Apple MacOS Sierra Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
The operating system working behind the scenes on your computer is at least as important as the hardware itself, and that’s especially true for Apple products, where the same company makes both the hardware and software.
For years, MacBooks and Mac desktops have run on the operating system Apple calls OS X. That’s about to change, as as Apple has rebranded its computer software as MacOS, a new name more in line with iOS, WatchOS and TVOS.
New Macs should include the first version of MacOS, code-named Sierra, starting in the fall of 2016, while a public beta is expected in July. For now, this preview covers some of the new features included with the current developer’s build (not available to the general public), as well as promised features coming to the final version.
CNET/Dan Ackerman
Cleaning up space on a Mac is a lot easier
Space has always been an issue, especially if if you get a laptop with only 128GB of storage. With Optimized Storage, you can easily save some space with the click of a button. The trick here is that Apple is making use of iCloud and iCloud Drive. You can keep your watched iTunes content in the cloud and only save recent mail attachments on your physical drive. It will also automatically empty your trash after 30 days, and it has a new interface that displays a comprehensive list of what’s taking up space on the hard drive and allows you to delete files in a snap.
Picture-in-picture is now built-in
The struggle of having to open a video in a new window and rearranging your desktop is over. Picture-in-picture is coming with MacOS Sierra — it will be available within Safari and iTunes, as well as websites that use HTML5 video. In our testing, it has worked really well with Vimeo and ESPN. This will not be automatic for all websites, though. Apple is releasing a developer API that web developers can implement, so here’s hoping that YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu will take advantage of this.
Messages is on a new level with rich links and tapbacks
All of those new Messages features from iOS 10 are making their way to the Mac. While you won’t be able to send digital touches, invisible inks, stickers or handwritten message from the Mac, you can see them and interact with them if sent from an iOS device. But, the best feature out of Messages for the Mac will be those rich links, which includes being able to watch the video or read the first part of the story inline. With tapbacks you can provide your own quick color commentary on what people are sending you.
Apple Pay is on the Mac, but not physically
No, Apple is not putting NFC inside of all its hardware. Instead, websites that have Apple Pay integrated into checkout, like Shopify, will let you use your iPhone or Apple Watch to complete a transaction via the Mac. If your device is close by, the site will ask for authentication through your Apple Watch or iOS device.
iTunes has a small but helpful redesign
The look and feel of Apple Music continues to take over iTunes. Under Music, you now have menu options for library, “for you,” browse, radio and the iTunes Store.
Desktop and Documents are now in iCloud
If you own multiple Macs, getting files from one device to the other will now be easier than ever. By checking off a new checkbox in the iCloud settings menu, files on the desktop or in the documents folders of multiple Macs can now be automatically synced. Drop a file or add a screenshot to the desktop of one MacOS system, and a few seconds later, it pops up on the other ones. The documents folder, the other place you’re likely to store important files, works similarly, but each machine gets a named folder within the documents folder on its sister machines.
Photos is smarter and will curate your memories
Photos is the other application, besides iTunes and Messages, that’s getting a big update in Sierra. For starters, using new identifying technologies, you can search for photos by subject. Similar to Google Photos or HTC’s Zoe feature, Photos also has a feature called Memories, which pulls different sets of photos and makes a video or album out of them.
What you copy on your iPhone can be pasted on your Mac
Universal Clipboard is another one of those signature Apple features — it just works out of the box, as long as both devices have the same Apple ID. This feature allows you to copy and paste across devices, so if you copy an image on your iPhone, you can paste it into a Keynote slideshow on your Mac, and the same goes for blocks of text or URLs.
You can unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch
If you own an Apple Watch, it will become even more useful with iOS 10 and MacOS. When wearing the Apple Watch, walk up to your Mac, and you can wake it from sleep without manually entering a password, because the Watch securely authenticates with the Mac.
Siri is now on the Mac
People have been waiting for this one. After all the rumors, it’s now official. With MacOS Sierra, Siri will be on the Mac.
Instead of holding down the home button, you can click the dock icon, the button in the top-right corner, or by hitting function-space (as of now in the developer preview).
On the Mac, Siri can search the web for an image, then you can then drag and drop it into a document. Siri can also search for files, for example, finding all images with a specific word in the file name from the last week or month. One interesting bonus: you can use it to get the serial number and information from your hardware.
The new MacOS Sierra operating system will be launching this fall, but the developer preview is available now, and a public beta is coming in July.
Misfit Ray review – CNET
The Good Slim design, water-resistant, long battery life thanks to replaceable batteries. Tracks activity automatically. Vibration alerts.
The Bad Uncomfortable fit won’t feel great on all wrists. Minimal look means no buttons or display, except for one glowing light. Misfit app not as good as competing fitness apps.
The Bottom Line Misfit’s tube-shaped Ray fitness tracker looks stylish and gets the job done, but it does too little for what it costs.
It looks like a bracelet, or some space-age tube. But the Misfit Ray’s a fitness tracker. One of a vast number of track-your-steps, pair-with-an-app gadgets that keep popping up. Fitness trackers — the standalone ones that aren’t smartwatches — have started shrinking down to aspire to be jewelry, sort of. That’s been Misfit’s formula for years. But now, that formula feels a little commonplace.
The original Shine, a metal disc that automatically tracks steps and sleep and has good battery life, was innocuous. But also, easily lost. It could pop into accessories and be worn lots of places. I liked the Shine a lot when it first debuted in 2013, because it was unique and small. But there are more fitness trackers now, and most of them are unnecessary. The Shine 2 only made a few advances over the Shine. Its main appeal — being simple and automatic — has been adopted by many other competitors, including the king of the hill, Fitbit.
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Misfit Ray in two colors, with Misfit Shine 2 in the middle. Same functions, different design.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Now the Ray is the same idea as the Shine 2, but in a tube. Like those earlier Misfit products, the Ray tracks steps, sleep and short activity sessions. It can be worn as a bracelet (it comes with a band), or turned into a necklace pendant. But it’s not really attractive enough that you’d wear it if you weren’t “using” it.
LG LTNC11121V review – CNET
The Good LG’s smallest full-size refrigerator looks more expensive than it really is, and it holds accurate temperatures in the body of the fridge. It also holds more groceries than we expected it would.
The Bad Some parts of the interior feel a bit flimsy. Also, the door shelves and the crisper bin ran warm in all of our tests.
The Bottom Line The compact-sized LTNC11121V is worth considering if you’re looking for a second fridge, or if you’re tight on space.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
We’ve tested a lot of refrigerators over the past few years at CNET Appliances, and fridge for fridge, the brand that’s impressed us the most is LG. The Korean brand’s refrigerators have consistently outperformed the competition in our cooling tests, and many of the higher-end models offer the kinds of designs and features that make upgrading exciting.
The LG LTNC11121V is not one of those higher-end models. In fact, at $700, it’s the least expensive fridge that LG sells, and the smallest, too: just 24 inches wide, with a total capacity of just 11.1 cubic feet. It’s about as compact as refrigerators come without venturing into mini-fridge territory, but with good performance and a decent design for the price, it might be good fit for a back room or a tight kitchen.
Here’s a teeny-tiny top freezer fridge from…
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With the exception of those two 12-packs, I was able to squeeze all of our test groceries into the fridge.
Chris Monroe/CNET
Design and features
The LTNC11121V almost looks more like a locker than a refrigerator. At 24 inches wide, it’s as skinny as full-size fridges come, so if you’re trying to fill a tight space in your kitchen, there’s a good chance it’s up to the task.
Looks-wise, it’s a good design for the price, with a stainless-steel finish and recessed handles. It doesn’t scream luxury, but then again, neither do most other compact-sized refrigerators.
With 11.1 cubic feet of total storage space inside, 8.5 of which are allocated to the fridge, you’ve got less than half the space for fresh groceries than you’ll get with LG’s largest top freezer model (which, incidentally, happens to be our top top-freezer pick). That’s not a lot of room to work with, so if you’re thinking of using this thing to keep a family fed, think again.
Then again, the LTNC11121V did better than I expected it would when I started stuffing groceries into it. The door shelves were big enough to accommodate a pair of two-liters along with a few other large beverages, and the shelves were deep enough to hold two 1-gallon jugs of milk — though not deep enough to fit either of the 12-packs of soda from our standardized load of test groceries. They were the only two things I couldn’t fit inside.
As for features, you don’t get much — just the one crisper bin, along with a “Pull-Out Tray” that sits a few inches below the top shelf and slides out for easy access. Up in the freezer, you’ll find a manual ice maker with a pair of smallish ice cube trays that you can twist to dump the cubes into a bin. It’s an interesting approach, though it feels a bit flimsy. Also, you can’t take those trays out to fill them at the sink. Instead, you have to bring the water to the freezer, and I had a hard time pouring it in without spilling.
Mondevices MonBaby Smart Button review – CNET
The Good MonBaby is easy to use, and its design cleverly makes clipping it to baby’s clothing easier than comparable devices. The Android app’s ability to track sleep patterns over time is a cool addition.
The Bad Its reliance on motion detection means MonBaby’s performance isn’t perfect. Plus, you can’t use it with a sleeper or rocker that would register movement even if the child has stopped breathing.
The Bottom Line MonBaby is a useful gadget, but like other devices of its type, its features can’t replace traditional monitors or quite justify its $170 price tag.
There are two types of baby monitors: traditional ones that let you listen while your child is sleeping in the other room, and newer connected ones that monitor your child’s vitals and send mobile alerts if something goes wrong. I love that technology has increased safety for kids and peace of mind for new parents. But here’s a question for these high-tech monitors: Can the new features justify the raised price?
MonBaby makes sure your baby’s sleeping well
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Developer Mondevices makes one of these connected gadgets called the MonBaby Smart Button, a wearable for your infant. MonBaby pairs simple motion-sensing hardware with algorithms to track children’s breathing, overall activity and physical orientation. The app notifies parents if the device detects any concerning change (like halted respiration or a child lying on their belly).
Mondevices’ product is well designed. It snaps onto your kid’s clothing and connects to your phone via Bluetooth. MonBaby’s measurements are pretty reliable, but because they all depend on motion-sensing, they can be inaccurate if used with certain sleepers or rockers.
Accessing the information on the app is quick and easy. You can personalize when you receive notifications and also track your child’s activity levels over time on the Android app (this feature is coming for the iOS version within a few months, according to Mondevices).
At $170, MonBaby is a little more affordable than some of its competitors, but it certainly isn’t cheap. And it falls into the same trap as other devices like it: It can’t replace traditional monitors, and its added smarts won’t justify the price for many parents. MonBaby is nice to have around, but not necessary for most kids.
Pros
- Cheaper than some competitors
- Tracks data over time
- Sends alerts if your child flips onto their belly
Cons
- Bluetooth reliance means limited range
- iOS app is less developed than Android version
- Motion sensing isn’t reliable when used with certain sleepers
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) review – CNET
The Good The inexpensive Samsung Galaxy J3 runs the current version of Android and takes nice daylight photos. It has a long-lasting, removable battery and the camera app launches with a double-click of the home button.
The Bad Its underpowered processor makes the photo-capture slow enough to miss action shots.
The Bottom Line Light users will do fine with Samsung’s entry-level Galaxy J3, but you’ll want a higher-powered phone if you plan to keep it around for two years or more.
There aren’t many new phones you can compare to the 5-inch Samsung Galaxy J3. An extremely inexpensive device with parts to match, the phone nevertheless performed better than I expected, but never stellar. Battery life was strong, it ships with the current version of Android (6.0.1) and its daylight photography is good enough to post online despite the camera’s low 5-megapixel resolution (selfies, low-light shots, and indoor photos aren’t quite as good).
At $110 to $180 in the US (pricing varies by carrier), £140 in the UK (for the 8GB version, from Carphone Warehouse) and AU$329 in Australia, the J3 also earns points for its immediate global availability. In the notoriously carrier-controlled US, for example, it sells on five networks (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile).
The J3 is likable enough in its looks and feel, and its battery kept going long after I expected the phone to conk out — it lasted 15 hours in CNET’s looping video drain test. Phone calls were also problem-free on the AT&T model I tested in San Francisco on medium-high volume. There’s plenty of room to expand storage (up to 128GB with a microSD card) and you can replace the battery if that’s your jam. Where the J3 falters is mainly in its quad-core processor, which makes gaming slightly less smooth and the camera a half-beat late to capture and process photos.
The sub-$200 Samsung Galaxy J3 handles well
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In the short term, the J3 will serve wallet-watchers well enough, especially if you plan to use the phone lightly. But if you have the cash to spare, jumping up to the next price bracket will get you a phone that will wear better with time, as we expect the Motorola Moto G4 to. This J3, by contrast, leaves you with a slower processor, photos that suffer in larger formats and less on-board storage for photos. (See the specs comparison chart below.)
Roost Smart Water and Freeze Detector Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Roost
If something goes wrong in your home, Roost wants you to know about it wherever you are. Place the Roost Water and Freeze Detector in vulnerable spots in your house, and you’ll get a push notification if it senses water, or if the temperature goes below a warning threshold.
Roost announced the $50 sensor today. You can head to the Roost site to preorder the US-only device. The Smart Water and Freeze Detector should ship out this fall.
Other leak detectors
- Fibaro Flood Sensor
- FortrezZ Water Sensor
- SmartThings Water Leak Sensor
The California-based startup’s previous product, the Roost Smart Battery, fits inside your smoke detector and sends you an alert when the alarm sounds. The company also has a standalone smoke detector on the way.
With the Smart Water and Freeze Detector, Roost wants to help your smart home be ready for any potential disaster. With three years of battery life and a humidity sensor built-in with the temperature and water sensor, you’ll be able to place Roost under your sink or toilet, or in the laundry room.
The Smart Water and Freeze Detector has built-in Wi-Fi, so it’ll talk directly to your router and that should help keep setup time to a minimum. And it has an IFTTT channel, letting you create recipes to trigger other smart devices when something goes wrong. So if Roost senses water, your Philips Hue bulbs can flash red, for instance.
For now, the $60 Fibaro Flood Sensor is our leak detector of choice, but we’ve been impressed with Roost’s take on smart home safety, too. If the new sensor is responsive and reliable enough to warn you before pipes freeze, before mold builds up, or before a leak has time to do serious damage, then it might make for a worthwhile addition to a connected home setup.
Hasselblad X1D Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Pro photographers and well-off enthusiasts who want top-flight photo quality but need portability take note: Hasselblad joins the march toward mirrorlessness, debuting the world’s first medium-format interchangeable-lens camera. Its new X1D series launches with the X1D-50c, essentially an adapted-for-mirrorless version of its HDC-50c, and two new lenses specifically designed for the X1D’s mount.
Hasselblad’s stylized X1D medium-format mirrorless
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While it’s not cheap, it’s not nearly as expensive as you might expect: $8,995 or £5,990 for the body, $11,300 with the XCD 45mm f3.5 lens or $14,000 with both the 45mm and XCD 90mm f4.5 lenses. (Pricing for the UK and Australia wasn’t available for the kits. The US prices convert to £7,685 and £9,520, or AU$11,975, AU$15,040 and AU$18,640.)
Roughly the same size as the full-frame Leica SL but smaller and lighter than Hasselblad’s HDC models, the X1D-50c incorporates the same 42.8 x 32.9mm sensor as the HDC-50c, but couples it with an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical one. While the 50c-size sensor isn’t large for medium-format, it’s certainly larger than that of a full-frame camera. Its benefit lies in providing more control over background blur and much larger pixels for a greater dynamic range; 14 stops, as with the other Hasselblads.
Relative sensor sizes for medium format vs. full frame. The X1D has the same sensor as the H6D-50c.
Lori Grunin/CNET
In fact, many of its specifications match that of the reflex (mirrored) model, including the touchscreen and interface, 1.7-2.3fps burst speed, and 1080/30p video recording. It’s dust-and-weather sealed, with an ISO range of ISO 100-ISO 12800 and dual SD-card slots.
Though the company is shipping the two aforementioned XCD-mount lenses for the X1D, it will also offer an H Lens adapter so that you can use all of its H lenses with it.
The camera has autofocus, but medium-format focus performance is typically not quite as fast as what we’ve become accustomed to; that may pose a challenge for Hasselblad as it takes on smaller, far less-expensive full-frame models like the Sony A7R II.
I’ll be getting some time with the camera this afternoon, so stay tuned for an update with my hands-on impressions.
ZTE Grand X Max 2 Review
Smartphone enthusiasts may know ZTE for its flagship Axon line, but ZTE has long delivered phones to the prepaid market in the United States. By offering a multitude of affordable yet functional smartphones on prepaid carriers such as Cricket Wireless, ZTE has become the most successful Chinese smartphone manufacturer in the US by a wide margin.
More ZTE content:
- ZTE Axon 7 hands on
- ZTE announces Z-Community Forums
- Nubia Z11 Mini announced
- Interview with ZTE at CES 2016
ZTE’s Grand X Max 2 is the latest of these smartphones, but is it worth it? Let’s find out in our ZTE Grand X Max 2 Review!
Buy the ZTE Grand X Max 2 now!
Design
In terms of design, the ZTE Grand X Max 2 is slightly reminiscent of the recently announced Axon 7, as it shares the same port and button locations as well as a subtle curve to help with handling. Instead of an aluminum unibody however, the Max 2 is composed of a glossy plastic rear cover fixed to a plastic band with a number of clips. ZTE’s material choices could be described as not unlike those from the three-year-old Samsung Galaxy S4.
Overall, the phone looks very nice with its blue color scheme and subtle pattern on the rear. Despite its larger form factor, the Grand X Max 2 feels quite nice in the hand. It seems that the phone doubles as a fingerprint magnet at times, but this is nearly inevitable with either a plastic or glass rear. Although plastic is generally more durable than glass, we noticed many scratches on our Max 2 review unit after only a week of use.
Our unit also suffered from an approximately one meter drop onto concrete, and, although the plastic rear fared well, the side band was easily chipped in several locations. Build quality seems about average for the price, so you may want to consider also purchasing a case, as accidents do happen.
The three illuminated capacitive keys at the bottom of the phone match Google’s standard layout out of the box (back-home-multitask), but can be reconfigured in the settings for users wishing to have the back button to the right.
The confusion associated with the indeterminately labeled buttons wears off surprisingly quickly
This is a great setting to have, and the confusion associated with the indeterminately labeled buttons wears off surprisingly quickly. Now if only every smartphone manufacturer gave users this option…
Display
The Max 2 proves itself worthy of the “Max” tag with its beautiful 6-inch 1080P display. That’s considerably larger than most smartphones currently on the market, and surpasses virtually every prepaid option. While the Max 2 seemed small to me at first after coming from the 6.44-inch Xiaomi Mi Max, the Grand X Max 2 can definitely be unwieldy, especially if you have smaller hands. The phone is narrow enough to make one-handed use somewhat comfortable, however, and if you’re considering the Max 2, you’ve likely already been sold on the more immersive media consumption experience.
All things considered, I was quite impressed with the Max 2’s display, as it is one of the best I have seen for less than $200. It has great color reproduction, very good contrast, just the right amount of saturation, and is reasonably readable outdoors.
Performance
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 617 – the successor to last year’s Snapdragon 615 – the ZTE Grand X Max 2 offers fairly good performance. It’s not going to crush any benchmarks by any means, but, paired with 2 GB of RAM, should be enough for the majority of users. Day-to-day performance is still quite good too, and the phone rarely had any UI hiccups during my testing.
Outside of the several preloaded resource-light games, the Max 2 can struggle a bit with its ageing Adreno 405 GPU. Although demanding titles like Asphalt 8 are still very playable, they can take some extra time to load and may exhibit some minor frame drops during gameplay.
Hardware
The ZTE Grand X Max 2 includes everything you’d expect from a modern smartphone: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS are each on board. Call quality seemed to be excellent during my time with the Max 2 on the Cricket network. There’s also 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded with the phone’s microSD card slot, up to 64 GB.
It sadly lacks a fingerprint reader
Although the Max 2 adopts a Quick Charge 2.0-enabled USB Type-C port for charging and syncing, it sadly lacks a fingerprint reader, a feature which we are beginning to expect, even from budget phones. Its absence may not be a deal breaker for those upgrading from an older smartphone without a reader, but I would personally find it difficult to switch over entirely.
Check this out: Best USB Type-C cables13
The Max 2’s single side-firing speaker sounds very good, with minor distortion at high volumes. It’s a bit above what I would expect at this price point, and will do the job when wanting to watch videos or casually listen to music. There is a Hi-Fi audio chipset on board as well, which will appeal to those wishing to use headphones.
After reviewing the results of four battery life tests, it seems that the Grand X Max 2’s battery life can vary significantly, but the notable outlier I had (the one with less than three hours of screen on time) was a direct result of my heavy usage.
With an hour and a half of Google Maps navigation and a forty minute Google Hangouts video call, it’s easy to see why I didn’t get the same results I did on prior days. With that said, I never worried about having to charge the Max 2 before my day was over, and some users may be able to achieve two full days of light use.
Camera
ZTE has made a very interesting move by including a dual-camera setup on the rear of the Grand X Max 2. It seems that the second camera functions only when using the software bokeh mode, which attempts to emulate a professional photo’s depth of field. Unfortunately, this feature did not work well at all in my testing, and I see no other use for the secondary camera beyond as a marketing tool.
Image captured in bokeh mode
What’s worse is the actual quality of the images that the Max 2 produced. Its 13 MP camera appeared to be promising when first glancing at the spec sheet, but after taking a look at the photos, I am very disappointed. Even when factoring in the price, the Max 2’s camera is slightly below average.
Some of these images are simply out of focus, but that can be blamed on the phone’s slow and inaccurate autofocus
Firstly, many of the images that I took are noisy and distorted, something that is generally not expected in the well-lit environments that I was in. The images are also very soft, especially near the corners. Granted, some of these images are simply out of focus, but that can be blamed on the phone’s slow and inaccurate autofocus. The processing is incredibly inconsistent, with some images appearing over sharpened, with others appearing under sharpened. In addition, color reproduction can be rather bad, especially when capturing warmer colors like red and orange.
ZTE Grand X Max 2 camera samples:
Low-light performance was also not so great. The phone couldn’t focus correctly for virtually every shot, and, when it did, images came out extra noisy. It seems that the camera here is just not where it should be relative to the competition.
On a positive note, ZTE’s camera app is quite good, and offers an easy-to-use automatic experience. The bundled time lapse and panorama modes are welcome additions, and the manual mode is surprisingly comprehensive.
Software
ZTE is shipping the Grand X Max 2 with a lightly skinned version of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. It’s similar to stock Android in many ways, with only a few notable changes. One of which is the unlocking mechanism for the lock screen. Instead of swiping up, you just press and hold the screen for a second. That’s nice since you don’t have to move your finger back down to access your apps, but I did notice the phone unlocking, launching apps, and placing calls while in my pocket. You’ll want to be careful unless you use a passcode, which will add an extra step, of course.
The notification panel is similar to the one found in iOS in that it blurs the background as you pull it down, which, although different from stock Android, looks pretty good. The app drawer is also slightly transparent, and with the exception of a clear all button in the multitasking menu, there are really no other major UI changes. The app icons have been replaced with ZTE’s icons, however, but those still look nice.
My Cricket Wireless variant did ship with a some bloatware, but the three of ten apps that weren’t uninstallable were genuinely useful for Cricket subscribers. This sort of bloatware is definitely less than other carrier branded devices, with the number of uninstallable apps often numbering double digitis.
Gallery
Price
The ZTE Grand X Max 2 is now available exclusively from Cricket Wireless, for $199.99 with activation. There is currently only a single model, which comes in blue and includes 16 GB of internal, but expandable storage.
Conclusion
The ZTE Grand X Max 2 is an excellent choice for those on Cricket looking for a large affordable smartphone. Although I would have liked to see a much better camera and stronger build quality, it’s hard to fault the Grand X Max 2 given its price.
The Max 2 exceeds where it needs to with a beautiful display, great battery life, and an excellent software experience
The Max 2 exceeds where it needs to with a beautiful display, great battery life, and an excellent software experience. If you don’t take many images, you can avoid the achilles’ heel altogether and will likely be very happy with this phone.
Buy the ZTE Grand X Max 2 now!
So what do you think of the ZTE Grand X Max 2? Is it worth the money, even if the camera isn’t the best in its class? Leave a comment below to let us know!
GE GFWS1700HWW review – CNET
The Good Not only is $900 a very good price for a front-load washing machine, the GE GFWS1700HWW manages to hold its own alongside more expensive models in terms of options and ease of use.
The Bad The display is better than the one on GE’s $1,100 GFWS2600FWW, but it still looks too cluttered.
The Bottom Line GE’s GFWS1700HWW is a well-rounded washer and a reasonable upgrade over the most basic of models, but it doesn’t excel in any category.
As one of GE’s least expensive front-load washing machines, the $900 GFWS1700HWW isn’t fancy. Even so, I wouldn’t call this washer entry-level. Complete with 10 cleaning cycles, a steam function and a large-capacity tub, it’s competitive with plenty of pricier models, even GE’s own $1,100 GFWS2600FWW.
Overall, the GFWS1700HWW combines powerful stain removal with solid features and design. I don’t love the look of its overcrowded control panel, but it’s a definite improvement over the GFWS2600FWW’s tough-to-use interface.
Consider GE’s GFWS1700HWW if you’re in the market for a simple washer upgrade that’s still relatively affordable
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This GE washer can handle your laundry needs…
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Does this ‘budget’ washer stack up?
It’s hard to call a $900 appliance low-cost, but the GFWS1700HWW is one of GE’s most budget-friendly front-load washers. And you actually get quite a lot for the price. Its 10 cleaning cycles are all accessible from the dial on the display panel. They are:
- Active Wear
- Basket Clean
- Bulky/Bedding
- Colors/Normals
- Delicates/Hand Wash
- NSF Sanitize
- Quick Wash
- Rinse & Spin
- Towels/Sheets
- Whites
The GFWS1700HWW also has a steam function that you can enable for select cycles to target tough stains. Its 4.3-cubic-foot capacity isn’t quite as large as the 4.5 cubic-foot norm for front-load washers, yet it’s close enough to not make a significant difference in your load size. Overall, the GFWS1700HWW can hold its own alongside more expensive front-load options like the GE GFWS2600FWW and even Electrolux’s $1,099 EFLS617S. Here’s a closer look at the GFWS1700HWW versus the competition:
2016 Bentley Continental GT review – Roadshow
The Good Luxury coachwork and a powerful yet economical V-8 engine make the 2016 Bentley Continental GT V8 S a choice car for long drives. The Naim stereo adds to aural luxury to the driving experience.
The Bad The navigation system tracks the car too slowly, making it difficult to follow guidance with frequent turns, and its antiquated audio interface doesn’t offer a built-in USB port.
The Bottom Line Well-heeled buyers who eschew chauffeurs will find the 2016 Bentley Continental GT V8 S an engaging and powerful car, suitable for long trips, but they should consult their phones for navigation.
For British automaker Bentley, the name Continental implies Europe, where drivers can log many more miles than the distance between John ‘o Groats and Penzance, about as far as you can go in the UK without crossing seas. As such, Bentley designed the 2016 Continental GT V8 S for a trip from Plymouth to Prague, or Barcelona to Rome, likely with a stop in Monaco.
To get some sense of its long-range behavior, I took the 2016 Continental GT V8 S on a run from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and back again, traversing both the long highway and crowded urban centers.
The test brought to light the efficiency of Bentley’s powerful V-8 engine, a newer option for the still-available W-12 cylinder, the comfort of its cabin and chassis, and the accuracy of its navigation. And cruising through Los Angeles and San Francisco showed bystanders’ reaction to the Continental’s subtle styling and can’t-ignore-it Monaco Yellow paint job.
The Bentley Continental is designed for longer trips and enthusiastic driving on engaging roads.
Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
Bentley currently offers the Continental in 10 variations, including coupes and convertibles, cruisers and a race-ready edition. The Continental GT V8 S comes in coupe layout, two doors and four seats with a metal roof overhead, and sport tuning. Base price for the Continental GT V8 S comes to $210,000, meaning that if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. A mix of styling and other options brought the US example I drove to $257,254.
Elegant muscle
The ineffable and subtle styling of the Continental looks at once simple yet striking, a lesson for automotive designers everywhere. Unadorned surrounds for headlights and air intakes up front make the car unmistakable, while a few contour lines on the sides give an impression of momentum. The body shows muscle, hinting at the power under the hood.
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Superb interior coachwork includes high-quality leather with body-colored stitching and polished metal switchgear. Double-paned glass in the side windows keeps out unwanted noise. Driving the Continental, it felt like I was sitting in an airport’s VIP lounge, a much calmer and more relaxing environment than general seating at the gate.
Bringing down the cabin refinement, plastic buttons prevailed for climate control, suspension settings and the navigation head unit.
Seemingly at odds with its nicer appointments, the Continental GT V8 S is essentially a muscle car. When I stepped into the throttle, the twin turbo 4-liter V-8 engine sounded off with a ticking growl, putting 521 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. At over 5,000 pounds, the Continental takes a half second to get itself together, then blasts off the line, pushing you back into its seats.
The eight-speed automatic transmission, by ZF, has a creditable sport mode, able to keep the revs high and downshift aggressively.
Wayne Cunningham/Roadshow
On Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles and Skyline south of San Francisco, I experienced how that all-wheel-drive system, the Continental’s air suspension and its 20-inch Pirellis gave it nimble handling. Dropping the shift lever for the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission into Sport mode kept the engine speed high, making the throttle more responsive, and the electric power steering made for easy, precise turn-in.
The Continental isn’t the kind of car you drift around the corners — its tail stays firmly planted — instead weight and grip conspire to make hard cornering feel almost casual.
Turn-by-turn
Crawling along in LA and SF traffic, I absorbed a bit of the Continental’s panache. While it exudes presence, the subtle styling defused any ire from bystanders that might otherwise be aimed at a peacocking venture capitalist or Hollywood mogul. And the powerful engine proved perfectly manageable, letting me gently throttle off the line or maintain distance from the bumper of the car ahead.
While the Continental’s cabin furniture blunted the sting from traffic congestion, the navigation system added its own frustrations. The plastic buttons below the 8-inch touchscreen look pedestrian, not up to the coachwork’s caliber, and entering an address or looking up a location revealed the slowness of older generation electronics. I found myself double-tapping buttons when I wasn’t rewarded with immediate results. Trying to keep up with the times, Bentley adds an online search feature, shoehorned in with a search button on the map screen, but it wasn’t operational in the example I drove and would still suffer from the general system slowness.
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