JBL SoundBoost 2 speakers feature surround sound-quality audio

Why it matters to you

Dirac Audio’s Panorama Sound technology make the JBL SoundBoost 2 speakers sound like a multi-channel system — a boon for movies and music.

Let’s face it: Portable speakers aren’t don’t usually make great substitutes for home stereos. That goes double for ultra-compact peripherals like the Anker SoundCore and UE Megaboom, which fall short of the range and depth full-sized systems can deliver. But thanks to a collaboration among Swedish engineering firm Dirac, Motorola, and JBL parent company Harman, JBL’s new SoundBoost 2 come close.

The JBL SoundBoost 2, a modular accessory that fits to the Lenovo Moto Z2 and Moto Z’s Moto Mods mount, looks like an ordinary, off-the-shelf Bluetooth speakers from a distance. But the magic lies in the JBL MySoundboost2 app, which taps Dirac’s patented Panorama Sound technology. When audio plays from the phone to the speaker, it is filtered through a cross-talk cancellation algorithm that isolates the left and right stereo channels and optimizes their frequencies. When the two channels reach your ears, they are separated — the right channel hasn’t been affected or compromised by the left channel, and the left channel hasn’t been muddied by the right.

The net effect is stereo feedback that mimics a muli-channel, surround-sound home theater setup.

“Through this collaboration, we are changing what the world thinks is possible from their mobile devices,” Erik Rudolphi, Dirac’s general manager of mobile, said in a statement. “This isn’t just more volume or a fake surround sound gimmick. […] Your brain hears far more than it expects or is used to hearing from a such a small device.”

As good as Dirac’s algorithmic filter sounds, though, it won’t work miracles. The laws of physics dictate that all else being equal, larger speakers produce crisper, clearer low frequencies than scaled-down counterparts like the JBL SoundBoost 2. And until we have a chance to put the Soundboost 2 through its paces, the jury is out on its raw performance.

But we were impressed by Dirac Audio’s Panorama Sound when we listened to it on a modified Nexus 6P smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. It sounded just like wearing a pair of headphones, but without the headphones — during a scene from space disaster movie Gravity, dialogue from the speakers sounded as though it was coming from earbuds.

“As the smartphone increasingly becomes a primary device for entertainment consumption — both while on-the-go and at home — consumers are demanding audio that’s equally as hi-res as its visual counterpart,” Rudolphi said. “By teaming up with these two market-leading pioneers to develop the Soundboost 2, we’re providing Motorola Moto Z smartphone users across the globe with a complete entertainment experience that’s both portable and immersive.”

These are the best touchscreen gloves to keep you warm while you tap away

Whether you’re forced to weather the harsh winter elements at home or work in an icebox of an office building, you’ve probably been faced with these dilemmas: Comfy gloves that don’t work on your phone’s touchscreen, or frozen fingers as you tweet in the cold. Thanks to the advent of touch-friendly fabrics, you won’t have to suffer anymore. Here’s our guide to the best touchscreen gloves for smartphones.

Different types of touchscreen gloves, and how they work

The reason you can’t use a smartphone with an ordinary pair of gloves has to do with the way touchscreens work. Capacitive screens — the type in popular phones like the iPhone 7 and Galaxy S8 — are blanketed with electrodes. When a conductive material like human skin comes into contact with them, it completes the circuit; an alternating current in the smartphone’s touchscreen induces a current in the conductor, bridging the gap between the touchscreen’s electrodes. Those circuits register as taps, touches, and swipes on your screen.

Skin isn’t the only great electrical conductor, of course, and touchscreen-friendly gloves take advantage of that fact. The gloves are made in part or in whole from fabric that emulates skin’s conducive properties, similar to capacitive styluses like the Apple Pencil and Microsoft’s Surface Pen.

But touchscreen gloves aren’t all cut from the same cloth. Here are the different types of touchscreen gloves, and the best touchscreen gloves in each category.

Fingertip gloves

Fingertip gloves don’t mimic the whole of your hand’s conductivity. Rather, a few individual fingertips are woven with a special yarn or tip that completes the touchscreen’s circuits.

The advantage is price. Because fingertip gloves don’t need to be woven with a pricey conductive material, they can be made of cheaper variety of fabrics, from acrylic and wool to faux leather.

Nacodex Iglove touchscreen gloves ($6)

The Nacodex Iglove gloves may not turn heads and raise eyebrows, but it boasts a classic design that pairs well any outerwear. The knitted, solid-pattern gloves have conductive material embedded in the index finger and thumb, and a stretch cuff that fits snugly around your wrist. At $6 for two pairs of gloves, the Iglove is one of the cheapest knitted options on the market.

Nacodex’s Igloves come in black, gray, green, pink, red, and sky-blue, and one stretchable size.

Winter Hot WaitingU touchscreen gloves ($20)

The Winter Hot WaitingU are knitted gloves for the fashion-conscious. The lined wool and acrylic gloves come in patterns like khaki, rose red, and coffee, and feature three conductive points of contact — one on the thumb, the index finger, and middle finger. The Winter Hot is a little thicker than most fingertip gloves, which makes it a little less stretchy. But it’s also designed to withstand colder weather.

WaitingU’s Winter Hot touchscreen gloves come in light gray, rosered, khaki, navy, green, black, red, rose red, purple, orange, coffee, deep blue, light blue, and yellow, and one stretchable size. A pair costs from $20.

Fosman Touchscreen Gloves ($8)

Fosmon’s touch-sensitive gloves checks every box at a price that doesn’t break the bank. The stretchy, unisex design provides firm grip that won’t damage your phone’s screen, and features three capacitive touch points — one on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger.

Fosman’s touchscreen gloves come in black, blue & white, green & orange, light pink & hot pink, rainbow, and red & white, and one stretchable size. A pair costs $6.

Full-glove knitted touchscreen gloves

Full-glove knitted touchscreen gloves are fully conductive. By incorporating materials like silver or copper into the weave, they take on the conductive properties of your hand’s skin. That means you can use a knuckle, pinkies, or your palm to control your phone’s screen instead of just a finger.

The added flexibility comes at the cost of choice. Full-glove knitted touchscreen gloves are available in fewer styles than fingertip touch gloves, and tend to be more expensive. But if you’re looking for touchscreen gloves that won’t get in the way of your texting, a full-glove knit is the type for you. Here’s a list of the best full-glove knitted touchscreen gloves.

Mujjo Double Layered Touchscreen Gloves ($15)

Mujjo’s distinctive wool touchscreen gloves feature a leather securing strap that snaps shut with a magnetic button, a double soft-touch insulating lining, and black leather cuff dots that match the gloves’ black-and-silver pattern. Anti-slip silicon grooves in the palm prevent accidental slippage, and stretchable, silver-coated nylon fibers make the entire glove (including the knuckles and palm) touch-sensitive.

Mujjo’s double-layered touchscreen gloves comes in one color, black and gray, and in small, medium, and large sizes. A pair costs from $34.

GliderGlove Touchscreen Gloves ($14)

GliderGlove’s mix of acrylic, nylon, and copper warm your hands and work on touchscreens. A thick, double-lined brushed interior provides ample insulation, and an extended cuff area provides grip and padding around the palm area. It’s slim-fitting and lightweight, and available in two styles: Urban and winter.

GliderGlove’s touchscreen gloves comes in small, medium, and large sizes. A pair costs from $14.

Moshi Digits Dual-layered Touchscreen Gloves ($30)

Moshi’s Digits gloves are woven with a conductive fiber that makes each fingertip responsive to touchscreens. It’s got a thick, hand-washable microfleece lining that provides enhanced comfort, palms studded with grippy material, and a dual-layer knit design is specially engineered to shield against cold wind.

Moshi’s Digits come in in two colors, dark gray and light gray, and small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. A pair costs from $30.

Full-glove leather touchscreen gloves

If you aren’t afraid to shell out a few extra bucks on touchscreen gloves, consider a pair of full leather models. They’re made of genuine or faux leather that’s been treated with a conductive solution, making the glove’s surface responsive to touchscreens.

Leather touchscreen gloves require a bit more work than knitted gloves, though. They’ll wear if you don’t care for them properly, and the conductive coating can rub off over time. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better balance of fashion and utility. Here’s a list of the best full-glove leather touchscreen gloves.

Kent Wang ($95)

If you’re dead set on a premium leather, consider Kent Wang’s Deerskin touchscreen gloves for men. The design, a wrinkle-resistant combination of calf leather and deerskin, is about as classic as they come. The inside is lined with soft cashmere that’s thick but dextrous, and five fingers are coated with touchscreen-responsive nanotechnology that’s resistant to wear and tear.

Kent Wang’s Deerskin touchscreen gloves are available in black, and are available in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. It’s pricey at $95.

Harrms Touchscreen Italian Nappa Leather Gloves ($30)

It’s tough to find quality leather touchscreen gloves on a budget, but Harrms fits the bill. The Italian Nappa touchscreen gloves for men are professionally stitched with genuine, water-resistant leather, and pack a cashmere inner lining that insulates against chilly winds. Harrms claims its touchscreen technology offers more precision than most gloves, and that it’s longer-lasting too.

Harrms Italian Nappa touchscreen gloves come in black and brown colors, and small, medium, large, extra large, and 2x extra large sizes. A pair costs $30.

Elma Touchscreen Texting Gloves ($10)

Touchscreen leather gloves sometimes struggle to achieve the flexibility of their knitted counterparts, but Elma’s touchscreen texting gloves solve that problem by combining nappa leather with a stretchy material. They feature a grippy outside that prevents your smartphone and tablet slippage, and a tight-fitting, fleece or cashmere lining that keeps your fingers warm and toasty.

Elma’s touchscreen leather gloves for men come in black and brown, and in small, medium, large, extra large, and 2x large sizes. A pair costs $35.

Bio-inspired robot can snap itself upright when it’s upside down

Why it matters to you

The spring-like mechanism offers a unique solution for keeping robots on the right foot.

Robots can be clumsy. They bump into and trip over things. And while companies like Boston Dynamics have developed some sophisticated machines, even those have been known to stumble off stage.

Now, researchers at the University of Illinois have turned to nature to design a bio-inspired robot that can turn itself upright if it ends up on its backside. To right themselves, the robots don’t use their legs but instead snap themselves upright using a spring-loaded mechanism similar to that found in the click beetle.

“Robots inspired by animals are not really new but they usually focus on improved stability and balance,” Aimy Wissa, lead investigator of the project, told Digital Trends. “But falling is inevitable. Rather than creating legs that can locomote, balance, and get help with self-righting we think that looking at nature to find ways of self-righting that do not involve legs would make the robot’s design simpler and more robust. Examples among insects that jump without using legs are springtails, trap-jaw ants, and click beetles. The details of how a beetle is able to jump are still unclear, and that has been our main focus until now.”

Click beetles have hinge-like mechanisms in their bodies which click, vault them into the air, and flip them upright. The researchers’ creation of a robotic form of this behavior is a product of collaboration between two, seemingly unrelated fields: etymology and mechanical engineering.

The spring-like mechanism offers a unique solution to the task of getting robots up off the floor, and may be integrated into future robot designs to help them integrate more effectively into our everyday world.

“In the future robots will be deployed in various environments,” Wissa said. “For instance, they will be used to autonomously monitor our greenhouses, survey dangerous areas, and explore other planets. These uneven and sometime not well-known terrains make robots susceptible to falling and humans may not want to or be able to assist them.”

Wissa and her team presented their study at Stanford University during Living Machines 2017: The 6th International Conference on Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems. The team later won second place in the BIOMinnovate Challenge, a research expo showcasing biologically inspired designs.

Google Assistant finally launches on Android TV, starting with the NVIDIA Shield

It’s better late than never.

Google has announced that Google Assistant is finally making its way to Android TVs, starting with the NVIDIA Shield Android TV. The AI platform seems to be available just about everywhere else in the home, but having Assistant on the biggest screen in your home is a great way to experience its power.

The feature set for Assistant on Android TV is the same as what was first teased back in January at CES — which is, it’s basically what you’ve experienced on other platforms, plus a few TV-specific tweaks. You can ask general knowledge questions and have the answers displayed on screen, search YouTube, play music, ask for specific content in certain apps like Netflix or HBO, ask for photos from Google Photos, control smart home devices, get travel time information and so much more.

A few months later than expected, but it’s great to see Assistant expand.

Basically, Assistant on your Android TV will be closer to the full-featured version that’s offered on your phone, with the typical limitations of being a stationary device like you may be used to on Google Home. That’s good to see considering how long we had to wait for it to arrive, and considering the high power of the Shield Android TV and a stable home internet connection it should be a great experience.

Though today’s announcement talks about Assistant arriving on Android TVs as a whole, the first hardware to get the service will be the NVIDIA Shield Android TV. If you have one, you’ll be able to grab a (rather large) update starting today. Google specifically notes that Sony’s Android TV-powered Bravia TVs will get it “in the coming months” but makes no note of a time frame for other Android TV devices other than the previously known detail that it has to be running Marshmallow or later.

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It’s September 2017, and the Moto X Pure Edition just got Android 7.0

The Moto X Pure Edition is finally being updated to Android 7.0 Nougat in the U.S., but does it really matter?

Android 8.0 Oreo has been out in the wild for a little over a month now, and since its public release, we’ve seen the update steadily making its way to more and more devices across the board. Motorola recently started pushing out a new software updated to the Moto X Pure Edition, but rather than update the phone to Android 8.0 Oreo, the company has decided to release 7.0 Nougat instead.

Software updates are usually something to get excited about, but this is a perfect example of why Motorola need to seriously improve on its software game.

First thing’s first, the Nougat update that’s being released in 7.0, not the newer 7.1. Motorola announced that Nougat was finally in the works for the Moto X Pure Edition by releasing the kernel source at the beginning of August, but this is the first time we’ve ever actually seen reports of it being released to users in the U.S. Furthermore, according to some users on Twitter, this is the first software update the Moto X has seen in over a year. In other words, the phone hasn’t received a single security update since September 2016. Taking a long time to push out new features is one thing, but leaving your devices vulnerable with security patches that are over a year old is in a league of its own.

No security updates for over a year is unacceptable on Motorola’s part

Motorola’s track record for software updates as of late has been anything but great, and while it is nice to see an update finally make its way to the Moto X Pure Edition, this is too little too late in our eyes.

Lenovo-owned Motorola has been consistent in releasing countless new devices throughout 2017, but it seems obvious that this is having a pretty direct impact on speed and availability of new software for existing devices. Owners of the Moto X Pure Edition are likely pretty excited about the arrival of 7.0 Nougat on their phone, and while they should be, you won’t hear me praising Motorola for releasing a 13-month-old update that should have been here ages ago.

Will my phone get Android Oreo?

Huawei Mediapad M3 Lite vs. Huawei Mediapad T3: Which should you buy?

The M3 Lite is the superior tablet, but not by much.

When it comes to size, dimensions, and even battery capacity, the Huawei Mediapad M3 Lite and Mediapad T3 are quite similar. But there are some differences we want to highlight, and help you decide which one to buy if you’re looking for an inexpensive Android tablet!

Both models come in affordable 8-inch and 10-inch models — the former in a portrait orientation and the latter in landscape. We’ve compared these two tablets in both sizes, and the M3 comes out on top thanks to its additional features. Check out all the details on how we made our decision below!

8-inch Mediapad M3 Lite vs. Mediapad T3 specs comparison

10-inch Mediapad M3 Lite vs. Mediapad T3 specs comparison

Where they’re the same

Both the Huawei Mediapas M3 Lite and the Mediapad T3 are pretty solid devices, and while they are definitely more different than the same, they do share a few aesthetic qualities. For the 8-inch version, from the outside, these two tablets look strikingly similar.

They also both share a hefty 4800 mAh battery. This is a battery that will easily keep you going through a few days of use and means you’ll have plenty of time between charges for gaming, or watching your favorite shows on Netflix.

How they’re different

While these two tablets certainly look alike, they differ under the hood. The Mediapad M3 Lite just manages to pull ahead by virtue of solid features that outstrip the Mediapad T3 little by little.

The Mediapad M3 Lite has the better screen resolution at 1920×1200 pixels compared to the Mediapad T3’s less dense 1280×720 pixels. The Mediapad M3 Lite is available in 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB sizes, while the Mediapad T3 is only available in 16GB and 32GB. The Mediapad M3 also wins out with an octa-core Snapdragon 435 processor against the Mediapad T3’s Snapdragon 425 quad-core, and the Mediapad M3 also has more RAM in every size.

None of these differences are major on their own, but with so many features in the Mediapad M3’s favor, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t the superior device. Especially when you consider that the Mediapad M3 Lite is available for $169 which is only $50 dollars more than the Mediapad T3’s $119 price tag.

See Mediapad M3 Lite at Amazon See Mediapad T3 at Amazon

Size makes a difference

While the 8-inch version of the Mediapad M3 Lite and the Mediapad T3 are very similar in a few aspects, that starts to change with the 10-inch version. Not in terms of design, where they still share a similar look, but from dimensions to the battery, they are quite different.

The Mediapad M3 Lite comes out ahead in every category. It’s a tiny bit larger, has the superior screen resolution, rocks more RAM at every level, and is available in 64GB. The biggest difference is the battery that the Mediapad M3 Lite is using, it’s packing a 6660mAh battery that will keep you going from the beach on vacation all the way home.

Of course, the bigger battery and larger size do come with a price jump. The Mediapad M3 Lite is available for $219, which is a $50 price bump from the smaller size. The T3 also jumps up to $159, which is a $40 bump in price.

Once again, the Mediapad M3 Lite manages to win out by virtue of the features it packs under the hood. The massive battery on top of a great processor and larger screen with a better resolution lets it whomp the Mediapad T3, even though it’s the pricier of the two.

See M3 Lite 10 at AmazonSee T3 10 at Amazon

Which is your favorite?

Do you agree that the M3 Lite is the better tablet? Do you think we should have given the T3 another chance? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Spread better Wi-Fi through your home with Luna’s refurb 3-pack for $200

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are all the rage these days, and there is a good reason for it. If you live in a large home or have ever struggled with maintaining a solid connection across your unusually shaped home, trying to fix the issues could turn out to be quite a pain. Those pains have since been alleviated, and getting a solid connection across your house only takes a few minutes to get set up.

Woot, through Amazon, is currently offering a one-day discount on a refurbished 3-pack of Luna’s Wi-Fi routers for $199.99. This system sells brand new for right around $270. You can find it for a little cheaper from some sellers on eBay, but the quantities are very limited.

Setting these up is pretty simple. Just unbox them, plug them in, and get started using the iPhone or Android app. Once all set up, you’ll be able to enable parental controls, see what’s happening on your network at a glance, and even pause the internet with just a single tap.

This price is only good for one day, so don’t wait too long to get your order in.

See at Amazon

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Google reportedly working on a premium Google Home with stereo speakers

The Google Home Max is expected to offer a more premium design and higher-end audio, but we aren’t entirely sure when it’ll be released.

Amazon had a field day yesterday with a slew of new Alexa-enabled smart gadgets. And while all of that new tech admittedly looks quite nice, Google is also expected to release some new Google Assistant hardware in just a few days.

We’ve already seen images of the Google Home Mini that should be announced alongside the Pixel 2 next week, and a new report now suggests that Google is also working on a Google Home Max.

Where the Mini is a smaller and cheaper version of the regular Google Home, the Max (name not final) is expected to be a higher-end model with a premium design and better audio quality. The Google Home Max should come equipped with stereo speakers, and along with this, we can also expect two mid-range drivers and possibly a tweeter for powerful and punchy tunes.

A source familiar with the Max says that the gadget was shown off by Google to a focus group earlier in the year, and while this does suggest that the Max is well along in its development, there’s still no confirmation as to whether or not it will make an appearance at the Pixel 2 event on October 4.

We saw the Google Assistant make its way to a lot of third-party home speaker solutions at IFA in August, and while some of these will likely offer a better audio experience than the current Google Home, we’re still very interested to see what a high-end version of the Home from Google itself will look like.

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• Google Home review
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YouTube TV now works on Android tablets

You can now download YouTube TV on Android tablets, but where’s our Android TV app?

YouTube TV is one of the many Internet-based services aimed at stealing people away from traditional cable and satellite television solutions in favor of something that’s more hassle-free and easier to use, and in its latest update, Google has announced that the YouTube TV app can now be downloaded and used on Android tablets.

Prior to this change, YouTube TV could only be downloaded onto smartphones. The ability to cast YouTube TV to a Chromecast or Android TV box/television allowed for easily getting your content on a bigger canvas, but the new support for tablets means that you can now have extra screen real estate when browsing through all of your channels to find the perfect show to watch.

The expansion to tablets is a nice move, but it’s still odd that we’ve yet to see an official YouTube TV app for Android TV. Google Assistant just made its way to the NVIDIA Shield ahead of the Android 8.0 Oreo update that’s yet to land for any boxes or TVs other than the Nexus Player, so while it’s obvious that Android TV may not be Google’s biggest priority at the moment, a YouTube TV app for the platform still feels overdue at this point.

YouTube TV is still only available in select markets, but its rapid expansion has introduced it to quite a few more areas since its initial launch.

If you happen to live in one of the markets that YouTube TV is supported, you can sign up for $35/month and get access to a variety of channels, DVR support, and account access for up to 6 people. For even more information, check out our full guide.

YouTube TV: Everything you need to know!

Worldwide flight delays caused by glitchy check-in system

Passengers around the world have been enduring long delays thanks to a glitchy passenger reservation system, passengers, airlines and airports are reporting. Airports as far flung as London’s Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Melbourne and Baltimore Washington have all reported issues. According to Gatwick, it was caused by a problem with Amadeus Altea, a passenger management system used by 125 airlines. That company confirmed that it’s having a “network issue,” according to the BBC, but has started restoring services.

Such network problems are not at all unusual, but they’re usually confined to specific airlines and airports. Today’s outage, by contrast, has seemingly affected airports and airlines on at least four different continents.

Computer problems with @Lufthansa check-in computers. Flights delayed, at least out of TXL.

Glad I checked-in on the Lufthansa app! #travel

— Les Jordan (@ljrdn3) September 28, 2017

Passenger @ljrdn3, for instance, reported problems at Berlin Tegal, saying that Lufthansa flights were delayed. Another, @msmith_ky, said that “all of the computers at DCA Southwest Air terminal are down.” In response, Southwest indicated that “we should be back up and running very shortly.”

So far, airlines affected include at least Air France, Southwest, China Air, Qantas, Korean Air, Lufthansa and British Airways, according to CNN Money. Affected airports other than those mentioned are Incheon, Seoul, Haneda Tokyo, Frankfurt, Zurich, Heathrow, Reagan National.

“Amadeus technical teams took immediate action to identify the cause of the issue and restore services as quickly as possible,” a spokesman for Amadeus said. “That action is ongoing with services gradually being restored.”

Source: BBC, CNN Money