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  • Elon and Boring Co. is at it Again, This Time Its Legos

    Elon and Boring Co. is at it Again, This Time Its Legos

    He’s So Cool

    Elon Musk is out again peddling a new one of a kind merchandise from the Boring Co, which is proving to be anything but boring. He took to twitter earlier to tease at the new must have useless gag gift.  First there was the hat, then the ‘not a flamethrower,’ and now Musk has said that the company will produce and sell large, “lifesize” interlocking bricks created using rock collected while the company’s boring machines dig out tunnels under the earth.

     

    What better way to get rid of the organic waste? turn it in to legos. Apparently these will be “super strong,” but with their middles hollowed out to make them lighter and easier to actually move around and use.

    In his tweet Musk states “New Boring Company merch coming soon. Life size LEGO-like interlocking bricks made from tunneling rock that you can use to create sculptures & buildings. Rated for California seismic loads, so super strong, but bored in the middle, like an aircraft wing spar, so not heavy.” He has already stated that the first kit will be  an ancient Egypt motif, according to Musk, which would provide the parts necessary for putting together iconic Eqyptian archaeological wonders like the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Temple of Horus.

    What Can We Build

    He has not commented on the actual size yet, Im hopping life size or 1/8th scale ? Who wouldn’t want to build a 9 foot Sphinx in there back yard out of Elon Musk’s rock that his tunnel-creating machines excavate from the ground, it would look great next to fire pit and be a real conversation piece, not to mention the HOA fines you would incur… it be worth it just to see Doris’s smug judgmental face.. I digress

    The Boring Company has been drilling holes beneath the headquarters of his rocket company, SpaceX, in LA, as it looks to build a network of underground tunnels for commuters to get around town. All that tunneling leads to excess rock, and you’ve got to do something with it, apparently.

    The Final Thought

    We know it, He has said it, Elon Musk has been chatting about this for a while. He has always wanted find ways to recycle the bedrock it will be removing from its tunnels, with an emphasis on turning them usable bricks.  Musk actually used the term “LEGO-like” when describing the building blocks idea on Twitter. Id worry about legal back lash on anyone else, But Musk can stare off any such litigious suites with a sly inquisitive glance. Yeah hes cool, and he is with out a doubt the “Worlds Most Interesting Man”.

  • Huwaie P20 Rumors and Speculations

    Huwaie P20 Rumors and Speculations

    Huawei is releasing the new P20 at the end of this month. This is turning out to be a tumultuous year for Huwaie who was poised to make a big splash and become a major player. The Huawei P20 may be the follow-up to the 2017 Huawei P10 and become the flagship of the Huawei line.

     

    Here are press renders of the Huawei P20, P20 Lite and P20 Pro smartphones that will be announced officially later this month.  This also shows camera specifications of the phones and display notch for all where the earpiece, sensors and the front camera are present. The fingerprint sensor is present on the front for the P20 and the P20 Pro, but it is located on the back on the P20 Lite.

    3 Camera Pro

    he Huawei P20 Pro is their top of the line model which comes with a total of 3 cameras. Im not sure why or what that means but ill check it out. WE know it will be able to take portrait like photos, but i cant fathom a need for a 3rd depth camera.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The P-Series is usually regarded as Huawei’s “fashion-forward” smartphone, with an emphasis on design.  We have some big assumptions and guesses as to what we are going to see. Huawei may adopt a controversial “notch” at the top of the display,image files found in the software that help obscure particular areas around the top of the screen. The firmware stated the unnamed device has a 6.01-inch screen with a 2,244 x 1,080-pixel resolution, longer than a traditional 1,920 x 1,080-pixel screen.

    Maybe Animojies

    While I cant confirm that Huawei face detect and depth camera will be ready for the P20, but if they have have pushed this tech into the P@0 we will most certainly see an Apple like animojies.

     

    Quick Spec Look

    Huawei P20 Lite rumored specifications

    • 5.84-inch (1080 x 2280 pixels) Full HD+ 2.5D curved glass display
    • Octa-Core Kirin 659 processor (4 xA53 at 2.36GHz + 4 x A53 at 1.7GHz) with MaliT830-MP2 GPU
    • 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD
    • Android 8.0 (Oreo) with EMUI 8.0
    • 16MP rear camera with LED flash, Hybrid zoom, secondary 2MP camera
    • 16MP / 24MP front-facing camera
    • Fingerprint sensor
    • Dimensions: 148.6×71.2×7.4mm; Weight: 145g
    • 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS / GLONASS
    • 3000mAh (typical) / 2900mAh (minimum) battery

    The Huawei P20 Lite is expected to come in Blue, Black, Rose Gold and Gold colors. The new Huawei P20 series will be announced an event in Paris on March 27.

     

    The Final Thought

    Its all speculation and hype so far. While I love the irradecent color and the blue I could never see my self carrying  one and Im curious to test the Kirin 659 processor against the Snapdragon 845, that is about where the excitement ends on this. Here is to hoping for something cool we don’t even know about.

     

  • Apple Adds Magazines, Buys Texture

    Apple Adds Magazines, Buys Texture

    Just Today Apple has announced that it signed an agreement to acquire the digital magazine service Texture, which serves articles from more than 200 magazines digitally on iOS, Windows, Amazon, and Android devices for a flat monthly fee.

    Apple has acquired the entire company, including staff, and has assured users that the Android version of the app will still be supported. The price of the acquisition was not disclosed.

    What is Texture

    Texture is an app that gives you instant access to both new, and legacy issues of some of the most popular publications. Formerly known as Next Issue, it was one of the very first subscription apps avilable on the app store. Currently you can try Texture free for 7 days when downloading the app. Texture would be boring and unmentionable if it were not for its surprisingly great readability. The digital reading experience is always a headache waiting to happen, but not with Texture. It is smooth, even more please than an actually magazine.

    Navigation is easy, with the actual magazine taking up the largest portion of your display, and only an ellipsis in the bottom left corner to bring up the controls. Individual pages/images can be zoomed in on with an outward pinch, something you clearly can’t do in the print edition.

     

    Texture  CEO John Loughlin  Says “I’m thrilled that Next Issue Media and its award-winning Texture app are being acquired by Apple. The Texture team and its current owners, Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, Rogers Media, and KKR, could not be more pleased or excited with this development. We could not imagine a better home or future for the service.” IM sure there was a nice percentage buy in to apple that will make him an insanely rich man.

     

    While we don’t know much about the acquisition some of the details where revealed In a statement from apple ” We’re excited Texture will join Apple, along with an impressive catalog of magazines from many of the world’s leading publishers. We are committed to quality journalism from trusted sources and allowing magazines to keep producing beautifully designed and engaging stories for users.”

     

    The Final Though

    Apple has shocked and bewildered us before with acquisitions, like beats. Whats a head for Texture? no idea. leave it to apple to blow our minds with a medium we all thought went the way of the Bloackbuster.

  • Laptop Lookout: Microsoft Surface Pro LTE

    Laptop Lookout: Microsoft Surface Pro LTE

    Its almost here! The New Microsoft Surface Pro is coming. Better than ever, the new Surface Pro gives you a best-in-class laptop, plus the versatility of a studio and tablet. The stunning PixelSense Display supports Surface Pen and touch, while up to 13.5 hours of battery life gives you plenty of juice to work all day and play all night.

    The Great

    • Top Tablet, PC Notebook
    • Better performance and battery life from its CPU update
    • Flexable keyboard
    • LTE antenna

    The Not

    • Keyboard cover and Surface Pen are still sold separately.
    • No USB-C and Thunderbolt options

    The Conclusion

    I truly love this thing,  it’s a beast.  For such a small package it really is amazing. It powers 3 monitors for me through the dock, bunch of USB devices, do Photoshop, web dev, emails, everything. Make sure to not go cheap on the processor or ram or you’re stuck with a brick. Microsoft says it, The ultimate laptop with versatility of a studio and tablet.

     

    What To Do..

    So here is my problem, I need to solve for the following. I need to replace a laptop, with a powerful desktop, and a tablet. It has to run Lightroom, Photoshop, Visual Studio, Office stuff and Age of Empires all at once. I need a  pressure-sensitive pen for drawing and to convert it to a workstation . I want a decent and equally powerful tablet form factor for reading, games, and video watching with decent tablet battery life

     

    What to do, what to do.. And there is an easy, elegant answer.. the Surface Pro with Advanced LTE. Surface Pro delivers even more speed and performance thanks to a powerful Intel Core processor that runs full desktop apps with ease plus 50% more battery life than Surface Pro 4 and 2.5x more performance than Surface Pro 3. With brilliant color on the high-resolution PixelSense Display with a stunning screen that responds to your touch, its heaven. The Surface has been great, whats the new one do?

     

    Whats New?

    From a hardware perspective, the Surface Pro with LTE Advanced is almost indistinguishable from its non-LTE sibling, the surface pro (2017) which in turn is remarkably similar to the 2015-vintage surface pro 4.

    A close inspection of the exterior reveals one difference. Behind the kickstand, the Surface Pro with LTE Advanced includes an expansion slot that’s about 5/8 of an inch wider than its non-LTE cousin. That’s just enough room to squeeze a nano SIM tray alongside the familiar MicroSD memory card slot. Surface Pro’s LTE connectivity makes it the first “true mobile computer.

    A Cat 9 modem supports cellular connections up to 450 Mbps in speed, and an embedded SIM allows connections to pay-as-you-go data services without the need for an external SIM card. GPS support is also included, making this a useful option for any application that requires precise location information and navigation.

     

    The Final Thought

    The Surface has everything thing I need to truly replace my PC, laptop and tablets. It works, its great and im not stuck only get mobile versions of apps and websites. While the upgrades since 2015 are minimal, they are useful and necessary with out any gimmicks and features I don’t need and wont use.

     

     

     

  • Laptop Lookout: HP ZBook X2

    Laptop Lookout: HP ZBook X2

    Its not a Notebook, barely a laptop but it a great PC solution. Hp is Introducing the world’s most powerful detachable PC with remarkable performance and versatility to push your favorite Adobe applications to the limit. Yes it’s a full-performance workstation-class laptop experience with full-sized keyboard and integrated stand. With HP Quick Keys, keep working in your Adobe® apps without the use of a keyboard. The full-sized Bluetooth® keyboard stays active when detached, so you can keep working.

     

    The Good

    • Adobe featured
    • great stylus
    • Great shortcut OS features
    • Good Keyboard

     

    The Not

    • Battery-life not great
    • Lacks graphic performance
    • Overpriced

     

    The Conclusion

    I cant call it a 2 in 1, its barley a laptop but much more then a notebook or tablet. Really its everything and does it all pretty well but is a master of none.

     

     

    This is no notebook. This is  a specialized tool designed to serve as a complete solution for digital artists, photographers and other creatives. It’s massive, but designed to provide easy access to shortcuts. It also has a professional-grade stylus and a matte 4k display that feels as if you’re drawing on paper.

     

    The Design

    You’ve never seen a laptop like this before. The ZBook is industrial in a way that looks powerful. It’s a large octagon of metal. The back is a very plain gunmetal gray with a reflective Z logo and a whole bunch of vents for cooling. The pull-out kickstand could use a little more to put you fingers in the small notches on the side, but it pulls out almost flat, up to 165 degrees.

     

     

    With a 4k Display and only a 14 inch bezel surrounding it makes it very attractive to look at. Windows Hello is in place with an infrared camera and webcam stuffed in the top. The best part of the design is the 12 programmable shortcut buttons built down the sides. Down the right side you will find  a fingerprint reader, an SD card slot, a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI output, a pair of Thunderbolt ports and a barrel-shaped charging jack.Its a big heaver then the others in its class at 4.9lbs but it feels much more rugged and sturdy. The metal body helps this.

     

    The Power

    It has the power,  it has all the specs of a workstation PC: a quad-core i7 processor (from Intel’s Kaby Lake-R line), an Nvidia Quadro M620 graphics card, and up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD in a versatile desgin. These are the top line specs so you are gonna have to pay more to get the juice. It also rocks a  Wacom EMR-enabled and battery-free stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure, comparable to many of Wacom’s gaphics tablets. Then there’s the four modes that the detachable 2-in-1 can be used in. That includes a docked mode where the device can connect to two external 4K displays simultaneously and a “detached” mode where the keyboard functions as a Bluetooth keyboard.

     

    The Final Thought

    Its got some neat, unique features and functions. The short-cut keys, the kickstand. Its got the versatility being a tablet, 2-1, and powerful PC. Yes its the most powerful detachable pc tablet laptop but at what cost?  It’s a good fit for for artists, 4K videographers, and anyone who needs massive power in a versatile form…

     

  • IOT Credit Card is the Solution

    IOT Credit Card is the Solution

     

    The Dynamics company introduced new functionalities for its Wallet Card, an Internet of Things (IoT) connected credit card at the WMC 2018. Two-way communication between banks and cardholders is a highlight, as faster connections could mean safer cards and quicker account changes. Now consumers will be able to communicate with their bank via a connected credit card. I know you are thinking, what does this mean and why would I want this. First off it means safer cards and quicker account changes.

     

    Dynamics CEO Jeffrey Mullen said in the release “We had promised that we would unveil new features with incredible strategic and financial value for both banks and consumers,”. “Today, we start to deliver on that promise by unveiling that the connected Wallet Card has the ability to wirelessly send consumer requests to a bank through the card’s telecommunications connection. For the first time, a bank can ask a customer a question on the card’s display and get an immediate response. With these new consumer insights, the bank can provide better and more informed services.”

    The size and shape of a standard credit card, the Wallet Card contains a cell phone chip and antenna for data transfers, along with a magnetic stripe, programmable EMV chip, and a programmable contactless chip, the release said. All of the communication with the bank appears on a 65,000 pixel display on the front of the card.

    Whats this one do?

    There are 3 big features that creates new opportunities for communication and value this will bring to the end card user. one it will let the bank verify purchases. Lets say if an FI suspects a fraudulent purchase using an existing card, the bank can ask a consumer to verify on their card that they made a particular purchase and the consumer can quickly respond. It will allow the banks to offer on-the-spot credit limit increase . Instead of the  declining a transaction, the FI can ask a consumer if they would like to increase the credit limit on their card.

     

    It will also give the financial institutions the benefit of adding cards. If the FI believes a consumer might benefit from a new card offering, the bank can ask if the cardholder would like to download the new card immediately. Or if you need to Upgrade cards ,  the bank can ask a consumer if they would like to upgrade their card to one that has additional features or value.

     

    The Final Thought.

    Seems cool. Sign me up. Makes clearing all those subscription services easy to cancel if I can just tap my card and get a new card number.

     

     

     

  • 3 Cool Updates From Samsungs Television

    3 Cool Updates From Samsungs Television

    1. Translucent Ambient Televisions

    For years, Samsung has been trying to make TVs look pretty even when you’re not watching TV. The company just announced the latest lineup of its flagship QLED TVs with an all-new feature called Ambient Mode. Basically, thanks to some hardware trickery, Ambient Mode can replicate the texture on the wall behind your TV and almost make it disappear. It’s sort of like an invisibility cloak for your TV.

     

    The demo of this new feature worked well, blending it perfectly with the brick wall behind it. I am super excited to blend a TV in to my living room wall. It would be perfect, until you see a bunch of wires hanging from some random bricks in my fireplace.  that leads us to number 2

     

    2.A New Single Translucent Cable Wire

    If i have a tv the can be translucent mounted to my wall but the tangle of cords jutting out of the back of the TV, pushing it away from the wall and then dangling down to wherever the cable box, PS4, and Wii U reside, is ugly and pointless. So Samsung did something that strikes you, innately, as both backward and forward thing—it moved all the ports of the TV.

     

    On the 2017 Q9 TV from Samsung they have managed to pack 6 input ports in to a minuscule cord. The Cord is translucent, making it less visible against a bare wall. It will connect to a unit like Samsung’s current One Connect Box, which includes USB 3.0, coax, and multiple HDMI ports. THis seems like the answer to the translucent TV cord issue..

     

    3. The Wall, Summer

     

    MicroLED is a technology that shrinks traditional LEDs to a smaller size, and gives them the ability to produce their own light. Think OLED, but take out the organic part. MicroLED doesn’t require a discrete backlight, and there’s no need for LCD shutters. In turn, this creates a brighter, more contrast-rich television that can turn pixels off individually. This has brought us the next level of cool from Samsung… The Wall.

     

    Yes, yes we have all seen from the unveiling at the CES 2018 in Jan.. so tell me something I don’t know. Samsung’s the Wall is the next big thing. It seemed to be just a concept with actual production and availability in the distant future. Even Samsung said “we are still years away, their next step is a 2-5 year plan for a 75 inch MicroLED set”. With a big announcement today, we have an answer.. August.

    We will see the Wall available to consumers August 2018. Given the customization nature of The Wall and the technology it uses, chances are it won’t be cheap when it does come out this summer. I am still guessing 10k.

  • Nokia 8 Sirocco Brings Welcomed News.

    Nokia 8 Sirocco Brings Welcomed News.

    At Mobile World Congress today, the Nokia 8 Sirocco made news of its release and the unexpected upgrades it got. The resulting looks are impressive to say the least, and the fingerprint reader has been moved to the rear to reduce the bezels at the front. The entire phone has curved points at the edges, with a design that hides the usual antenna lines. The changes and upgrades appear to make the phone sleek, light, and comfortable.

    Image result for nokia 8 sirocco

    The Specs

    The Nokia 8 Sirocco is equipped with Qualcomm’s 835 processor, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. At the center is a 5.5-inch OLED display (2560 x 1440). HMD is also using a dual-camera system at the rear with a 12-megapixel primary camera and ZEISS optics. The front-facing 5-megapixel camera also has a wide-angle (84-degree) lens. The software will support HMD’s “bothie” mode. As HMD has switched to a glass device, there’s also wireless charging on the Nokia 8 Sirocco. Unfortunately, HMD removed the headphone jack. You’ll need to use USB-C or Bluetooth headphones, or make use of the USB-C to 3.5mm headset adapter in the box.
    Image result for nokia 8 sirocco

    More News

    “The Nokia 8 Sirocco will be available in April priced at 749 euros ($920). Alongside the Nokia 8 Sirocco, HMD is also launching two mid-range devices. The Nokia 7 Plus has the same camera system as the Nokia 8 Sirocco, but it swaps the exterior for a ceramic coating. The Nokia 7 Plus includes Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. The 6-inch LCD display (2160 x 1080) on the 7 Plus is 18:9 so it’s extra-tall. The bezels look similar to Google’s Pixel 2 XL display, and HMD has placed the fingerprint reader at the rear to help with that. HMD plans to make the Nokia 7 Plus available in April for 399 euros ($490). HMD is also introducing a refreshed Nokia 6. The new Nokia 6 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 630 processor, with 3GB of 4GB of RAM, and 32GB or 64GB of storage. HMD has moved the fingerprint reader to the back of the 5.5-inch (1920 x 1080) device. Additionally they added a 16-megapixel camera at the rear with ZEISS optics. The updated Nokia 6 will be available in April priced at 279 euros ($343).”
    Related image

    The Summary

    With all the welcomed upgrades and tech going into the Sirocco, Nokia may be making moves to enter the ring with the big “smart phone” dogs. The companies almost novelty strength of their phones, has kept them relevant for this long so lets see what they got. I am eager to see how this new phone operates and competes against Apple and Samsung.

  • Amazon Buys Ring Doorbell Company

    Amazon Buys Ring Doorbell Company

    News broke today that Amazon has purchased the Ring Co., best known for their smart doorbell system. The terms of the deal are still unknown, but it’s expected that Amazon will likely keep the product as is with an upgraded Amazon Ecosystem. Ring already supports Alexa voice control and I would imagine we can expect more upgrades to come. The rumored purchase price was for $1 Billion dollars, but this is not confirmed.

    Image result for ring doorbell

    What the Sale Means for Ring?

    The two companies aren’t specific about their plans. In a statement, Amazon told Engadget it was “excited” to work with Ring and aid in its “mission to keep homes safe and secure.” the company said it could “achieve even more” by allying itself with Amazon as it focuses on its “vision for safer neighborhoods.” With this purchase in addition to Blink, Amazon now own two major companies that produce doorbells and wireless security cameras. Amazon’s apparent mission is find a cornerstone in the home safety market.

    Ring doorbell

    This purchase should help Amazon have the hardware to rival the GoogleNest System. Nest partnered up with Google and has been expanding their presence most recently with the Hello Video Doorbell. We can all imagine that Amazon will make a similar addition to the Ring especially after they recently changed their policy to state the following:

    The Policy Change

    “Where permitted by applicable law, you may choose to use additional functionality in your Ring product that, through video data from your device, can recognize facial characteristics of familiar visitors. For example, you may want to receive different notifications from your Ring Doorbell depending on whether a visitor is a stranger or a member of your household. If you choose to activate this feature, we obtain certain facial feature information about the visitors you ask your Ring product to recognize. We require your explicit consent before you can take advantage of this feature.”

    The Summary

    This recent purchase could mean big things for Amazon and the smart doorbell company. Because of the Google and Nest partnership, Amazon could feel threatened and need to make moves to stay atop the voice activated and video world. Never the less, Amazon should increase the doorbell’s capability and features. I await to see what upgrades the company gets.

  • What has Vivo Done Now, The Apex

    What has Vivo Done Now, The Apex

     

     

    The Vivo Apex is nothing more than a concept phone right now, but it’s tremendously impressive. Not only are the bezels practically non-existant — 1.8mm on the top and sides, 4.3mm on the chin — but there is no notch at all. It begins with a massive 6-inch screen that has eliminated the bezels to an impossible 1.8mm on three sides and 4.3mm on the bottom.

    The Vivo Apex is almost completely bezelless. The frame around the face is so slim, there is no  room for the front-facing camera.Flip over the front-facing camera and in 0.8 seconds an 8-megapixel lens rises up from the phone’s top edge. then wham, there is your selfie camera. The lens rises fairly slowly in the prototype. Im worried about a movable or mechanical piece on my smartphone. It will break somehow.

    To produce in-call sound, the company has developed what it calls Screen SoundCasting Technology. A vibration motor under the display vibrates to produce sound through the screen. Yes you read that correctly,  the Apex OLED panels that vibrate to create the sound for your videos, calls and gaming.  the speakerphone demo  on the prototype sounded loud and rich.

    Vivo showed us at the CES in January an in screen fingerprint reader. Now Vivo has expanded the in-screen fingerprint reader. On the Apex, the target takes up almost half the bottom of the phone, instead of just a small circle. That opens all sorts of doors to simultaneously scan two fingerprints for added security, or place your finger down at any odd angle, instead of hitting it perfectly dead center.

    The last truly impressive thing to take from this is the Vivo Apex  software seems to be a complete copy of iOS, down to the graphics assets on the homescreen and in menus. It would be nice to see another iOS inspired software option. especially in a truly cutting edge phone.

    Quick Specs Look

     

    • 6-inch edge-to-edge OLED display with 1.8mm bezel on top and sides and 4.3 mm on the bottom.
    • Screen resolution: 2,160×1,080 pixels
    • 8-megapixel front-facing camera
    • In-screen fingerprint reader supports dual fingerprint recognition
    • Dual rear camera
    • Hi-Fi audio chip creates more room for the battery by consolidating the DAC and three amplifiers into one

    The Final Thought

    it’s an incredibly baller phone, but it’s just a concept. That screen shows remarkable engineering and the pop-up camera isn’t as strange as you might think. I’d be happy to spend more time with the device if Vivo ever decides it’s ready for the show. I am anxious to see if the Chinese manufacturer continues innovating to fruition.