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  • OnePlus 6: A Great Phone (For the Price)

    OnePlus 6: A Great Phone (For the Price)

    OnePlus has made something of a name for themselves as makers of cheap alternatives to Samsung and Google phones. The OnePlus 6, their 2018 flagship, is no different. Retailing for a cool $529, and sold unlocked on their website, the OnePlus 6 is a great budget choice for a premium-feeling smartphone.  

    Top Notch (Or Not) 

    The newest trend among premium smart phones is the inclusion of a top screen notch. This has been talked to death, and many Android users can’t stand the iPhone-looking notch design. The idea, of course, is to maximize screen size without increasing handset size. However, as the screen takes up most of the front face, normal hardware like the earpiece and the front-facing camera have to go somewhere, thus the notch.  

    This is an interesting look, but many are not sold on the odd break in the display. These users will be pleased that the OnePlus 6 offers a feature that blackens the screen all around the notch, giving the illusion of a standard phone display. Both modes look great, to me, and I would find neither to be particularly distracting. 

    OnePlus 6 Eschews Metal Back 

    OnePlus models predating the 6 all had a unique construction that included a metal back. Many other phone manufacturers have now switched to using a glass back. The glass back decision has largely been in order to facilitate wireless charging. The OnePlus 6 has no support for wireless charging, though. Instead, it seems, OnePlus chose to make their new flagship glass-backed just to look like the competition. 

    All-glass constructions like this are worrisome, due to their fragility. While most users will have their phones in a protective case, it is still disappointing to see OnePlus ditching their unique design in favor of a more generic appearance.  

    Some Disappointing Features 

    The OnePlus 6 is certainly not a perfect phone. The fingerprint reader on the back is tiny. So tiny, in fact, that it is often difficult to get an accurate scan of your finger. This is disappointing, given that fingerprint scanning technology has been standard on smartphones for more than four years now. The other disappointment is the phone’s relative lack of waterproofing: the website says the phone isn’t rated for any submersion. 

    Bottom Line? It Doesn’t Hurt Your Bottom Line 

    The most impressive thing about the OnePlus 6 is just how many things it does right, though. It is a snappy, quick phone with a great build (in spite of its glass back and small fingerprint scanner.) Its shortcomings can be forgiven in light of its price. Given that it’s a full $300 cheaper than a lot of its competition, it’s alright to overlook a few minor gripes. If you’re in the market for a great looking phone for a great price and can overlook some small issues, consider the OnePlus 6. 

  • GoodBye 14 inch Razer Blade, Hello 15.6 inch

    GoodBye 14 inch Razer Blade, Hello 15.6 inch

    Razer is the hipster king of gaming laptops. For the last 5 years the 14 inch Razer Blade has been the cornerstone of their lineup. That is  all going to change now. No longer will Razer be offering the 14 inch super laptop. Instead they will be offering a suped up version in a slimmer 15.6 inch model.   Razer is calling it the smallest gaming system in its class. Its packed with an excruciating amount off cool stuff lets take a look.

     

    Design

    For starters Razer got rid of the rounded curves of the previous laptops for a more boxy shape. The company also ditched the pair of lines flanking the glowing green Razer emblem. Its a bit more classy look in my opinion. Measuring 14 x 9.3 x 0.68-inches and weighing 4.6 pounds, the Blade is notably larger than its predecessor (4.2 pounds and 13.6 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches). But it’s also slimmer and lighter than a lot of its current competition. As Razer said it, its the smallest gaming system available. Ports, its got em, you can expect a trio of USB 3.1 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, mini DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, a headset jack and a power input.

    The Display

    This is were its gets cool. The 14-inch variant of the Blade is gone and with it goes those unsightly thick bezels. Razer has shaved the bezels down to 0.19 inches along the sides, allowing the company to squeeze a 15.6-inch panel into a 14-inch chassis. More screen less size for the win. The Razer Blade is available with several screen variants and refresh rates: Full HD with 60Hz, Full HD with 144Hz and a 4K touch panel with 60Hz. The 144Hz, 1080p screen and 4K panels will be individually color calibrated from stock.

    The Razer Blade Extras

    Of course Razer is gonna back this with there G-ed out Chroma keyboard and killer trackpad. That is just a given. Razer is swapping out the two discrete mouse buttons in favor of a massive precision touchpad. The new touchpad should deliver more accurate gestures and swipes. With the bigger chassis we are getting a bigger battery too. Bonus.

    Quick Spec Look

     

    • six-core, 8th Gen 2.2-GHz Intel Core i7-8750H processor,
    • 16GB of RAM,
    • 256GB PCIe SSD,
    • Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU with 6GB of VRAM
    • 1920 x 1080 (60Hz) display.

    The Final Thought

    All good things must come to an end, but new begins lead to greatness.  From what I’ve seen so far, the 15-inch Blade is a great new start and we should be excited. Growth is always a good sign and as much as Im sad to see the 14 inch go, I love the way it walks away.

  • H1Z1 Open Beta Begins on PS4 (Finally)

    H1Z1 Open Beta Begins on PS4 (Finally)

    The zombie-shooting survival game that metamorphized into a battle royale shooter finally hit PS4 in open beta. If you’ve somehow missed the battle royale craze, it’s a genre of shooting game where a large number of players are airdropped onto a map and fight to see who will be the last man standing. Based on the popular Japanese novel (and then movie) Battle Royale, the genre was first popularized by a game called PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds. PUBG was followed by the absurdly popular Fortnite, which is itself a zombie survival game that split off to become a battle royale shooter. 

    What’s the Hold Up? 

    If the name H1Z1 sounds familiar, it might be due to the game’s somewhat complex development cycle. Beginning its life as a zombie-themed survival-shooter in the same vein as Left 4 Dead, the game experienced several delays. The game’s popular mode King of the Kill would come to be repurposed as a standalone battle royale game. The original, once called H1Z1, is now called Just Survive and is an entirely different game from this. 

    Seeking to follow in the footsteps of PUBG and Fortnite, H1Z1 is finally available in Open Beta on the PS4. It’s been on Windows in Early Access for a few months now, but this marks its first console outing. It is slated to receive an Xbox port later this year. 

     

     Murderous Mayhem 

    The controls, which have been described as “sluggish” on PC, have received a bit of a face lift on PS4. Sporting tighter and more responsive controls, the game is as fun as ever with the DualShock 4 controller. This is great news for any concerned that the switch from mouse and keyboard would lead to a worse overall experience for players. The fast-paced action H1Z1 is known for remains intact on PS4. 

    The game sees groups of 100 players (or more) parachuting to a remote location to fight it out. Your choice of strategy will influence your odds of coming out on top: do you choose to find a big gun and go hunting for players? Or will you lay low with a long-range rifle? Or will you (like me) hide in a building with a shotgun and hope no one finds you? The answers to these questions will shape the ever-unfolding action! 

    How Does it Stack Up? 

    Compared to its main competitors, H1Z1 is a fine game. Featuring more realistic graphics like PUBG, but more arcade-style shooting like Fortnite, H1Z1 strikes a great balance. Central to the late-game section of the battle is the presence of numerous vehicles. Teams can often hop in a battle wagon and take off looking to ride down any stragglers, leading to intense, Mad Max-style showdowns. If you like fast-paced and frenetic action, as opposed to the more plodding style of PUBG, this game has you covered. 

    H1Z1 features a somewhat bare-bones crafting system. While you won’t be building any Fortnite-style bases, you can make bandages and other small supplies. These won’t be making any huge impact on the game, but they’re interesting for those inclined to building.  

    Will You Come Out on Top in H1Z1? 

    H1Z1 is available now on PS4 as an open beta. If you think you’ve got what it takes to come out on the top of the heap, go give it a shot! It’s completely free, so you’re a download away from getting into the action! 

  • Companies to Watch in Artificial Intelligence

    Companies to Watch in Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial intelligence is the future of technology. Because of this, several companies are all vying for supremacy in the race to create the best AI, and the race is only heating up. In the next few years, we’re likely to see tremendous leaps in the functionality and intelligence of AI constructs. So, let’s take a quick look at companies to watch in the field of AI development. 

    Google 

    With their ever-advancing Google Assistant tech at the forefront of their brand, Google is prioritizing AI. For instance, take Google’s strong backing of their AI team. Google’s team at Google Brain are performing long-term AI research behind-the-scenes, pushing the envelope in new and exciting ways. The scientific community at large has a great deal of respect for scholarly articles from the team at Google Brain. This illustrates Google’s continued dedication to AI research and development going forward. 

    Facebook 

    Yes, that Facebook. The one where you look at funny cat videos and argue with your racist uncle. Facebook’s AI initiative, called FAIR, is comprised of almost all PhD-holding super-scientists, which is kind of impressive. Because of the nature of their employer, FAIR is primarily focused on language-based AI research. Namely, FAIR has released papers related to Turing Testing and question-answering algorithms primarily. This all makes sense, given Facebook’s primary function as a social media platform. So it will be interesting to see what they bring to the table. 

    Microsoft 

    The tech giant responsible for Windows wouldn’t have dared sit this race out. Ironically, Microsoft’s own Halo series of video games is where a large number of sci-fi enthusiasts of a certain age first encountered AI. Halo’s AI character Cortana even lent her name to Microsoft’s virtual assistant pre-loaded into Windows. However, younger researchers are not the norm at Microsoft’s AI Research department: it is comprised mostly of highly experienced faculty. This has led to them somewhat missing the boat on the deep learning initiatives found at most other AI research facilities. However, this doesn’t mean anyone should be counting Microsoft out yet! 

    Artificial Intelligence Company to Watch: Deepmind 

    Highly respected and for good reason, Deepmind is the preeminent name in AI research at the moment. Largely staffed by Cambridge and Oxford grads, the London-based company maintains a close relationship with the popular tech community. The company’s public image has benefited greatly from their young, vital staff and excellent community-engagement. Papers released by Deepmind are tremendously popular on social sites like Reddit in the sub-communities that follow popular science. For dry, scientific content, this is high praise. Whatever the future of AI, Deepmind is sure to be at the forefront

  • Senate Passes Bill Overturning FCC Repeal of Net Neutrality

    Senate Passes Bill Overturning FCC Repeal of Net Neutrality

    In a surprising, but welcome, turn of events, the FCC has been dealt a blow in the battle for net neutrality. The Senate passed a bill that would preserve Obama-era neutrality rules, preventing FCC chair Ajit Pai’s personal crusade to crush net neutrality. For the uninitiated, net neutrality encompasses a series of protections for internet traffic. Namely, monetization of priority websites and equal footing for all content are controlled by net neutrality legislation. Ajit Pai primarily represents the interests of companies like his former employer Verizon. Huge telecom companies like Verizon and Charter stand to gain quite a bit of money from the repeal of net neutrality rules.  

    What’s Next for Net Neutrality? 

    This isn’t even close to the end of this fight, unfortunately. As it stands, Pai’s disastrous repeal is still on track to take effect on June 11th. That’s not a lot of time for the bill to be brought to a vote in the House, and even it is brought there, it still has to get past the Republican majority there. 

    So You’re Saying There’s a Chance? 

    There is, technically, a chance. Pai himself, and the FCC, seem convinced that the bill will die in the House, thus allowing Net Neutrality to finally be repealed. This would be a bad thing. Thankfully, there is a solid chance that some Republicans in the house are conscientious of how disastrous voting in favor of a neutrality repeal would be for their chances of reelection. This contingent of Republican legislators could lead to the bill passing the House, too.  

    Then This is Over, Right? 

    Not quite. After the House, it goes to the desk of the President of the United States. Which is troubling, to say the least. Trump isn’t exactly a predictable guy, and Pai was his pick for FCC chair. The odds seem good that if this bill gets to him, he’ll simply kill it there. But we can hope. For right now, net neutrality is still a possibility for the future. But the future is looking grim. 

  • Microsoft’s New Adaptive Controller Makes Xbox Gaming More Accessible Than Ever

    Microsoft’s New Adaptive Controller Makes Xbox Gaming More Accessible Than Ever

    For many gamers, the controller isn’t a portal into another world, but is a hindrance keeping them from enjoying the game. Microsoft seeks to alleviate that problem with their new adaptive controller. Retailing for $100, the adaptive controller looks pretty simple at a glance. The front face sports two big buttons and a directional pad. There are a few menu buttons, and some USB ports. It looks incomplete. And that’s purposeful, because it kind of is incomplete before its end-user gets their hands on it.  

    Accessibility Through Adaptivity 

    On the side of the controller are a series of 3.5mm jacks, each wired to be an Xbox controller button. This might seem very odd to some readers. Why 3.5mm jacks? What is this? The Adaptive Controller is an officially sanctioned version of something many gamers have been using for some time now. Accessibility rigs like this one have been the norm for years for limited mobility gamers, using 3.5mm jacks to customize their experience. Binary, on-off buttons are commonly plugged into the jacks to act as different controller inputs. Some of the jacks even support standard-style josticks. The adaptive controller also sports two side USB ports.  

    One Size Does Not Fit All 

    By releasing an eminently-customizable controller and making no assumptions about the end-user, Microsoft has made something truly special. Officially recognizing the existence and unique struggles of mobility-limited gamers is refreshing. Many hospitals and non-profits have been helping gamers with rigs like this for some time. Seeing it officially condoned and supported by Microsoft is truly exciting for the future of accessibility in gaming.  The unassuming adaptive controller will certainly be a boon to those gamers who want to enjoy their experience without a standard controller holding them back. 

    Adaptive Controller Affordability 

    By making this type of controller widely available for this price, Microsoft changes the game for limited-mobility gamers. Custom-built rigs like this are often prohibitively expensive. Broadened Horizons, a hardware maker, is somewhat similar to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, but has no large face buttons out of the box. It actually requires several add-ons to match the XAC’s functionality. Microsoft has certainly changed the face of this type of technology. The XAC will be compatible out of the box with all Xbox One systems, and a tiny bit of set-up gets it rolling on most Windows PCs. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, and more accessibility options will be opened up because of this first step. 

  • Helsinki to Lead the Way For AI Education with Free Class

    Helsinki to Lead the Way For AI Education with Free Class

    Helsinki University in Finland has launched a course on artificial intelligence — one that’s completely free and open to everyone around the world. A lot of tech giants like Google now have divisions working on artificial intelligence projects, and even whole non-tech industries already depend on AI for various tasks. Its scary to think how much we already depend on AI and what it will entail in the future. Its best to jump ahead of the curve on this, especially you youngsters. Parent enroll your teens in this class for the summer.

     

    More Details on Helsinki’s Free AI Class

    Helsinki’s course focuses on the basics, starting with defining what AI is and explaining how it can solve problems. It is more of a beginner course. The fist part of the materials is a discussion on how we use AI  already  in the real world. In the second part of the course, they explain how machine learning works and what neural networks are. It will apparently take you about 30 hours to complete the course. Students in Finland can even earn academic credits through the Open University.

    For us Americans, you can  enroll in the course outside Finland. You will have an option to receive a certificate that can be posted on the Linkedin page. Everyone who completes the course will also get a certificate (PDF) emailed to them. You have an option to do the course at your own pace, but they recommend trying to finish in 6 week. According to their understanding, having a deadline makes it more likely that students will finish the course.

     

    The Final Thought

    This is the big growth sector right now and will be even more in the future. Helsinki University hopes that one percent of the Finnish population – some 54,000 people – will take the online course this year. So far 24,000 have signed up and that is alot. If you think about that number and the magnitude in which AI will dominate our next half century. Finland will be the worlds new super power.  It could  and probably will be the first nation to fall to  Elon Musk’s prophecy of the Immortal AI dictator.  The US needs to invest heavily in the next generation of programmers now and have them lead the curve on AI.

  • Digitsole Smart Sneakers

    Digitsole Smart Sneakers

    October 21st. 2015, this is the day Martian McFly goes back to the future and get power laces shoes. I looked forward to this date since I was a small child I ever wanted from a shoe. Lets fast forward a few years to 2017, Nike released a back to the future special edition shoe. It was merely a high priced novelty shoe, completely useless and unrealistic. let down, no hover board, no power lacing shoes, I was feeling very betrayed. That was until I found the Digitsole Smartshoe 2.0 sneakers. Stamp out cold feet with these self-lacing, thermostat-controlled, crowdfunded beauties from shoemakers Digitsole.

    Better late then never. However Digitsole founder and CEO Karim Oumnia says he and his team presented the first auto-lacing smartshoe in October 2015 (to fit with the Back to the Future theme) before taking their prototype to CES 2016. So im going to allow this,  I mean who knows how bad Doc and Marty messed up our timeline. Two  years late for a commercially viable smartshoe is understandable when you have a teenager messing with the time continuum.

     

    What is a SmartSneaker?

    The first auto-tightening, interactive, heating, fitness tracking & shock absorbing sneaker. More importantly what can a SmartSneaker do. Designed to warm each foot to your preferred temperature with the tap of an app, Digitsole’s Smartshoe 2.0 sneakers also promise to track your movement, gait and calorie burn with greater accuracy than a wrist-worn device. And, whether you’re prone to overpronation or keen to pump up your propulsion, their app-based personalized audio coaching will help you take pride in your stride.

    No Power Laces?

    Tell me about the power Laces. They don’t quite have power laces. Hold Up. However they do have auto tightening feature. As opposed to actually being ‘self-lacing’, the Digitsole shoes have a tongue-like cover that closes to tighten around your foot. You can activate it via the app or press a button on the side of the shoe to achieve that firm Nike Air Mag–esque fit.

    The Final Thought

    These may already look familiar, I did a quick write up on them in the Top 5 wearables you need for the gym article a few weeks back. All Back to the future non-sense aside these are legit tech. These are ground breaking and revolutionary. The future of footwear, but would it be to much to add a speaker. That would be cool.

  • OnePlus 6 Coming May 22nd: What’s New?

    OnePlus 6 Coming May 22nd: What’s New?

    China-based smartphone maker OnePlus launches its newest flagship, the OnePlus 6, on May 22nd. The hotly-anticipated phone will be able to participate in the Android P OS beta and sports a host of new features.  

    Phone Notch, For Better or Worse 

    Love it or hate it, the phone notch is here to stay. The OnePlus 6 features an iPhone X-like notch at the top of its edge-to-edge display. This odd aesthetic feature houses some necessary hardware. Namely, the front-facing selfie camera and the speaker for actually taking, y’know, phone calls. Interestingly, much like other Android phones that sport the notch, there is an option in the software setting to hide it. The screen to either side of the notch darken, making the phone appear to have a more traditional screen. 

    Overall Design 

    The OnePlus 6 has a back made of Gorilla Glass 5, meaning it should be pretty sturdy. It’s also somewhat water resistant, although OnePlus urges you don’t toss it in the pool. It should be able to survive a bit of rain or maybe being dropped in the dishwater, but any real prolonged submersion wouldn’t be good for it. On the camera side, it has an interesting dual-camera setup on the back, allowing for tons of neat features. Namely, image stabilization and blurred-background portrait photos. 

    One Plus 6: Great for Gaming 

    The OnePlus 6 is awesome for playing games on the go. With options to mute incoming notifications while gaming, and de-prioritize background apps, the phone was made with gaming in mind. Anyone who’s been interrupted in the middle of a game of PU:BG by an untimely phone call knows how awesome it is to mute incoming notifications. Additionally, you can display the games in low or high resolution and disabled auto-brightness while gaming, so you can save battery life. 

  • Fahrenheit 451 Heats Up HBO

    Fahrenheit 451 Heats Up HBO

    Out May 19th, HBO’s new Fahrenheit 451 film adapts the 1953 Ray Bradbury sci-fi novel for modern audiences. As prescient and haunting as ever, this new take hits surprisingly close to home. Starring the phenomenal Michael B. Jordan as fireman Guy Montag, the film depicts a future where Firemen burn books instead of dousing flames. Michael Shannon stars alongside Jordan as mentor-turned-antagonist John Beatty. 

    Burn, Baby 

    In the film’s not-so-outlandish future, technology is your friend and books are your enemy. At least, that’s what the Ministry says. The populace has somewhat willingly thrown away moral complexity and higher thought for internet-fueled entertainment. Crowds of people never see one another as they stumble along with VR headsets. People watch livestreams of the Firemen raiding secret caches of forgotten literature. The Ministry watches on through everyone’s personal assistant AI. And the treasured knowledge of the past goes up in flames. 

    Dark Reflections 

    Jordan is at his best when he’s conflicted, and in this film, we see him in rare form. As Montag, he chews on his indecision: why does he do this? What does it accomplish? Does any of this mean anything, or truly benefit society? The viewer is made to face the same questions. How willingly do we give up our privacy? How willingly do we throw away the wisdom of previous generations? This film will definitely make you shoot a sidelong glance at your Echo or Google Assistant.  

    Smokin’ 

    This is a film sure to capture your attention and make you reflect on your relationship with technology. Gorgeously shot and oozing heat from every scene, Fahrenheit 451 remains just as relevant and pressing in its new form as it ever was in book form. The irony isn’t loss on this adaptation that is has, by its very existence, burned the book that spawned it. A gripping and thought-provoking tale, this is sci-fi in its oldest and purest form: as cautionary tale and explosive entertainment in one.