Skagen’s first Android Wear smartwatch costs $275

Available soon between $275 and $295 depending on the style you choose.

For a while now, it seems like companies that have the biggest interest in Android Wear are that of fashion brands. Kate Spade recently announced its first Android Wear-powered gadget, and now Skagen is joining the party with its Falster Smartwatch.

Skagen’s released hybrid smartwatches in the past, but this is the first one from the company with a touchscreen. Similar to most all of Skagen’s other products, the goal is to make the Falster Smartwatch as minimalistic as possible. The body is sleek, there’s no flat-tire on the screen, and there’s just one physical button on the right side.

Exact specifications have yet to be announced, but we do know that the Falster Smartwatch will ship with Android Wear 2.0, has support for the Google Play Store, and offers “activity tracking.” The watch will be compatible with Android devices running 4.4 or later, and if you have an iPhone on iOS 9.0 or newer, you’re also in the clear.

Skagen says the Falster Smartwatch will be available for purchase soon, and depending on what style strap and color you choose, the price will range from $275 up to $295.

Kate Spade is the latest fashion brand to launch an Android Wear watch, on sale now from $295

How to make your old Android phone secure against Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities

What you can do to try and keep your data safe from prying eyes.

Worried about the Meltdown and Spectre security flaws, but not ready to buy a new phone just yet? You’re not alone and there are a few things you can do to keep “safer” from exploits on the phone you love (and already paid for).

The first thing you need to know is that both Meltdown and Spectre aren’t anything that has been seen outside of a Google research lab. They’re fairly serious bugs, so you shouldn’t ignore them, but you do need to remember that they were found, patched and then announced by the Project Zero team at Google and not something anyone found through suspicious activity or others using them to hack any data.

Of course, that doesn’t mean nobody will try to use the flaws to hack others, so due diligence is still required.

A software update is the only real fix

Unfortunately, the only way to make your phone inherently secure against side-channel memory exploits is with an operating system update.

Not everyone is ready to install an unofficial OS on their phone, and that’s OK.

For some phones, that’s just not going to happen. Even for phones that were well supported when it came to updates and security patches — once they reach what’s called end-of-life no more are going to come. For Google’s phones that means anything older than the Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X aren’t going to get a patched version of Android. Other companies will have different policies here, and you should check with the company who made your phone if you think it’s new enough to still be supported.

There are other options, though. If your phone has an unlocked bootloader and you’re feeling a bit adventurous you might find a community-built open-source version of Android made for your phone. Nexus phones and Samsung phones are popular models with “good hackers” and oftentimes community software is just as stable and feature-rich as the factory version. Once in a while, even more so.

We’re not going to suggest that everyone try to load an alternative OS onto a phone. but if you have the basic computer know-how to give it a shot head to XDA developers and search to see what might be available.

Search for your phone at XDA Developers’ forums

You’ll find plenty of phones from Google, LG, Samsung, OnePlus, and more listed, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a new OS to install that is patched against Meltdown and Spectre.

The common sense approach

For most people, this is the way to go. Both Meltdown and Spectre are native exploits against computer hardware (remember, your phone is a tiny computer!), but both still require some sort of malware to be installed to do anything.

Thankfully, keeping yourself malware-free isn’t nearly as difficult as some would want you to believe. Make sure you have a lock screen and encryption enabled on your phone so apps can’t do anything while the screen is off, then follow three simple rules:

• Only install software from Google Play
• Read and understand any permissions an app asks for
• Only use a web browser you can trust when it comes to security

The first is easy — stick to Google Play for all your apps. There are plenty of other trusted places to get Android apps, but when it comes to keeping safe from a security issue that’s in the spotlight sticking with Google is the easy way to do it. And while every now and then you’ll hear stories of apps slipping through official app stores from Apple and Google, these are rare instances and don’t discredit the advice that sticking with those official stores is still the best practice. Sticking to Google means you have their tools in your corner, and things like Play Protect are nothing to sneeze at.

App permissions often don’t make sense without some background information. Ask someone to be sure.

Permissions can be a bit more tricky. Apps written for phones running Android Marshmallow or newer will ask you for permissions before they do anything and your phone has a spot in the settings where you can grant or block any app permissions. Software written for older versions will ask you before you install the app, but once you say yes and install it assumes you really meant it and the app can do everything it asked to do (because you said it could!). If you see anything that looks strange when it comes to an app asking to do something on your phone, ask someone why before you say yes. An ounce of prevention and all that …

There’s no easy way to say a web browser is secure when it comes to internet malware. As people learn newer tricks to try and mine your data, web browsers might need to be updated to prevent it. That means the web browser that came with your phone might not cut the mustard here. This is important always, but the side-channel memory exploits used for Meltdown and Spectre could be embedded in a script you run through your browser.

Google and Mozilla are both in front of the Meltdown and Spectre exploits and doing all they can to keep you safe.

We can recommend both Chrome and Firefox for anyone looking for a secure browser that is still feature-rich. Chrome goes the extra step of using Google’s safe-browsing service to filter out any websites that contain malware so you won’t even visit them. Both Chrome and Firefox have announced that they are doing all they can to protect users against Meltdown and Spectre, and the companies behind them — Google and Mozilla — are great at minding the store here.

There are plenty of other web browsers available in Google Play and both user feedback and company announcements can help you see which are ready to protect you against web malware.

Download Chrome from Google Play

Download Firefox from Google Play

You are the weak link

Like all things when it comes to security on our phones and connected gadgets, the user is the most important and most vulnerable part of the picture.

In an ideal world, companies would spend the money and update all of their products whenever something like this happens, but that’s just not going to happen. At least not without some stricter consumer protection laws when it comes to technology. And not everyone can afford to, or even wants to, run out and buy the new thing every year. That means it’s on us once the company who got our money is done supporting a product.

Be mindful of what you install and follow a few sane practices while you use your phone and you’ll be doing all you can to stay safe!

Razer Phone is first to support HDR and Dolby Digital 5.1 on Netflix

Available soon with a future software update.

The Razer Phone’s a pretty mixed bag, but without a doubt, two of its most rewarding features are its display and speaker combo. The 5.7-inch Quad HD LCD display is plenty sharp, and the industry-first 120Hz display is a joy to look at. On the audio side of things, the two front-facing stereo speakers are some of the best you can find on a phone right now.

Thanks to a new partnership with Netflix, these two components are now being used to their full potential to offer the best mobile Netflix experience yet.

As part of a future software update, the Razer Phone will get support for both HDR and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. This marks the Razer Phone as the first mobile device to support both of these standards with Netflix, and the 5.1 rating will work with both the external speakers and the included 3.5mm dongle that’s THX-certified.

Razer hasn’t said exactly when this update will be pushed out, but it should be here sooner rather than later.

Razer Project Linda turns your phone into a laptop

OnePlus 5T Sandstone White is now available for purchase for $559

You’ll probably want to act fast.

The OnePlus 5T is an excellent phone is a lot of different areas, and it’s definitely the cleanest and most polished-looking phone OnePlus has released to date. The 5T’s only been available in a sleek Midnight Black color in most markets since its launch in November, but now you can finally buy the phone in Sandstone White.

OnePlus announced the new Sandstone White color on January 4, and January 9 marks the first official day that you can actually buy the thing.

You’ll pay $559 for this version of the 5T, and in addition to the unique color and texture, you’re also getting 8GB RAM and 128GB storage compared to the $499 Midnight Black unit that comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage.

It’s unclear how long OnePlus will keep the Sandstone White 5T around, but the “limited edition” branding leads up to believe that you’ll want to get your orders in sooner rather than later to ensure you don’t miss out on securing one for yourself.

See at OnePlus

OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 5

• OnePlus 5T review: Come for the value, not the excitement
• OnePlus 5T specs
• Should you upgrade from the OnePlus 3T?
• OnePlus 5T vs. Galaxy S8: Beast mode
• All of the latest OnePlus 5T news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus
Amazon

Honor 7X will get its own face unlock feature in Q1 2018

The face unlock clones keep coming.

Since the launch of the iPhone X, it seems like everyone and their cousin wants to try their hand at facial recognition. OnePlus first launched its Face Unlock feature on the 5T before rolling it out to the 5, Asus announced its take on this with the ZenFone Max Plus, and now Honor will be releasing its own facial unlocking system on the 7X.

Honor says face unlock will come to the 7X “beginning in Q1 of 2018”, and this will happen thanks to a future software update. Honor hasn’t dived into specifics of how its face unlock system will work, but seeing as how there aren’t special sensors like on the iPhone X, it’ll likely work similarly to what we’ve seen so far with the OnePlus 5T.

The Honor 7X already offers way more phone than one would expect at the $199 price point, and while face unlock might not be a necessity, we certainly aren’t complaining that it’s making its way to such an affordable handset.

Honor View 10 goes international Jan 8, Honor 7X announced in limited-edition red

Pro Drybag 2.0 Is Built To Protect Your Gear In Extreme Conditions

Take all your favorite tech with you on all your adventures!

Mobile technology has gotten better and better over the years, so when you set out on an adventure into the great wide wilderness, you’ll want to take your favorite tech along with you. So what makes a great gear bag? It’s got to be well-designed and customizable to keep your gear organized and secure, and it’s got to be rugged and durable enough to withstand anything life throws at you.

The folks at Subtech Sports have a great solution with their latest Pro Drybag 2.0 series of bags. After a successful campaign launching the original Pro Drybag, they’re back with improved models that are an ideal bag choice for extreme athletes, extreme tech geeks, and everyone in between. There are actually three bags released here — a commuter-sized tote bag, a medium-sized bag that includes a shockproof inflatable system, and a full-sized bag with a fully adjustable internal pack system. All bags are built to be waterproof with an air-tight zipper designed to keep your valuables dry and safe.

Thanks to their previous Kickstarter product, Subtech has received real-life feedback from athletes and adventurers around the world who have taken these bags to all corners of the earth. Just like its predecessor, the Pro Drybag 2.0 has already crushed its Kickstarter goal, but there’s still time to score your own for a great discounted price. You can snag the tote bag model with a pledge of $49 (over 50% off), or opt for the floating carry-on bag or the larger Pro Drybag with a pledge of $199. It’s worth noting that Subtech is based out of Sweden, and the prices are listed in Swedish currency, and will presumably be shipping from Sweden — and shipping costs are not included in the pledge price.

This is the third Kickstarter campaign for the team behind the Pro Drybag, so you’ll be buying a product that’s been refined over years. The bags are set to start shipping in June 2018 — perfect timing for any summer adventures you may be planning — and there’s still three weeks remaining to get in on this deal. Whether you’re a thrill-seeking adventurer, or simply a frequent traveler that wants peace of mind when you pack up all your valuable gear, you’ll need to look into the Pro Drybag 2.0 Series.

See the Pro Drybag 2.0 Series on Kickstarter

Garmin’s latest running watch packs music and payments

We get it: all you wanna do this year is go for a run and leave that pricey, thousand-dollar smartphone at home. That’s why almost every running watch worth its salt now comes with built-in music playback that’ll push tunes to your Bluetooth headphones. Garmin’s support for this cause now includes the new Forerunner 645 Music which, clue in the name, is a running watch that packs storage for up to 500 songs. As well as the music on your desktop, you can also pipe in songs from either iHeartRadio and Deezer to take on your outdoor jaunts.

As well as Bluetooth music, the 645 comes packing Garmin Pay, which is ideal for that post-workout coffee (or beer, we won’t judge). In addition, prospective owners should be wowed by the pretty steel bezel, the first Forerunner to get such a flashy addition. Battery life is always an issue with running watches, and the 645 will last up to seven days on a charge, or five hours on GPS.

Garmins always have sturdy build quality and should last you forever, so it’s no surprise to see the 645 Music having a pleasing heft. In addition, it’s a lot slimmer and tidier than previous iterations, and the steel bezel really does make it look a lot classier than other wearables in its class.

The Garmin Forerunner 645 Music is available for $450, and comes with ether a black or reddish-pink cerise band and will arrive within the next three months. If you’re still devoted to that old iPod Shuffle, you can pick up a music-free version that’s priced at $400, which comes in black or sandstone.

Nicole Lee contributed to this report.

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

Source: Garmin

President Trump signs order to promote broadband in rural areas

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will make it easier for companies to install high-speed broadband networks in rural areas. The move is designed to tackle the economic challenges of integrating broadband infrastructure in these communities — where 39 percent of people don’t have access to broadband — which the Obama administration highlighted two years ago.

Earlier this year Trump commented on his “$1 trillion infrastructure proposal”, but this latest order doesn’t appear to offer any funding to promote broadband in rural areas. Instead, it expedites federal permitting requirements, essentially removing governmental bottlenecks for broadband companies looking to install and operate wireless towers in these places. Trump signed the order in front of nearly 5,000 American Farm Bureau Federation members in Nashville, telling them, “Those towers are going to go up, and you’re going to have great, great broadband.”

Via: USA Today

Source: Whitehouse.gov

Watch WWE highlights from ringside with NextVR’s wrestling channel

The fine, well-oiled folks of World Wrestling Entertainment are bringing some of the franchise’s most exciting moments to virtual reality with a new channel on the NextVR app. The WWE channel will host 10-minute experiences, uploaded for free after each participating event, that put fans in the center of the action, as if they attended the match live. NextVR is available on Samsung’s Gear VR, Google’s Daydream View, Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality and Sony’s PlayStation VR headsets.

This isn’t NextVR’s first foray into VR athletics. The company supports a host of sports competitions, including the official NBA, NFL, Wimbledon and boxing VR channels, plus concerts via Live Nation. NextVR streams some of these games live, though for now the WWE will offer only curated highlights, rather than full matches.

The WWE is messing around with new ways to reach viewers: In December, the company announced a 12-episode tournament that will air exclusively on Facebook’s Watch tab on Tuesday nights, starting January 16th. We’ll be chatting with WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon on the Engadget stage at CES about all of the ways the wrestling world is using technology to expand its audience and influence.

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

Google will remove its name from fast-loading mobile URLs

Google’s fast-loading, data-saving AMP sites help you mainline morning news on the train to work, but they come with an undesirable side effect. As you will’ve noticed, the URL for an AMP site looks something like this: google.com/amp/www.engadget.com… As Google explains, it starts loading the page before you’ve even decided whether to click or not. For that and privacy reasons, Google has to be the middle man, though it has figured out how to nix that URL prefix in its mobile Search apps. In the latter half of 2018, though, Google has said it expects to be able to remove the AMP signature from URLs in Chrome and other smartphone browsers, too.

There are a few reasons why Google would want to cut its dust jacket out of the equation. Firstly, publishers will get their rightful place at the front of the URL. But for users, it means no more irksome editing before posting an interesting link to social media, or sharing in other ways. And when you prod at a shared link, you’ll have more confidence it hasn’t been mislabeled if all you see is the AMP prefix. By the time the change is implemented, AMP pages might have a friendlier moniker, such as ‘Instant.’ More importantly, though, you’ll know you’re getting the full website experience and not a clickbait version with content stripped out — a practice some publishers have annoyed Google with.

If you’re interested in the nitty gritty, Google is working on a new version of the AMP cache based on “the emerging Web Packaging standard.” According to the search giant, it’ll offer the same level of privacy and performance as the current cache without tinkering with the URL. Google expects other browsers to adopt the standard as it has other uses, such as enabling offline pages. There is much work still to be done, like implementing the standard in the WebKit engine, but it’s hoped that mobile newsguzzlers will start seeing fast-loading pages without Google sitting at the front of the URL at some point in the second half of this year.

Source: Google