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  • Windows 10 April Update Crashing Intel Solid State Drives

    Windows 10 April Update Crashing Intel Solid State Drives

    Microsoft is blocking the rollout of the April Windows 10 update to certain users. Windows users with Intel Solid State Drives are being blocked from the update in order to protect them from a system-crashing series of bugs. Specifically, the Intel SSD 600p Series and Intel SSD Pro 6000p Series are encountering the bug, according to a report by Ars Technica. 

    Solid State Drives Causing Woes? 

    This isn’t the first time new OS updates have caused issues with SSD users. The unique drivers incorporated by SSDs often clash in unexpected ways with operating systems. Linux users experienced similar issues last year, with the new OS’s power management features attempting to override the primary functions of the SSD drivers. 

    What’s the Deal? 

    The details of this bug are currently unknown. It seems unlikely this issue will be terribly massive: a simple fix already exists. Users need only rollback the update from the Safe Mode screen to recover their PCs. However, this is frustrating, given the ubiquity of Intel SSDs and the massive size of Microsoft. How is it that no beta testers found this bug? Or, if they did, why wasn’t it addressed before the updates went live? 

    Sign of Things to Come? 

    This update was already delayed after bugs causing blue-screens were identified by beta testers. The update went back to the developers for fine-tuning, but somehow still went live with computer-crashing bugs. Thankfully these bugs aren’t fatal, but they are still troubling. How does a company as big as Microsoft miss something as big as this? 

     

  • Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    So your mobility isn’t what it used to be… no problem! Today, some insurance companies will actually help with coverage on a mobility scooter, or even pay for the whole thing. Check it out for yourself! Either way, it may be worth checking them out and seeing if it fits your lifestyle. With that in mind, let’s look at the top ten mobility scooters.

    Drive Medical Phoenix Heavy Duty

    A heavy, sturdy scooter for a great price, this one is a good pick. This one has a headlight, which is good for darker areas. It also has a basket in the front for carrying things, making it great for grocery store trips! The seat is customizable, broad and comfortable. For $1,200, this is a great heavy-duty pick.

    Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport

    This scooter is notable for its four-wheel drive and durability. It’s not terribly fast, topping at 4 MPH. That said, it’s rugged and durable, and works great when outdoors! If you like being outside and enjoying the sunlight, this is a great pick! For a combination of durability and mobility, check out the Go-Go Sport!

    E-Wheels EW-72

    A stylish and slick scooter, the E-Wheels EW-72 has a look inspired by classic cars! For those looking to really zoom, this scooter has a top speed of 15 MPH! As a heavy-duty scooter, it works quite well, as it has a top weight rating of 500 pounds! If you’re looking for a great, stylish, heavy-duty scooter, this is a great choice for you!

    Transformer Electric Folding Mobility Scooter

    Another great choice for carrying in a trunk and carrying around with you, this transforming scooter is pretty neat. It folds up into a nice, compact shape so it can go anywhere with you! The battery is airline compliant, so it can fly with you, which is great for those who fly often. If you’re on the move and need a scooter that can keep up, this is the one for you!

    E-Wheels Jellybean Electric Scooter

    The second E-Wheels scooter on our list, this one is also quite heavy-duty! This one is three-wheeled, though, so it’s got a bit of a different construction from some others on this list. The best thing about this scooter, though, is the high speed! It tops out at 18 MPH, which makes it a serious scooter! It has a great battery, too, offering up to 45 miles on a single charge. This one also has an anti-theft alarm, which is great! It sports a huge back-mounted basket, perfect for trips to the market.

    Spitfire 420 Ex

    Another great scooter, this one has interchangeable panels in different colors. The panels come in red, blue and silver, and are easy to change out! It also boasts quick-connect batteries, a comfortable seat and padded armrests. The wheels are anti-tip, which makes this a very safe pick. The front-mounted basket even has an interior lining, which is great for shopping. If you’re looking for a good mobility scooter for medical reasons, such as old age, this is a good pick.

    SmartScoot Lithium Foldable Travel Scooter

    This folding scooter is great to throw in the trunk or backseat and carry with you to a destination. The best thing about this scooter: the battery! It has great battery life for how portable it is for travel. It lasts for up to 12 miles! It also breaks down into three parts, and only weighs 27 pounds.

    Drive Medical Scout 3 Wheel

    At the very low price of right around $600, this three-wheeled scooter is a popular choice. A little less expensive than its four-wheeled counterpart, this one is a good value. The drawbacks to this scooter include its three-wheeled construction, slightly low battery life and make. There are more comfortable, high-end scooters, but if you’re looking for a good bargain, this is it. This scooter is the most affordable on our list!

    Best Value: Drive Medical Scout Compact 4 Wheel

    For those on a budget, the Drive Medical Scout Compact is a very popular choice. At $700, it’s a fantastic value, and it shows in its popularity. It’s a good scooter, with all the trimmings you’d expect from a medical mobility scooter. Older customers on a fixed income love the low price, and the price doesn’t compromise the quality. This one also has interchangeable panels in red and blue, so you can change your style! A great value for the money for those looking to save.

    Best Overall Mobility Scooter: Shopride Sunrunner

    If you’re looking for an especially comfortable scooter, look no further than the Sunrunner! It has a 300-pound capacity and a huge 25-mile battery. You can opt for a headlight, which is quite useful. It has a front basket, perfect for shopping. The star of the show is the big, comfortable seat, though. You can’t beat the level of comfort on display here! It’s hard to find something this premium and high-quality for this price! It retails for $1,500 but can often be found on sale for less.


  • OnePlus 6 Avengers Special Addition

    OnePlus 6 Avengers Special Addition

    Im sure by now you have read our Smartphone spotlight on the OnePlus 6, gotten all the great details and may have even considered picking one up. Why wouldn’t you, its big, beautiful with all the power of Luke Cage. Well hold up, first off its not really easy to get in the states. They don’t just sell them at the Best Buy here, you have to order it off the internet from china. Now before you do that there is something else you should know, There is a special addition Avengers Infinity War OnePlus 6. If this has your spidey senses tingling check out the details.

     

    The price is a meager $660, terrific deal even Peter Parker could afford. For that you will get the special edition 6, which is essentially the OnePlus 6 aside from a few cosmetic changes. There’s different textured back, that’s a “custom 3D aramid fiber-textured glass body, with Gorilla Glass 5 coating. It looks like something Shuri would have concocted. There is a well placed and stunningly official looking  Avengers and Marvel logo on the back of the phone, near the bottom. I like the way this phone looks like it was crafted elegantly from a blown off piece of Winter solders arm.

     

    Special Edition What

    Yes,  its nice looking, what else makes this special. First off  you’re getting the 8GB/256GB RAM and storage combo if you’re buying the Avengers model. You’ll have to pay $660 for it a $31 premium over the regular model that offers the same specs. Besides it being really cool looking You also get a special retail box and a special case that has Iron Man’s mask printed on it. In each of these cool marvel boxes you get a special medal.

    Tell Me More About this OnePlus 6 Avengers Medal

    Yes ill do just that. This medal comes in the box. Yes each OnePlus 6 Avengers phone in each box contains a random Avengers medal. There are 6 random medals. Getting all six different medals by June 30th will get you into a draw for a 100,000 yuan ($15,700). You can’t get the medals you lack without buying additional OnePlus 6 Avengers phones. If your doing the math, you would have to spend a lucky $6,600 with a 1/36 chance of getting all different medals.

    The Final Thought

    I love to geek out, for the 5T they released a Star Wars edition. For some reason the The Avengers: Infinity War edition featuring a Kevlar-style patterned back along with a gold Avengers emblem and color-matched mute switch seem so much cooler. I kinda want it, I just need 5 more of you to jump on this. We can combine the medals and maybe with the 100,000 yuan. In my best Captain America voice… Who is with me?

  • Surface, Its New Version and a Price Drop

    Surface, Its New Version and a Price Drop

    The Surface wants to compete with the ipad for a broader market, so look for a price drop. A new report out today by Bloomberg claims that Microsoft is planning its next tablet line to be lower-cost in an effort to attract people to their products who aren’t interested in the more expensive Surface Pro. The move is directly aimed at competing with Apple’s recently launched $329 iPad, and could see Microsoft debut the devices as soon as the second half of 2018.

     

    Low Cost Surface

    From what I am hearing  the tablets will be priced at around $400, so not quite iPad cheap but not far off. They will be the first Surface devices to adopt USB-C and rounded edges “like an iPad,” instead of the square corners of the current devices. Storage tiers will include 64GB and 128GB, as well as LTE options, and the devices will feature 10-inch screens.  All good news.

    There are also rumors of a significant decrease in battery power. While I cant confirm any yet and wont until it gets the Beau’s 6 hour injustice marathon battery test, I will say that the rumors holds some weight. Currently everyone has come to a 6.6 – 14 hour battery life estimate for the current models. What we have hear it the new cheaper tablet will be coming in around 4 hours less. Knocking four hours of battery off a tablet with a 13.5 hour runtime is bad. Knocking four hours of run time off a tablet with a 9.6 hour battery life is terrible. In fact, if that penalty carried over across the board, this new Surface tablet wouldn’t even break the three hour mark. Relax, ill continue to monitor and keep you updated.

     

    The Final Thought

    Like always Apple steps in and delivers and the rest  of the tech world follow suit. follow suit. This is good new, a low cost Microsoft device is a great option for the marketplace. When the marketplace has diverse low cost options we all win.

     

  • TV Shows that Depict Technology Accurately

    TV Shows that Depict Technology Accurately

    Not everyone cares as much about technology as I do, which is fair. I’m kind of a nerd. But you know when you watch a movie or TV show and see something that just doesn’t… work? It just doesn’t work that way, guys! You can’t “enhance” footage from a CCTV camera! That’s not how recording technology works!  

    Alright, I’m good, I swear. With that, let’s introduce our favorite TV shows that get tech right. 

    Sherlock 

    This show is fantastic, for one thing. It’s engaging and smart and fast-paced, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. Story beats are often depicted through text messages, as is common in modern tales. Sherlock pioneered a visual technique that makes these texts flow beautifully in the action. 

    In Sherlock, texts appear as floating, stylish words onscreen near the characters reading them. This more accurately represents what it feels like in the moment when you’re reading your phone. By using this technique, Sherlock smartly sidesteps a common pitfall of TV set in modern day: how do you depict smart phone interfaces on screen? 

    Black Mirror 

    This show’s whole premise is how terrifyingly likely its scenarios are. Black Mirror is a modern blend of the Twilight Zone and cautionary sci-fi tales of the 50’s. Episodes meditate on the potential fallout of technological advances. One episode presents perfect recall through recording software embedded in your eyeballs. Another imagines a world where everyone has a social rating like a credit score displayed for all to see. 

    The anthology-like presentation and believable technology make Black Mirror a scary peek into our own potential future. Without the believable, down-to-earth technology, the show wouldn’t work on as many levels as it does. 

    Silicon Valley 

    Silicon Valley is a very goofy show about some very goofy software developers. Depicting the ins and outs of an internet start-up, Silicon Valley does a great job of accurately depicting the lives of programmers. From the accurate depictions of Silicon Valley offices to the types of desks and computers developers use, the show is certainly on the nose. 

    This is no surprise however. The show was created by Mike Judge, who also created King of the Hill and Office Space. Judge has also been part of an internet start-up himself, so he knows the source material personally. This lends the show a “real”-ness that ups the credibility of its technology–and its laughs.  

    Our Favorite Depiction of Technology on TV: Mr. Robot 

    The phenomenal and believable hacking on Mr. Robot comes courtesy of love and care from the show’s producer. Kor Adana, once a cyber security specialist, helps advise on the show. Adana uses knowledge from his previous vocation and ample consultation with real hackers to make the show believable.  

    On screen command prompts and use of actual technology help ground the show. The believable hacking and tech make the show that much more engaging, lending it credibility. This makes Mr. Robot as close as we’re likely to get to a televised version of Neuromancer. 

     

  • ChroMorphous: New Color Changing Smart Fabric Controlled by an App

    ChroMorphous: New Color Changing Smart Fabric Controlled by an App

    The next generation of wearable tech is upon us in the form of ChroMorphous, thanks to the hard work of researchers at the University of Central Florida. Their new battery-powered wearable tech changes color when turned on, and can be controlled directly from a phone app. Their color-changing clothes may just represent the future of clothing! If this sounds like a sci-fi novel to you, you’re not alone. 

    How Does ChroMorphous Work? 

    The tech, which is still in the early stages, incorporates a unique combination of micro-wires and color-changing pigments powered by electrical signals. The researchers call it ChroMorphous. The chameleonic fabric is somewhat dense and thick, with comparable texture to canvas, making it somewhat bulky.  

    The researchers are working on making the tech smaller and softer, however, with intentions of mass producing the stylish technology. This technology would likely be tremendously popular! Rather than buying different clothing to match with each other, you could just buy the styles you like and set the color on the fly! 

    Other Applications 

    Technology like this is likely to become the norm in the near future. At Ohio State University, researchers have created similar technology with micro-antennae capable of sending and receiving signals from smart devices. Such technology would allow for application in more than just fashion.  

    Virtual reality games, for instance, could make use of the tech to track users. Smart home devices could identify users and be controlled via body gestures with this kind of technology. Clothes themselves could become smart devices: synching with your home’s virtual assistant and updating your clothing on the fly.  

    The possibilities are really endless! 

  • Smartphone Spotlight: OnePlus 6

    Smartphone Spotlight: OnePlus 6

    OnePlus’s deal has always been offering flagship-level internals coupled with minimalist software, all for significantly less than similarly-specked devices. The  6 has all the right stuff you’d expect Is the the 6 the smartphone you deserve?

    The Great

    • Beautiful Screen
    • Blistering performance
    • Great battery life
    • Flagship-caliber cameras
    • Very fast charging:
    • Amazing value
    • Beautiful all glass design

    The Not

    • No wireless charging or microSD slot
    • Lacks optical zoom
    • No IP-rated water resistance

    The Conclusion

    If you’re willing to put up with a few small compromises then you could argue the OnePlus 6 could be even further up this list. One thing is for sure though: in terms of value for money it won’t disappoint.

     

    It seems every six months or so OnePlus treats us to a new flagship level phone at a completely reasonable price. Most companies are struggling to put out something different enough every year. All that and all, lets get to this latest installment of OnePlus, the 6.

    The OnePlus Design

    OnePlus has really showed up with the all-glass body  on the OnePlus 6. It looks and feels oh so nice: It’s soft and smooth, with a cool touch. It’s very reflective too, mostly on the mirror black model. I just like pressing it to my face. While I  don’t feel like the glass body made the phone overly slippery, and it’s easy to hold with one hand. Using it is a harder task due to the size of the screen. It’s a little harder to get to the opposite corner with your thumb.

    Three Colors

    Mirror Black is one of three versions for the OnePlus 6. The glass is super-shiny and though it certainly does attract fingerprints, it’s not the smudge magnet you might have imagined. Midnight Black is color two: a matte finish  This is a more conventional-looking finish that will be especially familiar to owners of earlier OnePlus phones. Last is the Silk White: a classy option, for your tuxedo nights on the town look. It has a sprinkling of pearl powder as part of the six layers and emphasized by the rose gold edge, camera relief and OnePlus logo

     

    The Performance

    The  6 is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor with a whopping 8GB of RAM. The phone has been lightning fast in our brief time using it. It all feels very refined. OnePlus uses the tagline, “The speed you need,” for the 6, It seems cheese and completely unsustainable for an android base phone, but here we are. The power is good, lets just not get cocky.

    For the Camera OnePlus has gone a more regular route, perhaps, by using two rear cameras, both color RGB sensors. One is a 16MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture and big pixels 1.22 microns). It has optical image stabilization, something OnePlus fans had requested.

    Quick Spec Look

    • OS Android  8.1 Oreo with OxygenOS
    • Screen Size (Resolution) 6.28-inch AMOLED (2280 x 1080)
    • CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
    • RAM 6GB/8GB
    • Storage 64GB/128GB/256GB
    • microSD Slot No
    • Rear Camera Dual: 16 MP (f/1.7) with OIS; 20 MP (f/1.7)
    • Front Camera 16 MP (f/2.0)
    • Battery Size 3,300 mAh
    • Water Resistance None
    • Size 6.13 x 2.97 x 0.30 inches

     

     

    The Final Thought

    The 6 has all the Power, Size and Looks available to make a splash and a price point to be desired. There is nothing here truly lacking out side of the water resistance and the wireless charging, only thing I could do with out is the boasting.

     

  • Tech Throwback: Sony Walkman

    Tech Throwback: Sony Walkman

    I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. Im going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today we are going to talk about the Sony Walkman

     

    Walkman cassette player, released in 1979, changed music listening habits by allowing people to listen to their music whilst on the move. This could turn everyday tasks like commuting and running into pleasurable experiences. It gave commuters a sense of privacy, and add a soundtrack to urban surrounding. At the time a lightweight portable stereo system where that of future fantasy. Sony’s current portable option was the 5 lb TC-D5 and It was far to heavy and expensive to be revolutionary. We all just had to be content with listening to records in our basements. Then June 7th, 1980 happened, hello Walkman

     

    little fun fact about the Walkman name, the Walkman name was thought to be too Japanese- English so it was called the soundabout in the US at first. It was nearly called the Disco-Jogger. Thank Thanos that didn’t happen, I can tell you the Disco- Jogger would not be getting its own Tech Throwback Spotlight…

    Sony Walkman, Just Press Play

    So I found the original Sony Walkman, TPS-L2 , you know the one Starlord likes to listen to yacht rock on. Ive popped in some fresh double AA’s and I’m ready to pop open may old cassette collection.  First thing I notice on this is as I insert my Batman forever sound track cassette and press the rewind button to U2’s Kiss me , Kill Me, Thrill Me,  is that it has 2 headphone jacks.

    Living in a world today where all the tech companies are trying to steal my headphone jacks away, this makes me smile. The TPS-L2 does not have a record option, there is also a hotline button. Hotline button activates a builtin microphone. This did come in handy from time to time. However to record music on to a tape portabley was a whole nother problem. You had to hold the microphone up to the music, the sound quality was awful. You got all the surrounding background noise while trying to record a bootleg copy of the new New Kids on the Block cassette..

     

    The Final Thought

    Its simple, Its Timeless. This  belongs in every time capsule from 1979 till the day societies forget about time capsules. It opened music up to place and routines it didn’t quite fit before. Time would take several decades for this magnificent device to be faded out to an ipod. It saw many glorious changes, adaptations and complete evolutions. Who remembers the grandchild of the Walkman, the skipping prone Discman. It will forever be a classic. This helped make us all think the 80’s where a wonderful time to be alive.

     

     

     

  • NES Classic to Return to Store Shelves in June

    NES Classic to Return to Store Shelves in June

    The beloved Nintendo Entertainment System lives again, again! NES Classic Mini systems are slated to return to retailers June 29th, according to Nintendo, and the company claims the systems will be available until the end of the year. This is fantastic news for retro gaming enthusiasts looking to relive some of the most iconic games of all time!

    Tremendous Hit

    Since its initial release in Fall 2016, the NES Classic has been a tremendous hit, selling out its initial run in record time. Following its astonishing success, Nintendo released the SNES Classic, a miniature version of the NES’s successor, which experienced similar sell-outs. Finally, this Summer, fans who missed the initial release window will have a chance to snag the tiny retro console for MSRP, which is $60. For those who held out for a re-release, or simply couldn’t find a reasonable price on the secondhand market, this news is great!

    eBay Scalpers

    Notably, the NES Classic and its successor were both heavily targeted by eBay scalpers, scam artists who buy collectibles in large quantities and resell them on eBay and similar sites for absurd markups. Nintendo clearly didn’t expect such a massive demand for the systems, and scalpers capitalized on the low supply by further bottlenecking it and preying on nostalgia. This time around, however, Nintendo promises a much higher supple of both NES and SNES Classic systems, ensuring retailers will have them stocked for MSRP. This is awesome for customers, and terrible for scalpers. Win-win!

    NES Classic systems come preloaded with 30 iconic games, including Super Mario Bros, the Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Balloon Fight and more! You can grab one of your own and enjoy games from the 80’s that helped redefine the gaming industry when the system re-releases on June 29th.

  • Laptop Lookout: HP Envy 17

    Laptop Lookout: HP Envy 17

    HP is announcing an update to its Envy Line. HP Envy 17 will be available this summer, and is packing a nice bit of power. Now in 2018, HP has slimmed the bezels around the screens on the Envy laptops. Making the 17 big, powerful and beautiful.

    The Great

    • Great Screen
    • Fantastic Performance
    • Great Battery
    • Sleek Desgin

    The Not

    • Bigger, Heavy

    The Conclusion

    THe HP Envy 17 is a powerful laptop, pretty that most can afford. Its big, to big to always have with you, but it should keep you from missing your desktop PC in most ways.

     

     

    The Envy 17 packs a high-end quad-core mobile processor that will deliver more power than most people will use. Our tests on other laptops have shown that a simple dual-core processor suffices for mainstream applications, but quad-core comes in handy for more intensive uses such as gaming and creating graphics-heavy content.

     

    Sound Upgrades

    HP has now designed a  row of Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers line the front and they’re angling up at 45 degree. This points them at your ears for listing and not lower, much better sound receptions. I guess its the little things. The volume is now controlled by a touch scroll wheel in the base, where there is also a high-speed wireless charger.

    Webcam, Pop Up

    I’ve seen this getting adapted around a few tech devices that I hope catches on. Its the pop up camera. I know its kinda gimmicky but i like the assurance of not having some hack in to my camera and spy on my life. The pop up camera can be popped down and blinded when I’m not using it.

    Lets Talk Speed

    Speed and performance are off the charts. On the performance front, HP has updated from 7th Generation CPUs to the latest 8th Generation Intel Core quad-core CPU (4C/8T) running at a base frequency of 1.8 GHz with a maximum Turbo frequency of 4 GHz while fitting in a 15W TDP at base frequency. The 17-inch runs the massive processor but has 12GB of DDR4-2400 in a 4+8 GB tilted configuration.

    Quick Spec Look

    • CPU: Intel 8th-generation Core i7-8550U
    • Memory: Up to 16GB of DDR4-2400 SDRAM (the base model has 8GB)
    • Display: 17.3-inch FHD (1920×1080) IPS WLED backlit touchscreen
    • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150 with 2GB GDDR5 memory
    • Storage: 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive with a 16GB Intel Optane Memory module, plus a DVD drive

    The Final Thought on the HP Envy 17

    Solid, solid upgrades, beautiful design. I didn’t want to talk to much about the look of this, because its impressively stunning and something to experience first hand with about pre-building expectations. Just look at it you will know what I mean. Its got the screen and power we need but I think it will be more of a home computer for us,  because of its size and weight, and not get to travel and see the world like the smaller versions. Sad