Shell is an unusual mashup of smartwatch and smartphone
When is a smartwatch not a smartwatch? When it’s also a smartphone! That’s the pitch behind Shell, a new mobile device which promises to combine both devices into one, slightly unusual multi-purpose device that can be both worn on your wrist or detached from its cradle-like wrist mount and then held up to year ear to make a regular (or, well, semi-regular) cell phone.
“Shell is a truly independent and fully functional smartwatch that tackles one of the major limitations of independent wearables,” creator Azar Talibzade told Digital Trends. “At the beginning, smartwatches evolved primarily as fitness trackers or notification centers. Currently, we’re seeing a movement toward independent call-capable watches that can exist without needing to be physically near a user’s smartphone.
Shell is a natural extension to this evolution, and provides users with a full-size smartphone at the push of a button. While this was the primary drive for developing Shell, other exciting features include manual emergency charging, a 360-degree rotating camera, and crystal-clear calls thanks to the stand-alone antenna. We’ve also made sure that these benefits can be brought to existing smartwatch owners by creating custom adaptors for top brands, such as Apple Watch, Moto 360, Samsung Gear, LG G Watch and Huawei Watch.”
Other than its unusual design, the device’s “manual emerging charging” is its most unique feature. It allows users to generate extra battery life by flexing the gadget’s “wings” up and down — with 3-5 minutes of flexing being enough to give you a few more minutes of phone time.
Shell will be available to pre-order on Indiegogo from January 31. The Universal Model, which lets users transform their existing smartwatch into a smartphone, will start at $150. The stand-alone Signature Model, meanwhile, comes with a starting price of $250, while the “military grade” Commando edition costs $400.
The idea of Shell is very interesting. The reality, though, is that despite its Dick Tracy cool, very few people like shouting at their wrist to take phone calls. But since switching between calls on a smartwatch and smartphone isn’t as seamless as it could be. in theory, that could make the concept of a device like Shell valuable. Whether this design is the right approach, however, and whether potential customers agree that this is a problem that needs solving, is something we’ll have to wait to find out.
With just weeks until the Indiegogo campaign kicks off, at least it’s not too long of a wait.
Editors’ Recommendations
- DKNY Minute hybrid smartwatch merges tech and fashion for a neglected audience
- The Misfit Path is Misfit’s smallest hybrid smartwatch yet
- Blocks Core hands-on review
- Germany bans sales of children’s smartwatches due to eavesdropping fears
- Make some time for the best smartwatch deals available right now
Shell is an unusual mashup of smartwatch and smartphone
When is a smartwatch not a smartwatch? When it’s also a smartphone! That’s the pitch behind Shell, a new mobile device which promises to combine both devices into one, slightly unusual multi-purpose device that can be both worn on your wrist or detached from its cradle-like wrist mount and then held up to year ear to make a regular (or, well, semi-regular) cell phone.
“Shell is a truly independent and fully functional smartwatch that tackles one of the major limitations of independent wearables,” creator Azar Talibzade told Digital Trends. “At the beginning, smartwatches evolved primarily as fitness trackers or notification centers. Currently, we’re seeing a movement toward independent call-capable watches that can exist without needing to be physically near a user’s smartphone.
Shell is a natural extension to this evolution, and provides users with a full-size smartphone at the push of a button. While this was the primary drive for developing Shell, other exciting features include manual emergency charging, a 360-degree rotating camera, and crystal-clear calls thanks to the stand-alone antenna. We’ve also made sure that these benefits can be brought to existing smartwatch owners by creating custom adaptors for top brands, such as Apple Watch, Moto 360, Samsung Gear, LG G Watch and Huawei Watch.”
Other than its unusual design, the device’s “manual emerging charging” is its most unique feature. It allows users to generate extra battery life by flexing the gadget’s “wings” up and down — with 3-5 minutes of flexing being enough to give you a few more minutes of phone time.
Shell will be available to pre-order on Indiegogo from January 31. The Universal Model, which lets users transform their existing smartwatch into a smartphone, will start at $150. The stand-alone Signature Model, meanwhile, comes with a starting price of $250, while the “military grade” Commando edition costs $400.
The idea of Shell is very interesting. The reality, though, is that despite its Dick Tracy cool, very few people like shouting at their wrist to take phone calls. But since switching between calls on a smartwatch and smartphone isn’t as seamless as it could be. in theory, that could make the concept of a device like Shell valuable. Whether this design is the right approach, however, and whether potential customers agree that this is a problem that needs solving, is something we’ll have to wait to find out.
With just weeks until the Indiegogo campaign kicks off, at least it’s not too long of a wait.
Editors’ Recommendations
- DKNY Minute hybrid smartwatch merges tech and fashion for a neglected audience
- The Misfit Path is Misfit’s smallest hybrid smartwatch yet
- Blocks Core hands-on review
- Germany bans sales of children’s smartwatches due to eavesdropping fears
- Make some time for the best smartwatch deals available right now
The largest flash drives
Storage tech has advanced to the point that solid state drives (SSD) can be shoved into tiny packages, and portable conventional hard drives can easily cram three terabytes of data or more into a casing the size of a wallet. But there’s still a niche for the good old USB flash drive, especially now that faster USB 3.0 ports are standard on pretty much all new laptops (and even some tablets). Here are the most capacious ones that money can buy, the largest flash drives in the world, and a few others worth considering for those who need massive storage in a tiny package.
If you find yourself in need of even more storage, you could opt for a large external hard drive, or use one of the best cloud storage services.
Best of the big drives
Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT 2TB ($1,650)
Kingston eclipsed its own record-breaking USB drives with the release of the DataTraveler Ultimate GT in 2017, offering a staggering 2TB of space in a relatively compact package. It’s not as slimline as some of the other entries on this list, but considering it sports the kind of capacity that only a few years ago was the reserve of platter-spinning hard drives, that’s no surprise.
With full support for USB 3.1, the Ultimate GT is no slouch when it comes to file transfer speeds. It can read at 300MBps and write at 200MBps. It supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7, as well as Mac OSX, Linux and Chrome OS. Much like it’s smaller cousin, the HyperX Predator, this USB drive’s only real downside is its price. At more than $1,500, you would need to have a very good reason to pay that much for a USB drive, when you could simply use multiple smaller drives and spend a fraction of that.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Best Buy
Kingston DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 USB 1TB ($700+)
Kingston’s previous jewel in its storage crown, the DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0 (say that three times fast) is still a fantasticly hefty USB drive. It’s a bit chunky simply so that it can fit all of the hardware necessary for that capacious drive, but it’s still small enough that it won’t feel out of place on a keychain. The Predator uses USB 3.0 for speedy data transfer, but at nearly $700 even at the reduced street price, it’s more than twice the cost of some of the 512GB options in the list below.
Buy one now from:
BestBuy PCNation
Corsair Flash Voyager GS USB 3.0 512GB ($260)
Corsair’s fastest flash drive is also one of its largest. The Flash Voyager GS USB 3.0 combines a sleek metal alloy housing with quoted read and write speeds of up to 290MB/s, assuming you have the USB 3.0 or higher ports to handle it. Street prices are hovering at right around $260 at the time of writing. That’s on the 512GB version – the lower-capacity GTX Voyager 3.0 can read at up to 450MB/s, but only comes in 256GB. For those who would rather save a bit of green, Corsair also offers the Flash Voyager GT and Flash Voyager Survivor series, both of which can be found at under $100 at the 256GB capacity.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Newegg
Patriot Super Sonic Rage 3.0 512GB ($250)
Patriot has upgraded most of its line of USB 3.0 flash drives to 512GB, and the fastest among them is the aggressively-named Sonic Rage 2. It can write at up to 400MB/s and read at 300, but you’ll need to pony up at least $250 for the privilege. The less robust Supersonic Magnum 2 and Supersonic Mega also come in 512GB flavors, for $170 and $150 respectively at the time of writing.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
VisionTek Pocket USB SSD 512GB ($265+)
The latest versions of VisionTek’s “Pocket SSD” line, which crams flash storage and an SSD controller into a tiny package, have improved the available storage considerably. The top-of-the-line model offers write speeds of up to 450MB/s with compatible hardware and up to 512GB of storage. But at over $250, it’s also one of the most expensive options at its capacity.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
PNY Pro Elite 512GB USB 3.0 512GB ($150)
Touting sustained read and write speeds of 400MBps and 250MBps respectively, the PNY Pro Elite 512GB is a very affordable way to get yourself a massive amount of storage in a small form factor. It’s hardly the most eye-catching of USB drives, but it’s quick, compact and can fit just about anything you want. Game installs? No problem. Hundreds of hours of video? It can do it. Your entire music collection? Easy.
Some reviews have noted that smaller files take longer to transfer than larger ones, but if you just need a lot of space and have a relatively constrained budget, this device will see you right.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Alternative options
SanDisk Ultra Dual 128GB USB 3.0 ($40+)
USB-C drives aren’t all that popular at the moment, but they should grow in demand as more PCs and laptops switch to the newer port standard. SanDisk’s Ultra model offers a design that features both the USB-C port and an older standard USB 3.0 port, but the maximum capacity for the moment is 256GB on the $90 model. Expect more capacious options to arrive on the market soon.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Sandisk
SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick 256GB ($125+)
There’s also SanDisk’s Connect Wireless Stick, which combines a Wi-Fi radio with a large 256GB capacity. The USB 2.0 port charges the drive, and even when not connected it can serve files to PCs or mobile devices (with a bundled app) over the local wireless network. Though the older connection port is a bit of a downer, the Wi-Fi hosting and streaming capabilities make it unlike any other flash drive available right now. At around $125 for the street price, it’s a decent deal to boot.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Newegg
Samsung T3 Portable SSD ($109+)
Though it’s not small enough to be a “thumb drive,” Samsung’s T3 Portable SSD takes the capacity crown, and is only twice the size of a typical USB flash drive. Capacities start at 250GB, for which you’ll pay about $120. From there they shoot up to an incredible 2TB, with an equally incredible price tag of $750. Aside from its storage capacity, the T3 is notable due to its speed. In our review we found it was nearly as fast as an internal SATA solid state drive, which means it’ll easily beat most of the flash drives on this list.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Updated 01/11/2018 by Jon Martindale – Added new 2TB and 512GB options.
Editors’ Recommendations
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Sony Digital Paper review
Research Center:
Sony Digital Paper DPT-RP1
The tablet is an interesting companion when it comes to electronic devices. Depending on your needs, you can find one that’s capable of basically anything — whether it’s watching movies, sketching art, or being used as a full-on laptop. But what about those who don’t need all the bells and whistles? That’s where Sony’s Digital Paper PDF reader comes in.
Following the DPT-S1, the second-generation model DPT-RP1 includes a higher-resolution display, more precise handwritten note-taking capabilities, and the ability to transfer documents wirelessly to a PC or Mac.
As with its predecessor, it’s still specifically meant for those in the legal or professional fields, and anyone pursuing a higher education. If you want to read, edit, or annotate PDF documents, then this might be the ideal device to do it. However, while Digital Paper is easy and comfortable to use, its limited capabilities still come at an extremely high price — this device costs $700.
Thin and lightweight, with a sleek design
Sony’s Digital Paper has an extremely sophisticated look and a nice, smooth feel to it. Coming in at just 0.23 inches thin, it was easy to slip into a tote without taking up too much room. We were also able to place it neatly in our desk drawer when it wasn’t in use — so it definitely won’t be an issue to carry in backpacks or briefcases.
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
In comparison to other tablets on the market, we were impressed by the 13.3-inch E-Ink screen, which boasts a crisp resolution of 1,650 x 2,200 pixels. It allowed us to view full pages without having to zoom in or scroll up and down. Along the minimal side bezels, there’s a center home button on the top that brings you to a small menu which takes up only about a quarter of the screen. On the side, you can attach your stylus magnetically to the device.
Sony’s Digital Paper has an extremely sophisticated look and a nice, smooth feel to it.
A larger screen also meant we could fill up the page with what felt like a lot more notes, before having to move on to the next one. The high-contrast, glare-free display also made it extremely easy to see and use in the sunlight — although, we’re not sure you’ll have to use it much in the outdoors. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use it if you’re trying to get work done in darker settings, since there’s no backlight.
Underneath the hood, is a 2.0 GHz CPU and 16GB of internal memory (11GB free out of the box) — allowing you to carry up 10,000 PDF files. That’s a huge upgrade from last year’s 2,800 PDF files. There’s also a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery — which we’ll get to later on. On top is where you’ll find the Micro USB charging port and power button, which has an LED indicator for when the device is charging.
It takes about three hours for Digital Paper to charge completely, but even on half a charge it lasted us a few days without completely dying. Normally, it’s supposed to last for up to one week with Wi-Fi use and three weeks without it.
This year’s device comes with a few new helpful features, such as the ability to view two pages at once — which definitely comes in handy when you need to compare notes. We especially liked how easy it was to zoom into text by circling the area, or copy and paste text throughout the document using the same tool.
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
But the ability to quick search keywords and marks — like stars and asterisks — didn’t work for us. Whenever we tried to quick search a specific word we wrote on the page, it would tell us there were no results found. The same happened when we used stars to indicate certain words.
Digital Paper weighs 12.3 ounces — but that’s without the Digital Paper Cover which adds about 7.05 ounces. When going cover-less, the device is lighter than the iPad Pro 10.5 (16.4 ounces) and almost the exact same weight as the ReMarkable tablet (12.32 ounces).
We preferred not using the case since it made it much heavier, and it wasn’t as easy to hold with one hand. If you’d rather have the extra protection, it thankfully doesn’t make the device much thicker and comes with a stylus holder. But we also didn’t like that the case attaches to the device with an adhesive strip as opposed to magnets. While it hasn’t lost its stickiness, it’s not as easy to remove and you might find yourself having to aggressively pull on it.
A sometimes irritating stylus
Aesthetically, the Digital Paper Stylus looks as sleek as the device, and at only 0.56 ounces, it definitely feels light. At the top, you’ll find another Micro USB charging port.
One minor issue we had, was how easily accessible the eraser was to our grip. The Apple Pencil and the stylus that comes with the ReMarkable tablet are buttonless and smooth. The Digital Paper stylus, on the other hand, comes with a button on the side that seems convenient in theory — pressing down on it will automatically enable the eraser, eliminating the extra step of having to tap on another setting to undo what you’ve written. The same button can also be used to highlight specific words.
But sometimes when we were writing quickly, we found ourselves accidentally pressing down on the button long enough to erase what we’d already written. Again, its a super minor issue but those who tend to have a strong grip on pencils or pens might find themselves in the same predicament.
Digital Paper would definitely be worth considering if it were cheaper.
We loved that, in comparison to the ReMarkable tablet and the iPad, it actually feels like you’re writing on paper. There was only a slight latency in the E-Ink but after using it for quite some time, you no longer notice it. It also comes with four different tips to choose from — two felt tips if you want to mimic the pencil experience, and two plastic tips for a pen instead.
To help make note-taking and annotating easier, you’re able to choose between blue and red, along with five different thickness levels. The same goes for the eraser size. But if you choose to use red, it’ll show up as a faded color on the display and will only show up in red when you upload it to your computer.
The battery on the pen was also impressive — Sony says that it can last up to one month on a full charge and we haven’t had to charge it yet after using it for one full week.
Easy-to-use software, but needs a mobile app
The software is easy to use, but isn’t ideal. In order to sync your files to your desktop, you have to install Sony’s Digital Paper app onto your computer. You can either use the USB cable, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, to upload the your files. But even if you do it wirelessly, you still have to go through the process of connecting the device up to a Wi-Fi network via USB on your computer — which doesn’t make it as seamless as one would hope.
Sony Digital Paper DPT-RP1 Compared To
Boox Max 2
Kindle Oasis (2017)
Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2
Kindle Oasis
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2015
Kindle Voyage
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2013)
Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight
Kobo Aura HD
Kobo Mini
Sony Reader PRS-T2
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Spring Design Alex
Barnes & Noble Nook
Sony PRS-700
While you can share the documents to other third-party cloud services such as Dropbox, Box, and Google Docs, it’s not integrated into the actual device, so you can’t send them directly. Even though it’s easy to simply upload the documents and access them on your desktop, we felt it’d be easier if there was a mobile app. That way, you’d be able to upload all of your documents easily to your phone without having to carry around a laptop if you need to transfer and send documents you’ve written or signed. You’re also limited to only being able to upload PDFs.
Not worth the hefty price tag
Digital Paper would definitely be worth considering if it were cheaper. We did enjoy using the device because it was simple to use, easy to carry around, and allowed us to keep track of notes in an organized manner. More importantly, the feel of it truly mimicked writing on paper with a pen or pencil. It also has an aesthetically pleasing look to it. But for $700, we hoped that it would allow us to be far more productive and offer better app integration in order to be able to effortlessly send and upload our documents.
For those who do still very much rely on physical paper — as in, 10,000 PDF documents worth — then it might be worth investing this much money. Otherwise, stick to those notebooks instead.
Price and warranty information
Sony’s Digital Paper will cost you $700, which is pricey compared to other e-readers or tablets. For this price, you’re only getting the most basic features, so you might be better off investing that much money in a device that will allow you to do far more.
Digital Paper also comes with a limited one-year warranty for manufacturer defects.
Our Take
Sony’s Digital Paper looks and feels sleek, and we love that it was so simple to use. But its restricted use case and difficulty when it comes to sharing files from one device to another makes us feel like it isn’t worth the hassle.
Is there a better alternative?
If you want a similar pencil to paper experience, the ReMarkable tablet is not only $100 cheaper but has a companion app for iOS, Android, and PC, allowing you to easily sync files when connected to Wi-Fi. It also includes more templates such as sheet music and weekly schedules. Sony’s Digital Paper only provides basic options such as legal paper, blank paper, and grid paper.
You can also opt for Apple’s 64GB iPad Pro 10.5, which will give you far more features for the same price as Digital Paper. While you do have to factor in the cost of the Apple Pencil, you’re essentially getting your money’s worth with the ability to take notes, draw, and sync all of your important files without the hassle.
How long will it last?
Sony’s Digital Paper should last you for a couple of years. Since it can hold up to 10,000 PDF files, you’ll definitely have enough space to carry all of your notes. Since it comes with replacement tips for the stylus, you don’t have to worry about purchasing new ones any time soon if the one you’re using becomes dull. Sony also sends over-the-air updates for Digital Paper, to make sure your device is up-to-date when it comes to safety.
Should you buy it?
No. Sony’s Digital Paper isn’t as functional as the competition, and it does not allow you to easily access your content through a mobile device. Do buy it if you’re the type of person who works strictly in PDF format and don’t need to quickly sync your files wirelessly.
Sony Digital Paper review
Research Center:
Sony Digital Paper DPT-RP1
The tablet is an interesting companion when it comes to electronic devices. Depending on your needs, you can find one that’s capable of basically anything — whether it’s watching movies, sketching art, or being used as a full-on laptop. But what about those who don’t need all the bells and whistles? That’s where Sony’s Digital Paper PDF reader comes in.
Following the DPT-S1, the second-generation model DPT-RP1 includes a higher-resolution display, more precise handwritten note-taking capabilities, and the ability to transfer documents wirelessly to a PC or Mac.
As with its predecessor, it’s still specifically meant for those in the legal or professional fields, and anyone pursuing a higher education. If you want to read, edit, or annotate PDF documents, then this might be the ideal device to do it. However, while Digital Paper is easy and comfortable to use, its limited capabilities still come at an extremely high price — this device costs $700.
Thin and lightweight, with a sleek design
Sony’s Digital Paper has an extremely sophisticated look and a nice, smooth feel to it. Coming in at just 0.23 inches thin, it was easy to slip into a tote without taking up too much room. We were also able to place it neatly in our desk drawer when it wasn’t in use — so it definitely won’t be an issue to carry in backpacks or briefcases.
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
In comparison to other tablets on the market, we were impressed by the 13.3-inch E-Ink screen, which boasts a crisp resolution of 1,650 x 2,200 pixels. It allowed us to view full pages without having to zoom in or scroll up and down. Along the minimal side bezels, there’s a center home button on the top that brings you to a small menu which takes up only about a quarter of the screen. On the side, you can attach your stylus magnetically to the device.
Sony’s Digital Paper has an extremely sophisticated look and a nice, smooth feel to it.
A larger screen also meant we could fill up the page with what felt like a lot more notes, before having to move on to the next one. The high-contrast, glare-free display also made it extremely easy to see and use in the sunlight — although, we’re not sure you’ll have to use it much in the outdoors. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use it if you’re trying to get work done in darker settings, since there’s no backlight.
Underneath the hood, is a 2.0 GHz CPU and 16GB of internal memory (11GB free out of the box) — allowing you to carry up 10,000 PDF files. That’s a huge upgrade from last year’s 2,800 PDF files. There’s also a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery — which we’ll get to later on. On top is where you’ll find the Micro USB charging port and power button, which has an LED indicator for when the device is charging.
It takes about three hours for Digital Paper to charge completely, but even on half a charge it lasted us a few days without completely dying. Normally, it’s supposed to last for up to one week with Wi-Fi use and three weeks without it.
This year’s device comes with a few new helpful features, such as the ability to view two pages at once — which definitely comes in handy when you need to compare notes. We especially liked how easy it was to zoom into text by circling the area, or copy and paste text throughout the document using the same tool.
Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends
But the ability to quick search keywords and marks — like stars and asterisks — didn’t work for us. Whenever we tried to quick search a specific word we wrote on the page, it would tell us there were no results found. The same happened when we used stars to indicate certain words.
Digital Paper weighs 12.3 ounces — but that’s without the Digital Paper Cover which adds about 7.05 ounces. When going cover-less, the device is lighter than the iPad Pro 10.5 (16.4 ounces) and almost the exact same weight as the ReMarkable tablet (12.32 ounces).
We preferred not using the case since it made it much heavier, and it wasn’t as easy to hold with one hand. If you’d rather have the extra protection, it thankfully doesn’t make the device much thicker and comes with a stylus holder. But we also didn’t like that the case attaches to the device with an adhesive strip as opposed to magnets. While it hasn’t lost its stickiness, it’s not as easy to remove and you might find yourself having to aggressively pull on it.
A sometimes irritating stylus
Aesthetically, the Digital Paper Stylus looks as sleek as the device, and at only 0.56 ounces, it definitely feels light. At the top, you’ll find another Micro USB charging port.
One minor issue we had, was how easily accessible the eraser was to our grip. The Apple Pencil and the stylus that comes with the ReMarkable tablet are buttonless and smooth. The Digital Paper stylus, on the other hand, comes with a button on the side that seems convenient in theory — pressing down on it will automatically enable the eraser, eliminating the extra step of having to tap on another setting to undo what you’ve written. The same button can also be used to highlight specific words.
But sometimes when we were writing quickly, we found ourselves accidentally pressing down on the button long enough to erase what we’d already written. Again, its a super minor issue but those who tend to have a strong grip on pencils or pens might find themselves in the same predicament.
Digital Paper would definitely be worth considering if it were cheaper.
We loved that, in comparison to the ReMarkable tablet and the iPad, it actually feels like you’re writing on paper. There was only a slight latency in the E-Ink but after using it for quite some time, you no longer notice it. It also comes with four different tips to choose from — two felt tips if you want to mimic the pencil experience, and two plastic tips for a pen instead.
To help make note-taking and annotating easier, you’re able to choose between blue and red, along with five different thickness levels. The same goes for the eraser size. But if you choose to use red, it’ll show up as a faded color on the display and will only show up in red when you upload it to your computer.
The battery on the pen was also impressive — Sony says that it can last up to one month on a full charge and we haven’t had to charge it yet after using it for one full week.
Easy-to-use software, but needs a mobile app
The software is easy to use, but isn’t ideal. In order to sync your files to your desktop, you have to install Sony’s Digital Paper app onto your computer. You can either use the USB cable, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth, to upload the your files. But even if you do it wirelessly, you still have to go through the process of connecting the device up to a Wi-Fi network via USB on your computer — which doesn’t make it as seamless as one would hope.
Sony Digital Paper DPT-RP1 Compared To
Boox Max 2
Kindle Oasis (2017)
Kobo Aura H2O Edition 2
Kindle Oasis
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2015
Kindle Voyage
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2013)
Barnes & Noble Nook GlowLight
Kobo Aura HD
Kobo Mini
Sony Reader PRS-T2
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Spring Design Alex
Barnes & Noble Nook
Sony PRS-700
While you can share the documents to other third-party cloud services such as Dropbox, Box, and Google Docs, it’s not integrated into the actual device, so you can’t send them directly. Even though it’s easy to simply upload the documents and access them on your desktop, we felt it’d be easier if there was a mobile app. That way, you’d be able to upload all of your documents easily to your phone without having to carry around a laptop if you need to transfer and send documents you’ve written or signed. You’re also limited to only being able to upload PDFs.
Not worth the hefty price tag
Digital Paper would definitely be worth considering if it were cheaper. We did enjoy using the device because it was simple to use, easy to carry around, and allowed us to keep track of notes in an organized manner. More importantly, the feel of it truly mimicked writing on paper with a pen or pencil. It also has an aesthetically pleasing look to it. But for $700, we hoped that it would allow us to be far more productive and offer better app integration in order to be able to effortlessly send and upload our documents.
For those who do still very much rely on physical paper — as in, 10,000 PDF documents worth — then it might be worth investing this much money. Otherwise, stick to those notebooks instead.
Price and warranty information
Sony’s Digital Paper will cost you $700, which is pricey compared to other e-readers or tablets. For this price, you’re only getting the most basic features, so you might be better off investing that much money in a device that will allow you to do far more.
Digital Paper also comes with a limited one-year warranty for manufacturer defects.
Our Take
Sony’s Digital Paper looks and feels sleek, and we love that it was so simple to use. But its restricted use case and difficulty when it comes to sharing files from one device to another makes us feel like it isn’t worth the hassle.
Is there a better alternative?
If you want a similar pencil to paper experience, the ReMarkable tablet is not only $100 cheaper but has a companion app for iOS, Android, and PC, allowing you to easily sync files when connected to Wi-Fi. It also includes more templates such as sheet music and weekly schedules. Sony’s Digital Paper only provides basic options such as legal paper, blank paper, and grid paper.
You can also opt for Apple’s 64GB iPad Pro 10.5, which will give you far more features for the same price as Digital Paper. While you do have to factor in the cost of the Apple Pencil, you’re essentially getting your money’s worth with the ability to take notes, draw, and sync all of your important files without the hassle.
How long will it last?
Sony’s Digital Paper should last you for a couple of years. Since it can hold up to 10,000 PDF files, you’ll definitely have enough space to carry all of your notes. Since it comes with replacement tips for the stylus, you don’t have to worry about purchasing new ones any time soon if the one you’re using becomes dull. Sony also sends over-the-air updates for Digital Paper, to make sure your device is up-to-date when it comes to safety.
Should you buy it?
No. Sony’s Digital Paper isn’t as functional as the competition, and it does not allow you to easily access your content through a mobile device. Do buy it if you’re the type of person who works strictly in PDF format and don’t need to quickly sync your files wirelessly.
Future Samsung phones might be made out of new ‘Metal 12’ magnesium alloy
Samsung might be getting ready to kick aluminum to the curb.
Although we don’t usually talk too much about them, Samsung’s recently been killing it in the laptop space. The company announced its new Notebook 9 for 2018, and while there’s a lot to like about the machine, one of its highlights is a new magnesium alloy Samsung created specifically for it. Samsung refers to the alloy as “Metal 12”, and it allows the Notebook 9 to be incredibly durable and lightweight at the same time.
How does this pertain to Android, you ask? Samsung just trademarked the “Metal 12” name with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, and as such, there’s a strong possibility that Metal 12 will soon be used in more of Samsung’s products – such as smartphones and smartwatches.
Samsung notes in the trademark that Metal 12 could be used for these gadgets, and while I don’t expect to see Metal 12 make an appearance on the Galaxy S9 or Note 9, it’s possible that it could make a debut as soon as the Galaxy S10. Samsung actually toyed with the idea of using magnesium in the Galaxy S7, and while this obviously never came to market, this isn’t the first time the company’s wanted to try using a new metal.
Aluminum has been the go-to metal of choice with smartphones for a while now, so the potential of magnesium entering the market is rather exciting. The Essential Phone proved that titanium has its place (as long as you don’t mind some extra heft), and the prospect of having a device that’s both durable and lighter than current aluminum handsets is something I can definitely get behind.
LG is reportedly ditching the G7 and starting over from scratch
How to survive a winter storm using tech
Winter is here, bring nasty storms to just about everybody.
When a nasty storm hits during the summer it can be miserable, but when a winter storm descends onto your house you may have to deal with being stuck indoors behind a wall of ice and snow. Whether this is your first Nor’easter, or you’ve been making snow angels since you were a kid, we’ve got some tips for getting through a blizzard using the tech you have (or should have) on-hand.
Track the storm
Weathering out a storm during the winter has its own set of challenges that can start well before the storm even fully reaches you. From icy rain to road closures to knowing how much snow to expect — and for how long — there are many different factors to consider. Your best bet is to keep an eye on the local weather. While you may get automated alerts if a winter storm or blizzard warning is sent out by the state, but having a dedicated app can give you a much better idea of what to expect.
While there are plenty of different apps that can help you out, Weather Underground is one of the best for monitoring precipitation (that’s rain, snow and anything else you could expect) in real-time.
More: Best Weather apps for Android
Keep charged
Winter storms can easily knock out your power, and if the roads are iced over you may not get it back for hours — or days — at a time. If you know that there is a storm rolling in, you’re going to want to make sure that all of your devices have the best charge possible.
Since many people live on their phones now, chances are you no longer pay for a landline. This means that if something goes wrong, it’s absolutely imperative that you have a phone so that you can contact friends or emergency personnel. This also means that if possible, you’re going to want to lay off of playing around on Facebook if you’re suspicious that the power is going to cut out.
This goes for your portable battery packs, too. It’s no good having a spare battery if you forget to charge it up. So make sure that everything is charged up, and things will be easier to deal with.
Stock up
While there is always a run on milk and toilet paper when a blizzard threatens, you may not be considering the tech accessories that can make it easier to weather out a storm. Your battery is what powers all of your devices, and they are going to be the only thing working if you lose power. With that in mind picking up a portable charger, and taking a few precautions can make it much, much easier to ride out the storm with ease.
If you’re hoping to download Netflix programs for offline viewing, or watching movies from your tablet, then you’ll need as much power as you can get. What we suggest is this 20,000mAh battery pack from Anker with both USB-C and USB-A ports it can easily power all of your devices so you aren’t stuck in the dark.
Of course, if you live in an area that is notorious for losing power every winter, then you may just want to pony up for something a bit bigger. This Anker Powerhouse generator has a 120,000mAh capacity which will easily keep you running for a few days while you wait for the plows to rescue you through mountains of snow.
If you plan on using a larger portable battery to allow you to watch your digital movies or shows while you’re snowed in then we have another precaution for you. In the case that you get hit with a record-breaking storm — aka Snowpocalypse — then it’s very possible that your data may be affected. To avoid that, and stick to your data limit, try to use programs such as Netflix, Spotify, and even Google Maps, that support offline storage, so you don’t need a data connection to access critical information and content.
Non-tech necessities
While having the right tech accessories handy can help you get through the storm, there are some regular items that can help you get through things unscathed. Depending on where you live a winter storm preparedness kit is going to look different, but a few stock items are pretty clear across the board.
Extra blankets, flashlights, batteries, and candles are all solid go-tos. You’ll also want a portable camping stove to cook some hot meals using just a few replaceable gas canisters. You’ll probably need an AM/FM radio, too, just in case.
Are you prepared?
Winter storms and blizzards have already coated the Continental U.S. sending massive amounts of snow dropping from Florida all the way up to Maine. These weather conditions are normal for everyone, so having an easy checklist to make sure you’re prepped and ready is a good call. Is there a tip or trick that you think ought to have made our list? Let us know about it in the comments below!
How to download Android One launcher with Google Feed on your phone
It’s basically the Pixel 2 launcher with the search bar at the top.
Android One phones like the Xiaomi Mi A1 and Moto X4 are great for a lot of reasons, and one of the main highlights is the stock Android experience they ship with. If you own a non-Android One phone and want to spruce it up a bit, you can now download the launcher that ships with these phones for free.
Amir Zaidi (also known as AmriZ) is the developer responsible for this, and by downloading the APK file he’s created, you can get a fully working version of the Android One launcher on your phone right now. There’s support for adaptive icons, you swipe up to access your app drawer, and there’s even a working Google Feed on the left-most side.
If that sounds a lot like the Pixel 2 launcher, that’s because it’s incredibly similar. The two main differences are that the search bar is at the top rather than below the dock and there’s no At a Glance widget, but depending on who you are, you might prefer that over the Pixel 2’s UI.
In order to get the Android One launcher on your phone, just download the APK file to your phone, install it, and you’ll be good to go. The launcher won’t work if you own a phone with the Android One or Pixel Launcher already installed, but if you’re reading this, chances are that’s not the case.
You can now download the Google Pixel 2 launcher on any phone
Samsung Pay updated with a cleaner and more traditional UI
The bottom navigation bar strikes again.
During my short stint with the Galaxy S8 last year, one of my favorite features was easily Samsung Pay. Between MST support and reward points for making regular purchases, it’s definitely my prefered mobile payment service of choice. The app in its current state is perfectly functional, but the latest update brings a new design that looks rather nice.
First spotted by our friends at Droid Life, updating Samsung Pay to build number 2.8.18 brings a new user interface that’s cleaned up and makes a bit more sense from a usability point of view.
As you can see in the left screenshot below, the version of Samsung Pay we’ve had for a while has the main navigation buttons for the app smack dab in the middle below the rotating hero images. In the new version, these buttons have been moved down to a bottom navigation bar like we’ve been seeing in more and more Android apps as of late.
Samsung Pay’s old UI (left) and the new one (right).
The Home page shows all of the latest promotions, your current status with Samsung Rewards, how many cards are in your wallet, and any recent transactions you’ve made. Along with this, there are separate pages for Wallet, Rewards, Store, and Deals.
What do you think about Samsung Pay’s new look?
Future Samsung phones might be made out of new ‘Metal 12’ magnesium alloy
US will reveal revised autonomous car guidelines this summer
We’ll see the latest revised set of guidelines for autonomous vehicles this summer, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has revealed at the annual Detroit auto show. According to Chao, her agency has been preparing for the arrival of autonomous vehicles, conjuring up ways on how to regulate them to keep everyone safe while promoting innovation at the same time. She said the revised guidelines cover not just autonomous cars, but also “barriers to the safe integration of autonomous technology for motor carriers, transit, trucks, infrastructure and other modes.”
When the guidelines reached the Senate late last year, it reportedly didn’t include trucks — far from ideal, considering quite a few companies are already working on autonomous big rigs. Daimler tested a platoon of them in Oregon, while Toyota and Volkswagen joined a full-scale autonomous truck platooning trial in Singapore. Uber began developing autonomous trucks after its controversial purchase of Otto, a company founded by a former Waymo engineer who allegedly stole the Alphabet company’s self-driving technology. Tesla has recently unveiled a truck with semi-autonomous features, as well.
Automakers have been asking the government to make changes to vehicles’ safety standards for a while now, so that they don’t have to meet all 75 of them to be able to start deploying their fully autonomous products. Most of those standards don’t apply to cars without steering wheels and pedals anyway. They’ve also been asking the administration for favorable laws that apply to all states, preventing individual states from blocking autonomous vehicles on their roads.
We might only have to wait a bit to start seeing level four or five autonomous cars on the road once the new rules are in place. GM recently detailed its plans to release a no-steering-wheel, no-pedal car in 2019, and its rivals will likely follow suit.
Source: Reuters
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