Hot Gadget Hacks News Stories

News: The LG V50 ThinQ 5G Is Rocking a Massive Battery, New Cooling System & Next-Gen Connectivity

Similar to last year, LG is mixing up its releases. Instead of the G series in the first half of the year and the V series in the second half, LG is releasing both heavy hitters together. However, unlike last year, this is a true upgrade from its predecessor, the LG V50 ThinQ 5G.

Hands-On: Hands-On with the HoloLens 2, the New Best Augmented Reality Experience You Can Get

In the last couple of days there's been a lot of speculation about the powers of Microsoft's HoloLens 2, but few have had a chance to get their hands on one to see if the company's claims live up to what HoloLens inventor Alex Kipman showed off on stage.

News: Meet the Nokia 9 PureView — the Pixel 3 XL You Wanted

After months of waiting, it looks like HMD has finally answered the call. Nokia's parent company is finally releasing a true flagship phone — one that isn't just an enhanced version of a previous phone and actually brings something new to the table. That phone is the Nokia 9 PureView.

News: Everything You Need to Know About the Sony Xperia 1

For 2019, Sony is trying to shake its failures of the past and start fresh. Following the unsuccessful Xperia XZ series, Sony is changing the name of their flagship to a single number: Xperia 1. With the name change comes a few upgrades, one of which is its new look. Secondly, its new display is unmatched in the mobile space.

News: In-Screen Sound & Hand Unlock? Here's What You Should Know About the LG G8 ThinQ

Once again, LG is mixing up its launch. Instead of the announcing the latest entry in G series later in the year, the LG G8 ThinQ was announced at Mobile World Congress 2019, shortly after Samsung's Galaxy S10 event. And instead of trying to match what other OEMs are doing, LG is once again trying to be different.

News: Microsoft's Azure Kinect Standalone Depth Sensor Powers Major Augmented Reality Improvements for $399

As the opening act to the grand unveiling of the long-awaited HoloLens 2 at Mobile World Congress Barcelona on Sunday, Microsoft showed off the standalone Azure Kinect time of flight sensor, which also happens to supply the improved human and environmental understanding capabilities of the next-generation augmented reality headset.

News: HoloLens 2, All the Specs — These Are the Technical Details Driving Microsoft's Next Foray into Augmented Reality

Now that we've officially seen the HoloLens 2 and Microsoft has shown off the improvements and new superpowers of the augmented reality headset, what about the specs?

News: Vuzix Reveals First Smartglasses Running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR1 with the M400

Smartglasses maker Vuzix has emerged with the first hardware powered by the Snapdragon XR1 chip, roughly nine months after Qualcomm introduced the chipset designed to drive augmented reality wearables at the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara.

News: Microsoft's HoloLens 2 Is an Enterprise Workhorse, but It's Sexy, Too, Here's a Close-Up Look

It's confession time. Through a couple of sources, I managed to get an early look at the HoloLens 2. But I was sworn to secrecy, and I take my tech oaths seriously (shame on you, leakers).

News: How to Pre-Order the HoloLens 2

The debut of Microsoft's HoloLens 2 went off without a hitch, and now it's time to figure out if you want to hop aboard the updated augmented reality train.

News: Microsoft Unveils the HoloLens 2

After years of waiting, Microsoft has finally updated its industry-leading augmented reality device, the HoloLens.

Market Reality: Samsung & Microsoft Dip into the Mobile AR Galaxy, with (Respectively) New Hardware & AR Apps

The augmented reality industry had enough twists this week to surprise even M. Night Shyamalan.

News: Here's How Much Money Samsung Will Give You for Trading in Your Current Phone for an S10

Great news if you're looking to upgrade to either the S10e, S10, or S10+. Samsung has a trade-in program that's offering potentially massive discounts of up to $550 if you preorder one of their flagships right now — but only for certain phones.

News: Google Leads Another $28 Million Funding Round into Neuron-Reading Technology at CTRL-Labs

It may sound like deja vu, but neural interface startup CTRL-labs has closed a $28 million funding round led by GV, Google's funding arm, for technology that reads user's nerve signals to interpret hand gestures.

News: North Cuts Employees After Slicing Price of Focals Smartglasses

A week after reducing the base price of its Focals smartglasses by nearly 50 percent, wearables maker North is now reducing its workforce.

News: What Is Augmented Reality?

Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that augmented reality (or, AR for short) will "change everything." But what, exactly, is augmented reality?

News: Microsoft Expands Its Augmented Reality App Portfolio from HoloLens to Android & iOS

Although all signs points to Microsoft releasing a new HoloLens in the coming days, the company is nevertheless looking to distribute its augmented reality apps to other operating systems.

News: Samsung Jumps to Head of Mobile AR Class with Galaxy S10 5G & 3D Depth Sensor, Shows Off AR Concept Video

While augmented reality made more of a cameo appearance during Samsung's official grand unveiling of the Galaxy S10 line-up on Wednesday, it's the company's move into 5G connectivity that has huge implications for AR.

News: Meet Samsung's Crazy, Innovative & Flawed Galaxy Fold

After years of rumors and waiting, Samsung's first foldable smartphone is finally a reality. The phone itself is a bit wild, but with Samsung going so far out of their comfort zone with this one, there were some bumps in the road that caused a delayed release. The launch has been pushed back yet again, but when it does hit stores, it could end up being one of the most influential devices in years.

News: Samsung Galaxy S10 Review, 3 Months Later: All the Little Things to Know

The Galaxy S10 has finally been revealed to the masses, and it certainly doesn't disappoint. As the flagship to herald the tenth anniversary of the venerable Galaxy S line, the S10 has kept popular and familiar design elements like the immersive Infinity Display while employing new features like more advanced cameras to set a new standard for other OEMs to follow.

News: Social VR App vTime Opens a Window to Augmented Reality Users with iOS & Android App

Most of today's mobile augmented reality apps focus on individual experiences, but a new entrant into the space wants to make things a bit more social.

News: Magic Leap Jumps into the Star Wars Universe with Release of Project Porg App

After some social media teasing, the Star Wars universe's Magic Leap debut has finally arrived. On Tuesday, Magic Leap announced the release of Star Wars: Project Prog, which is available for free via Magic Leap World.

News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.2 Public Beta 3 for iPhone, Fixes Group FaceTime & Lock Screen Issue

While developers received iOS 12.2 beta 3 on Feb. 19, public beta testers had to wait one extra day, following suit with previous iOS 12.2 beta releases. The third beta update includes fixes for Group FaceTime and the missing date on the lock screen, as well as a few tiny app updates.

News: Apple Just Released iOS 12.2 Developer Beta 3 for iPhone, Fixes Lock Screen Issue & Restores Group FaceTime

Apple just released the third iOS 12.2 developer beta Tuesday, Feb. 19, fifteen days after the release of iOS 12.2 developer beta 2. Beta 3 fixes an issue with the lock screen, and reintroduces Group FaceTime to beta testers. Overall, iOS 12.2 hosts a wealth of new features as well as bug and security patches.

News: How to Watch the Microsoft Mobile World Congress Event Rumored to Reveal HoloLens 2

We already know that Microsoft has something big planned for later this month, and now we have details on how to watch the company's big reveal.

News: Magic Leap & Three UK Power 5G Augmented Reality Fashion Show at London Fashion Week

While AT&T is gradually showing off the powers of its 5G technology in the US via the Magic Leap One, another major wireless company is doing the same in the UK using the world of fashion.

News: USA Today App Treats Fans with Oscars-Inspired AR Costume Showcase Featuring Black Panther, Mary Poppins, & More

The Oscars are fast approaching, which means that all the most talked about films are getting a second dose of heavy promotion in hopes of winning an Academy Award.

News: Lego Partner Kabooki Builds Virtual Pop-Up Shop with Snapchat's Shoppable AR

Now that Lego Movie 2, a film about an imaginary world made of plastic bricks existing parallel to the real world, is in theaters, it's the perfect time to shop for Lego apparel at a store modeled after that world.

Market Reality: Microsoft's Next HoloLens Close to Arriving, Apple Prepares for Big AR Marketing Push

The hype around augmented reality has risen to a fever pitch over the past two years, and if this week's selection of business news stories are any indication, the din is about to get down right deafening.

News: Google Releases ARCore 1.7 Update, Adds Face Filters & Expands Animation Support

Snapchat made augmented reality selfie effects famous, with Facebook copying the feature across its mobile apps. Of course, others have followed, but their face tracking apps often pale in comparison to the original.

News: Snapchat Lays Up Lens Studio Experience for Nike's Jordan Brand at NBA All-Star Weekend

Nike and Snapchat, having already reigned triumphant with its viral augmented reality ad featuring Lebron James, are teaming up with another basketball legend at NBA All-Star Weekend

News: Warner Bros. & Niantic Release Third Harry Potter Wizards Unite Trailer

Next to Game of Thrones, Harry Potter is one of the most beloved franchises in entertainment today, and now we have another peek at its dive into augmented reality.

News: Lego's Newest Playsets Transform Normal Toys into Augmented Reality Experiences Across Platforms

Beloved toy maker Lego is returning to the realm of augmented reality, this time with an experience that explores supernatural fun.

News: Google Joins Snapchat & Facebook by Adding Augmented Reality Video Effects to Duo App for Valentine's Day

Snapchat and Snap Camera aren't the only augmented reality apps available for couples to use on Valentine's Day.

News: Medical Software Maker Medivis Closes $2.3 Million in Funding to Bring HoloLens to Surgical Platform

The HoloLens has made enough of an impact on the healthcare industry for Microsoft technology partner Medivis to convince investors to pledge $2.3 million in funding for its surgical platform.

News: North Cuts Price of Focals Smartglasses, Launches Prescription Lenses, & Adds Pop-Up Stores to Seattle & San Francisco

With the first pop-up showroom for North's Focals smartglasses opening its doors next week, customers are now able to purchase the smartglasses at a drastically lower price tag.

News: Microsoft's New Light Capture Tool Adds More Realistic Lighting to HoloLens & Mobile AR Apps

We're still weeks away from a probably HoloLens 2 release, but Microsoft's immersive computing team is still hard at work on other aspects of its "mixed reality" ecosystem.

News: Startup Asteroid Aims to Reinvent the Human-Computer Interface with Augmented Reality Software & Hardware Kit

Every step in the evolution of computing brings an in-kind leap forward in user input technology. The personal computer had the mouse, touchscreens made smartphones mainstream consumer devices, and AR headsets like the HoloLens and the Magic Leap One have leveraged gesture recognition.

News: New Pokémon GO Augmented Reality Photo Feature Lets You Strike a Pose with Pikachu

The actual augmented reality portion of Pokémon GO is about to get even more fun for players. On Tuesday, the company revealed GO Snapshot, an extension of AR+ Mode facilitated by ARKit and ARCore that will enable players to pose Pokémon characters in augmented reality for photo capture.

News: All the Latest Leaks & Rumors on the LG G8 ThinQ

Update: The LG G8 ThinQ has been announced. You can read all of the official specs at our full article on the new phone.