Poll: What are you looking forward to the most in 2023?
With a new year comes the promise of new launches, and there is plenty to expect in 2023. In our
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Android Auto update is unveiled at CES 2023 along with improvements to digital car keys and Google built-in for cars
This year at CES 2023, Google launched the new Android Auto experience, and announced expanded digital car key sharing as well as improvements for cars with Google built-in.Android AutoLet’s get started with the refreshed Android Auto that rolled out to users starting on January 5, 2023. This overhaul was first previewed back at Google I/O last year, and it includes improvements to the UI and features to help you while behind the wheel.The three pillars of the latest version of Android Auto are “navigating where you’re going, communicating with friends and family, and playing your music or podcasts.” To that end, Maps is now closer to the driver’s seat to ensure you can keep track of where you are at all times and not miss any important turns. The split-screen layout has also been optimized to be adaptable for different screen sizes, such as widescreen, portrait, and everything in between.Media cards have received a Material You redesign, and Google has finally added one of the most requested features, a seekable progress bar for music and podcasts. Android Auto also features a host of new shortcuts to make it easier to complete tasks on the go.For starters, the quick launcher lets you access your most recently used apps, and there are shortcuts to speed up replying to messages or calling your favorite contacts. Furthermore, Google Assistant will now provide smart suggestions like missed call reminders, arrival time sharing, and instant access to music or podcasts.That’s not all though, Google says that you’ll soon be able to make WhatsApp calls using the latest Pixel and Samsung phones with Android Auto as well.Digital car keysDigital car keys allow you to lock, unlock, and start compatible cars. While you’re already able to share keys across Pixel and iPhones to give access to friends or family, soon you’ll be able to do the same with Samsung and Xiaomi phones later this year.Google built-inWith Google built-in, you get Google Assistant, Google Maps, and apps from the Play Store on your car’s display without the need for a phone. Some cars that already support this are the newly announced Honda Accord Touring 2023, and select cars from Volvo, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Renault. Ford and Lincoln are expected to join the club later this year as well.One of the new features now available is Google’s new HD map that gives drivers “precise road details like lane markers, signs and road barriers to support automakers’ assisted and autonomous driving technology for safer, more hands-free driving on select roadways.” HD map is rolling out first to the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3.The Waze app is also heading to more cars with Google built-in, starting with select Renault vehicles.And finally, some good news for those of you who like to stream videos while parked in your EV. YouTube will soon be joining Tubi and MGM+ via the Google Play Store with more apps expected to come in the future.
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Google is working on a seamless way to transfer Spotify tracks between your devices
Have you ever been listening to a podcast in the car and wished you could seamlessly switch over to your earbuds once you arrived at work? How about rocking out to a fantastic station on your smart speaker and wishing you could transfer it to the car with just a couple of taps?Google has already made this a possibility with Android 13 and YouTube or YouTube Music. Now, the company is looking to bring this same convenience to Spotify users. This year, you can expect the feature to roll out and you’ll be able to quickly and easily transfer music playing on Spotify between Spotify Connect devices through the Android media player notification.That means you’ll be able to do it even from the lock screen with only a single tap, making it easier than ever to listen to your favorite podcast or playlist when and where you want.Taking it a step further, Google is trying to simplify the process even more by anticipating which devices you want to transfer to with notifications. It will work like this, while you walk around your smartphone will determine which devices are nearby using wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Wi-Fi, and ultra-wideband.Once it has discovered which compatible devices are nearby, it will try to identify which device you’d most likely like to transfer to based on your current activity. A notification will then pop up on your smartphone asking you if you’d like to transfer the stream and with one tap you’ll be able to take your music or podcast wherever you go.This is the kind of frictionless experience that can only happen thanks to Google’s integration of connectivity protocols such as, Fast Pair, Nearby Share, and Chromecast. These technologies have helped millions of users easily connect headphones, share files, or browse videos on their phone and transfer them to the big screen.
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Safari Turns 20 Today: ‘Fastest Web Browser Ever Created for the Mac’
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs introducing Safari on the Mac at the 2003 Macworld Expo
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TCL adds new phones, AR glasses, its first detachable Windows laptop, and more to its mobile roster at CES
TCL may be more widely known for its range of affordable televisions, but the company also has an active mobile division. This year, it decided to show off three new smartphones, two tablets, a detachable laptop, two smart glasses, a new pair of true wireless headphones, and a new VR headset.SmartphonesTCL announced the TCL 40 R 5G, TCL 40 SE, and TCL 408 smartphones at CES 2023. Each device uses TCL’s NXTVISION display technology, AI-powered cameras, and a long-lasting battery.Currently, the phones are available for purchase in Asia and Europe, but US availability is said to come in the future. Here’s a quick rundown of each model.TCL 408Display: 6.6-inch 20:9 1612 x 720CPU: MT6762RAM: 4GBStorage: 64GBRear camera: 50MP f/1.8Front camera: 2MP f/2.4Battery: 5000mAhOS: Android 12Additional: 3.5mm headphone jackTCL 40 SEDisplay: 6.75-inch 20:9 1600 x 720 90HzCPU: MediaTek Helio G37RAM: 4GB or 6GBStorage: 128GB or 256GBRear camera: 50MP f/1.8; 2MP f/2.4 depth camera; 2MP f/2.4 macroFront camera: 8MP f/2.0Battery: 5010mAhOS: Android 13Additional: Fingerprint sensor, Face unlock, MicroSD card slotTCL 40 R 5GDisplay: 6.6-inch 20:9 1612 x 720 90HzCPU: MTK6833, Dimensity 700RAM: 4GBStorage: 64GBRear camera: 50MP f/1.8; 2MP f/2.4 depth camera; 2MP f/2.4 macroFront camera: 8MP f/2.0Battery: 5000mAhOS: Android 12Additional: Fingerprint sensor, Face unlock, MicroSD card slotTabletsFirst up is TCL’s budget tablet the TCL TAB 8 LE sporting an 8-inch HD display, quad-core processor, 32GB of storage, LTE connectivity, and 4080mAh battery. While the storage is extremely low on this tablet, thankfully, TCL has included a microSD card slot that supports up to 512GB of additional storage.That should be plenty of space to load it up with videos to enjoy with the TAB 8 LE’s stereo speakers. There’s also a 5MP front and rear camera on the TAB 8 LE in case you need to snap any photos or want to jump on a video call.The TCL TAB 8 LE will be available in late January with a starting price of $159.The TCL NXTPAPER 12 Pro is a massive upgrade from the company’s budget offering. For starters, the NXTPAPER 12 Pro features a 12.2-inch 3:2 display with a 2160 x 1440 resolution. It’s powered by the MT8771 CPU and 8GB of RAM, with 256GB of storage and has a microSD card slot for expansion.The 8000mAh battery will keep it running through the day with support for 18W charging. Plus, there’s an E-pen and optional detachable keyboard for added productivity.Finally, there is an 8MP camera on the front and rear of the NXTPAPER 12 Pro and it runs Android 12 out of the box. It is currently available for purchase starting at $499.The TCL BOOK X 12 Go is the company’s first detachable 2-in-1 laptop. It runs Windows 11 and is powered by the Snapdragon 7c Gen2 CPU from Qualcomm and 4GB or 8GB of RAM. For storage, you’re looking at 256GB onboard with a microSD card slot if you need to add more.The BOOK X 12 Go shares the same 12.2-inch 3:2 display on the NXTPAPER 12 Pro and offers a 2160 x 1440 resolution at 60Hz. There’s a 5MP front-facing camera for video calls and a rear 8MP camera for snapping pictures with the 2-in-1 tablet. Pricing and availability are yet to be announced.HeadphonesThe TCL MOVEAUDIO Air are the brand’s latest pair of true wireless earbuds. The MOVEAUDIO Air uses Bluetooth 5.2 and provides three different EQ modes, bass, balanced, and podcast. The 50mAh battery is good for up to 9 hours of consecutive playback and 32 total hours when using the charging case.Fast charging promises two hours of playback with only a 15-minute charge, and there are four mics using DNN AI ENC for crystal-clear calls. The MOVEAUDIO Air earbuds are available now in the US for $40.Smart glassesTCL showed off two pairs of smart glasses this year at CES. The most interesting of the two has to be the RayNeo X2. This pair of augmented reality glasses makes use of binocular full-color holographic optical waveguide Micro-LED displays, an industry first. TCL says they are intended to provide a heads-up display for tasks such as smart navigation, automatic translation, photography, and playing music. They are expected to be available for developers sometime in 2023.The TCL NXTWEAR S is the company’s next pair of smart glasses which places the equivalent of a 130-inch HD display on your face using dual 1080p Micro OLED displays. The NXTWEAR S is slated for release in the first quarter of 2023 starting at $399.Virtual RealityLast, but not least, is the TCL NXTWEAR V, the concept virtual reality headset with a 108-degree field of view and a 1512ppi pixel density. Details on the lightweight NXTWEAR V are scarce at the moment, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled for additional info.
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XGIMI unveils MoGo 2 Pro projector with upgraded auto focus and keystone correction
XGIMI has more than just a projector to show off this year at CES 2023. Sure, the company brought along its latest MoGo 2 Pro projector, winner of the German Design Award, but what’s more impressive than the svelte compact design is the technology behind it.The MoGo 2 Pro features an upgraded version of XGIMI’s Intelligent Screen Adaptation technology, or ISA for short. With ISA 2.0, XGIMI’s MoGo Pro 2 is able to quickly and accurately, auto-focus and automatically keystone correct within a few seconds.Combined with the built-in 3D ToF and CMOS sensor, ISA 2.0 is able to send signals to the wall and measure the distance, as well as the angle, and auto-correct for any variations within seconds. What that means for you, is that no matter where you move the MoGo 2 Pro, the picture will always be sharp and straight.As someone who has set up a few projectors, this is a feature that is invaluable, especially if it’s a portable projector like the MoGo Pro 2. There’s nothing worse than setting up the projector for movie night and wasting time correcting for focus and a warped image.Besides quick auto focus and keystone correction, ISA 2.0 can also avoid objects on the wall such as outlets or pictures by resizing the video area automatically. Furthermore, it can automatically detect a screen and align the video with it and the intelligent eye protection feature will dim the light if a presence is detected in front of the projector preventing damaging your eyes.All of this is quite impressive for an entry-level projector. Here’s what else we know about the XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro. It uses an FHD resolution of 1080p with support for HDR 10, has a maximum brightness of 350 ANSI lumens, and is capable of projecting a screen of 200 inches.We can assume it also runs Android TV like the previous MoGo Pro, with support for Chromecast, Bluetooth, USB, and HDMI connections. Plus, it should still include sound by Harman Kardon.Not too bad for a projector that only stands 6.54-inches tall and weighs in at 2.2 pounds.
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Kuo: Apple No Longer Planning to Launch iPhone SE 4 Next Year
Apple has informed suppliers that it has canceled plans to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE in 2024, according to analyst
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Visible’s is offering wireless service for $15 a month with its latest promo
If saving money on your wireless plan was one of your New Year’s resolutions, then Visible has a fantastic deal for you. Starting January 4, 2023, Visible is offering $15 off of its $30 and $45 plans for 12 months with the code 15OFF12.That will get you service for an entire year for as little as $15 a month if you choose the base Visible plan with unlimited minutes, texts, and 5G data nationwide. It also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data, spam protection, and unlimited calls and texts to Mexico and Canada.The 15OFF12 code also works with the Visible+ Plan dropping the price from $45 a month to $30. The Visible+ Plan includes all of the previous features as the base plan, such as unlimited minutes, texts, and 5G data nationwide. The biggest difference is that you’ll have 50GB of premium 5G data each month.The Visible+ Plan also includes unlimited mobile hotspot data, spam protection, and unlimited calls and texts to Mexico and Canada. Additionally, Visible+ Plan subscribers will get access to unlimited minutes, texts, and data while roaming in Mexico and Canada, as well as international calling from the US to 30+ countries and international texting from the US to over 200 countries.Both plans run on the Verizon network with no annual contract with taxes and fees included with no credit check required. Once the 12 months is up, you can choose to continue using Visible at full price, or if auto-pay is enabled, you will be automatically charged $30 or $45 depending on your plan.This offer is available for new customers only, and will require you to bring your own device and port in your old number. Since Visible uses the Verizon network, you’ll need to make sure your phone runs on its network first by using the compatibility checker. It would also be wise to take a look at the coverage map to ensure you’ll get coverage where you need before switching over.
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Kuo: Apple’s Mixed-Reality Headset Likely to Debut at Spring Media Event or WWDC
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet thread today that ongoing delays with development of Apple’s mixed-reality headset have likely
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How the Vive XR Elite can do high-end VR in a half-pound headset
By being able to remove the battery, HTC’s Vive XR Elite can do fully immersive VR in a half-pound headset.
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