ColorWare Now Offering Apple Magic Keyboard With Numeric Keypad in Dozens of Colors

ColorWare, a company that custom paints a wide range of electronics and Apple products, is now offering a custom-painted version of the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad.

ColorWare has offered a customized Apple Magic Keyboard for some time, but the Magic Keyboard with Keypad, which was released back in June, is a new addition as of today.

As with other ColorWare products, the keyboard can be painted in one of several different colors, with both solid and metallic paint options available in a rainbow of shades. While some products support multiple colors, Apple’s keyboards can only be painted in one uniform shade, though there are options to choose a gloss or matte finish.

The Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad costs $129 from Apple, but ColorWare is charging $259 for the custom painted version, a premium of $130. Magic Keyboards with Keypad ordered from Apple are currently not shipping out for 5 to 6 weeks, but ColorWare seems to have some stock as the site lists a three week shipping estimate.

With the Magic Keyboard with Keypad delayed from Apple, there has been some speculation that a refreshed version could potentially be released alongside the iMac Pro in December, but we won’t know if that’s true until later this year.

Tags: Magic Keyboard, ColorWare
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Angela Ahrendts Says Apple Won’t Try to Upsell Customers to iPhone X

Apple Store employees won’t try to upsell customers to the iPhone X, according to Apple’s retail chief Angela Ahrendts.

Ahrendts, who is in Chicago today for the grand opening of Apple’s new Michigan Avenue store, told CNBC that Apple recognizes each customer has different needs that may not require purchasing the most expensive iPhone model.

“Internally we said the tagline was ‘an iPhone for everyone,’” she said. “I prefer that we ask you who you’re buying it for. If they’re 6 or 7 years old, what do they need? If it’s someone who’s leaning into something else, what do they need? We do that with Mac, we do that with iPad, why wouldn’t we do that with [the] phone?”

iPhone X starts at $999 in the United States with 64GB of storage, while a 256GB model is available for $1,149. By comparison, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus start at $699 and $799 respectively.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a reputable Apple analyst at KGI Securities, recently said only 2-3 million iPhone X units will be available to purchase when the device launches. Pre-orders begin October 27 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related: iPhone X vs. iPhone 8 vs. iPhone 8 Plus

Related Roundup: iPhone XTags: Angela Ahrendts, Apple retail
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Review: ElevationDock 4 Offers Excellent Stability and Angle With Tiny Footprint

Elevation Lab first made a name for itself with the original Elevation Dock, which was one of the most popular docks on the market when it came out in 2012. Since then, the company has continued making docks and stands for iPhone and Apple Watch.

The fourth iteration of the original Elevation dock, the ElevationDock 4, was introduced this September, just in time for the debut of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. These devices no longer require docks at all thanks to wireless charging functionality, but they still charge faster over Lightning, so docks continue to be accessories worth considering.

ElevationDock 4 is one of the smallest iPhone docks that I’ve used. It’s smaller than the palm of my hand, with a base that measures in at about two inches on one side and two and a half inches on the other side, which tapers back down to the two-inch size.

With a footprint that small, it can fit just about anywhere and it takes up a lot less desk/table space than a standard dock. It’s less wide than my iPhone, in fact, so it can go anywhere my iPhone will fit.

The dock is made from a medical grade silicone that comes in black or white to match your iPhone. I tested the white version, which is a soft white shade that matches well with everything else on my night stand. This is a lightweight silicone and it’s an interesting choice for a dock — most are made from a much heavier material for stabilization purposes.

At the base, the silicone material is smooth, but the part that rests against the iPhone is textured, I assume for a better grip against a bare device. The silicone looks fine and I have no complaints about it, but I don’t think it looks as quite nice or as high quality as some of the aluminum docks that I own.

From a distance, though, it’s not easy to tell what the ElevationDock 4 made of, and since it’s so small, it’s unobtrusive and largely unnoticeable. This isn’t a dock that’s meant to stand out — it’s meant to be simple, out of the way, and useful. While silicone doesn’t look as nice as aluminum, there is a benefit, because silicone isn’t going to result in any accidental scratches or dings.

With no weight to secure the dock in place, Elevation Lab uses a grippy pad at the bottom to secure it tightly to a flat surface. Elevation Lab calls this a NanoPad that uses “micro air-suction,” and it works well. Whatever’s on the bottom of the dock doesn’t feel sticky, but when placed on a hard surface, it sticks like it’s glued in place.

There’s enough sticking power that once placed, the dock isn’t going anywhere. It’s secure enough for the iPhone to be placed and removed with one hand, and it can also support an iPad. I tested it with a 10.5-inch iPad, and it was able to successfully support the weight of the device to allow it to charge, which is impressive because it’s a lot smaller than an iPad.

My iPhone always feels secure in the dock, with no tilting, wobbling, or other problems that can be common with some docks, and one-handed removal worked for all of my devices, iPad included. If you have AirPods, the design of the dock also supports charging the AirPods case.

The NanoPad at the bottom of the dock stuck well to most surfaces where I tested it, including wood, metal, and granite, but it doesn’t adhere well to brushed aluminum. It should work with most surfaces, though, as long as they’re smooth. When moving it, all you need to do is press down a little to make sure it’s secure. And while it feels like it might damage some surfaces because of the strong suction, I didn’t run into any problems.

Elevation Lab says the dock works with the iPhone 5 and later and all Lightning equipped iPads with the exception of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is just too big for such a small dock. I use the dock with one of Apple’s standard silicone cases, and as long as a case isn’t too thick, it should work well with the dock. It’s not compatible with thicker cases like the ultra rugged options from OtterBox.

At the base of the dock, there’s a built-in Lightning connector, and at the back, there’s a flexible braided fabric cord that’s durable, attractive, and tangle-free. I appreciate that Elevation Lab didn’t just go with some cheap cord — the cable has a nice look and feel and I’m certain it’s going to hold up well over time.

I also appreciate the attention to detail in this dock. Elevation Lab even included a velcro cable wrap with the Elevation Lab logo so extra cord can be wound up and tucked away.

At the back of the dock, there are two stainless steel knobs, and when I first saw the ElevationDock 4, these were what I disliked the most about it. The top knob is designed to allow the angle of the textured back plate to be adjusted by +/-4°, so the iPhone can be positioned straighter or angled slightly backwards depending on your preference. I’m using this dock on my nightstand, so I have it angled back to let me better see the screen in the middle of the night.

The bottom knob lets you adjust the height of the Lightning connector so it can work with thicker cases. Elevation Labs says it supports cases up to 3mm thick.

The knobs definitely stick out, but in person, they’re not as obtrusive as they look in photographs because the dock is so small and because they’re hidden behind it. It’s a clever way to allow for adjustments in such a small dock, though I do wish they stuck out just a bit less. The knobs are the limiting factor that prevent the dock from being placed right up against a wall.

Elevation Lab has also made the Lightning connector built into the dock just a bit flexible, allowing it to have some give to keep the iPhone stable while also preventing possible damage from being knocked around.

ElevationDock 4 doesn’t come with a power adapter, so you’ll need to supply the one that shipped with your iPhone or another power source. It’s just a standard USB-A cable, so it can also work with Macs that have USB-A ports.

Bottom Line

ElevationDock 4 is not cheap at $59, but that price point is on par with other premium docks on the market, and design wise, given the thought that went into the construction of the dock, I’d consider it a premium dock.

It has a tiny footprint, a built-in sturdy Lightning cable, a stable base, and an adjustable angle, which are essentially all of the features that I look for in a dock. I do wish it were constructed from aluminum or another nicer material than plastic, but the simple, no frills design and clean lines make it work.

If you’re looking for a dock that’s not going to take up much more room than the iPhone itself, ElevationDock 4 is worth considering.

How to Buy

ElevationDock 4 can be purchased from the Elevation Lab website for $59.

Tag: Elevation Lab
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of iOS 11.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.1 update to developers, just four days after releasing the third iOS 11.1 beta and a month after releasing the iOS 11 update to the public.

Registered developers can download the fourth iOS 11.1 beta from Apple’s Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

iOS 11.1 introduces a range of new Unicode 10 emoji like crazy face, pie, pretzel, t-rex, vampire, exploding head, face vomiting, shushing face, love you gesture, brain, scarf, zebra, giraffe, fortune cookie, pie, hedgehog, and more.

Several emoji also feature some small design changes in iOS 11.1, including the dolphin, octopus, bee, snail, and whale characters, among others. The new designs are more detailed and realistic than existing designs.

The update also introduces a fix for a Reachability bug that’s been present since the release of iOS 11 and it brings back the 3D Touch App Switcher gesture that has been missing from iOS 11 since its release. With the return of the gesture, iPhone users can once again 3D Touch at the left edge of the display to bring up the multitasking App Switcher interface.

A few other small features are included in the iOS 11.1 beta. The built-in keyboard in iOS 11.1 now offers up multiple emoji symbols when using an emoji-related word, there’s an updated camera icon under Restrictions, a new animation when tapping the status bar to scroll upwards, and a faster unlock animation.

As for security fixes, iOS 11.1 addresses a serious vulnerability in the WPA2 Wi-Fi standard that protects many modern Wi-Fi networks. Using a key reinstallation attack or “KRACK,” attackers can exploit weaknesses in the WPA2 protocol to decrypt network traffic to sniff out sensitive information.

Though not in the developer/public beta right now, the iOS 11.1 update could introduce the Apple Pay Cash feature, which Apple employees are currently testing in a special version of the beta.

iOS 11 marks a major update to the operating system with systemwide design tweaks, a new Lock screen experience, a revamped Control Center, ARKit, new app features, and an entirely new interface for the iPad that includes a Dock, Drag and Drop support, and a redesigned App Switcher for better than ever multitasking.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Seeds Fourth Beta of watchOS 4.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 4 update to developers for testing purposes, four days after releasing the third watchOS 4.1 beta and a month after releasing the new watchOS 4 operating system to the public.

Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software update.

To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 4.1 brings support for streaming Apple Music content directly to the Apple Watch Series 3 over LTE and it introduces a new Radio app with access to Beats 1 and other Apple Music radio stations.

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The Music app on the watch looks the same, offering up access to the Music Library, recently played songs, playlists, and Apple Music mixes, but now all Apple Music content can be streamed over an LTE connection and doesn’t need to be downloaded to the device. watchOS 4.1 also adds a new Wi-Fi toggle for turning off Wi-Fi to force the Apple Watch Series 3 to use LTE and it displays the Wi-Fi SSID so users can see the Wi-Fi Network an Apple Watch is connected to.

Support for Apple Music streaming appears to be the main feature in the new watchOS 4.1 update, but Apple is also introducing a range of new Unicode 10 emoji characters that include vomiting face, head exploding, mermaid, zombie, hedgehog, fairy, broccoli, and more.

Apple says the watchOS 4 update addresses a serious vulnerability in the WPA2 Wi-Fi standard that protects many modern Wi-Fi networks.

watchOS 4 is a significant refresh of the watchOS operating system introducing new watch faces, including a personalized Siri face, improvements to the Workout app, support for integration with gym equipment, an Apple News app, a vertical Dock, and a new Flashlight feature in the Control Center.

For more on what’s included in watchOS 4, check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Moto X4 Review: Return of the X

The Moto X4 revives the Moto X name, but it’s no longer the Moto X we once knew. It now comes in the form of an Android One device and it joins Google’s short list of Project Fi-compatible devices. If we’re being perfectly honest here, the only thing the Moto X4 shares with the Moto X’s of yesteryear is it’s name. Otherwise, this is a completely different device with a new direction.

Being under the Android One program, the Moto X4 becomes a great affordable entry point into Google’s Project Fi. But can the rest of the phone live up expectations? Find out in our full review!

Design

Unlike previous Moto Xs that were highly customizable with different backing materials and accent colors, you don’t get any of that here with the Moto X4. Instead, the design of the X4 falls in line with Moto’s Z series of flagship devices, minus the Moto Mods. It’s made predominantly of glass, like most phones seem to be nowadays, with glass on the front and rear and a smooth metal frame wrapping around the perimeter. The corners are nicely rounded and the backside is ever so slightly tapered along the edges allowing the phone to rest comfortably in the hand.

The phone’s overall footprint isn’t that big either so it’s much easier to use in one hand compared to most other phones out on the market. The glass backing of course does mean that fingerprints are not easy to hide, so if you care about keeping your device looking pristine at all times I’d recommend carrying a cleaning cloth with this one.

Otherwise, there’s nothing too flashy about the Moto X4’s design, as it looks pretty standard in other aspects. The bezels are average in size and the camera on the rear protrudes like other Moto devices, except it’s merely an aesthetic choice here and serves no purpose like it does on the Moto Z line.

Display

The screen of the Moto X4 doesn’t go edge-to-edge, nor does it have curved glass or rounded corners. It’s just a normal smartphone display without any frills. It’s an LCD display that measures in at 5.2 inches with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 or Full HD. It’s not a display that will blow your socks off, but it’s perfectly serviceable and I didn’t have any major complaints with this screen during my testing.

The colors are quite pleasant for an LCD, viewing angles are nice, and outdoor visibility was not a problem even under harsh sunlight. Black levels however, are not quite as good as an AMOLED screen. That’s just to be expected, but the screen didn’t exhibit common LCD issues like any noticeable light bleed or uneven lighting around the edges of the screen, at least not on my unit.

Performance

The Moto X4 falls squarely in the mid-range category, so the X4 is powered by a Snapdragon 630 processor and 3 GB of RAM for running apps and multitasking. On paper it may not be the most powerful phone, but just like the display, it’s more than enough. Through everyday use, the X4 performed admirably with no noticeable stutters or lag.

Apps were fast to launch, multitasking proved to handle itself well despite the relatively paltry amount of RAM, and graphically demanding game titles like Need For Speed: No Limits or Marvel’s Contest of Champions ran well without any hiccups. Of course, the X4’s smooth performance also has plenty to do with its lean software experience that Motorola offers, but we’ll get more into that in the software section.

Hardware

In terms of hardware, the X4 offers the standard slew of Android features. There’s 32 GB of onboard storage, but the microSD card slot allows for up to 256 GB of additional space. The fingerprint reader is in Motorola’s typical location on the bottom chin, and it works extremely well in terms of unlocking the phone with reliability and speed. I also enjoy that it can be used to put the phone to sleep like Motorola has done with many of its current devices.

Unlike Motorola’s Z series of smartphones, the X4 does come with a headphone jack located on the bottom side of the phone, so no adapter is needed in order to use your favorite headphones. You may be surprised to know that the X4 is also IP 68 certified against dust and water for up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Considering that most flagships in 2017 carry some sort of water and dust protection, this is fantastic feature to have on a phone at this price point.

The X4 comes with a fairly respectable battery inside, at 3,000 mAh, and while battery life is not phenomenal, it has been enough for a full day’s worth of casual use. This includes checking emails, browsing the web, social media, and some light viewing on YouTube. Just don’t expect screen-on times to be incredibly high, as I never managed to get anything more than four hours and these numbers will most likely be lower if you do plenty of intense gaming or video watching.

Camera

Dual cameras are all the rage on smartphones right now and with the Moto X4, Motorola is bringing that dual camera experience in a more affordable package. We’ve already seen a dual-camera smartphone from Motorola with the Z2 Force, but, unlike the Z2 Force, the X4 features a secondary wide angle lens, whereas the Z2 Force has a monochrome sensor.

The main sensor is 12 megapixels with an aperture of f/2.0 and the secondary is 8 megapixels at f/2.2 with phase detection autofocus. Unfortunately, there’s no optical image stabilization on either lens. The secondary wide angle lens being lower resolution is also rather unfortunate as the difference in quality is easily noticeable, but this wide angle lens does allow for more breathtaking landscape shots and for easily fitting larger groups of people into the frame.

The wide angle lens of the X4 does have quite a bit of distortion along the edges, giving images a GoPro-esque look that could be a positive or negative depending on who you are; I personally do not mind it.

The X4 also leverages the secondary camera for a depth effect or portrait mode as it’s known on other competing smartphones and I like that Motorola’s software allows for some interesting effects such as cropping out the foreground and replacing the background or turning the background black and white to put more emphasis on the subject.

The depth effect however, does not work quite as effectively as it does on many other smartphones that I’ve tested. On the X4 the results have been very unconvincing, with the blurring effect bleeding onto the subjects. Even subjects with sharp and distinct edges posed a problem. You can alter the blur after the fact, but this only mildly mitigates the problem.

The biggest issue with the X4’s camera is that it’s slow. It’s slow to capture photos and it takes a good couple of seconds to switch between the two cameras. This problem is only further accentuated when shooting in low light. The other feature that I’m personally not a fan of is that Motorola still uses tap to expose which can result in a lot of wild exposure swings depending on where you tap on the screen.

Picture quality on the X4 is underwhelming at best. In good lighting, you can achieve some nice results, with accurate color reproduction. But the camera does struggle with dynamic range, with the tendency to crush shadows. Without OIS, the photos captured in low light lack sharpness, and white balance can be problematic, with images being overly yellow on either lens.

Highlights however are handled surprisingly well on the main sensor without any weird lens flares or blooming, but that same thing can’t be said for the wide angle lens. As expected, the wide angle lens performs much worse than the main sensor in low light, as photos are typically noisier, softer and lower quality in general. That’s due to wide angle camera’s lower megapixel count and smaller aperture.

Software

Motorola has always been great about offering a lean and clean software experience, with little to no bloatware to get in the way, and the X4 is no exception. It’s running an essentially stock build of Android Nougat 7.1.1 with the typical Motorola suite of software tweaks such as the ambient display, the double chop to turn on the flashlight, wrist twist to launch the camera,  and many others. All of which provide some nice utility on top of the stock-like experience.

Because this is an Android One device, the Moto X4 will receive timely software updates, so it’s highly likely that Oreo will be landing on the X4 relatively soon.

Specifications

Gallery

Pricing & Final Thoughts

The Moto X4 starts at $399 and is available now through Google’s Project Fi. If you were holding off on getting into Project Fi due to the lack of affordable options, the Moto X4 provides a much more inexpensive entry point that will make Fi more accessible for many people. You do not however have to use the X4 on Project Fi if that isn’t your network of choice, as my testing was done on the T-Mobile network.

The phone itself isn’t flashy or over the top, but Android One devices aren’t meant to be that. They’re meant to offer great experiences that are simple, reliable, and affordable with extra flourishes kept to a minimum. The Moto X4 accomplishes these objectives very well, and you won’t find many smartphones at this price that give you a dual camera experience, overall great hardware, and speedy software updates. It may be a big departure from previous Moto X phones, but the Moto X4 certainly still hits all the right marks.

Budget-friendly, ZTE Blade X available from Cricket Wireless for $120

Why it matters to you

If you’re looking for a budget smartphone, ZTE has another option for you — the Blade X, which is available on Cricket Wireless.

ZTE has announced yet another budget-friendly phone, this time on Cricket Wireless. The phone is called the ZTE Blade X, and it offers some pretty decent specs for its $119 price-tag.

The company has launched a number of low-cost phones in the past few months, including the ZTE Blade Vantage, which comes on Verizon for only $50, and the ZTE Tempo X, which is also available on Boost Mobile for only $80. The new Blade X seems to be basically a rebranded version of the Blade Force on Boost Mobile, offering more or less the same specs and coming in at a slightly lower price.

The new Blade X seems to sit in the upper end of ZTE’s budget-friendly phones, offering a Qualcomm 425 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage — though that storage can be expanded with a microSD card slot. On the back, you’ll get a 13-megapixel camera, while the selfie cam sits in at 5 megapixels. That’s probably the main difference between this phone and the Blade Force, which only offers an 8-megapixel camera. You’ll also get a headphone jack, and a hefty 3,000mAh battery, which should offer plenty of juice to get you through the day. The display is 5.5 inches, and has a resolution of 1,280 x 720, which obviously isn’t flagship level but should be enough for most people’s needs.

ZTE is shaping up to be a pretty serious contender in the U.S. budget phone market. The company seems to be slowly but surely launching a budget option on each and every carrier, and That’s likely to continue, especially as we head into the holiday season.

“The ZTE Blade X continues our mission to deliver affordable premium devices that deliver an exceptional experience at a price that fits within consumers’ budgets,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices, in a statement. “We created the Blade X with features for the entertainment-loving consumer in mind. With top display features and superb audio sound, the Blade X comes complete with standout features for its category.”

As mentioned, the phone comes in at $119, and you can get your hands on it yourself by heading to the Cricket Wireless website.

Editor’s Recommendations

• ZTE unveils the Blade Force, an affordable phone for the Boost Mobile network
• ZTE makes its Verizon debut with the ultra-budget Blade Vantage smartphone
• ZTE Tempo X smartphone rolls out today on Boost Mobile, costs just $80
• ZTE Blade Z Max hands-on review
• ZTE Axon 8 and Axon M: News and rumors

The best ZTE Blade Z Max cases to keep it safe from bumps and scratches

As we said in our ZTE Blade Z Max review, this phone is really big and adds some new features from last year’s ZMax Pro. It has a huge 6-inch screen and a new design that includes a grippy texture on the back and a repositioned camera in the top left. The headphone jack is located on the bottom of the phone next to the USB-C charging port. Ports that you use all the time should be easily accessible. The Blade Z Max needs a case that will protect that massive screen from drops, but also offer easy access to those ports. Here are our picks for the best ZTE Blade Z Max cases that will do that and more.

If you’re planning to buy more accessories for your ZTE Blade Z Max, then check out our picks for the best USB-C cables and best portable chargers.

Otterbox Achiever Series Case ($30)

Otterbox is here to protect your ZTE Blade Z Max from drops with its renowned Drop+ Protection. Unlike some other Otterbox cases, this one has a slim profile for pockets or purses. The dual-layer inner core and hard outer layer absorb and help to deflect impacts when dropped. All the cut-outs you require for easy access to the camera, fingerprint sensor, and ports are there. The case comes in black and two other options that look quite nice. You can choose cool plum or water stone two-tone color combinations.

Buy one now from:

Otterbox Cases

Jaten Brushed Metal Hybrid Cover ($8)

If you want drop protection and you also want to keep things as slim as possible, take a look at this dual-layer slim-fit case by Jaten. The inner core is a soft TPU sleeve that is surrounded by a hard polycarbonate layer. The hard edges give the phone a good fit all the way around the case which makes it feel nice and compact. The thin, brushed-metal look is nicely done and not overly flashy.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

LeYi Women Glitter Case ($8)

For anyone out there looking for a case that protects the phone with sparkly style, this case from LeYi is a nice choice. It has a dual-layer design that consists of a soft silicone inner layer and a hard polycarbonate outer layer that snaps in place to give the case rigidity. There’s a bezel around the front to protect the screen and you get a screen protector in the box with it. Besides the glitter design, you can choose the case in this mint color, pink, or rose gold.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

NageBee Flip Fold Wallet Case ($10)

Here’s a good quality wallet style case that has card slots for your ID or other cards and a pocket for cash. The magnetic clasp snaps in place to keep everything secured inside the case. The ZTE Blade Z Max goes inside a plastic case that covers the entire phone. The case also doubles as a phone stand in case you want to watch videos. The synthetic leather gives it a nice premium look, and you can choose from a butterfly design or a plum color.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Beyond Cell Flip Wallet Cover ($10)

Sometimes you need a no-nonsense, professional looking wallet cover. This wallet case from Beyond Cell is just that. Inside the wallet, you will find two ID slots and a pocket for cash. The company also includes a wrist strap that could certainly come in handy. There is a magnetic closure that locks the flip cover securely, and the wallet also doubles as a stand for watching videos or reading. The front flip cover has holes so that you can talk on the phone with the wallet completely closed. The cover comes in black and brown, dark blue and brown, red and brown, or rose gold and brown color combinations.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Editor’s Recommendations

• DT Giveaway: ZTE Blade Z Max
• Here are the 10 best Moto Z2 Force cases to help it survive almost anything
• 6 Best Moto Mods for Moto Z Play, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z Force, and Moto Z2 Force
• Big, beautiful, but breakable: Check out the best Galaxy S8 Plus cases
• The best Galaxy S8 cases

Harmon Kardon Invoke review

Research Center:
Harmon Kardon Invoke

Ready for the smart speaker explosion? It’s taken a little time for specialist audio manufacturers to follow the lead of Amazon Echo and Google Home, but momentum is building with speakers flooding the market at a range of price points that pack Alexa, Siri, or the Google Assistant. What Bluetooth speakers were to 2015, smart speakers are to 2017 and beyond – and we’re just getting started.

We recently reviewed (and loved) the Sonos One, the company’s reinvention of their Play:1 speaker, combining superb sound quality and excellent Alexa integration (with Google Assistant coming next year). Not to be outdone, Ultimate Ears has just taken the wraps off two new, portable, Alexa-packing speakers, the $230 UE Blast and $300 Megablast.

Now there’s a smart speaker with a new (old) sheriff in town: Cortana. While Cortana has been around on the Microsoft platform for awhile, we haven’t heard her in a smart speaker. That’s no longer the case, thanks to Harman Kardon’s new Invoke Cortana-enabled speaker, available starting Sunday. Find out how well the speaker measured up to other smart speakers on the market in our Harman Kardon Invoke review.

While Cortana has been around for awhile, we haven’t heard her in a smart speaker.

While you can expect many more “me too” speakers to launch over the coming months, the Harman Kardon Invoke stands out for a few reasons. The $199 device is the first speaker to launch with Microsoft’s Cortana digital assistant (and possibly the only device, although HP and Intel have signed up to develop reference hardware, which may stimulate others to follow).

The partnership combines Harman Kardon’s premium audio expertise with Microsoft’s online services – notably Cortana and Skype – as well as Windows 10 PC connectivity, the Bing knowledge graph, Office 365 calendars and newly-announced smart home device integration.  A range of third-party Cortana skills extend features, but you won’t have the breadth of support you’d get from Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Restrictions on Cortana’s availability mean that the Invoke will only ship in the United States at launch.

With Harman Kardon (recently acquired by Samsung) also announcing the Alexa-enabled Allure speaker, the Invoke may represent somewhat of an experiment for all parties. The question is whether the Invoke delivers the combination of quality and intelligence that can compete against the tsunami of smart speakers flooding the market. If it doesn’t, given Microsoft’s reputation for canning hardware and services that don’t make the grade, the Invoke may end up as a collector’s item.

Refined hardware design with a beautiful finish

We were impressed by the design of the Harman Kardon Invoke, when announced back in May, with its sleek lines, gentle curves and chrome finish building on Amazon Echo’s cylindrical form.

Terry Walsh/Digital Trends

Available in a choice of pearl silver or graphite, the Invoke has all the visual design cues you’d expect from a premium audio stable.

In hand, the impact is even more impressive. From the carbon-black packaging with spot-varnished branding, to the punched metal speaker surround and slow, weighty action of the volume ring, the Harmon Kardon Invoke bleeds quality. Even the branded (and somewhat large) power supply has folding pins, making it more convenient for travel.

While there are clear visual similarities with both Amazon Echo and Sonos Play:1, Harmon Kardon has just done enough to give Invoke its own identity. It’ll look fabulous in your home.

Impressive audio engine packed into a svelte chassis

Despite its sleek 4.2 by 9.5 inch-dimensions, the Invoke packs a mighty 360-degree audio engine under the hood. Two vertical passive radiators fitted to the top half of the device are joined by a lower cluster of three direct-radiating 0.5-inch tweeters. Below them, a further three direct-radiating 1.75-inch woofers drive the low-end. Total power output is rated at 40 W, with a frequency response of 60-20kHz (-6dB).

That’s one more microphone than the Sonos One, if you’re counting

At the top of the device, seven far-field microphones (that’s one more than the Sonos One, if you’re counting) are designed to pick up your voice from anywhere in the room but can be disabled via a rear button for privacy. In terms of connectivity, the Invoke supports Bluetooth 4.1 connections and dual-band Wi-Fi, but there’s no Ethernet port or 3.5mm input jack.

It’s an impressive array, especially when you consider the single tweeter and mid-woofer equipped in the Sonos One. While there’s no wired connectivity, the Invoke supports faster wireless connections as well as direct streaming over Bluetooth, which the Sonos does not support. But does this translate into a better listening experience?

Wide range of controllers, including Voice, App and PC

The Invoke supports manual control courtesy of a volume ring and capacitive touch panel at the top of the device. A short tap (less than three seconds) stops or responds to whatever is happening on the speaker, for example, stopping playback, answering an incoming call or cancelling a timer. If the speaker is idle, a quick tap provides a “fun fact” from Cortana – a small distraction if you’re bored, or hours of fun for the kids.

A long tap is used to activate Cortana (alongside the usual, “Hey Cortana” voice command) or to ignore a call. We found the manual controls to be intuitive and responsive; however, it’s more likely that you’ll use a combination of voice and the smartphone app to play music on Invoke. The speaker supports the Cortana Android and iOS apps alongside native Windows 10 and Windows Phone controls.

Simple setup via your smartphone

Power on the device and a cloudy, swirling pattern emanates from the touch panel. It’s much subtler than Echo’s bright blue LED ring or Google Home’s circle of indicators. Located on top of a reasonably tall device, it’s also less visible. We found ourselves having to stand up and head over to the speaker to check the display, which was quite inconvenient. However, displaying Cortana’s blue and white ring adds a little personality to the design.

Setup is performed using your smartphone and the Cortana app. In typical Microsoft-style, you’ll need to agree to a host of permissions during setup, configure your location and time zone, then your phone will hunt out and connect to the speaker. Provide your Wi-Fi details, and you’re all set as far as the hardware setup goes – it’s quick and painless.

Before you get going, however, you’ll be invited to connect your preferred music services and calendars. At this time, Spotify Premium, TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio are the default options, with Office 365 and Outlook.com calendar connections also offered during setup.

Clear, punchy sound that beats Amazon and Google, but comes up short against Sonos.

We tested the Hardman Kardon Invoke alongside a Sonos Play:1, Amazon Echo and Google Home, playing a range of music over Bluetooth (Sonos excepted) and Wi-Fi.

Invoke’s audio is balanced and refined.

Invoke’s audio is balanced and refined. It can play loud, for sure, getting a little ragged at the top of the speaker’s range, but music certainly doesn’t distort as much as with Amazon Echo at high volume. There’s more than enough volume to fill a large space and the 360-degree driver positioning means that’s it’s the perfect speaker to place at the center of the room.

Compared to the cheaper Google Home, the difference in the Invoke’s audio quality is pronounced. Google Home sounded muffled and withdrawn, with muddy beats a world away from the Invoke’s clear highs, muscular mid-range and tight, punchy bass. The soundstage is narrower than you’d think, given the multi-directional speakers, but separation between instruments and vocals was reasonably good for a speaker at this price point.

Streaming over Bluetooth worked well, with pairing guided by Cortana when we pressed the relevant button on the rear of the device. Invoke offers the best streaming experience with Spotify, with Spotify Connect app controls working out of the box for playback. Open up the Spotify app on your phone, hit Devices Available and off you go.

Given the difference in speaker configuration to the Play:1, we were expecting the Invoke to top even the excellent sound quality of Sonos’ entry-level speaker. Certainly, the Invoke’s 360-degree sound is an advantage over the Play:1, but we actually preferred the warmer tone and greater presence of the Sonos speaker compared to the cleaner, tighter output of the Invoke. While the Play:1 is equipped with a single tweeter and woofer, compared to three of each in the Invoke, the significantly larger drivers in the Play:1 offer more depth and engagement overall.

That doesn’t make the Invoke a bad speaker, and it certainly beats both Amazon Echo and Google Home (the latter, easily) on quality. But Sonos Play:1 and its close cousin, the new Sonos One, remain the speakers to beat.

Hands-free Skype calls, calendars, alarms and smart home control

While Cortana has been around for more than three years, it’s been quickly overtaken by Amazon and Google’s aggressive push to dominate and control the smart home.  While Cortana may be available on 500 million Windows 10 PCs in 13 countries, the hearts and minds of consumers – and the support of hardware manufactures – is most firmly with competitors.

The launch of Invoke is designed to tackle that challenge, in part, but there’s a long way to go. Perhaps the jewel in the crown, at launch, is Skype integration. Invoke supports Skype-to-Skype as well as calls to landlines and mobiles through the speaker. We found that hands-free calling over Skype worked well, with Cortana able to connect to Skype callers by name and landlines or mobiles via a dictated number. Better still, Cortana can find and call numbers with relatively vague commands. Say, “Cortana, call the nearest Italian restaurant” and hey, that’s what she’ll do!

Harmon Kardon Invoke Compared To

Sonos One

JBL Flip 4

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom

V-Moda Remix Bluetooth

Vizio Smartcast Crave Pro

IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors

Paradigm PW600

Oppo Sonica

Sengled Pulse Link Starter Kit

Creative iRoar

Devialet Phantom

Amazon Echo Dot

Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Wireless

Amazon Echo

Sony SRS-X9

Calls to US phone numbers are free (for the first six months only, which is disappointing), while you can also call abroad using Skype credits. While Invoke is able to receive incoming Skype calls, there’s sadly no support for hands-free calling via your phone’s Bluetooth connection.

Invoke can access Office 365 and Outlook.com calendars alongside handy features like timers, alarms and lists, plus location and time-based reminders. One advantage of using Cortana is that events can be created on your PC, on your phone or the speaker and you’ll receive notifications across your devices.

There’s also integrated support for smart home devices, with Wink, SmartThings and Insteon hubs available at launch, plus direct connections to Nest and Philips Hue. We found Cortana did a good job of handling basic tasks like powering our Philips Hue Lights and even controlling brightness, but color changes were out of the question. Controlling our Nest Learning Thermostat was also mostly successful, but Cortana did complain that she was unable to change the temperature on a couple of occasions.

Perhaps the jewel in the crown, at launch, is Skype integration.

Throughout our time with the Harman Karman Invoke, the speaker’s integrated far-field microphones did a good job of picking up commands from around the room, even with music playing.

Of course, with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant boasting ever-expanding libraries of third-party skills, you may find Cortana’s locker a little less well stocked. Whether that situation is likely to change, who knows, but Microsoft had trouble wooing developers with the Windows Phone, and the same may well be true with the corporation’s smart assistant.

While it fails to hit the highs of the Sonos One, a combination of good looks, great quality audio and a decent selection of well-executed features ensures the Harman Karmon Invoke is a solid smart speaker debut for Cortana.

Our Take

The Harmon Kardon Invoke isn’t the best smart speaker available today, but it’s a strong debut for Microsoft’s Cortana in a good-looking, great-sounding device. Skype, Outlook and Office 365 integration will attract Microsoft fans and smart home device control works well, but Invoke doesn’t have quite the quality or flexibility to beat Sonos One.

Is there a better alternative?

At $199, the Sonos One offers excellent sound quality, multi-room connectivity, a brilliant controller app and support for a variety of music services. With Amazon Alexa integration at launch and the promise of Google Assistant next year, it’s hard to beat.

There’s also the Siri-enabled Apple HomePod ($350), the range-topping/wallet-draining Google Home Max ($400) and enhanced Amazon Echo Plus ($150).

How long will it last?

In recent times, Microsoft has developed a poor reputation for sustaining consumer products and services that don’t turn into instant blockbusters. For every Xbox and Surface, there’s a Zune, Groove or Microsoft Band. With limited support from other hardware manufacturers and significant competition ahead, Invoke may well be the first and last Cortana-enabled smart speaker.

Should you buy it?

If you’re a Microsoft fan and you’re all in on Cortana, you’re going to love the Harman Kardon Invoke. Everyone else, check out the competition, or just pick up the Sonos One.

Editor’s Recommendations

• From Yamaha to Bragi, everyone is jumping on the Alexa bandwagon
• Need to turn on your lights? Cortana can help with that
• Sonos One review
• New Sonos One smart speaker supports Alexa and Google Assistant voice control
• Anker’s Eufy Genie gives you Alexa and more, all on the cheap

Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Fitnet Live Coach

This app is a personal trainer for everyone! Exercise by yourself or add a boost to your goal by connecting with a live certified personal trainer.

Available on:

iOS

Pickup Lines

Looking for a way to break the ice with that special someone? You might find some inspiration from this app.

Available on:

iOS

Mindfulness Daily

This app supports quick, effective guided practices to reduce stress and anxiety, improve performance, and enhance sleep (along with a growing list of other evidence-based benefits of mindfulness like pain management).

Available on:

iOS

White Noise

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Do you want to relax your body and soul with peaceful background sounds? With this app, you may have better luck sleeping tonight.

Available on:

iOS

10K Runner

Go from Couch to 5K to 10K with the official and often imitated 10K Runner program. This app has over 1.2 million success stories of people who are now running 10K’s, and you can do it, too.

Available on:

iOS

Pocket Wine

Pocket Wine takes you on an exploration of wine styles and grape varieties by giving you insights into wine that have taken others years to achieve.

Available on:

iOS

Editor’s Recommendations

• Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time
• Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time
• Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time
• Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time
• Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time