4G LTE, a fingerprint sensor, 3.6-watt front-facing speakers, plus a VR Launcher. The IDOL 5S features 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with up to 256 GB more via MicroSD card—all for only $199.99 for Prime members (regularly $279.99, an $80 discount). The Alcatel IDOL 5S is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks; Sprint and Verizon network compatibility will be available later this summer via a software update.

The Alcatel A50 has a sleek metallic frame and offers complete customization. It features a sharp 5.2″ HD display and a 13MP rear-facing camera with dual-tone flash for better balance and color rendering, a large f/2.0 aperture, plus a 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash for capturing great selfies. The Alcatel A50 comes with Android 7.0 Nougat, 4G LTE speeds, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage —only $99.99 for Prime members (regularly $149.99) and is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks. The Alcatel A50 will also be offered bundled with the LightUp SNAPBAK LED cover that lights up with incoming calls, messages, e-mails and more—available for only $129.99 for Prime members (regularly $199.99).

The Alcatel A30 PLUS features a slim, compact frame with a metallic silver finish and a 5.5″ HD display, and has a 13MP rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera. It comes with Android 7.0 Nougat, 4G LTE speeds, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory with up to 32 GB more via MicroSD card, and features a long-lasting 3000mAh battery—all for only $79.99 for Prime members (regularly $129.99). The A30 PLUS is compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile networks, and will be compatible with the Verizon network later this summer via a software update. Learn more about the newest Alcatel phones here.

“With Amazon’s increasing lineup of phones available through the Prime Exclusive Phone program, it’s exciting to be launching three new smartphones offering uniquely different experiences for Prime members to enjoy,” said Steve Cistulli, President and General Manager of TCL Communication, NA. “With our successful debut of the A30 earlier this year, we’re thrilled to continue growing with Amazon as they expand their smartphone portfolio of affordable devices.”

Moto E4 Joins Prime Exclusive Lineup

The Moto E4 offers a sleek and compact metal design in black with a 5″ 720p HD display and features an 8MP autofocus rear-facing camera and 5MP front-facing camera with selfie flash. It comes with Android 7.1 Nougat, 4G LTE speeds, and a fingerprint sensor, plus 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage with microSD card support for up to 128 GB of additional storage, a fast quad-core processor, and a 2800mAh removable battery. The Moto E4 is available for $99.99 for Prime members (regularly $129.99) unlocked on all major wireless carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. Learn more about the Moto E4 here.

Prime Exclusive Phones

Prime Exclusive Phones are available at discounted pricing for Prime members supported by personalized offers and ads, including personalized deals and product recommendations, displayed on the phone’s lock screen. The Prime Exclusive Phone single sign-on experience provides Prime members easy access to their Prime benefits through the most popular Amazon apps, including thousands of movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, over two million songs and playlists with Prime Music, photo storage and backup with Prime Photos, unlimited reading with Prime Reading, free two-day shipping on millions of items, and more.

Availability

The Nokia 6, Alcatel IDOL 5S, Alcatel A50, Alcatel A30 PLUS, and Moto E4 can be pre-ordered starting today. Moto E4 will begin shipping on June 30 and the Nokia 6, Alcatel IDOL 5S, Alcatel A50, and Alcatel A30 PLUS will begin shipping on July 10. Visit http://www.amazon.com/prime-exclusive-phones for additional information and details about the Prime exclusive offers. All five devices are also available without offers and ads at Amazon.com to Prime and non-Prime members, at full retail price.

Alcatel Idol 5S unveiled with Snapdragon 625, heads to Amazon for just $199

Save $80 off the retail price of an Alcatel Idol 5S by picking up a variant with lock screen ads.

Alcatel has unveiled its latest budget handset, the Idol 5S. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 625, and will go up for sale on Amazon starting July 10 for $279. If you don’t mind seeing lock screen ads, you can pick up the Prime Exclusive edition right now for just $199, an $80 discount from its retail price. Alcatel is also making the A50 and A30 Plus available on Amazon for $99 and $79 respectively.

The $80 discount is the largest offered for a phone in the Prime Exclusive lineup, which recently added the Nokia 6 and Moto E4.

For $199, there’s plenty to like in the Idol 5S, which has a 5.2-inch Full HD display with 2.5D curved glass, Snapdragon 625, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, 12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera with a flash module, stereo speakers at the front, and 2620mAh battery. The Idol 5S is initially compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile, but a software update that will roll out over the summer will add support for Sprint and Verizon.

The highlight of the A50 is its customizability, with Alcatel offering snap-on cases called Snapbak that bring added functionality. The LightUp Snapbak case, for instance, adds an LED ring around the frame of the device, lighting up for calls, texts, and other notifications. There’s also a speaker accessory called the Sound Snapbak that adds a 2.5W speaker with a built-in kickstand to the back of the A50.

The phone itself features a 5.2-inch 720p display, unnamed quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, microSD, 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, and a 2800mAh battery. The standard variant of the A50 retails for $149, with the ad-subsidized model available for $99. Amazon is also offering a bundle with a Snapbak LED case for $129, a $70 discount from its retail price of $199.

The A30 Plus has a similar configuration as the A50, with a few notable changes: it has a 5.5-inch 720p screen, and a slightly larger 3000mAh battery. Both the A50 and A30 Plus are compatible with AT&T and T-Mobile, and a software update will allow the A50 to work on Verizon later this year. The Idol 5S runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, whereas the A50 and A30 Plus come with Android 7.0 Nougat.

What do you guys think of Alcatel’s latest phones?

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Amazon Dash Wand with Alexa: Should you buy it?

Alexa is a fridge magnet now? Alright, cool.

Amazon’s Dash Wand, the glossy stick aimed at making shopping on Amazon Fresh a little more convenient, now has Alexa support added. Among other things, this makes the Dash Wand the cheapest Alexa-enabled product you can buy at only $20. Before you go pulling out the wallet, there are a few things you need to know about the features and limitations of this superpowered fridge magnet.

I’ve been using my Dash Wand for a week now, and this is what I’ve found.

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What is a Dash Wand?

Where the rest of Amazon’s Alexa-enabled lineup are things you plug in to a wall, the Dash Wand is built to hang around in your kitchen. The included adhesive hook lets you mount the wand anywhere convenient, or you can use the magnet built into the back of the wand to stick to your fridge or range hood or wherever is convenient. The whole point is for this wand to be within arms reach at all times when you’re in the kitchen, so when you need it you can just reach out and grab it.

The tip of this wand is a familiar glossy white plastic with Amazon branding, but the back half is a rubbery material which gives a nice grip and is easy to wipe down should the occasional grease splatter reach your Dash Wand. The whole back hand is removable, exposing a pair of AAA batteries which power the Dash Wand for months before it needs replenishing.

There are no volume buttons or mute keys on this Dash Wand, just a single large button for its many features. Pressing the button activates the barcode scanner and the Alexa microphone simultaneously, so you can either scan a nearby product or speak your command. The small speaker on the other side of the wand will either chime when you’ve successfully scanned something or when Alexa needs to respond to your command. There really isn’t much more to this little wand, which is a big part of what makes it so handy.

Amazon Fresh is still a cool idea, but not for me

If the product isn’t in Amazon’s database, suggested alternatives can be very hit or miss.

The big feature to the Amazon Dash Wand is the barcode scanner at the end of the wand. The original purpose of this product was to let you scan products in your home as they run out, so the next time you go to Amazon those items are already waiting in your shopping cart. If everything you normally buy for your house is available on Amazon Fresh or normal Amazon, this is a handy little tool to have. It doesn’t buy things for your automatically by scanning things, but they are all in your cart and ready to check out.

If the things you normally buy are not on Amazon or Amazon Fresh, your Amazon cart will list these items with suggestions for alternatives. This is very hit or miss, and winds up being more than a little frustrating to sort through if you have more misses than hits.

For example, Amazon Fresh didn’t have the brand of pastrami we usually keep in the house. Instead of suggesting a different brand of pastrami, Amazon suggested several other meats from the same brand. Each time this happens, the failed scan has to be cleared out and you have to manually search for the thing you want on Amazon Fresh. This isn’t a huge deal if you have a small shopping cart, but for my family of seven grocery day can be upwards of 60 items. When more than half require removal from the cart, it stops being helpful.

Amazon and Amazon Fresh are two separate entities depending on the item scanned, which can get confusing.

There’s also a functional difference between things ordered on Amazon Fresh and things ordered on Amazon. If you scan something that is available on Amazon, it shows up in your Amazon cart. This means those products may not show up with the things you ordered from Amazon Fresh, which offers specific delivery windows to keep your food from spoiling and ensure a secure delivery. For example, the tomatoes I ordered for my spaghetti sauce will arrive at 2:30 today but the grated Parmesan cheese won’t be here until tomorrow unless I adjust my order to have that jar delivered through Amazon Prime Now. This isn’t a big deal for me, but could easily become confusing to someone who isn’t aware of how differently these three different Amazon shopping carts function.

Alexa… more or less

Amazon is keen to put the “Now with Alexa” tag all over the order page for its updated Dash Wand, but it’s not exactly the same Alexa you may be used to. For starters, you can’t use any music streaming services on this Wand, which is fine because the speaker isn’t nearly good enough for that and Amazon says as much way down on the order page. What isn’t mentioned on the order page, or anywhere else I looked, are the other things Alexa will not do through the Dash Wand.

This version of Alexa isn’t that smart, or helpful.

Want to use your Dash Wand to send a quick message through the shiny new Alexa Messages service? Well, you can’t. Obviously that means calling doesn’t work either, and since Alexa is only available when you press the button down you won’t get things like notifications on the light ring or the ability to respond with just your voice when prompted. The big thing that’s missing, especially for an Alexa-enabled accessory built for the kitchen, is timers. You can’t set an alarm, you can’t set a timer, and you can’t ask to be reminded at specific times. All of these things will prompt the “X are not currently supported on this device” message from Alexa.

There are still plenty of things Alexa can do through the Dash Wand. Almost all of your Alexa Apps work, which means this is a solid way to access Allrecipes for step-by-step tours through new things to cook. Basic measurement conversion still works, searching on Amazon still works, and of course ordering things with your voice still works. Most of Alexa is still here for you to use, but if you’re already familiar with using Alexa in the kitchen you’re likely to run into the limitations of this implementation fairly quickly.

Should you buy it?

If you’re already a fan of Alexa and want something a little more kitchen friendly, it’s hard to go wrong with the $20 Amazon is asking for the Dash Wand. Even though I’m unlikely to ever use it for Amazon Fresh, and I’d really prefer timers work out of the box, it’s an inexpensive way to keep Alexa in the kitchen.

If you’re not already a part of the Alexa ecosystem, and were hoping this ultra-cheap accessory would be a good starting point, I’d still recommend starting with the Echo Dot and maybe passing on this for now. Amazon is on the right track here by making something anyone in the house can use which also doesn’t require the use of my phone in any way, but there are parts of this experience for new Alexa users that can and likely will easily frustrate.

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Valve ‘Knuckles’ controllers — Everything you need to know!

Valve’s newest VR controllers, what are being called Knuckles, are fully-tracked motion controllers with a new design and a few neat tricks. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

Valve’s newest controllers are taking things in an interesting direction; they are immediately familiar but have quite a few new features and a new way to attach to your hands. If you’re wondering what they’re all about, we have everything you need to know.

Read more at VR Heads!

Best Cases for BlackBerry KEYone

What are the best cases for the BlackBerry KeyONE?

The BlackBerry KeyONE is easily the most unique Android phone released in 2017, bringing the physical keyboard back to the mainstream.

If you own a KeyONE, you appreciate that unique design, but you’ll also want to keep that new phone protected. That’s where a case comes in. We’ve rounded up a number of the best case options for the KeyONE, including a few clear case options for those who still want that design to shine through.

BlackBerry Pocket Case

For those who don’t like the idea of covering the KeyONE’s design in a case, BlackBerry offers the elegant pocket sleeve for your phone to keep your phone protected and accessible while you’re on the go.

Always a popular option with the BlackBerry crowds, this pocket case features a matte leather finish for a premium look and feel with a window cut out near the top of the screen so you can see the time, date, and your phone notifications at a glance and keep talking the phone is protected. It also features a built-in card slot for storing your ID, credit card or some emergency cash.

See at Amazon

BlackBerry Flip Case

Made by TCL Communication, the BlackBerry Flip Case is a precise accessory for your KeyONE. The soft TPU cover secures itself via magnets to the back of the rigid shell when open and features a window so you can see the time and date and your notifications.

The power button on the left edge of the phone is covered but still functional through the soft cover material, and the Convenience key and volume controls are left open on the right. It’s an elegant and professional case solution that matches the design of the KeyONE perfectly.

See at Amazon

Incipio DualPro Case

Incipio offers its rugged line of DualPro cases for all the top phones including the KeyONE. This case offers two layers of defence against nasty drops and other wear and tear, with a soft TPU inner core and an outer shell made of rigid polycarbonate.

Available in three color options, this opaque case will cover up the unique metal accents around the body of the phone, but it does preserve the overall design of the phone. The lip around the front offers protection for the screen and keyboard while the camera cutout offers ample protection as well. With a soft touch finish, this case will feel nice in your hand while keeping your KeyONE protected.

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Ringke Fusion Crystal Clear Case

Want to show off the KeyONE’s unique design while also keeping it protected from drops and scuffs? The Ringke Fusion case is the clear winner, offering a precisely designed clear case for the KeyONE.

This case features a dual-layer design with a rugged PC panel on the back and a grippy TPU bumper around the edge. The bumper is available in three options — Crystal Clear, Rose Gold Crystal, and Smoke Black (pictured) — and offers great protection around the corner of your devices and a lip for the screen and keyboard around front. For a slim and sleek case, check out the Ringke Fusion!

See at Amazon

Amzer Slim Protective Case

If you’re looking for a cheap, slim case for basic protection, check out Amzer’s line of cases on Amazon. They offer minimalist case options that are half the price of other KeyONE case options. We’ll feature their clear case option here, which is an ultra-thin TPU case that’s resistant to oil and scratches. Buttons are covered and accessible, and there’s an ample cutout around the camera and flash on the back.

Amzer sells a few other comparable cases for the KeyONE, and offers bundles that include a car charger and cable. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking to pick up a couple different cases or accessories.

What do you prefer?

Which case are you rocking? Got one you love that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments!

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BlackBerry KEYone

• BlackBerry KEYone review
• KEYone vs. Priv: Battle of the BlackBerry keyboards
• BlackBerry KEYone specs
• The latest KEYone news
• Join the discussion in the forums

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