Why IT leaders should pay attention to Augmented Reality

Brian Blau, Research VP, Gartner

  03 Nov 2016 , 16:11

By Brian Blau

Magikarp is in the fountain, Charmander is near the park bench, Rattata is by the front desk and everywhere people are throwing digital PokéBalls with their smartphones.

These names represent Pokémon characters, inspired by the popular 1990’s television show, that show up in your GPS-rendered surroundings while playing the new Pokémon Go app. As players walk around their neighborhoods, offices or any physical environs, the phone vibrates to let users know that a Pokémon is nearby. The image of the Pokémon is displayed over the real-world terrain, and players use the phone screen and a live camera view to “catch” the characters.

A Pidgey appears on a car in screenshots from Pokémon Go

Launched in a limited number of countries in July 2016, the app has risen to the top of the app store charts in the U.S. and broken many app engagement records. While Pokémon Go is a game and its augmented reality (AR) feature isn’t sophisticated, the app’s success has turbocharged attention on AR and

The crazy 5 step process for returning a Samsung Galaxy Note7

If you want to ship your Galaxy Note7 back to Samsung, you'll have to follow their return process that includes three different boxes and special gloves.

By Conner Forrest | October 12, 2016, 6:52 AM PST

In an attempt to put an end to its exploding phone woes, Samsung finally killed production and sales of its Galaxy Note7 smartphone. The company then began urging customers to return their devices through the channel by which they purchased them.

Those who purchased their device through a carrier or retailer can simply take it back to the store. But, for the folks who purchased their device directly through Samsung, the process is more involved.

Samsung recently began issuing a complicated return kit for users who want to ship the device back to the company. The Android forum XDA Developersposted pictures and a video of the kit they received, which includes multiple boxes and gloves to protect users from certain materials in the kit.

SEE: How to get a refund for a Samsung Galaxy Note7

So, how involved is this process? It's not terribly difficult, but users must follow specific steps to make sure that the phone does not catch fire while in transit. Here are the five steps:
For starters, according to the kit, the phone must be placed in a static shielding bag. This protects the device from electrostatic discharge, which could further damage it.
After placing the device in the bag, it must then be placed in an OEM replacement box, which looks to be the same size and shape as the original box the Galaxy Note7 came in.
Next, the OEM replacement box is to be placed inside a slightly larger box that Samsung referred to as the "Inner Box."
The Inner Box should then be placed in the "Recovery Box," and taped shut. This box contains a ceramic paper lining to prevent a fire. If you are allergic to ceramic fibers, make sure to use the gloves that Samsung includes in the kit.
Finally, the phone should be shipped. Due to the hazards presented by the Note7 battery, the phone can only be shipped by ground.

Before shipping your device, be sure to check with your delivery service of choice, as many companies are refusing to transport the devices. Users can view Samsung's official recall page here.

After launching the Galaxy Note7 in August 2016, numerous reports of overheating and explosions quickly began pouring in. After finally ending the device, Samsung will now need to rebuild trust among its users.

AT&T launches new Fiber brand, will bring fiber internet to 11 more metro areas

AT&T recently announced that 11 new metro areas will be getting options for fiber internet access. The company is on track to reach 45 metros total by the end of 2016.

By Conner Forrest | October 7, 2016, 12:33 PM PST

AT&T will bring its gigabit internet service to 11 more metro areas in the US, the company announced on Tuesday. According to a press release, the expansion is part of a newly-created umbrella brand called AT&T Fiber, which will explore new technologies for internet connectivity.

"Customer demand for high-speed connectivity is exceeding even our high expectations. Today we're also introducing the AT&T Fiber umbrella brand, which lets us bring ultra-fast internet to even more residential and business customers through a mix of the latest network technologies," David Christopher, CMO of the AT&T Entertainment Group, said in the press release.

Under the new AT&T Fiber brand, AT&T GigaPower will be rebranded as AT&T Internet 1000.

Currently, AT&T offers fiber internet service in 29 US metro areas. The additional 11 will bring the total number to 40, but AT&T said in the press release that they are targeting deployment in 45 total metro areas by the end of 2016. They also said they are planning to hit at least 67 in total sometime in the future.


To see what metro areas are available now, and which areas AT&T currently has underway, check out this map. In terms of the recent expansion, AT&T is targeting the following 11 areas:
Florida: Gainesville and Panama City
Georgia: Columbus
Kentucky: Central Kentucky
Louisiana: Lafayette
Mississippi: Biloxi-Gulfport and Northeast Mississippi
North Carolina: Wilmington
Tennessee: Southeastern Tennessee and Knoxville
Texas: Corpus Christi

AT&T said in its press release that it had planned to be in 12.5 million total locations by

Microsoft adds intelligent cloud collaboration features to Office 365

At the 2016 Ignite Conference, Microsoft announced several new features made possible by intelligent cloud technology. Should you be excited?

By Mark Kaelin | October 10, 2016, 11:49 AM PST

When information technology companies like Microsoft talk on and on about the merits of artificial intelligence and the power of an intelligent cloud, what are they really talking about? Certainly, there must be more to the intelligent cloud than merely another place to store data. Well, after several news stories released at the 2016 Microsoft Ignite Conference, it turns out there actually is more to it for Office 365 subscribers after all.

The Microsoft Office 365 Team announced several new features for its flagship productivity suite that rely on the company's intelligent cloud technology. The new tools are included in the latest update and are designed to help IT professionals drive digital transformation within their organizations. Digital transformation is a major tenet of Microsoft's mobile-first, cloud-first vision for enterprise businesses.
Tap for Word and Outlook

Finding pertinent published information within an enterprise can often be a bit of a time sink. You know that table of important statistics—the very thing you need for your report—was in a presentation. But which presentation was it? Searching for the information you need to complete your project can waste precious time and sap your productivity, neither of which is conducive to a well-run enterprise.

Microsoft's latest update to Word and Outlook may help solve this

Apple will sell fewer smartwatches in 2016 than it did last year

By Rob Thubron on October 4, 2016, 9:30 AM


Respected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has a history of making accurate predictions regarding Apple products, but the iPhone maker will likely be hoping his latest estimates prove wrong. Kuo believes the company will sell fewer Apple Watches this year than it did in 2015.

Kuo had predicted that Apple would ship between 10 million to 10.5 million Apple Watches in 2016. The figures includes both the original Series 1 model and the recently released Series 2.

But in a note to investors obtained by Business Insider, Kuo revised his estimates. He now believes that 8.5 million to 9 million Apple Watches will ship by the end of the year – a drop of 15 to 25 percent from his original prediction. He has, however, raised shipping estimates for the Apple Watch Series 2 by 10 percent, though this isn’t enough to stop the overall sales figure from decreasing.

Apple hasn’t revealed how many of its original wearables have sold since they launched in April last year, so estimates tend to vary wildly. Kuo believes 10.4 million units shipped during the eight months the Apple watch was available in 2015, meaning fewer units are predicted to sell in 2016 - despite the longer selling time.

So why the pessimistic outlook from Kuo? He identifies four main reasons why the smartwatches aren't selling as well as Apple hoped. Like similar devices, the lack of a “killer” app and a poor battery life are major issues for many consumers. Kuo also identifies a reliance on

Apple edges out Google as the world's most valuable brand for the fourth consecutive year

By Rob Thubron on October 5, 2016, 12:45 PM




Its smartphone sales may be slipping, the iPhone 7 has been criticized for looking overly similar to last year’s model (and having no 3.5mm headphone jack), and analysts predict it will sell fewer smartwatches this year than in 2015. But despite all this, Apple has been named the most valuable brand in the world for the fourth year in a row.

Brand consultancy firm Interbrand placed Apple at number one with a brand valuation of $178.1 billion, a five percent increase from last year. Rival Google sits behind the Cupertino company with a brand valuation of $133.2 billion, eleven percent higher than in 2015.

Technology companies take up ten of the top twenty places on the list. Microsoft sits behind Coca-Cola in fourth place with a $72.7 billion brand value, up eight percent over the last 12 months. Further down the top ten is IBM; it may have dropped nineteen percent from last year, but the industry giant's $52.5 billion brand value places it at number six.

A fourteen percent increase in 2016 puts Samsung beneath IBM at number seven with a brand value of $51.8 billion, while Amazon, which saw its stock pass the $800 milestone for the first time last month, is at number eight. The online retailer's brand value increased a massive 33 percent this year to $50.3 billion.

The other tech firms in the top 20 are Intel at fourteen ($36 billion, +4 percent), Facebook at fifteen ($32.5 billion, +48 percent), Cisco at sixteen ($30.9 billion, +4 percent), and Oracle at seventeen ($26.5 billion, -3 percent).



Two companies have joined the list this year: Tesla at number 100 ($4 billion) and Dior at 89 ($4.9 billion).

Facebook and Amazon experienced the biggest growth in brand value across 2016 – 48 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

Writing about Apple’s success, Interbrand noted: “Apple shows how ecosystems drive value. Analysts have often pointed out that ‘Apple has superior products.’ While true, this opinion undersells the brilliance of Apple’s functionally- integrated model. Its software, hardware, and touchpoints are connected not just by beautiful design aesthetics, but by a level of interoperability that justifies the Apple premium and discourages defections to another platform. And the more data you share, the more personal it becomes— adding new devices is painless and the thought of switching increasingly unpromising. Apple is the Alpha of Cohesiveness in full effect.”

10 Problems With Today’s Smartphones & What You Can Do About Them

Smartphones are replacing desktops and laptops as our primary devices. That’s cool. Unfortunately, this has been a case of two steps forward, two steps back.

The smartphone industry is very different from the PC market. You could say that’s to be expected, but this has had a negative effect on our digital lives and what we can do with our devices. Let me explain.

1. You Can’t Customize Hardware

You can buy a desktop PC pre-built or order the parts and construct one yourself. Either way, with the exception of certain All-in-One designs, you have the ability to dive inside and make upgrades. Need more RAM? Storage space? A better graphics card? You can change what you need and keep your machine running for longer.

Smartphones don’t give you those options. Many leave you with fewer choices than our old flip phones. Back then, you could take out the battery and pop in a MicroSD card for most models. Both of those options are left out of today’s top phones.

Need a faster processor, a battery battery, or a better camera module? Your only option is to replace your phone with the latest model. And it’s not easy for the average person, or even the average geek, to make repairs without sending the device to a professional.

What Can You Do?

Look for phones with MicroSD card slots and

You can now stream gaming apps on Facebook Live using BlueStacks

  23 Sep 2016 , 16:33

Mobile gaming platform BlueStacks announced on Friday an integration with Facebook Live’s application programming interface that allows users to stream their apps and games directly to the social networking site. With this integration, BlueStacks’ over 150 million users can now livestream any app from inside BlueStacks to their own profile, their friend’s timelines, or their own fan page, the San Jose-based company said in a statement.

“Contextual streaming is the future of live,” said BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma. “By giving people the ability to pair live streams with any app, it allows them to create more engaging content,” Sharma noted. “We want to free people up to engage in app-fueled experiences like singing with Smule’s ‘Sing! Karaoke or sharing their

Google delays Android Wear 2.0 until 2017

By Tim Schiesser on September 30, 2016, 9:30 AM




Google was originally expected to release the next major version of Android Wear late this year, however a recent post from the company has revealed the smartwatch operating system has been delayed until early 2017.

The Android Wear 2.0 developer preview program will continue throughout the rest of this year and in to 2017, with watches set to get the final build early next year. Google announced the availability of the third developer preview several days ago, and the company says another developer preview will be released before the update is sent to OEMs.

In the third developer preview, Google has added the Play Store to Android Wear 2.0. It may seem a little cramped, however users can now browse and install apps directly from their watch, rather than using the equivalent app on their smartwatch. Searching for apps is as easy as using voice commands, the tiny Android Wear keyboard, or handwriting.



The Play Store on Android Wear also allows you to install only the watch app, provided the app supports this feature of Android Wear 2.0. This prevents apps you only use on your watch from clogging up the app tray on your smartphone.

The choice to delay Android Wear 2.0 until next year seems to fit with the plans of major Android Wear OEMs such as LG, Motorola and Huawei, who decided to hold off releasing any new smartwatches during the fall. In early 2017 we could see a major relaunch of Android Wear complete with new devices running the updated operating system.

Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook bat for a green future

#CLOUD COMPUTING

Representational image

  30 Sep 2016 , 12:54

By Muqbil Ahmar

Digitisation has left no area of human endeavor untouched. This has led to a veritable data tsunami. No wonder, data centers are springing up everywhere to meet the growing needs for data. With technology shifting from premise-based to cloud-based ones, there is a race to set up data centers all over the world, particularly in India and Asia. Internet services major Amazon launched its first set of data centers in India recently, Microsoft as three, IBM has two, and many others doing the same. As increasingly greater numbers of software companies shift to the cloud, the number of data centers is only set to explode.

Data centers are huge consumers of power
Modern data centers are big industrial facilities that consume huge amounts of power. A typical data center consumes as much electricity as a small town. According to a study by the US Department of Energy, data centers in the country consume around 2% of the total power produced. The facilities used around 70 billion kilowatt hours in 2014, according to the study conducted in collaboration with Stanford, Northwestern, and Carnegie Mellon universities, roughly translating into energy consumed by 6.4 million average American homes.

Consequently, IT giants are looking at several strategies to offset the environmental costs of running a data center, with the main thrust being on using alternative or renewable energy resources to power the massive facilities. As part of their commitment to a clean environment, technology biggies such as Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Apple, and Amazon are moving their data centers towards all-green operations.

Microsoft leverages green power for its data centers
Microsoft recently announced that its data centers globally would be powered by 50 percent renewable energy by 2018. The IT giant also plans to increase the use of renewable power for data centers to 60 percent by 2020s.

“As we begin to tap the power of the cloud to address these challenges, we must also ensure that we are building a responsible cloud. Tremendous amounts of energy will be required to power this data-driven revolution. The leading cloud companies have a responsibility to address this energy usage. And Microsoft believes that, as large energy consumers, we have the opportunity to drive change that will benefit not only our company but the world,” said Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s chief environmental strategist, on Microsoft’s Green Blog.

“That is why Microsoft announced a new, principled approach to helping advance a clean energy future. We committed to greater transparency, including reporting our energy consumption across regions and the mix of sources for the power we use, while continuing to report our total energy consumption and impact of our carbon program,” added Bernard.

Microsoft is already powered by 40-45% renewable energy sources, claims Microsoft. The IT giant has committed to using 50 percent renewable energy by 2018, 60% by early next decade and to keep enhancing its capacity from there.

Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook also join the bandwagon
Recently, Apple too announced the completion of a 50MW solar farm in Arizona, USA, to offset power consumption by the company’s new data center in the same region. The company also aims for 100% renewable energy use in the future and has claimed that in 2015, 93% of its energy came from renewable sources of energy. In fact, Apple has been investing in renewable energy resources for many years.

Amazon also has plans to build a 253MW wind farm in the USA to to power its massive cloud operations. The wind farm would be the company’s fifth and largest renewable energy project till date. The cloud giant has also announced other wind and solar projects. According to the company, the entire yearly production of the renewable energy projects will surpass 2.6 million MWh. It has also claimed that 40 percent of Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) energy needs would be met by renewable sources by the end of 2016.

Google has aimed for 100% renewable energy sources, claiming to be the largest non-utility purchaser of renewable energy in the world. Facebook too plans to use renewables sources to meet 50 percent of its data center power needs by 2018. Smaller companies like Salesforce too have made substantial commitments to explore renewable energy options.

Renewable energy facilities offset environmental costs of data centers
According to NASA figures, global temperatures have risen by more than 1 degree since 1880, while 9 of the 10 warmest years ever recorded have occurred since 2000. In 2012, Arctic ice shrank to its lowest ever level. Global sea levels are rising at 3.4 mm per year. Against such a backdrop, cloud giants want to ensure that their operations don’t have an adverse effect on the environment.

As the hunger for data increases in modern society, giant cloud providers will scramble to keep their operations environmentally sustainable and ecologically viable, so that the environmental costs don’t overrun the cost of digitalisation.

With over 10 years of experience in the field of journalism, the author is a technology evangelist and avid blogger. 

Customer smashes iPhones and Macs in Apple Store in France

#APPLE

Image Credit: REUTER

By tech2 News Staff /  30 Sep 2016 , 21:14

An angry Apple customer smashed at least 14 iPhones, 4 Macs and 1 MacBook Air inside an Apple Store in France. The agitated customer went on a clear rampage inside the Apple store in Dijon, France. According to the reports by The Verge and the video posted on YouTube, the customer was calmly going around the store and smashing the Apple devices using an iron ball.

The video showing the destruction of Apple devices is uploaded by user “kekess _______” on YouTube, presumably only to upload videos related to this incident.  This video is one of the three where the angry customer is talking about his rights to return the device and refund. Other videos show him casually exiting the store on encountering security guards and attempting to avoid them outside the store.

Two mall security guards seem to be trying to pacifying and bring him under control while he was trying to escape the guards in the final video.  According to reports by French media website “Le Bien Republic,” the customer is in police custody at the time of writing the story. The reason, identity or the number of devices destroyed could not be confirmed at the time of writing but it sure is troubling. This comes right after the report where it is predicted thatiPhone sales can go further down in India.

Best Sports and Exercise Headphones of 2016

Mihir Patkar September 29, 2016 6 minutes

Exercising and listening to music go hand in hand. It feels incomplete to pump away at the gym without beats pumping away in your ears. You pay a lot of attention to your workout gear, so pay as much attention to exercise headphones. Yes, it matters.

From how they fit in your ears to the tangle of their cords, no pair of headphones is exactly like another. You need to buy the headphones that are right for you, not blindly go for the “most acclaimed” or “best rated” pair.

This guide should make it easier for you to choose what you need. Before starting, let’s outline three general rules:
Earphones only! Headphones add too much weight and don’t fit as snugly when exercising.
Wireless is better than wired for exercise since it gives you more freedom.
Wired earphones are cheaper, so it makes sense to go wired when on a budget.

There are other considerations based on the level of activity involved, but these are the important prerequisites in our book.

1. Koss FitClips Exercise Headphones (CA) ($15)

The cheapest “good” sports earphones money can buy.
Ideal for: Gym.
Not ideal for: Swimming, Running, Cycling.
Overkill for: Nothing.






When you’re on a tight budget, you walk a minefield of rubbish earphones. Sure, the advertising doesn’t reflect poor quality, but they’re rubbish. The Koss FitClips is the exception. And we can confidently say that because of The Wirecutter’s thorough test.

At approximately $15 and going as low as $12, you aren’t going to get anything better. The sound quality is decent, about what you’d expect from this price range. But these are also sweat-resistant, which is a major plus point for sports headphones.Koss KSC32C Fitclips Headphones, CoralKoss KSC32C Fitclips Headphones, CoralIdeal for women BUY NOW AT AMAZONCDN$ 20.13

2. CB3 Fit Sport Exercise Headphones (CA) ($40)

The cheapest “good” Bluetooth sports earphones.
Ideal for: Gym.
Not ideal for: Swimming, Running, Cycling.
Overkill for: Nothing.



For a good pair of budget Bluetooth headphones, you need something with enough battery life to last a marathon run, sweat resistance, and a comfortable fit. The CB3 Fit Sport meets all those requirements without costing much.

The sound quality isn’t brilliant, but it’s good enough for most songs, especially the kind of music you need in the perfect workout playlist. Most important, the CB3 Fit Sport sits tight on your ear and won’t budge even at a full sprint. Throw in seven hours of battery life, and what more can you ask for at $40?CB3 Fit Sport Wireless Earbuds [Bluetooth] [With Mic]CB3 Fit Sport Wireless Earbuds [Bluetooth] [With Mic]WIRELESS WORKOUTS - Take full wireless control over your music and enjoy hands free calling with the built in mic. The Bluetooth V 4.1 chip ensures you have a solid wireless connection! BUY NOW AT AMAZONCDN$ 49.99
3. Plantronics Backbeat Fit Exercise Headphones ($75)

The best open-ear or unsealed headphones.
Ideal for: Gym, Running, Cycling.
Not ideal for: Swimming.
Overkill for: Nothing.






Plantronics its flimsy wire with a more robust band to stop your headphones from breaking. The winning result is the Backbeat Fit. The BackBeat Fit first released in 2014. At that time, every review had the same line: if it cost around $100, it would be perfect. Well, it costs $75 now.This Is Why Your Headphones Keep Breaking This Is Why Your Headphones Keep BreakingI can’t be the only one frustrated by the constant breaking of my headphones, earbuds, and pretty much anything else that has wiring, right? There are few feelings in the world that are worse than...READ MORE

It’s the kind of headphones that wraps around your ears so that it stays in place. That’s not everyone’s cup of tea (including mine), but the Plantronics Backbeat Fit makes it work somehow. It feels comfortable because the band isn’t heavy and it doesn’t tug on your ear. Multiple reviewers said they found it comfortable to wear along with sunglasses.Plantronics BackBeat FIT Wireless Headphones - Retail Packaging - BluePlantronics BackBeat FIT Wireless Headphones - Retail Packaging - BlueFlexible design fits comfortably and stays put for all levels of exercise BUY NOW AT AMAZONCDN$ 141.99
4. Jaybird X2 Exercise Headphones ($99)

Possibly the best running headphones.
Ideal for: Running, Cycling.
Not ideal for: Swimming.
Overkill for: Gym.






The Jaybird X2 surprised me. It’s an expensive set of simple earphones, but there is so much that Jaybird has got right for exercise that justifies its price. For $100, the white X2 is a steal.

Right off the bat, you should know one thing: it takes getting used to. The X2 includes a wing-like rubber tip that fits into the groove of your ear, holding it in place. It’s difficult to like the first time, but after trying it for a few days you’ll realize what a magnificent job it does of keeping the earphones secure. You’ll get over the discomfort soon enough.

Apart from that, the Jaybird X2 does everything right to make it one of the best Bluetooth headphones of this year. It’s incredibly lightweight, the sound quality is fantastic, and the battery lasts for seven hours easily. Most important, you can get an hour of playback by charging it for 15 minutes — which is just what you need when you’ve forgotten to charge your headphones before a run.Jaybird X2 Sport Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Midnight BlackJaybird X2 Sport Wireless Bluetooth Headphones - Midnight BlackSHIFT Premium Bluetooth Audio Premium Sound and Warm Bass, Outperforms Most Wired Headphones BUY NOW AT AMAZONCDN$ 147.32
5. AudioFlood Waterproof Headphones (CA) ($120)

A waterproof iPod Shuffle with waterproof earphones.
Ideal for: Swimming.
Not ideal for: Gym, Running, Cycling.
Overkill for: Everything else.



Bad news swimmers. You can’t dive into the pool with a smartphone. So what do you do? AudioFlood offers a neat solution. They made a waterproof iPod Shuffle, along with waterproof earphones.

The iPod Shuffle’s small size and light weight make it easy to pin on the back of your swimming goggles. The earphone wires can then be tucked neatly into your ears, pinned by the straps of the goggles. That way, they won’t interfere with your swimming, and you can listen to your music in peace.

Apple hasn’t updated the iPod Shuffle in a long time, so you’ll need one of the old 30-pin connectors for this. And of course, you don’t get all the goodness of Apple Music. But hey, 2 GB of memory is enough for an hour or more of songs.Waterfi Waterproof Apple iPod Shuffle with Short Cord Waterproof Headphones - Best Swimming MP3 PlayerWaterfi Waterproof Apple iPod Shuffle with Short Cord Waterproof Headphones - Best Swimming MP3 PlayerCompletely waterproof down to 210 feet; no bulky case needed, all waterproofing is inside the device BUY NOW AT AMAZONCDN$ 358.82
6. Bose SoundSport Wireless Exercise Headphones($149)

The best sports headphones right now.
Ideal for: Gym, Running, Cycling.
Not ideal for: Swimming.
Overkill for: Everything else.






Bose garners the same following among audiophiles that Apple has in consumer tech, or Sharp has with televisions. We wouldn’t be doing this list justice if we didn’t include one of their offerings. Thankfully, it’s arguably the best one right now.

Bose’s new SoundSport Wireless Bluetooth headphones receive praise for their sound quality, long battery life, perfect fit, and resilient nature. The box also includes a USB charging case to power up your headphones while on the go. Like the Jaybird X2, a 15-minute charge will give you an hour’s worth of playback.

The Bose SoundSport Wireless is also among the few sports earphones to be praised for its hands-free voice calling abilities. Microphones don’t get much attention in exercise headphones, but Bose did a stellar job here.
7. Bragi Dash Exercise Headphones (CA) ($300)

The dream of truly wireless earphones becomes reality.
Ideal for: Gym, Running, Cycling, Swimming.
Not ideal for: Nothing.
Overkill for: Everything.






Before Apple killed the 3.5mm headphone jack on iPhones and introduced the wireless AirPods, Bragi already had the Dash. There’s no wire connecting the right earphone pieces here. They’re truly wireless headphones.No Stereo Jack, No Problem: Why the iPhone 7 Sounds Great No Stereo Jack, No Problem: Why the iPhone 7 Sounds GreatIt's official -- Apple has removed the standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7. But don't worry, this is a good thing.READ MORE

The Bragi Dash can be used to connect via Bluetooth to any music player, or you can use the built-in 4 GB of memory to load it up with songs. The Dash is waterproof, sweatproof and fits snugly in the ear. Of course, you can take calls too.

Right now, though, the Dash hasn’t received great reviews. Almost everyone agrees that it’s like a piece of future tech, but it fails at some of the basics. For example, the Bluetooth connection drops often, the gesture-based controls are difficult to use, and the voice calling is downright unusable. Still, for the coolness factor, it can’t be beaten.Bragi - The Dash Truly Wireless Smart EarphonesBragi - The Dash Truly Wireless Smart EarphonesStream music from your Bluetooth device, or load up to 1000 songs directly onto the onboard music player (4GB of storage) to play from The Dash free from other devices. Software updateable. BUY NOW AT AMAZONCDN$ 967.77
Which Exercise Headphones Do You Use?

All right, readers, you’ve now seen our choices, let’s turn the microphone over to you. Which earphones do you use when you’re at the gym, going for a run, or swimming? What has been your experience with them?

Samsung slammed by Chinese state TV over Note 7 recall 'discrimination'

A Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 7 new smartphone is displayed at its store in Seoul, South Korea, September 2, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo



By Sijia Jiang | HONG KONG

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has slammed South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS) for what it said was "discrimination" against China consumers in its handling of a global recall of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones to replace batteries.

In a commentary piece posted on its website on Thursday evening, CCTV said Samsung's behavior in China after the Sept. 2 recall of 2.5 million phones was "full of arrogance".

CCTV said a video apology Samsung issued to U.S. consumers, along with various replacement options and compensation, was in stark contrast to its treatment of those in China, where the company issued a brief statement saying most phones didn't need to be replaced. "Samsung's discriminatory policy has caused discontent from Chinese consumers," it said.

Samsung China didn't immediately responded to requests for comment on the CCTV criticism.

The CCTV criticism may provide an unwelcome distraction for Samsung as seeks to bolster its position in the world's largest smartphone market. Once the number 1 mobile phone vendor in China, Samsung dropped out of top 5 in 2015, hit by the strong growth of domestic brands like Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo.

A number of big-name global consumer brands have fallen foul of the influential broadcaster's blasts in recent years, prompting firms from German automaker Volkswagen AG VOWG_p.de to Samsung rival Apple Inc (AAPL.O) to undertake strenuous efforts to bolster their image.

Earlier in September, after a meeting with China's quality safety watchdog, Samsung China issued a brief statement saying 1,858 Note 7 devices sold in the country as part of a test scheme before the official launch would be recalled.

Most Note 7s on sale in China have batteries from a different supplier and are not part of its global recall of 2.5 million phones announced on September 2, Samsung said.

But after anecdotal reports of a handful of Note 7s catching fire in the mainland, Samsung China issued a statement on Thursday apologizing to Chinese consumers for a "lack of sufficient explanation" on what it said were safe Note 7 phones in China.


(Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)

Moto Z and Moto G4 series to get Android 7.0 Nougat in Q4

28 Sep 2016 , 11:37

Google’s new Android 7.0 Nougat update has started rolling out to the Nexus as well as some Android One smartphones. Even LG announced that its new smartphone, the V20, will come with the new update out of the box. The next smartphone(s) in line that might get the new update will be coming from Lenovo, err Moto.

According to Droid Life, a Lenovo spokesperson has given a tip that the Nougat update will start rolling for the Moto Z range as well as the Moto G4 series in the fourth quarter of this year. So basically the Moto Z, Moto Z Force, Moto Z Play, Moto G4, Moto G4 Plus and hopefully the Moto G4 Play.

There is no info around other Moto products however Lenovo has said that “upgrades are about getting it right and making sure the phone performance remains the best it can be and that the company will be sharing upgrade plans for other products and more specific timing later.”

Assumingly the Moto X range and the Moto G 3rd-gen will get the new update by early next year. And knowing Motorola, it shouldn’t on time in bringing the new update to its products as it has been one of the only few brands that rolls out updates on time.