Moto Z3 specs: A mixed bag of old and new

The Moto Z3 is a 2018 smartphone with 2017 DNA.

The Moto Z3 is officially official, and as expected, is a more powerful version of the Moto Z3 Play that was released earlier in the year.

However, some of the key specs aren’t exactly what we were expecting.

While the Moto Z3 is a more than capable piece of tech, its spec sheet is an interesting mix of tech that’s both old and new. Have a look for yourself below.

Moto Z3 hands-on preview: A Verizon exclusive that adds a 5G flourish

Aukey’s 4-port wall charger has dropped to $16 today

Plug it in, plug it in.

The Aukey 4-port USB wall charger is down to $15.99 with code AUKEY048 on Amazon. This wall charger usually sells for around $20, and the code brings it down to one of the best prices we’ve seen for this model.

If your device can be powered by a USB cable, it can use this charger. It has a total output of 8A so every device can get a max charge even when you have four items plugged in. It uses a travel-friendly design with a foldable plug so you can take it when you’re traveling. All Aukey devices are backed up with a two-year warranty.

See on Amazon

Sonos speakers may finally get Google Assistant this holiday season

There’s still no specific date, but this is better than nothing — right?

As much as we love Sonos speakers, there’s one big feature that’s been noticeably absent for quite some time — the Google Assistant. The company’s first Alexa-powered speaker (the Sonos One) has proven to be a truly excellent gadget, and while Alexa works great, Assistant users have been left out in the cold for nearly a year.

Sonos has continued to promise that it’s working on bringing the Google Assistant over to the One and its other speakers, and thanks to an interview The Verge recently had with CEO Patrick Spence, we finally have a rough timeline to look forward to.

Per The Verge —

When pressed on the December 31st deadline he had just set forth for Sonos, Spence says the feature was important to have ready for the holiday sales period. “We’re working as hard as we can and so is Google to get it ready for that time,” he says.

There’s still no word on a specific day, week, or even month, but that “holiday sales period” will likely see the Google Assistant drop at some point in November or December.

This news comes on the same day of Sonos’ IPO with Nasdaq. The company started off at $16/share, reached a high of $21, and finally closed at $19.91. With that closing number, Sonos now has an estimated value of $1.95 billion.

Sonos Beam review: Raising the sound bar

Turn your phone into a desktop PC with the $52 Samsung DeX Station

Try a new experience.

The Samsung DeX Station Desktop Experience is down to $51.99 on Amazon, which is the lowest price we’ve ever seen. It has been selling between $80 and $86 for the last few months and hasn’t dropped below $70 until now.

This device converts your smartphone into a desktop. It works with plenty of models including the Galaxy Note8, S8 and S9, and the Plus versions. It has a built-in fan to cool your phone while it’s docked. It adds two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-C charging port, LAN Ethernet, and more. This lets you add a mouse and keyboard to use with your phone. The device closes to a flat disk so it’s easy to carry around and comes with a travel adapter and USB-C cable. Users give it 3.8 stars based on 366 reviews.

See on Amazon

More Evidence Emerges to Suggest 2018 iPhones Won’t Be Bundled With Lightning to Headphone Jack Adapter

It has been nearly two years since Apple released the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, forcing users who still use wired headphones to plug them into the Lightning connector using an adapter included in the box.

Apple also includes the adapter in the box with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, but more evidence has emerged today that suggests that trend will soon end.

Cirrus Logic, a supplier for the adapter, has apparently “confirmed” that the dongle won’t be bundled with Apple’s widely rumored trio of new iPhones expected next month, according to a Barclays research note.

Barclays already anticipated this would be the case earlier this year.

“Reported a beat but gave mixed guidance with revenue below but earnings ahead. Cirrus didn’t update its FY19 guide… but they did finally confirm the dongle loss, adding more support for our below estimates,” the research note reads.

Apple routinely says it is pushing towards a “truly wireless future,” and the headphone jack adapter has always been a stopgap amid that transition, so if Apple chooses not to include it in the box, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Rumors suggest new iPads will also lose the headphone jack and adapter.

Not everyone prefers wireless headphones, like AirPods, however, so if true, the removal of the adapter will almost certainly generate some controversy.

Apple will likely continue to sell the adapter as a standalone accessory for $9, which is cheap by its standards, so customers at least won’t be forced to pay too much extra for the adapter if it is indeed removed from the box this year.

The adapter is also available at resellers such as Best Buy, where nearly two years later, it is the retailer’s second-best selling Apple product in terms of units, so an argument could be made that Apple is removing the adapter too soon.

In a little over a month, we should find out for sure.

Tags: Barclays, headphone jack
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Review: LaCie’s 4TB Rugged RAID Pro With SD Card Slot is Perfect for Photographers and Videographers

Seagate’s LaCie brand is well-known for its line of rugged, durable hard drives that are protected by an iconic orange bumper, and this spring, LaCie unveiled its latest accessory in the rugged lineup, the 4TB USB-C LaCie Rugged RAID Pro.

Design

If you’ve seen a hard drive in LaCie’s rugged collection before, the Rugged RAID Pro will look immediately familiar. It features an aluminum-encased hard drive wrapped in durable, shockproof orange rubber.

Compared to the former Rugged RAID hard drive LaCie offered, this new model is thinner and lighter. Size wise, the dimensions aren’t hugely different, but it’s noticeable. This new model measures in at 1.18 x 3.6 x 5.5 inches, compared to the Rugged RAID’s 1.3 x 3.6 x 5.8 inch dimensions, and it weighs just about a pound.

LaCie’s previous Rugged hard drives have included built-in cables, but the Rugged RAID Pro uses a separate cable, which is one of the biggest design changes LaCie has introduced here. The other major change is the addition of an SD card slot, which is a fantastic addition for photographers, drone operators, and other people who often need to pull data from an SD card.

I often use an SD card reader to pull photos from my cameras, so I appreciated the addition of the SD card slot. I also prefer the removable cable to the built-in cable of the former LaCie Rugged RAID option because it offers more versatility. It’s a bit messier with nowhere to wind the cord, but it overall isn’t much more inconvenient.

At the bottom of the Rugged RAID Pro, there’s the aforementioned SD card slot and a USB-C port. LaCie has included a USB-C to USB-C cable for use with USB-C devices such as Apple’s latest MacBook Pro and iMac models, and a USB-C to USB-A cable for use with older devices.

A rubber cover made out of the same material as the bumper protects these ports while in travel, and because it’s a standalone piece that can be lost, LaCie includes an extra in the package. The Rugged RAID Pro hasn’t left my office but I’ve still misplaced that port cover, so it’s nice to have a backup.

The hard drive also ships with a power supply and a range of different plug heads for use when traveling. When used with a Thunderbolt device such as Apple’s 2016 and later MacBook Pros, the Rugged RAID Pro is bus-powered and does not require the included power supply, but with other devices, such as the 12-inch MacBook, the power supply is necessary.

On devices where the USB ports are not providing enough power to the LaCie Rugged RAID Pro, a light on the front will flash letting you know that it needs to be plugged in to the power supply.

LaCie’s Rugged RAID Pro, like all of the rugged hard drives, is designed to be resistant to dust and water, and it is designed to hold up to drops and damage. LaCie’s documentation says it has drop resistance up to four feet (one foot less than the prior Rugged RAID), along with IP54 resistance to water and dust.

IP54 translates to protection from water spray from any direction, so it should hold up well in the rain, but you won’t want to submerge it. It also means limited ingress protection from dust. According to LaCie, it can also withstand crushing from a 1-ton car.

I did test its drop resistance with about 10 drops from four feet with no damage inflicted (with the drive powered off, of course), but I didn’t double check LaCie’s crush rating.

Inside of the Rugged RAID Pro, there are two 2TB hard drives for up to 4TB of storage space depending on RAID configuration.

Software

Setting up the Rugged RAID Pro is as simple as plugging it in and opening it up. There’s a “Start Here Mac” and a “Start Here Windows” file, and you just need to click the appropriate file.

The Mac version of the software installs the LaCie Toolkit software. The Toolkit software lets you see how much storage you have available at a glance, and there’s a Mirror feature that lets you set up a Mirror folder where files will sync to the Rugged RAID Pro automatically.

You just need to go through the menus and set up a source folder to enable this feature. Mirror is similar to something like Dropbox and can be handy if you have files that you want to keep safe on a secondary drive without having to worry about it.

If you click on the drive in the Toolkit app, there is an option to “optimize” it by reformatting it from exFAT to HFS+.

In the settings section of the app, you can also use the Toolkit to toggle on an option to import data from SD cards that are added to the drive automatically, and there’s a feature to turn off the app’s ability to launch when you start your Mac up.

I preferred to manually import data from my SD cards rather than having it done automatically, but it’s a useful option if that’s what you plan to primarily use the drive for.

The LaCie Rugged RAID Pro comes configured as RAID 0 for maximum storage space and faster file transfers. If you want to reconfigure it to RAID 1 for data redundancy, you can download the LaCie RAID Manager.

RAID 0 is a setup that’s going to give you the fastest file transfer speeds while also taking advantage of the full 4TB of storage space from the two included 2TB drives. RAID 1 is a setup that mirrors the two drives so that you always have a second copy of your data for extra protection.

LaCie includes a 3-year Seagate data rescue program with the Rugged RAID Pro, along with a free month of access to Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps. With the rescue program, if the hard drive fails, files are accidentally deleted, or the drive is otherwise damaged, Seagate will provide data recovery services at no additional cost.

Performance

LaCie promises transfer speeds of 240MB/s over USB-C, and that is close to what I saw in my testing of the drive with a 2016 MacBook Pro. Transferring several hundred photos from an SD card in the SD card slot took just a few minutes, and file transfers from my MacBook Pro to the Rugged RAID Pro and vice versa were just as speedy.

In my experience, the Rugged RAID Pro got very hot after about a half hour of usage, so this is something to be aware of.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for more storage space for a modern USB-C Mac or PC and want a RAID configuration for redundancy, the LaCie Rugged RAID Pro is an affordable option from a trusted brand that offers a solid compromise between price point and speed.

The addition of an SD card slot makes it more convenient than ever for photographers, videographers, and others who need backup and file transfers on the go, and with its rugged enclosure, it’s ideal for taking along when traveling. Seagate’s data rescue program, which is included, offers additional peace of mind.

I wouldn’t buy this particular hard drive for a configuration where the external power source will be required, but it’s nice that the option is included along with the relevant cables if you need to transfer files to an older machine.

How to Buy

The LaCie Rugged RAID Pro retails for $350, but it can be purchased from B&H Photo for $291 or from Amazon for $330.

Note: LaCie provided MacRumors with a Rugged RAID Pro for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and B&H Photo When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Tags: LaCie, Seagate
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Why Is Big Data Essential To Start Up Businesses Being A Success?

Data is everything in this day and age where businesses are concerned, and big data has become one of the most useful tools to have in your arsenal, especially as a start-up. Big data is simply a huge collection of data that is collected, stored and then analysed in order to improve efficiency, lead to better decisions being made and costs driven down.

What every start up wants to do is be successful and for this to happen there has to be growth. Big data is extremely useful here as it enables business to spot opportunities that they can take advantage of, that may not be picked up on by actual people. It will also reveal potential problem areas which can be improved on, while indicating what has been successful too. Big data will provide the tools for success, helping the start up to run more efficiently.

There will also come a time where a start up will need to take a risk or two to move forward. In many ways risk is vital for growth and big data can come in handy here too. While it may not be able to eradicate the risk completely, it will give the business a chance to mitigate against them; due to the numbers and information that big data can provide. This could literally be the difference in the start-up continuing or failing.

Another key to success for a start-up is to know the market that they’re trying to operate in. It’s good having a great idea but as a start-up you must know whether it will work, and big data can give a great indication of this.

You may be selling products or offering services to the general public, with some doing better than others. By analysing big data, it will be a lot easier to identify what customer’s like and dislike. This then presents the opportunity to tweak what’s on offer to match the specific demands of customers, leading to more sales and increased profit.

Marketing is another area which start-ups need to get right from the outset if they’re to be successful. If nobody knows about the business or what it offers, how can you expect it to make money? We live in an era where social media is frequented by most people on a daily basis, making it one of the best marketing tools around.

It’s also a great idea to advertise your start-up and any products, services and offers on social media because through the use of big data you can find out how effective your marketing actually is. Therefore, start-ups will know which groups of consumers they are best targeting with marketing campaigns and they will also know which advertisements as well as promotions worked and which didn’t fare as good as it should. With marketing one area where start-ups often spend a lot of money, analysing big data will help to improve efficiency, reducing costs in the process.

Therefore, big data is definitely the way to go in all businesses and industries. This is actually the case, no matter what stage or state the entity is at. Big data has become essential for highly competitive industries like retail and especially the gaming world. So it is not uncommon for highly successful brands like retail giants Walmart, Amazon and online casino operator Unibet to have dedicated teams collecting as well as analysing huge amounts of data in order to gain a competitive advantage to them ahead of the pack. As a result, big data is here to stay and will gain even more significance as time goes on.

Best PC setup for your gaming room

Many gamers now look to setup a room entirely dedicated to gaming, enabling them to completely immerse themselves in whatever game they are playing and get the most out of their experience. Many opt to just set aside a specific area of an existing room though, rather than use a whole room just for gaming purposes; and it is still possible to achieve a great setup this way. The sound system, screen and overall setup of the room are the most important factors.

For a PC gaming room setup, the two most important parts are the monitor and desk. It is entirely feasible to use a setup currently used as a home office as a home PC gaming setup. If the room is solely dedicated to PC gaming though you could look to have several different systems and monitors setup.

Something important that must be considered when designing the set-up of your gaming environment is the distance of your seat away from the screen. It is important not to be seated too close to the screen, but you also don’t want to be too far away from it. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if you are playing on a screen that is 60” or more then you should look to be at least 10-11” away from it and every additional 5” the screen is in size you should look to move a further 6” inch away, ensuring the best view whatever the size.

For PC gamers it is important to consider several factors when making a decision on their gaming chair; as a chair is quite an important part of the gaming setup. A chair that is comfortable, easy to move around in, lean back in and adjust the height of is important. It needs to be an office chair with a 5-star wheel base.

The sound system is often overlooked when it comes to setting up a gaming room, which is a shame as a good surround sound system can really enhance the gaming experience and help the player to become immersed in the game. If you can afford it then look at 5.1, 7.1 and 9.1 surround sound options. However, if on a budget there are some quality headsets out there that can mimic surround sound.

Possibly the most important decision is which PC you buy for the gaming room. You want to ensure you have one that has enough capability to support the games you are looking to play and provides a great experience. A PC that is dedicated to gaming is recommended for those looking for the ultimate gaming experience. These dedicated PCs are specifically designed with gamers in mind and can handle the toughest of games and highest spec games with ease. They have super-fast processors and usually a top of the range graphics card and even 4K resolution capabilities. They also come equipped with the latest technology meaning that if you want to play online there will be no lag time or loss of connection with wi-fi.

How the GPS tracker has changed the way we hike

Once upon a time hiking was unfashionable. Now, it seems to be one of the principle ways in which people keep fit and take care of their body.

There are of course a whole host of reasons behind this. Some of these revolve around all of the fitness initiatives that governments from around the world have put together, while others are based upon less obvious reasons.

One of these less obvious reasons comes in the form of the GPS tracker. In short, this seems to have transformed the way in which some people approach hiking. It has helped them overcome obstacles that were preventing their hiking journey from going any further and through the course of today’s post we will take a look at some of the ways this has happened.

Long and adventurous hikes are now a thing

If you were lucky enough to reside in an area which had miles upon miles of treks, this one is for you. Sure, some people might take it upon themselves to just walk and walk until they get lost, but for others this was a scary prospect.

This is where the GPS device has come into play. This has allowed people to literally venture off the beaten track, and try hikes that they otherwise wouldn’t have had the confidence to attempt. If they do happen to get lost, they have their trusty GPS device to fall back on.

It means that those repetitive and dare we say it, boring, hikes are becoming more of a thing of the past.

The safety-factor has just been added to

There was also something of a safety concern to contend with amongst hikers. As we all know, particularly when you venture into the unknown, your environment becomes a little dangerous. In some parts of the world this might be due to wild life, while on other occasions it could be trip hazards or even people.

Suffice to say, the GPS tracker at least adds a bit of rest bite in this regard. Sure, it’s not enough to prevent the very worst from happening, but if you do run into difficulties you do at least have something to fall back on and this has again encouraged more people to take to trekking.

It’s all about calories

Finally, an article about hiking wouldn’t be anything without the dreaded C-word would it. This time, we’re talking about calories.

For anyone who is remotely interested in fitness, this is the word that rolls off the tip of the tongue in a breeze. Many people attempt to measure their hiking success not necessarily by the distance they have walked, but how many calories they have burned off.

This has all been made possible with GPS trackers. As well as tracking location, many have body measurement capabilities and calories happens to be one of these metrics. They of course provide a whole host of other information, with your route and distance walked being two of the most popular.

Key Factors of the Best Bitcoin IRA – Coin IRA

It is likely that you have heard of the fact that cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have become incredibly popular as of late. So much so, in fact, that many experts describe it as a lifetime opportunity. Indeed, it is now even possible to invest in cryptocurrencies and build a retirement fund. Doing so, however, does mean you need to understand what the best bitcoin IRA – coin IRA looks like.

What Is Bitcoin?

First of all, you have to understand what cryptocurrencies are. Bitcoin was the first functional currency of its kind. It is a decentralized, digital currency that is not controlled by a government or a Central Bank. What this also means is that its value is determined solely by what people are willing to pay for it. And, right now, people are willing to pay a lot for it. That being said, because of the decentralized nature of the currency, it is also very volatile and has experienced many ups and downs. Experts now agree that bitcoin should not be seen as a method to get rich quick but rather as a type of insurance against inflation and even hyperinflation.

The Best Bitcoin IRA – Coin IRA

All across the world, people have started to invest in cryptocurrencies. This country is one of the few that allows it as a retirement fund, for which an IRA is needed. Not every IRA custodian currently offers bitcoin management, so it is important that you do a little bit of research in terms of where you can go. So what should you look for in an IRA custodian? Some of the key factors to investigate include:

• That they have US government backing.
• That they employ leading global financial experts.
• That they provide educational tools for those wanting to get involved in this. This is particularly important because a bitcoin IRA is always self directed, which means you, as the investor, need to decide how much to buy and when to sell.
• That they employ the highest levels of security on their website and for their accounts.

The security element is of particular importance. Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies solely, which means that, if they are not stored properly, they can be stolen. All bitcoin transactions are non reversible, which means that you cannot get them back. Hence, they should always be stored in a proper bitcoin wallet and those wallets should have multilayer security systems in order to make sure they cannot be hacked.

Another thing that you might want to look into is whether or not the IRA allows you to invest in cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. The latter was the first and is certainly still the most popular, but other cryptocurrencies are starting to become equally interesting. Coins such as Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Litecoin, and Ethereum may also be of interest as an investment. With a little bit of research, you should be able to find a custodian that works for you and you will be able to start making investments.