Snap’s new Spectacles offer better quality for more money

As rumored, Snap has unveiled a new set of Spectacles with new colors and better specs that address user complaints with the first model. To better aid in their spring break beach appeal, the new models are finally water resistant, for one thing. With new electronics, they’re also lighter and more sleek while offering better resolution for both photos and video. You can also get them in three colors (Ruby, Onyx and Sapphire) that are a bit more exciting than the Teal, Coral and Black of the last model.

The temple area of the frame is 30 percent smaller than before, and the charging case has dropped in size by 20 percent. Video resolution is now 1,216 x 1,216 instead of 1,088 x 1,088, while the new photo mode (there wasn’t one before) grabs Snaps at 1,642 x 1,642. What’s more, there’s a new WiFi-only import mode that works faster, so images now transfer in HD only, and appear in Memories four times faster. New dual microphones can grab better sound quality, the company adds.

The original $129 version of Spectacles arrived with a lot of buzz, but sales fizzled after less than a year, reportedly leaving hundreds of thousands of units unsold. Nevertheless, CEO Evan Spiegel said Snap sold 150,000 of the original Spectacles, significantly more than the 100,000 units it expected.

Other features of the new model include storage for 150 videos or 3,000 photos, home WiFi syncing, up to four charges with the charging case, and inward- and outward-facing lights that tell you and other folks you’re recording. The new Spectacles are exclusively available at Spectacles.com for $150 (£150 in the UK) in the US, Canada and France, and are coming elsewhere in Europe on May 3rd.

Source: Spectacles

Mozilla’s ‘Hubs’ is a VR chatroom for every headset and browser

On a Manhattan rooftop earlier this week, Mozilla previewed its newest concept, a group VR hangout service called Hubs. Unlike the virtual-reality environments shown off by Facebook and others, you don’t need to sign in to a platform or use a plugin — just click a URL and you’ll be taken straight to a digital space in full VR. And since Hubs is built on WebVR, Mozilla claims you’ll be able to view it on any mixed reality headset starting today.

Platform agnosticism was only one part of the pitch Mozilla R&D chief Sean White gave for Hubs. Another is the ability for companies or teams to plug its tech into their projects, perhaps to add easy-to-connect VR rooms to remote co-working platforms — but that’s in the future. Mozilla has launched Hubs as an intentionally unfinished “experiment” for folks to tinker with and provide feedback. The company plans to refine it and may release it as a fully-fledged product depending on what users want to see, but for now, it’s available for anyone to download.

At Mozilla’s event, I had a chance to check out an early look at Hubs via a Google Daydream headset with a Pixel 2XL. After the rep clicked a link, I was transported to a sparse room that reminded me of a stripped-down version of Job Simulator. I was chilling in a castle-themed virtual space with four walls and a floor, as well as stairs to platforms I couldn’t reach — not graphically impressive or charming at all. Mozilla promised that more features are coming, including avatar and room customization, but until then, the core functionality to join other users at the click of a URL is there.

Or at least, that’s what Mozilla assured me. Unfortunately, nobody hopped into my Hub to demonstrate the click-and-you’re-in functionality, so I can’t vouch for the tech or how it handles multiple users popping in through a browser link. It was lonely wandering around the room without anyone else, but I could imagine how slick it would be to text friends a URL and have them pop in, whether they’re using mobile VR or a fancy headset at home. Hubs could make it easier to meet up with friends in virtual reality, but there’s no reason folks couldn’t use it professionally to interact with colleagues or clients.

Given how much privacy Mozilla has baked into various Firefox versions, it’s no surprise they’re doing the same with Hubs. Per its policy, the company is clear about what it does and doesn’t keep. It receives data and voice chat from the room to send to other users, but doesn’t store it in its servers; Mozilla only holds on to technical and usage information. But the company is also concerned about user safety, as it’s considering establishing a “security bubble,” which is just a radius around avatars to keep potential creeps at arm’s length. Even VR isn’t always safe.

Mozilla has been slowly integrating VR in Firefox for years, but it recently teased Firefox Reality, an upcoming browser that enables multi-headset, multiplatform virtual reality. Hubs is similarly designed around accessibility and works outside VR, too: If users don’t have a headset handy, they can still click on the Hubs link to interact in 2D. According to Mozilla, the service works through browsers on mobile, tablet and desktop.

Hubs isn’t the prettiest service, but if it manages to pull off easy VR group chat, it could be a steppingstone toward simple recreational and professional meetings in virtual reality.

Source: Mozilla Hubs

Google wants the Clean Power Plan to stick around too

If we don’t want the seas to boil and the skies to burn, we need to stop polluting the world with climate altering gases. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to gut the Clean Power Plan, legislation aimed at curbing America’s carbon emissions by almost a third by 2030. And it’s something that, like Apple, Google has decided to fight, making a public statement in support of the Clean Power Plan just before the deadline closed.

Google’s statement, which it shared with the Verge, makes the search engine’s economic argument for the CPP. The company says that the law will push utilities, and tech giants, to invest in renewables, helping it to get cheaper, and adding more jobs to the US economy. Google also says that the act’s targets should be toughened, since the price of renewables has fallen so far since the document was drafted.

Google isn’t the first tech giant to oppose the Environmental Protection Agency while it abdicates its obligation to protect the environment. Earlier this year, Apple published its own response in support of the Clean Power Plan, saying that the plan would “help the US become a global leader.” Unfortunately, it appears that the only thing that EPA chief Scott Pruitt wants to be a leader in is the number of concurrent ethics violations investigations.

Source: The Verge

Snapchat Launches New Water Resistant Spectacles for $150

Following a series of rumors, Snapchat today launched the latest version of its connected sunglasses, the Spectacles. The company says that the new pair of Spectacles have a smaller profile, so they’re slightly less bulky on the face than the original.

Additionally, Snapchat is pitching the new Spectacles as a go-to summer accessory for its users thanks to added water resistance. Snapchat’s web page for the device says that users will be able to wear them at pool parties and on rainy days, and they “can even take a photo or video in shallow water.”

We want Spectacles to be the simplest and easiest way to make memories from your point of view, and we appreciate all of your thoughtful feedback — many of these improvements were inspired by you!

The second version of the Spectacles has improved audio, and can record clips that last up to 30 seconds long by tapping a button on the left side of the frames, like the original pair. Pictures can be captured now as well by tapping and holding the same button. Snapchat says the HD transfer process to the mobile app is “up to four times faster,” and the Spectacles can take up to 150 videos or 3,000 photos before needing to import to the Snapchat app.

Snapchat is also now offering Spectacles in prescription and polarized lenses through a partnership with Lensabl, only for users in the United States. The new Spectacles are available to order today in the U.S., UK, Canada, and France for $149.99. Colors include Sapphire, Onyx, and Ruby, and each option has two lens shades to choose from.

Tag: Snapchat
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72% of Enterprise Employees Choose Macs Over PCs, 75% Pick iOS Devices Over Android

Among enterprise organizations that allow employees to choose their equipment of choice, Apple is becoming an increasingly popular choice, according to new survey information shared this morning by Apple IT management platform Jamf.

52 percent of enterprise organizations let employees choose their computers, while 49 percent let employees choose their mobile devices.

Of those organizations, 72 percent of employees included in Jamf’s survey chose Mac, while 28 percent chose PC. As for mobile devices, 75 percent of respondents chose an iPhone or an iPad, while just 25 percent opted for an Android device.

According to employees, the ability to choose their operating systems and devices of choice makes them more productive. 68 percent said choice improves productivity, and 77 percent said they’re more likely to stay with a company that offers device choice.

“When it comes to attracting and retaining top talent in the enterprise, the job landscape is more competitive than ever,” said Dean Hager, CEO, Jamf. “And, with the highest global talent shortage in 10 years, it’s no wonder that a major priority for enterprise organizations is to create the ultimate employee experience. When employers combine the freedom of technology choice with Apple, the results are stronger employee retention, productivity and job satisfaction.”

Jamf’s survey was conducted in March of 2018 and includes responses from 580 executives, managers, and IT professionals from organizations around the world.

Tag: enterprise
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Apple Pay Promo Offers 10% Off Furniture Orders With Hayneedle

This week’s Apple Pay promotion is a partnership with furniture and décor app Hayneedle [Direct Link], allowing customers to get 10 percent off their orders when using Apple Pay to check out. No promotional code is required, and the offer will last through May 2, 2018.

The Hayneedle iOS app lets customers discover new home furniture and other items, including sofas, art, dining sets, outdoor/patio furniture, and more. Any orders over $49 get free shipping as well.

Apple’s new promotional email focuses on home renovation projects, encouraging users to “show your abode a little love” and use Apple Pay to shop at Ace Hardware, Crate & Barrel, and Big Lots. Within apps, Apple mentions Jet, Kohl’s, and Houzz as ways to shop and check out using Apple Pay “from the comfort of your own home.”

The Hayneedle promotion follows similar Apple Pay offers for McDonald’s, Adidas and Hotwire, Fanatics, Grubhub and Seamless, TouchTunes, and Fandango.

Related Roundup: Apple PayTag: Apple Pay promo
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Garmin’s Approach S10 GPS golf watch is simple and cheap

Garmin has added an entry-level golf watch to its growing number of wearables for those who love the sport but aren’t obsessed enough to shell out two Benjamins for one of the brand’s other devices. The Approach S10 has a 1.3-inch sunlight readable (non-touchscreen) display and comes pre-loaded with course maps for over 41,000 courses around the world.

It can automatically select the course the player is on based on GPS location and can display the distances to the front, back and middle of the green for each hole. The watch can also show how far they are from hazards (obstacles such as bodies of water) and dogleg (crooked) holes. If golfers enter their scores, they’ll be able to see the total distance they traveled and the time it took for them to finish each game along with their scores, as well.

The S10 can survive a shower, even a dip in the pool, and can last 12 hours in between charges. However, unlike its $200 predecessor, the S20, it doesn’t have the ability to get and display smart notifications for calls, emails and text messages. If that doesn’t matter in the slightest, the S10 will be available sometime in the second quarter of 2018 and will set you back $150.

Source: Garmin Golf

AMD’s ‘Combat Crate Bundles’ help gamers quickly build PCs

Thanks to the stupidity that is Bitcoin mining, graphics cards for gaming have become wildly over-expensive. AMD has come to the rescue with the Combat Crate Bundle, giving you the main components you need to build a decent PC. For $550 (at Amazon, Newegg and elsewhere), you get a Ryzen 5 1600 with cooler, MSI B350 Tomahawk motherboard and MSI Radeon RX 580 Armor OC graphics card. That’s a bit cheaper than the sum of the parts at retail, especially considering the ridiculously over-inflated price of the card alone in the last few months.

You’ll still need to buy RAM, a case with power supply, and storage, at a minimum, but you should be able to build a pretty nice gaming rig for well under $1,000. The Radeon RX 580 Armor performs about as well as NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060, but it has two HDMI ports, making it particularly handy for VR.

AMD plans to offer a second bundle with the Ryzen 5 1700 processor soon, as well. It looks like it’s trying to sell off its first-gen Ryzen CPUs now that the new, much-improved second-generation chips are going on sale. Most importantly for budget gamers, though, it gives them predictable pricing for a Radeon RX graphics card while, thanks to cryptocurrencies, the prices are still fluctuating wildly.

Nintendo’s Switch is a moneymaking hit and the future looks good

The last time Nintendo opened its books, we learned that the Switch had already sold more in nine months than the Wii U had in its entire lifetime. But it’s only natural that after a spike in interest over the holiday period, things would start to slow down. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing today in Nintendo’s latest earnings, marking the end of its financial year. Over the past three months, Nintendo has shifted 2.93 million Switch consoles. That’s nowhere near the 7.23 million figure for the three months prior, but it still pushes total sales up to a tasty 17.79 million.

An update on the Switch’s biggest games shows nothing out of the ordinary. Software sales have slowed in general, of course, but Super Mario Odyssey has now crossed the 10 million mark, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had a particularly good three months with nearly 2 million more people taking the Rainbow Road. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Splatoon 2 haven’t fallen out of grace either, selling roughly 1.5 and 1 million units over the same period, respectively.

Since Nintendo’s wacky Labo cardboard peripherals for the Switch have just gone on sale, we’ve no idea yet whether they’re proving successful, and there’s nothing much to talk about on the mobile front. Mario Kart Tour is the next big title destined for phones, and that’s unlikely to be out before next year. The 3DS is a little long in the tooth these days, but just over half a million of the handhelds were sold in the last three months, taking the total for the financial year to 6.40 million units. Meanwhile, the SNES Classic Edition unsurprisingly “proved to be a hit in every region,” with sales of the retro console totally 5.28 million for the last 12 months.

While momentum may have slowed over the past three months, there’s no doubt the Switch is Nintendo’s new golden goose. This financial year, the company took home 177,557 million yen in profit, which works out to over $1.6 billion. To put that into perspective, in the last financial year (pre-Switch), Nintendo recorded a mere 29,362 million yen in profit (just shy of $270 million). In addition to publishing its latest earnings today, Nintendo also announced that current President Tatsumi Kimishima, who took over from the late Satoru Iwata in 2015, will be stepping down. He will be replaced by Shuntaro Furukawa, who’s held various executive positions during his career with Nintendo, which started in 1994.

It’s not a bad time to be in charge, and Nintendo is confident about the year ahead. There are already a bunch of high-profile game launches in the calendar, including the Mega Man Legacy Collection next month, Mario Tennis Aces in June, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker in July, and another installment of Super Smash Bros. sometime later this year. And I haven’t even mentioned all the indie titles also in the pipeline. Nintendo will start charging for the Switch’s online features starting in September, too, creating another new revenue stream.

The only problem Nintendo might have to deal with in the foreseeable future is hackers figuring out how to get pirated games running on the Switch, which is beginning to look increasingly possible — and we all know what that did to the Dreamcast and Sega. Anyway, game of Night Trap anyone?

Source: Nintendo (1) (PDF), (2), (3), (4) (PDF)

Spotify streaming comes to Sky Q boxes

Spotify is available on Sky Q from today, letting you play music via your Sky Soundbox or stream music to your TV speakers via AirPlay or Bluetooth. It’s the first high-profile app to come to the platform since it launched two years ago, and its arrival kickstarts the raft of new features — including machine learning, additional voice commands, a new kids mode and a wide-screen user interface — which were announced for the service earlier this year.