Architect creates artsy drones that will spray-paint our cities prettier

Why it matters to you

As drones become more common, they may help beautify our cities, one construction site at a time.

Massive spray-painted murals are being planned for Berlin, Germany, and Turin, Italy. Rather than employ human interns to do the dirty work, it will be created by drones.

The aptly named Paint By Drone is the brainchild of Carlo Ratti, director of the MIT Senseable City Laboratory and founder of the Carlo Ratti Associati an innovation and design studio leading the project.

“Drones are becoming an increasingly common part of our everyday life,” Ratti told Digital Trends. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration estimates that 1.3 million quadcopters will by in the skies by 2020. “Given this evolving scenario, the idea of employing drones in different contexts is something that has accompanied us in several projects,” he added.

At the MIT Senseable City Laboratory, Ratti lead a project called Skycall, which developed drones as tour guides around the university campus.

“With Skycall, we investigated two main development paths of UAV technology,” Ratti said, “a drone’s capacity to autonomously sense and perceive its environment, and its ability to interface and interact with people. Paint By Drone project represents a step forward in this research path.”

With Paint By Drone, Ratti hopes to take that research one step forward by bringing the UAVs into our public space, where humans can engage with them directly and the drones can hopefully beautify our surroundings.

Each drone will be equipped with CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key) paints and spray as directed by digital submissions from an app.

“The great thing about this project is that the size of the canvas is not fixed,” Ratti said. “The city itself can be the canvas! For the first installations, we are focusing on using Paint By Drone for building sites and scaffold sheeting. However, over the next few months we are planning to develop a plug-and-play system that will allow the technology to be deployed in the blink of an eye on virtually any vertical surface.”

Ratti suggested that such measures could make it easier and safer to create public art. (To avoid accidents, a net will hang between the drones and the crowd.)

Of course, not everyone sees graffiti as a good thing so there will no doubt be backlash should Ratti try to roll out his idea on a citywide scale. But he’s nonetheless enthusiastic about the potential to engage the public.

“Paint By Drone offers a new perspective on street art and shows a new way to engage with the built environment,” he said. “What we call ‘phygital graffiti’ is the idea of leveraging drones and, more in general, digital technologies to create participatory works of public art.”

Here’s a list of the best Google Assistant commands for iOS and Android

Google Assistant, Google’s eponymous personal assistant, is one of the most capable digital clerks out there. It can point you in the direction of delicious grub, or serve up reminders about upcoming appointments and errands, links to highly-rated movies, or your inbox’s most urgent messages. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Thanks to recent third-party integrations, the best Google Assistant commands can summon taxis, order food from Grubhub, and much, much more.

The virtual assistant is good for more than just productivity, though. Google’s language-powered Assistant has a playful side, too, albeit one you won’t see if you don’t know the magic phrases. But not to worry — we’ve done the work for you. Here’s a list of some of the more useful Google Assistant commands, including Easter eggs, games, and activities, for both iOS and Android devices. If you use Apple’s virtual assistant in any capacity — if you own a Mac in addition to your Android device, for instance — check out our list of the best Siri commands.

Play “I’m Feeling Lucky” trivia

Google is one of the internet’s most comprehensive sources for both factoids and current events, and Google Assistant puts this fact to good use with Lucky Trivia. Say, “OK Google, I’m feeling lucky,” and you’ll get a prompt to start Google’s interactive game show, which pits up to four contestants against the search giant’s encyclopedic knowledge engine. Just like QuizUp, Trivia Crack, and other classics, I’m Feeling Lucky tasks you with answering five random questions about people, places, and things in a given amount of time. It’s made all the more entertaining by theme music, audience reactions, a buzzer, and an announcer who assigns players nicknames such as “Bubbles” and “Cupcake.”

Peer into a crystal ball

If you’re feeling indecisive about something, Google Assistant can help you suss out an answer with the help of a crystal ball. Say, “OK Google, ask the crystal ball,” and the virtual assistant will provide you with its best impression of a creepy fortune teller. “OK, let me find an appropriately weird tablecloth,” it’ll say. “If you can, get closer. Closer. Yes. YES.” Afterward, it’ll prompt you to let it in on your deepest, darkest secret. After a few seconds, you’ll get a “Yes” or “No” answer to the question you asked.

If you’re feeling impatient, Google Assistant also offers similarly randomized answers in the form of a coin flip. Say, “OK Google, flip a coin,” and Google’s personal assistant will toss as much digital pocket change as your heart desires.

Play Mad Libs, tic-tac-toe, and other games

With Google Assistant, you never have to worry about becoming bored on your next road trip.

Feel confident about your creative writing skills? Try Mad Libs, the Google-powered, fill-in-the-blank game that tasks you with coming up with nouns, adjectives, and verbs to complete unfinished sentences. Google Assistant grabs descriptions from Google searches and pulls out words at random, prompting you to supply the replacements. Once you’ve finished filling in the blanks, it reads back the (often) hilarious results.

If Mad Libs isn’t your style, there’s more in tow with Google Assistant. It also knows a selection of doodle games (say, “OK Google, let’s play the doodle game,”), Solitaire (“OK Google, play Solitaire”), and Tic-Tac-Toe (“OK Google, play Tic-Tac-Toe”). Moreover, it’s learning more games every day.

Learn facts, hear jokes, watch videos, and more

If you’d rather kick back and relax than play a game with Google Assistant, try saying, “OK Google, tell me a fact about cats,” or “OK Google, show me a funny video.” Google’s AI can serve up info on just about any subject, or supply you with jokes, riddles, videos (from YouTube), and music. It’ll also highlight movies and events nearby (try, “OK Google, show me events,” or, “OK Google, what movies are playing nearby”), and even recite poems, quotes, and proverbs. Out of ideas? Say, “OK Google, I’m bored,” and let Google Assistant entertain you.

See the latest sports scores

If you’re wondering about the latest sports scores, Google Assistant can show stats on command. Once you specify your favorite teams by saying, “OK Google, remember that I like [insert team name here],” it will give you personalized results next time you ask about sports news (“OK Google, what’s the latest sports news”), rosters, and schedules (“OK Google, show me the team’s schedule”).

Check out old photos

Wondering what you, your friends, your family, and pets were up to this time last summer? Thanks to Google Assistant, you don’t have to rack your brain. If you uploaded your pics and videos to Google Photos, Google’s cloud-based storage app, try asking, “OK Google, show me my photos from New York City last August,” or, “OK Google, show me my pictures of beaches from 2016.” You’ll get a full collection of relevant photos and albums, replete with suggestions. Google Assistant is even smart enough to recognize people. If you’ve helped Photos to pick out friends and family members in the Google Photos app, you can say things like, “OK Google, show me pictures of Dad mowing the lawn.”

Translate words and convert units

There’s nothing more intimidating than traveling through a country where you don’t know the language — or the units of measurement, for that matter. Thanks to Google Assistant, though, those problems are a thing of the past.

Ask, “OK Google, how do you say ‘hello’ in [language of your choice]” and Google will transcribe the text in real time. It can handle phrases and sentences, too, and recognize any of the more than 100 languages supported by Google Translate — Google’s machine learning-powered translation engine — including Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Hindi.

Google Assistant handles unit conversions just as easily. If you’re traveling in a metric-centric country, try saying, “OK Google, change the default unit to Celsius.” The next time you ask about the current temperature, you’ll get an answer in degrees centigrade rather than Fahrenheit. And don’t worry if you’d rather not change Google Assistant’s default settings — the AI is just as good when it comes to handling one-off conversions. Try saying, “OK Google, convert meters to feet,” or, “OK Google, how many centimeters are in a kilometer?”

Turn on a flashlight, toggle Bluetooth, or take a selfie

Google Assistant can do a lot more than flip coins and play games. If you’re using an Android phone, it can toggle Bluetooth, camera LEDs, and other phone hardware on command — a feature that comes in handy when you don’t have fingers to spare. Take a hands-free selfie by saying, “OK Google, take a selfie,” or toggle Bluetooth by telling Google Assistant, “OK Google, turn on Bluetooth.” The virtual assistant can also turn on Wi-Fi (“OK Google, turn on Wi-Fi”) and airplane mode (“OK Google, turn on airplane mode”), and even mute your phone (“OK Google, mute my phone”).

Specify a nickname

If you’d rather Google Assistant called you by a nickname rather than your given name, rest assured it can be done. Say, “OK Google, call me [your nickname],” and the assistant will refer to you by your chosen title from there on out. Want it to call you Batman? Don’t worry — Google Assistant won’t judge.

Other in-jokes and Easter eggs

Google Assistant is filled with a melange of quips and Easter eggs, but you’ll need to do a little digging to find them.

Here are some of our favorites so far:

• “OK Google, will you marry me?”
• “OK Google, are you afraid of the dark?”
• “OK Google, what is love?”
• “OK Google, do you like iPhones?”
• “OK Google, what have I got in my pocket?”
• “OK Google, are you friends with Siri?”
• “OK Google, what’s the best pickup line?”
• “OK Google, who let the dogs out?”
• “OK Google, why did the chicken cross the road?”
• “OK Google, what’s the answer to life, the universe, and everything?”
• “OK Google, have you been outside?”

Windows 10 to simplify resetting your password in Fall Creators Update

Why it matters to you

Resetting your Microsoft Account password will be a lot easier in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

Few things in computing are more frustrating than forgetting a password. Usually, your mind blanks out right when you need to log into a system the most, causing some serious consternation and requiring you to jump through some inconvenient and time-consuming hoops — and nowhere is that truer than in Windows 10.

So far, if you’ve forgotten your Microsoft Account password and don’t have the luxury of using Windows Hello password-less login, then you’ve been stuck with running through the entire recovery process on another device and retrieving or changing your credentials. That’s a real pain, and Microsoft is finally doing something about it in the upcoming Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.

As MSPU has discovered, the next major update will now allow users to recover the Microsoft Account used to log into Windows 10 right from the login screen. The new functionality shows up in the latest Windows Insider preview build, 16237, and it looks like it’s easy enough to leverage whether you’re using just a password or also via Windows Hello.

Mehedi Hassan/MSPU

The process is simple enough. You just select the “I forgot my password” option below the login prompt. You’ll need to first identify the relevant Microsoft account, and then choose one of the options for verifying your identity. Yes, this does require a smartphone or other device to verify via email, text, or an app, but the process remains more straightforward than the current system.

Mehedi Hassan/MSPU

If you’re using Windows Hello, then you need to choose “other options” in order to access the new password reset procedure. That’s a bit less helpful given that Windows 10 already lets you log into your system where you can reset your password via the web, but it still saves a step or two.

Once you have verified that you are who you say you are, then you’re able to reset your password. Obviously, you’ll want to record this one in a safe place — meaning some kind of encrypted solution and not a piece of paper taped underneath your keyboard — so that you don’t have to go through this process all over again.

Overall, Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is looking like a small but still meaningful update, and this is just one of the new features that will make Windows 10 a little more pleasant to use.

Reader poll: Ready to try your hand at cryptocurrency mining?

As the price for Bitcoin rises and falls dramatically, more users are wondering how they can get in on the action — and for good reason. Earning a few Bitcoin, or Ethereum, or any of the other cryptocurrency, could mean thousands of dollars in profit, and your home gaming machine may be able to churn them out using some simple software. Have you tried to mine bitcoin? Are you thinking about setting up a mining rig? Are you already swimming in a Scrooge McDuck-style room full of them? Let us know in this week’s reader poll.

How interested are you in #cryptocurrency? We'll be discussing results on the Close to the Metal podcast tomorrow. https://t.co/tmZvPewZcx

— Digital Trends (@DigitalTrends) July 10, 2017

Mining cryptocurrency is surprisingly easy, assuming you have the proper hardware. Our handy guide to mining will walk you through all the steps necessary to start making money, if you’re so inclined. Just make sure to take into account the increase in your power bill that comes along with it.

You should know, however, that cryptocurrency is a volatile market, and not just in the sense that the value can change overnight. Without much regulation, sites that act as wallets may be shut down by hackers or those interested in taking the coins for themselves, or the site’s proprietors may shut it down and disappear in the night with your hard-earned cash. There are ways around this, and they involve keeping codes locally stored, or even using a physical coin wallet that keeps your money safely stored away from the prying eyes of the Internet.

It isn’t just Bitcoin that’s causing quite a stir over the last few weeks. Another cryptocurrency, Ethereum, has begun to take hold thanks to some innovative new practices and support from the tech community. It’s just one of many cryptocurrency options out there, and like any of them, hype and user interest will drive its success.

Join us at 10:00 AM PST on Tuesday, July 11th as we discuss the implications of the newfound vigor for cryptocurrency, as the Bitcoin price skyrockets into thousands of dollars each. We’ll also talk hardware pricing, and try to explain the sharp rise in price on mid-range cards like the RX 480 and RX 580 on the secondary market.

Need a graphics card for mining? Pick your pickaxe from this list

Looking for a graphics card for mining? You’re in luck, as AMD and Nvidia have teamed up with their hardware partners to produce graphics cards dedicated to the lucrative art of cryptocurrency mining. The move is presumably to help keep the gaming and professional markets saturated with products given that miners can at times scoop up the vast majority of available high-powered, low-cost graphics cards, leaving supplies scarce and overpriced.

That said, these cards are built to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That means AMD, Nvidia, and their partners had to go back to the drawing board to provide long-lasting products built with high endurance components to handle the the ongoing cryptocurrency mining process. From what we’ve found so far, most will not have video output, which makes sense given their dedication to digital currency mining.

That all said, we’ve broken our list into two sections: listed products, and cards that are supposedly hitting the market over the next two months. Ready to find your next graphic card for mining?

Listed Products

Asus

Asus was one of the first companies to list cryptocurrency mining cards on its website. The company provides one AMD-based and one Nvidia-based graphics card for mining, although at the time of this writing, these products aren’t listed for sale through online retailers. Note that the AMD-based card does have a single DVI-D video output while the Nvidia-based card has no video interface. Both models include dual-ball bearing fans, support for GPU Tweak II, and IP5X-certified dust resistance.

Card Name
Base Speed
Boost Speed
Memory
Video Output
Price
Mining-RX470-4G
926MHz
1,206MHz
4GB @ 7,000MHz
Yes (1)
?
Mining-P106-6G
1,506MHz
1,708MHz
6GB @ 8,008MHz
No
$226?

Biostar

Currently, Biostar lists only one graphics card for mining. This is the only card in our batch of cryptocurrency mining cards that has more than one video output: one DVI-D port, one HDMI port, and one DisplayPort connector. The base speed is unknown for now along with the card’s prictag and availability.

Card name
Base Speed
Boost Speed
Memory
Video
Price

VA47D5RV42 (Mining)
?
1,200Mhz
4GB @7000MHz
Yes (3)
?

Manli

This company sells two graphics cards dedicated to cryptocurrency mining based on the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 chip. They appear to be identical save for their overall size, as the F347G unit is slightly larger than the other. According to Manli, both cards have an Ethereum hash rate of 23 mega-hashes (MH) per second or more. They also use 100 watts while Ethereum mining.

Card Name
Base Speed
Boost Speed
Memory
Video Output
Price
P106-100
Mining Card
(F336G)
1,506MHz
1,708MHz
6GB @ 8,008MHz
No
?
P106-100
Mining Card
(F347G)
1,506MHz
1,708MHz
6GB @ 8,008MHz
No
?

MSI

Online retailer NCIX shows that MSI is gearing up to release a graphics card for mining based on the GTX 1060 graphics chip. However, the product listing provides absolutely no detail outside the name and estimated price. There’s also supposedly a version in the works based on the GTX 1070 or GTX 1080 with 8GB of on-board memory. Presumably these cards will not have video output.

Card Name
Base Speed
Boost Speed
Memory
Video Output
Price
P106-100 Miner 6G
?
?
6GB
?
$348
P104-100 Miner 8G
?
?
8GB
?
?

 Sapphire

This company doesn’t list it’s heaping cryptocurrency mining cards on its website. Instead, they can be found on Newegg and Overclockers. All listed models are based on the Radeon RX 470 GPU save for one graphics card for mining relying on the Radeon RX 560. Even more, one pair is based on memory provided by Samsung while the second pair does not, thus you’ll see a slight price difference between the two sets. All Radeon RX 470 models have the same GPU and memory speeds, although Sapphire isn’t listing their base speed on the product listings.

Card Name
Base Speed
Boost Speed
Memory
Video Output
Price

Radeon RX 470 Mining Edition 8GB (11256-38-10G)

?
1,236MHz
8GB @ 7,000MHz
(Samsung)
No
$386

Radeon RX 470 Mining Edition 4GB (11256-36-10G)

?
1,236MHz
4GB @ 7,000MHz
(Samsung)
No
$334

adeon RX 470 Mining Edition 8GB (11256-37-10G)

?
1,236MHz
8GB @ 7,000MHz
(Non-Samsung)
No
$373

Radeon RX 470 Mining Edition 4GB (11256-35-10G)

?
1,236MHz
4GB @ 7,000MHz
(Non-Samsung)
No
$320

Radeon RX 470 Mining Edition 4GB (11256-21-21G)

?
1,236MHz
4GB @ 7,000MHz
(Non-Samsung)
Yes (1)
$250

Radeon RX 470 Mining Edition 4GB (11256-31-21G)

?
1,236MHz
4GB @ 7,000MHz
(Non-Samsung)
Yes (1)
$260

Radeon RX 560 Pulse Mining Edition 4GB (11267-11-10G)

?
1,300MHz
4GB @ 7,000MHz
(Non-Samsung)
Yes (1)
$219

Zotac

Right now, Zotac only lists one graphics card for mining. The specifications state that this card doesn’t support video output, but product images show a physical DVI-D connector. There’s also spaces for one HDMI port and a DisplayPort connector, although they’re not physically present. Other than that, the card’s name listed below stems from Google Translator, so don’t expect Zotac to sell a card based on “nuggets.” North American details have not been released, so expect a better name when (or if) that happens.

Card Name
Base Speed
Boost Speed
Memory
Video Output
Price
Sauter P106-100 Nuggets
1,506MHz
1,708MHz
6GB @ 8,008MHz
No
?

What’s (Probably) Coming

The remaining four cards on our roundup aren’t listed on any online retailer or manufacturer website. Instead, we’ve provided a batch of cards rumored to be arriving within the next several months. These include one from Colorful, one from EVGA, and two from Inno3D. We will add more to this section as other rumored cards surface.

ColorfulModel: P106-100 WK1/WK2
Base speed: 1,506MHz
Boost speed: 1,708MHz
Memory amount: 6GB
Memory speed: 8,008MHz
Video output: None
Size: 8.66 x 4.92 x 1.57 inches

EVGAModel: GTX 1060 6G P106 Miner Edition
Base speed: 1,506MHz
Boost speed: 1,708MHz
Memory amount: 6GB
Memory speed: 8,008MHz
Video output: None
Size: Dual-slot

Inno3DModel: P106-100 Compact
Base speed: 1,506MHz
Boost speed: 1,708MHz
Memory amount: 6GB
Memory speed: 8,008MHz
Video output: Unknown
Size: Dual-slot (6.77 inches long)

Model: P106-100 Twin X2
Base speed: 1,506MHz
Boost speed: 1,708MHz
Memory amount: 6GB
Memory speed: 8,008MHz
Video output: Unknown
Size: Dual-slot (8.58 inches long)

University of Washington’s battery-free cell phone could be a genuine lifesaver

Why it matters to you

A cell phone that can never run out of battery could mean the difference between life and death for people in emergency situations.

Whether it’s not being able to live-stream your latest tech unboxing or suffering the indignity of being rendered unable to stream music on your commute to work, there are plenty of reasons why phone batteries running flat are the absolute dirt worst. As hard as it is to believe, however, there are situations in which a phone running out of battery is even more devastating than making us endure a boring subway ride to the office.

A few examples: A firefighter needing guaranteed communication with his or her colleagues; a person trapped following a natural disaster and needing to call for help; or a person in the developing world with limited alternate means of staying in touch with family.

Fortunately, that’s where researchers from the University of Washington can help. They’ve invented a prototype cell phone that requires no batteries; instead harvesting the few microwatts of power it needs to run from ambient radio signals — or even light.

“The reason we chose to build a battery-free phone is because phones are one of the most important devices that virtually everyone uses,” Vamsi Talla, a former UW electrical engineering doctoral student and Allen School research associate, told Digital Trends. “Most of us have experienced the situation where our phone battery has died at an inopportune time, such as when we want to make an important phone call.”

The battery-free cell phone saves on power by taking advantage of analog, as opposed to digital, voice encoding. The device’s range comes from tiny solar panels called photodiodes.

Talla said that there are two directions for the project from here. One is to license the technology to existing smartphone makers who could incorporate it into their devices so that emergency calls can be made, even if your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy is out of juice. “That could be a real lifesaver,” Talla explained.

The other direction is to build on the existing prototype to make bare-bones phones that could be used by people who might not otherwise have the luxury of being able to charge their handset whenever they want. “A phone like this would never need to be recharged, and could still be used to make phone calls and send text messages,” Talla said.

At present, the phone is extremely basic — comprising off-the-shelf components on a printed circuit board. Talla said that future versions could be more advanced, though.

“This is the first-generation model,” he said. We’re going to add more functionality in the future. The goal is to make a fully functional smartphone.” Future improvements, he said, could include the same kind of low-power display technology used in Kindle e-readers, as well as a low-power camera.

A paper describing the technology is published in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies.

Best Motorola Phones

Motorola continues to make compelling phones in a few different categories

The last year has been one of quiet overhaul for Lenovo-owned Motorola, bringing all of its disparate product lines, from the inexpensive Moto E to the premium Moto Z, into a familiar aesthetic. While the Moto Z2 Play, the newest member of the family, continues the tradition of Mods compatibility, it’s the completely redesigned Moto G and E series that is worth considering if you’re in the market for a budget phone.

And with new phones like the Moto Z2 Force and potentially a new entry into the Moto X lineup, there’s plenty of reasons to be excited about Motorola in 2017 and beyond.

Moto Z2 Play

Released June 2017 Motorola followed up the Moto Z Play pretty quickly, and the Moto Z2 Play is a worthy sequel that tries to bridge the gap between the more affordable Play and the regular “Z” flagship from last year. The phone features a much sleeker design than its predecessor, shaving a full millimeter of thickness, but doing so cuts down on the battery by 15%.

Aside from the improved, all-metal chassis, the Z2 Play sports a much-improved 12MP camera with a wider aperture and Dual Pixel Focus technology, as well as a newer version of the oft-lauded Moto Display feature that we’ve grown to love so much.

Of course, the Z2 Play also supports Moto Mods, and was announced alongside three new add-ons that are also compatible with older versions.

Moto Z2 Play review

See at Motorola

Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus

Released June 2017 As with the company’s Moto G lineup, the Moto E series has received a big revamp for 2017. Aligning with the visual flair (or lack thereof) of the more expensive Moto Gs, the Moto E4 and E4 Plus are aimed at the budget market while retaining many of the company’s best qualities, including excellent software with worthy additions to Android 7.1.1, along with better-than-their-price cameras and battery capacities. In fact, the Moto E4 Plus has a 5,000mAh battery that should last two full days on a charge.

Moto E4 review

See at Amazon

Moto G5 and G5 Plus

Released March 2017 The newest version of Motorola’s most popular product line, the Moto G series, features two models of differing size, capability, and price. The Moto G5, which is not officially available in the U.S., cuts costs by sticking with plastic and only a splash of metal, while the G5 Plus goes decidedly mid-range with its Snapdragon 625 chip and up to 4GB of RAM. Both models feature improved cameras and batteries, but the G5 Plus manages to compete with devices twice the price thanks to a large-pixel sensor and a wide-open lens.

The Moto G5 and G5 Plus also reinforce a recognizable design language that began in 2016 with the Moto Z and Z Force. A wider, easier-to-use fingerprint sensor (now on the cheaper model, too), rounded sides and a circular camera module maintain visual continuity with the Moto Z line, and the metal makes both phones feel very good.

Moto G5 Plus review

See at Amazon

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

Released July 2016 Motorola brings its own take on a modular design with the Moto Z and Moto Z Force. The first flagship devices to be launched since Lenovo bought the Motorola brand, the Z family uses detachable backplates called Moto Mods to add more functionality.

While the Moto Z launched as a Droid Edition on Verizon, it has since expanded to be sold unlocked from Motorola directly, compatible with carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile.

Motorola’s take on a modular system looks to be a novel approach. With no disassembly required, your baseline Moto Z can transform into a battery beast or a mini home stereo just by switching the backplate. Though the early examples of Moto Mods are quite successful, the real potential is what hardware entrepreneurs can cook up.

The Moto Z Force continues to be a Verizon exclusive, much to our chagrin, because its ShatterShield technology and 21MP camera are truly impressive, as is its bigger battery.

Moto Z review

See at Motorola

Moto Z Play

Released September 2016: Like the Moto Z, the Play began its life as a Verizon-exclusive Droid Edition, but expanded to be sold unlocked directly from Motorola.

A little portlier than its Moto Z counterpart, the Play has a massive two-day battery, and cuts down on costs with a slower Snapdragon 625 chip, 3GB of RAM and a lower-resolution 1080p display. The 16MP rear camera also lacks OIS, but otherwise this phone is nearly identical to the Z line, right down to the support for Moto Mods.

Moto Z Play review

See at Motorola

What’s in MrMobile’s bag for 2017?

It’s been a full year since I last gave you a peek into my pockets for a tour of MrMobile’s Everyday Carry. That’s equivalent to four years on the planet Mercury, seven years for the common canine — and roughly a century when it comes to mobile technology. In that time, I’ve traded Windows Mobile for BlackBerry; shed the Microsoft Band in favor of some even bigger smartwatches; and upgraded to the new iPad Pro, while leaving my MacBook as-is. Oh, and I bought a wallet at a comic book store. Because YOLO, or something.

So whether you’re seeking early ideas for Prime Day or just wondering what populates the pockets of a crazy contrarian like me, come check out the gadgetry that gets me where I’m going — in MrMobile’s 2017 Everyday Carry!

Featured Products

• “Stay Mobile, My Friends” T-Shirt
• Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator
• BlackBerry KEYone
• Casio ProTrek WSD-F20
• Apple iPad Pro 10.5
• LG G6
• Huawei/Honor Selfie Stick/Tripod
• DJI Osmo Mobile
• LG Watch Sport
• Microsoft Surface Book with Performance Base at Amazon
• Bose QC35
• Sony MDR-1000X
• Herschel Supply Charlie Wallet
• KeySmart
• Ring Theory Sesame Ring
• TYLT Energi Pro Battery Backpack at Amazon

Stay social, my friends

• YouTube 
• The Web
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Snapchat
• Instagram

Amazon working on big expansion of in-home gadget setup service

Sometimes the best way to get things done is to hire someone.

Amazon knows the “smart home” isn’t always user-friendly and is expanding an internal program that will actually send someone to your home to get you started. The program has actually already been running in a few U.S. cities, but Amazon is reportedly poised to dramatically expand it as it sees very high return rates for smart home tech.

Not unlike the famous house calls made by Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” technicians, for a fee Amazon will send a vetted expert in the tech you’re trying to install and walk you through the process. The emphasis is of course centered around making sure people get their Amazon Echo properly installed but expands to other areas of the smart home where Amazon also sells a whole lot of products.

Amazon understands that bypassing the initial frustration of configuring an Echo (or three) to work with your other smart home components is critical to long-term customer satisfaction. The in-home service is already available in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose and Orange County — but expectations are the service would expand beyond the West Coast, as Amazon is currently hiring for “field technicians” in a variety of cities.

Amazon Echo

• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
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Google Daydream: The Ultimate Guide!

Google Daydream delivers an excellent way to enjoy VR from the comfort of the couch.

Google is continuing their efforts to deliver a superb VR experience that is accessible with just your phone, through a new platform they call Daydream. The first Daydream headset is absurdly comfortable, and already has access to tons of great games and experiences for you to explore. With Cardboard, they introduced a new generation of users to simple and inexpensive VR. With Daydream it’s obvious refining the goal was to refine that experience into something stellar for everyone.

Read more at VR Heads!