Surface Book 2 hands-on: The sequel we’ve been waiting for

It turns out the Surface Laptop isn’t Microsoft’s only proper notebook this year. The Surface Book 2 was just announced, and at first glance, it seems to fix all of the issues we had with the original model (as well as last year’s refresh). It has a stronger hinge, so there’s no more screen wobbling as you’re typing, and it’s more powerful than before. Microsoft also added a 15-inch model, making the Surface Book 2 even more of a direct competitor to the MacBook Pro line. Based on my short hands-on time with both new laptops, it’s clear that Microsoft is once again delivering some stiff competition against Apple’s premium notebooks.

At this point, it’s pretty clear that Microsoft can build some solid laptops. (If you would have told me that when the terrible Surface RT debuted, I would have laughed in your face.) The Surface Book 2 continues that trend, with sturdy and smooth metal cases that simply scream high-end. And, just like before, you can hit a button on the keyboard to “unlock” the screen to remove it and use as a tablet. Alternatively, you can just flip the display around and plug it back into its base to use the laptop in “studio” mode. It’s a similar experience to what you can get from 2-in-1 convertible notebooks, but without being able to flip the screen a full 360-degrees.

The real magic behind the Surface Book 2 is its revamped fulcrum hinge. It’s certainly sturdier than before — I picked it up and tried to shake the screen, but it wouldn’t budge. And it was steady as a rock while I tried to type with both notebooks in the air and on my lap. Paradoxically, it’s easier to remove the displays as well. Everything around plugging the display and keyboard base together simply works more smoothly, thanks to improved connectors. Unfortunately, the hinge still adds a rounded bump to the Surface Book 2’s profile. I don’t mind it much, but it could be annoying if you prefer slimmer notebooks.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

One of the big complaints with the original Surface Book was how much its screen moved while you were typing. It wasn’t a major issue when you were using the laptop on a flat surface, but it could get frustrating when you had it on your lap. It was a constant reminder that you were using a tablet that connected to a keyboard base, rather than a traditional notebook. Of course, it makes sense that Microsoft ended up delivering a stronger hinge. It simply wouldn’t have been able to add a larger model without it.

While the 15-inch Surface Book 2 is slightly heavier than the comparable MacBook Pro — 4.2 pounds versus 4.02 pounds — it still feels easy to hold. And for many, the additional weight will likely be worth it for more powerful graphics. The larger Surface Book 2 features NVIDIA’s GTX 1060 GPU, which is far more capable than the 15-inch MacBook Pro’s Radeon 555 and 560 GPUs. The smaller 13-inch Surface Book 2 weighs in at 3.38 pounds or 3.68 pounds, depending on if you’re getting integrated graphics or NVIDIA’s GTX 1050. Apple’s slim 13-inch MacBook Pro is a mere three pounds, but once again Microsoft’s laptops have the graphics advantage.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Both Surface Book 2 models feature gorgeous displays, something Microsoft has gotten steadily better at over the past few years. The 13.5-inch notebook still features a 3,000 by 2,000 pixel display, while the 15-inch one sports 3,240 by 2,160 pixels. While they’re not 4K, they still look very sharp when displaying text, photos and video. Both screens also felt well-balanced when in standalone tablet mode. The smaller one weighs 1.59 pounds, while the 15-inch display clocks in at 1.8 pounds. Sure, they’re far heavier than the iPad and just about every other standalone tablet. But they’re still easy to hold if you just want to watch Netflix in bed, or read the New York Times app on the couch without holding the keyboard.

Since these are Surface devices, you can bet that Microsoft is pushing its new Surface Pen heavily. It originally debuted with the Surface Laptop, and it works just as well on these new machines. We’re at the point where drawing on Surface devices feels almost as instantaneous as putting ink to paper.

As you’d expect, both Surface Book 2 laptops handled just about everything I threw at them, be it dozens of browser tabs while streaming video, or games like Minecraft. You’ve got Intel’s new 8th generation CPUs and their improved graphics to thank for that. At this point, they seem like powerful notebooks that can easily satisfy demanding users. They’re also more port friendly than the newest MacBook Pros, with two USB 3.1 Type A ports, a single USB-C connection and an SDXC card reader.

I didn’t have a chance to really stress-test either machine, but I’m looking forward to putting them through their paces closer to their November 16th ship date. Microsoft is still being coy about pricing, though. All we know is that they’ll start at $1,499 for the Core i5 13-inch model with integrated graphics, and $2,499 for the 15-inch model. If you want a Core i7 and a dedicated GPU, be prepared to shell out much more.

Audi made an escape room to promote its E-Tron cars

The rise of the “escape room” has been incredible. Teams of people all over the world are now regularly battling zombies, embarking on real-life Legend of Zelda adventures or playing armchair detective via Facebook Live in fun, safe but wholly manufactured environments. The concept has become so popular that even major car makers have decided to get in on the act. Audi, for example, wanted to highlight the benefits of its all-electric E-Tron line, so it built a experience that basically presents all its future technology to the public.

The e-tron room is a collaboration between Audi and marketing agency DDB Spain. Teams of between three and five people are transported into the office of a doctor who has disappeared and are tasked with discovering where he can be found.

Puzzles don’t require things like secret parchments and keys found in traditional escape rooms, but instead feature robotic arms, holograms, projection mapping and advanced mechanics. And with “Tron” in the name, you can bet there’s a lot red and blue neon. It certainly makes Audi’s escape room experience unique but also serves as marketing tool to show where cars are heading in the next decade.

The room opened its doors in Barcelona on October 7th and will remain open, admission-free, until October 26th. After that, it’ll move to Madrid, where it’ll welcome challengers from November 9th to November 30th.

Via: LBB Online

Source: Audi e-tron Room

PayPal Announces Over 2M U.S. Retailers Will Begin Accepting Venmo Payments Online

PayPal today announced that “more than two million” retailers in the United States will now accept online payments from the PayPal-owned, peer-to-peer payments platform Venmo. Users with Venmo accounts will be able to pay on retailer apps like Forever 21, Foot Locker, and Lululemon starting this week (via Reuters).

With the addition of Venmo into the checkout process of these apps, Venmo customers can use their app balance, linked cards, or bank account to shop on the mobile sites of “almost all merchants that accept payments with PayPal.” The peer-to-peer payments app will appear as a checkout option similar to PayPal and other mobile wallets.

“At Venmo from the very early days our vision was to always let you use it for whatever you want to buy,” Ben Mills, head of product, at Venmo, said in an interview.

Venmo will charge merchants fees for processing payments through its platform, with Venmo head of product Ben Mills stating that the service’s ease of use “could help increase” the company’s sales.

Another update coming down the line — first announced over the summer — will let users transfer their app’s balance to their bank account instantly, for a transfer fee of $0.25. Currently, Venmo transfers to bank accounts are free, but take up to a day to complete.

PayPal is said to be looking to bolster Venmo’s stance in the peer-to-peer payments market following the launch of Zelle earlier in 2017, and the impending debut of Apple Pay Cash. However, PayPal CEO Dan Schulman has said he doesn’t think Apple Pay Cash will hurt Venmo, mainly citing Venmo’s availability across platforms as its leg up on Apple’s iOS-only P2P payments.

Tags: PayPal, Venmo
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Google App Now Lets You Get Directions With Apple Maps or Waze

Google’s official search app for iOS has been updated this week with more navigation options in the United States and other countries.

In addition to Google Maps, you can now use Apple Maps or Waze for navigation when searching for places and addresses in the Google app.

When you search for an address and tap the navigation button, a menu opens with the three options for directions: Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze.

The update also brings search filters to the Google app. Once you’ve searched for something, scroll across the options bar underneath the search box to find the “Tools” option and filter results by time range and more.

Google’s app is free on the App Store [Direct Link] for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Tags: Google, Apple Maps, Waze
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Facebook Begins Testing Résumé ‘Work Histories’ Feature on Mobile, Acquires Popular Teen App ‘TBH’

After announcing support for job applications within the Facebook app on iOS earlier in 2017, Facebook this week has been testing out a LinkedIn-like résumé/CV “work histories” feature for certain mobile users. Discovered by developer Jane Manchun Wong, and shared by The Next Web, the feature lets Facebook users share their work experience with potential employers without having to leave the app.

The update is an expansion to Facebook’s standard “work and education” profile section, but not all aspects of a user’s résumé are shared publicly. Although it’s unclear, it appears that “detailed information” from this section could potentially only be shown to job hunters looking at a profile.

Images via @wongmjane and The Next Web
Users are able to list professional and educational background information, select start/end dates, and more. Facebook confirmed the feature’s test, but as with any trial period, there’s a possibility that this “work histories” update won’t see an expansion to all users.

At Facebook, we’re always building and testing new products and services. We’re currently testing a work histories feature to continue to help people find and businesses hire for jobs on Facebook.

In other Facebook news, this week the social media company acquired popular teen app “TBH” in a continued effort to appeal to younger generations (via BuzzFeed). The app lets its users give one another compliments by sending and receiving brief quizzes, with the multiple choice answers randomly generating four friends who also have the app. Responses are anonymous, but users can choose to reveal their answers after the questions have been asked.

TBH originally launched in one high school in Georgia, then spread to more than 3,000 schools in just three days. More states will follow soon, according to the app’s creator Midnight Labs, but an expansion timeline is unclear. Despite the limited area of support, TBH has been the top free app in the iOS App Store for more than three weeks.

Facebook told The Wall Street Journal that TBH will continue to operate as a standalone app, and not be rolled into any existing Facebook experience.

“TBH and Facebook share a common goal — of building community and enabling people to share in ways that bring us closer together,” Vanessa Chan, a Facebook spokeswoman, said in a statement. “We’re impressed by the way TBH is doing this by using polling and messaging, and with Facebook’s resources TBH can continue to expand and build positive experiences.”

Facebook previously launched its own teen-focused iOS app called “Lifestage” in August 2016, which let users create short video clips and amass them into their own unique profile, which friends from their school could browse and comment on through direct messages. That app shut down after about one year, with Facebook removing Lifestage from the App Store this past August.

At the time, Facebook said that “teens continue to make up an important part of the global community on Facebook, and we’ve learned a lot from Lifestage. We will continue to incorporate these learnings into features in the main Facebook app.”

Tag: Facebook
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Apple TV’s Search Feature Expands to BBC America, CBC, and Other Apps

Apple TV’s universal search feature now supports a selection of additional apps in the United States and other countries.

In the United States, fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV users can now search for movies or TV shows on BBC America, Classix, and Oxygen, an NBC-owned channel that primarily airs true crime programming.

In Canada, newly supported apps include Apple Music, CBC TV, Classix, FXNOW Canada, ICI Tou.tv in Québec, and kids channel Treehouse.

In addition to the United States and Canada, Apple Music search functionality on tvOS is also now available in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

In Australia, other newly supported apps include 9Now, SBS, and Tenplay, while Viaplay was added in Norway and Sweden.

The universal search feature allows users to conduct Siri voice searches or text-based searches to find TV and movie content across a wide range of channels. A fourth-generation Apple TV or newer is required.

Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)
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Indiegogo’s new online store lets you buy its success stories’ products

Why it matters to you

There’s some cool stuff coming out of Indiegogo and now there’s an easy way to buy it.

Indiegogo has helped launch thousands of products over its nine-year history, and now the crowdfunding site is offering a helping hand to creators keen to find a market for their finished work.

Called Marketplace, the new section of Indiegogo’s site does what it says on the tin, acting as a place for entrepreneurs to sell their goods. While Indiegogo creators can automatically have their products placed in the new ecommerce section, startups that built their product outside of the crowdfunding site can also submit their work to Indiegogo for consideration.

Indiegogo CEO Dave Mandelbrot told Recode this week that when the company launched in 2008, “the original goal was just to make it easier for founders. Launching the marketplace is really the last step of that, to ensure that once they have a product, it is ready for purchase.”

While helping to bring entrepreneurs’ creations to a wider audience and hopefully make more people excited about crowdfunding, Indiegogo will also benefit by taking a 10-to-15 percent cut of every sale made through Marketplace.

At launch, Marketplace is focusing on its Tech & Innovation category, which already has plenty to offer. Items on sale in this section include the uHoo indoor air sensor for $269 — the team hit its $50,000 Indiegogo goal in less than 48 hours and has already shipped thousands of uHoos to customers around the world. DT wrote a piece about the device in 2016 when it was looking for backers.

You’ll also find the $229 California Roll speaker, a solar-powered, waterproof unit that collected funding on both Indiegogo and rival crowdfunding site Kickstarter. DT covered this product as well.

The challenge for Indiegogo will be to get online shoppers to hit the Marketplace in big numbers. Many people still aren’t into crowdfunding in any great way and won’t even know about Indiegogo, while those whoare aware of it need to be persuaded to explore Marketplace and open their wallets from time to time.

Indiegogo’s initiative comes two years after Amazon introduced Launchpad, a portal showcasing innovative products from startups, including many that found success through Kickstarter and Indiegogo. For creators, Launchpad also offers marketing tools and support, and purpose-built product pages for speedy setup.

Strava is now a full-fledged social network with addition of ‘posts’ feature

Why it matters to you

The new posts feature allows exercise enthusiasts to engage with each other in a more social way by allowing comments.

Since it first arrived on the scene back in 2009, Strava has often billed itself as the “social network for athletes.” The website, along with its companion apps for iOS and Android, has grown to become one of the most popular options for runners, cyclists, and other outdoor athletes to track their workout data, share their progress, and compete with one another in fitness challenges. But, in many ways, Strava lacked some of the fundamental features that would truly make it a social network, including deeper interactions between its members. That all changed on Tuesday, October 17.

Strava launched a new feature called “posts” that opens the way for its members to do a lot more on the site other than just share the raw data from their most recent run or ride. Posts now give users the ability to share their own stories, post articles and tips, engage in conversations with one another, and even add photos. In short, it gives them the ability to be more social on Strava.

Much like other social networks such as Facebook, this information will appear in a user’s feed, as well as the feeds of their friends and followers. To support the new posts feature, the feed is getting a bit of an overhaul in terms of look and functionality, making it easier for Strava users to keep track of what is happening with the people they are connected to. The updated feed, which is scheduled to roll out to all members later this week, should put challenges, events, and groups front and center.

The new posts feature expands Strava’s blogging platform, which rolled out earlier this year, to include all of its users. At the time of its launch, that platform was called “Athlete Posts” and it was only available to a few handpicked contributors. Now, many of those same tools are being put into the hands of the masses, allowing them to share their own personal stories of success, failure, inspiration, and progression.

The athletes who have been using the posts feature already have given it rave reviews. For instance, in a press release announcing the launch, British runner Susie Chan said: “Athletes Posts has enabled me to share the experiences I have had alongside my activities. Sometimes there is more to a run than the miles and the pace, often there is a bit more to say. I have enjoyed putting some of my activities into context, tell a bit of a backstory and share the inspiration that has made me go and run.”

Anyone who trains for any sport with regularity will certainly be able to appreciate that sentiment. The new posts tools will give them the opportunity to share their own stories too, which can be more meaningful than a training exercise for a professional athlete. The posts feature is available now and will begin appearing in users updated feeds over the next few days.

How to reset your Apple ID password and gain control of your account

Everyone with an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Apple Watch has an Apple ID. It’s essential to getting the most out of Apple’s services, including the iTunes Store, the App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud. An Apple ID isn’t the only account with credentials you need to be keeping track of these days, however, and as such, there’s always the possibility that you may forget certain login information — like your all-important password.

Thankfully, there’s no need to panic if you do forget your Apple ID password, as it happens to all of us from time to time. When it happens to you, there are steps you can take to reset your Apple ID password, all of which are pretty straightforward. There’s no way for Apple to simply tell you what your current password is, though, not even through email. Instead, every method to deal with a forgotten Apple ID password involves resetting it completely. Here’s how.

Once you get your Apple ID password reset, check out the seven things you can do to make your iPhone safer.

Reset your password using the Apple ID account page

Step 1: To start, go to appleid.apple.com and click Forgot Apple ID or password in the center of the page.

Step 2: You’ll be taken to a new page where you’ll have to enter your Apple ID or the email address associated with the account. Click Continue, then select I need to reset my password.

Step 3: You’ll now be able to choose how you want to reset your password, whether it be through email or by answering a set of security questions. Which option you choose is really based on your personal preference.

Step 4: Choosing the email method prompts Apple to send instructions to the primary email address you used to begin this process, or a rescue email if you decided to make one. You’ll know the email has been sent when you see the “Email has been sent” page with a large, green check mark. If you can’t find the email, be sure to check your Spam, Junk, and Trash folders, or repeat the steps above to have the email sent again. Going with the security questions requires you to confirm your birthday and answer the aforementioned questions before you’re able to create a new password.

If you use two-factor authentication

If you set up and enabled two-factor authentication — which is different from two-step verification — resetting your password will be even easier, as you’ll be able to reset your password directly from your trusted iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or from the Apple ID account page. If you’re unsure if you have any trusted devices, don’t be; when you set up two-factor authentication, you created trusted devices. All iOS devices will also need to have a passcode enabled.

Using your iOS device

Step 1: Go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security.

Step 2: Tap Change Password.

Step 3: You will be asked to enter your passcode, and then you can enter your new password.

Using the Apple ID account page

Step 1: Go to iforgot.apple.com and enter the trusted phone number you submitted when you set up two-factor authentication.

Step 2: Choose Continue to send a notification to your trusted iPhone, iPad, or iPod.

Step 3: When you receive the notification on your iOS device, tap Allow.

Step 4: Follow the provided steps, enter your passcode, and reset your password.

Garmin Speak updates the GPS for 2017 with Alexa, and good design

Alexa’s next frontier – the automobile.

Amazon’s Alexa has come a long way since its debut on the original Echo back in 2014, both from a software perspective and hardware availability. Amazon has steadily been increasing its own first-party gadgets with Alexa built-in, and we’ve seen a host of third-party devices with the famous assistant as well. The latest of these is the Garmin Speak, and it finally brings Alexa right into your car.

The Garmin Speak is a circular GPS unit that attaches to your vehicle’s windshield, and it measures in at just an inch and a half long. On the front of the Speak is a circular OLED display that shows lane guidance arrows and how much further you have to go until your next turn, and surrounding this is a blue LED light similar to what you’ll see on Amazon’s Echo devices. The Speak can connect to your car’s speaker system via a wired auxiliary connection or wirelessly with Bluetooth, and this will allow it to announce audio-guided navigation.

However, since Alexa is built into the Speak, you can do much more than get directions to work in the morning. Want to pick up a pumpkin spice latte on the way to the office but you’re running short on time? Just say “Alexa, tell Starbucks to start my order”, and you can have your morning coffee ordered without having to ever touch your phone.

The Speak is finally making GPSs cool again.

You have the entirety of Alexa in your car with the Speak, meaning you can check the weather, control smart home devices, play interactive games, and even accept or reject incoming phone calls thanks to the integration of Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree technology.

Garmin says that the Speak will use your phone’s data connection for powering all of its functionality, and you’ll be able to add skills and new features to Alexa on the Speak by downloading the Garmin Speak and Amazon Alexa apps on your phone and linking the two with one another.

The Garmin Speak costs $149.99 USD, and it’s available for purchase now at Amazon and Best Buy.

See at Garmin

Amazon Alexa

• Which Amazon Echo should you buy?
• Get more Alexa Skills
• How to enable and disable Alexa Skills
• How to customize Flash Briefing
• How to get sports updates
• How to sync your calendar with Alexa
• How to shop with Alexa
• Send voice messages with Alexa

See more at Amazon