These Xbox One console bundles come with a free Echo Dot for voice control

Ask and you shall receive.

As part of a big Xbox update, Microsoft just released the Xbox Skill for Cortana and Alexa which allows you to navigate your Xbox One console using your voice and a Cortana or Amazon Alexa-enabled device, such as the Echo Dot.

To celebrate the announcement, Amazon is offering discounted bundles of the Xbox One and Echo Dot hardware so you can get started using the feature right away. With this deal, you’re basically getting one of the new Echo Dot devices for free with your purchase of either an Xbox One X or Xbox One S console, saving you from having to spend $50 on one separately. The console bundles are priced at $499.99 and $299.99 respectively, which is the same retail price you’d find for them at other stores without the Echo Dot included. You’ll also receive NBA 2K19 with the bundle.

Once your new toys arrive in the mail, you’ll be able to use your voice to do things such as turn on or off your console, open a specific game or app, take screenshots, adjust its volume, and more. The Xbox Skill is now available to download at Amazon.

If you’re looking to own extra Echo Dot devices in your home, you can save $10 when you buy two at Amazon right now.

See at Amazon

Google’s Home Hub smart display spotlights another Microsoft failure

Google’s Home Hub joins Amazon’s Echo Show in an ambient-computing, smart-display space in which Microsoft is conspicuously absent.

Amazon pioneered the progression of voice-controlled ambient computing with its Alexa-powered smart speakers. The Google Assistant-powered Google Home and Apple’s Siri-powered HomePod eventually followed. In 2017, Amazon upped the ante with its Amazon Echo Show smart display. The Echo Show brought the ability to display interactive content to the smart speaker battle.

Microsoft was notably absent from this space until the embarrassingly-neglected Cortana-powered Invoke Harman Kardon smart speaker hit store shelves. With little marketing and an assistant with limited skills, mindshare and geographic reach, Microsoft’s initially-$200-priced speakers remained unnoticed by consumers. A recent Invoke price cut and Microsoft’s repositioning of Cortana as a business-focused assistive agent may signal Microsoft has little intention of recommitting to the consumer-focused ambient computing space.

This would conflict with the company’s professed commitment to the professional and personal user across work and play. In a nutshell, Microsoft’s recently revisited commitment to users across their professional and personal lives demands Microsoft ensures Cortana-powered ambient computing is available to users at home just as it is at work. Two years ago, Microsoft revealed a Home Hub plan to turn hundreds of millions of Windows 10 PCs into Cortana-powered smart speakers with screens. Microsoft’s plan was great, but the execution poor, and competitors like Google introduced products that are everything Microsoft’s should have been.

Microsoft’s Home Hub, a dream deferred

Microsoft’s Home Hub concept versus Google’s Home Hub reality.

In 2016, we saw Microsoft’s vision for smart displays. Unlike rivals, Microsoft wouldn’t have to build dedicated smart speakers, try to create a market, and then develop distribution channels to get them to consumers. With a home and business PC install base of more than one billion and a growing Windows 10 presence, Microsoft planned to use software to turn existing Windows 10 PCs into Cortana-powered smart speakers. Microsoft’s OEM partners were also expected to create dedicated intelligent displays to complement this strategy.

Microsoft’s Home Hub was going to provide families with communal access to calendars, apps, and Sticky Notes via a Welcome Screen on a shared PC. Windows Hello would also recognize users and keep individual data private.

Home Hub was supposed to connect Windows 10 PCs to various smart home devices allowing users to control them via Cortana. Sadly, with the failure of Windows on phone, Microsoft’s consumer-facing commitment to Cortana has further waned. With a two-year virtual silence on Home Hub and an apparent lack of interest in making Cortana relevant to consumers, Microsoft’s Home Hub dreams seem destined to remain unrealized.

Google Home Hub, a dream realized

During its 2018 “Made by Google” event, Google announced its seven-inch Assistant-powered smart display. This diminutive device is three inches smaller than Amazon’s latest 10-inch Alexa-powered Echo Show and is bedroom-safe due to the intentional omission of a camera.

The $149 device is more affordable than the $230 Alexa Show. Reports also claim that Google’s superior speech recognition supports more natural language and has fewer mistakes than the Echo Show. Still, Alexa’s 50,000 skills and the Echo’s compatibility with thousands of smart home devices beat Google Home Hub.

Still, even in its shortcomings, Google Home Hub brings the reality of hands-free, voice navigated computing with a display to users in a way Microsoft has not. And though the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View brought Assistant-powered smart displays to market earlier, Google Home does so in a sleeker package.

Microsoft, the dreamer

Google Home Hub is equipped with far-field microphones, stereo speakers and a seven-inch LCD touch display. From browsing YouTube videos to following recipes and invoking music services, Google’s Home Hub will begin impacting consumer behavior in a very real way.

Home Hub features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which allows users to cast their phone content to the device. It also acts as a digital picture frame for users’ cloud-based photos when not in use. As “everyone’s personal Google,” Assistant on Home Hub will continue answering questions effectively as Google leverages its progress in organizing the world’s information. Home Hub also connects to smart home gadgets and provides a Home View Dashboard of the entire state of a smart home. No longer will users have to access separate apps to control connected devices.

As Google brings all of this and more to users on its first-gen smart display, Microsoft’s Home Hub dreams may remain an unknown concept and yet another frustrating miss Microsoft watchers can add to Redmond’s pile of what could have been.

New iPad Pro Models Spotted in Analytics With Same Resolutions as Current 10.5-Inch and 12.9-Inch Models

Apple is widely expected to introduce new iPad Pro models with Face ID at a media event later this month, and we can now confirm that Apple has been testing those models internally over the past few months.

iPad Pro with edge-to-edge display render via iDropNews
Mobile app analytics platform Appsee has informed MacRumors that model identifiers iPad8,1; iPad 8,2; iPad8,3; iPad 8,4; iPad 8,5; and iPad 8,8 began to appear in its device logs starting August 1. Earlier this week, 9to5Mac’s Guilherme Rambo claimed those identifiers represent unreleased 2018 iPad Pro models.

“The model codes for the Wi-Fi models of the 2018 iPad Pro will be iPad8,1, iPad8,2, iPad8,5 and iPad8,6,” said Rambo. “Meanwhile, the cellular-capable models will be iPad8,3, iPad8,4 and iPad8,7 and iPad8,8.”

For what it’s worth, Appsee has yet to see any iPad8,6 or iPad8,7 sessions appear in its analytics, but those models very likely exist.

What’s more interesting is that the new iPad Pro models appear to have the same display resolutions as the latest 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models. Appsee’s logs indicate that the iPad8,1 through iPad8,4 models have a resolution of 1,112×834 points, while the iPad8,5 and iPad8,8 measure in at 1,366×1,024 points.

Point resolution is not pixel resolution, but we can easily find out the latter.

iPad Pro displays use Apple’s high-resolution @2x modifier, meaning there are four pixels for every point. As such, simple math reveals that the new iPad Pro models in the logs have resolutions of 2,224×1,668 and 2,732×2,048 pixels, identical to that of the current 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models respectively.

The data suggests that iPad Pro models with Face ID will have the same-size 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch displays, and retain 4:3 aspect ratios. However, the overall dimensions of the tablets are likely to shrink, as the iPad Pro is expected to receive an iPhone X-esque redesign with an edge-to-edge display.

As far as accuracy is concerned, Appsee has a proven track record at this. The analytics firm discovered the model identifier iPad6,8 with a resolution of 2,732×2,048 pixels in its logs back in August 2015, and Apple introduced the original iPad Pro with that exact resolution the following October.

Appsee describes itself as a powerful qualitative in-app analytics platform that enables app professionals to measure, understand, and optimize the end-users’ experience in their mobile apps, driving increased engagement, conversions, and in-app monetization. More information can be found on their website.

However, there are a few rumors that conflict with this data. First, often-accurate Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the next iPad Pro models will have 11-inch and 12.9-inch displays. If the 10.5-inch model is in fact evolving into an 11-inch version, then the resolution would be different as a result.

Second, dimensions from Japanese blog Mac Otakara and a photo on Slashleaks suggest the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro will be approximately 4mm wider. That does not necessarily mean the display will be larger, though, and it’s worth noting that all of the other alleged dimensions are smaller on both models.

One way or the other, we should find out in a few weeks. Apple has yet to invite the media to its rumored October event, and with its CEO Tim Cook in Belgium on October 24, there is an increasing probability that the event might not take place until Tuesday, October 30, give or take a day.

Related Roundup: iPad ProTag: AppseeBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Deals: Last Call for Exclusive Anker Discounts, 2017 MacBook Flash Sale, and More

We’re entering the final days of our latest exclusive sale with accessory maker Anker, in which you can get up to 42 percent off portable chargers, speakers, iPhone cases, wireless chargers, and headphones.

You can find every product on sale in the list below, and if you see something you like be sure to place your order before the codes expire on Sunday, October 14. As usual, these discounts are found on Amazon, so Prime members can place their orders and get free 2-day shipping.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

iPhone Cases

• iPhone X Breeze Case – $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $6.99

• iPhone X Shield Case – $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $6.99

Cables and Chargers

• PowerLine+ Lightning Cable with Pouch (3ft, Red) – $9.49 with code RUMORS92, down from $13.99

• Powerline+ II Lightning Cable with Pouch (6ft, Black) – $13.49 with code RUMORS53, down from $17.99

• PowerPort Cube with 3 Outlets and 3 USB Ports – $20.79 with code RUMORS63, down from $25.99

• USB-C Wall Charger with 5 Ports – $39.99 with code RUMORS56, down from $49.99

• PowerWave 7.5 Stand Wireless Charger – $39.99 with code RUMORS25, down from $49.99

Audio Accessories

• Soundcore Spirit Pro Sports Headphones – $39.99 with code RUMORS88, down from $49.99

• Soundcore Vortex Wireless Headset – $44.99 with code RUMORS03, down from $59.99

• Soundcore Flare Portable Bluetooth 360-degree Speaker (Black) – $50.99 with code RUMORS31, down from $59.99

Portable Chargers

• PowerCore II 20,100 mAh Portable Charger – $47.99 with code RUMORS26, down from $59.99

• PowerCore Speed 20,100 mAh Portable Charger + 30W Power Delivery Wall Charger – $79.99 with code RUMORS75, down from $99.99

Besides the exclusive codes, Anker has a few normal discount codes live on Amazon:

• 6ft Premium Nylon Lightning Cable [2-Pack] (Black, Silver, Red) – $17.99 with code ANKER532, down from $23.99 (exp. 10/30)

• 3.3ft Premium Nylon Lightning Cable [2-Pack] (Black, Silver, Red) – $14.99 with code ANKER532, down from $19.99 (exp. 10/30)

• PowerCore 10,400 mAh External Battery Pack – $23.99 with code ANKERPC4, down from $29.99 (exp. 10/31)

In other sales, Woot today has the 12-inch MacBook from Mid 2017 (1.2 GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB HD) for $899.99, down from $1,299.99. This model is on sale for today only, so if you’ve been on the hunt for a cheaper entry-level MacBook this is definitely a good opportunity. Comparatively, this model is priced at $1,249.00 on B&H Photo and $1,299.99 on Best Buy.

If you’re planning a trip soon, Pad & Quill is offering its TechFolio Cord Organizer for $15 off using promo code Family15. This makes the travel accessory $74.95, down from $89.95. Pad & Quill’s ongoing PQ16 coupon code for 10 percent off your order is also still live, but can’t be combined with Family15.

For more information on this week’s sales and bargains, be sure to head over to our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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How to create a smart living room for under $250

Smart home technology is more than just a buzzword these days. With our lives increasingly transformed by the internet of things (IoT), it seems everything from our light bulbs to our thermostat is becoming connected. For consumers, this means that almost every new product boasts some kind of smart technology that promises to make our lives faster, simpler, and better with home automation.

As anyone who’s recently thought about renovating their home knows, the costs of implementing smart home technology can quickly add up. However, by being shrewd about which brands and products you invest in, you can quickly and easily make your home “smart,” even if you’re starting from scratch.

Getting started with smart home automation

Are you thinking about bringing your home out of the dark ages with smart home devices? Trying to get things started with home automation can be intimidating, but a smart home doesn’t have to be filled with crazy gadgets and robot devices. It’s as simple as swapping out everyday products with devices that fulfill the same role, but are connected to each other in order to improve home automation. By setting up a system of triggers and responses that accomplish smalls tasks, you can save yourself time, energy, effort, and even increase home security.

Choosing a Hub

The first step when automating your home is to choose your smart home hub or platform. The most popular ones include Amazon Alexa, Google Home Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. When deciding which one to use as the base for your smart home, consider things like whether you prefer one system over the others, what technology you already own, and what activities you want to automate. For instance, if you’re an Amazon Prime member and listen to Amazon Music regularly, you may find more value with Alexa. Or, if you want to sync your Google activity including Gmail and Chrome, then Google Assistant may be the right ecosystem for you.

All three are compatible with a huge host of devices, so you won’t be starved of good options. For this roundup, we’ve decided to focus on Alexa-enabled devices, as they’re relatively inexpensive and there are a multitude of options for each product category.

The Beginner’s Kit

Ready to dip your toe into the world of smart home automation? Below are the essential Alexa-enabled smart home products that will help you take your home from a sorry state to state-of-the-art.

+ Customize Your Bundle

Echo Dot
$39.99

Remove

Mini Smart Plug (2-Pack)
$18.88

Remove

Fire TV Stick
$39.99

Remove

Smart Security Camera
$39

Remove

Smart Bulb Starter Kit
$73.09

Remove

$210.95
Total:

Echo Dot smart speaker (2nd-gen) – $39

A wireless smart speaker is the absolute first investment you should make when transforming your digs into a smart dwelling. A speaker is the hub through which you can play music, ask questions, set alarms, and control all your other compatible smart home devices. One of the most popular voice-controlled speakers around is the Echo Dot, created by Amazon for use with virtual assistant Alexa. It’s compatible with over 10,000 smart home devices, including smart lighting, door locks, doorbell, smart thermostat, garage door, home entertainment systems, and even your home security cameras. Blending decent sound quality with minimalist design, the Echo Dot is available in black or white.

While the full lineup of Amazon Echo products is vast, the Dot is by far the most affordable option and can accomplish everything you need for basic home automation. Plus, it’s currently on sale for $39, regular $49.

Buy Separately

TECKIN Smart Plugs – $19

This is an easy upgrade for someone who doesn’t want to overhaul their home’s hardware, but still wants to add smart wireless functionality. Simply insert the TECKIN Smart Plug in a wall outlet and plug in your devices. Just like that, you’ll be able to control your electronics remotely by asking Alexa to turn the plug on or off. Similar to the Wemo Light Switch, you can even schedule the plugs to activate at certain times of the day, for example to start any appliance in the morning. An inexpensive (if somewhat simplistic) automation solution, the two-pack is available on Amazon for just $19.

It should also be noted that these third-party smart plugs will work without a hub, assuming you have a smart mobile device, so they can be sold as a stand-alone option if you don’t want to buy an Echo.

Buy Separately

Philips Hue Smart Bulbs – $89

When you begin investing in your smart home, it’s the little things that make all the difference. Take the Philips Hue Smart Bulbs, for example. This product enables you to control the amount of light in your home automation directly at the source. Dim the bulbs with a word for a beautiful soft white lighting experience or program them to brighten as you wake up in the morning. These bulbs are compatible with Amazon Alexa for voice control, though they can be controlled remotely using the Philips Hue App on your smartphone as well, making it an ideal way of adding extra security to your smart home while you’re away. 

Philips claims that its bulbs will last up to 15 years or 15,000 hours, whichever comes first, so there’s no need to worry about replacing them in the near future. If you like the Philips line of products, you can also expand your home lighting system with accessories like the Hue Dimmer Switch, Hue Tap, or Hue Motion Sensor. A 4-pack of Philips Hue Smart Bulbs will cost you $89 on Amazon, and are regularly $99.

Buy Separately

Fire TV Stick for media streaming – $39

Movie buffs, this one’s for you. Access over 500,000 movies and TV episodes at the click of a USB drive with the top-rated Amazon Fire TV Stick. Though the picture quality isn’t as advanced as that of the Fire TV, the Stick is a more affordable option that provides all the substance (with a little less style). Though this streaming smart device does not connect directly to your smart home hub, it’s still an essential part of any connected home.

Use the compatible wireless Alexa Voice Remote to search for and find content, play music — even order a pizza. The Fire TV Stick is also portable, meaning you can keep bingeing on your favorite shows when you travel.

Buy Separately

EZViz Mini O 1080p – $39

One of the things that draws us to the idea of smart home automation is the desire to keep tabs on things while we’re away. However, security ecosystems like Blink or Ring Video doorbell camera can cost upwards of $400 to set up. For the beginner smart home investor, a product like the EZViz Mini O 1080p, priced at just $39, will suit you just fine. Controlled by Alexa, IFTTT, or Google Assistant, this Wi-Fi security camera shows you real-time video of what’s happening at your home via the EZViz app. If the dogwalker or delivery man knocks on your door while you’re out, you can still communicate with them remotely using the built-in speaker and mic designed for two-way communication. The app also sends push notifications to your phone when the camera senses motion, ensuring you’re always in the know about the security of your home.

Buy Separately

Looking for more great device deals? Find Amazon coupons, Roomba Deals, and more from our curated deals page, or follow us on our Deals Twitter for daily savings.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

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Sony Xperia XZ3 tips and tricks

With one of the best displays around, stereo speakers, and a slick design, Sony’s Xperia XZ3 is a stunning smartphone. We delve into some of the most useful and less obvious features and options here, some of which are standard features that appear on many Android phones and some that are specific to Sony’s flagship. These are our top Sony Xperia XZ3 tips.

How to use split screen

You have a gorgeous 6-inch OLED screen to play with, which means there’s plenty of room for two apps to be open at once. The easiest way to trigger split screen is to tap the on-screen Recents button – the square icon at the bottom right – and then tap and hold on one of the apps you want open and drag it up to the top where it says Drag here to use split screen. You can then pick your app for the bottom half of the screen.

If you want to resize, simply tap, hold, and drag the rectangle in the middle. To go full screen again, with either app, simply drag the divider all the way to the top or all the way to the bottom.

How to get Adaptive brightness right

A lot of people seem to dislike auto brightness, which automatically adjusts the brightness of your display based on the amount of light in your environment. Adaptive brightness in Android 9 Pie also uses machine learning to learn your habits when it comes to increasing and decreasing brightness, and it’s far more useful.

Go to Settings > Display > Adaptive brightness to toggle it on. Now, if you go into a dark room and find that the brightness drops too low, simply swipe down from the top with two fingers and adjust the brightness slider to your comfortable minimum level. Reset the brightness to your tastes when it doesn’t look right, and the system should learn your preferences and start to adjust to the desired level automatically.

How to adjust the display

We think the Xperia XZ3 display is stunning, but if it isn’t meeting your expectations, then you should dig into the settings and make some tweaks. If you don’t feel the colors are natural enough or perhaps your display looks a touch too blue, you can tweak the settings to adjust it.

Go to Settings > Display > Advanced and you can tweak the Color gamut and Contrast or the White balance to get the look you want. You’ll also find the Video image enhancement toggle in here, which we recommend leaving on for sharper video.

How to free up space

Once you’ve been using your Xperia XZ3 for a while, it will begin to fill up and you might want to free up some space. Go to Settings > Storage and tap Free up space. If there’s anything you can get rid of, it will be highlighted here. You can also tap on the individual categories to see what they contain.

How to pair a Dualshock PS4 controller

Sony has made it easy to pair a PlayStation 4 Dualshock controller with your Xperia XZ3 for an even better gaming experience. Go to Settings > Device connection > Connection preferences and scroll down to Game controller to select Dualshock 4. You can then tap Pair controller to use a controller with your Xperia XZ3.

How to take a screenshot

Sometimes you want to capture a conversation to share or record a high score for posterity, and you need to take a screenshot. The traditional Android method works just fine with the Xperia XZ3: Hold down the Volume down and Power buttons simultaneously and you should see a capture animation and hear the screenshot sound.

In Android 9 Pie, there’s now a handy screenshot shortcut that works especially well when you’re using the Xperia XZ3 one-handed. Hold down the Power button and you’ll see a Screenshot option as part of the Power off menu. All screenshots appear in the notification shade, where you can edit them, and you can also find them later in the Photos and Album apps in a folder called Screenshots.

How to quick launch the camera

The Sony Xperia XZ3 has a dedicated camera button on the right spine, which is in the perfect position for snapping a shot when you hold the phone in landscape. If you hold down that button, then you can launch straight into the camera.

How to use hardware keys with camera

Open the camera app and tap the gear icon at the top left, then scroll down to find your hardware key options. You can set Use Volume key as to Zoom or Shutter and you can set the dedicated camera key to Launch only or Launch and capture.

There’s also a Smart launch option that triggers the camera automatically when you hold the Xperia XZ3 up in landscape as though you’re going to snap a photo. We found this slightly annoying, as it triggered a lot of photos by accident, but you might find it handy.

Both these options can be turned on or off in the camera app by tapping the gear icon to open the settings and then scrolling down to Smart launch and Launch with camera key. Both can also be configured to open and immediately snap a shot if you prefer, something that could prove handy for capturing those spontaneous moments where you must be quick.

How to customize audio settings

Look in Settings > Sound > Audio settings for a wealth of options related to the Xperia XZ3’s audio output. Some of these settings are just for headphones, but you’ll also find an equalizer, some surround sound settings, and the Dynamic normalizer, which is great for preventing suddenly loud advertisements or switches in music volume.

When you’re watching a movie on the Xperia XZ3 using the stereo speakers, make sure you go into the Audio settings > Sound effects and turn S-Force Front Surround on.

How to use One-handed mode

The Sony Xperia XZ3 is a very tall smartphone indeed, and it can be tricky to manage one-handed, so Sony has built in a special one-handed mode that allows you to reduce the screen size and drag it down to the left or right corner. You’ll find it in Settings > Display > Advanced > One-handed mode. To activate it, simply swipe right to left or left to right along the bottom edge of the screen. You can drag the corner to resize and tap on any black space to go full-screen again.

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Enjoy the internet anywhere with LTE on the new Samsung Chromebook Plus v2

Rumors have long hinted that Always-Connected Chromebooks were in the works, and Samsung put things to rest on Friday, October 12, by revealing the LTE connected Chromebook Plus V2. Available on November 2 for $600, this 2-in-1 addresses the need Chromebook owners have shown for staying connected, no matter where they are located.

Per Samsung, the specs and design on the new Chromebook Plus V2 have otherwise unchanged from the Wi-Fi version. For the price, you’re still getting a 12.2-inch IPS display, a Celeron 3965Y processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage. Specs aside, the device is more about showcasing Samsung’s partnership with Google to bring an Always-On Chromebook to the market.

“We built Chrome OS to provide faster, simpler and more secure computing for everyone. With the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE), users have one device they can use for work and play, wherever they are,” Kan Liu, Senior Director of Product, Chrome OS, said in a statement.

Along with Google, Samsung also partnered with Intel to deliver the Chromebook Plus V2. Considering Microsoft has been working with Qualcomm on similar Windows 10 Always Connected PCs, that is a rather interesting feat that brings some more competition to the market.

“People demand their devices match their level of always-on performance in order to achieve, contribute and be their best … Samsung’s new Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE) device meets this expectation with style by fusing Samsung design ingenuity and Google’s beloved OS with Intel processors and Intel LTE connectivity,” Josh Newman, general manager of Mobile PC Segments, Intel Client Computing Group, said in a statement.

We reviewed the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 a few days ago, finding that it fails to live up to the Chromebook Pro. Still, the Samsung device features a solid metal and plastic build quality, all-day battery life, and a very good display for any productivity and media needs.

With the new addition of LTE, the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 should now more enticing for consumers who just want a device for travel and enjoying the internet wherever they go. Considering that even Google’s new Pixel Slate doesn’t have LTE, it will be interesting to see if other Chromebook manufacturers will later follow to come onboard with the “Always-On” platform.

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Arizona-Intel partnership aims to advance self-driving tech, safety standards

Stepping up with a public, private, and academic collaboration to advance autonomous driving, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced the Institute for Automated Mobility (IAM). Ducey named Intel the first private-sector founding partner of the new institute.

“The Institute for Automated Mobility will bring together global industry leaders, a public sector team, and the brightest minds in academia, focused on advancing all aspects of automated vehicle science, safety, and policy,” Ducey said. “Arizona is committed to providing the leadership and knowledge necessary to integrate these technologies into the world’s transportation systems.”

Administered by the Arizona Commerce Authority, the group’s members, including the Arizona Department Transportation, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona State University (ASU), the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University, will work with Intel to advance automated driving technologies and safety standards. Other companies and organizations interested in joining the collaboration can contact IAM.

“Automated vehicle technologies have incredible potential to improve transportation safety and efficiency, saving lives, time and money,” said Arizona Commerce Authority president and CEO Sandra Watson. “IAM will conduct groundbreaking industry-led research and development supporting the establishment of uniform standards and smart policy around these technologies.”

The IAM’s scope includes liability, regulatory, and safety aspects of self-driving vehicles. The goal is to develop autonomous mobility standards and best practices for industry adoption and state-of-the-art facilities for that purpose.

Institute members are already at work creating plans for a simulation lab, and technology-neutral infrastructure with a 2.1-mile test track with multiple route configurations including intersections, signage, and traffic signals. The Arizona Department of Transportation and the Department of Safety will incorporate first responder emergency services and law enforcement in the facility, a first in the U.S. according to the Commerce Authority.

Arizona’s focus on automated vehicle technology extends back to 2015 when Ducey issued an executive order supporting self-driving technology and formed the Self-Driving Oversight Committee. The following year, Intel formed its Automated Driving Division in Arizona, while Google launched Waymo in Chandler, Ford ran self-driving vehicle trials, Uber relocated its autonomous fleet, and GM’s Cruise unit moved its testing to the state.

In 2017, Waymo named Arizona its global testing location and Intel named Arizona as a testing location and began collaborating with ASU. That same year, Intel’s Mobileye division introduced the Responsibility, Sensitivity, and Safety (RSS) model.

“The Institute for Automated Mobility is the culmination of many months of groundbreaking collaboration between Intel, ASU, and public agencies in Arizona,” said Intel senior vice president Doug Davis. “We look forward to working with industry partners, the state, and the universities on safety technologies, standards, and policies — such as responsibility sensitive safety (RSS) — as we collectively aim for autonomous transportation solutions that are safe and impactful.”

Earlier this year when a self-driving Uber car in autonomous mode fatally struck pedestrian Elaine Herzberg, Arizona’s focus on autonomous transportation came to the forefront. Following that tragedy, Intel published a blog post calling for collaborative discussions by automakers, tech companies, regulators, and other groups to focus on self-driving vehicle safety.

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The best horror games for Oculus Go 😈

Horror games are always a fan favorite, no matter what device you’re playing them on. Nothing brings a thrill to gaming quite like fighting for your life, and nothing makes that feel more real than VR. These are the best Oculus Go games to make your skin crawl!

Truly mind-blowing

Doors of Silence

Doors of Silence is a horror game that won’t just get you with jump scares. This title will also have you questioning your sanity. You’ll go through an abandoned, haunted insane asylum. So, what’s the best way to learn of your insane patients than to live our their horrors?

$3 at Oculus Store

Silence doesn’t kill in this title

The Vault

This game breaks the mold for the more traditional horror games. It tasks you with being quiet. The goal is to appease your jerk of a boss who cares more about the materials on the ship than he does your own life. So much so, he’s willing to risk you for them. You’ll have to sneak your way around the ship, collect the resources, and then escape. By the way, there are zombies. Lots of zombies.

$2 at Oculus Store

Hold your breath

Buried Alive

Take a deep breath. Where are you? Looks like some psychopath put you in a coffin and then under about six feet of dirt. This maniac wants to watch you struggle and you’re just a source of entertainment. In this psychological horror, you are faced with puzzles and tasks to keep yourself alive. With each puzzle that you complete you will be given the key to the next puzzle. Can you escape this serial killer’s clutches?

$1 at Oculus Store

Outrun the static

Nightmare: The Escape

Slenderman is back and once again you’ve got to complete his sadistic puzzle in order to escape him. Can you collect all the papers in time? Can you outrun the static? Test your ability to remain calm and focused during a life-or-death situation to see if you can beat Slenderman.

$3 at Oculus Store

Out of all of these titles, I would highly recommend dipping into Doors of Silence. For such a low price you can give yourself the psychological horror you’ve been looking for in a scary game. Between the puzzles and the stories, you might just find yourself captured in more ways than one!

Should you get the 2nd Gen Amazon Echo or upgrade to the Plus?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We live and breathe smart home technology, so if you’re just stepping into this exciting new tech space we’re here to help set you in the right direction.

Echo Plus (2nd gen)

Our Pick

$150 at Amazon

Pros

• Matches the size of standard Echo.
• Fresh redesign with a fabric finish.
• Built-in Zigbee hub.
• Bluetooth and line-out for external speakers.

Cons

• More expensive.

The new Echo Plus is essentially the same size as the standard Echo but somehow manages to pack in the all-important Zigbee hub that makes it the best starting point for converting your house into a smart home. Definitely worth the extra price if you’re interested in smart home products.

Echo (2nd Gen)

Your standard model

$100 at Amazon

Pros

• Great room-filling sound.
• Six fashionable finishes to choose between.
• Line-out with 3.5mm cable or Bluetooth.

Cons

• Doesn’t double as a smart home hub.

The second generation of the Amazon Echo was the first Alexa speaker to ditch the black obelisk design style in favor of a more friendly fabric finish. The physical size was also nearly cut in half, making the Echo a more side-table friendly option for your living room space. It’s a great option for anyone living in a bachelor apartment or other small space.

Worth spending a bit more for the Plus

Both the Amazon Echo and Echo Plus are great smart home speakers and offer significant aesthetic improvements over Amazon’s first generation. The newer speakers are shorter and less intimidating to look at on a shelf or end table, so if you opted for the less intimidating Echo Dot your first go around, you’ll probably enjoy adding one of these to your home.

In terms of specs, the two speakers are extremely similar. The Plus is appropriately a little larger with a slightly bigger woofer that’ll give your music some extra “oomph”. But the biggest differentiator — and the spec that will likely determine which you buy — is the ZigBee smart home hub built into the Echo Plus.

If you’re choosing between the Echo or Echo Plus, your decision should be determined by the following: your existing smart home setup and/or whether that’s something you’re interested in. If you’ve already bought something like a Philips Hue Starter Kit, Samsung SmartThings kit, or have otherwise setup some connected bulbs, plugs, sensors, or cameras around your home, you should be able to connect and control everything with Alexa on a standard Amazon Echo. There’s incredible support for all brands of smart home gadgets and accessories, so chances are if you’re already controlling it with your phone, Alexa will let you control it with your voice.

But let’s say you don’t own any smart bulbs, switches, or plugs — but you’re interested in changing that. The Amazon Echo Plus is going to be the better investment thanks to the ZigBee hub built right in that lets you connect and control hundreds of products without having to deal with a myriad of clunky apps or installing an extra hub somewhere. In fact, Amazon is bundling the Echo Plus with a free Philips Hue smart bulb, so that’s a great place to start.

Amazon Echo Plus (2nd gen)

Our Pick

$150 at Amazon

The best option for smart speaker newcomers

The Amazon Echo Plus is our recommendation for anyone. It’s the biggest and best-sounding Echo speaker (ignoring the Echo Sub) and comes ready out of the box to connect to the most popular smart home products. Getting it with a free Philips Hue bulb thrown in is just icing on the cake.

Amazon Echo (2nd Gen)

Alexa for less

Refined design at a slightly lower price

$100 at Amazon

The mid-range Echo speaker is a great product but pales when compared to the slightly better sound quality and added functionality found in the Echo Plus. At $100, it’s probably worth spending the extra $50 for the Echo Plus, although snagging a Certified Refurbished Echo (2nd Gen) for just $80 makes for a tempting deal on a great smart speaker.