Garmin’s vivoactive 3 smartwatch can now help you pay for things

Garmin is mostly known for fitness watches, but introduced something with the launch of its new vivoactive 3 smartwatch: Contactless payments. Several months after announcing this new feature would debut with the wearable, the company’s Garmin Pay system is now live, allowing wearers to leave their wallets and phones at home when going out for a run.

Much like Apple Pay, Garmin Pay is a tap-to-purchase system that operates over NFC. Garmin’s contactless system runs on Fit Pay, the wearables finance service that had previously tried to bring the same functionality to the Pebble Time smartwatch. Currently, the vivoactive 3 can only be linked to MasterCards from select banks on the launch partner list, but more financial firms with Visa support are coming soon.

Source: PR Newswire

The best phones under $500

Phone makers are trying to outdo one another by racing to add new, advanced features to their flagships, but these tools are not equally useful. Who really needs Face ID, Animoji or eye-sensing authentication? Some of us just want a good, no-frills phone. Plus, not everyone can or wants to spend almost a thousand dollars on something we’ll trade in after two years. For these people, there’s a range of options from truly basic sub-$250 phones to more powerful mid-range devices that can be had for less than $500. The latter group is better described as aggressively priced flagships that can serve you almost as well as their costlier counterparts — and there’s now a decent selection to consider.

What to expect

Although they cost hundreds less than their premium counterparts, mid-range phones often feature the same (or comparable) components. The best sub-$500 handsets use the latest CPUs and run the newest software, and some even offer amenities like nearly bezel-less displays and facial recognition. Some of these devices even outdo flagships when it comes to things like RAM capacity and software customization options.

What you might miss, however, is cutting-edge features like pressure-sensitive home buttons, depth-sensing infrared cameras and slow-motion video capture at higher rates than others. Those can be nice to have, but you’re unlikely to miss them. All told, you’ll find that these sub-$500 phones are almost as capable as a flagship twice the price.

The best phones under $500

OnePlus 5T ($499)

Chris Velazco/Engadget

After years of honing its line of affordable flagships, OnePlus delivered a truly great phone in the OnePlus 5. And, come November 21st, it’ll be replaced with something better. The just-announced OnePlus 5T sports a bigger 6-inch, nearly bezel-less screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio like those on pricier phones. It also makes use of a surprisingly fast face-recognition unlocking system that could take on Apple’s Face ID. OnePlus also improved the dual-camera system that we already liked on the 5, while continuing to use the premium Snapdragon 835 chipset found in most contemporary flagships. Oh, and you’ll still find a headphone jack here, which should please those of you who are resistant to change.

Chris / Velazco

Moto Z2 Play ($499)

Motorola continues to excel at making budget-friendly phones — so much so that it won two spots on this list. The Z2 Play is the slightly more advanced of the pair, with its razor-thin design and compatibility with Motorola’s “Moto Mods” line of bolt-on accessories. You can snap these accessories onto the Z2 Play to add a JBL speaker, a projector or an Amazon Alexa speaker, giving the phone more functionality. On its own, the phone offers decent performance, thanks to its octa-core Snapdragon 626 chipset, while its 12-megapixel rear camera makes use of dual-pixel focus technology that results in fast speeds. As with other Motorola phones, the Z2 Play comes with the company’s useful software additions, including Moto Display, which allows you to check notifications without waking your phone. Motorola also coated the device with a water-repellent material to help keep it safe in wet conditions. The Z2 Play doesn’t offer the same epic battery life as its predecessor, the original Z Play, but it’s good enough to get you through the day.

Chris Velazco / Engadget

Essential PH-1 ($450)

You may not have heard of Essential, but the new company from the creator of Android drew plenty of attention within the tech world. Its debut product, the Essential PH-1, was designed to be a top-of-the-line device without “unnecessary features.” The phone crams flagship-level components like a Snapdragon 835 chipset, 128GB of storage and a quad HD display into a dense, sturdy body. The PH-1 is also the first handset to sport a notch where its camera juts into its all-screen front (sorry, Apple), which should give you some bragging rights if that stuff matters to you. Its dual 13-megapixel cameras work well in optimal light but are merely serviceable in dark situations, so if you intend to take a lot of pictures at night, you should look elsewhere. Those who want to keep using their wired headphones should keep looking too, since the PH-1 doesn’t have an audio jack. Although some glitches kept the PH-1 from living up to the hype surrounding its launch (and triggered a price cut from $699 to $450), it’s still a compelling phone — you’ll be getting what’s essentially a $700 flagship at practically half the price.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Moto X4 ($400)

The Moto X4 trades in Mod compatibility for dual cameras, landmark recognition and built-in Alexa. Amazon’s assistant not only identifies you by voice but also answers your questions without waking the phone (so long as it’s you asking, not someone else). The X4’s 12-megapixel camera is capable, considering the price, and its landmark-detection feature provides potentially helpful information about historic buildings that it sees through the lens. The phone also meets IP68 standards for water resistance, meaning it can survive a dip for up to 30 minutes. Its Snapdragon 630 processor and 5.2-inch full HD display are also adequate for the money. My favorite thing about the X4, though, is its shiny, eye-catching design, which makes it look and feel more expensive than it is.

Will Lipman / Engadget

iPhone SE ($349)

Sure, the iPhone SE is due for an update, but as the only sub-$500 iPhone available, it’s the best choice for Apple fans on a budget. If you can overlook its dated design, the iPhone SE is a capable phone that performs well despite (or thanks to) its now two-year-old A9 processor. Its compact 4-inch size also makes it a strong option for those who prefer something smaller. Plus, Apple recently doubled the iPhone SE’s storage, which is another bonus. You’ll also like the 12-megapixel rear camera, which delivers accurate colors and crisp details, but its 1.2-MP front-facer will disappoint selfie lovers.

Honorable mention

ASUS ZenFone 4 ($349)

Also worth a look is the ASUS ZenFone 4, which stands out for its 12-megapixel dual cameras, which can save pictures as RAW files. It also features a dual-pixel sensor for faster autofocus, along with optical image stabilization and Portrait mode for artificial bokeh. The secondary sensor on its back side uses a wide-angle lens in the same vein as the LG G6, allowing you to capture landscapes and skylines more easily. The rest of the phone’s specs are typical for the price: a Snapdragon 630 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Its 5.5-inch full HD IPS display can get pretty bright too, with a max setting of 600 nits. Some people might not like ASUS’s ZenUI skin, which runs on top of Android 7 Nougat, but camera aficionados who can put up with a slightly different (and cartoonish) UI might find the ZenFone 4 compelling.

HTC U11 Life ($349)

I sincerely hope “squeezable” sides won’t spread to smartphones other than the HTC U11 and the Google Pixel 2, but I have to admit they can be helpful at times. On the HTC U11 Life, pressure-sensitive edges detect when you’re squeezing the phone, and launch your designated apps. You can also set this to perform specific actions within some apps, like zooming out in Google Maps, which is more useful than the Pixel’s implementation. In addition to this novelty feature, the U11 Life packs a Snapdragon 630 chipset, a 5.2-inch full HD screen and built-in Alexa support. Each U11 Life also comes with a pair of HTC’s uSonic earbuds, which tunes audio based on the shape of your ear, making it an even better deal overall. But the reason for these is the missing audio jack on the U11 Life, so be aware that you won’t be able to plug in wired earbuds before you decide.

Amazon partners with EatLove to deliver personalized meals

Following yesterday’s team-up between Amazon and Allrecipes, the online shopping giant is announcing yet another grocery delivery partnership with EatLove, makers of an app for personalized recipes. Once you build up a meal plan of your own, you can quickly get the items you need through AmazonFresh. EatLove isn’t just another recipe service: It accounts for dietary restrictions, medical issues and offers up daily reminders to make sure you follow its recommendations. Naturally, the integration is only available in markets where AmazonFresh is available, but it sounds like a genuinely useful addition to EatLove.

Much like Amazon’s partnership with Allrecipes, this latest deal gives the company another spin on mealkits. Services like Blue Apron automatically send you meal preparation boxes, but they typically offer only a handful of recipe choices. And aside from requesting vegan and vegetarian options, they don’t directly adapt for more sophisticated dietary restrictions. It’s smart for Amazon to work together with a specialized service like EatLove, as it gives the online giant a leg up when it comes to complex meals. And of course, it goes hand-in-hand with Amazon’s Whole Foods acquisition.

Source: EatLove (PR Newswire)

Netflix to produce TV series with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan

Last year, Netflix signed an exclusive deal with Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan. Now, Netflix has announced a new TV series called Bard of Blood in partnership with Khan’s company. Khan will be active behind the scenes as a producer, but Netflix has confirmed to Engadget that he will not act in this series.

The eight-episode series will be based on the political thriller by Indian author Bilal Siddiqi and is set (and will be filmed) on the Indian subcontinent. It will be a multilingual production, featuring characters speaking in Hindu, Urdu, English and more. The plot follows a young Shakespeare professor living in the Indian hill station Panchgani who must return home to save both his country and the woman he left behind.

Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest stars in the world, and while he won’t star in this production, this is still a great get for Netflix. It’s an opportunity for the beloved actor to promote South Asian actors on an international platform, and you can bet that Indian viewers (and other Bollywood fans) across the world will tune in because his name is attached to the project.

Via: Variety

Source: Netflix

Apple Music’s Major Lazer documentary is streaming now

A new music documentary begins streaming today on Apple Music. Give Me Future chronicles Major Lazer’s 2016 concert in Havana, Cuba — the first to be put on by major American artists since the US restored diplomatic ties to the country in 2015. The group, made up of Diplo, Walshy Fire and Jillionaire, performed for 400,000 people in the country’s capital, the planning for which and the performance were documented by director Austin Peters.

Give Me Future adds to Apple’s growing stock of exclusive music-focused documentaries, which include features on artists like Taylor Swift, Pink, Harry Styles and Niall Horan. It has also released films on producer Clive Davis, the Cash Money record label, songwriter Bert Berns and the history of the iconic 808 drum machine.

Along with the film, which made its premiere at Sundance, Apple is also releasing a companion album featuring music from Major Lazer and each of its artists, Cuban artists that appear in the documentary and others including Herizen Guardiola and Sean Paul. The album, Major Lazer Presents: Give Me Future – Music From and Inspired by the Film, is available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, iTunes, Soundcloud and Google Play. Give Me Future is available to Apple Music subscribers today — you can check out the trailer below and stream it here.

Source: iTunes

Walmart will test Tesla Semi trucks for transporting merchandise

The Tesla Semi already has one very large guinea pig for an electric fleet: Walmart. The retail juggernaut has some 6,000 trucks and moves merchandise all over the country and as of last May, it was the world’s largest retailer. The company eyeing EVs for logistics sends a pretty clear message about the viability of the tech’s commercial applications. And Walmart isn’t the only company interested in Tesla’s truck. According to Bloomberg, trucking logistics company J.B. Hunt and grocery chain Meijer have also reserved multiple Semis.

“We believe we can learn how this technology performs within our long-term sustainability goals, such as lowering emissions,” Walmart said in a statement to CNBC. This pilot program for the 500-mile range trucks likely won’t start anytime soon. After all, Musk said that Tesla Semi tricks won’t start production until 2019.

Walmart has other options too: Mercedes has its own all-electric semi, as does diesel-maker Cummins. They’re shorter range, but given Tesla has fallen behind schedule for Model 3 production, the alternatives could be road ready before Musk’s fleet.

Source: CNBC

Apple Extends Free Repairs of Anti-Reflective Coating on 2013 or Newer MacBook Pro and All 12-Inch MacBooks

Apple has extended free repairs of anti-reflective coating issues for all 12-inch MacBook models and 2013 or newer MacBook Pro models.

Apple has authorized coverage within four years from the original purchase date of an affected MacBook or MacBook Pro, according to an internal document distributed to Apple Authorized Service Providers and later obtained by MacRumors.

Eligible 12-inch MacBook or 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models qualify for a free display replacement within the four-year coverage period. Apple says the 2012 MacBook Pro is no longer eligible for free repairs since the notebook was fully discontinued by October 2013, which is over four years ago.

Below is a list of the absolute latest dates that each 12-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro model may remain eligible for coverage:

• 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro: July 2018
• 2013 15-inch MacBook Pro: July 2018
• 2014 13-inch MacBook Pro: March 2019
• 2014 15-inch MacBook Pro: May 2019
• 2015 13-inch MacBook Pro: October 2020
• 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro: Still sold
• 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro: June 2021
• 2016 15-inch MacBook Pro: June 2021
• 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro: Still sold
• 2017 15-inch MacBook Pro: Still sold

• 2015 12-inch MacBook: April 2020
• 2016 12-inch MacBook: June 2021
• 2017 12-inch MacBook: Still sold

Apple previously confirmed to us that the repair program continues to be handled internally rather than being publicly announced.

Affected customers can schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store using the Apple Support app. Or, on the Get Support page, click Mac → Mac Notebooks → Hardware Issues → Display Issue and options should be presented to initiate a repair or contact Apple via phone, email, or online chat.

Apple’s support website will ask for your Mac’s serial number, which can be found by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and clicking on About This Mac in the dropdown menu.

Affected customers can also visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to determine if their notebook is eligible for coverage. If you have already incurred out-of-warranty costs related to this issue, you may be eligible for a refund, which can be initiated by contacting Apple support directly.

Since the repair program has not been publicly announced, some Apple support representatives may be unaware of its existence. Escalating your request to a senior advisor may help, but your mileage may vary.

Apple first began the repair program in October 2015, and has now extended it twice, after some MacBook and MacBook Pro users experienced issues with the anti-reflective coating wearing off or delaminating on the Retina display.

The damage appears to be caused by a variety of factors, including the pressure of the keyboard and trackpad on the display when closed, and the use of incorrect third-party cleaning solutions with microfiber cloths.

Over 12,000 customers joined a Facebook group dedicated to the issue, and hundreds of others have claimed to be affected across the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors forums, Twitter, Reddit, and other discussion platforms.

The website Staingate.org contains a gallery of MacBook Pro models with seemingly damaged anti-reflective coating, revealing that the blemishes can be relatively minor or extend across the entire display in extreme cases.

Update: MacRumors has received a supplementary internal document that lists all 12-inch MacBook models, and 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models, as affected products. The document also states that even damaged displays with anti-reflective coating issues may qualify for a free display replacement.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProTag: repair programBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
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KGI: Next Year’s iPhone Models to Have Upgraded Intel and Qualcomm Modems Enabling Faster LTE Speeds

Apple’s next-generation iPhone models released in 2018 will feature Intel’s XMM 7560 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X20 modems, enabling faster LTE transmission speeds, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Image: KGI Securities
Kuo highlighted that both new chips support 4×4 MIMO technology, compared to only 2×2 MIMO in the latest iPhone models, which leads him to believe LTE transmission speeds will increase significantly in 2018 iPhones.

In his latest research note, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo predicted Intel will supply Apple with 70 to 80 percent or more of the baseband chips.

New baseband chips from Intel & Qualcomm will significantly boost transmission speed of new 2H18 iPhone models thanks to supporting 4×4 MIMO antenna design: We believe that 2H18 new iPhones will upgrade baseband chips from Intel’s XMM 7480 and Qualcomm’s MDM 9655 in 2H17 to Intel’s XMM 7560 and Qualcomm’s SDX 20. As both new chips support 4×4 MIMO technology, compared to only 2×2 MIMO in 2H17, we anticipate LTE transmission speeds will increase significantly. We believe Intel will supply Apple with 70-80% or more of required baseband chips.

Kuo also predicted that next year’s iPhone models will feature dual-SIM dual standby (DSDS), with support for LTE+LTE connections, which allows two SIM cards to be active simultaneously using only one set of chips.

2H18 iPhone models won’t only offer faster LTE transmission speed: We predict that at least one of the 2H18 new iPhone models will support dual-SIM dual standby (DSDS). Unlike existing DSDS phones, which commonly support LTE+3G connections, we believe next-generation iPhone models will support LTE+LTE connections, in a bid to enhance the user experience.

It’s not entirely clear if the new iPhones would have a dual SIM card slot or if one of the SIM cards would be embedded into the device.

Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo
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Apple Says HomePod is Delayed Until Early 2018

Apple today announced it has delayed the release of the HomePod until early 2018. The speaker was originally set to launch in December.

In a statement provided to CNBC and several other media outlets, Apple said it needs “a little more time” before the HomePod is ready.

We can’t wait for people to experience HomePod, Apple’s breakthrough wireless speaker for the home, but we need a little more time before it’s ready for our customers. We’ll start shipping in the US, UK and Australia in early 2018.

Apple’s definition of “early” is generally January to April. Apple did not provide a specific reason for the delay.

Apple unveiled the HomePod at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. At the time, Apple said the speaker would launch in December for $349, starting in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

HomePod is the first Apple product delayed since the AirPods last October. At the time, Apple also said it needed “a little more time” before the wireless headphones were ready. AirPods eventually launched in December 2016.

HomePod also serves as a “Hey Siri” assistant and HomeKit hub. The high-fidelity speaker is equipped with spatial awareness and Apple-engineered audio technology, including a seven‑tweeter array and high-excursion woofer, and is powered by Apple’s A8 chip. A firmware leak reveals it likely has 1GB of RAM.

Related Roundup: HomePod
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Promise Technology Debuts $249 Thunderbolt 3 Dock With 5 USB-A Ports, 2 TB3 Ports and SD Card Slot

Promise Technology today announced the launch of its new TD-300 Thunderbolt 3 dock, which is designed for Apple’s latest MacBook Pro models with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3.

The TD-300 features five USB 3.0 ports (three at the back and two at the front), two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an audio in/out port, and an HDMI 2.0 port.

There are a range of Thunderbolt 3 docks on the market now, but Promise Technology’s TD-300 includes a good number of ports and an SD card slot, something that we’ve only seen on OWC’s TB3 dock. A Thunderbolt 3 cable and power adapter are also included.

Promise Technology’s dock supports two 4K displays or one 5K display and delivers up to 60W of power to charge a MacBook Pro. That’s sufficient for the 13-inch MacBook Pro models, but may be inadequate for charging a 15-inch MacBook Pro under a heavy load.

“As part of our mission to offer solutions that are optimized for rich media workflows, we’re constantly expanding our portfolio of innovative solutions that harness the latest technology,” noted Vijay Char, president, Promise Technology USA. “The addition of a Thunderbolt 3 dock brings a new level of efficiency and flexibility to creative professionals. Laptops can be charged at the fastest speeds possible, images from DSLR cameras are easily transferred, peripherals such as hard drives and monitors can be daisy-chained for increased productivity, 4K video can be sent to multiple displays, and more. The possibilities are truly endless.”

The TD-300 Thunderbolt 3 Dock can be purchased from the Promise website or from Amazon for $249.

Tag: Promise Technology
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