HP had abusive students in mind when designing its rugged Chromebook x360 PCs

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for a new mobile PC for your young student, HP’s new Chromebook x360 devices are designed to take their abuse.

HP added four new models to its Chromebook x360 portfolio on Tuesday, September 19. They follow the Chromebook x360 11 G1 Education Edition released in March, and are the company’s first rugged touch-enabled Chromebook x360 solutions for the mainstream market. They’re designed to handle all the drops, spills, and scratches stemming from abusive young students.

For starters, there are two base configurations, but the only difference between them is the amount of internal storage: One sports 16GB while the other packs 32GB. HP also provides two different colors — Smoke Gray and Snow White — totaling four individual models in the overall rugged HP Chromebook x360 family.

Take a look at the specifications:

11-ae010nr
11-ae020nr
11-ae030nr
11-ae040nr
Screen size:
11.6 inches
Screen type:
In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology with Touch
Screen resolution:
1366 x 768
Processor:
Intel Celeron N3350
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 500
Memory:
4GB LPDDR4
Storage:
16GB
32GB
16GB
32GB
Camera:
Front-facing HP TrueVision HD webcam
Connectivity:
Wireless AC (up to 867Mbps) / Bluetooth
Audio:
HD Audio with stereo speakers
Ports:
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A
1x Headphone/microphone jack
1x Micro SD card reader
Battery:
47.36WHr Lithium-ion
Up to 11 hours and 30 minutes (mixed usage)
Size:
8.18 x 12.04 (D) x 0.76 (H) inches
Weight:
2.98 pounds
Color theme:
Smoke Gray
Smoke Gray
Snow White
Snow White

As the specs show, the new Chromebooks are extremely thin and light for easy mobility. They also have a great battery life according to HP’s numbers, lasting up to 11 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge. What helps is the 11.6-inch screen that doesn’t draw as much power as a 15-inch screen, and the power-sipping Celeron dual-core processor packed inside.

What’s notable about these four Chromebooks is that they include four USB 3.1 Gen1 ports. These can be used to expand the student’s desktop across two additional external monitors. There’s no speed difference between the Type-A and Type-C versions, but at least with the latter, students aren’t required to remember which side of the connector faces up.

The Chromebooks also sport touch-based screens, and a special 360-degree hinge to convert them into four cool form factors: Laptop, stand, tent, and tablet.  Other features include Wireless AC networking, Bluetooth for connecting wireless peripherals, and a full-sized island-style keyboard that’s spill-resistant, although don’t expect a hardware miracle if the laptop is completely drenched at the water fountain.

Finally, the Chromebooks are based on the latest version of Google’s Chrome OS operating system that provides access to millions of Android-based apps on the Google Play store, along with everything listed in the Chrome Web Store. Chrome OS is an ideal platform for students, as it’s easy to use, fast, and highly secure. Chromebooks typically have low price tags too, and HP’s new rugged x360 convertibles are no different.

All four are available now with a starting price of $300 at Amazon, Costco, Micro Center, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart.

The upcoming $50 Google Home Mini leaked in all its colorful glory

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for a Google Assistant speaker to place in all your rooms, the Google Home Mini might be the affordable option for you.

The Amazon Echo has been well received for a number of reasons, including the fact that you don’t necessarily always have to buy a full Amazon Echo for each room. Google has already launched its full-sized Google Home speaker, but now it’s launching a more affordable speaker that you can put in each room — rumored to be called the Google Home Mini.

The Google Home Mini has been rumored for some time now, but the latest leak gives us a pretty good look at what the speaker is supposed to look like. The leak, which comes from Droid-Life, shows off a puck-shaped speaker in three colors — which happen to match the leaked colors for the Google Daydream headset.

According to the leak, the speaker will be available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral colors, and it seems as though the speaker will be powered — not wireless — based on the leaked images. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — the idea here is that you’ll be able to get a speaker for each room.

Of course, if you’re buying one for each room, you’ll probably want something pretty affordable, and thankfully the Home Mini reportedly will be. You’ll be able to get one for $50.

The Home Mini should be able to do pretty much everything the standard Google Home can. It’ll come with Google Assistant, and will allow you to schedule things, set reminders, and so on — like Google Assistant on the Home speaker and on an Android phone. The speaker in the device may not be as loud as the standard Google Home, but it will be great for those who don’t necessarily need a loud speaker or those who simply want things like smart home control.

The Google Home Mini isn’t the first non-Home speaker to be launched with Google Assistant. In the past few months, we’ve seen a few devices launch from the likes of JBL, Mobvoi, and even Panasonic, coming in at different price points and with different focuses. The thing that really brings them all together, however, is Google Assistant, which powers all of the speakers. Check out our full list of the Assistant-powered speakers to be launched so far.

August Home’s smart locks and doorbell are available for pre-order

Why it matters to you

August Home’s new line of smart locks and a smart doorbell connect your home’s security with your smartphone to give you peace of mind.

August Home recently unveiled a trio of smart home security products — including two new smart locks and a smart doorbell — designed to improve the safety of your home. The devices come equipped with DoorSense, which August says is an intelligent, integrated sensor that can give you information on whether or not your door is closed.

The August Smart Lock Pro, which the company calls “the most advanced smart lock on the market,” supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit and Z-Wave Plus and connects with your smartphone to ensure you are the only person who can unlock the device with a digital smart key.

The third-generation August Home lock includes a Wi-Fi hub and a Z-Wave Plus radio that is compatible with Samsung SmartThings and Wink. The company says that the new Bluetooth chipset has a longer battery life compared to its predecessor. 

Forget to completely shut the door when you left for work this morning? The Smart Lock Pro can tell you that. The device connects to the cloud service in order to monitor how long the door has been open, if it opens accidentally, or if it’s forced open by someone else. It retails for $249.

“With the Smart Lock Pro, we’ve created a lock that gives people total control over their front door in ways that aren’t possible with a traditional lock,” said Jason Johnson, CEO of August Home, in a press release. “Now, people can make sure their door is closed and locked from anywhere. We’re also expanding our offering to include a more affordable lock so everyone can make their door safer and smarter.”

The August Smart Lock, which will set you back $149, doesn’t include the Wi-Fi hub, but is a good entry point for consumers seeking to test out smart locks. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are compatible with this device, allowing you to lock or unlock your door through voice commands. The lock features a new-generation Bluetooth chip and a traditional door knob design. 

The Doorbell Cam Pro will tell you who is at your door in real time with motion detectors — even if you’re not at home. The $199 gadget also has a built-in flood light. Another feature of the doorbell is HindSight, which records any movement that takes place behind your door. The smart technology records these movements, as well as several seconds of footage that took place before any motion was detected. The device is waterproof and retails for $199.

The products are now available for pre-order and will be shipped starting October 10.

The home-inspecting Aire drone looks like a flying Amazon Echo

Why it matters to you

This futuristic smart security drone can live-stream you footage of your home when you’re away.

It makes it sound like something from Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror, but it’s inescapable: Aevena’s Aire looks like a flying version of Apple’s HomePod or Amazon’s Echo. Launched on Kickstarter on Tuesday, September 19, the Aire is described as the first self-flying robot designed specifically for the home. It’s essentially a drone security camera, which promises to fly around your house investigating any security alerts, snapping photos of you and your family (if requested), or just keeping an eye out for anomalies.

“Unlike typical drones, which are optimized for outdoor flight, Aire is meant to be operated around people so we focused on safety, approachability, industrial design, and user experience with an emphasis on sound quality,” creator Jeffrey Tseng told Digital Trends. “With this in mind, we decided to go with a flight platform called a ducted fan, which is far more complex than a quadcopter, but was able to satisfy our vision of building a human-friendly flying robot. To complement the novel mechanical flight platform, we added processors, sensors and software very similar to what you would find in a self-driving car to enable intelligent behaviors.”

The overarching idea behind Aire is offer its owners peace of mind when they are away from home. While the current generation of internet-enabled cameras can offer some of this, users have to choose between blind spots or blanketing their entire home with cameras. With Aire, on the other hand, its creators have developed a fully mobile internet-enabled camera that can be used to check to make sure a stove is turned off, verify any alarms which go off, or check in on pets during the day (well, depending on how they’ll respond to what amounts to an autonomous Frisbee floating over their heads.)

“Expanding on the home monitoring and security theme, we also had many potential customers tell us that this would be perfect for checking in on a remote vacation home, or for elderly monitoring,” Tseng continued. “We’ve also added the ability for Aire to be able to act as a robotic photographer and take pictures. After the initial launch, we will continue to add additional capabilities to allow it to address more use cases.”

The drone can be controlled via a mobile app, or using voice commands through Amazon Echo. In addition to users telling it where to go, the Aire makes use of some smart AI technology and a combination of sonar and 3D depth sensors to plot paths that don’t involve crashing into objects within your home.

Right now, Aire is available for pre-order on Kickstarter. Prices start at $699, with shipping set to take place in September 2018.

Forget the adapter: How to install a USB outlet in 9 steps

If your connected home is anything like ours, it’s littered with USB chargers, backup batteries, and other powered items. If only your electrical outlets were equipped with USB ports, life would be far less cluttered! Thankfully, you’ll find USB-enabled power outlets available at your local, big-box store, as well as online retailers like Amazon. Upgrading an existing outlet is a straightforward job for the most part, but you may be apprehensive about working with electrical wiring. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install a USB outlet.

Before we get started, an important warning: Regulations governing electrical work in the home vary based on country. Check that you are authorized to perform electrical maintenance at home before following these steps.

1. Select a USB-equipped power outlet

A couple of years ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a power outlet with integrated USB ports, but now there are several available, including the TruePower and multi-functional Swidget. You could choose to source a cheap, unbranded outlet from eBay or Amazon, but we recommend picking up a model from a mainstream brand, such as Legrand or Leviton. You’ll find a range of configurations and colors available, and you can relax knowing that they’ve been built and tested for safety compliance.

Keep in mind, however, that USB-equipped outlets are much deeper than regular designs due to the additional electronics that have to be packed in. This being the case, you’ll need around 3 inches depth in the wall to install your new outlet. Once you’ve scouted a location that’s ripe for upgrade, be sure to check the size of the junction box behind the outlet before making your purchase.

For our guide, we selected the Legrand TM826USBWCCV Outlet, which supports two USB ports and two tamper-resistant power outlets. With two curious boys running around our testing home, we’re reassured that this model’s integrated shutters will prevent any unwanted objects from being inserted. You should be able to pick up this model for around $25.

Depending on your existing outlet, you may also need to pick up a wall plate to surround the sockets. The wall plate on our outlet has a horizontal bar between the outlets, which is where the new USB ports are going to be positioned. So, to accompany the USB-equipped outlet, we selected the Legrand Screwless Wall Plate, which matches in color and finish.

2. Treat Yourself to an Outlet Voltage Tester

Alongside a screwdriver, the other tool we’d highly recommend for this job (or any involving electrical outlets) is a voltage tester. Obviously, we’ll need to switch off the power at the electrical panel before swapping the outlets, but to be absolutely certain that the outlet isn’t live, you should check it with a voltage tester.

Inexpensive devices like this Non-Contact Voltage Tester from Klein Tools provide visual and audible warnings when voltage is detected in an outlet. It’s available for around $20, and there’s an updated NCVT-3 model equipped with a flashlight that can be had for under $25.

Once you have the voltage tester to hand, test it on a socket that you know is live so you can be sure it’s working.

3. Switch Off the Electricity

Once you’ve decided on the outlet you wish to replace, head to your home’s electrical panel. Switch off the power to the room/outlet you’re replacing or, to be sure no electricity is flowing, turn off the electricity completely.

4. Remove the Existing Wall Plate and Outlet

Use your voltage tester to double check that the power has been cut, then carefully unscrew and remove the wall plate and outlet from the junction box behind.

5. Note the Existing Wiring

Take a photo of the existing wiring (or sketch a quick diagram) so you know how to rewire the new outlet when fitted. In North American homes, expect to see Neutral (white), Hot (black), and Ground (bare copper) wires. Other continents have different codes, so be sure to check the existing connections. Better still — label the wires before you remove them.

6. Remove the Wires From the Old Outlet

Take your screwdriver and loosen the retaining screws holding the electrical wires in place. Keep in mind that they may be held in place with quick release clamps rather than screws. If so, find a small screwdriver or similar implement — a SIM tool will even do the job — and press the recessed release button to free the wires.

7. Connect the USB-equipped Socket

Reverse the steps to wire in your new electrical outlet. Then, ensure the Neutral, Hot/Live, and Ground wires are securely connected to the correct terminals.

8. Secure the Outlet and Wall Plate

The hard work is over! Secure the new outlet to the junction box. You can use the same screw holes that were used to fix the old outlet in place.

Now fix the wall plate over the outlet before standing back and admiring your handiwork.

9. Power On and Test

Head back to your circuit breaker and flip on the power to the outlet in question. Then, use your voltage tester to ensure the outlet is operating correctly before connecting and testing your USB devices.

For a few minutes of work and a $30 investment, you’ll be rewarded with a handy new charging point and a fresh, clean-looking replacement for those tired, aging outlets around your home. Now, if only there was a better way to bake wireless charging into your home.

Google Daydream View 2: Rumors and news

Why it matters to you

Google’s new Daydream View looks to be a refined take on a smartphone-based VR.

It’s been nearly a year since Google launched Daydream View, a virtual reality headset designed to work with Android smartphones. But rumor has it that Google is readying a successor.

The new Daydream View, which was first reported on by Droid Life on Tuesday, September 19, looks remarkably similar to the model it is replacing. Its rounded corners curve a bit more gradually than the first-gen Daydream View, and the magnetic flap on the front sits a bit more flush with the visor. And although it’s tough to tell from a rendering alone, the new headset’s nylon material seems to be thinner and finer — and possibly more absorbent.

All those changes might help explain the new Daydream View’s rumored $99 asking price, which is a $20 bump over the original. Droid Life wasn’t able to get its hands on a spec sheet but speculates that a few “internal upgrades” contribute to the price too.

Droid-Life

Wherever the upgrades are, they don’t seem to be in the controller. Judging by the leaked image, the new Daydream View will ship with the same sensor-equipped, button-laden Daydream View controller.

The new Daydream View is expected to launch at a Google press event on October 4, where it will reportedly be joined onstage by the Google Home mini and two new Pixel-branded smartphones.

Whenever the new Daydream View is announced, we expect to hear more about Daydream 2.0 Euphrates, the second generation of Daydream-driven VR experiences. First revealed at Google’s I/O developer conference in May, Daydream 2.0 has a resigned app launcher, a new dashboard that lets you capture screenshots and beam in-game video of what you’re seeing to a Chromecast dongle, and loads of under-the-hood optimizations.

On a technical level, Daydream 2.0 promises much richer and more visually detailed experiences than Daydream 1.0. A new rendering technique named Project Seurot (after the French pointillist painter) aims to bring desktop-grade graphics to Daydream 2.0 headsets. It’s able to compress a scene with 50 million polygons to 72,000 with little-to-no loss in quality, Google said at I/O, and generate scenes that look nearly like real life.

Daydream 2.0 also supports stand-alone headsets. Thanks to Google’s WorldSense positional tracking technology and Visual Positioning Service (VPS), which the Mountain View, California-based company developed in partnership with Qualcomm, Daydream’s software can track all objects within the surrounding environment and map virtual objects onto real-life tables, walls, and chairs.

There is nothing to suggest the new Daydream View will work without a smartphone, but we wouldn’t be surprised to hear more about stand-alone Daydream headsets in the coming months. HTC announced in May that it would make the first.

Google Daydream View 2: Rumors and news

Why it matters to you

Google’s new Daydream View looks to be a refined take on a smartphone-based VR.

It’s been nearly a year since Google launched Daydream View, a virtual reality headset designed to work with Android smartphones. But rumor has it that Google is readying a successor.

The new Daydream View, which was first reported on by Droid Life on Tuesday, September 19, looks remarkably similar to the model it is replacing. Its rounded corners curve a bit more gradually than the first-gen Daydream View, and the magnetic flap on the front sits a bit more flush with the visor. And although it’s tough to tell from a rendering alone, the new headset’s nylon material seems to be thinner and finer — and possibly more absorbent.

All those changes might help explain the new Daydream View’s rumored $99 asking price, which is a $20 bump over the original. Droid Life wasn’t able to get its hands on a spec sheet but speculates that a few “internal upgrades” contribute to the price too.

Droid-Life

Wherever the upgrades are, they don’t seem to be in the controller. Judging by the leaked image, the new Daydream View will ship with the same sensor-equipped, button-laden Daydream View controller.

The new Daydream View is expected to launch at a Google press event on October 4, where it will reportedly be joined onstage by the Google Home mini and two new Pixel-branded smartphones.

Whenever the new Daydream View is announced, we expect to hear more about Daydream 2.0 Euphrates, the second generation of Daydream-driven VR experiences. First revealed at Google’s I/O developer conference in May, Daydream 2.0 has a resigned app launcher, a new dashboard that lets you capture screenshots and beam in-game video of what you’re seeing to a Chromecast dongle, and loads of under-the-hood optimizations.

On a technical level, Daydream 2.0 promises much richer and more visually detailed experiences than Daydream 1.0. A new rendering technique named Project Seurot (after the French pointillist painter) aims to bring desktop-grade graphics to Daydream 2.0 headsets. It’s able to compress a scene with 50 million polygons to 72,000 with little-to-no loss in quality, Google said at I/O, and generate scenes that look nearly like real life.

Daydream 2.0 also supports stand-alone headsets. Thanks to Google’s WorldSense positional tracking technology and Visual Positioning Service (VPS), which the Mountain View, California-based company developed in partnership with Qualcomm, Daydream’s software can track all objects within the surrounding environment and map virtual objects onto real-life tables, walls, and chairs.

There is nothing to suggest the new Daydream View will work without a smartphone, but we wouldn’t be surprised to hear more about stand-alone Daydream headsets in the coming months. HTC announced in May that it would make the first.

The PowerUp Dart is a smartphone-controlled paper airplane that performs stunts

Why it matters to you

The awesome PowerUp Dart stunt plane may just be the world’s greatest office desk toy.

With its mission of creating motorized paper airplanes, popular toymaker PowerUp has gradually added more functionality to its kits over the past several years — ranging from motorized propellers to Bluetooth remote control functionality. Its latest kit, newly arrived on Kickstarter, adds a much-requested focus on aerobatic stunts to the mix.

“The PowerUp Dart converts your pastime homemade paper airplane into an aerobatic smartphone-controlled paper plane that can do 3D tricks like loops, barrel rolls, and spins in midair,” creator Shai Goitein told Digital Trends. “Normal paper planes can fly just a few seconds; the PowerUp can fly up to 10 minutes on a charge. It can also take off and land from the ground. The free app connects instantly to the detachable Dart control module. Thanks to Bluetooth smart connectivity, tilting the phone controls the direction of the flight, and added thrust controls the ascent, descent, and tricks.”

A former industrial designer and pilot, Goitein says that the PowerUp concept was born in 2007, when he was working with kids to teach them about aerodynamics. As part of the prep for one of his classes, he discovered that new miniaturized technology made micro flight possible. This led him to develop a series of paper airplanes, with the latest one being his most successful yet — it’s the No. 1 campaign currently on Kickstarter.

“We launched on Apple day,” he says, referring to the company’s recent iPhone X media event. “[That] was kind of not ideal since no media was available for our story. I mean, Apple, right? But fortunately, this bold move was rewarding for us, since many other projects delayed their launch and gave us a quiet day to stand out.”

Goitein doesn’t have an ideal vision of a customer, because the idea of a smartphone-controlled paper airplane appeals to such a wide range of users. However, he says he can easily imagine it fitting in as an object of envy in the office. “Can you imagine a paper airplane with wheels and propeller waiting to take off from your desk?” he said. “Imagine a happy hour fun activity with paper planes zipping through the air! It is just pure fun and amazement.”

The PowerUp Dart is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter where, at time of writing, it has received $335,643 of pledges against a goal of just $25,000. Prices start at $29, with shipping set to take place in December.

PowerDirector 16 is the first basic video editor to include stabilization

Why it matters to you

Image stabilization is hard to come by for 360 cameras, but new software from CyberLink could change that.

Capturing 360 footage is as easy as spending a few hundred dollars on a consumer camera and pressing a few buttons — and now editing immersive video content is getting just as consumer-friendly. The Taiwan-based CyberLink Corp. announced on Tuesday, September 19, the latest version of its beginner-friendly video software in the Director series with PowerDirector 16, ColorDirector 6, and AudioDirector 8 with several updates geared towards editing shots from those consumer 360 cameras.

PowerDirector 16, the video-editing program, is the first to put 360 stabilization into a consumer-level program that’s capable of editing video from multiple camera brands, according to the company. (The Garmin Virb Edit software also offers stabilization, but only with the Garmin Virb 360 camera and it’s slew of built-in sensors.) The software uses a stabilization algorithm that identifies then adjusts for rotational and translational camera motion, according to the company.

Along with the stabilization, new 360 features include titles and transitions designed for the immersive format, avoiding the warping that occurs when using templates designed for a standard point of view. ColorDirector 6 is also now compatible with color grading for 360 videos. The company’s audio software, AudioDirector 8, is now also compatible with 360 videos.

Along with the new features designed for 360 footage, PowerDirector 16 includes a number of different features for standard video as well. The program now includes built-in color matching to create consistency across clips by matching factors like lighting, saturation, and color. New LUT support also allows users to use color tables to create film looks. The update also includes new effects and plug-ins.

Inside ColorDirector 6, new features include a one-click tone adjustment. A dehaze tool, similar to Lightroom’s, for removing fog, smog, and haze from footage and a noise reduction tool is also included in the update.

For AudioDirector 8, the update brings a codec preview, an ambiance creator to help blend clips without white noise with shots with white noise, and auto-fit music, which adjusts audio tracks to the length of the video.

The updated software comes with several purchase options starting at around $70 for PowerDirector 16 Deluxe. The entire suite of software, as well as PhotoDirector 9, retails for $300 or a $100 one-year subscription. The software is available directly from CyberLink, as well as from several retail stores.

Google Search app now provides suggestions based on what you’re reading

Why it matters to you

Google has rolled out a new feature for its Google Search app on iOS. While on a webpage, the app provides users with suggestions related to the content they’re currently reading.

On Tuesday, Google rolled out a new feature for its Google Search app on iOS. While on a webpage using the iOS version, users will now see suggestions related to the content they’re currently reading.

With the Google Search app, you’re already able to find answers to your questions, search what you’re interested in, and scroll through a feed of stories and updates on topics you find important. The more you use it, the more insight it’s able to gain on your favorite types of content to read, permitting greater personalization.

Its latest feature now gives users even more of an excuse to stay on the app longer. Instead of using your mobile web browser to search related topics, the Google Search app will do the work for you with suggested articles.

When you’re on the app and have scrolled to the end of an article, swiping back up will reveal a “People also view” window. You can then swipe left to reveal more articles related to the topic you’re reading about. Otherwise, the window will be hidden from view so that you’re left to your reading.

After choosing another article from the list, you can access the link by simply tapping on it without having to leave the app. From there, the same process continues — which could possibly end in spending more time on the app than intended.

This latest feature on Google Search is clearly meant more for in-depth reading than just finding the answers to quick queries. By providing you with articles to constantly click through, it’s a tool you that’s more conducive to general — or in-depth — research.

Last month, the company released a similar feature for its mobile image search results to also increase discovery. By searching a specific item such as a cupcake in Image Search, your results include a badge icon in the bottom-left hand corner for recipes, GIFs, videos, and more.

Google isn’t the only company utilizing this kind of discovery tool for its users. This fall, eBay is set to launch its own image-based search tool that allows users to find and purchase items through eBay using pictures instead of words.

As for Google’s latest search and discover feature, it’s currently only available for use in the U.S. on iOS. The company plans to expand to more languages and locations in the future.