Home

Blog

  • Say So-Long, Smudge: New Matte Glass Fixes Issue with Glass Phones

    Say So-Long, Smudge: New Matte Glass Fixes Issue with Glass Phones

    If you own a phone with a Gorilla Glass back, then you know just how much they love to collect smudges. It’s hard to use your phone for anything without it getting dirty. Well, there’s a new development in the world of smart phones that might make things easier. Glass backs are great for both 5G service and wireless charging. Not to mention, they’re water-resistant since glass isn’t porous. As such, phone makers want to continue using glass for phone backs. As for the smudges? Say hello to the new matte glass from Corning. Yes, matte glass.

    Matte Glass

    Corning, the company behind the Gorilla Glass found on high-end smartphones, has developed a new inkjet process. This process will allow them to print designs directly onto the glass back of a phone. While these designs don’t eliminate fingerprints, they do render them much less noticeable. They also give the back of the phone a distinctly matte texture. That gives the phone more grip, making it feel less slippery. The matte finish also helps phones stay in place on charging pads instead of sliding off.

    This technology is referred to as Vibrant Satin Corning Gorilla Glass, and it’s been seen on laptops. Lenovo and Acer, to name a few, have incorporated the technology into some of their higher-end laptop designs. As of yet, however, there are no plans for any phones that use the technology. As it stands, glass-backed phones are still somewhat new. Many phone makers are seeking to have glass-backing become the norm before they shake things up with Satin Glass.

    Customization

    Thanks to the nature of the inkjet process, the design on the glass could appear different based on the customer. A customer could, for instance, have a screenshot from their favorite movie or TV show be their phone back. This would largely step on the toes of personalized cases, though. As such, expect early forays with this matte glass to feature solid colors or simple patterns. However, as stated earlier, there are currently no smartphones with plans to implement this Satin Glass technology from Corning.

    Feature Image Credit: CNET

  • 2019 Subaru Ascent Feature Round-up

    2019 Subaru Ascent Feature Round-up

    Subaru’s first attempt at a three-row SUV, the Tribeca, wasn’t the best car in the world. In fact, it’s one of Subaru’s weaker models, and really failed to impress. Thankfully, the 2019 Subaru Ascent is here to change all of that. This three-row SUV is a great value and perfect for big families. If you’re looking for an awesome new SUV for the whole family to enjoy, check out today’s feature round-up. You’re going to love what Subaru has delivered here.

    Huge Presence

    If you like having a big footprint on the road, the Ascent will tickle your fancy. You’ve seen the Forrester before, so picture that but with three rows of seating. The Ascent is big, it’s roomy and it makes sure it has space on the road. If you’re like me, you don’t want people crowding you while you cart your family around town. As such, that huge road presence is a big deal. It also means you can fit everyone and their friends in the car without anyone being cramped!

    Interior Accoutrements

    The Ascent features a big, bold infotainment system and a nice interior. While the interior cabin won’t blow your mind, it’s nice and does its job. The infotainment screen comes in a 6.5 or 8-inch display, depending on which configuration you go with. Either way, it’s helpful and works well when you need to use it. The Ascent also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

    On the Road

    Subaru’s Ascent handles great on the road. It gets 21 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway, all while putting out 260 horsepower. That’s not too shabby! The steering is responsive and accurate, especially considering the SUV’s big size. The suspension is great, and this vehicle features less body roll than most in its class. The best part is, the ride is smooth, quiet and comfortable. You’ll hear barely a whisper from the engine, and bumps are handled with ease.

    2019 Subaru Ascent Bottom Line

    This is a great SUV! If you’re looking for a car for lugging your family around town, this is a great pick. It drives well, it’s roomy and it has a ton of modern tech in the cab. You’ll love the ride, and you’ll love all the cargo space. The best part, though, is the price. The base model is $31,995, making it a great option for a family that isn’t looking for a luxury car. Not to mention, that price tag gets you the rock-solid Subaru name on the back. Customers are loyal to that company because its cars are just excellent.

  • Moto E5 Plus Feature Round-up: Worth the Money?

    Moto E5 Plus Feature Round-up: Worth the Money?

    Motorola, an old name in the cellphone industry, has been somewhat revived from the dead. The original company went under years ago, but Lenovo holds the rights to make handsets with the Moto name. That said, today we’re looking at the Moto E5 Plus, a “budget” phone with a huge screen. Is it worth the money, or should you stick to its siblings?

    Pricing and Availability

    The first stumble for the Moto E5 Plus is the availability. It’s only available on Sprint and Cricket, and neither of those are particularly strong networks. While they’re both serviceable, they’re less than ideal. That said, this is marketed as a budget phone, so being on budget networks shouldn’t be too big an issue. However, that’s the second stumble for this phone: the price. On Cricket, the Moto E5 Plus runs for $180, but on Sprint it’s $288. That’s absurd, to be honest, as you’re getting the exact same phone for $108 extra. Trust us, Sprint’s network and customer service don’t merit that much of an upcharge.

    At least on Cricket the $180 price sounds more reasonable. But how does the phone perform?

    Performance and Design

    In a word, the phone performs poorly. Yeah, unfortunately it’s not even worth $180. The camera, the screen and the processor are all just cheap. The screen isn’t as bright and vibrant, and there’s some notable delay on inputs. The processor doesn’t help here, as the phone sluggishly tries to keep up with apps. The camera is grainy, images are fuzzy, and the low-light performance is abysmal. If you’re on Sprint, don’t even think of getting this phone. If you’re on Cricket, it’s hardly worth it unless you love the design.

    On that front, the phone fares a bit better. The screen is quite large, which is nice if you have large hands. The resolution is really low, though, so images don’t look crisp. If you have small hands, you’ll hate this phone. The rounded design makes it easy to lose a grip on if your hands are smaller. That said, those with larger hands may like the design. Another positive, it has a long battery life, which is about the only good thing we can say about it.

    Moto E5 Plus Bottom Line: Skip This Phone

    If you’re looking for a good budget smartphone from Motorola, look for one like the Moto G6. That phone has a Gorilla Glass back, slick design and better overall performance. The crazy part it, the Moto G6 only costs $249, making it cheaper than Sprint’s price for this phone. All in all, this is a forgettable Android phone that’s overpriced for what it does. Skip this one!

  • EU: Google to Pay $5 Billion in Anti-Trust Fines

    EU: Google to Pay $5 Billion in Anti-Trust Fines

    Google takes a hit today as the European Commission hands down a ruling stating that the company is to pay 4.34 billion euros. That equates to $5 billion in fines, all related to anti-trust laws in the EU. The fines are in relation to the Android operating system. According to the Commission, the way that Android comes pre-installed with things like the Google Play store gives the company an unfair advantage in searches. As such, they have positioned their own search engine in such a way that meaningful competition can’t occur.

    The European Commission’s Anti-Trust Fine

    “Google has used Android as a vehicle to cement the dominance of its search engine,” said EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. “These practices have denied rivals the chance to innovate and compete on the merits. They have denied European consumers the benefits of effective competition in the important mobile sphere. This is illegal under EU antitrust rules.”

    As such, the aforementioned fines will be laid at Google’s doorstep, and the company must change its operating system to be compliant with EU rules. This could include no longer shipping devices with Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and the Google Play Store preinstalled in Europe.

    Google’s Response

    In response, Google has appealed the decision. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has defended his company against the claims of monopoly. Pichai reminded the EU that Google faces competition in the smartphone field from Apple and their popular iPhone brand. Additionally, Pichai reiterated that users are allowed to install non-Google competitors’ apps on their phones.

    Further, Pichai reminded the EU that Android has led to a diversification of the number of smartphones in the world. Since Google offers Android to any manufacturer free of charge, the number of different handsets has exploded. As such, Google argues, it’s only helped competition, not hindered it.

    Following Google’s appeal, the EU will take a second look at the charges and fines. This fight’s hardly over, but it seems the EU has taken it upon itself to act as international trust-buster.

  • Brava Pure Light Oven Feature Roundup

    Brava Pure Light Oven Feature Roundup

    There’s nothing that can ruin a good vacation faster than a sunburn. It’s hard to believe just how much you can be cooked by little more than light. Well, what if you could turn the cooking power of light from your skin to your dinner? That’s the concept behind the Brava Pure Light Oven. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this innovative gadget and rounding up its unique features. Let’s get cooking!

    It’s Not Magic, But It Seems Like It

    Brava’s biggest draw is the light-powered cooking it brings to bear. Using specialized bulbs and sensors, the oven tracks what type of food is in it and adjusts accordingly. As such, when you put a type of food in and tell the oven how to cook it, it responds with light energy. The wavelength of the light emitted allows the oven to penetrate deeper or hit the outside of the food. Things like searing and frying can be done equally well, as the Brava uses physics to bypass the normal issues with cooking.

    Physics Make This Oven Smart

    You don’t even need to watch food with a Brava. You simply pop it into the over, tell it what you want and let it go. The smart oven will then send light energy directly into the food. Not into the air around the food, or into the pan underneath it, no. The Brava Pure Light Oven sends the energy directly into the food you’re cooking. That means that the food will be cooked in a fraction of the time it would normally take to cook it. You don’t have to wait for anything to heat up, and you’re not transferring energy. As such, the food will be cooked faster, automatically, and perfectly every time. That’s revolutionary.

    Brava Pure Light Oven Pricing and Release

    The Brava oven will be available this November for around $1,000. That might sound steep, and in fact you might be thinking about similar premium kitchen products that have flopped in recent memory. Juicero, for instance, the $700 juicer that sank like the Titanic, comes to mind. Brava’s makers, however, are confident that their oven will find its market. And why shouldn’t they be? Their oven can cook a meal for two in minutes for less power than it would take to preheat an oven. That’s no mean feat! Expect the name Brava to be on everyone’s lips come November.

  • Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    Smartphone Spotlight: Galaxy Note 9

    The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 can be purchased through carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless and Xfinity, along with Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Straight Talk Wireless, Target, Walmart, Samsung.com and the ShopSamsung app.

    The Great

    • Slamtastic Screen
    • Instalike worthy camera
    • Adequate long battery
    • Interesting new S-Pen tricks
    • All the Specs needed

    The Conclusion

    The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s Ultimate cry for tech geek attention. It has all the specs, a gigantic, magnificent, Fortnite worthy screen, a Bluetooth-powered S Pen, and a headphone jack… you know just all the essentials on the checklist for the kind of Android user that Samsung is targeting with a Note update. It’s a Phablets lover’s dream come true!

    I’m sure we all remember the note 7 scandle, but that is all history for the Galaxy Note brand. That was two years ago, this is the Note 9 we are talking about today.

    Galaxy Note 9 puts powerful technology in the hands of the tech geeks and gamers who demand more powerful and more screen from their smartphones. It certainly boast Innovative features and design make it the only phone to keep up with the next generation of users. Yes the rumors we have been telling you are true. Packed with a huge battery, a massive screen, and a powerful stylus, the Note 9 has more of everything than any other phone on the US market.

    How does it look and feel

    It’s large, I mean this phone is obscenely large. And when you put it in a case, it will become a liability. This is not a one-handed phone for any but the largest hands. Samsung moved the fingerprint sensor so no longer will the Note 9 fit into Note 8 case. On the bright side no more inadvertently smudging the camera lens.

    The Galaxy Note 9 has a 6.4-inch quad HD Super AMOLED curved screen, and USB-C and standard headphone jacks, it is IP68 Waterproof. We have been through this, the checklist of required wants and needs are covered. Not only that but it is stunning, think Charlene Theron on the red carpet elegant.

    No 5g on The Galaxy Note 9

    We have talked about 5G coming next year, Don’t get hung up on that; it will be another year before 5G is widespread and before chipset makers work out the power-management kinks that come with new wireless data systems. Yes write that down you are hearing it here first. Next year’s Note 10 will be 5G. Wanna wait that long? Anyways, The existing X20 modem get speeds up to 700Mbps with the right carrier setup, showing there’s still plenty of room in 4G. That’ll do, That’ll do just fine.

    Sounds and Stuff

    The Note 9 brings the S9+’s dual speakers to the Note line. The two speakers are by the earpiece, and along the bottom. Compared to the previous Note 8’s single bottom speaker, the speakers here aren’t much louder but clarity and treble are off the charts. Outside of the iPhone X I don’t think I have heard a better device speaker.

    The Biggest Difference

    The Galaxy Note 9’s biggest upgrade is its enhanced and gargantuan 4,000mAh battery hit it with a 10-hour battery test video. Yes you know the one where I leave it on the10 hour loop of He-Man singing 4 non blondes “what’s going on”. Results, 13% left, astounding. This leads me into projecting screen-on battery life out to 12 and half hours. That Destroys all other flagship smartphone on the market. The battery is significantly larger than the one in the Galaxy S9+ (3,500mAh, 10+ hours), the Galaxy Note 8 (3,300mAh, 6 hours), or the Galaxy Note 5 (3,020mAh, 8 hours and 30 minutes).

    Quick Speck Look

    • Graphics Mali-G72 MP18
    • Processor Octa core (2.7 GHz, Quad core, M3 Mongoose + 1.7 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55)
    • Architecture 64 bit
    • Ram 6 GB
    • Audio Features Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
    • Display Type Super AMOLED
    • Aspect Ratio 18.5:9
    • Screen Size 6.4 inches (16.26 cm)
    • Screen Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixel

    The Final Thought

    The screen alone will improve your Fortnite results instantly giving you an unfair advantage over any other player on a regular smartphone.


  • Ten Things You Should Stop Doing on Facebook

    Ten Things You Should Stop Doing on Facebook

    Facebook is hardly the safe or secure place many people treat it to be. There are a number of common mistakes Facebook users make that could potentially harm them in the long run. To help you clean up your online presence and make yourself generally happier, we’ve got some tips for you. Here are ten things you should stop doing on Facebook. No, seriously, stop doing these. Like, today.

    Address

    Take your address off of Facebook. If you’ve got it posted on your profile, take it down. If you’ve tagged yourself at your house before, delete that post. Someone trying to steal your identity needs your address, and there’s no reason you should be offering it up to them on a silver platter. Not to mention, its just a security risk. If you get into a heated debate with the wrong person and they decide they want to discuss it with fists, well… Let’s just said you might wish they hadn’t been able to use Google Maps to find your house.

    Birthday

    This one goes hand-in-hand with the address advice, as it pertains to identity theft primarily. If someone has your address and your date of birth they’re able to impersonate you in a lot of online settings. Not to mention, your actual friends know when your birthday is. People who don’t know weren’t going to be sending you any well wishes other than canned greetings. You’ve got nothing to lose but your money and credit score, so take that info down!

    Drunk Pictures

    Maybe you like to show the world that you party hard. Hey, that’s cool, no judgment! Everyone likes to get a little sideways sometimes! Here’s the thing, though. You need to be really careful posting pictures of you wasted every weekend, because potential employers see it. You might think your privacy settings are high enough, but they probably aren’t. Unless you’ve got your profile absolutely locked down, you need to delete these. For one thing, it’s a good idea in general to keep these things to yourself and your friends. For another, you never know when a potential employer could be scanning your profile. Clean it up!

    Letting That One Friend Tag You in Inappropriate Things

    This one falls into the same category. You know the friend: they’ve been tight with you since high school, you guys used to raise hell. Now they like to tag you in every offensive meme known to man. If there’s some lewd, bawdy or otherwise disrespectful image on Facebook, this friend has tagged you in it. Employers see this stuff, your family sees this stuff, it’s just a bad look. But you don’t want to stop being their friend on Facebook, they’re hilarious! Well, you just need to enable Timeline Review. It’s a simple step, but it’ll save you a ton of headaches. This way you’re in direct control over what you can be tagged in. It’s win-win!

    Don’t Add Your Boss

    Adding your boss is about the worst thing you can do for job security. Your boss is a person too, sure, and I bet you’d like to be their friend. But trust me, adding them on Facebook can only complicate a professional relationship. They don’t want to see your beach pictures anymore than you want to see the 3000th picture of their grandkids. Not to mention, if your political views don’t align and they take offense to something you say, you might be seeking new employment. It’s best to just avoid this awkward situation altogether.

    Pictures from Vacation

    To clarify this one: feel free to post all the beach pictures you want! However, make sure you wait until you get home. If you’re posting pictures at the airport, on the plane, at vacation, you’re giving potential burglars info. A lot of info. Like, how far you are from the country and your house. Make sure you just wait until you get home to post all those fun vacation pics. Besides, why are you on Facebook when you’re in the Caribbean? Go enjoy your vacation!

    Getting into Fights

    Stop doing this. We’re all guilty of it, but we all have got to stop. You’re not going to sway anyone’s opinion by getting into a virtual shouting match. Hopping in the comment section of some controversial post is just going to piss you off. You’re going to get riled up, stressed out and antsy over people you’ve never met. It’s just not good for your energy. Instead, just log out and walk away. Go read a book or take a walk!

    Phone Number

    Maybe Facebook told you it would help secure your profile. Maybe you thought it would be helpful for friends that lost their phones. In any event, you need to take your phone number off your profile. Scammers, telemarketers and pranksters are all able to see that number. You really don’t need those types of people calling you and bothering you! Not to mention, it’s also more ammunition for identity thieves. Play it safe out there!

    Take Down Pictures of Exes

    This one isn’t related to security, but to your mental health. Not to mention the future of your love life. You need to take those pictures of you and your ex down. Maybe you want to save them somewhere, and that’s fine. Everyone likes to reminisce sometimes. But you have got to take them out of the public space that is Facebook. Potential relationships could be complicated by images of you and your ex. What’s more, the “Your Memories” feature will dredge these up from time to time to give you a gut punch. Save yourself the trouble and take these down.

    The Thing You Should Stop Doing on Facebook Immediately: Posting About the Gym

    Stop posting about your weight loss progress and your sick gains. Stop taking selfies in the gym. Don’t take mirror pictures in the gym. Don’t take pictures in the gym’s locker room. Please, just stop. No one freaking cares. Start a fitness blog for your journey to skinny or whatever it is you’re doing. No one gives a single flying frack what you’re doing in the gym. Posting about it nonstop makes you come off as self-absorbed, condescending and fat-shaming and you need to quit it.

    Alright that last one got away from me a bit, but you know what I mean. I get that you want to share your success. I know it must feel good to hit the gym and make yourself and strong. And it’s probably awesome to lose weight and look skinny! But really, stop getting all up in everyone’s face about it.

  • James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 Might Have Been Discovered

    James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 Might Have Been Discovered

    The Aston Martin DB5 used during the filming of the 1964 film Goldfinger may have been found. The car was stolen from a collector in 1997 and has been missing ever since. The car in question is one of two that was used during the filming of the Bond movie. The stolen Aston Martin was the “effects” car, the one outfitted with all the gadgets and other fun technology. The “road car,” the one used for all the driving scenes, is still accounted for and in a museum.

    The Aston Martin DB5 Effects Car

    The effects car was originally purchased directly from Aston Martin by collector Richard D. Losee in the 1960’s. It was purchased for $12,000, a number that sounds quaint now. After Losee, it changed hands several times before ending up in the collection of Anthony Pugliese III in the late 1980’s. Then, about a decade later, the car was stolen from the hangar Pugliese stored it in in the Florida Keys.

    The theft was noteworthy as none of the guards noticed anything suspicious, few signs of breaking and entering were found. What’s more, the only nearby vehicle to the scene turned out to belong to a local who was innocent. The high-profile, unsolved crime was almost poetically fitting for a major Bond prop, but tragic for art collectors.

    Potential Resurfacing

    The organization Art Recover International has recently received a tip that the effects car may be in the Middle East. Christopher A. Marinello, the organizations chief executive, stated the following. “I have been given a specific tip, but we are working on it. We want to reach out to the collector car community and a vast array of mechanics to let them know we are very serious about recovering it.”

    Pugliese has also helped the potential investigation by telling the recovery team what to look for. Specifically, the real effects car will have a very particular serial number on the chassis. That number, DP/216/1, is unique to that specific vehicle and would set it apart from a fake. If this tip is true, a piece of film history could be returning from obscurity.

  • Feature Roundup: Google Assistant Visual Snapshot

    Feature Roundup: Google Assistant Visual Snapshot

    Google’s push for its assistant to make your life easier continues with the Visual Snapshot. Featuring a dashboard that helps you organize your life at a glance, Visual Snapshot is set to revolutionize how you interact with your virtual assistant. It’s set to go live soon, and we’re pretty excited about it!

    What’s the Deal with Visual Snapshot?

    The feature’s first and foremost function is its use as a personal assistant. It’ll remind you of flights and reservations, of course, and even tells you how much traffic is between you and your destination. The first page is entirely dedicated to these travel times, since your life is certainly busy enough that you need to keep ahead of traffic.

    That’s not all it does, either. It can remind you of when deliveries are expected to arrive. The assistant can remind you about movies and events you’ve got tickets for, or appointments you’ve made. All of the cards that host this information are available in the app, and the AI that runs it will curate the information based on where you are. For instance, if you’re at the office, you’ll see traffic info for how to get home the fastest. If you just walked in the door, you might see a notification about when your grocery delivery is arriving.

    Proactive Notifications

    The most interesting feature in the new Snapshot is proactive notifications. These are notifications you receive if your plans need to change. For instance, if your dinner reservation is at 8, but traffic is very heavy, you might be prompted to leave early to make it on time. If your flight gets a delay, you’ll be notified. You can even be notified of bills that need to be paid so that you aren’t caught off guard.

    When Can I Try It?

    Visual Snapshot is launching later this week! You can access it through your Google Assistant or through an iOS app. Get ready to get organized as this new feature rolls out!

  • Dyson V8 Absolute Feature Roundup

    Dyson V8 Absolute Feature Roundup

    Dyson’s a big name when it comes to things that suck. I mean that in a good way, though! While the Dyson V8 Absolute isn’t the newest or flashiest thing from the company, it is still excellent. The V8 Absolute is one of our favorite cordless vacuums, and today we’re rounding up its best features!

    Cordless and Convenient

    The V8 Absolute is totally cordless, light and easy to maneuver. It’s great at getting into hard-to-reach sports, and perfect for big houses where you have to cover a lot of ground. Having to fuss with a cord around corners or furniture is a pain, so its nice to not have to worry about it here.

    Different Brush Heads

    The many different head attachments are great for the convenient Dyson V8 Absolute. If you want to take it outside to clean your car, there’s a head for that. If you want to vacuum the stairs, use the hose attachment. It’s really flexible and works great!

    Performance

    It’s a Dyson, so it’s great. It can clean on carpet, hardwood, whatever! It works like a charm in most any environment. Even really tough messes you’d normally think a cordless can’t handle are easy for this vacuum. We also love how quiet it is! If you have pets or live in an apartment, you can be sure this vacuum won’t disturb anyone nearby. It’s still audible, of course, but not nearly as loud as most conventional vacuums.

    Battery Life

    The only place where we dock points from the vacuum is on its relatively short battery life. It gets about 50 minutes of life with everything but the main brush head. The main head, however, only allows for 25 minutes of charge. After the charge is spent, it takes about 4 hours to get another full charge. That’s not amazing, but it doesn’t totally diminish the experience.

    Dyson V8 Absolute Bottom Line

    The $500 vacuum is a great value and works like a charm. Other than its relatively shallow battery, it’s a fantastic pick for cleaning your house. It’s light, convenient and powerful, and works in any environment. Try it for yourself and you’ll see what we mean!