Dropbox Paper’s newest features cater to designers

Dropbox Paper originally seemed like a Google Docs clone built for the big businesses that have been an increasingly large focus for the cloud sync-and-share company. But two years since its initial introduction, Paper’s ability to embed and display a huge variety of content (including images, Google spreadsheets, data from Github YouTube videos, Spotify playlists and plain old code) has helped it carve out niches in a variety of businesses.

Dropbox says that designers in particular have found Paper to be useful for their workflow, so today it’s adding new features that’ll help the service work even better for them. Chief among those is new embed support for the services InVision, Figma and Sketch. “We’re not going trying to replace specialized tools when people are creating designs,” says Kavitha Radhakrishnan, Paper’s lead product manager. “But we’ve gotten a lot of requests for a way to embed design boards and prototypes and so on.” Obviously, adding support for these apps isn’t going to matter to everyone using Paper, but it will help it solidify the base of designers who have found it to be a useful collaboration tool.

Other new features will appeal more to the entire Paper userbase. Paper has always let you link to other Paper documents, and now you’ll get a rich preview of those links when you hover over them with your mouse. Basically, they’re big and detailed enough for you to get a good sense of what’s in the document before you click through — it’s a way to keep people from jumping back and forth trying to find the right file they want to work on. Radhakrishnan says that a lot of organizations will make one Paper doc that’s a “master” repository that links out to many other files; this preview feature should make those kinds of scenarios easier to manage. There’s also improved archive and delete features. The former is meant for organizations that need to save files indefinitely; having an archive means they can keep things without months-old files cluttering up the file system.

Another file system improvement comes to iOS and Android users — you can now create folders and move files around from Paper’s mobile apps. Previously, the app would show the file structure as it exists when on the desktop web app but you couldn’t make any changes. It’s a simple thing, but Radhakrishnan said it was a “number one ask” the company has heard from its users, many of whom are using iOS and Android “not only as a companion but as a first-class app.”

The last feature Dropbox is announcing today won’t directly affect end users at first, but it has the potential to make Paper a lot more useful down the line. “Create and upload” functionality is being added to the Paper API — which means that developers can build in the option to start new Paper documents right in their apps. Presumably, once this is implemented, you’ll be able to sign in with your Dropbox account, create a doc, embed that app’s files right into it, and then sync that doc back to your Dropbox. It sounds not dissimilar to how Dropbox started letting users create Microsoft Office documents right in its app a few years ago. It’ll take a while before we see if developers embrace this possibility, but more integration into the apps that teams are already using could help Paper become more useful.

Dropbox’s record with products outside of its core “sync and share” mission haven’t fared well in the past. The purchase and subsequent demolition of excellent mail app Mailbox and the way it launched and then forgot about photo app Carousel are hard to ignore. But two years on, it seems like Paper should be able to avoid such a fate, precisely because it’s a better fit to the company’s main mission. Dropbox has increasingly focused on enabling collaboration between teams and businesses, and Paper seems to have enough unique features going for it to make it a success. At the very least, updates like the ones rolling out today should make users feel confident that Dropbox isn’t going to kill off Paper any time soon.

Samsung has a 43-inch version of its Frame TV for smaller spaces

Samsung has announced that its art-inspired Frame TV, which launched this past June, will soon come in a 43-inch version. The new model could be a good alternative for people who may not be able to fit one of the existing 55- or 65-inch Frame TVs on their wall, or for those who simply think the others are too large for their taste. As part of today’s reveal, Samsung also said that it has partnered with Spain’s Museo del Prado, aka the Prado museum, on an experience that will let Frame TV owners to display about 1,000 of its pieces. There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but you can expect the 43-inch version to cost around $1,500 since the 55 and 65 are $2,000 and $2,800, respectively.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

NYC’s Citi Bike adds Apple Pay to make bike-sharing easier

Next time you rent a Citi Bike in New York or New Jersey, you’ll be able to pay with your iPhone. The latest update for the bike-sharing service’s app adds support for Apple Pay, as spotted by AppleInsider. No, this isn’t the most exciting update, but it does make using the app a little faster and easier for new users. From here on out, they won’t have to stand idly on the sidewalk, fumbling with entering credit card info in the app just so they can take a quick ride to the JC Penny a few blocks away.

Via: AppleInsider

Source: iTunes

ASUS’ Windows Mixed Reality headset may come with a premium price

After a teaser back in the spring, ASUS is ready to talk in-depth about its Windows Mixed Reality headset… and it’s clear that this is a premium design, with the price to match. The headgear (known as the ASUS Windows Mixed Reality Headset) isn’t just riding on that funky polygonal look. It’s lighter than most with a weight under 0.9 pounds, and it doesn’t use sensors to track six-degree movement — instead, it relies on two cameras and LEDs on the included motion controllers. That promises both simpler setup (10 minutes or less, ASUS claims) and a more portable design.

It otherwise has familiar specs, including a 1,440 x 1,440 resolution in each eyepiece as well as a 90Hz refresh rate.

This sounds like it might be the WMR headset to beat, but as we said earlier, you will have to pay for that edge. ASUS’ model will sell later this year for €449 (about $535). While European pricing doesn’t translate neatly to the US, that’s still noticeably more expensive than the $450 you’d pay for a Dell Visor with included controllers. If that price premium carries over to a US launch, you may have to think carefully about whether or not ASUS’ design justifies the extra cash.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Via: The Verge

Source: ASUS (1), (2)

AT&T brings fixed 5G trials to three more cities

AT&T is expanding its fixed wireless 5G trials to new cities around the US in a bid to master the technology before its official standards are released. In addition to the previous test city of Austin, the company will roll out trials in Waco, Texas; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and South Bend, Indiana by the end of the year.

In a company blog post, AT&T says that it’s “gained new insights” into 5G since the launch of its first trial — namely around millimeter wave (mmWave) performance and propagation, and how it’s affected by things like foliage, buildings, traffic and weather. It also claims it’s seeing speeds of up to one gigabit per second, and latency rates of under 10 milliseconds, although it’s worth bearing in mind that these figures come from tests on virtually empty networks — real speeds with a commercial service would likely be different.

It’s not clear yet exactly how the new trials will be executed, although AT&T says they may include universities, hospitals, churches, restaurants and other small businesses. It’s working with Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia and Intel on the trials, and hopes to roll out 5G nationwide by late 2018.

Source: AT&T

Here’s What the Status Bar and iPad-Style Dock Could Look Like on ‘iPhone 8’

Earlier today, well-connected Apple reporter Mark Gurman said the so-called “iPhone 8” will have a thin software-based bar along the bottom of the home screen, controlled by gestures, in lieu of a physical home button.

Gurman also said the Dock, which houses up to four commonly used apps, will be redesigned with a new interface similar to the one on the iPad version of iOS 11. Above it, there will still be six rows of apps, with up to 24 apps per page.

The status bar is said to be split into left and right sides, which some Apple employees supposedly call “ears” internally. By default, the left side shows the time, while the right side displays Wi-Fi, signal bars, and battery life.

With those details in mind, graphic designer Olivier Charavel created a mockup of what the Home screen could look like on the iPhone 8.

Charavel also shared a mockup of Apple’s Health app as an example of what apps could look like on the iPhone 8 accordingly.

Gurman said users can drag the gesture bar up to the middle of the screen to unlock the device. When inside an app, a similar gesture starts multitasking, and users can continue to flick upwards to close the app and go back to the home screen.

Guilherme Rambo shared a video that demonstrates how it could look once the Dock has been summoned, based on Apple’s iOS simulator for developers.

This is what the floating dock looks like on an iPhone pic.twitter.com/BbKVIL7yO8

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 30, 2017

More Coverage: iOS 11 Dock and Gesture Controls to Replace “iPhone 8” Home Button Entirely by Tim Hardwick

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Fossil Group reveals barrage of Android Wear watches from Misfit, Diesel, more

Why it matters to you

The Fossil Group’s expanding its Android Wear reach with new collections across brands like Diesel, Michele, and Michael Kors.

A barrage of Android Wear-powered smartwatches are on the way, and Fossil Group is leading the charge. At IFA 2017 in Berlin, the sprawling fashion empire announced a “massive expansion” of its wearables lineup across brands like Diesel, Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, Misfit, Relic, Skagen, Michele, and Tory Burch.

“Today our wearables segment is the fastest-growing part of our business,” Greg McKelvey, chief strategy and digital officer at Fossil Group, said in a statement. “Clearly, this distinct combination of the best design and the best tech is winning with fashion-conscious customers who were long neglected by other wearable brands.”

Fossil highlighted the Diesel On Full Guard, a smartwatch collection that’s on pre-sale now, and launches on September 25; and the new Emporio Armani watch, which features 11 interchangeable leather, silicone, and stainless steel straps and goes on sale September 14. The Misfit Vapor, a music-playing, swim-proof (up to 5ATM) wearable with a heart rate monitor, hits store shelves in October, and new Michael Kors Access touchscreen watches ship on September 25.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Fossil’s giving old watches a fresh coat of paint — and making them available more places. The Fossil Q Venture and Fossil Q Explorist, Fossil’s first full-round touchscreen smartwatches, are now available in new styles, and the Michael Kors Access Sofie and Access Grayson touchscreen smartwatches are now on sale in hundreds of brick-and-mortar stores globally.

By the end of 2017, Fossil says it will have launched more than 300 watches across 14 of its brands.

Every watch in Fossil’s late 2017/early 2018 collection will run Google’s Android Wear 2.0, the company said, which is fully compatible with both Android and iOS phones. As with other Android Wear watches on the market, you can download apps from the Google Play Store and swap digital dial designs, color combinations, and watch faces.

Michael Kors

Fossil credits its success to close collaboration with Google.

“Our partnership with Fossil Group has been a driving force for the growth of Android Wear’s device portfolio, which has allowed us to offer users choices and diversity,” David Singleton, vice president of Android engineering at Google, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to continue the partnership into 2018 and implement new ways to connect fashion and technology, leveraging the flexibility of Android Wear and the design capabilities of Fossil Group and its brands.”

Fossil says its connected devices division doubled in size the last 12 months alone, and that its watches are now active in 50 countries and 20 languages.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5: Time for an upgrade?

The Note series surprised everyone, including Samsung, when it caught the public imagination and began to sell in large numbers. What was once thought of as comically big, has since become normal — the original Note, released in 2011, only had a 5.3-inch screen. We’ve come a long way since then and Samsung’s latest Note is a monster by comparison. We doubt there are many people using the original Note now, but the Note 5 is still going strong and so today we’re going to pit Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5 to see if it’s time for an upgrade.

Most people start to look for a new phone after around two years and that’s how long it has been since the Note 5 hit stores. Samsung skipped number 6 in the series, and the less said about the Note 7 the better, so the obvious choice to replace the Note 5 is the Note 8. Read more in our Galaxy Note 8 hands-on review.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Size
162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.40 x 2.95 x 0.34 inches)
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm (6.03 x 3.00 x 0.30 inches)
Weight
6.88 ounces (195 grams)
 6.03 ounces (171 grams)
Screen
6.3-inch Super AMOLED
 5.7-inch Super AMOLED
Resolution
2,960 x 1,440
 2,560 × 1,440
OS
 Android 7.1.1 Nougat
 Android 5.1 Lollipop (upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat)
Storage
 64GB (U.S.) 128, 256GB (International)
 32, 64GB
SD Card Slot
 Yes
 No
NFC support
 Yes
 Yes
Processor
 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Samsung Exynos 8895 (international)
 Exynos 7420 Octa
RAM
 6GB
 4GB
Connectivity
 GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
 GSM, HSPA, LTE
Camera
Dual 12MP rear (both with optical image stabilization), 8MP front
 16MP rear, 5MP front
Video
 4K
 4K
Bluetooth
 Yes, version 5.0
 Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
 Yes
 Yes
Other sensors scanner 
Accelerometer, barometer, gyro, geomagnetic, heart rate, proximity, iris, pressure
 Accelerometer, barometer, gyro, heart rate, proximity
Water Resistant
 Yes, IP68 rated
 No
Battery
 3,300mAh
 3,000mAh
Charger
 USB-C
Micro USB
Quick Charging
 Yes
 Yes
Wireless Charging
 Yes, Qi and PMA
 Yes, Qi and PMA
Marketplace
 Google Play Store
 Google Play Store
Color offerings
Black, gray
 Black, white, gold, silver
Availability
 AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Unlocked
AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile
Price
$930
$720
DT Review
Hands-on review
4 out of 5 stars

The Note 5 has an octa-core Samsung Exynos 7420 processor inside it, backed up by 4GB of RAM. It’s a slick, fast phone that still runs the latest games and apps without complaint. It launched with Android 5.0 Lollipop, but it has since been updated to Android 7.0 Nougat and it has the latest flavour of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI.

There’s absolutely no doubt that the Note 8, which packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, or Samsung’s updated Exynos 8895 in international markets, is more powerful. The Note 8 also has 6GB of RAM, which will serve you well for multitasking, especially if you like to jump in and out of a lot of apps.

Two years is a long time when it comes to processor performance, but a more noticeable upgrade for the average user comes in the shape of additional storage. The Note 5 comes with 32GB, and the lack of a MicroSD card slot can be a real pain. The base model of the Note 8 has 64GB and there is room to expand via MicroSD.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Design, display, and durability

You’ll immediately notice that the Note 8 is significantly taller than the Note 5, it’s also a touch thicker and heavier, but it isn’t quite as wide. Both feature curved glass on the back and a metal frame, but the front view of these phones is very different. With the Note 8, Samsung has ditched the home button and moved the fingerprint sensor onto the back, next to the dual camera. It’s an annoying placement and if you’re used to the fingerprint sensor on the front, we don’t think you’ll like it.

The trade-off is that the front of the Note 8 is virtually all display, with curved edges that you won’t find on the Note 5. This new design enabled Samsung to pack a 6.3-inch display into the Note 8 with a resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The Note 5 still has an excellent 5.7-inch, 2,560 x 1,440-pixel screen with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. They both have vibrant Super AMOLED screens, but you’re obviously getting a little more screen real estate in the Note 8, as well as those gorgeous curved edges.

In terms of durability, the Note 8 wins again with an IP68 rating which means it can withstand a dunk in water. The Note 5 will not survive submersion.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Battery life and charging

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

The 3,000mAh battery in the Note 5 is enough to get through an average day, but we’ve noticed its performance waning in recent months. That’s often the case as batteries age. The Note 8 has a slightly bigger 3,300mAh battery and, even though it has a slightly larger screen, the improved power efficiency in the latest processors should translate into better battery life.

Both phones support wireless charging and fast charging, but the Note 8 should charge a bit faster, thanks to the latest version of Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charging.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Camera

We love the 16-megapixel camera in the Note 5 and it still takes great shots, but camera technology is marching on and the Note 8 has jumped on the dual camera bandwagon. It sports two 12-megapixel sensors on the back. One of them is a telephoto lens with an f/1.7 aperture, and the other is a wide-angle lens with an f/2.4 aperture. Both have optical image stabilization. Combined, they should enable some amazing, detailed photos, and a striking bokeh effect, where the background is blurred, can be applied before or after you snap a shot.

The 5-megapixel front-facing camera in the Note 5 has also been improved upon with an 8-megapixel selfie cam in the Note 8.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Software

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

The Note 8 has a slightly newer version of Android and it’s likely to keep getting updates for longer than the Note 5. Both have Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface on top, which provides some handy extras. They also both have the S Pen stylus with a bunch of apps and software tweaks to take advantage of it. The S Pen itself has changed, with improved pressure sensitivity, and there are a couple of new tricks that you’ll only see on the Note 8, like easy GIF creation and Live Messages.

You also get Samsung’s Bixby AI assistant with the Note 8, though we’re not sure it’s a major selling point right now. If you like the idea of using your smartphone as a desktop, the Dex Station might interest you. It’s another extra you won’t find with the Note 5.

Winner: Galaxy Note 8

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 started at $720 on release and it was available on all the major carriers. It has largely been discontinued now, though if you were to buy one unlocked, you could probably get it for around half that initial asking price.

The brand spanking new Note 8 is one of the most eye-wateringly expensive phones we’ve ever seen with a starting price of $930. You can get it on contract with all the major carriers, but you’re looking at paying around $36 per month for two years.

Winner: Galaxy Note 5

Overall winner: Galaxy Note 8

No surprise that the newer Note 8 is a better device than the two-year-old Note 5, but you’re going to pay a major premium for it. There are small to medium improvements throughout, and if you’re determined to stick with Samsung, we think it will feel like a major upgrade overall. Some people feel that Samsung played it too safe with the Note 8. It’s certainly worth remembering that Samsung isn’t the only game in town. There are some exciting devices on the market and the horizon, many of which cost less than the Note 8, so if your Note 5 is showing signs of age and you can live without the S Pen, you might want to look beyond Samsung’s wares for your next phone.

PC version of ‘Sonic Mania’ uses Denuvo, can only be played online

Why it matters to you

While it appears that a fix will be coming soon, this is just another example of Denuvo causing issues with PC games.

Sonic Mania is currently the talk of the town simply because it’s the first good Sonic the Hedgehog game to release in nearly six years, but all is not right for the PC version of the game. Players have discovered that it can only be played online due to copy-protection software.

The program in question is Denuvo, as Ars Technica’s Sam Machkovech discovered on Tuesday, August 29. Designed to stop piracy, it doesn’t allow Sonic Mania players to play the game if their internet goes down, even if they have booted up Steam in its offline mode. This doesn’t appear to be the intended function of the software, as the game’s Steam page posted an update stating that “Sonic Mania is intended to be played offline” and the developers were looking into the issue.

These problems aside, Sonic Mania has received a rave reception from longtime fans looking for a more traditional platforming experience. Combining stages from the original games with brand-new creations, it’s the closest thing players have seen to a retro Sonic title since Sonic & Knuckles, and it gives us some cautious optimism for the series’ future. The next game in the series, Sonic Forces, blends elements of 2D and 3D action together in a similar manner to Sonic Generations. It also allows fans to live out their DeviantArt fantasies and create their own custom Sonic characters. Just don’t create Coldsteel the Hedgehog, as your game console will immediately explode in a fit of rage.

Denuvo began as a relatively robust digital rights management tool, but it has been less effective recently. Adventure game Rime released earlier this year on PC in addition to consoles, and it took just five days for someone to figure out a way to remove Denuvo from the game. Players also alleged that it was actually affecting loading times in the game. Resident Evil 7 was cracked in a similar amount of time, though Denuvo says that even just this five-day window makes a difference in sales for publishers, as eager players can’t wait to pirate games.

Sonic Mania is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Honor 9: Should you import it if you live in the U.S.?

This sub-$500 device is worth wielding stateside, as long as you don’t mind making a few compromises.

I’m digging the latest trend of sub-$500 smartphones that are worth using. These aren’t just generations-old flagships offered at a discount; they’re marquee devices in their own right.

One particular phone that fits into this category of “worth it for the price” is the Honor 9. It’s the successor to the Honor 8, which saw much fanfare in the U.S. last summer. The Honor 9 didn’t get much press in the States this time around, however, and at one point we didn’t even think the Honor 9 would make it here.

But it’s here. Lately, there’ve been listings popping up for the device on Amazon, so you might want to know if it’s worth considering. And you should: the Honor 9 is a good deal under $500, though there are some compromises you’ll want to know about first.

So beautiful, but so slippery

Smartphones are no longer considered utilitarian slabs of metal-covered circuits. They’re now glass-and-aluminum works of art, and the Honor 9’s 15 layers of glass contribute to an especially unique look you won’t often find at the sub-$500 price.

Just look at those chamfered blue edges, the curved edges of the backside. There’s even a cute little light behind the ear speaker, and the rear-facing dual cameras are flush underneath a layer of Gorilla Glass 3. This phone looks like it costs a lot to make.

This phone looks like it costs a lot to make.

The Honor 9’s other pleasing design choice is its bright 5.1-inch 1080p IPS LCD. Honor knocked out the bezels on either side, so it looks bigger than it is, and it looks good. I felt satisfied watching YouTube TV and playing through Sonic the Hedgehog, and I like that this is a smartphone I can hold.

There is the one little downside to this particular device’s design that you should be prepared for: it slides around, a lot, and often perilously. I can’t tell you how many times in the last few weeks I’ve heard a crash while in another room, only to discover it was the Honor 9 on the floor. Thankfully, there are already clear cases available on Amazon so that you can grab one if you decide you like the phone.

Dual cameras that dull out at night

The Honor 9’s dual 12-megapixel and 20-megapixel cameras are not only fun to play with, but they’re also quite capable where there’s plenty of daylight. The Honor 9’s primary camera offers solid dynamic range, and it’s fast at capturing the scene due in part to its phase detection autofocus. I love how quickly the software starts up, and how convenient it is to switch between the different camera modes at will. The 2x lossless zoom is impressive, as well, because it produces sharper shots than you’d typically get with a camera phone.

The front-facing camera is 8-megapixels, complete with a built-in beauty mode and group selfie mode. But bizarrely, its night time capabilities are better than that of the dual cameras. The Honor 9’s rear lenses are f/2.2, and there’s no optical image stabilization, so night shots require that you stand very still. You can use the aid of one of the Honor 9’s low-light camera modes to help you shoot, but for best results, pair it with a smartphone tripod.

Unlocked and ready for 3G

Part of the reason I like to nab smartphones off Amazon is that they typically come unlocked for use on a variety of compatible carriers. The Honor 9 is unlocked, too, and it’s usable with a variety of frequency bands, including:

• 4G LTE: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20
• 3G UMTS: B1/B2/B5/B8
• GSM/EDGE: B2/B3/B5/B8

The Honor 9 will work with T-Mobile or the AT&T network in the U.S., but mainly on 3G. AT&T does use Band 5 for LTE in pockets of the U.S., but it’s not nearly as widespread as Band 4 or Band 12, which will lead to sporadic drops to 3G. T-Mobile doesn’t use any of the Honor 9’s bands for LTE. The phone doesn’t work with Sprint or Verizon at all.

I used it with MintSIM SIM, which is a T-Mobile MVNO, and it worked splendidly on 3G, though data was a bit slow. I took calls on the device, too, and they sounded clear and crisp. The only problem occurred when the Honor 9 slipped out of my hand because, again, it’s so slippery.

Not-quite-Android version of Android

Despite the relative ease of using this particular smartphone in the U.S., you’ll still have to contend with a different, not-quite-Android version of Android. Huawei, Honor’s parent company, has been lambasted by the community before for its failure to adhere to general Android design standards. EMUI 5.0 gave us some hope of a clearer future, and for the most part, Honor has delivered. The Honor 9 itself runs Android 7.1 and EMUI 5.1.

I plopped the modified Pixel Launcher onto the Honor 9, anyway, and it looks good. If you grab an icon changer like Awesome Icons, you can go even further to eliminate any evidence of Honor’s interface. But the bigger question is whether the Honor 9 will receive the right updates for U.S. users and whether you’ll be patched up monthly with security updates.

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a deal on a marquee smartphone that looks good, works great, and doesn’t cost exorbitant flagship prices, the Honor 9 is worth considering if you can find it on Amazon. It’s heavy on the specs like the rest of its competition, not to mention it’s one of the prettiest devices you can buy and it’s equipped with a dual-camera system you won’t typically find in the $400-$500 price range.

You will have to put up with 3G speeds in most of the country unless you come across a pocket of AT&T Band 5, but that’s not a huge deal, especially for a phone this great in other areas.

See at Amazon