Essential is reportedly making a phone based primarily on voice commands
Development of the Essential Home has also apparently been put on hold.
The future of Essential has been something of a mystery for the last few months, but thanks to a report from Bloomberg, we now have new details on the company’s latest project that should hopefully give it a new lease on life.
Although the Essential Phone 2 is dead, it’s reported that Andy Rubin and his team at Essential are developing a new type of smartphone that’s centered primarily around voice interactions and artificial intelligence that can make calls, text, and do other things automatically for you.
The design of the new mobile device isn’t like a standard smartphone. It would have a small screen and require users to interact mainly using voice commands, in concert with Essential’s artificial-intelligence software. The idea is for the product to book appointments or respond to emails and text messages on its own, according to the people familiar with the plans. Users would also be able to make phone calls from the planned device.
Such a device would be drastically different from our current smartphones, and as such, it’s said that Essential will market this new gadget as either a complimentary phone to your primary one or as a standalone handset for people that are trying to spend less time looking at a screen.
In order to properly work on this mystery device, Bloomberg also reports that Essential has “paused development” of its Essential Home smart speaker/display that was first announced alongside the Essential Phone in May 2017.
It’s said that we can expect to see Essential’s new phone as early as CES 2019 this coming January, so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more info over the coming months.
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The AmpliFi Instant sets up mesh networking at home in a couple minutes
Making it easy.
If you’ve ever been curious about mesh networking but found these giant four piece systems too daunting, the new Ubiquiti Networks AmpliFi Instant Wi-Fi System might be your ticket in. It is designed to be setup in just a couple of minutes. The most basic package only comes with the AmpliFi Instant Router, and that’s good for coverage up to 2,000 square feet. If you’re feeling brave you can upgrade to the bundle that includes one MeshPoint extension. The extension comes already paired with the router, so all you’ll need to do is plug it in where it’s needed.
This is not Ubiquiti’s first foray into mesh networkng. The original AmpliFi HD is still a very good system, too, and one we have seen go on sale a few times this year. But even on sale it’s still not as affordable as the Instant, which starts at $99 for just the router. The Google Wi-Fi system and TP-Link Deco M5 are probably the only decent systems that come close in terms of expense, but both of those come with multiple devices to setup.
The router has a touchscreen display, similar to the AmpliFi HD, a one Gigabit Ethernet port, and a WAN port for connection to your cable or DSL modem. It uses dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios. When you first set it up, you’ll use the free app on both iOS and Android to configure it. Later, you’ll be able to use it to check network stability, parental controls, remote access, guest access, and more.
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Complete repairs on your tech gear at home with this 76-piece kit for $15
No problem too small.
Oria’s 76-piece precision toolkit is down to $14.83 at Amazon with coupon code HA11OROR. This is a huge chunk off its regular $28 price and matches a deal we last saw in early August. It comes with a utility knife, anti-static wrist strap, anti-static tweezers, SIM card ejector pin, LCD suction cup, triangle plectrum, plastic spudgers, metal spudger, stainless steel ruler, and more. The pieces are made of CRV steel to guarantee long-term use.
You can use the included pieces to repair devices like the iPhone, iPad, cameras, gaming consoles, controllers, and plenty of other electronic devices. It comes in a well-organized nylon bag so that you don’t misplace any pieces after you use them.
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These PlayStation VR games are guaranteed to make you scream
If you haven’t yet tried a scary game in virtual reality but love horror games on normal 2D screen, you’re in for a treat. Being cut off from the real world around you coupled with binaural audio is crazy immersive. Here at Android Central were a tech-based company that specializes in virtual reality. If you’re in the market for some horror games for PSVR, here are some of the best we’ve been able to find so far.
A trip to the looney bin
The Inpatient
This title comes with a whole love of meta leveled fear as to what it would be like to be a sane person stuck in an asylum. The goal is to regain your memories and find out who you are before it’s too late. What happens if it’s too late is for you to find out…
$13 at Amazon
A new way to play a fan favorite
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Relive one of our favorite zombie games, now in your VR headset. There’s nothing quite more thrilling than a horde of undead running at you. Set place in a mansion in modern-day Dulvey, Louisiana, you’re tasked with learning dark secrets (and surviving).
$27 at Amazon
Killer clowns and abandoned parks
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
A VR rollercoaster ride where you have to fend off clowns and other spooks if you want to survive. This combo of arcade shooting and genuine scares makes for thrilling time!
$24 at Amazon
A zombie simulation
Killing Floor Incursion
If you’ve got a fear of clowns, this might not be the game for you. But, if you’ve got a deep level of horror you should face those fears and attempt your fate anyways! This title takes you through a horror rollercoaster where each move you make will change your fate of life or death.
$30 at PlayStation Store
From psychological horror to seemingly real threats, there’s plenty of titles out there for you to try out. Scare the pants off yourself by increasing your immersion into these games with your VR headset and truly feeling the fear. From zombies to incarceration, the possibilities are endless.
UK Daily Deals: Fire HD 10, Osram Smart+ Lights, Anker headphones, and more
Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.
We found plenty of great deals today on certified refurbished Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets, Osram Smart+ HomeKit/Alexa-compatible lighting, Anker headphones, Philips 4K UHD TVs and much more!
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Each day, the Thrifter UK team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.
For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK and follow the team on Twitter for the most up-to-the-minute coverage.
You’ll soon be able to change your PSN ID
You soon won’t be stuck with that cringe-worthy PSN ID you made as a kid.
After years of asking for such a feature, Sony has announced that players will soon be able to change their PlayStation Network IDs. This feature has been a long time coming, and according to the company, it’s not without some growing pains.
When you change your online ID, you will be given the option to also display your old one along with your new ID so that your friends will be able to recognize you. Whether you decide to display your old ID or not, you will not be able to reverse the decision after completing the PSN ID change process.
How this will work when displaying your ID in multiplayer games is a bit more limited. Sony states that this feature will be compatible with games published after April 1, 2018, and only some of the most-played PS4 games before this date.
This feature is compatible with PS4 games originally published after April 1, 2018, and a large majority of the most-played PS4 games that were released before this date. However, please note not all games and applications for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita systems are guaranteed to support the online ID change, and users may occasionally encounter issues or errors in certain games.
Once this feature launches, a list of compatible games published before April 1, 2018, will be made available.
Players will be able to change their name once for free, however additional name changes after the first will cost a small fee. Non-PlayStation Plus members will be charged $9.99 per additional name change, while PlayStation Plus members only have to pay $4.99. You will be able to change your online ID through the settings menu or your profile.
This feature is set to come first to the PlayStation Preview Program and will be made available to select users that have pre-registered as testers for previous PS4 system software betas. Though Sony did not reveal a specific date at which this will begin, the company did say that the testing process for this feature will end in late November. A full roll-out to all PlayStation users in planned for early 2019.
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Samsung Galaxy A9 renders reveal a phone with four rear cameras
That’s a lot of cameras.
We’re expecting Samsung to announce its Galaxy A9 mid-ranger in the next few days, and when it’s unveiled, it’ll be the first mainstream smartphone to ship with a total of four rear cameras.
On Wednesday, October 10, both Evan Blass and MySmartPrice shared renders of the upcoming phone that confirms the four sensor monstrosity on its back. Phones with three cameras like the LG V40 and Huawei P20 Pro already look pretty odd, and adding another one certainly doesn’t help the A9 from an aesthetic point of view.
As for how all of these cameras will work, we’re expecting a 120-degree wide-angle lens, 2x optical zoom one, a 24MP main shooter, and a depth sensor that should help for portrait shots.
Having so much flexibility with those different cameras could prove to be incredibly useful, but if not handled properly, we could be looking at another Samsung experiment gone wrong.
What’s your take on these Galaxy A9 renders? Sound off in the comments below!
LG V40 ThinQ review: Five cameras aimed straight at Samsung
Best Nest Deals
Nest makes some of the best smart home gadgets around, but if you start buying up a lot of them, your wallet will quickly start to feel the burn. Thankfully, if you know where to look, it’s possible to score some pretty good savings on an assortment of Nest’s tech. Without further ado, here are the best Nest deals that are currently available.
Flagship savings
Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen)
The Nest Learning Thermostat is the most capable smart thermostat in the company’s lineup, and right now on Amazon you can pick it up for just $208 (over $40 off its retail price). The Learning Thermostat has a large, colorful display, is available in a variety of colors, and connects to both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
$208 at Amazon
More affordable security
Nest Security Camera
Want to keep an eye on your home from just about anywhere? That’s where the Nest Security Camera comes into play. Normally selling for $199, Amazon’s got the Security Camera listed for just a little over $171. This model’s designed for indoor use and can be placed on a hard surface or mounted to the wall.
$171 at Amazon
Bundles are the best
Nest Protect 3-Pack
The Nest Protect combines a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm into one single package and adds all of the usual Nest smarts you’d expect. A three pack of Protect would normally set you back $329, but if you’re part of the My Best Buy rewards program, you’ll pay only $299.
$299 at Best Buy
Nest savings can sometimes be difficult to come by, but right now, these three are the best ones you can find. We’ll update this guide as savings come and go, so be sure to check back often!
Google Assistant kan straks telefoontjes voor je aannemen
Google kondigde gisteren de Pixel 3 aan maar de show werd toch gestolen door een heel ander product; Call Screen. Deze functie komt straks naar de Google Assistant en hij is in staat om telefoongesprekken voor je aan te nemen. Ideaal voor wie vermoed dat hij gebeld wordt door een callcenter of wie belvrees heeft.
De presentatie over Call Screen ging gepaard met de legendarische woorden “Je hoeft nooit meer met een callcenter medewerker te praten!”. Google probeert al langer nuttige toepassingen te vinden voor kunstmatige intelligentie. Andere fabrikanten komen momenteel niet veel verder dan het automatisch selecteren van camerainstellingen en app-suggesties. Google lijkt met Call Screen nu echt stappen te maken op het gebied van AI waar we in ons dagelijks leven profijt van kunnen hebben.
Call Screen is onderdeel van Google Assistant en eerst exclusief verkrijgbaar voor Pixel-telefoons zoals de Pixel 3 en Pixel 3 XL. Call Screen kan een binnenkomende oproep aannemen waarna hij de andere kant van de lijn uitlegt dat de persoon die gebeld wordt gebruik maakt van een screening service vervolgd door de vraag waarvoor hij of zij belt. Alles wat gezegd wordt verschijnt als tekst op je telefoon. Je kunt vervolgens altijd het gesprek aannemen of via tekstballonnen het gesprek ‘vriendelijk’ afkappen. Call Screen wordt later dit jaar uitgerold naar Pixel-telefoons.
Duplex
Google kondigde eerder dit jaar tijdens I/O een andere soortgelijke dienst aan genaamd Duplex. Deze kan actief namens je telefoongesprekken maken om bijvoorbeeld afspraken bij de kapper of een restaurant te maken. Zie het als een soort personal assistant die je opdracht geeft een tafeltje bij je favoriete eetcafe te reserveren. Ook Duplex wordt later dit jaar uitgerold naar Google Asssistant maar zal alleen eerst in de steden New York, Atlanta, Phoenix en San Francisco beschikbaar zijn. Na Google’s presentatie ontstond meteen een ethische discussie omdat de ontvangende partij niet te horen kreeg dat het hier om een gesprek met een computer ging. Mogelijk past Google dat nog aan net zoals het bij Call Screen doet.
Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Pixel 3 verkrijgbaar is
DisplayMate: Google Pixel 3 XL heeft beste telefoonscherm ooit
De testers van DisplayMate hebben het scherm op de nieuwe Pixel 3 XL een beoordeling van A+ gegeven. Dat is weliswaar dezelfde score als de Samsung Galaxy Note 9 en iPhone XS Max maar het paneel van de 3 XL is wel de beste ooit in een mobiele telefoon. Opvallend want het scherm in de Pixel 2 XL kon nog op veel kritiek rekenen.
Google kondigde gisteren naast de Pixel 3 XL de kleinere Pixel 3 aan. Welke score die behaalt is nog onduidelijk al maken ze wel beiden van dezelfde schermtechniek gebruik. Google ruilde de Plastic OLED-panelen in voor een Flexible OLED-paneel van een nog onbekende fabrikant. Mogelijk gaat het trouwens gewoon om hetzelfde paneel van LG dat nu een andere naam heeft gekregen. Duidelijkheid krijgen we daar mogelijk 15 oktober over wanneer DIsplayMate haar volledige testverslag publiceert.
Scherm op de Pixel 3 XL “beste ooit”
De Google Pixel 3 XL is dus niet het eerste paneel in een smartphone dat een A+ scoort, eerder gingen de iPhone XS Max en Galaxy Note 9 hem voor. Waarom de Pixel 3 XL dit jaar zoveel beter scoort blijft nog even onduidelijk totdat het definitieve rapport binnen is. De score is wel een opsteker voor Google dat vorig jaar nog veel kritiek kreeg kreeg. Het OLED-paneel daarop kende slechte kijkhoeken en de daaropvolgende overheersende blauwe tint. Google voegde daarop enkele nieuwe kleuropties toe waaronder ‘boosted’, ‘natuurlijk’ en ‘verzadigd’. Deze problemen lijken vooralsnog bij de Pixel 3 XL verholpen te zijn.
Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Pixel 3 XL verkrijgbaar is
