Gadget Hacks News

News: Into the Dead 2 Is Already One of the Best Free Action Games for Android & iPhone

The release of Into the Dead 2 has given fans of the zombie bashing genre a fresh game to enjoy, but it's also given us the opportunity to revisit our roundup for the best free action games for mobile. Not only did it replace its predecessor in our charts, it managed to surpass it. Here's what made the game shine through.

News: Renault Trucks Tests HoloLens to Visualize Quality Control in Engine Assembly Operations

French manufacturer Renault Trucks is looking to the HoloLens to improve quality control processes with its engine assembly operations.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Wireless Chargers for Your Smartphone

If you're planning on picking up a new iPhone X, 8, or 8 Plus, or maybe a Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, or Note 8, you'll want to consider a wireless charger. While you might feel a bit fancy charging your smartphone without a cable, that pomp might come at a price. Thankfully, Black Friday is almost upon us, and we know all about the best deals.

News: Marvel Teams with Snoop, Jaden Smith, Jamie Foxx, Black Eyed Peas & Others for AR Graphic Novel

While most of Hollywood and its celebrity class are enthralled by virtual reality, a new augmented reality experience featuring some of the music and film world's top talent is preparing for virtual liftoff.

News: Maker of Mobile Hit Fruit Ninja Blends AR & VR in Supernatural Story Game

To the best of my recollection, Fruit Ninja was one of the first touchscreen games that appeared to really take advantage of the new paradigm of user input, turning the player's finger into a produce-slicing katana.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on iPhone Accessories

A new iPhone is only as good as its accessories. Whether it's a case, screen protector, or charger, your iPhone's ecosystem depends on accessories to keep it powered, protected, and personal. Prices on all of these extras are going to be at an all-time low this Black Friday weekend, so we've rounded up the best deals around to help you get the essentials you want and prices you can afford.

News: Meet the Honor 7X — Huawei's New Premium Budget Phone

Huawei has been on a roll recently. They just became the second largest smartphone manufacturer in September, passing Apple and trailing only Samsung. Shortly after, they announced their new Kirin 970 flagship SoC to rival the Snapdragon 835, then followed that up by announcing the Mate 10 and 10 Pro. Well apparently, Huawei isn't done with announcements just yet.

News: We Found All the Silly, Wonderful People Playing with Their New 'Star Wars: Jedi Challenges' Lightsabers

If you know your internet history, then you fondly remember the Star Wars Kid and his epic lightsaber display on YouTube. Now, many years later, everyone is following in the footsteps of the Star Wars Kid thanks to the Lenovo Mirage and the new Star Wars: Jedi Challenges app.

News: Porsche Adopts Atheer's AR Platform to Connect Mechanics with Remote Experts

If you own a Porsche, there's a good chance you're interested in two things: speed and quality. Porsche Cars North America wants to extend that experience from the driver's seat to the service center.

News: Death Road to Canada Finally Arrives on Android with Much-Deserved Fanfare

Death Road to Canada has finally arrived for Android, and it quickly took over our roundup for the best paid action games. Widely regarded as a top contender for the best video game of 2017, it came as no surprise when it easily surpassed all the other games in our list to grab the top spot for both Android and iPhone.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on VR Headsets for Your Smartphone

Virtual reality headsets aren't new, but they may be something you or someone on your holiday shopping list hasn't experienced yet. If you're going to dive into the world of smartphone-based virtual reality, the best time to do it is during Black Friday when all the good sales are going on.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on iPhone X Accessories

Whether you just bought an iPhone X or one of your friends or family members did, iPhone X accessories are probably on your shopping list this holiday season. Cases, screen protectors, fast-chargers, wireless charging stations ... whatever they may be, you'll find the best deals on them this Black Friday weekend.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: New Colors & Clock Styles for Samsung's Always On Display

Samsung's latest Oreo Beta update for the Galaxy S8 brings an impressive number of new customization features. On the lock screen, we've seen the introduction of new colorization options for the clock and transparent notifications. Not to be forgotten, the Always On Display is getting some new clock styles and colors.

News: Get Google's Awesome 'Android x Justice League' Wallpapers Right Now

DC's highly anticipated new Justice League movie is opening tonight, and Google just pushed out a nice treat for Android fans heading out to the movie. Over on the official Android Twitter account, we found a few exclusive "Android x Justice League" wallpapers featuring our favorite bugdroid.

News: Google's New Project Fi Deal Could Net You a Free Moto X4

There are a lot of holiday tech deals starting to trickle out as Black Friday approaches. We've already rounded up some of the best deals for Android, iPhones, and headphones, but Google just dropped a big announcement for users of their Project Fi MVNO service. Now through December 17, you can earn yourself a free Moto X4 or Chromecast by referring your friends and family to Project Fi.

News: Google Glass Resurfaces as a Tool to Help People with Autism Improve Their Social Skills via AR

Considered by many (perhaps unfairly) to be a very public failure, Google Glass can add another plot point to its comeback story, this time as a tool to teach social skills to children and adults with autism.

Apple AR: Zynga's CSR 2 for iPhone Puts Your Dream Car Within Virtual Reach with AR Mode

Exotic sports cars are the province of the ridiculously wealthy but, thanks to augmented reality, you can now get closer than ever to a Bugatti Chiron.

News: iOS 11.2 Beta 4 Released for iPhone with Mostly Under-the-Hood Improvements

Apple seeded the fourth beta for iOS 11.2, just one day after releasing iOS 11.1.2 to the public. The new iOS 11.2 beta 4 has also already hit public beta testers and includes mostly bug fixes and security patches to improve the overall experience for iPhone owners.

News: Apple Park Visitor Center Opens to Public with AR Tour of Entire Campus

After years of tantalizing drone video, and then brief glimpses from special guests sharing photos on social media, the Apple Park Visitor Center finally opened to the public on Friday, Nov. 17.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: You Can Now Make Lock Screen Notifications Transparent — Here's How

Samsung kicked off their Android Oreo rollout earlier this week. The update already improved the lock screen significantly with new wallpaper color-matching for the clock. With the newest update, we also get the ability to tweak the transparency of lock screen notifications.

Market Reality: In the Race for Consumer Smartglasses, the Future Is Coming into Focus

The next frontier for AR hardware is the consumer headset, and tech companies of varying size and tenure are working hard to strike the right mix between comfort, cool factor, and cost. How these companies handle the hype and flow of information vary wildly.

News: Teach Your Kids to Code with This Cute Augmented Reality Robot

If you or someone you know has younger kids and you're looking for an augmented reality toy, Pai Technology has just the educational option for you.

Coming Sept. 12: iPhone XS, XS Max & iPhone XR — Everything We Know So Far About Apple's 2018 Lineup

The iPhone X was released in November 2017, and the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus dropped right before it, but the hottest news right now revolves around the 2018 iPhone releases. The rumor mill regarding the iPhone X's successor started churning out speculations on names, cameras, display size, and more almost immediately after last year's devices, and there have been many new leaked details since.

News: Vuzix Exec 'Sneaks' Demo of Futuristic Blade Smartglasses onto the Web

Up until now, experiencing augmented reality through Vuzix's next-generation Blade 3000 smartglasses would have required a trip to a tech conference where the company has an exhibition booth.

News: Don't Even Think About Buying a OnePlus 6 Next Year

OnePlus just took the wraps off their new flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 5T. The phone has an impressive spec list, including a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6.01" FHD display at 2160 x 1080, 6 or 8 GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of storage, 3,300 mAh battery, and the awesome Dash Charging technology. This rapid turnover to a new device has many OnePlus 5 early-adopters angry and feeling duped.

News: Magic Leap CEO Tweetstorm Reveals the Company's Vision for the Future of AR Computing

When you run an augmented reality company worth billions of dollars, backed by some of the biggest names in tech, and you haven't even released a product yet, even late night tweetstorms rank as worthy of dissection. Such is the case with Rony Abovitz, CEO of Magic Leap, who decided to spend a little time on Twitter on Wednesday to outline his vision of the future of immersive computing.

News: YouTube Pinch-to-Zoom Comes to More Devices

Google launched the Pixel 2 XL with a unique pinch-to-zoom feature in the YouTube app. The feature is pretty basic, allowing users to expand the video to full-screen on devices with 18:9 aspect ratios with a simple pinch gesture. Considering its simplicity, it was strange that the feature was limited to the Pixel 2 XL. Today that exclusivity has ended as the feature is rolling out to the Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Note 8, LG V30, and LG G6.

Hands-on: Lenovo & 'Star Wars: Jedi Challenges' Deliver First Truly Mainstream AR Headset

After spending a good portion of 2017 teasing us with images and bits of news, Lenovo, in a partnership with Disney and Lucasfilm, has finally released its Mirage AR headset along with the Star Wars: Jedi Challenge game collection.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Portable Chargers for Your Smartphone

With the holidays fast approaching, our smartphones are more important than ever — keeping in constant contact with family, organizing trips and gatherings, and online shopping is only a taste of what we put our smartphones through. All of that means a big strain on your smartphone's battery. That's why portable chargers are so necessary, and what better time to pick one up than on Black Friday.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals for Smartphone Cases

It's the holidays. That means new smartphones, and new smartphones mean new cases. Whether it's the Galaxy S8, the iPhone X, or the Note 8, your new phone deserves to be protected. Of course, good cases can get pricey fast. That's what Black Friday is for, of course.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Headphones for Your Smartphone

Our smartphones have outlived the Walkman, iPod, and even stereo systems, to some degree. So it makes sense to treat your iPhone or Android device to a quality pair of headphones, whether you're a hardcore audiophile or just an everyday music lover. This doesn't come cheap, of course, so why not buy them on Black Friday?

News: To Win This Obscure Star Trek Game on the HoloLens, Players Need to Control Their Stress Levels

When playing word association with Star Trek, the first thing to come to mind with regards to augmented reality is likely Holodeck, not The Game, an obscure episode from season five of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Android Phones

There are a lot of Android phones out there, and chances are that someone in your life is looking for one this holiday season. Well, there also happens to be a lot of Black Friday deals on Android phones this year. So we've rounded up the best deals taking place on Black Friday weekend to help you save big.

News: Apple Tests Retail Waters for AR Hardware with MekaMon Gaming Robot

As it turns out, Apple did get AR hardware into its retail stores for the 2017 holiday shopping season, but it's not the headset we've been hearing rumors about for years; it's the MekaMon battle-bot.

News: Virtual Faucets Pour Water & Light Fixtures Shine in ARKit Update of Build.com App

Thanks to ARKit, homeowners and apartment dwellers can visualize just about every aspect of their abodes, from furniture and decor with the IKEA Place, Houzz, and Amazon apps to new countertops with Cambria's app and retractable awnings via Markilux.

News: Razer Phone Officially Available for Order — Here's Where You Can Buy It Now

Razer took to the stage this month to unveil their new flagship phone, fittingly called the Razer Phone. The device is targeted at gamers, but has a list of specs that make it an intriguing daily driver for any user. Its headlining feature is an 120 Hz IGZO display, the first of its kind in a flagship smartphone released in the US. Tonight, Razer officially opened up orders for the new phone on their website.

News: After Meta Lawsuit Settlement, Dreamworld to Open Pre-Orders for AR Headset

Now that it has buried the legal hatchet with Meta Company, augmented reality startup Dreamworld has announced plans to open up pre-orders for its Dream Glass AR headset.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Speaker Deals for Your Smartphone

Speakers today are a marvel for their portability and sound quality. No longer do we need giant boxes to bring down the house — a speaker that can fit in your hand can fill a room with your favorite music. This is even more important when you pair it with your smartphone, and there are lots of smartphone-friendly speakers on sale this Black Friday.

News: MAC Cosmetics Stores Get AR Makeover with Virtual Try-on Mirrors

While AR apps by Modiface and Perfect Corp. have made it easier for people to shop for makeup without setting foot in a store, MAC Cosmetics wants to give its brick-and-mortar customers the same experience.

News: Samsung Pulling Latest Oreo Beta Update After Critical Bug

The Android Oreo Beta for the Galaxy S8 and S8+ has been available for nearly two weeks. Samsung started rolling out the Beta 2 update late last week in the UK, and just yesterday in the US. Unfortunately, the US version of the update firmware (G955USQU1ZQK6) experienced a critical bug with the phone app at launch. As a result, Samsung has completely pulled the US Beta 2 update for the time being.