Uber’s Southeast Asia merger delayed pending reviews

Uber is normally glad when its service keeps running in a given country, but not this time around. The Philippines has ordered Uber to keep its local service active while antitrust investigators review the merger with Grab’s Southeast Asia business. The ridesharing outfit had already agreed to delay its shutdown in Singapore, regulators said, so it would be feasible to ask for a similar move in the Philippines.

It’s a last-minute move: the shutdown was supposed to take place April 8th. If and when Uber can close up shop will depend on the review, and there’s no guarantee it will work in the company’s favor when competition officials are concerned that Grab might “harm the riding public” with a monopoly.

Uber has declined to comment. We’d expect it to push hard for the merger, though. As in China and Russia, the company is backing out to save money and guarantee revenue in regions where a rival dominates. While this would give Grab an even larger slice of the market, there might not be much point to fighting what could be a losing battle.

Source: Reuters

Mercedes prepares electric equivalent to its S-Class luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz is joining the ranks of car manufacturers working on hyper-luxurious EVs. In a chat with Autocar, the company’s large car division leader Michael Kelz promised an electric car “at the level” of the high-end S-Class sedan. The exec unsurprisingly isn’t providing many details, but confirmed its EQ S name (the company had trademarked the badging earlier) and noted that it wouldn’t share the S-Class’ underpinnings — the conventional car just can’t accommodate a pure electric design. We’d expect the EQ design language to find its way into this model as well.

The company had previously promised electric versions of all its cars by 2022, but the EQ S could be ready as soon as 2020.

This isn’t exactly democratizing EVs (that’s up to the sibling Smart brand). However, the EQ S could still be important. Technology from Mercedes’ highest-end vehicles sometimes filters down to other models, for starters. Also, having an S-Class parallel could give EVs a degree of prestige they haven’t had before — this would be one of the first EVs for customers with their own chauffeurs.

Via: Roadshow

Source: Autocar

Apple may unveil red iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models this week

Apple may be poised to spice up the iPhone 8’s color selection much as it did for the 7 series last year. MacRumors has obtained a Virgin Mobile memo claiming (Product) Red versions of the 8 and 8 Plus will be announced soon, possibly as early as April 9th. It’s not clear whether they’ll ship this week (Virgin would be taking pre-orders), but we wouldn’t expect a lengthy delay between the press release and availability. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (who has historically been an accurate source of Apple leaks) backed up the story.

Notably, there’s no mention of a similarly crimson-shaded iPhone X. Sorry, folks, you might have to be content with the existing monochromatic options. Not that it would be shocking — the X is an expensive handset to start with, and it may be a tougher sell in a special edition color. This doesn’t completely rule out extra colors, but we wouldn’t count on them.

If the leak is accurate, Apple is pursuing a familiar strategy for device makers: it’s rolling out new color options to put its hardware back in the spotlight and entice buyers who wanted livelier options. It’s not going to have the same effect as introducing a brand new iPhone, but it might rekindle enough interest to keep sales steady until the usual fall refresh.

Source: MacRumors

Facebook suspends data firm using Cambridge Analytica-like tricks

Facebook isn’t just taking action against the companies directly involved in the Cambridge Analytica data sharing scandal. The company has suspended CubeYou after CNBC sent word that the analytics company was using Cambridge Analytica-style methods to harvest data for marketing purposes. It billed its quizzes as meant for “non-profit academic research” (it did build a website for Cambridge University between 2013 and 2015), but turned around and shared that info with advertisers. Whether or not CubeYou averts a ban will depend on whether or not it passes an audit, although that’s far from certain.

The CNBC investigation found that CubeYou uses a mix of social apps to collect personal info including names, phone numbers, employment, internet addresses and relationship statuses. After that, it matches or links that info to other sources to “enhance their profiles” for marketers. Its data apps revolved around variants of “You Are What You Like,” which purported to predict your personality based on your Facebook page likes.

We’ve asked CubeYou for comment, although CEO Federico Treu denied that his company had access to friend data like Cambridge Analytica did. He also noted that the independent website for “You Are What You Like” disclosed that the information might be passed along to third parties. Some of CubeYou’s publicly acknowledged partners include ad agencies with major customers like Google, Geico and L’Oreal, although it’s not known how much of the data influenced specific clients’ ad strategies.

While it’s good to see Facebook taking action against more companies that misuse data sharing, this latest response only comes after CNBC drew attention to CubeYou’s behavior. Facebook has been promising to review the practices of other companies and has already been altering its data policies, but it’s not certain how quickly Facebook would have spotted CubeYou’s activity without media attention. Also, this suggests that numerous companies may have been abusing Facebook’s policies on academic data to scoop up info for commercial purposes without users’ permission. Don’t be surprised if these kinds of suspensions become relatively commonplace.

Source: CNBC

Here’s how to maximize battery life on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

After months of anticipation, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are now available. Samsung’s newest flagships boast some of the most powerful specs of any smartphone on the market. But, while the tech giant made plenty of hardware improvements to the Galaxy S9, one thing remained the same: The middling batteries from the previous generation of Galaxy phones.

While the batteries are probably plenty for the average user, not everyone is happy. Since Samsung sells two different versions of the Galaxy S9, one with a Snapdragon 845 processor for Americans and one with its own Exynos 9810 chip for the rest of the world, each variant has its own unique performance issues. This year, Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus users with the Exynos 9810 chip are reporting shorter than average battery life.

If you’re noticing a shorter than expected battery life for the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus, no matter the version, we have some tips to help you maximize battery life and eek out a few extra hours. Here are a few things you can do to get the most out of your new Samsung Galaxy S9.

How to adjust battery settings

Our first suggestion will likely lead to the most meaningful battery life increase: Adjust your battery settings to use a power-saving mode. Depending on your configuration, differences in performance can range from minimal to drastic.

When you’re ready to adjust your battery settings, go to Settings > Device maintenance. Tap the Battery icon and select from either Off, Mid, or Max. Once you select your desired power saving option, you will see a configuration screen that allows you to toggle different settings. After you have made your selections, tap Apply.

How to disable Live Wallpapers

We know, Live Wallpapers are pretty, but they can quickly drain your battery. Since you are probably the person who actually sees the wallpaper on your screen most often, do you really need to use Live Wallpapers? Here is the quickest way to disable the feature.

Ready to go back to static wallpaper? Long-tap on an empty space on the home screen and select the Wallpapers icon. Tap View All in the My Wallpapers banner and select any option that does not have the Live Wallpapers icon on the top-right side. Select between one of the three options that appear at the bottom of the screen.

How to remove widgets that automatically update

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Widgets allow you to easily customize your phone to see anything you desire at a glance. Although widgets are convenient, some can slurp up a lot of battery. If you’re using widgets that automatically update (think weather, stocks, email), there is a good chance they could be depleting your battery. If you need to eek out a little battery life, you may want to remove these widgets.

Luckily, removing widgets is incredibly easy. Simply long-press on the widget in question and tap the Remove from home screen icon.

How to turn off GPS

While GPS is a very nice feature, it’s not always necessary. If you frequently use GPS, you will notice your battery depletes pretty quickly. Since there are plenty of other ways smartphones can determine your location, it may not be a bad idea to disable this feature if you’re finding yourself low on juice.

Ready to disable GPS? Simply swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon to access the settings mode. Select Connections > Location> Locating method. Select the Battery Saving radio button.

How to uninstall or disable unnecessary apps

Unless you’re totally new to smartphones, there is a decent chance you will be importing all of your apps and data to your new Samsung. The option to transfer all of your apps and settings is nice, however, it tends to result in unnecessary apps on our phone. Some of these apps may run background processes that deplete your battery.

Once you’re ready to uninstall your unused apps, there are a few ways to go about it. The first, and most simple, is to long-press on the app and tap the Uninstall icon followed by OK.

For a little more control over your apps, go to Settings > Apps. From here, you can tap the overflow icon on the top right to sort apps by size or required permissions. To uninstall, simply tap on the app name followed by the Uninstall icon.

Unfortunately, some apps, cannot be uninstalled on the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus. However, you can disable the apps to increase battery life. To disable apps, simply follow either of the paths above and select Disable.

How to disable vibrate mode

Since vibrate mode is essential for many people, this suggestion may be a bit controversial, but hear us out: Vibrate mode can actually drain your battery pretty quickly. If you’re willing to forgo the luxury of tactile alerts, disabling vibrate mode can eek out a bit more battery life.

To disable vibrate, go to Settings > Sound mode. Select the radio button next to Sound or Mute.

If you don’t want to totally disable vibrate mode on your Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus, you can customize both vibration intensity and the notifications that use tactile alerts. Go to Settings > Sound mode > Vibrate. Tap the back arrow key on the upper left side. Tap on Vibration intensity and adjust each slider as necessary.

How to change the screen resolution

It’s a bit odd that the default resolution for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus is 2,220 x 1,080 pixels when the phone has a maximum resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels. While we’ve already explained how to max out your screen resolution, if you’re noticing decreased battery life you may want to change the settings back to Full HD+.

To adjust your screen resolution, go to Settings > Display > Screen resolution. Move the slider to FHD+ or HD+. Click Apply.

How to disable Always On Display

Since the Always On Display on the Samsung Galaxy S9 works in low-power mode it’s unlikely turning it off will offer any meaningful improvement to battery life; in fact, it may make it a bit worse if you’re constantly unlocking your phone to check notifications. However, some people have reported improved battery life when disabling the Always On Display so we’ll walk you through the steps to turn it off.

Turning off the Always On Display is pretty simple. Go to Settings > Lock screen and security and toggle off Always On Display.

Now that you’ve mastered your Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus and can eek out every last drop of battery juice, check out our favorite tips and tricks for the Galaxy S9.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Make your phone awesome with these Samsung Galaxy S9 tips and tricks
• Samsung Galaxy S9 review
• Samsung spent a year adding stereo sound to the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus
• Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review
• Guard your Galaxy with the best Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus screen protectors

The best HP laptops

There’s no question that HP has a huge assortment of laptops. That’s troublesome for customers looking to replace their current unit, as the sea of hardware specifications can get highly overwhelming. Luckily for you, we’ve taken the annoying investigation aspect out of your hands by slapping the best HP laptops sold on the market today on a convenient list.

Most of what you’ll find here is based on Intel’s first wave of eighth-generation processors released towards the back end of 2017, and not the chips released in the beginning of April. But that’s okay — they’re great chips backed by a great manufacturer. There’s a reason why HP is at the top of the laptop chain: The company builds high-quality, stable products for a great price. We’ve put the best of the best right here for your browsing pleasure. 

First, let’s start with our current favorite HP laptop! 

The Best 

HP Spectre x360 13 

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Highlights

Screen: 13.3-inch IPS with Touch 

Resolution: FHD or UHD 

Processor: Up to Core i7-8550U 

Memory: Up to 16GB 

Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 

Camera: HP TrueVision FHD IR 

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth 

Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3, more 

Battery: 60WHr 

Thickness: 0.53 inches 

Weight: 2.78 pounds 

Starting price: $949 

For starters, this Windows 10 device sports a 13.3-inch screen with a 360-degree hinge enabling four form factors: Laptop, Tent, Stand, and Tablet modes. This screen is backed by eighth-generation Intel processors including the Core i7-8550U and the Core i5-8250U. Both include Intel’s UHD Graphics 620 integrated graphics component. 

As the highlights show, configurations consist of two resolutions: 3,840 x 2,160 (UHD) and 1,920 x 1,080 (FHD). There are also around five storage options, depending on the model you choose, spanning from a 256GB PCI Express-based NVMe SSD to a model with a hefty 2TB storage capacity. An additional MicroSD card reader provides even more storage if 2TB simply isn’t enough. 

This convertible’s port complement consists of two Thunderbolt 3 ports, your typical USB-A 3.1 Gen1 port, and a headphone / microphone jack. It relies on a 60WHr battery supporting a fast charge, reaching 50 percent capacity in just 30 minutes. The Spectre x360 13 isn’t the thinnest and lightest HP laptop in our group, but it’s our favorite nonetheless given its overall performance and value for the buck. 

You can read our review here.

Buy one now from:

HP

The Rest

HP Spectre x360 15 

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Highlights

Screen: 15.6-inch with touch 

Resolution: UHD 

Processor: Up to Core i7-8705G 

Graphics: Discrete GeForce MX150 

Memory: Up to 16GB 

Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 

Camera: HP WideVision FHD IR 

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth 

Ports: Thunderbolt 3, more 

Battery: Up to 84WHr 

Thickness: 0.7 inches 

Weight: Starting at 4.42 pounds 

Starting price: $1,219 

This is an interesting laptop in that the newest iteration of it uses Intel’s latest modules: The Core i7-8705G. It’s an all-in-one chip packing four processor cores, Intel’s integrated graphics, built-in dedicated graphics memory, and AMD’s Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics. A second configuration option installs Intel’s eighth-generation Core i7-8550U processor along with Nvidia’s discrete GeForce MX150 graphics chip. 

Outside the processor and graphics combo, you can configure the convertible with up to 16GB of system memory, and between 256GB and 2TB of storage on a PCI Express-based M.2 SSD. The storage is backed by an SD card reader along with one Thunderbolt 3 port (two with the Core i7 module), one USB-C 3.1 Gen1 port, and several other non-storage ports like HDMI and a headphone / microphone jack. 

According to the specifications, you can configure this convertible with a 79.2WHr battery or an 84WHr battery. Models relying on the Core i7-8705G module require a 150-watt power supply whereas the Core i7-85550U relies on a lower 90-watt version. If you’re looking for a laptop that does well in the gaming department, the Core i7-8705G model supposedly outperforms the Core i7-8550U/MX150 combo. 

You can read our review here.

Buy one now from:

HP 

HP Spectre 13 

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Highlights

Screen: 13.3-inch IPS display, optional touch 

Resolution: FHD or UHD 

Processor: Up to Core i7-8550U 

Memory: Up to 16GB 

Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 

Camera: HP TrueVision HD 

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth 

Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3, more 

Battery: 43.7WHr 

Thickness: 0.41 inches 

Weight: 2.45 pounds 

Starting price: $1,149 

This model ditches the 360-degree hinge for the traditional clamshell design. At its core is an option for the eighth-generation Core i5-8250U and the Core i7-8550U, both of which serve up an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 component. These CPUs back an IPS panel sporting touch input and a 3,840 x 2,160 or 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. 

Under the hood, you can configure the laptop with 8GB or 16GB of memory, and one choice of three storage capacities on a PCIexpress-based NVMe M.2 SSD: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. There doesn’t appear to be an SD card slot, but you can add an external drive using the laptop’s two Thunderbolt 3 ports, or its single USB-C 3.1 Gen1 port. The only other port supplied on this laptop is a headphone / microphone combo jack. 

Of the group, this is our thinnest model measuring just 0.41 inches thick and weighing in at 2.45 pounds. It doesn’t have the gaming oomph as seen with the Spectre x360 15, but it also doesn’t have a massive external power supply. With this unit, HP serves up a 65-watt adapter and a 43.7WHr battery promising up to 11 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge. According to HP, 50 percent of the battery’s capacity can be recharged in 30 minutes. 

You can read our review here.

Buy one now from:

HP

HP Chromebook 13 

 

Highlights

Screen: 13.3-inch  

Resolution: FHD and QHD 

Processor: Up to Core m7-6Y75 

Memory: Up to 16GB 

Storage: 32GB 

Camera: HP TrueVision HD 

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth 

Ports: 2x USB-C 3.1 Gen1, more 

Battery: 45WHr 

Thickness: 0.50 inches 

Weight: Starting at 2.86 pounds 

Starting price: $519 

If you’re trying to escape the clutches of Microsoft, Chrome OS is a great, cloud-heavy alternative provided by Google. HP serves up five starting points with a choice of four processor options ranging from the Pentium 4405Y to the Core m7-6Y75 chip. You’ll also find two resolution options: the typical 1,920 x 1,080 and a higher 3,200 x 1,800 (coined as QHD+). 

What you won’t find here is a choice of large storage capacity options. HP only serves up 32GB, which isn’t anything unusual given that Chromebooks aren’t meant for downloading and installing apps. To help offset the limit capacity (which is partially eaten up by Chrome OS), HP throws in an SD card slot for storing media and documents. This slot is joined by two USB-C 3.1 Gen1 ports, one USB-A 3.1 Gen1 port, and a headphone / microphone combo jack. 

Although the product page doesn’t mention anything about Android, Google’s compatibility list shows that this Chromebook is compatible with Google Play and Android apps. The SD card slot will come in handy for storing all your videos, music, and other media while the installed Android apps soak up the Chromebook’s primary but limited storage capacity. 

Buy one now from:

HP 

HP Envy 13t 

Highlights

Screen: 13.3-inch IPS panel 

Resolution: FHD or UHD 

Processor: Core i7-8550U 

Memory: 8GB 

Storage: Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 

Camera: HP WideVision HD 

Connectivity: Wireless AC, Bluetooth 

Ports: 2x USB-C 3.1 Gen1, more 

Battery: 53.6WHr 

Thickness: 0.55 inches 

Weight: 2.92 pounds 

Starting price: $1,049 

Finally, this laptop sports a 13.3-inch screen with a choice of two resolution options: 1,920 x 1,080 and 3,840 x 2,160. The only other configurable aspect is the laptop’s storage ranging between 256GB and 1TB on a PCI Express-based NVMe M.2 SSD. Everything else on the hardware list is set in stone, including the Intel Core i7-8550U processor and integrated graphics. 

According to the specifications, the 53.6WHr battery lasts up to 13 hours and 45 minutes powering the FHD screen, and up to nine hours and 30 minutes with the UHD screen. That’s just for standard use — shave an hour and 30 minutes off the FHD screen and a full hour off the UHD screen when watching video. 

Other notable features found on this model include 8GB of system memory, a Micro SD card slot, two USB-C 3.1 Gen1 ports, two USB-A 3.1 Gen1 ports, and a headphone / microphone combo jack. You’ll also find four speakers installed in this PC backed by Bang & Olufsen and HP Audio Boost technologies. All video output must be pushed through the USB ports using compatible adapters. 

Buy one now from:

HP

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best lightweight laptops you can buy
• HP Spectre x360 13 (Late 2017) Review
• HP Spectre 13 (2017) review
• Dell XPS 13 vs. HP Spectre 13
• Asus ZenBook 13 vs. HP Spectre 13

Grab the Amazon Fire TV for $30 or the 4K Fire TV for $50 right now

Pick your favorite!

The Amazon Fire TV Alexa-enabled streaming stick is down to $29.99 on Amazon. That’s down from a street price around $40. The 4K Fire TV is also on sale today. It’s down to $49.99 from an average price around $70. Both deals are a match for the lowest we’ve ever seen outside of Prime member exclusive deals.

You could also get a 4K Fire TV free by signing up for two months of DirecTV Now. With the free hardware and a competent streaming service, that’s a great deal as well.

Fire TV lets you get rid of the cable company and monthly cable bill by giving you access to over 500,000 movies and TV episodes via Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO and other streaming services. It also lets you visit websites like Facebook and Reddit. The included remote can be controlled with your voice and the best part is these devices can be plugged into any TV that has an HDMI port. Just connect it to your home Wi-Fi network and you’re ready to start streaming.

Get the Fire TV Stick Get the 4K Fire TV

Today’s best deals you won’t want to miss

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

Today you can get big discounts on Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, Andrew Jones-designed bookshelf speakers, a Vizio 65-inch 4K display, and more! Don’t pass these up.

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Snapchat revives its chronological Stories feed for some users

The Snapchat team may have acknowledged that some aspects of its big redesign haven’t gone over well. Some users have reported seeing the Stories feed revert to the classic chronological order, rather than the algorithmically sorted feed influenced by services like Instagram. It’s unclear whether this is a test, part of a full-scale switch or something else entirely. We’ve asked Snap for comment.

The algorithmic approach, which surfaces Stories from people you’re more likely to chat with or watch, may have helped Snap’s bottom line — the company did see its user growth improve in its latest quarter. However, the out-of-order feed it’s great for everyone. While it helps newcomers connect with favorites and may help if you only interact with handful of people, it’s a hindrance if you’re a heavy user who wants to catch Stories the moment they’re relevant, rather than hours later. As with Instagram, there’s a concern the algorithmic sorting punishes loyal users for the sake of first-timers.

Snap, however, may have a good reason for returning to the old system. The redesign moved Stories from celebrities and brands to the Discover section, so your chronological feed is more likely to show the people you care about. A switch might please veteran Snapchat fans without alienating first-timers who just want to see what their close friends are doing.

Source: TechCrunch

Tesla hopes to deliver all-wheel drive Model 3 in July

Every Tesla Model 3 rolling off the line has so far been a single motor, rear-wheel drive variant. That’s been more than a little frustrating if you’ve had your heart set on the surefootedness of the dual motor all-wheel drive model. However, you now have a better idea of when you can expect it… and you might not be entirely happy. Elon Musk has informed a pre-order customer that AWD Model 3 production will “probably” start in July. Simply put, he wants manufacturing levels to climb high enough that Tesla can afford to introduce features that “inhibit production ramp” — and while the company is improving, there’s still a way to go.

At present, Tesla is making just over 2,000 Model 3 units per week. That’s much better than it has been, but Musk wants production to increase to 5,000 cars per week before he’s comfortable with AWD. That gives you a hint as to how well things are faring — Tesla originally planned to hit that goal by last December.

The timing gives would-be AWD owners an expectation of when their cars might arrive, though. And Tesla likely has enough orders for its current Model 3 configuration (the RWD edition with a high-capacity battery) that it’s not under too much pressure to deliver additional variants. The bigger concern is simply that those who wanted the $35,000 car, the reason the Model 3 exists in the first place, may have to wait even longer to get their EVs.

So probably July

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2018

Via: Electrek

Source: Elon Musk (Twitter)