The LG G6 will get a successor, but it won’t be called the G7

A fresh start for the new year.

LG’s G6 and V30 last year were really solid phones, but despite this, they failed to make any sort of dent in the market. Likely as an attempt to change this in 2018, a spokesperson for LG has confirmed that the company will be getting rid of its G-series branding that’s been around since 2012 with the Optimus G in favor of something fresh and new.

This change will be made with a phone that’s released in “the first half” of 2018, and this leads us to believe that the first phone to be affected by this is what we were previously expecting to be called the LG G7. LG hasn’t dived into specifics about what the G-series name will be changed to, but it has been confirmed that the company is toying with the idea of a “two-digit number.”

That might sound confusing considering that the last phone in the G-series was the G6, but assuming LG does go down this path, it’d do so with the intent of the two-digit number making its phone look on par with the likes of the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X and not outdated with a lower number such as the G7.

It remains to be seen whether or not a rebranding is what LG needs to compete more directly with the likes of Samsung and Apple, but LG has said that this isn’t anything new and that both companies “have done so for their own flagships” in the past.

If the G-series really is no more, what would you like to see the G7 and future phones in this lineup called?

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LG V30 is getting a stunning Raspberry Rose color

LG has the perfect Valentine’s gift for the pink lover in your life.

The V30 is definitely one of LG’s best-looking phones in quite some time, and this is made possible thanks to its aluminum frame, glass back, and super slim bezels. LG launched the V30 in a handful of colors, including Aurora Black, Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue, and Lavender Violet. All of these look quite nice, but just in time for CES 2018, LG has announced its latest color – Raspberry Rose.

Raspberry Rose is a fancy way of saying ‘pink’, but the hue that LG is going with here is a pink that’s actually quite deep. LG describes it as being an “intense saturated version of red”, and as much as I love the look of the Moroccan Blue variant, this just might be my new favorite.

LG will be showing off the new color to attendees at CES this month, and shortly after this it’ll be launched first in LG’s home market of Korea.

Europe and Asia will be next in line for the Raspberry Rose V30’s release, but at this time, there aren’t any plans to bring it to the United States or Canada.

Samsung’s launching a Galaxy S8 in Burgundy Red, and it looks amazing

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How to enable developer mode on your Chromebook

Developer mode lets you access deeper parts of Chrome OS. Here’s how to enable it!

At first glance, it may not look like you can do much tinkering on a Chromebook. Open the device, sign in, and enjoy the security of the sandboxed operating system. But if you do want to do more with your Chromebook — run other operating systems, install full Linux programs or sideload Android applications — you’ll need to enable developer mode first.

Keep in mind this doesn’t have anything to do with the developer channel of the OS itself, despite the similar name. The developer channel is for testing brand new features with a major cost to stability: the developer channel is updated a few times a week with new features and bug fixes.

Enabling developer mode is analogous to rooting your Android phone: you have deeper access to the OS, letting you turn on cool stuff or potentially break things.

How to enable developer mode

Before we get started, make a backup of any local files you have on the Chromebook. Your Chromebook will be Powerwashed in the process, erasing any accounts and local data. With that all done, let’s enable developer mode!

Boot your Chromebook into recovery mode by powering off the device, then holding the Esc and Refresh (the circular arrow) keys while pressing the power button. If you are using a Chromebook or Chromebit, there will be a hole on the device that has the recovery button inside. Stick a paperclip or similar object inside to hold down the recovery button, then press the power button.
Press Ctrl + D on your keyboard when asked to insert recovery media.

Press Enter to confirm.

When your device reboots, you’ll see a screen stating the OS verification is off. This screen will appear every time you turn the device on to warn you that the device isn’t as secure as it would be out of the box. When you see this screen, press Ctrl + D to continue booting, or wait a few seconds and the device will boot on its own.

How to disable developer mode

Since developer mode is not verified by Google, you will need to turn it off before selling the device or returning it for warranty purposes. Here’s how to disable developer mode!

Reboot your Chromebook.
Press the spacebar to re-enable verification when you see the “OS verification is off” screen. This will wipe the device and it will be secure again!

Questions?

Do you use developer mode on your Chromebook? Let us know down below!

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Best Samsung Galaxy S8 Holster Cases

Keep yours pockets empty and your phone at your hip with these cool holster cases.

Holster cases get a bum rap. They’re portrayed in the media as being for geeks, but they’re actually incredibly practical, especially as phones get larger and jean pockets somehow get smaller and smaller.

If you want to keep your Galaxy S8 at your hip without it bulking out your pocket, then check out these holster cases and get practical.

• Encase DuraClip Combo
• Aduro shell case combo series
• Trianium Duranium Series
• Supcase Unicorn Beetle Shield
• Zizo Bolt Series
• OtterBox Defender and holster

Encase DuraClip Combo

This is probably the most practical case for most people, since, while still a fairly rugged case, it’s relatively slim, and you could carry it in your pocket if you wanted to. At $14, it’s not a bad deal, since you get the rugged bumper and the detachable belt clip. It’s all quite convenient and looks pretty sharp to boot. The bumper case is good and grippy so that you don’t drop your Galaxy S8 and the belt clip is reinforced to last.

See at Amazon

Aduro shell case combo series

Aduro’s cover is even thinner than Encase’s, so if you’re looking for minimal bulk, this is your pick. It features a fully separate holster, which slides over the front of your Galaxy S8, protecting the screen while it’s on your hip. The belt clips swivels, so you can have your S8 upright or horizontal. The sweet part is that the back cover has a built-in kickstand, so you can watch videos hands-free when it’s not holstered on your belt. This one’s only $10!

See at Amazon

Trianium Duranium Series

Trianium’s Duranium has a more armored design than the above two picks, and it’s certainly built for someone who needs more more rugged protection. It features a dual-layer back cover that’s made of TPU and a hard polycarbonate shell, and its holster slips over the screen, with a reinforced belt clip. The nice part is that, at $17, Trianium gives you color options in gunmental, gold, and rose gold. You also get a lifetime warranty if anything goes wrong with the case.

See at Amazon

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Shield

A perennial favorite of mine, Supcase’s rugged cases boast some of the best protection in the slimmest form factor when it comes to heavy duty cases. The flexible TPU layer is shock-absorbent and soft so as not to scratch your Galaxy S8’s glass, and the outer polycarbonate layer is hard, protecting your phone from bumps. Raised corners protect your S8 where it’s most vulnerable and Supcase has some color options that are a bit more fun than others. There’s also a front cover that protects your S8’s screen and hugs it like no other screen protector I’ve seen. I also dig the swiveling belt clip and holster, which slides over the front. At $23, it’s totally worth it.

See at Amazon

Zizo Bolt Series

For military-grade protection, look no further than Zizo’s Bolt Series, which is for folks who want the coolest design and the most color options (10 in all). These cases feature military drop test certification and the detachable belt clip and built-in kickstand make it versatile and convenient. Zizo also includes a Zizo Lightning Shield screen protector with each purchase, so you can protect your whole phone from scratches. If you’re looking for an option to match any style, then this is probably the one for you. At $18 you can even grab a couple!

See at Amazon

OtterBox Defender and holster

The old standby of heavy duty cases, this OtterBox Defender comes with a holster that slides on over the front of your Galaxy S8. The only downside is that the belt clip doesn’t swivel, but it does work as a kickstand, so you can watch videos hands-free. There are three color options to choose from, at $22 apiece. The OtterBox name is tried, trusted, and true, so if you like to stick with brands you love, then this is the case for you.

See at Amazon

What’s on your belt?

Do you use a holster case? Which one? Did we miss an awesome one? Sound off in the comments below.

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Oreo update canceled for OnePlus 5 due to unnamed bug

OxygenOS 5.0 is being canned in favor of 5.0.1.

On December 24, OnePlus announced an early Christmas present in the form of a stable Oreo update for the OnePlus 5. Oreo was coming to the OnePlus 5 as part of OxygenOS 5.0, but just a few days after the update began rolling out to handsets, OnePlus has announced that it’s canceled it.

Staff Member Jimmy Z. on the OnePlus Forums recently updated the original article announcing the OxygenOS 5.0 rollout saying that the update has been canceled due to a “bug.” The specifics of this bug aren’t mentioned, but it must have been bad enough for OnePlus to cancel the update altogether rather than simply halting it until the issue was fixed.

Instead, OnePlus says that it’ll continue the Oreo rollout for the 5 with OxygenOS 5.0.1. The company is said to be “preparing” the new software now, but an exact ETA for its release has yet to be announced.

If you already downloaded OxygenOS 5.0 on your OnePlus 5, have you noticed any major bugs?

OnePlus 5 now has Face Unlock with OxygenOS Open Beta 3

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‘Blade Runner 9732’ recreates Deckard’s apartment in VR

Fans of Blade Runner can now have an interactive snoop through spacecop Rick Deckard’s LA apartment thanks to a lovingly-built, fan-made virtual tour. The game, Blade Runner 9732 (the number of Deckard’s apartment, obviously) has been created by super fan Quentin Lengele, who’s faithfully recreated as much of the set as possible for you to explore. Yes, the ESPER machine is there, and yes, you can sit on the balcony watching the rain-lashed city.

The game’s texture and lighting isn’t hugely sophisticated, but it doesn’t need to be. This is the work of an enthusiast sharing his passion with other like-minded fans. And it’s fun, even with its limitations (Lengele says he plans on adding more interactive elements in the next version), and with its baffling blank spot fill-ins — there are six cans of Axe deodorant in the bathroom cabinet, for example (although to be fair, 2019 is only a year away now).

Lengele released a free beta version on Google Drive over the holidays, with optional support for HTC Vive cybergoggles (no Oculus so far). It’s due to launch fully on Steam on January 7, although as it’s an unofficial product it might not make it that far, so if you want to explore Deckard’s pad you’d better pay a visit now.

Via: Rock Paper Shotgun

Source: Blade Runner 9732

Watch this streamer accidentally break a ‘Tetris’ world record

As the old saying goes, if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Or, if you’re Jonas Neubauer (AKA NubbinsGoody), break a different world record instead. The NES Tetris maestro was trying to break the world record for speed-clearing 100 lines in the classic 80s game and was doing alright until he made a minor error (a basically negligible whoopsie for most players, at that) and lost his focus. “That was a fast 300,000” he says casually, before checking his Twitch comments and then realising that yeah, it was a fast 300,000. Fast enough to earn him the world record for hitting the score in under two minutes, in fact. And understandably, he’s pretty excited. And the 100 lines record? He broke it the next day.

Via: Kotaku

eHarmony can’t claim its matches are ‘scientific’ anymore

Turns out that dating service eHarmony has a weird definition of “science” when the law comes knocking. An ad in the London subway system triggered the UK’s Advertising Standards Agency to call the “scientifically proven” matching system “misleading,” as spotted by the BBC. From the ASA:

“eHarmony UK Ltd t/a eHarmony said that the definition of science was something that was ‘based on or characterised by the methods or principles of science.’ They said that the ad did not make any specific claims except that their matching system was scientific and could therefore provide an advantage in finding a compatible partner over a purely chance-based system or meeting.

The ad did not include any comparisons to other dating websites and did not claim that the service had a better success rate than any other service. They believed that consumers would interpret the ad to mean that the scientific approach eHarmony used could potentially work for them, but did not believe that consumers would interpret the ad to mean that it would guarantee they would find lasting love or make connections.”

That’s one way of trying to cover your ass. Another is to take inspiration from Facebook’s playbook and blame the algorithm. eHarmony claims that its algorithm is “based on scientific theories in the relationship literature of assortative mating,” and provided a couple of studies as evidence that its claims hold water.

The problem is, one of the studies was apparently a survey taken by couples that proactively told the dating site about their impending nuptials. That’s in addition to eHarmony allegedly incentivizing them to do so. Pretty far from a random sample, no?

“We further considered that both studies did not reveal anything about the percentage of the overall users of eHarmony who had found lasting love after using the website compared to other sources,” the ASA writes. The ad has since been taken down.

This isn’t the first time eHarmony has come under fire for its advertising practices, either. Back in 2013 one of its lead researchers was ripped apart at a psychological conference for presenting junk science about the matching algorithm and publishing it in a medical journal.

So what’s a dater to do in these cold winter months? Well, swiping is always an option if you don’t feel like paying for an account or filling out a huge personality test on eHarmony. But that’s an altogether different numbers game. Or, you could always hit the library or a coffee shop to try and find your perfect match — you know, the old fashioned way.

Via: BBC

Source: Advertising Standards Authority

Netflix confirms the expected ‘Bright’ sequel is on its way

Netflix’s Bright might not be a critical success, but it is a commercial success — and that’s all the streaming service needs to hear. After reports that a sequel was in the works, company has confirmed that Bright 2 is in development through a brief teaser clip (below). There’s no mention of a release date, plot or even casting, but there’s a good chance that Will Smith and Joel Edgerton will pick up their roles. David Ayer is expected to return as a director and writer.

The movie had the best first-week viewing of any original movie on Netflix, racking up 11 million views in just its first 3 days. It was also the top movie on Netflix in every country where it was available. As such, it’s hard to imagine Netflix turning down a sequel. While its reported $90 million cost is steep for a straight-to-streaming release, that could easily be justifiable if it leads to more subscriptions and keeps existing subscribers riveted to their screens.

The popularity and resulting sequel could also portend big things for streaming as a whole. If you can have a successful streaming movie with big-name stars, all the while avoiding the costs associated with theatrical releases, wouldn’t you go directly to streaming more often? There’s no guarantee that other movies will enjoy the same success, but don’t be surprised if Bright-style productions become considerably more commonplace.

Leaked footage of Orc casting confirms the rumors: there will be a sequel to #BrightMovie. pic.twitter.com/8ayiDYDfK5

— Bright Film (@BrightNetflix) January 3, 2018

Via: Variety

Source: Bright Film (Twitter)

Nissan’s future cars could read your mind

Most automakers are figuring out how to take the “driver” out of driving, but Nissan is using tech to make it more fun. It’s researching what it calls “brain-to-vehicle” (B2V) tech that can read your brainwaves and figure out what you’re going to do next. After the driver puts on a skullcap device that can measure brain activity, an AI system can then predict if you’re going to turn or brake, and initiate the action 0.2 to 0.5 seconds before you react.

“When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines,” said Nissan VP Daniele Schillaci. “B2V technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable.”

Nissan is on the cutting edge of green and autonomous tech with its Leaf EV, now packing about 150 miles of range and the semi-autonomous ProPilot system. Even when self-driving cars become the norm, however, manufacturers like Nissan say they’ll still give drivers control if they want.

As such, it’s experimenting with ways to enhance manual driving and make it more fun. “Nissan is the very first manufacturer that is bringing real-time brain activity in vehicles as a means for enhancing driving pleasure,” said Nissan senior researcher Lucian Gheorghe.

One of the more difficult, but interesting areas of self-driving research centers on the “handoff” of control from the computer to a human driver. Google’s Waymo division wants to move straight to Level 4 or 5 self-driving, where no driver intervention is required, because it found that drivers were too distracted to take control quickly enough. Nissan’s B2V system, on the other hand, is fully manual with just a minor technological assist.

In any event, automaker working on cars that allow both autonomous and manual driving will need to figure out the human factor. While Nissan says its research is focused on making driving enjoyable, its brain scanning tech could almost certainly make self-driving systems safer, too. “The potential applications of the technology are incredible,” Gheorghe said. “This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”

Source: Nissan