Project Linda is a laptop dock for the Razer Phone

It’s CES, and that means Razer is in Las Vegas with another one of its concepts. As the company recently released its first smartphone, it’s not too surprising that the Project Linda hardware ties into that: It’s a laptop dock for the Razer Phone.

Razer’s take on the laptop dock is a little different. The phone slides into a cavity where you’d typically find a trackpad, replacing the need for one entirely. Push a button on the keyboard’s corner and a connector smoothly slides out of the cavity, making a satisfying whirring noise as it connects firmly to the phone’s USB-C port. A notch in the tray gives access to the handset’s side-mounted fingerprint reader, and also doubles as an easy way to lift the phone out of the tray once it’s disconnected from USB.

Marketing manager Kevin Sather said that the two devices weren’t “fully” designed in parallel, but the fit and finish is seamless. There’s nary a gap between the devices, and when the phone is sitting in its tray it looks like a typical trackpad versus a snap-on accessory. You might even mistake the whole setup for a smaller version of the company’s Blade laptops given the CNC-machined aluminum unibody design. It’s a bit thicker than those (by .05 inches) to accommodate the phone and ensure a flush surface between the handset screen and dock body, though.

It’s hard to ignore that phone’s glossy screen when docked for a few reasons, superficial and otherwise. Using the phone as a trackpad was a little awkward because, unlike the trackpads we’re so used to on traditional laptops, the glossy screen kept “grabbing” my fingers and thumbs as I dragged them around to navigate Project Linda’s vibrant 13.3-inch Quad HD display. While docked you can mirror the phone to Project Linda’s monitor, or use it as a second screen for certain games and apps.

The device has a pair of USB ports — one full-size and one USB-C — for any accessories you’d want to connect (like a mouse). Using a mouse feels natural enough, and navigating everything should feel comfortable for Windows users. There’s a faux Start menu in the lower left corner of the display, and a taskbar for open apps. Rounding out the other features are a 720p webcam, a dual-array mic and a 3.5mm audio jack — something the phone itself lacks.

Typing out a quick email in GMail on Project Linda’s full-size, backlit Chroma keyboard was a comfortable experience too, and for a second I forgot that I wasn’t using a real laptop. When I instinctively used the keyboard to copy text, everything reacted the way it should. Keeping the delete key pressed to eliminate the text was a bit stuttery however, and there was a brief moment between deleting each successive word in a sentence.

The dock’s body is empty, save for a 53.6Wh battery that can fully recharge the Phone three times, and 200GB of storage. Sound comes from the Razer Phone’s speakers. That makes Project Linda hardware much lighter than it looks, too. At just over 2.75 pounds (1.25 kilograms) with the phone docked, the device definitely feels like something I could toss into my messenger bag and not even notice being there.

While Project Linda definitely feels like near-final hardware, Razer stressed that it’s still a concept. There are still some bugs to work out with the way Android treats a second screen, for instance, and Razer says that the palm rejection tech still needs some improvement as well. Ultimately, the company hopes that Project Linda’s screen will be a larger replica of its phone’s screen. Meaning, that final hardware would feature a 120Hz Quad HD touchscreen that’s HDR capable — specs that don’t exist at 13.3 inches yet.

For now, Razer is happy to gather feedback from its fans and the press, and use it to inform the final product’s design, if and when it ever comes to market.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

August smart locks can now let the delivery driver into your home

While Amazon continues to toy with the idea of granting delivery drivers one-time access to your front door (or car trunk) to safely stow packages away from nimble-fingered thieves, August Home has gone ahead and added the functionality to its line of smart locks. The company announced on Tuesday that it is teaming with same-day delivery service, Deliv, to offer in-home package drops.

Dubbed “August Access” the new feature will work on all August Smart Locks, as well as Yale residential locks and a smattering of commercial ones (ie the ones at the main entrance of apartment complexes). So, if you order same-day delivery from a website that’s partnered with Deliv, you’ll have the option to opt in for in-home delivery. Doing so generates a one-time password that the delivery driver can use to open the August lock and gain access. And to make sure that there’s no shenanigans taking place, customers can watch the delivery take place in real time or view a recording of it later.

Fox Sports expands World Cup coverage to Twitter and Snapchat

Fox Sports is no stranger to leveraging the power of technology alongside its broadcasts. Now, it’s expanding its coverage of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup beyond TV, with plans to feature exclusive shows, stories and highlights across Twitter and Snapchat.

The channel will produce a 30-minute live show with host Rachel Bonnetta, streamed exclusively on Twitter from Moscow’s Red Square on each match day. It’ll feature Fox Sports personalities such as Rob Stone, Landon Donovan, Kate Abdo and Alexi Lalas, plus action previews and recaps, and fans can also jump onto @FOXSports and @FOXSoccer for near-live video highlights, goal replays and talent Q&As.

Over on Snapchat, Fox Sports will produce a Publisher Story, chronicling the day-by-day drama of the tournament through recaps, previews and features produced exclusively for the platform. Plans for the digital coverage are comprehensive, keeping diehard fans and newbs alike up to speed with the tournament without even having to watch it.

Kate Spade designed an Android Wear smartwatch

Kate Spade, known for its colorful, bubble-gum aesthetic that draws girls from all over the world to its purses and accessories, has made its first touchscreen smartwatch. The Android Wear device was unveiled at CES 2018, and doesn’t have a name other than “Kate Spade scallop touchscreen”. It was designed to fit in with the rest of the brand’s “unapologetically feminine” look, according to CEO Mary Beech, and is one of the few smartwatches ever to specifically target women’s wrists, and do so in an attractive way.

Pictures don’t quite convey how this watch looks in real life — the case isn’t as chunky as it appears. And that’s part of the reason it took Kate Spade so long to release its first touchscreen wearable. “We needed to wait till the tech got to the point where we could have that slim case that we knew our customer would want,” Beech told Engadget in an interview.

The 1.19-inch watch face is surrounded by scalloped edging, which you’ll find on some other Kate Spade products. A spade logo is etched onto the knob on the right of the case. The device also comes with three animated watch faces that fans will find familiar, like the “New York Minute” cab graphic and the daisy with falling petals. Those features alone don’t make the Scallop feminine, of course. It’s the narrow 16mm band and relatively small face that make it more suited for petite wrists.

Like other smartwatches made by Fossil Group, the Kate Spade watch has an app that lets you customize the watch face. But instead of picking the colors of the dials, hands and numbers, the Kate Spade “Choose your look” app asks questions about your outfit, jewelry colors and the time of day to generate a face that will “perfectly complement” what you’re wearing.

Also similar to other Android Wear 2.0 devices from Fossil Group are the Scallop’s fitness-tracking features. which are pretty basic. It doesn’t have a heart rate sensor, so it will just track your steps, calories and distance traveled via Google Fit. You can also long press the knob to summon Google Assistant and stream music over Bluetooth to your headphones. You know, like most other Android Wear 2 watches.

For a brand that’s known for its bright colors and bold patterns, Kate Spade’s first touchscreen smartwatch lacks the company’s distinct palette. When the watch launches comes Feb. 5th, only black and nude leather straps will be available for $295, along with a rose-gold metal bracelet option for $325. That’s not to say more colorful versions aren’t coming in the future, of course. For now what physically stands out about Kate Spade’s new watch is its narrow strap and scalloped detail. At least it’s not another watch “designed by men for men, with some glitter thrown on it,” as Beech described.

Skagen also unveiled its first touchscreen smartwatch at CES called the Falster, and it’s also an attractive option. It features color-matched lugs and metallic strap, making for a cleaner, more elegant aesthetic. Like the Kate Spade version, Skagen’s device runs Android Wear 2.0, has customizable watch faces and can track basic fitness metrics.

Although smartwatches haven’t been very well-received since their inception, fashion brands clearly still aren’t giving up on the category. Like Beech said, “our customer is going to tell us where the market place is going.” We’ll surely see more refinements in the category and, hopefully, get a long-lasting watch that’s as beautiful as it is useful. One day.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

Netflix brings HDR and surround sound to the Razer Phone this month

If you’re a fan of mobile entertainment, the Razer Phone is about to get better. At CES, the company just announced that it’s entering a partnership with Netflix and that the handset will be the first mobile phone to offer Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound. That’s in addition to HDR10 video. Basically, it’s the highest-quality Netflix experience you can get that still fits into your pocket.

How does it look and sound in action? From my brief demo, pretty well. A Razer spokesman offered a quick clip from Stranger Things’ second season, and Steve’s hair looked as luscious and feathered as Farrah Fawcett would hope. Nancy’s exasperation that he related a basketball win to his grandpa’s time in the war sounded plenty convincing from the phone’s front-facing speakers as well.

It was tough to get a feel for how accurately the phone replicated surround sound in a moderately noisy hotel suite and with a dialogue-heavy scene, but we’ll have further impressions later this month once the update is out. Current Razer Phone owners will receive it via an over-the-air patch, and all new phones will ship with it pre-installed.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

NBC’s Winter Olympics VR streams will work on almost any device

The Winter Olympics is getting a virtual reality makeover. NBC will present over 50 hours of VR coverage from the games in South Korea next month, using Intel True VR technology to create 360-degree immersive environments. It’s the same style of tech that’s been adopted by BT Sport, MLB, UFC, PGA and NBA, and it made an appearance at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, but it’s the first time the Winter Games has been given the treatment (they only happen every four years, after all, and VR has only taken flight in recent times).

The VR content will be available on a wide range of devices and platforms (unlike programming for the Summer Games, which was only available on Samsung headsets) and will include the opening and closing ceremonies, behind-the-scenes extras, packaged highlights and a whole host of events including ski jumping, snowboarding and big air, which will make for impressive VR viewing. Programming will span every day of the Games (with the exception of February 18) and is available to pay-TV subscribers with Samsung, Google, Windows, Android and iOS devices in the US through the NBC Sports VR app.

Via: Variety

Just Eat adds a cheeky 50p service charge to dodge EU rules

Thanks to new EU regulations, you won’t have to put up with irritating card surcharges for much longer. Unfortunately, minimum card spends you come across in small shops and such will stick around, but from January 13th, the Payment Services Directive comes into play. This stops retailers from charging you more for, say, using a credit card than a debit card, or generally just passing the transaction fee onto the customer. It won’t, however, make your Just Eat delivery any cheaper. That’s because yesterday, ahead of the new EU rules being implemented, Just Eat did away with its 50p fee for paying by card, and instead created a new 50p “service charge” that applies to all orders.

What’s particularly cheeky is pay-by-cash customers now also have to fish between the sofa cushions for an extra coin — a move Just Eat calls “fairness for all” (lol) — meaning it’s making even more moolah while sticking a middle finger up to the spirit of the EU directive. Just Eat told the BBC it had previously thought about tweaking charges, while also totally confessing that “the change to legislation did play a part in prompting the review.” A spokesperson also said, predictably, that it’ll enable the company to keep providing its stellar services: “The 50p charge simply means that along with our restaurant partners, we can continue to deliver the best possible takeaway experience.”

Just Eat hasn’t actually done anything too surprising. You don’t need a degree in economics to imagine companies are going to try to dodge the EU directive by renaming charges so they aren’t as obviously linked to card transaction fees. The other option would be to just increase the price of goods and services to reflect the card charge vacuum that now exists. Classic ‘business is business’ stuff, though we’ll see how Trading Standards feels about this kind of trickery when it actually has to start enforcing the new rules. And in Just Eat’s case, it’s gotta pad the bank account for when it eventually swallows Hungryhouse whole.

Via: BBC

Apple Begins Selling Refurbished 10.5-Inch iPad Pro Models

Apple today has added refurbished 10.5-inch iPad Pro models to its online store for the first time in the United States and Canada.

There are currently around 20 configurations available to choose from, including Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular variants, with prices reduced by around 15 percent compared to what Apple charges for brand new models. As usual, supply is limited, so be quick to place an order if you are interested.

In the United States, refurbished prices start at $549 for Wi-Fi models with 64GB of storage, a discount of $100. Wi-Fi models with 256GB and 512GB of storage are $649 and $849, down from $799 and $999, respectively.

Apple says its refurbished products are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new white box and all manuals and accessories. Apple also installs a new battery and replaces the outer shell, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between a refurbished and brand new iPad Pro.

All refurbished iPad Pro models come with Apple’s standard one-year warranty effective on the date the tablet is delivered. The warranty can be extended to up to two years from the original purchase date with AppleCare+ for iPad, at a cost of $99 for all 10.5-inch iPad Pro models in the United States.

Apple introduced the 10.5-inch iPad Pro in June 2017. The device is only slightly larger than the 9.7-inch iPad Pro it replaced, but the size and weight difference is hardly noticeable, given Apple was able to make the display around 20 percent larger by significantly reducing the size of the tablet’s bezels.

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The 10.5-inch iPad Pro is powered by Apple’s A10X Fusion chip and features a 12-megapixel rear camera, a 120Hz refresh rate, Touch ID, four speakers, and a Lightning connector with USB 3.0 transfer speeds and fast charging capabilities. Apple advertises battery life of up to 10 hours per charge.

Related Roundup: iPad ProTag: refurbishedBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Neutral)
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CES 2018: Colgate Debuts Apple Exclusive Smart Electronic Toothbrush With ResearchKit Integration

Colgate this week announced the launch of its first app-enabled electronic toothbrush, called the Colgate Smart Electronic Toothbrush E1 with Artificial Intelligence. Available exclusively beginning today on Apple.com and in some Apple retail locations, Colgate’s new product provides a few pieces of real-time feedback to help users improve their brushing routine.

The electronic toothbrush also uses Apple’s ResearchKit in order to crowdsource toothbrushing data and “get even smarter about oral care for better and faster future innovation.” ResearchKit is a software framework created by Apple that lets medical researchers gather data from compatible apps and programs, working in conjunction sometimes with CareKit to provide users with a better understanding of their specific medical conditions.

“Our goal is simple. We want people to have their healthiest smiles by brushing their best,” said Dr. Patricia Verduin, Chief Technology Officer, Colgate-Palmolive Company. “The first step to improving brushing is to understand consumers’ brushing habits, and Apple ResearchKit has proved to be a powerful tool for this.”

Otherwise, Colgate’s electronic toothbrush performs functions similar to previous devices from Philips, providing users with real-time feedback through an iPhone app as a way to improve brushing habits. The toothbrush includes various sensors, 3D motion sensors, and AI algorithms to detect brushing effectiveness “in 16 zones of the mouth.”

The device’s AI technology was created in partnership with Kolibree, and the connected app coaches users through brushing sessions that point out sections of the mouth where they might need to focus on more during their daily routines. The more the toothbrush is used, the more the AI learns and will adapt to each user, adjusting to their own habits and providing improved brushing tips.

Colgate is launching the Smart Electronic Toothbrush today in the United States on Apple.com and in select Apple stores, and will run for a price of $99.95.

Tags: CES 2018, Colgate
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CES 2018: Alpine Electronics Reveals 9-Inch Aftermarket CarPlay System That ‘Hovers’ in Front of Dash

Alpine Electronics at CES today unveiled a new aftermarket CarPlay system with a “hover” design that floats in front of the vehicle’s dashboard instead of being embedded directly into it. The company said that the iLX-F309 “doesn’t require custom installation,” but professional help will still likely be needed to remove existing infotainment systems before installing the iLX-F309.

Alpine’s receiver includes a 9-inch touch screen and will fit in “a variety of vehicles.” The 9-inch screen is slightly larger than the average 6-to-7-inch screen size of many other aftermarket CarPlay infotainment systems. Alpine pointed out that the hover design will bring the larger display into vehicles that were previously restricted to dashboards with smaller form factors.

The system uses a 1-DIN chassis and an adjustable mount to give the “hover” effect after installation. In its announcement, Alpine Electronics described some of the installation mechanics of the iLX-F309 and how users will be able to adjust its angle:

The 9-inch screen is attached to an adjustable mount connected to a 1-DIN chassis. Once installed, the screen and mount are fixed to the chassis for a sturdy installation. The screen hovers over or in front of the dash while its rear housing tapers off cleanly at the edges for a thin and modern silhouette. At its default position, the screen’s sliding mount is pushed out, sitting at a 90 degree angle and the bottom of the screen is centered with the 1-DIN chassis.

At this point, the screen can be angled at select positions to assist during installation, help with visibility, or move it away from other items on the dashboard. The screen can be positioned 20 millimeters (mm) back from its default position, to move it closer to the dashboard. It can be moved up or down 30mm from its default position and can be tilted up or down at a maximum of 45 degrees, depending on the position of the up/down location.

In addition to CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, the new system is also an AM/FM receiver with video support. The system doesn’t include a CD or DVD slot, but there is a USB port, AUX input, and an HDMI input. The company mentioned that it has Bluetooth technology for audio streaming, but it doesn’t appear to include Wi-Fi or support for wireless CarPlay connectivity, like the company’s iLX-107.

Multiple add-ons are available for the iLX-F309, including a CD/DVD player, a second HDMI input, and rear/side cameras to see behind the vehicle as it’s backing up. Alpine Electronics authorized retailers will begin selling the new system in February for $1,100.

Related Roundup: CarPlayTags: Alpine, CES 2018
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