Gamevice’s iOS Gaming Controller Now Supports Sphero SPRK+ and DJI Spark

Gamevice, a company that makes a Made for iPhone gaming controller for iOS devices, today announced that it has partnered with Sphero and DJI to allow the Gamevice peripheral to control the Sphero SPRK+ robot and the DJI Spark drone.

When the Gamevice for iPhone or iPad is used with the DJI Spark app, the Spark drone can be controlled using the physical buttons of the Gamevice, which the company says offers improved precision, control, and ergonomics.

DJI does offer its own Spark remote controller, but it is not included in the purchase price and costs an additional $119. At $100, the Gamevice controller is more affordable and it also works with a wide range of iOS games.

“We designed Spark to be the easiest DJI drone to fly, whether using simple hand gestures, a smartphone or the dedicated remote control,” said Paul Pan, Senior Product Manager at DJI. “Gamevice gives Spark pilots another simple, highly intuitive way to control their drone, letting them fly, capture and share life’s moments while on the go.”

As for the SPRK+, it’s normally controlled via an on-screen joystick using the Sphero app with no physical control option, so the Gamevice is a great addition for those who would rather have access to controller-style input methods.

Gamevice offers several different controller options for a wide range of iOS devices on its website. Prices for iOS devices start at $99.95.

Tags: Sphero, Gamevice, DJI
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Fitbit Ionic review

It’s becoming quite obvious as to why there are no major runaway hits for Android Wear. More specifically, it’s clear why there’s not one smartwatch that people simply “must have”. The reason? Fitbit and its ilk.

I’ve had the pleasure of using various Fitbit wearables over the last few years. Moreover, I’ve also owned and used my share of Android Wear watches, too. And, as much as I love the flexibility and promise of what Google sets forth in its OS, I just don’t wear the devices as much as I should. Instead, I find myself turning to “less smart” stuff from the likes of Fitbit, Samsung, and others.

To be clear, it’s not as if these other wearables are necessarily built better or are more fashionable. It’s certainly not as if they have more flexibility or options either. What they offer me, though, is a “good enough” experience that often comes with a more affordable price tag.

Fitness and activity trackers have evolved to the point where it’s not just steps, calories, and sleep anymore. Now we can use them for workouts, music, run tracking via GPS, and even mobile payments.

Over the years Fitbit has pivoted from one or two models to an entire lineup of wearables with variable features and options. Perhaps more importantly, Fitbit has gotten smarter with each generation, blurring the lines between fitness tracking and smartwatch. Its latest model, the Ionic, is billed as a “motivating timepiece” and is essentially its first foray into smartwatches.

Building on its Blaze (read our review), the Ionic is a major release in the era after acquiring Pebble in late 2016. It bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor but it steps things up in terms of functionality.

Priced $300 at launch, we found the Fitbit Ionic to be nearly everything we want in a smartwatch. At a minimum, it was everything we need in one. Sold in three color options, you can buy it in Slate Blue/Orange, Blue Gray/Silver Gray, and Charcoal/Silver Gray.

We were supplied a Charcoal/Silver option from Fitbit. Additionally, we were sent a set of Midnight Blue replacement leather watch straps. This way we were able to see how flexible the watch is in terms of functionality as well as form.

Build

The first thing we noticed about the Ionic is that while it’s quite similar to the Blaze at first blush, there are some subtle and welcome changes. We appreciated that there was a gently slight curve to the design as it wraps the wrist. Most square faced watches can be awkward or come to feel unpleasant over time.

The Fitbit Ionic is also a light watch, regardless of which straps you’re using. The default “Classic” plastic bands are just a smidge heavier than the leather but both are comfortable. Included in the Ionic’s box is both a small and large version of the classic band.

While you can certainly get away with using the standard straps for all occasion, the leather dresses things up nicely. The perforated leather breathes well; it’s incredibly easy to snap and unsnap the bands. It takes all of around ten seconds to swap out bands. We liked wearing leather most of the day, replacing it temporarily for the trips to the gym.

One of the chief gripes we had with the Fitbit Blaze was that it was not waterproof. It wasn’t as if we needed it to track swimming but that would have been a nice touch. Rather, we just didn’t like having to take it off every time we took a shower or expected to get wet. That problem is addressed in the Ionic as it is fully waterproof and also features swim tracking.

The downside to wearing the leather band, though, is that it’s not water-resistant or sweat proof. So, you won’t want to take it to the shower, bath, or pool. You also don’t want to get all sweaty from a workout. This is where having the classic band on for all occasions comes in handy.

The Ionic is comprised of aerospace-grade aluminum and has very small antenna bands on the sides. On the left side you’ll find one button; the right has two buttons. The entire display is extremely easy on the eyes, thanks to its brightness (up to 1,000 nits) and resolution. Gorilla Glass 3 protects the screen from scuffs and scratches.

The buttons stick out from the sides and have a nice textured grip to them. It’s pretty easy to find them when you’re out of breath and want to pause your run. There’s a nice response to all three of them, making navigation pleasurable.

Although the screen itself does accept touch for tapping and swiping we did find it a little less responsive than we’d like. This goes double for times when you’re sweaty or the watch is wet. A couple of times we found we had to shake our wrist free of droplets or wipe it against our shirt to get a good, consistent read.

Battery & Charging

With every different model of Fitbit comes a different way of charging. For the Blaze it was a case of removing the watch from the band and encasing it in a charger. The Ionic has a magnetic charger that attaches itself to a few connecting points in the back. We weren’t totally in love with the setup.

Rather than a platter-like connection that you might find with other smartwatches, the Ionic’s charger is almost like a perpendicular plug. The magnet is strong enough to get a bite but disturbing the watch could result in losing connection.

On a more positive note, you’ll only have to charge the watch two times a week at the most. We were impressed with the watch’s ability to hold a charge, especially as we played around with it in the first few days. Between goofing with the watch itself and adjusting things from the app we would have chewed through an Android Wear watch much quicker.

Performance & Usage

We don’t like to have our wrists feel constricted. It’s pretty common for a watch to have a thick or wide band that’s generally comfortable throughout the day. Come night, however, that wide strap can feel like a cuff around you wrist.

The Ionic, like many of Fitbit’s products, can track your sleep. We were pleased to discover that the watch bands didn’t feel too constricting or obvious. For what it’s worth, the leather has more play to it than the classic band.

Generally speaking, it’s easy to forget that you’re wearing the Ionic. As we said above, it’s really light. While it might look like there’s a giant square on your wrist, there’s a taper to the bottom. Indeed, only around 25% of the display touches the arm. This allows for movement in all directions without bunching your skin up or pinching.

Aside from the occasional unregistered touch, we liked navigating and using the Ionic. It offers up more than just passive tracking, something that we’ve really come to rely on. To be clear, the watch can be used in the passive manner, but it benefits the user to use the built in features.

The Iconic can automatically track exercises and activities; there are numerous coaching features to help guide you on your aerobic or fitness path. On the other end of the spectrum it can also walk you through some breathing sessions bringing your heart rate into line.

By default the watch will notify you when it’s time to get up and moving. Sit too long and it will vibrate, gently nudging you to get up and walk around. We appreciate that tracking steps can be monitored in a per-hour basis.

It’s one thing to knock out a few thousand over a run but where do your other steps come in? Are you prone to move more during morning or after dinner? The mobile app does a fantastic job of aggregating data over the short and long term to help you along.

You can glance at a running log of sleep habits, steps, calories burned, and other details or you can dive deeper into specific days. It’s truly a case of “the more you use it, the better it gets”.

The Ionic can also notify wearers of calls, texts, and calendar events. Additionally, set up notifications on a per-app basis. So, if you don’t want every Facebook or Snapchat update to hit your wrist, you don’t have to get them.

There’s enough storage in the watch to hold around 300 or more songs. Moreover, it has access to Pandora, without need of a phone. Yes, you can grab some headphones and pair them to the watch so you can get your run on.

The built in NFC chip lets you use the Ionic to make mobile payments. This is a first for Fitbit and one that we liked quite well. It also lends to the whole notion of being able to leave your phone behind. Stop by a gas station or convenience store on your way home from the gym and you’ll be able to tap and pay with the watch. This feature takes but a few minutes to set up on your phone.

Although not a first for Fitbit, the Ionic has built-in GPS antennas. You can feel free to run, bike, or walk, knowing that the watch is tracking your whereabouts. This, too, was something we wanted in the Blaze. To be fair, the Blaze would work in tandem with your phone to provide the GPS. Fitbit terms this as “connected GPS”.

We did have a couple of instances where the watch would restart or hang up in the three weeks we spent with it. Twice, at the gym, we just happened to look down to check calories and heart rate while on the treadmill, only to find the Ionic was in the midst of a reboot.

Not only did we lose the activity we had done up to that point, but we had to restart the treadmill tracking again. Had we not looked down we might not have known it had stopped. Nevertheless, we lost about 15-18 minutes in one run and around 10 minutes in another.

A third instance we had was that the watch was seemingly locked up with a dead screen. Taking it off the wrist we could see the heart rate tracker blinking; however, there was nothing happening on screen. Holding down the two buttons on the right seemed to restart the watch without instance. But, again, this was just us glancing down to see the time. How long it was off remains to be seen. Moreover, we don’t know what was tracked up to that point.

Those issues aside, we’ve been incredibly happy with the Ionic. Performance was otherwise flawless so we’re hoping this is just a case of bug fixing that comes in a future firmware update.

Conclusion

The more we wear a device like the Fitbit Ionic, the less reliant we are on a platform like Android Wear. But, that’s not to say it’s perfect and does everything right. It’s not as customizable as what you’d get in a more formal smartwatch and there are very few “apps” for it.

As a product in the Fitbit family, the Ionic is wonderful. It’s priced right and differentiates itself from other models under the brand. There’s enough special here to justify moving up from the Blaze, especially the waterproof protection.

Fitbit has established itself as a premier name in the wearable space, and, by all accounts, this will only help propel it forward. Add in more interoperability with other apps and services, fix a minor bug or two, and you’ve got one killer product. Out of the box, though, we still have no issues recommending the Ionic for interested buyers.

First full ‘Wolfenstein II’ DLC arrives on December 14th

Fans of MachineGames’ wonderful Nazi-killing shooter Wolfenstein: The New Colossus were probably wondering what the title screen’s countdown would reveal. Last week, we found out: A delightful trio of hour-long mini-missions featuring characters from the game’s upcoming DLC. Today, the studio released a roadmap revealing the release dates for the game’s new content, and the first will launch on December 14th.

Return to battle with three new characters with The Freedom Chronicles. Here’s when #Wolf2’s DLC releases. https://t.co/1qfjYihhf1 pic.twitter.com/pbaLUlNm4H

— Wolfenstein (@wolfenstein) November 13, 2017

Folks who pre-ordered The New Colossus or bought its Season Pass already got a look into The Freedom Chronicles, as the DLC is known, when Episode Zero dropped on November 7th. Instead of Terror Billy, players got to toy with three different characters, each equipped with a different endgame gadget (stilts, sneaking compressor, battering ram) from the main campaign. Each full DLC entry will focus on one of them. Next month, players will get The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe, aka Joseph Stallion, the former football star fond of tackling Nazis into the ground. Often with bullets.

The Diaries of Agent Silent Death, starring the eponymous femme fatale assassin, follows on January 30th. Accordingly, her characters sports the upgrade allowing players to slip inside small tunnels for a stealthier playstyle. Last of the announced DLC is The Deeds of Captain Wilkins arriving sometime in March 2018, which lets you use the undoubted king of the upgrades, the Battle Stilts, to gun down some Nazi scum. You can get all three in the game’s $25 Season Pass or buy individually for an as-yet-unannounced per-episode price. Given the promise of “Over nine hours of content” on MachineGames’ DLC poster in its roadmap tweet, about three hours for around $8 doesn’t sound like too bad a deal.

Source: Bethesda

Bill Gates firm puts $80 million behind ‘smart city’ in Arizona

One of Bill Gates’ firms invested $80 million into nearly 25,000 acres of land west of Phoenix, Arizona to build a ‘smart city’ of the future. The proposed community, called Belmont, will have high-speed communications infrastructure, autonomous cars and data centers. In short, a hyper-connected place suitable for new companies to set up shop in.

“Belmont will create a forward-thinking community with a communication and infrastructure spine that embraces cutting-edge technology, designed around high-speed digital networks, data centers, new manufacturing technologies and distribution models, autonomous vehicles and autonomous logistics hubs,” Belmont Partners said in a news release, according to KPNX.

The land itself has been eyed for development since the early 90s, according to AZ Central. 3,800 acres will be zoned for commercial and office space and 470 acres will go to public schooling, with projected housing for 80,000. That will make Belmont the area and population of Tempe, according to the Arizona-based Belmont Partners’ press release. It will be situated along the projected path of the not-yet-built I-11, which runs from Las Vegas to Mexico.

Otherwise, there’s not much known about the development, including when anyone will break ground on the land and start building the Belmont of tomorrow.

Via: Business Insider

Source: KPNX

Dear Google: Integrate Android and Chrome OS, or stop making $1,000 Chromebooks

We weren’t there in the meetings where Chromebooks were green-lit, but we can imagine they started as a bit of an experiment. The first ones were around $400, made of plastic, and ran nothing except the Chrome browser. With these limitations in place, Chromebooks began to find an audience. Owners realized they didn’t need to spend over a thousand dollars to write emails and watch Netflix – and they loved it.

Google has stitched Android and Chrome OS together with scissors, glue, and tape.

Now, six years later, Google has introduced the Pixelbook. It’s a beautiful 2-in-1 that seems confused about why it exists. On the outside, it’s a product that screams “MacBook competitor,” accompanied by a $1,000 price point and snazzy design pulled from the Pixel smartphones.

The Pixelbook isn’t targeting the same audience other Chromebooks are. Like Apple and Microsoft, Google wants people to buy the Pixelbook not just because they need a computer, but because they want a Google product. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, that same mindset led to the iPhone and the Surface Pro, devices that altered the future of computing.

Unfortunately, the Pixelbook is not as revolutionary.

The messy mash-up

Before the Pixelbook’s announcement, we were sure the next laptop made by Google would integrate Android and Chrome OS. The company had already added access to the Google Play Store to many Chromebooks, so it seems a natural evolution. After the success of the Pixel smartphones, we thought Google’s next device would be a mainstream 2-in-1 laptop that everyone would want. Google was even rumored to be developing a new operating system to handle the form factor of the Pixelbook.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

However, it only takes a few minutes of using the Pixelbook to realize the problem inherent in its existence. With the Pixelbook, Google has stitched Android and Chrome OS together with scissors, glue, and tape, instead of weaving them together as a single fabric. Running Android apps on the Pixelbook feels akin to running an illegal NES ROM in an emulator. Some of the apps are full of glitches and sizing issues, some of which are leftovers from the Android tablet days. You need only look down at your taskbar and see duplicates of the same app — one from the Play Store, and one from the Chrome Web Store — to see the problem.

Google Assistant and the Pixelbook Pen make the problem worse, not better. They highlight the messy melding of the two operating systems, and make the user experience downright confusing. It’s hard to predict what’ll happen when you touch the screen with the Pen, or summon Google Assistant. The response can depend on what you’re using, and doesn’t inspire the confidence. The Chrome browser doesn’t work well with the pen, but Android apps usually do. With Assistant, though, it’s Android apps that see the cold shoulder, while the Pen is often trouble-free. When a manufacturer makes both the hardware and the software, it’s fair to expect a certain amount of integration – and that’s what the Pixelbook lacks.

Google, pick a direction – and stick with it

Rumor have circulated about a new Google operating system, code-named Andromeda, that’s meant to combine Android and Chrome OS together. It was said to be scheduled for release in 2017. It’s not hard to imagine Google preparing Andromeda to be released with the Pixelbook, only to squash it altogether, as reports indicated earlier this summer.

Now, the rumors have changed, and suggest Google’s working on a new operating system known internally as Fuchsia. Nothing is official yet, but we do know it ditches the Linux-microkernel that Chrome OS is based on in favor of a new, homebrewed microkernel called Magenta. According to Google documentation, Magenta is made for “modern phones and modern personal computers with fast processors, non-trivial amounts of RAM, with arbitrary peripherals doing open-ended computation.”

Whatever Fuchsia’s capabilities, Google must decide the type of company it wants to be. If it wants to continue as the open-source, affordable alternative to Apple and Microsoft, it should stop trying to sell $1,000 Chromebooks. If it wants to be a serious competitor in the laptop and 2-in-1 space, it’s time for the company to build a decisive, fully-baked solution to the awkward gap between Android and Chrome OS.

Until then, the Pixelbook – and all other premium Chromebooks – will feel like prototypes shoved out the door too soon.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The Pixelbook nearly doubles Samsung’s Chromebook Pro in price. Is it justified?
• Google Pixelbook Review
• These are the most common Pixelbook problems, and how to fix them
• Battle of the beautiful: How does the Pixelbook stack up to the MacBook Pro?
• Here’s everything we expect from Google’s October 4 hardware event

For deals or just the latest designs, these are the best shopping apps out there

Whether you’re looking to snag some great deals, stay on top of the latest trends, or just browse, we have an app for that. In honor of the approaching holiday season — and the massive amount of shopping you’re likely about to do — we’ve rounded up some of the best shopping apps for iOS and Android. These are good year-round, but they should especially come in handy during the upcoming holiday rush.

This time around, we’ve skipped the Amazons and Etsys of the world, and, instead, focused on some lesser-known shopping apps. Whether you’re looking to shop quick, grab an awesome deal, or browse goods like you navigate Pinterest, there’s something here for everyone. Better yet, they’re all built to work best on your phone.

We all know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but do you know about Green Monday? Find out what is Green Monday and how to find the best deals. While you’re at it, we give you some ideas for the best tech under $100 for those on a budget.

ShopStyle

If you want to buy clothing, shoes, or entire outfits, ShopStyle promises that you will find what you’re looking for in its app. You can even set alerts so that you don’t miss those deals. You can find brands like Nordstrom, Valentino, Nike, Neiman Marcus, and more. With the easy to use the search function, you can browse stores like Nordstrom, Asos, and Forever 21. If it’s for sale online, you’ll find it in ShopStyle.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

The RealReal

If you have ever wanted to buy a real luxury item for a special someone, but lacked the funds, The RealReal may be the app for you. This app specializes in pre-owned luxury items. You’ll find things like women’s and men’s fashion, jewelry, watches, fine art, and more. You can get up to 90 percent off retail prices, and have purchases shipped internationally to up to 61 countries. All the items are guaranteed to be authentic.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Canopy

The very thing that makes Amazon great is also its greatest weakness; its robust selection of goods means you have to dig through a lot of duds before you’ll find a gem. Enter Canopy, a human-curated selection of unique fashion, lifestyle, and home decor products available on Amazon. Its design-focused ethos is obvious from its uncluttered UI to its tasteful picks, which range from an $11 USB plate to a $1,800 platform bed.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Giftagram

If you have loved ones or business partners on either side of the 49th parallel, you’d know how tricky it can be to send a gift between America and Canada. Thankfully, Giftagram takes care of all the logistics, so you just need to focus on picking the perfect present and providing your recipient’s email address or phone number. Since the app offers a select list of local and global lifestyle products, such as baked goods from The Cravory and Kate Spade iPhone cases, everyone on your list is bound to love your gifts!

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Touch of Modern

For men who have everything and are notoriously difficult to shop for, Touch of Modern (ToMo for short) might be your best bet this holiday season. Known for offering lifestyle items that are both design-oriented and meant to start conversations, this app features timed sales that cover everything from retro hats and beef jerky to vintage Rolexes and Picasso prints. Every now and then, it also partners with brands like Samsung to offer members early access or extra perks on new products.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

The Hunt

Sometimes, all you have is a photo of the floral bomber jacket you covet, but have no idea where you can buy the exact item or something similar. With The Hunt, you can tap into the collective intelligence of fellow fashionistas to get one step closer to owning these mystery pieces. Members can post links to share where an item-in-question is available and its current retail price. They can even go one step further and ask fellow style sisters for feedback on their outfits.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Flipp

Shopping with paper coupons and weekly flyers may seem outdated in our digital world, but there is no denying the convenience of circling the best deals directly on your smartphone. Flipp combines the best of both worlds by providing a digital library of all the latest flyers and helping you build shopping lists within the app. All you have to do is tap on a specific product or coupon within the digitized flyer, and the app will automatically circle and add it to your digital grocery list for a modern shopping experience.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Ibotta

Rather than clipping paper coupons to save pennies at a time, Ibotta (pronounced “I-bought-a”) gives you cash-back on your purchases once you get home by scanning your receipts and barcodes. The app is supported by most of the national and big-boxed retailers you can think of — Walmart, Aldo, Jamba Juice, etc. — so you’re bound to get some money back through this app. That said, you’ll need to accumulate at least $20 in your Ibotta account before you can transfer your money to PayPal, Venmo, or a gift card.

Download now from:

iTunes Google Play

Editors’ Recommendations

• Get smart: The 25 best educational apps for iPhone and Android
• Music junkie? Here are the 25 best music apps for consuming and creating tunes
• 9 hot deals on smart home devices that automate, control, and protect your home
• The 20 best news apps that are fast and fluid on your iPhone or Android
• 20 Android and iOS apps for kids to keep them entertained (and quiet)

Leaked photo shows upcoming Intel/AMD module on a compact motherboard

As reported last week, Intel teamed up with AMD to create a multi-chip module (MCM) consisting of Intel’s seventh-generation processor cores, AMD’s previous-generation “Polaris” Radeon graphics cores, and built-in “stacked” memory dedicated to graphics. Renders provided by Intel shows the three components in a rectangular package that plugs into a motherboard. Now a photograph has sufaced of the Intel/AMD module, giving us a real-world glimpse.

Both the photograph and Intel’s official render show the processor cores housed in one chip, and the Radeon graphics cores in another chip parked next to the HBM2 video memory. All three are mounted on a small enclosed circuit board that also contains a dedicated “highway” to quickly pass data between the three components. The module itself is mounted on a small motherboard akin to Intel’s Next Unit of Computing (NUC) all-in-one, small-form-factor PCs.

Speculation stemming from the now-removed photograph pegs the graphics component to possibly be AMD’s Polaris 20 graphics chip used on the Radeon RX 580 graphics card, as both appear similar in size. Meanwhile, the height of the HBM2 memory stack suggest at maximum 4GB capacity, backing up previous benchmark leaks showing two modules sporting 4GB of HDM2 memory each.

But leaked benchmarks also reveal that the Radeon graphics component reports 24 compute units, with translates into 1,536 stream processors. The Radeon RX 580 consists of 36 compute units (2,304 stream processors), the Radeon RX 570 has 32 compute units (2,048 stream processors), and the RX 560 consists of 16 or 14 compute units, depending on the card. What we’re seeing is the custom Radeon graphics component confirmed in Intel’s official announcement.

That said, the module’s Radeon component should hit a performance level residing between the RX 570 and the RX 560, or in the case of Nvidia, between the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and the GTX 1060. Adding to that, the Core i7-88809G module will supposedly have a base graphics speed at 1,190MHz, and a memory bus clocked at 800MHz. Meanwhile, the slower Core i7-8705G model will supposedly have a 1,011MHz base graphics speed, and a memory bus clocked at 700MHz.

Outside the pictured module, the motherboard seen in the photograph appears to be similar in size to Intel’s larger NUC kits. Two memory slots reside next to Intel’s upcoming module along with an M.2 slot supporting SSDs measuring 22mm x 80mm. You can also see two SATA controllers, and one side packed full of ports. Two of these are likely “stacked” USB ports, and one possibly serving as HDMI output.

The photograph emerges after Intel revealed that AMD’s former head of its Radeon graphics division, Raja Koduri, is now spearheading a new department at Intel dedicated to high-end graphics. The announcement arrived just after Intel revealed its collaboration to produce modules, and Koduri’s move from AMD to Intel is likely part of that collaboration. Intel’s new “Core and Visual Computing Group” will place the company as a third player in the high-end graphics market, competing with AMD and Nvidia.

Intel’s new modules are slated to be made available for PC makers in the first quarter of 2018.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Intel and AMD’s love/hate relationship spilled in benchmarks detailing two chips
• After teaming with AMD, Intel poaches its graphics guru to build its own GPUs
• Intel is cramming custom AMD Radeon graphics into an eighth-generation chip
• Want an Alienware Area-51 PC with a 12-core CPU? It won’t use Intel X-Series
• Desktops are dead? Lenovo says no as it shoves new gaming PCs into the spotlight

Leaked photo shows upcoming Intel/AMD module on a compact motherboard

As reported last week, Intel teamed up with AMD to create a multi-chip module (MCM) consisting of Intel’s seventh-generation processor cores, AMD’s previous-generation “Polaris” Radeon graphics cores, and built-in “stacked” memory dedicated to graphics. Renders provided by Intel shows the three components in a rectangular package that plugs into a motherboard. Now a photograph has sufaced of the Intel/AMD module, giving us a real-world glimpse.

Both the photograph and Intel’s official render show the processor cores housed in one chip, and the Radeon graphics cores in another chip parked next to the HBM2 video memory. All three are mounted on a small enclosed circuit board that also contains a dedicated “highway” to quickly pass data between the three components. The module itself is mounted on a small motherboard akin to Intel’s Next Unit of Computing (NUC) all-in-one, small-form-factor PCs.

Speculation stemming from the now-removed photograph pegs the graphics component to possibly be AMD’s Polaris 20 graphics chip used on the Radeon RX 580 graphics card, as both appear similar in size. Meanwhile, the height of the HBM2 memory stack suggest at maximum 4GB capacity, backing up previous benchmark leaks showing two modules sporting 4GB of HDM2 memory each.

But leaked benchmarks also reveal that the Radeon graphics component reports 24 compute units, with translates into 1,536 stream processors. The Radeon RX 580 consists of 36 compute units (2,304 stream processors), the Radeon RX 570 has 32 compute units (2,048 stream processors), and the RX 560 consists of 16 or 14 compute units, depending on the card. What we’re seeing is the custom Radeon graphics component confirmed in Intel’s official announcement.

That said, the module’s Radeon component should hit a performance level residing between the RX 570 and the RX 560, or in the case of Nvidia, between the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti and the GTX 1060. Adding to that, the Core i7-88809G module will supposedly have a base graphics speed at 1,190MHz, and a memory bus clocked at 800MHz. Meanwhile, the slower Core i7-8705G model will supposedly have a 1,011MHz base graphics speed, and a memory bus clocked at 700MHz.

Outside the pictured module, the motherboard seen in the photograph appears to be similar in size to Intel’s larger NUC kits. Two memory slots reside next to Intel’s upcoming module along with an M.2 slot supporting SSDs measuring 22mm x 80mm. You can also see two SATA controllers, and one side packed full of ports. Two of these are likely “stacked” USB ports, and one possibly serving as HDMI output.

The photograph emerges after Intel revealed that AMD’s former head of its Radeon graphics division, Raja Koduri, is now spearheading a new department at Intel dedicated to high-end graphics. The announcement arrived just after Intel revealed its collaboration to produce modules, and Koduri’s move from AMD to Intel is likely part of that collaboration. Intel’s new “Core and Visual Computing Group” will place the company as a third player in the high-end graphics market, competing with AMD and Nvidia.

Intel’s new modules are slated to be made available for PC makers in the first quarter of 2018.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Intel and AMD’s love/hate relationship spilled in benchmarks detailing two chips
• After teaming with AMD, Intel poaches its graphics guru to build its own GPUs
• Intel is cramming custom AMD Radeon graphics into an eighth-generation chip
• Want an Alienware Area-51 PC with a 12-core CPU? It won’t use Intel X-Series
• Desktops are dead? Lenovo says no as it shoves new gaming PCs into the spotlight

Luminoodle Task gives you 3,600 Lumens of flexible light to bend to your will

What would you do with a 5-foot length of ultra-thin, flexible LED light, essentially forming a long noodle of luminescence? That is a question that Power Practical, the folks behind a new Kickstarter campaign for the Luminoodle Task are leaving up to you. The company’s innovative bendy light strip, a follow-up to 2015’s original Luminoodle, promises to be a valuable aid whether you’re working on your car at night, equipping a shed or garage with an easy permanent light fixture, or just want some illumination when you’re out camping. In other words, it’s as versatile as it is bendy.

“The Luminoodle Task is a first-of-its-kind utility light,” Wafiq Ali, director of sales for Power Practical, told Digital Trends. “At 3,600 lumens, it shines with the brightest utility lights you can buy, but unlike any light ever created, it’s bendable. It’s designed to be used in every fathomable low-light situation, from the inside of your car’s engine compartment to the rafters in your garage. Built-in magnets, oversized hanging loops, and easy 12V DC or USB power makes this the most versatile and capable work light in the world.”

The Luminoodle Task is available in three different versions. There is the aforementioned large 5-foot flexible light, a smaller USB edition, and a series of sections you can link together to provide — at least in theory — as much light as you want. This third feature is where the Luminoodle Task really (excuse the puns) shines. Ali describes the daisy-chaining ability of the Luminoodle Task Link as “probably our most requested feature,” and one of the reasons the team went back to the drawing board to create this new model. In addition to its linking ability, the new models are also, “bigger and brighter than anything we’ve made yet.”

It’s definitely a nifty tool and one for which there is no shortage of possible applications. “There are quite a few use-cases that we envision with this product, but we are most stoked to see what other people dream up once we get it in their hands,” Ali continued.

If you would like to get hold of a unit for yourself, you can currently place a pre-order on Kickstarter, where prices start at $44. Shipping is set to take place in May.

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T-Mobile doubles down on Revvl smartphone, intros pumped-up Revvl Plus

This past summer, T-Mobile released the Revvl — the first in its lineup of branded smartphones. Next up is the T-Mobile Revvl Plus, which is a larger smartphone that still comes with an affordable price tag.

Design

Available in a special edition color scheme, the Revvl Plus has a sleek look to it. The body of the device is completely black while parts of it are accented in magenta — to match T-Mobile’s signature colors.

At the top is an earpiece, and on the right side are where the physical power button and volume rocker are located. On the back, you’ll see a speaker placed right underneath the T-Mobile branding. While the Plus is bigger, it still seems slim and compact when holding it — similar to the original Revvl which included an engraved power button.

Specs and screen

In comparison to the Revvl, the Revvl Plus goes a bit bigger with its features. There’s both a larger screen and battery, as well as improved cameras and security.

The device has a 6-inch full HD display, 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and micro-USB charging spot. On the back of the Revvl is where you’ll find a finger print scanner and a vertical, dual rear camera setup with 13-megapixel and 5-megapixel sensors.

Under the hood, is a 2.0GHz octa-core processor, 3,380mAh battery, along with 2GB RAM and 32GB of native storage. There’s also a MicroSD card slot for 128GB of expandable storage.

But when it comes to software, the Revvl Plus runs the same operating system as the Revvl — Android Nougat. Google released Nougat as it’s mobile operating system for 2016. Since then, the company has gone on to release its latest OS known as Android Oreo which officially launched in August.

Price and availability

The Revvl Plus will be available in T-Mobile stores and on the carrier’s website starting November 17. You can purchase the phone for $0 down and $9 a month for 18 months with Jump! On Demand service. There’s also the option to put $8 down and pay $8 a month for 24 months on the T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan. The full retail price for the Revvl Plus will run you $200.

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