Gadget Hacks News

News: Samsung's Latest Oreo Update Doesn't Have a KRACK Fix

Samsung just began rolling out the Oreo Beta 2 to registered users of the Galaxy S8 and S8+. The update's changelog promises the inclusion of the October 2017 security patch. Unfortunately, after downloading the update, we've noticed this is not the case. Omission of the more recent security patch is notable in that it leaves devices vulnerable to several known exploits, such as KRACK.

News: Hotstepper Dances Alongside You in Augmented Reality as You Walk to the Next Party

Sure, Blippar was first to market with an AR navigation app for iPhones (and iPads) compatible with ARKit, but does it know how to party? Hotstepper does.

News: The Best Black Friday 2017 Deals for iPhones

There's a good chance that an iPhone is on one of your Christmas shopping lists, but these things are uber-expensive now, making it hard to justify as a holiday gift — even for yourself. That's what Black Friday is for, though, which can help you save a little bit of cash on an iPhone purchase — or at least, give you something in return to help you get even more holiday presents.

News: How Stable Is the Galaxy S8 Oreo Update?

So you're thinking about downloading the Galaxy S8 Oreo beta, but you're not sure if it's stable enough to use. It is a beta, of course, so you might want to wait for others to give it a try. Over the past ten days I've used the Galaxy S8+ running Android Oreo as my daily driver, running down the best new features. Let's take a look at the bugs, the performance, and the battery life.

News: Apple Working on Rear-Facing AR Sensor for 2019 iPhone, Report Says

Apple CEO Tim Cook told us that augmented reality would change everything, and now we have a better idea of exactly what he meant.

News: Another Security Concern from OnePlus — Backdoor Root App Comes Preinstalled on Millions of Phones

After recently being in the news for collecting PII (personally identifiable information) for analytics and after-sales support, OnePlus has another security problem. An individual going by the name Elliot Alderson discovered an app in OnePlus devices that can enable root access with one command.

News: This Is the Only iPhone X Black Friday 2017 Deal We've Found

The iPhone X is sure to be a hot seller this holiday season. You probably know someone with the $1,000 iPhone on their wishlist, and with a price tag that high, Black Friday is probably the best chance of them getting one. But there's only one store we've found so far that's even offering a real holiday deal for the iPhone X.

News: Hitman Sniper Topped Our Chart for the Best Paid Shooting Game — Get It Free on Android Right Now

Hitman Sniper topped our roundup for the best premium shooting games, and it's easy to see why. Straightforward yet intense story. Awesome visuals. Stealthy action. Strategic gameplay. Hitman Sniper is easily the best sniper game available for your smartphone, and it's currently free on Android for a limited time, as well as discounted for iPhone.

News: Old Meets New as Mobile Classic Snake Slithers into AR

If you bought your first mobile phone in the early-to-mid-2000s, there's a good chance that it was a Nokia and it had the game Snake preinstalled.

News: Snapchat Sponsored Lenses Are Now More Helpful to Advertisers Through Context Cards

Snapchat's popular AR lenses just got a lot more useful for businesses, as the company has now opened its Context Cards platform to sponsored content.

News: iOS 11.2 Beta 3 Released, Includes Pop-Up Alerts for Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Controls, New Control Center Bar

Apple released iOS 11.2 beta 3 on Monday to developers, with only a handful of changes over Beta 2. Still, it's always recommended you upgrade to the newest version of iOS, so if you are running any of the previous 11.2 betas, make sure to update.

News: 'The Book of Alien' Print Book Uses AR to Teach You How to Survive Xenomorphs & Facehuggers on Earth

The latest installment in the Alien movie franchise, Alien: Covenant, came out many months ago, and the fan day dedicated to the franchise, Alien Day, April 26, is long past. But for many Alien fans, Alien Day is every day. For those loyal members of the xenomorph-worshipping tribe, a new augmented reality-powered book has arrived to serve their science fiction needs until the next film is released.

News: We've Found the Best Black Friday 2017 Deals on Phones & Accessories So You Don't Have To

Black Friday is fast approaching, and just like every other day-after-Thanksgiving, there will be too many tech deals you won't want to pass up. If you've been saving up all year just for this sometimes-chaotic shopping holiday, we'll help you figure out the best tech sales to take advantage of and when, whether it's Black Thursday, Black Friday, or Black Friday weekend.

Market Reality: Apple Presents Bright Future for AR, While Snap Shows Reality of Glum Present

We may have to wait a few years before they arrive, but reports of Apple's headset taking shape in Cupertino gives the tech world hope that its white knight for consumer AR is on its way.

News: Taylor Swift Invites You to Dance to Her Music in Augmented Reality

Facebook's camera platform is the augmented reality vehicle of choice to promote the latest musical effort from Taylor Swift. T-Swift's new album, Reputation, dropped today. To get her fans psyched, an AR effect electrifies the user with virtual lightning, while a snippet from one of her songs plays in the background. Previously, Lady Gaga opted for a Facebook filter to promote her Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two, which premiered Sept. 22. (Personally, I'm more excited about the new ...

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: Camera App Gets Note 8 UI & Full View Mode

We've had a lot of fun digging into the Oreo update for the Galaxy S8. Thus far, we compiled a full list of the biggest changes and ran down some of our favorites. One of the most user-facing components on a smartphone is the camera. Samsung made sure to add some nice tweaks to the camera UI in Oreo too, bringing it more in-line with the camera on the Galaxy Note 8.

News: This Theater Group Is Taking Entire Audiences into Mixed Reality with Networked HoloLens Headsets

Live theater doesn't typically benefit from the kind of computer-generated special effects that big-budget Hollywood blockbusters deploy, but that could change soon thanks to Microsoft's HoloLens.

Apple AR: Tayasui Blocks Gives iPhones & iPads a Knock-Off Lego AR Experience

If building with Lego blocks in AR appeals to you, rest assured that an app is on the way for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

News: With Amazing Visuals & Storyline, Monument Valley 2 Is the Followup Fans Have Been Waiting For

Now that it's been officially released for Android, Monument Valley 2 shot to the top of our best paid puzzle games list, and rightly so. This was no easy feat, as the games we covered ran the gamut of puzzles and all had stellar reviews. But there's just something about Monument Valley 2 that made it stand out from the rest.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: Lock Screen Clock Now Matches Wallpaper Color

The Galaxy S8 Oreo Beta has been out for just over a week now. Over that time, we've taken a look at some of the best new features and improvements. One area of smartphone software that never gets much love in updates is the lock screen. Samsung changes that in the Oreo beta, bringing new colorization options that match lock screen info to your wallpaper.

Apple AR: Star Wars Holograms Are Now a Real Thing on iPhone X via Clips App

Augmented reality is making many of our childhood dreams from Star Wars come true. A week after Lenovo gave us the ability to actually play Holochess, Apple has now made it possible to take live video of ourselves and layer on a (non-3D) hologram-like effect, closely resembling the famous Star Wars hologram scene featuring Princess Leia decades ago.

News: iOS 11.1.1 Update Patches Widespread 'A [?]' Glitch, Ignores Calculator Issues

Good news for those suffering from the "i" glitch, otherwise known as the "A [?]" bug: Apple has just released an official patch to fix the issue, in the form of a software update named iOS 11.1.1.

Apple AR: Making Art in Augmented Reality Is Easy with These iPhone Apps

If you've ever wanted to be a graffiti artist, but you also frown upon vandalism, then augmented reality is for you.

News: Google Launches Public Beta of 'Files Go' After New File Management App Leaks Online

There may be many third-party file managers for Android to choose from, but until now, Google offered no proprietary option. Enter 'Files Go,' which, while initially anticipated for December, is now available for you to try.

News: Sketchfab Fires Back at Google Poly with ARCore Update to Mobile App

Just days after the launch of Google Poly, the marketplace for 3D virtual objects that developers can use for augmented and virtual reality apps, SketchFab, the current leader in the space, is firing back with a major enhancement to its platform.

Razer Phone vs. iPhone X: Comparing the Phones with the Best Specs on Each Platform

This year, two new OEMs are trying to enter the crowded smartphone space. The first was Essential, and now Razer has entered the market with the Razer Phone. Utilizing the team they acquired from Nextbit in January, Razer has created a powerhouse of a device designed for gamers. Coincidentally, Razer announced their new device a day before Apple's biggest revision to the iPhone was released.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: Edge Lighting Gets New Colors & Effects

Now that we've had significant time with Samsung's Oreo Beta for the Galaxy S8, many interesting features have come to light. As we continue using the new software, we have uncovered more subtle changes. The home screen already received a few new customization features, it's only fitting that the edge screen get some love, too.

News: Niantic & Warner Bros. Bringing Every Harry Potter Fan's Dream to Life with AR Game Based on Franchise

Ever since the planet went crazy trying to find augmented reality creatures in Pokémon GO, we've been waiting for the next virtual object game capable of delivering a similar hit. And now, we might finally have one coming, direct from the magical world of Harry Potter.

News: Samsung Rolling Out Galaxy S8 Oreo Beta 2

Just as we started running through the features packed into the Android Oreo beta for the Galaxy S8, Samsung has started pushing out the second beta to eligible devices. According to DroidVendor, the update is rolling out as build G955USQU1ZQK1 for the Galaxy S8 Plus. The rollout should arrive as an OTA for anyone that is currently running the first beta.

News: How Razer Used IGZO Display Tech to Achieve 120 Hz Refresh Rates

With their first attempt at the mobile market, Razer introduced a device that looks at the smartphone differently. Instead of focusing on minimal bezels or an amazing camera, Razer decided to make a phone for gamers. So how could Razer target the growing mobile gaming market, which is projected to generate $40.6 billion in global revenue in 2017? It starts with the IGZO LCD Display.

News: China's Tencent Strengthens Bet on Snapchat & AR Through Major Purchase of Snap Inc. Stock

While Snap's third quarter financial reports disappointed Wall Street, China's Tencent took the opportunity to expand its investment in the social media company.

Apple AR: iPhone X User Harnesses Apple's TrueDepth Camera to Give Himself a Real-Time Baby Mask

Since the very first moment I saw the iPhone X track a human face and display the results in real-time on an Animoji character, I've been waiting for the first great hack of this new iPhone feature.

Apple AR: Apple Smartglasses in Progress, Ready for the Public by 2020, Report Says

Like gas on an open flame, rumors and whispers have flared up in recent months around hopes of augmented reality smartglasses from Apple. But among all the false leads and unsubstantiated chatter, we finally have a credible report that some sort of Apple AR smartglasses are actually in development.

Apple AR: Warby Parker Uses Face ID in iPhone X to Measure Your Face for Glasses

Online glasses retailer Warby Parker built its reputation by selling fashionable yet affordable eyeglasses, so it perhaps a surprise that it's one of the first developers to take advantage of the technology in the least affordable iPhone yet.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: New Home Screen Features Coming in Android 8.0

While millions eagerly await the stable Android 8.0 release for the Galaxy S8, the beta is already in the wild and readily available. Notable improvements include notification channels and the revamped Samsung keyboard. One aspect often overlooked are new customization options, a huge part of Android. Let's take a look at what's new for customization on the S8's home screen in Oreo.

Opinion: Snap Inc.'s Massive Loss on Spectacles May Hint at Trouble for the Future of Mainstream AR Smartglasses

The would-be role of Snap Inc. as the first step toward mainstreaming wearable tech in the form of glasses has stalled, and now we have proof. In the company's third quarter financial results report, released on Tuesday, Snap Inc. revealed that it will lose nearly $40 million due to unsold Spectacles, the camera glasses first sold at kiosks throughout the US.

Apple AR: Blippar Charts New Territory with Launch of First AR Navigation App for iPhones & iPads

Mobile AR developer Blippar has achieved a breakthrough by releasing what appears to be the first commercially-available AR navigation app.

News: Apple Finally Rolls Out Apple Pay Cash to Beta Testers

First showcased back in June at WWDC, Apple Pay Cash is Apple's answer to Venmo. Although iOS 11 has been out in the wild since September, this new iMessage feature has been mysteriously absent. That's finally changed with the second beta of iOS 11.2 — Apple Pay Cash is here.

News: This New AR App Is Like Minecraft for Drone Pilots

If DroneBase's new AR platform inspires even half the creativity among its users as Minecraft did with its community, then drone pilots are about to enjoy acres of blocky worlds to explore among the clouds.

Galaxy S8 Oreo Update: Samsung Keyboard Gets an Overhaul in Android 8.0

The Oreo Beta for Samsung's Galaxy S8 and S8+ is official and available to download on your device. Now that we have the update in hand, we've started detailing several of the changes and features. We've already looked at the new Notification Channels functionality, so in this post, we'll take a look at several improvements to Samsung's stock keyboard. While some Android users prefer to install third-party keyboards on their device, Samsung's default keyboard has a loyal following among Galax...