Gadget Hacks News
News: Apple Created a Switcher Guide for Android Users, but Don't Bother Reading It
Apple used to be a great, innovative company. But lately, it's filling its coffers with money raked in from selling folks on "new" and "unique" features that have been blatantly ripped off from Android.
News: iPhone 6 Tempting You to Switch? Here's What You'll Miss from Android
Apple just announced the iPhone 6, and no matter whether you've been with Android for a few months or few years, there's a good chance you're enticed by the idea of switching over to the other side.
News: Actual iPhone 6 Leaks Confirm Previous Leaks Were Spot On
Over the weekend—just days before Apple's big event—an actual iPhone 6 leaked on Chinese site cnBeta. Again, nothing here that we already didn't know about—Sapphire screen, round(er) corners, larger display, and new button stylings. Below are images of the new iPhone 6 next to the current iPhone 5S. We can clearly see the protruding camera module as well as sections on the top and bottom of the back where the antennas will be housed. A second source was able to put together some videos, as yo...
News: Motorola Just Launched a Google Glass Killer... And Nobody Noticed!
How, you ask? They did it without requiring a goofy-looking face-computer. I know what you're thinking, "Without headgear, how is it a Glass killer?" It's because it does what Glass was meant to do: keep you connected while on-the-go, without constantly staring at your phone.
News: Moto 360 Smartwatch Almost Sold Out
The most anticipated of the Android Wear devices—the Mote 360—was not only officially unveiled, it's also available to buy right now, for the low price of $249.99.
IFA 2014: LG Introduces the G Watch R
LG dropped hints of its upcoming successor to the original G Watch last week, and today at IFA 2014 they pulled the curtain off the G Watch R. For fans of Sesame Street, "R" is for "Round," and this circular design was most likely inspired by all of the buzz surrounding the Moto 360.
IFA 2014: ASUS Unveils the ZenWatch
After a week of teasing, ASUS unveiled its Android Wear-powered ZenWatch at IFA 2014. The ZenWatch packs style and performance with a custom ZenUI, Remote Camera, and over a 100 choices of built-in watch faces.
IFA 2014: Lenovo's 8-Inch Intel-Powered Android Tablet
Lenovo didn't have as much to show off at IFA 2014 as Samsung and Sony did, but its new Android-powered Tab S8 is certainly worth a look.
IFA 2014: Samsung's Gear S Smartwatch
Samsung followed up its announcement at IFA 2014 of the new Note devices with the Samsung Gear S, the latest smartwatch offering from the tech giant.
IFA 2014: Sony's PS4 Remote Play
Sony has already splashed through IFA 2014 with its Smartwatch 3 and new Xperia Z3 devices, but the last drop from Sony was for gamers—specifically those that game on the PlayStation 4.
IFA 2014: Oculus-Powered Samsung Gear VR Headset
Samsung has shown off its new smartwatch, the Gear S, and its two new Notes, the Note 4 and the Note Edge at IFA 2014, but it had one more trick up its sleeve.
IFA 2014: Samsung's Galaxy Note 4 & Galaxy Note Edge
Today was a big day for Samsung at IFA 2014, with announcements of two new devices as successors to the Galaxy Note 3: the Galaxy Note 4 and Note Edge.
IFA 2014: Sony's Xperia Z3 Family
IFA 2014 is rolling right along, and after Sony's unveiling of its Smartwatch 3, it was time for the Xperia Z3 devices to get some love— Xperia Z3, the Z3 Compact, and the Z3 Tablet Compact.
IFA 2014: Sony's Smartwatch 3
After the device-packed Samsung event at IFA 2014, Sony wasn't about to be outdone. The Smartwatch 3 follows the design of its predecessors, but is packed with beefed-up specs, water resistance, screen-off gestures, and more.
News: A Sneak Peek into Apple's New Campus
A raw video shot by Jason McMinn, using a GoPro mounted to a helicopter drone, gives us a look at Apple's new campus, currently under construction in Cupertino.
VLC: The Best Android Media Player You're Not Using
In 2012, VideoLan published a beta release of their wildly popular desktop media player, VLC, for the Android platform. However, because the non-profit development team did not have access to popular North American Android devices, they opted to exclude the USA and Canada from their initial release. That is, until now.
New Tech We Like: Hotel Robots, Texter-Shaming Theaters, "Smart" Stickers, & More
Last week's tech roundup featured iPhone 6 clones, an all-in-one sleep tracker, Xbox One updates, and other cool gadgets. This week, there's a lot more to show off, and a bunch of stuff that I need to get my hands on! Everything from app updates to putting stickers on your favorite items, I can't help but squeal at how much the "future" is right now.
News: Attack of the iPhone 6 Clones, Xbox One Gets More Social, & More Tech News You Need to Know
Better sleep, smartphone news, and changes to your favorite forms of entertainment. There's been a lot going on over the last couple of weeks in the world of tech, and we thought we'd show you all of the need-to-know products, updates, and ideas that we think are most important.
News: How to Take Free Classes at Home with Coursera & Your Chromecast
Whether you are just starting or returning to college, or have already been out in the real world for some time, it's always a good idea to stay on top of your game by keeping your intellect sharp. While it may be easy to just sit in front of your TV, watching reruns of The Big Bang Theory, why not use that time to brush up on some chemistry, calculus, or general learning strategies?
ASUS Transformer Book: The Tablet That Wants to Be Your Next Windows Laptop
We've had the pleasure of test driving the ASUS Transformer Book T100T for the last couple of weeks, and for a $400 Windows 8 machine, it's impressive to say the least.
News: Five Things You Might Not Know About the Samsung Galaxy S4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is a great smartphone, but do you know all the tips and tricks within the handset?
Google's Next Smart Device: Contact Lenses That Monitor Glucose, Detects Cancer, & More
Warning: Google wants to take control of your sight. While this statement isn't (or is) true, it doesn't change the fact that Google is partnering up with Novartis to create contact lenses.
News: On the Fence About Something? Anonymously AskInternets for the Answer
There will always be a time when you're not entirely sure what you're doing with a certain subject. But the days of weighing the pros and cons yourself are coming to an end. Whether it's a common quandary like "Where should we eat?", or a more specific question along the lines of "Should I buy this shirt or not?", you can now simply AskInternets.
News: It's Now Completely Legal to Unlock Your Cell Phone—President Obama Signs Bill
Update: August 1, 2014 Earlier today, President Obama signed into law the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act, making the act of unlocking your unsubsidized cell phone 100% legal.
News: BloomSky Is Your Personal Backyard Weather Reporter
If you live in a small town, weather apps can be unreliable. Before moving to Los Angeles, I always had to add or subtract five degrees or so from what my weather app said because I couldn't trust it. With the help of BloomSky, you will be able to get an accurate weather reading directly from your backyard.
News: This Really Is the Coolest Cooler Ever
I honestly believe that everyone on earth owns the same blue cooler—you know the one. Cooler technology hasn't changed since the '50s, and frankly, it's time to mix things up, with a built-in blender perhaps? With the Coolest Cooler, it's actually possible!
News: Jibo Is the Cutest (Or Possibly Creepiest) Personal Assistant
In 1999, Robin Williams starred in Bicentennial Man, a movie in which Williams played a robot named Andrew Martin, taking care of a family as a their nanny and personal assistant. For almost 15 years, I have waited for my Andrew Martin, but until now, I have been disappointed. Luckily, Jibo is on the job!
News: GoTenna Will Let You Text Even When Service Is Down
You're hiking up a beautiful mountain when all of a sudden you remember it's your mother's birthday. You begin to panic—you forgot her birthday last year, and you know if you don't say something soon, you're as good as dead.
News: Squishy Skin-Like Material Created for Transforming Robots
Say goodbye to the age of metal robots—C-3PO and K9 are a thing of the (future) past! Anette Hosoi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics at MIT, and her former graduate student Nadia Cheng, have created a robotic material closely resembling human skin.
News: Google Celebrates Chromecast's Birthday with Free All Access Music
It's hard to believe it's already been a year since I was frantically searching every Best Buy in the Los Angeles metropolitan area to find one with a Chromecast in stock.
News: Let Your Microwave Count Your Calories for You
They say that ignorance is bliss, and that is exactly how I feel about counting calories. They simply don't exist if I don't check them, right? For those of you who are much healthier than I am, General Electric wants to count them for you, via your microwave!
News: Virtual Reality, Coming to a Dentist's Office Near You
I don't know anyone that likes going to the dentist—few things are more uncomfortable than having someone else's hands in your mouth. But outside of that, not only can the pain of certain procedures be unnerving, the drugs used to numb those pains can be just as uncomfortable. Not being able to feel your mouth for hours on end is a disconcerting feeling. But all that could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to virtual reality.
News: This May Be the Cutest Way to Get Directions Ever
Have you ever looked down to your phone and said "This GPS app works well, but why isn't it cuter?" Well, you're in luck! Tokyo's Sunrise Aquarium has what might be the cutest way to navigate to their facility—just follow the penguins!
News: This Man Made a Playable Tetris Shirt for the Game's 30th Anniversary
A man by the name of Marc Kerger is out to prove that he's the number one fan of the game TETRIS by building a playable TETRIS shirt for the game's 30th anniversary.
News: Bringing the Shortcut Key to Android Is Easier & Cheaper Than You Think
Taking pictures, sharing your location, and making calls are easy enough to do with an Android device, but for the most part, they all require your screen to be on with some sort of swiping and pressing actions. Dedicated shortcut keys are virtually non-existent on any modern day phone, but their utility is something that can be very useful.
News: Finally! A Keyboard for Smartwatches That Actually Works
There is finally a keyboard for smartwatches that would make James Bond proud, thanks to Minuum Keyboard.
News: Sensibo Is the Super Smart, Super Green Automatic A/C Controller
Personally, I know life would be a lot easier if the people in it could just read my mind. Since that technology is currently unavailable, it's comforting to know that your air conditioner can be your personal telepathist with Sensibo.
News: We Went to the Google Glass Film Festival—Don't Expect Glass-Made Movies Anytime Soon
It was a chilly but otherwise beautiful night at YouTube Spaces LA—food trucks, ping pong, a photo booth, and the chance to view film school projects created completely with Glass. About a year ago, the Glass Creative Partnership was formed to explore how Glass could be used in filmmaking, with partnerships spanning from the American Film Institute to CalArts and UCLA. On July 16, 2014, the products of that partnership were screened under the Southern California night sky. Three films were sh...
News: Snapchat Is Making It Easier for Your Friends to Stalk You
Snapchat recently introduced geofilters to its ephermal messaging platform—cute stickers that you can add on your Snapchat, which showcase your location.
Rickroll Warning: This Exploit Can Hijack Any Nearby Chromecast
A security analyst has discovered a flaw in Chromecast's initial setup process that allows would-be hackers to assume full control over the online streaming device.