Michael Kors Access smartwatches’ value is face deep
Not gonna lie. I’m a giant smartwatch nerd, and an even bigger Michael Kors fan. So when I received the invitation to review the company’s new Android Wear timepieces, I was stoked. The Michael Kors Access range falls in line with partner company Fossil Group’s mission to smarten up its range of wristwatches across its brands such as Fossil (duh), Kate Spade, Emporio Armani, Diesel and Skagen. And that should only mean good things for the fashionable wearable industry. But, try as I might, I’m having a hard time staying excited about the new MK smartwatches.
Hardware
The Bradshaw and Dylan models that I received already exist as analog timepieces. In reworking them to accommodate the components that make a watch smart, Michael Kors had to make the cases bigger. The Bradshaw’s face went from 36mm to 44.5mm, while the Dylan is now 46mm (previous size unknown). Both watches are also less water resistant — dropping from being able to withstand pressure of up to 100 meters (330 feet) to just 10 meters (33 feet). Now, the timepieces can survive just rain and splashes instead of swimming and surfing.
Because of the additional components, the connected Bradshaw and Dylan are pretty heavy. The case alone (for both) weighs 51 grams (1.17 ounces). Even though that heft made me feel like I had an ankle bracelet latched onto my wrist, I still loved the style and quality of both wristbands. The straps are some of the most sturdy and premium that I’ve seen on a smartwatch so far, making them feel a lot more like real chronographs. And, perhaps thanks to careful craftsmanship, the fully stainless-steel Bradshaw and silicone Dylan succeed in looking classy and glamorous without crossing over into gaudy, as some wristwear is wont to do.
Inside the polished metal cases sit a Snapdragon 2100 CPU, 4GB of storage, a 360mAh battery and a variety of sensors, while a 1.5-inch face with a 320 x 290 resolution sits on top. Notably absent is a heart rate monitor on the underside that most Android wearables at this price sport.
Software
Until Android Wear 2.0 arrives, there is nothing really new to say about Google’s wearable platform, which powers many of the devices we’ve reviewed. Although it’s improved a lot in the two years since its debut, the OS is still somewhat limited in what it can do. The 2.0 update, which Michael Kors says the watches will get once Google release it publicly, brings improvements such as an onscreen keyboard, third-party complications and better iPhone support.
On the Bradshaw and Dylan, Android Wear is basically the same as it is on every other smartwatch, with the exception of the Michael Kors Access app and custom watch faces. The former lets you do two things: save your favorite watch faces and set up two looks (day and night) that will automatically change at a specific time of your choosing. Frankly, even though the auto changing of faces is nice, the whole app is incredibly basic, and I could just as easily do the same by pressing down on the home screen.
The handful of custom watch faces are slightly more interesting (and not to mention very pretty). You can tweak the Michael Kors ones by changing the background, dial and crystal colors. On some themes, you can add information to make the watch more useful at a glance. For instance, the Notes profile lets you display up to four time zone differences (as in, how many hours ahead or behind), your local time and temperature, as well as your steps progress.
In use
Here’s where the Access line really falls short. On paper, everything seems decent. It’s got most of the same specs as other Android Wear devices, save for the slightly smaller battery. But, that resulted in a much shorter runtime than its rivals; the Dylan went from 80 percent charged at 2:30 PM to just 35 percent by 8 PM after a few hours of heavy use. The Bradshaw lasted about the same. On average use without many notifications and interaction with the Dylan, though, it lasted slightly more than a day.
Worse than the disappointing battery life is the glitchy performance. Despite sporting capable processors, the Bradshaw and Dylan struggled to respond quickly to my commands. While the watch’s microphones accurately picked up my requests most of the time, it occasionally misheard what I was saying, even in a dead quiet room. Then, when it correctly spelled out my request to remind me of an upcoming task, the Dylan never alerted me at the appointed time. It’s as if I sent my reminder request into a black hole.
The Bradshaw was similarly finicky; I tried to enable brightness boost from the slide down shortcut panel, and was constantly redirected to the Settings page while the feature remained stubbornly off. Both watches were also sluggish to respond to my swipes, compared to the instant reactions I’m used to on competing Android watches. I had to swipe three or four times on average to dismiss a card.
I reported these issues to Michael Kors, who, after verifying that I had the latest software and build, sent me two other units to test out. The replacements worked better, were more responsive and didn’t exhibit the abovementioned brightness boost problem. It’s worth noting that they arrived with a software upgrade already installed, whereas I had to run that update on the devices I initially got. I still had trouble getting Ok Google to reliably set a reminder, though; sometimes the new Dylan buzzed at the appointed time, but more often it never alerted me.
But there are some problems that aren’t as easily fixed. The watches’ screens wash out when you’re not looking at them straight on. And as much as I loved the chunky style of the timepieces, Michael Kors needs to make them lighter. After an hour, my (admittedly very weak) arm began to ache, and the Dylan felt like it was literally dragging me down. I had to very unwillingly take the watch off to continue typing in peace.
The competition
Pictured above: Samsung’s Gear S3 Frontier and Classic.
Man, has Michael Kors got some serious competition. From its own partner company alone, the Access line has to contend with Fossil’s Q Founder. That wearable is similarly chunky, but has a sharper screen for a cheaper $275. On the other end of price spectrum sits the Tag Heuer Connected, which is stupendously well-built and still manages to be lightweight. But it also costs a ridiculous $1,500.
Then, there are offerings from more traditional tech companies, like the second-gen Huawei Watch, 2015 Moto 360 and LG Watch Urbane. These have crisp displays and modest style for about the same price as the Access, but also offer onboard heart rate monitors and more software features that make their wearables more functional. For example, the Moto 360 offers Live Dials, which let you access specific apps directly from the watch face without all the excessive swiping.
Look outside the Google ecosystem, and you’ll find even more contenders. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is a no-brainer. It’s the most seamless option for iPhones, with better messaging integration and a ton of apps you can launch from your wrist. Its squarish face may be a little, well, square, so those who want a little more style should look elsewhere.
That somewhere else might be Apple’s biggest rival, Samsung, which just unveiled the Gear S3. The new wristwear features a rugged, country aesthetic that wouldn’t look out of place whether on a lumberjack or an investment banker. They’ve got rotating bezels that makes navigating the interface much easier, and run Samsung’s Tizen OS, which should offer about 10,000 apps and watchfaces than the mere 1,000 it did when the Gear S2 launched. That could give Android Wear a run for its money.
Speaking of wearable platforms that could topple Google, industry pioneer Pebble also has some solid options that are both attractive and functional. The Pebble Time Round is one of the slimmest smartwatches on the market and offers longer-lasting battery than Android Wear, Apple and Samsung devices for just $200. But it doesn’t have a touchscreen, and its display is nowhere near as vibrant as the rest.
Wrapup
In the end, the Michael Kors Access line is just another option in the Android Wear market. Michael Kors might sell plenty of Access watches based on the strength of its brand alone, but it doesn’t do much that’s different from its competitors. Don’t get me wrong: these watches are truly gorgeous, and, bugs aside, generally do what they promise. But there’s nothing here that sets it apart from being yet another smartwatch that married Android Wear with a fashion house’s good looks.
The thing is, it’s difficult to fault Michael Kors for the functionality of the Access line — it’s limited by what Google offers in Android Wear. That means it ultimately suffers the same plight as all the fashion and horological brands out there that are struggling to deliver a decent, good-looking smartwatch. At least Michael Kors had the good sense to not charge an arm and a leg for its pieces (*cough* Tag Heuer *cough*). Besides, having another designer get in on the growing market is an encouraging sign, and I can’t wait to see what (one of my favorites) Kate Spade delivers. In the meantime, I’ll keep saving up for a smartwatch worth splurging on.
Bragi The Headphone Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Bragi’s The Headphone is available for $120 until November 1, then goes up to $150.
Bragi
In case you haven’t of Bragi, it’s a German startup that had a highly successful Kickstarter for a totally wireless “smart” earphone called The Dash. After finally shipping in January of this year, the high-tech $300 Dash (€300, converting roughly to £225 in the UK and AU$395 in Australia) got off to a rocky start, garnering some critical reviews, but has apparently improved with subsequent software upgrades.
The company is back with a second headphone that it simply calls The Headphone. It, too, is completely wireless and consists of two wireless earbuds and a charging case. It’s much more affordable than The Dash, carrying a list price of $149 (converting roughly to £110 in the UK and AU$195 in Australia), but will be available for $119 until November 1 in a preorder sale. That preorder price is roughly £90 and AU$155.
I’ve yet to try the Dash but will hopefully receive review samples of both The Dash and The Headphone in the coming weeks. Several new totally wireless earbuds are making their way onto the market, including Jabra’s just-announced Sport Elite, so Bragi’s headphones aren’t such a novelty and now have plenty of competition.
Here’s a look at The Headphone’s key features, according to Bragi.
- Can be connected to any Bluetooth device.
- Users can switch between listening to music tracks, take phone calls, activate Audio Transparency (allows ambient noise in) and deliver voice commands, all without having to look at a second device.
- Three different FitTip size tips are included to help get a secure, tight seal.
- Just over six hours of wireless battery life per charge
- Available through the newly launched Bragi Shop (http://shop.bragi.com) for a special presale price of $119 until November 1.
- Those who participated in the Bragi Dash Kickstarter will receive $20 off coupon via email.
- Following the presale, The Headphone will retail for $149.
- Shipping is expected to begin in November (though it’s worth noting that The Dash was delayed for months).
- No word on international pricing yet.
The included charging case.
Bragi
Bragi has also announced that its Bragi OS 2.1 is now available through its new Desktop Updater. It’s the second major software update for The Dash since its January 2016 launch and according to Bragi, with the update The Dash “becomes smarter, faster and better in several areas, including Bluetooth connectivity.”
With the software update, the headphone can speak four new languages – Chinese, French, German and Spanish — and now synchronizes with Google Fit, Apple Watch and the Apple Health Kit.
Other Bragi OS 2.1 features include Touch Lock, which prevents inadvertent gestures from impacting the Dash, Shuffle for the internal music player and on-demand heart-rate tracking.
Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker review – CNET
The Good The Sony Glass Sound Speaker has a very cool, transparent design and is equipped with an integrated LED light that’s dimmable from your phone. It delivers clean, crisp sound at moderate volumes and has a built-in battery for portable use (4 hours of batter life).
The Bad Expensive; not a ton of bass, battery life is so-so.
The Bottom Line If you can afford it, Sony’s Glass Sound speaker is beautifully designed, sounds good and complements minimalist, modern decors.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Sony’s Glass Sound Speaker is part of a new line of really cool looking but pricey products from Sony’s Life Space UX division, which also includes light bulb speakers and short-throw projectors.
As a half wireless Bluetooth speaker, half lantern with a dimmable LED bulb that mimics a flame, it’s got double mood setting potential. It an also be moved around freely because it’s got an integrated rechargeable battery that gives you around four hours of music playback, depending on the volume level. You can also just leave it plugged in if there’s an outlet nearby.
It’s one of those products you really want as soon as you see it, but its $800 price tag is an instant buzzkill unless you happen to be a lottery winner or a Kardashian. That price roughly converts to £600 in the UK and AU$1,050 in Australia.
Sony’s Glass Sound Speaker has a built-in rechargeable battery.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Apple Watch 2 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The latest Apple news
- Apple Watch 2: My wish list for September 7
- Looking for big iPhone changes? Wait till next year
- iPhone 7: What to expect
Apple has made it official: something’s happening on September 7 — and it’s most likely the debut of the Apple Watch 2 (and iPhone 7). As was rumored for the past few weeks, the company will indeed be hosting an event on the first Wednesday in September; we now know it’s scheduled for 10 a.m. PT and going down at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. This puts us on track for a likely retail release on September 16 or 23, if the company follows the pattern of years past.
We already know that existing Apple Watch units will be getting a nice software upgrade in the form of WatchOS 3, which the company unveiled at its WWDC show in June (alongside iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra). The new software includes a tweaked interface, even faster performance, and better fitness tracking capabilities — and the functionality of the Watch’s side button even changes completely. In our brief demo, we found OS 3 quite promising.
With built-in cellular connectivity off the table (according to an August Bloomberg report), what’s rumored to be coming to the new Watch (besides the software improvements of the aforementioned WatchOS 3) is generally rumored to be be GPS, a faster processor and a bigger battery.
With only days left before we find out for sure, here’s a summary of everything that’s rumored and expected for the Apple Watch 2.
Editors’ note: This story was originally posted on December 24, 2015, and last updated on August 29, 2016.
What’s new and different about the 2016 Apple Watch?
The current consensus is that the next Apple Watch won’t diverge dramatically, if at all, from the original’s rectangular, iPod Nano-ish form factor. Perhaps that’s for the best; according to CNET’s Scott Stein, “in terms of craftsmanship, there isn’t a more elegantly made piece of wearable tech” than the Apple Watch.
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KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who last year correctly predicted Apple would launch the iPhone SE, says there are two new Apple Watches coming in the second half of 2016, MacRumors reports. One model will apparently be an incremental upgrade to the current Watch, with a better processor and improved waterproofing.
A second model, to be called the Apple Watch 2, boasts those improvements plus more precise location tracking thanks to GPS and a barometer, as well as a bigger battery. Some have predicted that Apple will adopt its iPhone “S” refresh cadence for the Watch, releasing modest updates between more significant redesigns.
One particularly hot topic of conjecture has been the enhancement of the watch’s capabilities when not connected to an iPhone. In April 2016, The Wall Street Journal published a report suggesting that Apple is working on adding cellular network connectivity to the Apple Watch 2, in addition to a faster processor.
Will the next Apple Watch be more independent?
Jason Cipriani/CNET
Though the recent Watch OS 2 update has improved the original Apple Watch’s capabilities when away from a phone, a second-generation would ostensibly extend the device’s independent functionality. And there is evidence in support of this: Apple paved the way for Watch independence when it required that all Watch apps submitted to the App Store after June 1 be required to be “native apps built with the watchOS 2 SDK.” In light of the August Bloomberg story, however, we may have to wait until the Apple Watch 3 for the iPhone-Watch link to be severed.
Many folks are hoping for better battery life. With the first generation Apple Watch, even moderate use can burn down the battery in less than 24 hours. In fact, one of the earliest Apple Watch 2 rumors to surface, back in July, characterized LG and Samsung as working to produce a thinner OLED display for the second-generation model, which would allow for a larger battery in a similarly sized device.
And though Apple has sometimes sacrificed functionality for best-in-class aesthetics — the merely adequate battery life of the iPhone 6 and 6S would serve as one example — it seems unlikely that Apple would want to deliver another Watch equipped with anything less than 24 hours worth of run time. Especially with competitors like the Pebble Time Steel capable of going more than a week between charges.
The Pebble Time Steel.
Sarah Tew / CNET
There is speculation that Apple could add a camera to the Watch 2. According to 9to5mac.com, the company is considering building a camera into the top bezel, ostensibly enabling users to FaceTime via the device. The debut of Watch OS 2 has already made it possible to pick up or hang up calls using the watch’s controls. (This notion has received some additional support from a recent TechCrunch article.)
Apple’s Tim Cook
James Martin
Other possibilities being discussed include the ability to track sleep and smart straps that would include extra sensors for tracking fitness; Apple’s recently filed patent application shows a ring-shaped device that can test your heart’s rhythm, which might hint at a future product. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted in an interview that the company could build “something adjacent to the watch” that would be more medically focused and would require US Food and Drug Administration approval. That could be an app, he said, or “something else.”
And here’s an oddball one. As reported by 9to5mac.com, in February, 2016, Apple filed a patent application for a wearable device that could measure ambient sound levels and adjust the volume of alerts (or Siri) accordingly.
And then there’s pricing. The original Apple Watch was priced along a rather remarkable spectrum, starting at $349 and soaring to $17,000. On March 21, 2016, Apple announced a slight price drop for the entry-level Sport model. The 38mm Apple Watch Sport now starts at $299, down from $349. In the UK it starts at £259 and in Australia AU$429. Is the price drop a trial balloon for a revised strategy? Or are retailers merely clearing “old” first-gen inventory in anticipation of the next generation?
Time will tell.
Scroll down for a reverse-chronological look at the latest rumors.
August 29, 2016
Apple sends invites for September 7: iPhone 7, Apple Watch 2 most likely on tap
Rumored no longer: The company sent out invitations for its event, confirming the date of Apple’s next product announcement.
August 19, 2016
Battery concerns may keep cellular abilities out of the next Apple Watch
A report says Apple planned to untether its Watch from its iPhone by the end of 2016, but technical issues interfered.
August 18, 2016
Apple Watch 2 reportedly faces hurdles in bid for iPhone independence
Rumors pegged Apple’s next smartwatch as a standalone cellular device that would work without being connected to the iPhone. Now, major problems are cropping up, Bloomberg reports.
August 11, 2016
An Apple wearable heart reader may be its next big thing
A patent application shows a ring-shaped device that can test your heart’s rhythm and may hint at a future product.
August 9, 2016
Two new Apple Watches coming this year, report says
An analyst says the two smartwatches will offer improved specs, though not a radical redesign.
June 14, 2016
Apple’s total rethink of the Apple Watch is exactly the step forward it needed
First impressions: WatchOS 3 could be the start of a much better wearable.
May 24, 2016
WSJ: Apple Watch 2 could include cellular connectivity and faster processor
Sources report that the company is working on adding cell-network connectivity and a faster processor to the next-generation Watch.
May 3, 2016
Apple Watch needs time to improve (The 3:59, Ep. 38)
One year after the wearable’s release, we talk about its strengths and weaknesses.
April 28, 2016
Can the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch 2 change Apple’s fortunes?
Apple’s earnings were down across the board, but do they have anything that can turn things around? Plus, get lunch with Tim Cook…for over $200k.
April 23, 2016
Apple Watch apps could get zippier with new requirement for app makers
Apple says third-party Watch apps for the App Store must be able to run without the help of an iPhone.
April 21, 2016
Apple’s Watch Outpaced the iPhone in First Year
Apple is working on including cellular network connectivity and a faster processor in the Apple Watch 2.
April 19, 2016
Apple confirms WWDC 2016 developers conference begins June 13
Apple announces dates for this year’s developer conference in San Francisco, confirming what we learned earlier from the company’s own digital assistant.
April 14, 2016
Video: Is the Apple Watch S coming before the Apple Watch 2?
Will the company adopt the iPhone midcycle refresh?
April 11, 2016
Apple Watch due for a sophomore slump
Don’t expect any big design changes to Apple’s smartwatch in 2016, says a keen-eyed analyst. But do expect sales to tail off significantly.
March 22, 2016
Where are the wearables? Apple Watch no-show caps off slow start for smartwatches
Apple joins the ranks of companies failing to introduce a new watch this year, signaling that 2016 may be more about refinement than new products.
March 21, 2016
What’s new with the Apple Watch
So far it’s just a slightly cheaper entry price, new bands and updated software, but more exciting news will come later this year.
March 21, 2016
Think $50 off Apple Watch is a good deal? How about $100?
From the Cheapskate: Apple just cut $50 off the price of the Apple Watch, but at least two retailers already have it for even less.
March 15, 2016
Everything we expect at Apple’s iPhone event on March 21
A smaller, cheaper iPhone and an update to the iPad Air 2 are likely to headline the announcements for next week’s event.
February 27, 2016
Apple To Debut New iPad, 4-Inch iPhone On March 21, Day Before FBI Hearing
Apple’s first media event of 2016 will occur one day prior to the company’s March 22 showdown with the government over a motion that would compel it to help hack an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists.
February 27, 2016
(Re)Mark Your Calendars: Apple’s Product Event Will Be Held the Week of March 21
Attention Apple nerds, investors, media and everyone else who needs to know when Tim Cook’s next product event is going to be held: It’s going to be the week of March 21.
February 18, 2016
Apple Watch remains most popular smartwatch in Q4 2015
Apple Watch captured an impressive 63 percent share of the global smartwatch market in Q4 2015, followed by Samsung with 16 percent.
February 15, 2016
Apple Watch Price Drops By $100 Ahead Of Rumored March 15 Apple Event
Fans are now treated to a very low price for the company’s smart timepiece.
February 15, 2016
Top 5 things the next Apple Watch needs
The original Apple Watch is pretty good, but it could be so much better if Apple adds these five features.
February 12, 2016
9to5mac.com: 4-inch iPhone 5se & iPad Air 3 planned to go on sale March 18th
Apple is currently on target to start selling its next iPhone and iPad alongside new Apple Watch Sport Band colors.
February 11, 2016
Apple Watch 2 could measure ambient sound to adjust volume of alerts
A patent application published today describes how an Apple Watch could periodically measure ambient sound levels, adjusting notification volumes to an appropriate level.
February 2, 2016
Thanks to Apple Watch, smartwatch sales could hit $11.5 billion this year
Apple’s smartwatch is leading to the popularity of wearable devices as a “lifestyle trend,” says research firm Gartner.
January 22, 2016
Apple to update Apple Watch in mid-March with new bands, OS + full redesign in fall
In addition to launching a new iPhone, Apple plans to announce new Apple Watch models in March.
January 15, 2016
When Will We See a New Apple Watch?
Reports of rumors suggesting that Apple might ship a minor revision of the Apple Watch that includes a FaceTime camera.
December 16, 2015
Apple to add polish, not product lines, in 2016
The tech giant likely will update its current gear, but don’t hold your breath for a car.
December 11, 2015
Apple Watch 2 rumors and Apple’s live TV service is put ‘on hold’
If Apple’s live TV service doesn’t launch in 2016 it will be a major fail. We’ll be as nice as possible when we talk about that iPhone Smart Battery Case, and we talk MacBooks.
December 8, 2015
Want an Apple Watch? Try Best Buy to save $100
Best Buy is shaving $100 off the price of an Apple Watch, but only through the holidays.
December 3, 2015
Apple hot on Fitbit’s heels as global wearable sales soar
Wearables sales are booming, with Fitbit and Apple leading the way and Chinese companies not far behind.
Kenmore 41393 review – CNET
The Good Kenmore’s $1,000 41393 washing machine has an Express Wash setting that runs a cycle in 15 minutes flat.
The Bad The 41393 doesn’t remove stains as well as the Electrolux EFLS617S or the Whirlpool WFW87HEDW.
The Bottom Line Don’t waste your money — you can find better washers for roughly the same price.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Modeled after LG’s disappointing $1,100 WM3575CV washing machine, the $1,000 Kenmore 41393 is similarly uninspired.
With a cluttered display panel, poor stain-fighting power, and a confusing “Kenmore Connect” troubleshooting feature, I’d leave the 41393 off your shopping list. Take a look instead at the Electrolux EFLS617S and the Whirlpool WFW87HEDW — both of these midrange front-loaders look and perform better.
A closer look at Kenmore’s 41393 washing…
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Kenmore is an appliance brand exclusive to Sears. Rather than manufacturing and selling original designs, Sears relies on refining and rebranding appliance models from other manufacturers. In this case, Kenmore used LG’s WM3575CV as the blueprint for its 41393 washer.
The 41393 is a fine-looking appliance. Its gray finish feels premium, but you can also snag one in white for $100 less (that’s model number 41392). And it offers 10 cycles and a 4.5-cubic-foot capacity — that’s plenty of cleaning options and space for most folks.
Take a peek at the 41393’s main specs versus some competing washers:
Comparing washing machines
| Kenmore 41393 | LG WM3575CV | Whirlpool WFW87HEDW | Electrolux EFLS617S |
| $1,000 | $1,100 | $1,199 | $1,099 |
| Metallic, White (model #41392 for $900) | Graphite Steel, White (for $1,000) | Chrome Shadow, White (for $1,099) | White, Titanium (for $1,199) |
| 4.5 cubic feet | 4.5 cubic feet | 4.3 cubic feet | 4.4 cubic feet |
| 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| 90kWh/year | 90 kWh/year | 109 kWh/year | 85 kWh/year |
| 27 x 38.69 x 29.75 inches | 27 x 38.69 x 29.75 inches | 27 x 38.75 x 33.13 inches | 27 x 38 x 31.5 inches |
| 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited |
| 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz | 120V; 60Hz |
| No | Yes, Android and iPhone | No | No |
After a closer comparison, the 41393 has fewer cleaning cycles than the WM3575CV; it also doesn’t come with a related app like its LG counterpart. You can use the LG washer app to listen to audio frequencies from the washer that sound like old-school dial-up internet. These sounds communicate troubleshooting information so you can try to pinpoint a specific issue without calling customer service.
No, the LG washer app isn’t the easiest to navigate, but at least I figured it out after a little effort.
In other washer news:
- This simple washing machine nails the basics
- This cool, uncomplicated washer performs well under pressure
- How to buy a washing machine
- How we test washing machines
Kenmore offers a similar feature called Kenmore Connect that has no discernible mobile software component. KenmoreConnect.com doesn’t help much, either. I tried the “Add an appliance” option on the site first, thinking that you could add a Kenmore-Connect-enabled model to your online account and then access instructions for the Kenmore Connect troubleshooting feature from there.
After selecting “Add an appliance,” I was directed to a search engine that prompted me to enter the washer’s model number. Unfortunately, the search tool never located the Kenmore-Connect-enabled 41393 washer I was testing. I even searched by keyword “washing machine” and scrolled through the entire list, but never found the 41393.
Hasselblad True Zoom Review
IMThe cameras in our smartphones are extremely versatile, to the point that many have ditched point and shoot cameras altogether, just because the performance and robust features set in smartphone cameras have exceeded their dedicated counterparts. Ironically, camera makers have been fighting back and have attempted on many occasions to encroach on the smartphone’s territory by coming out with eccentric accessories that try to deliver those DSLR-like qualities to smartphone cameras – like wide angle lens attachments, and even those dedicated lens modules that connect via Wi-Fi Direct. The problem with many of them is that they don’t necessarily attach seamlessly, often requiring unsightly tethers of some sort.
And then came the modular phone, which we’re inclined to say that Lenovo has perfected with its latest line of Moto Z smartphones.
The concept is brilliant with Moto Mods, as these accessories provide expanded functionality to smartphones. In fact, the latest one is a prime of example of how a renowned camera maker is once again fighting back for recognition by fashioning on a feature that’s not widely available to smartphone cameras – the optical zoom, for added range to get closer to shots.
The Hasselblad True Zoom is an attachment that adds a 10x optical zoom range for any of Lenovo’s Moto Z line of smartphones that are Moto Mods compatible, so think the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, and Moto Z Play.
Camera ergonomics in a smartphone
Attaching the Hasselblad True Zoom is a cinch, seeing that all that’s needed is to align the corresponding pins on the Moto Mod to those that are on the phone. Once that’s done, the magnetic connection ensures a tight grip, so that it can’t be easily removed by accident. When it’s attached to a phone, a Moto Z Play Droid in this instance, there’s no hiding the girth that’s tacked onto the phone in the process. It’s a beastly looking thing, making the phone’s overall thickness triple in size!
The beauty in Moto Mods, though, is that they don’t always need to be attached – only when a particular situation arises. Aesthetically, the Hasselblad True Zoom follows the styling of a traditional camera with its rubbery textured grip, Xenon flash, zoom controls, dedicated shutter key, and focus light assist. When it’s attached, it can be mistaken for a camera – not a smartphone with an accessory connected to it. The hefty size makes it impractical to discretely hide away in our pockets, but again we can’t stress enough about how Moto Mods are here for the convenience of the situation.
Our only qualms with the design is that it still lacks some controls and other conveniences we find in traditional cameras – like a tripod mount, a spot for a lanyard or something, and a ring control of sorts for manual focusing. These omissions indicate that the Hasselblad True Zoom isn’t necessarily targeting enthusiasts. Don’t get us wrong, the design is solid and super sturdy, but we would’ve liked to see more from a photo-centric accessory.
The specs are camera-phone caliber
Okay, we know what’s most outstanding about the Hasselblad True Zoom – its 10x optical zoom, which is something that few phones can attest to offer. Beyond that, and as we uncover its specs, it becomes more evident that we’re still dealing with specifications that are camera-phone caliber. Sorry folks, don’t think that it comes with a large sensor to match those found in today’s mirrorless or DSLR cameras.
Specifically, it features a 12MP 1/2.3″ BSI CMOS sensor with 1.55um sized pixels, f/3.5-6.5 aperture lens, OIS for still shots, EIS for video, 2 microphones, Xenon flash, and up to 1080p video recording. The sensor size alone isn’t something worth bragging about, since there are phones out there, like the Panasonic CM1, that have even larger ones. And another glaring thing about the specs is how it tops out at 1080p resolution for video, which is a shame given that 4K is increasingly being adopted into mid-range phones, not just high-end or flagship ones.
Needless to say, the star of the show for the Hasselblad True Zoom is its 10x optical zoom. That’s better than some recent zoom-centric phones like the Asus Zenfone Zoom (3x zoom), so in that respect, there’s a level of versatility in being able to get close to the action – without having to be up close like that, of course.
The shooting experience
Activating the Hasselblad True Zoom is done by pressing on the dedicated button on its chassis, wherein it proceeds to launch the camera app. Our anticipation about using the Moto Mod is somewhat dashed when we realize that there’s not a whole lot to the camera app that we don’t already have in most phones. Yes, you can snap standard photos, adjust some controls using the manual setting, and even compose a panoramic, but we were expecting more. Instead, it’s lacking on some much-needed “fun” modes.
For photos, it’s nice to see that the OIS kicks in when the shutter key is pressed halfway, ensuring that the scene is as steady as possible to snap the shot. OIS really shows its worth the most when the zoom is at its maximum, mainly because even the slightest of movement can cause other cameras to become jittery. With this, however, there’s no concern because the OIS helps to compensate things for a steadier shot.
When it comes to videos, the EIS system in place desperately tries to adjust for the shake and jitter, but we find its approach to be delayed. You can easily see how it’s slower to react to the movements of us panning while walking with some of the footage. Now, this can possibly be attributed to the phone we’re using, a Moto Z Play Droid, since it doesn’t have what many would agree to be the most cutting-edge processor, but we’d be curious to see how it works with the Moto Z or Moto Z Force. That, of course, will depend on whether or not the processing is done by the phone, or locally by the Hasselblad True Zoom.
Zooming, that’s the one most defining perk of the Hasselblad True Zoom. This is useful if you’re trying to capture something in the distance, but not so much if you’re trying for a macro shot. The closest that the Hasselblad True Zoom can focus properely is about 1 meter in our experience, anythig less than that it won’t do.
How about the quality?
As we’ve mentioned already, there’s a 12MP camera in the Hasselblad True Zoom – while the Moto Z Play Droid we’re using it with has a 16MP one. Honestly, when it comes to standard shots when the zoom isn’t required, we find the quality of the Moto Z Play Droid’s camera to be superior. You can see for yourself in many instances how there’s more detail in its shots, while the Hasselblad True Zoom has a tendancy to be softer with washed out colors.
This is concerning right from the get-go, given that you’d expect better results from a photo-centric accessory like this. But then again, we’re not too shocked by this revelation because the specs of the Hasselblad True Zoom are very much on par to what we get in smartphone cameras. Obviously, its distinct advantage is its 10x optical zoom, which by itself is the only meaningful difference.
10x optical zoom with a hefty price
At the end of the day, we can say that the Hasselblad True Zoom is there for the convenience of zooming. Beyond that, however, we really can’t recommend it to replace the cameras in the Moto Z line – just because for standard shots, you get superior ones from the phones. And on top of that, it’s mind-boggling for us to believe that the Hasselblad True Zoom tops out at 1080p video recording.
Given the steep cost of the accessory, $250 if you’re buying through Verizon or a crazier $300 from Motorola directly, it faces an uphill battle in validating a purchase for it. Again, its only meaningful advantage is its 10x optical zoom, which few phones offer. The expense is really steep, making it hard for the average Joe to even fathom buying just to achieve such a lengthy zoom, but even worse is that it lacks the necessary tools and enhancements that could potentially entice enthusiasts to buy at that price.
Windowmate Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Chris Monroe/CNET
Spring cleaning just got easier…maybe. Attach the Windowmate to each side of your window, and it’ll make its way in Zamboni-like rows until both sides of the pane are clean. It’s essentially a robot mop with sponges attached to the base that works vertically.
The Windowmate is on display here at the IFA trade show in Berlin this week. And it chugged along diligently during a demonstration. Apparently, the Windowmate can clean for 90 minutes straight on a full charge, though it takes two and a half hours to charge.
It cleans both sides of the window simultaneously because it attaches to the glass with magnets. One half of the body sits on either side of the pane, so they hold each other in place. The advantage of that is the robot won’t fall off your window if it loses power. The Windowmate representative at IFA told me the magnets are strong enough to withstand wind as well. The disadvantage: You have to be able to reach both sides of the glass simultaneously to put the Windowmate in place.
Chris Monroe/CNET
If you have a window that doesn’t open, you’re probably out of luck unless you send someone outside with the other half of the robot. Plus, the Windowmate orients itself by the frame, so you have to detach it and put it back up for each different pane of glass you want to clean.
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I can’t think of a window in any home I’ve ever lived where using the Windowmate would make more sense than grabbing some paper towel and Windex. Store owners, though, might find it more useful, and that’s the primary intended market for the bot. Still, it’s a cool concept — I’d certainly like a robot to take window cleaning off my plate.
Horizontal robot cleaners
- Neato D5
- iRobot Braava Jet
- Dyson 360 Eye
The model on display at IFA is the second edition of the Windowmate. The first launched in Japan only, but this one’s coming to Europe as well, where it’ll retail for 500 euros, which converts roughly to $560, £420 or AU$740. A Windowmate representative told me of plans to bring the bot to the US as well, perhaps in 2017.
Maybe the product will be a little more refined and make more sense as a consumer device by the time it launches in the US. Regardless, I’m happy to know window cleaning robots are out there.
- Head here for lots more from IFA
Razer Blade Stealth (late 2016) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
I might finally buy a Razer laptop.
I could never quite do it before. They were always a little too expensive for my tastes, ran too hot, and the battery life was often poor.
The specs/price breakdown for the new Razer Blade Stealth, in the US.
Razer
But the 12.5-inch Razer Blade Stealth starts at just $999 or AU$1,549 (around £750) — an incredible deal for a ridiculously thin, well-built aluminum laptop with a Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory, a beautiful, mesmerizing keyboard and a high-res 2,560×1,440-pixel display.
Particularly now that Razer has addressed the Blade Stealth’s biggest weakness: that battery.
Though we really, really liked the Blade Stealth in our CNET review, battery life was its Achilles’ heel. The upgraded version of the laptop, with a 4K-resolution screen, only lasted 3 hours 12 minutes in our streaming video battery drain test. (We see over 10 hours on a MacBook Air, in case you’re wondering.)
But today, Razer says it’s crammed 15 percent more battery (53.6 vs. 45 watt-hours) into the same 0.52-inch thin, 2.84 pound (13.2mm, 1.29 kg) body, and for the same price.
Oh, and it’s also trading the sixth-gen Intel Core i7-6500U processor for a faster seventh-gen Core i7-7500U chip, which may or may not improve battery life even more. Plus, you can now add up to 16GB of memory and 1TB of solid-state storage (the fast PCIe variety) if you’ve got a little more money to burn.
Another reason to wait for reviews: the $499 Razer Core dock lets you add the power of a desktop graphics card to the Blade Stealth, but Razer hasn’t sent out review units yet.
Sean Hollister/CNET
Mind you, I can’t actually say for sure that the Razer Blade Stealth’s 15 percent larger battery means it’ll last 15 percent longer on a charge, or if that’ll be enough for me with the more battery efficient screen. I’ll be waiting for our full review, and I recommend you do too.
Last September, I told myself I’d buy a MacBook Pro. I’ve been waiting an entire year, but Apple’s new laptops are nowhere to be found. And if you believe the rumors, we may not see them in 2016 at all.
That’s plenty of time for Razer to win me over.
The updated Razer Blade Stealth is on sale today in the US at razerstore.com. No word on availability for the UK and Australia.
Razer Blade (14-inch, late 2016) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Razer’s about to sell a whole lot more Blades. All it took was one tweak.
With one of Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 1060 graphics chips inside, the 0.7-inch (18mm) thick Razer Blade just become one of the smallest, most attractive VR-ready PCs.
Instead of lugging around a giant desktop to introduce your friends and colleagues to the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, Razer claims you’ll be able to do it with a sleek laptop roughly the size of Apple’s smallest MacBook Pro with Retina display. (Razer’s computer is not the only laptop with Nvidia’s new VR-ready laptop chips, but it’s definitely the smallest we’ve seen.)
The new Razer Blade 14’s price breakdown in the US.
Razer
Plus, the new Blade 14 starts a full $200 cheaper — thanks to a lower-res 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution IPS screen with a matte finish, instead of the high-res 3,200×1,800-pixel touchscreen panel that came standard earlier this year.
Personally, I’d take a matte 1080p screen any day of the week. Not only do they typically offer more battery life and fewer distracting reflections, the reduced graphical demands of lower resolution typically means smoother gameplay.
Other than those important tweaks, the 14-inch Razer Blade is pretty much the same thin gaming laptop we liked earlier this year. It’s got the same 4.25-pound (1.92 kg) jet black aluminum body, the same sixth-gen quad-core Intel processor and 16GB of RAM, the same colorful Chroma keyboard and the same 70 watt-hour battery. (Razer says it’s hoping for improved battery life, but wouldn’t promise it during an interview with CNET.)
You can watch our video review of the previous Blade 14 below:
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A gaming laptop with a colorful personality
Drag
The new Blade 14 is also still compatible with the Razer Core external graphics dock if you need some additional oomph, though I can’t recommend you buy that till we’ve had a chance to test it out.
The new 14-inch Razer Blade starts at $1,799 in the US, which is roughly £1,355 or AU$2,380, though availability outside the US hasn’t been confirmed. Preorders begin today at razerstore.com, and devices should ship this October.
Samsung AddWash Combo Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Chris Monroe/CNET
First, Samsung gave us a hatch door on its nifty AddWash washing machine so you can pop in stray socks and undies in the middle of a cleaning cycle. Now, the Korean electronics giant wants to let its European customers add forgotten items during drying.
Additional AddWash Coverage
- A superfluous second door doesn’t damage this washer’s appeal
- Surprise! Samsung’s new washer has a secret hatch
- Samsung’s hatch-equipped washers hit US retail
The Samsung AddWash Combo has the same second, smaller door built into the front-facing main door as the original AddWash, but the Combo dries clothes, too. Samsung debuted the washer-dryer combination here at the IFA trade show in Berlin Thursday.
The AddWash Combo’s price starts at about 800 euros (roughly $890, £670 and AU$1,185). The appliance, along with a slimmed-down version of the AddWash, will begin to appear in stores across Europe next week, but will not be available in the US because of low demand for washer-dryers.
Samsung has previously said people reported in surveys that they regularly forget to add some of their clothes to the washer, but they are uncomfortable completely stopping a wash cycle to add the wayward items that didn’t make it in with the original load. With the AddWash, you pause the cleaning cycle and push the hatch door to open it. Since you’re still stopping the washing machine (albeit using a smaller door to load stray pieces), we were doubtful of how necessary the AddWash’s door-in-a-door really is when we reviewed it in July.
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- For all of CNET’s coverage from IFA, click here
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