Uber India lets users hail a ride from their browser
Uber’s found that one size does not fit all when it comes to bringing its business to other parts of the world. Take India, where the company has had to implement cash payments, panic buttons and axe surge pricing. Now, to combat the country’s weaker cellular infrastructure, you no longer need to have the smartphone app installed to hail a ride. Instead, the company is offering a browser-based service — Dial an Uber — that lets people summon vehicles from desktops, laptops, tablets or smartphones. In addition, the service can be used to request trips for people other than yourself, like relatives who can’t use or don’t have a smartphone. As The Verge reports, Dial an Uber is rolling out in the cities of Nagpur, Kochi, Guwahati and Jodhpur.
Via: The Verge
Source: Dial an Uber
The next Apple Watch reportedly won’t have cellular connectivity
Apple is widely expected to introduce the next generation of the Apple Watch before the end of the year, and today Bloomberg has some details on what to expect — and what’s getting left out. While the next-gen Watch is expected to include GPS capabilities to aid with location tracking and movement without your phone, it’ll still require your phone for most everything else. The report indicates that Apple was hoping to include a full-fledged cellular chip so the Watch could run entirely on its own, without needing to be connected to an iPhone, but that won’t happen this time out.
That’s because of the battery drain that a cellular radio would necessitate — apparently the experience would just be too compromised right now. However, it sounds like Apple was still able to add a GPS chip, itself a relatively power-hungry component. But with Apple’s focus on health and fitness tracking, a GPS chip will make the next Apple Watch far better at both navigation and determining running and walking distances.
Eventually, Apple’s goal is to uncouple the Watch and iPhone entirely, but for now it sounds like the experience of using the next-gen Apple Watch won’t be wildly different than what’s out there now. This marks a change from a rumor we heard in April, which indicated the next Watch would include a cellular chip. In all likelihood, no matter what happens, we’ll see the next Watch unveiled this fall — probably at Apple’s annual September event that’ll also take the wraps off the next iPhone.
Source: Bloomberg
Wirecutter’s best deals: $65 off an OXO coffee brewing system
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
ChargeTech Portable AC Power Outlet
Street price: $170; MSRP: $185; Deal price: $128 with codes SAVE25 and 15OFF
The first great deal we’ve seen on this portable power supply, and it’s a big one. Almost $50 below the street price when you combine two of their current coupons, SAVE25 and 15OFF. This deal includes free shipping.
The ChargeTech Portable Power Outlet is our pick for the best portable AC power supply. Mark Smirniotis said, “If you need to plug in your AC-based gear when you’re traveling, outdoors, or in a crowded coffee shop, this 27-Ah hardcover-book-size battery pack will seem like a lifesaver.”
For more detail about the capacity, “The ChargeTech has a roughly 97-watt-hour (Wh) capacity—that’s enough to charge most midsize laptops once or twice.”
LG LW8016ER Air Conditioner
Street price: $230; MSRP: $240; Deal price: $200
The first good deal we’ve seen on our pick this summer, though a bit too late for many people on the east coast. At $200, this is $20 below what Target sells it for when it’s in-stock, and $30 below Amazon’s usual price. If you have a REDCard, you can save an additional 5%.
The LG LW8016ER is our pick for the best air conditioner. Liam McCabe wrote, “Compared with other window ACs at this price, this LG is easier on the ears and gives you more control. It’s great for an office or den.”
For more detail on the noise, “Most air conditioners are loud, but the LW8016ER is the least-worst of the $250-ish window ACs that we’ve been able to test because it’s a bit quieter overall and sounds lower-pitched.”
Green Extreme Canon DSLR Battery
Street price: $35; MSRP: $35; Deal Price: $20
The first great drop we’ve seen on this third party battery, a full $15 below the street price. This is sold from Adorama’s Amazon store and comes with free shipping.
The Green Extreme is our pick for the best third party camera battery. The WC staff wrote that it’s a, “long-lasting, fast-charging OEM alternative” to the regular batteries.
They also wrote, “The Green Extreme and Watson units provided the largest real-world capacities and turned out to be the most reliable performers of the group; the Green Extreme’s much faster charging times made it our overall choice.”
OXO On 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System
Street price: $300; MSRP: $300; Deal price: $235
This coffee maker rarely drops in price as is, and this new sale is only a few bucks above the best price we’ve seen to date. Most of the sales on this tend to drop it $30 to $270, so it’s worth holding out for these larger discounts.
The OXO On 12-Cup Coffee Brewing System is our larger upgrade pick for the best coffee maker. Cale Guthrie Weissman said, “Like the 9 cupper, it makes a good cup of coffee that is SCAA certified. But it does something that no other SCAA-approved machine has been able to do: heat up 12 cups of water long enough to brew a good, large amount of coffee. It does this by heating up all the water before in a separate carafe, and then transporting this water over to the filter basket. In addition to being easy to fill, the water reservoir also works as a standalone kettle. That way if you have people over and want to make eight cups of coffee and save four cups of hot water for tea, you can program that into the machine using its Nest-like control dial.”
He did write about one drawback though, “A major drawback is that since the OXO preheats the water before brewing the coffee, it takes longer than many other machines. It took more than 8 minutes to make a normal eight-cup (1-liter) batch of coffee (mind you, it would take even longer if you were making the full 12 cups).”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
Airbus reveals ambitious plan for autonomous flying taxis
If a self-flying taxi scheme didn’t come from the world’s second largest aeronautical company, we might think it was a prank. However, Airbus appears to be serious about its “Vahana” project, aimed at creating an autonomous passenger drone network, and thinks testing can begin as early as 2017. That sounds ambitious, to say the least, but “many of the technologies needed, such as batteries, motors and avionics are most the way there,” according to Airbus engineer Rodin Lyasoff.
Users arriving at, say, an airport would book a seat on a so-called zenHop “CityAirbus” drone, then proceed to a “zenHub” helipad, according to the concept. They’d be flown to their destination for about the same cost as a taxi, since the ride would be shared by several passengers. Luggage would be delivered by another service (zenLuggage, of course), and the whole thing would be safeguarded from hackers by (wait for it) zenCyber.
The company said that the CityAirbus multi-rotor, electric aircraft design has been “kept under wraps,” though it did supply an artist’s impression (above). The Airbus Helicopter subsidiary has been working on the drone-like design for two years, and it “could soon become reality without having to wait for too many regulatory changes,” according to the press release.
Airbus is also working on a drone delivery service (below) and plans to start testing it at a Singapore university by mid-2017. The cargo-laden vehicles fly automated routes in “aerial corridors,” then drop them off and send delivery notifications to customers. The goal is to “potentially increase acceptance for passenger flight testing, thus giving a boost to urban air vehicle projects,” according to the company.
The idea of an electric passenger drone isn’t new, as we’ve seen a prototype from Chinese firm EHang and a manned flight test from Volocopter. However, Airbus, with 55,000 workers and thousands of engineers, has a far more realistic shot at making it feasible. “Our group’s strength is that we have interconnected projects that together are helping to drive the upcoming revolution,” says developer Jörg Müller.
The company has already done a study and concluded that the idea has merit. It would first launch the passenger service with pilots, then proceed to autonomous aircraft once regulations and certain technologies, like see-and-avoid, fall into place. While it sounds like our dreams of a Jetsons-like urban utopia are finally falling into place, we’ll cling tightly to our skepticism until we see these taxis actually fly.
Source: Airbus
Android 7.0 Nougat likely releasing August 22
Both LG and Canada’s Telus suggest same date for final Nougat code drop.
Nexus owners: Get ready for some Nougat. It’s looking highly likely that the next version of Android will go official next Monday, Aug. 22. That’s the date given for the Android 7.0 update on Nexus 5X and 6P by Canadian operator Telus in its latest software update schedule.
Telus was accurate with its launch date for last year’s Marshmallow update on Nexus devices.
Adding further fuel to that particular fire is LG’s limited preview program for Korean G5s, which just happens to start on the same day — Aug. 22. Like all major phone makers, LG gets the final code in advance from Google, but the firm wouldn’t be allowed start its preview ahead of the official Nougat launch day.
If everything goes as expected, we should see an announcement from Google, followed by system images next Monday morning (Pacific time), followed by the usual over-the-air push. (It’s possible, but not guaranteed, that Android Wear 2.0 will also land around the same time.)
As for new Nexus devices, we’re not expecting them until sometime after the arrival of the LG V20, which will be the first phone shipping with Nougat.
Android Nougat
Android Nougat is the 12th nicknamed version of Android and will be released to the public in the fall of 2016. Here’s everything you need to know so far!
- What’s new in Android Nougat
- Will my phone get Android Nougat?
- All Android Nougat news
- Should you use the Android N Dev Preview?
- Join the Discussion
Alcatel Idol 4S review: Getting the most from the mid-range
Alcatel delivers its best phone ever with the Idol 4S.
Quick Take
The Alcatel Idol 4S is a 5.5-inch mid-ranger from a company that’s spent the time to refine its design and hardware. You get access to a fantastic camera with manual features and Hi-Fi audio. The phone offers an excellent display, even outdoors, and provides battery life that will easily get you through the day.
Good and Bad
The Good
- Awesome camera with plenty of features
- Fantastic battery life
- Great Hi-Fi audio
The Bad
- Phone can feel slippery in your hand
- Processor heats up after extended use
About this Review
I (Jen Karner) am writing this review after using the Alcatel Idol 4S for two weeks. It’s running Android 6.0.1 with the July 1, 2016 security patch (build number 4AGB-UEB10.) It was connected to the AT&T network in Halethorpe, Md., and the great Baltimore Metropolitan area, and was connected via Bluetooth to a 2015 Honda Fit.
Alcatel Idol 4S Specs
| Display | 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED screen |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 octa-core CPU |
| Storage | 32GB storage, micro-SD slot |
| RAM | 3GB RAM |
| Rear Camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh, Micro-USB port, Quick Charge 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 153.9 x 75.4 x 7 mm 149 g |
Sleek and metal
Alcatel Idol 4S Hardware
The Alcatel Idol 4S has a sturdy metal and glass body that feels great from the moment as you pick it up. While the device fits comfortably in your hand, it tends to get slippery, (which means that investing in a decent case might be a good plan if you have a tendency to drop your phone regularly.)
The back is smooth glass, with minimal branding. The only thing that protrudes noticeably from the back is the rear camera lens. While there is a fingerprint sensor set into the back, there isn’t any indentation. Instead, you’ll be able to locate it by the metal ring that surrounds it. And it’s reasonably ergonomic too, even if you have smaller hands.
The boom button lets you trigger certain actions when within apps, or when your phone is locked.
From the front, the phone looks pretty similar to many other rounded 5.5-inch handset (particularly some of Samsung’s recent devices.) One of the biggest differences comes in the buttons layout. That’s because along with the power button on the upper left, and volume rocker on the upper right, you’ll find the “Boom” button — a circular key in the middle of the right side.
The boom button lets you trigger certain actions within apps, or when your phone is locked. This includes doing things like launching your camera when the device is locked, or triggering specific actions like a weather preview. It’s a nifty feature that enhances the experience, but isn’t entirely necessary and can be ignored if you so choose. It also really, really looks like a power button.
Alongside the standard Micro-USB and headphone jacks down below, you’ll also find a slot for your micro SD card on the upper left corner, just underneath the power button. And at both the top and bottom of your screen you will see small discrete speaker grates for the Idol 4S’s impressive audio system.
You don’t need to jack up the volume all the way to get fantastic sound when listening to music, or sharing videos with friends.
Those speakers really get the job done, too, with support for Hi-Fi audio and stereo output whether the phone is facing up or down. That’s right, they’ll fire out the back of the phone too. Aside from that you don’t need to jack up the volume all the way to get fantastic sound when listening to music, or sharing videos with friends, which is great.
The display is impressive, too, with a 2560×1140 pixel resolution that rivals some more expensive smartphones. So naturally there’s plenty of pixel density to go around, and I also found it bright enough to use in outdoor conditions — although you’ll need to watch out for increased battery drain at higher brightness levels.
As for general speed, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 652 processor works admirably, and I didn’t notice any performance issues with the Idol 4S. It didn’t matter if I’d been playing Avengers Academy for over an hour, or if I’d had to navigate my way through Baltimore City using Google Maps, this phone was always up to the task. Even when I’d been using the phone heavily for several hours, the only real issue was heat buildup — something that’s by no means unique to the Idol 4S. It never started dropping apps, acting jittery, or requiring me to put it down to give it a rest. (It did start to slow down after a while, but even this was generally when the battery was quite low.)
And storage-wise, there’s 32GB of internally, which can thankfully be augmented using a microSD card for plenty more storage to keep your games, photos and music loaded locally. Alcatel specifies that the slot can take cards up to 512GB.
All Google, all the way
Alcatel Idol 4S Software
For now, the Alcatel Idol 4S is reasonably up-to-date software-wise, running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow right out of the box with the July 2016 Android security patch. We’re on the cusp of Android Nougat, but Marshmallow still gets the job done, and Android 6.0.1 performs really well on the Idol 4S.
While it doesn’t come in bogged down in tons of bloatware, there are a fair few apps that come preloaded. Several of these revolve around VR, because the Alcatel Idol 4S comes packaged within a Google Cardboard headset. You’ll find a few games, a VR launcher and a VR store where you access new virtual experiences.
Preloaded VR content helps you make the most out of the bundled ‘Cardboard’ headset.
An added perk is the addition of the Waves Maxaudio app. This phone has Hi-Fi audio, and the app lets you manually adjust how things sound. You can tweak stereo, bass, treble, and even set specific settings for different genres of music. You also get access to an app called Fyuse, which allows you to take seriously epic movable photos (when it works correctly, anyway).
Superbly suited
Alcatel Idol 4S Camera
Cameras have become integral to the way that many of us use our phones. Whether it’s rolling through Instagram and taking selfies, or recording video of friends at parties, having a camera that works well is a necessity. Thankfully, the Alcatel Idol 4S does a great job here, with tons of software features, and cameras that do a great job capturing memorable moments.
There’s a 16MP rear facing camera, and an 8MP selfie shooter. Both function quite well, though they do have a tendency to blur if you aren’t holding your hands still. Usefully, you can actually open up your camera, even if your phone is locked pressing the Boom button on the side.
Alcatel gives you plenty of options with the camera as well. You’ve got auto, panorama, and manual modes, slow motion videos, Fyuse, and micro-video. Each one is chock full of features to let you get the best results in different situations. The Fyuse mode lets you take photos that you can actually look at from multiple angles, but it did have problems about half of the time when I tried to use it. Aside from showing people how it worked, I more or less left this function alone.
In manual mode, all of your options appear on the right side of the screen and let you adjust them on a slide bar. Panorama functions will show you a preview of your photo as you take it, and even the auto mode has basic sliders you can tweak up and at the top of your screen. So long as you can get used to having to hold very still when taking photographs, you’ll be quite happy with the results that you get.
Capacity to continue
Alcatel Idol 4S Battery
The Acatel Idol 4S is equipped with a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. In my experience, it’s capable of taking you through 12+ hours without needing a recharge, even with heavy use. When it does come time to fuel back up, you’ve got access to quick charge capabilities which means you won’t be stopping for too long.
Even when I was moving between multiple games, or out for a walk playing Pokemon Go, I could count on having hours of gameplay without having to stop and let the phone recharge. When that time finally did come, I didn’t need to plug it in for more than about 90 minutes because it supports Quick Charge 2.0.
Even using the Alcatel Idol 4S heavily, I never once managed to actually run completely out of juice.
Even using the Alcatel Idol 4S heavily, I never once managed to actually run completely out of juice. The lowest I got was about 5% and that was usually at the very end of my day, as I was headed to bed. For regular or light users you can expect to get through a solid 16 hours without issue, heavier users should expect 10-12 hours of use. That’s about standard for a phone of this size in mid-2016.
Bottom Line
Should you buy it? Yes
This brings us to the big question with the Alcatel Idol 4S, should you buy it? Between the battery, screen, and camera you’re looking at a solid phone that can easily get you through your day without ease and it doesn’t have a killer price tag attached. You can pick it up from Alcatel directly for $399, which is a pretty sweet deal.
Considering that you also get a fantastic VR headset with your phone, you can go far with this phone. It isn’t a flagship device, but Alcatel has worked their butts off to offer a fantastic device that is affordable for many people. Sitting as a mid-grade phone, you’ve got plenty of options, but the Alcatel Idol 4S is a good choice for anyone who values photo and audio quality, as well as a great overall experience.
See at Alcatel
Twitter is letting all users filter out trolls from their notifications
Twitter has been failing to deal with abuse on its platform for a good long time now, but it seems like the company might finally be taking some substantive action. Twitter just posted a blog detailing two new features as part of its notification settings that should be rolling out to all users soon. The first is a so-called “quality filter” that attempts to reduce unpleasant or abusive @ mentions you might receive. Twitter says it filters out tweets based on a variety of factors including “account origin and behavior.”
The company says it’ll remove “low quality” tweets like duplicate tweets or automated content, but it doesn’t specifically mention abusive language. However, when the company rolled out the quality filter for verified users last year, removing abusive tweets was definitely one of its use cases. It isn’t bulletproof, but if you post something that the trolls of the internet latch on to and won’t let go, turning on the quality filter is definitely worth a shot.
The other new option will only show you notifications and @ messages from people you already follow. It’ll make your Twitter experience a little more insular, but sometimes that can be a very good thing. Both of these new features are available in the mobile app and on Twitter’s website.
These new features come at a time when Twitter is increasingly besieged by a reputation for harboring racist, sexist and otherwise abusive users under the guise of “free speech.” Most recently, Ghostbusters and Saturday Night Live star Leslie Jones had to put up with a barrage of racist remarks, led by notorious troll Milo Yiannopoulos. Twitter eventually banned Yiannopoulos, but not before Jones briefly quit Twitter altogether. She came back and has since used her platform to help defend US Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas from similar abuse.
These new features likely won’t solve Twitter’s problems, but they’re a step in the right direction — albeit a step the company should have taken years ago. The features aren’t live for everyone yet, but Twitter says they’ll be rolling out in the next few days. And the company also indicates it’s working on more features to help improve the experience users have on Twitter.
Two simple settings to give you better control over your Twitter experience. https://t.co/pEJuMUhCYs pic.twitter.com/jmFd0rDoV6
— Twitter Support (@Support) August 18, 2016
Source: Twitter
CNN’s news drones officially launch with their own acronym
We’ve known about CNN’s drone aspirations for quite some time, but now the news network is officially launching its UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) program. The official title of the project is CNN AIR and just like CNN stands for Cable News Network, AIR is an acronym for Aerial Imagery and Reporting. As part of the UAS initiative to provide footage of news events from the sky, CNN has two full-time drone operators to capture visuals. That footage will be used by other Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner entities as well.
CNN has been working towards this launch for over two years. During that time, the news network teamed up with the FAA to research the viability of drones for news gathering as well as testing the administration’s Pathfinder program to put collision avoidance and traffic management systems through their paces. CNN says its shared data helped develop the framework for drones to be used in US airspace and it will continue “to expand the safe and legal operation of UAS in news gathering.”
The launch of CNN AIR doesn’t mean the network is using drones for the first time. CNN has already tasked UAS to gather aerial views of the flooding in Louisiana and to complement reports of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan as well as Anderson Cooper’s report on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Those reports were likely included as part of the aforementioned testing. Drones were also used for coverage of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in addition to debates and town halls. For an idea of what you can expect from CNN Air, check out the network’s announcement video right here.
Source: CNN (Vimeo)
Review: Philips’ Latest Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Brush Connects to Your iPhone via Bluetooth
Philips recently announced its first Bluetooth-connected Sonicare toothbrush aimed at adults, which interfaces with an iPhone to monitor brushing habits, offer brushing tips, and make sure you’re brushing right.
Priced at $199, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected takes the well-known and popular FlexCare brush and introduces iPhone connectivity through a Sonicare app that tracks everything from how long you brush to where you brush to how hard you brush.
Design and Features
I’ve used Sonicare brushes for upwards of 10 years so I’m familiar with most of the brushes and brush heads, and the FlexCare is one step down from the top of the line brush, the DiamondClean (my day to day brush). To be honest, I’m disappointed that Philips added Bluetooth connectivity to the FlexCare instead of the DiamondClean because it doesn’t have quite as many features (3 modes instead of 5) and the non-unibody design isn’t as nice.
The FlexCare Platinum Connected next to a Diamondclean brush
The FlexCare looks like your standard electric toothbrush, with a removable brush head that needs to be replaced every three months or so, a power button, and buttons for adjusting settings like intensity. Since brush heads are removable, you can share your FlexCare Connected base among several family members if you want to.
There are three cleaning modes: clean, a standard two-minute daily cleaning mode; white, a shorter mode designed to remove surface stains; and deep clean, a longer three-minute mode for a deeper clean. The main round button on the FlexCare turns it on and off, while the longer button is the one used to switch through the modes.
A third button at the bottom of the brush lets users select an intensity from one of three options: low, medium, and high. Users with sensitive gums and teeth will want to choose the low option, while the higher option will result in a better, quicker clean with up to 62,000 brush strokes a minute.
Unique to the FlexCare Platinum Connected is a set of sensors that are designed to work specifically with the app. There’s a location sensor that relays where the brush is in your mouth, a pressure sensor that makes sure you’re not applying too much pressure when you brush (which can damage your gums) and a scrubbing sensor to make sure you’re not moving the brush too much (with a Sonicare, the brush does the work – you basically just hold it up to your teeth).
Sonicare ships the FlexCare Platinum Connected with two of its newest brush heads, the InterCare and the AdaptiveClean. Both of these brush heads are on the larger side compared to other Sonicare brush heads so they cover a lot of surface area. The InterCare brush is designed to reach more deeply between the teeth while the AdaptiveClean has flexible sides that are supposed to cover more of the tooth for a better clean.
Sonicare brush heads are supposed to be replaced every three months and cost somewhere around $10 to $15 per brush head, so that’s an expense to be aware of when purchasing a toothbrush like the FlexCare Platinum Connected. Integrity of the brush head is important for better plaque removal than a manual toothbrush (Philips promises that its brushes remove as much as 10x more plaque).
Sound wise, the FlexCare Platinum Connected is louder than the DiamondClean but it isn’t obnoxiously loud. It sounds like your average electric toothbrush.
The FlexCare Connected can be purchased with or without a UV sanitizer (the model with one is $20 more expensive) that can be used to sanitize brush heads. I’ve previously owned a UV sanitizer and while it works fine, I don’t think it’s an essential piece of equipment. You just stick your brush head in the container, shut the door, and turn on the light to kill germs.
It’s simple enough, but there are bacteria in your mouth anyway that you can’t UV sanitize and toothpaste is probably taking care of a lot of the lingering bacteria on the brush.
App
Sonicare’s app isn’t for tracking brushing habits over time, but for making sure you’re brushing the right way in the moment, something I found to be a lot more useful than the over-time tracking feature in the Oral-B app designed for the Oral-B Bluetooth toothbrush.
The Sonicare brush connected seamlessly and quickly to my iPhone through the Sonicare app. Using the app is done by launching it before you turn on the brush for a daily brushing session. As soon as the brush turns on, the app displays a 3D model of a mouth and guides you through brushing each quadrant of your mouth. As you brush, the teeth in the 3D model go from yellow to white to denote progress, which is quite motivating.
Using the sensors in the brush, the app can vaguely tell where the brush is located in your mouth, so it’s able to detect how long you spend brushing each area. With the “Clean” setting, it walks you through two minutes of brushing and then directs you to turn the brush on again for a touchup of all the areas where you didn’t spend enough time, making sure everything is thoroughly clean. It’s also able to detect too much brush movement and too much pressure, sending alerts through the app each time.
The FlexCare Platinum Connected’s movement sensors are decent, but not infallible. The app can detect which side of your teeth you’re brushing in each quadrant based on the way the brush is held, but if the app is directing you to brush the upper left quadrant and you do lower right, it can’t tell the difference. You have to follow along with the app for it to be effective.
I also felt like it was giving me more touch up areas than necessary, but in general, I got a more thorough clean than I do brushing on my own. As for the pressure and movement sensors, these are sensitive and effective and always accurately prevented me from pressing too hard or moving the brush back and forth too vigorously in my mouth.
I’m a dedicated brusher, but the app was still useful because it made sure I was brushing for the right amount of time and in the right way each and every time I brushed. The app also gamifies brushing, allowing users to earn points for completing tasks like brushing properly, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash.
For people who need more motivation to brush, it definitely works. There are also goals to work towards to achieve fresher breath, healthier gums, and whiter teeth. Most of these goals can be achieved by doing things like brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing.
What the app doesn’t do well is track brushing habits over time because of a somewhat confusing layout. You can see your weekly progress towards goals you’ve set and export data for your dentist, it’s hard to get just a quick overview of statistics like how many times you’ve brushed, for how long, when you’ve flossed, and more.
There are some quirks with the app, which I hope Philips will address in future updates. It doesn’t send out brushing reminders, it doesn’t always ask for specific data on whether or not I’ve flossed or rinsed (and thus does not catalog this data), and the design is overcomplicated with content overlap in the “Progress” and “Goals” sections that makes long-term data collection difficult, but for bare bones brushing tracking and motivating, it works.
Other app features include reminders on when to replace brush heads, battery readings, product recommendations, the ability to set focus areas based on dentist feedback, appointment tracking, and coaching for better brushing habits.
Bottom Line
At $199, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected isn’t cheap by any means, but the price point is in line with other top-of-the-line Sonicare toothbrushes from Philips, including other FlexCare and DiamondClean models. It’s also a price comparable to some higher-end electric toothbrushes from companies like Oral-B.
There are a lot of people out there who use (and are satisfied with) manual toothbrushes that cost a handful of dollars, which can make a $200 toothbrush (and the replacement brush heads) sound absolutely outrageous, but as a long time devotee of the electric toothbrush and the Sonicare line in general, I believe it’s worth the price point if you’re looking for something that is unquestionably going to improve your dental hygiene and potentially cut down on dentist bills.
My teeth feel much cleaner when I use a Sonicare brush compared to a normal brush, and I was a big fan of the two brushes that came with the FlexCare Platinum Connected. They easily reached all of my teeth with little effort and left my mouth feeling clean for hours.
If you already own a Sonicare and are in need of an upgrade, the FlexCare Platinum Connected is worth looking at, but if you already own an electric brush, the features the app adds probably aren’t worth investing in something new. They’re nice to have, especially for people who need a little extra motivation to get their daily brushing in or those who want to make sure they’re brushing thoroughly, but ultimately, it’s the brush and the brush head that are doing all the work cleaning your teeth, not the app.
That said, features like pressure sensing are invaluable for someone like me — I brush much too hard when left to my own devices and that’s caused some problems for me in the past — and it was also nice to know when I didn’t spend enough time in one area. If you’re looking for a better brushing experience and don’t mind investing the money, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected is a solid choice.
Pros:
- Thoroughly cleans teeth
- Gentle on gums
- App encourages better brushing habits
- Sensor alerts for pressure/movement
- Two week battery life
Cons:
- Expensive
- App interface is confusing
- Brush heads must be replaced
- FlexCare brush handle needs to be dried after each use to prevent mold growth
How to Buy
The Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected can be purchased for $199 from the Philips website or from Amazon.com. A version with a UV brush head sanitizer is also available for $219.99.
Note: Philips provided the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
Tags: Philips, Sonicare
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Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: What’s the rumoured difference?
The next Sony Xperia flagship is expected to be announced at the beginning of September at consumer electronics show IFA.
It has leaked several times over the last couple of months as both the Xperia XR and the Xperia F8331, but we are going to call it the former for the sake of this feature.
We’ve compared the rumoured specs of the Xperia XR to the Xperia Z5 in a separate feature, but here we are looking at how the Xperia XR compares to the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance, based on the speculation.
Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: Design
The leaked images of the Xperia XR all show a device following the same OmniBalance design previous Sony smartphones feature. The new flagship is claimed to measure 146.4 x 71.9 x 8.1mm and offer a brushed metal finish.
According to the images, it looks like the fingerprint sensor will remain within the side power button, USB Type-C will be on board and there will be a new rear camera layout. We’d also hope to see IP65 and IP68 water and dust resistance.
Both the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance have a brushed metal finishes and the OmniBalance design. They also both have fingerprint sensors built in to the side power button, but only the X Performance is water and dust resistant.
The Xperia X measures 143 x 69 x 7.7mm and weighs 152g while the Xperia X Performance measures 143 x 70.5 x 8.6mm and weighs 164g. That means if the rumours are accurate, the new Xperia will be larger than both the X and X Performance, but perhaps slimmer than X Performance.
Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: Display
The Sony Xperia XR is rumoured to be coming with a 5.1-inch display offering a Full HD resolution. If accurate, this would put the XR’s pixel density at 423ppi.
The Xperia X and X Performance both have 5-inch displays and they both have 1080p resolutions meaning their pixel densities are 441ppi. Although on paper that means they will be sharper than the XR if the rumours are true, the difference wouldn’t be noticeable to the human eye.
The Xperia X and Xperia X Performance both have a number of Sony technologies on board, including Triluminos and X-Reality. We’d expect the same from the next Xperia too though.
Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: Camera
There haven’t been any rumours relating to the resolution of the next Xperia smartphones camera, but it has been claimed it will offer 4K video recording from both the front and rear.
As we mentioned previously, the leaked images suggest the Xperia XR will have a different camera layout on the rear, and it has been claimed it will offer a dual-LED flash.
We’d expect the same sensors as the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance though, as Sony waited a few years to upgrade to this from the 21.5-megapixel seen on the earlier Xperia Z devices.
The Xperia X and Xperia X Performance come with a 23-megapixel rear camera and a 13-megapixel front-facing camera. Both are only capable of Full HD video recording, but they come with Predictive Hybrid AF, which we’d also expect to see on the Xperia XR.
Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: Hardware
The Sony Xperia XR is said to be coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor but there haven’t been any other leaks relating to the hardware.
We’d expect to see 3GB or 4GB of RAM, hopefully the latter, along with 32GB of storage and microSD support. We’d also expect a battery capacity around the 3000mAh mark.
The Xperia X features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 chip, supported by 3GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage, both of which have microSD expansion. There is a 2620mAh battery.
The Xperia X Performance has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, suggesting it will offer the same performance as the Xperia XR if the rumours are true. There is 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory with microSD and a 2700mAh battery.
Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: Software
The Sony Xperia XR will probably launch on Android Marshmallow rather than Android Nougat and it will no doubt have Sony’s bloatware over the top.
Both the Xperia X and Xperia X Performance launched on Android Marshmallow and also feature bloatware over the top.
There will probably be a few new software features announced with the new device but we’d expect the experience between these three devices to be similar.
Sony Xperia XR vs Xperia X Performance vs Xperia X: Conclusion
According to the rumours, the Sony Xperia XR should improve on the Xperia X in terms of hardware and performance, though perhaps not on the X Performance.
The image leaks suggest we will see a slightly different design, even if still familiar, but in terms of other specs, there doesn’t seem to be much change, especially compared to the Xperia X Performance.
This is all speculation for now though so take everything with a pinch of salt. You can read our next Sony Xperia rumour round up for the latest and we will update this feature when the official specs and name are announced.
