Gadget Hacks News
News: Here Are the Prices for Every Apple Watch Model (From $349 to $17,000)
The long-awaited Apple Watch is ready for retail, with pricing and availability announced at Apple's Spring Forward event. Each of the three variants—Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch, and Apple Watch Edition—will be available in two sizes, 32mm and 44mm, with preorders beginning on April 10th and the retail launch on April 24th. The Watches will initially be available nine countries: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. You'll b...
News: HBO NOW Cable-Free Streaming Available for $14.99/Month—Just in Time for Game of Thrones
It's been a long time coming, but HBO will finally be releasing their cable-free streaming service next month in the U.S., over two years after they had released similar standalone subscriptions in countries such as Norway.
News: Can Google Flights Really Get You the Best Price Possible?
I hate flying for two reasons. Firstly, I'm afraid of heights and turbulence is absolutely hellish. Secondly, I hate overspending on airfare. Flying can be unnecessarily expensive, especially if you don't plan ahead or must deal with inclement weather. Nevertheless, the travel season is almost here and we're always looking for the cheapest, most convenient flight. But what service actually provides you with exactly that?
News: Try Out the New Photos App & Diverse Emojis with the Yosemite 10.10.3 Public Beta
Apple just recently launched its 10.10.3 Public Beta for Mac OS X Yosemite, and while it comes with mostly bug fixes for 10.10.2, it also includes a brand new Photos application that's meant to replace iPhoto and Aperture, as well as the inclusion of more diverse emojis.
News: Here's Your Official Look at the New HTC One M9
Today marked the official unveiling of the HTC One M9 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The newest HTC flagship will be released by the middle of March globally, and come in gold, gunmetal, pink, and silver. And if you were wondering, yes all of the leaks were pretty much spot on.
News: GravityBox Gets Lollipop Update; Most Features Already Working
The king of all Xposed modules is alive and kicking on Android Lollipop. GravityBox received an update over the weekend that will bring its bevy of UI tweaks to folks who have installed the framework on their Android 5.0+ devices.
News: Could This Be the New Samsung Galaxy S6?
With Mobile World Congress right around the corner, we're all left to patiently await the unveiling of two Android flagship smartphones—HTC's One M9 and Samsung's Galaxy S6.
News: How to Keep Your Kids Safe on YouTube for Android & iOS
These days, we truly have a world of knowledge at our fingertips. Trouble is, a large portion of that information is not something you'd want your five-year-old learning about quite yet.
News: Hack Proves Android Wear Can Work with iPhones (Demo)
With wearable tech becoming the latest trend in electronics, it's a shame that most smartwatches are locked down to one ecosystem. If you purchase a smartwatch, you can expect that it will not work with devices from competing manufacturers. That will be the case for the Apple Watch when the product finally hits shelves, and it has been the case for Android Wear devices like the Moto 360 for quite some time now.
News: Leaked Videos Show Off the HTC One M9
While the official unveiling will happen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 1st, several images and promotional videos for the HTC One M9 have leaked online.
News: Google Now Gets Voice Toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, & Flashlight
The biggest pet peeve of many Google Now users has always been the fact that you can't toggle basic system functions with voice commands. In fact, this was such an annoyance that folks even went so far as to apply root mods to get the functionality.
News: The Complete List of Lollipop-Compatible Xposed Modules
Now that the Xposed Framework has finally been updated for Android Lollipop, we're starting to notice that some modules function properly, while others are a bit buggy or even worse—don't work at all. Most of this is a result of changes to elements of the Android system that KitKat modules relied upon, and such modules will need to be updated for 5.0 compatibility.
Act Fast: Get 2 GB Google Drive Storage for Free (Limited Time Only)
Yes, "Safer Internet Day" is a real thing, and it's actually been around for 12 years. This year, Google again will be commemorating the event by giving away a 2-gigabyte storage bump for their Google Drive cloud service if you simply run through a security checkup.
News: Xposed Framework Coming Soon for Lollipop
The main developer behind the Xposed Framework just teased Android 5.0 compatibility for his popular mod. Rovo89 posted a screenshot on XDA that shows the framework running on a Lollipop-powered Nexus 5. Android Lollipop's switch from Dalvik runtime to Android runtime—better known as ART—made Xposed compatibility a problem for the OS. But alas, our favorite modding platform is just about ready for primetime.
News: LG Giving Away Free Virtual Reality Headset with Purchase of a New G3
With 2015's generation of flagship smartphones fast approaching, LG is turning to virtual reality to clear its G3 inventory. VR for G3 is a Google Cardboard-inspired virtual reality headset that was custom fit to encase the phone and uses a pair of lenses to create stereoscopic imagery.
High There: A Dating App for Weed Smokers (Because Potheads Need Love, Too)
Dating can sometimes be a cruel and embarrassing game. You could be having a great time with someone, only for the situation to turn awkward and uncomfortable when a little bit of information is released, especially when that information is your use of medicinal or recreational marijuana.
News: Get a Free $6 Google Play Credit for Every Chromecast You Own
For $35, there's hardly a better value in the online media player market than the Chromecast. Taking that sentiment a step further, if you factor in the promotions Google likes to offer with it, Chromecast practically pays for itself.
News: Google Earth's $399/Year Pro Features Now Free for Everyone
Google Earth has long served as a great tool to explore the furthest regions of our beautiful planet from the comfort of our own homes, but for those with more than just a recreational interest, a bundle of pro features had always cost $399... a year.
News: Google Now Adds Cards for Lots of Third-Party Apps
Of the Google services that come bundled in Android devices, none is more useful than Google Now. By combining search with timely cards that hope to guess your next move before you even make it, Google Now is everything a virtual assistant should be.
NFL Comes to YouTube: Game Highlights, Analysis, & More
YouTube and the National Football League have announced a partnership that should greatly improve the online experience for gridiron fans. In a posting on their official blog, YouTube outlines a deal that will bring NFL video clips to their immensely popular site while bumping official NFL pages up to the top of relevant Google search results.
News: You Can Now Grab Free TV Show Episodes & Songs in iTunes
Apple is offering free full episodes of popular TV shows and free songs from artists with its most recent update to the iTunes Store. In the Music section, "Free on iTunes" seems to have replaced "Single of the Week," which used to give lesser-known independent artists a chance to give their music away in hopes that it would increase their popularity.
Facebook Lite: A Smaller Version of the App with a Huge Upside
As one of the most frequently used and popular applications available, Facebook is now attempting to be a little more considerate for those Android users that don't have a bleeding-edge device or fast data connections.
News: Get Amazon Prime for Only $72 or Just Binge-Watch “Transparent”—This Saturday Only
An Amazon Prime subscription offers free two-day shipping and discounted rates on many Amazon products, while at the same time granting users access to Amazon's Instant Video library. While this service normally runs $100 per year, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced today that the company will be offering a $28 discount on this price for one day only.
News: Windows 10 Will Be a Free Upgrade with "Windows Holographic" on the Horizon
Microsoft dropped a couple of huge bombs at their Windows 10 event Wednesday afternoon. Free operating systems and holographic glasses? This must be a Sci-Fi novel or a Hollywood blockbuster, because it reeks of fiction.
News: WhatsApp Makes Its Web Debut; Kills Off Popular Third-Party App
In a long-awaited move, the popular messaging platform WhatsApp has finally made its official web debut. Desktop and laptop owners will be happy to know that they can now message their favorite contacts directly from their computers, without the need to install additional apps.
News: Charlie Hebdo Releases Mobile App for Android, iOS, & Windows
In the wake of a horrific attack on its Paris headquarters, satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo has responded by upping its print run from a typical 60,000 to upwards of 3 million. This commemorative issue, Tout est pardonné ("All is forgiven"), has been met by such demand that the publisher is turning to alternative forms of media to reach as many viewers as possible.
News: Latest Google Maps Update Makes Sharing Directions a Cinch
As one of the most heavily utilized map applications out there, it's worth mentioning when Google Maps introduces changes big and small into its app. In the case of the most recent update, it's not so much of a change that they've made as much as it is an improvement.
CES 2015: Wocket Digitizes All the Cards in Your Wallet into One Single, Secure Card
As far as wallets go, mine is as full as they come; think something like George Castanza's overstuffed wallet on Seinfeld. I've got receipts, pictures, and tickets jammed inside, but what takes up the bulk of the space are all of the cards—credit, debit, gift, rewards, customer loyalty... I've got pretty much any card you can think of squeezed in. While it is a strain on my rear end, there's nothing I can do besides keep some of the cards elsewhere. However, looking for them when I need them ...
CES 2015: These Headbands Are Really Comfortable Headphones for Sleeping or Running
Getting a good night's sleep is critical to maintain good health, a better mood, and clear your mind for whatever the day has planned for you. But in practice, whether you're tired or not, the world has a way of preventing it, either through your partner's snoring, your neighbor's music, or the road construction going on right by your bedroom window. It can get rough.
CES 2015: Solar-Powered WakaWaka Is a Light & Charger That Helps You Be More Socially Conscious
With over 1.5 billion people on this planet without electricity, it's hard for those of us in developed nations to even fathom how anyone can read, write, repair, or do anything else that we take for granted without any lights. While some of our First World problems pale in comparison, they remain issues nonetheless, one of the biggest being constant battery drain from portable electronics.
CES 2015: Monitor Your Dog's Activity All Day Long with FitBark, a Wearable Health Tracker
Animal lovers, especially dog owners, know that pets are a part of the family, but it's often incredibly frustrating to know if and when something just isn't right with our furry companions. If you're out and about most of the day, your dog will be so happy to see you when you come home that you may have no idea they were tired and listless all day long, which can be a sign of health problems for your pup. This is where FitBark comes in.
CES 2015: Linx Headbands Can Keep You Safe from Permanent Head Injuries
Wearables were everywhere at CES 2015... you literally couldn't walk 10 feet without seeing some new and innovative device. Among the sleep, fitness, dog, and baby wearables, we came across one with a different, more important purpose—the Linx IAS injury prevention headband.
CES 2015: Check Out the All New LG G Flex 2, the Gorgeous, Self-Healing Curved Phone
Korean electronics giant LG maintained a large presence at CES 2015. While their TVs and home appliances were heavily showcased, my interest was primarily on one device—the new LG G Flex 2 Android phone.
CES 2015: The Swiss Army Knife of Sports Bottles Plays Music & Holds Your Phone, Cash, Keys, & More
If you're going exercising, either at the gym or outside, you're going to need a backpack, gym bag, or pockets to hold your water bottle, wallet, keys, smartphone, and anything else you've got on you.
CES 2015: The W3D Gaming Phone Is Like an Android, Nintendo 3DS, & PS Vita Combined
The upcoming W3D gaming smartphone by Snail isn't like anything you've ever seen before. It's pretty much a cross between an Android phone, Nintendo 3DS, and PlayStation Vita. It runs on Android, has a 3D screen similar to the 3DS, and gamepad controls like the Vita, making it one hell of a portable gaming device (that's also a phone).
CES 2015: ImmersiON-VRelia Can Turn Any Smartphone into a VR Headset
Samsung's Gear VR headset is a thing of beauty; unfortunately, it only works with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. That's where ImmersiON-VRelia's Head-Mounted Displays come in to play. With four different HMD models, we got a hands-on look at "The Go," which is not only affordable (at $125), but also compatible with the majority of Android and iOS devices.
CES 2015: The ZTE ZMAX May Be the Best Android Phone You Can Get for Under $200
Sometimes specs aren't everything, especially if you prefer value over the bleeding-edge. Enter the ZTE ZMAX, an Android phone that you can get right now for less than $200—cheaper than even the Nexus 5 or OnePlus One. If you're looking for a cheap high-end phone, it's hard to go wrong with one that sports a 5.7-inch display, expandable storage, and a massive 3400mAh battery that'll easily get you through a full day of use.
CES 2015: These Camera Lens Add-Ons Will Take Mobile Photography to the Next Level
Add-on smartphone lenses are nothing new, but they have definitely gotten better as time goes on. Case in point: the Olloclip series of lenses for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices (the S4 and S5 only at the moment).
CES 2015: SmartPlane Is a Super Lightweight Aircraft Controlled by Android or iOS
Sometimes it's not the look of a product that makes it unique, but the thought that went into it. That's what struck me about TobyRich's SmartPlane—it isn't the most elegant toy on the market, but its simplicity and function make it a winner.
CES 2015: Use iLuv's Selfy Phone Case to Take Hands-Free Selfies & Sharper Photos
Our first stop at CES this year was at iLuv, a company well known for their long line of smartphone accessories (portable chargers, speakers, headphones, etc). While their products are geared towards everyday use, their Selfy phone case, which is a bit more situational, caught our attention.