Saturday, December 31, 2016
Friday, December 30, 2016
New Asus Chromebook with USB-C leaks - The Verge
"Asus seems to have a new Chromebook on the way. According to Chrome OS news site Chrome Unboxed, a listing for a previously unannounced model, the ASUS C302CA, briefly went up on Newegg yesterday, leaking the full specs and details about Asus' latest Chrome OS hardware.
According to the now-removed Newegg listing, the C302CA offers a 12.5-inch, 1080p touchscreen that can flip around to use the device as a 2-in-1 convertible tablet, and runs off a 2.2 GHz Intel Core m3 processor. The C302CA also seems to be joining the ranks of many new computers in eschewing legacy USB 3.0 ports for a full conversion to USB-C, sporting two USB-C ports (which presumably also are used to charge the device) along with a microSD card slot. The specific SKU leaked on Newegg offered 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for $499, but it's unclear at this time whether that's the only configuration that Asus will be offering for the new model.
Newegg has already removed the listing for the C302CA, but with CES right around the corner, it's hard to imagine we'll be waiting long for an official announcement."
New Asus Chromebook with USB-C leaks - The Verge
According to the now-removed Newegg listing, the C302CA offers a 12.5-inch, 1080p touchscreen that can flip around to use the device as a 2-in-1 convertible tablet, and runs off a 2.2 GHz Intel Core m3 processor. The C302CA also seems to be joining the ranks of many new computers in eschewing legacy USB 3.0 ports for a full conversion to USB-C, sporting two USB-C ports (which presumably also are used to charge the device) along with a microSD card slot. The specific SKU leaked on Newegg offered 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for $499, but it's unclear at this time whether that's the only configuration that Asus will be offering for the new model.
Newegg has already removed the listing for the C302CA, but with CES right around the corner, it's hard to imagine we'll be waiting long for an official announcement."
New Asus Chromebook with USB-C leaks - The Verge
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
How Fitbit, Samsung, Apple and Google misfired in watches in 2016 - CNET
"Fitbit's latest earnings reports weren't good at all. Pebble sold itself at a firesale price (to Fitbit) and cancelled its future watches. Microsoft, Motorola and Intel appear to have halted (or at least suspended) their wearable product lines. The Samsung Gear S3 slid into the holidays with a whimper, not a bang. And while Apple claims it just had its best weekly sales of the Apple Watch ever, that comes after some deep holiday discounts -- and lackluster sales for the first three quarters of the year.
In light of all that, it's hardly a surprise that sales of smartwatches and wearables are in a pretty significant downturn, according to a recent report by analyst firm IDC.
What's going on?
I've worn nearly all of the big new fitness trackers and smartwatches of the past two years. And that's why I'm not surprised that the market is cooling. The reason is simple: they're not doing anything new."
(Via.) How Fitbit, Samsung, Apple and Google misfired in watches in 2016 - CNET:
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Buying a laptop, last-minute holiday shopper? We can help - CNET
"Apple MacBook vs. Microsoft Windows
Now on to your college kid. It's true that Apple's MacBooks are expensive. The cheapest MacBook Air with a 13-inch screen is at least $999 from Apple. And that device hasn't had a significant upgrade since March 2015. Earlier this year, Apple did give the base model 8GB of RAM as a standard option. But on the chance an update could be coming soon for this line, buying it now could be risky. That said, the next MacBook in the lineup starts at $1,299.
By contrast, you can get a Mac-like experience from a less-expensive Windows laptop, like the Dell XPS 13, which starts at $799. There's also the Razer Blade Stealth for $899. And Microsoft right now is offering lots of good deals on the Surface Pro 4, which doubles as a tablet. You can get one for $799.
Still, none of these devices are as well built as a MacBook. Ackerman said he's confident a MacBook will last you four to five years without really falling apart.
"I'm not sure I'd say that for even premium-priced Windows laptops," he said. "Macs have that OS/hardware synergy, so the touchpad gestures are unmatched, and you get great little features like hitting the spacebar to preview any file."
Buying a laptop, last-minute holiday shopper? We can help - CNET
Now on to your college kid. It's true that Apple's MacBooks are expensive. The cheapest MacBook Air with a 13-inch screen is at least $999 from Apple. And that device hasn't had a significant upgrade since March 2015. Earlier this year, Apple did give the base model 8GB of RAM as a standard option. But on the chance an update could be coming soon for this line, buying it now could be risky. That said, the next MacBook in the lineup starts at $1,299.
By contrast, you can get a Mac-like experience from a less-expensive Windows laptop, like the Dell XPS 13, which starts at $799. There's also the Razer Blade Stealth for $899. And Microsoft right now is offering lots of good deals on the Surface Pro 4, which doubles as a tablet. You can get one for $799.
Still, none of these devices are as well built as a MacBook. Ackerman said he's confident a MacBook will last you four to five years without really falling apart.
"I'm not sure I'd say that for even premium-priced Windows laptops," he said. "Macs have that OS/hardware synergy, so the touchpad gestures are unmatched, and you get great little features like hitting the spacebar to preview any file."
Buying a laptop, last-minute holiday shopper? We can help - CNET
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Friday, December 16, 2016
Apple and Google go on record opposing any effort to build a Muslim registry in Trump administration | 9to5Mac
" In a Friday evening release to Buzzfeed, Apple and Google spokespeople went on the record saying that the two tech behemoths would be opposed to helping build or contributing to any sort of ‘Muslim Registry’.
An Apple spokesperson said:
“We think people should be treated the same no matter how they worship, what they look like, who they love. We haven’t been asked and we would oppose such an effort.”
A spokesperson for Google said:
“In relation to the hypothetical of whether we would ever help build a ‘muslim registry’ – we haven’t been asked, of course we wouldn’t do this and we are glad – from all that we’ve read – that the proposal doesn’t seem to be on the table.”
The idea of a registry was put forward during President-elect Trump’s controversial campaign but like many the other ideas put forward (Like an Apple ban), it seems to be walked back as his term starts in a month. Amazon and Oracle troublingly declined to comment on a Muslim registry while Uber simply said “No”.
Many other tech company employees have joined the NeverAgain Pledge. You can sign up here.
The Intercept’s Sam Biddle did the original work in this area getting other technology notables to decline the hypothetical"
Apple and Google go on record opposing any effort to build a Muslim registry in Trump administration | 9to5Mac
An Apple spokesperson said:
“We think people should be treated the same no matter how they worship, what they look like, who they love. We haven’t been asked and we would oppose such an effort.”
A spokesperson for Google said:
“In relation to the hypothetical of whether we would ever help build a ‘muslim registry’ – we haven’t been asked, of course we wouldn’t do this and we are glad – from all that we’ve read – that the proposal doesn’t seem to be on the table.”
The idea of a registry was put forward during President-elect Trump’s controversial campaign but like many the other ideas put forward (Like an Apple ban), it seems to be walked back as his term starts in a month. Amazon and Oracle troublingly declined to comment on a Muslim registry while Uber simply said “No”.
Many other tech company employees have joined the NeverAgain Pledge. You can sign up here.
The Intercept’s Sam Biddle did the original work in this area getting other technology notables to decline the hypothetical"
Apple and Google go on record opposing any effort to build a Muslim registry in Trump administration | 9to5Mac
Evernote reverses plan for new privacy policy but it might not be enough
"Evernote has decided to "revisit" its controversial privacy policy following a swift backlash from its users.
Evernote reverses plan for new privacy policy but it might not be enough
In a statement on the company's blog, Evernote said it would no longer be implementing the privacy policy it had previously announced and that its machine learning updates, which necessitated some employees read portions of user notes, would be solely opt-in."
Evernote reverses plan for new privacy policy but it might not be enough
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
HP Spectre x360 review: the best Windows laptop of 2016 - The Verge
"Building a great, premium laptop is surprisingly hard. Despite the fact that every company, from Apple to Dell to Lenovo and everyone in between, pulls from the same basic parts bin — Intel processors; high-quality IPS displays; aluminum chassis; large, glass trackpads; USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 — putting all of those parts together in a competent, no-compromise laptop is a sadly rare feat.
That’s what makes HP’s latest Spectre x360 so interesting. It has the same basic spec sheet as countless other laptops, and from a distance, even looks similar to many others. But in a year that’s been full of laptop disappointments, the Spectre x360’s cohesive design and lack of compromises has been a breath of fresh air."
HP Spectre x360 review: the best Windows laptop of 2016 - The Verge
That’s what makes HP’s latest Spectre x360 so interesting. It has the same basic spec sheet as countless other laptops, and from a distance, even looks similar to many others. But in a year that’s been full of laptop disappointments, the Spectre x360’s cohesive design and lack of compromises has been a breath of fresh air."
HP Spectre x360 review: the best Windows laptop of 2016 - The Verge
Top Democrat's emails hacked by Russia after aide made typo, investigation finds | US news | The Guardian
"In the run-up to the election, the US Democratic National Committee (DNC) received numerous phishing emails, the paper reported on Tuesday. One of them was also sent to John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. An aide, Charles Delavan, spotted the message sent to Podesta’s private account. It asked Podesta to change his password."
Top Democrat's emails hacked by Russia after aide made typo, investigation finds | US news | The Guardian
'Call me': Donald Trump woos tech leaders at New York meeting | US news | The Guardian
"Donald Trump extended an olive branch to the titans of technology on Wednesday, telling them his goal is “to help you folks do well” at a meeting at his New York headquarters.
“We have no formal chain of command around here,” the president-elect told the most powerful men and women in the technology industry, whom he encouraged to “call my people” and “call me”.
“We’re going to make it a lot easier for you to trade across borders,” he told the audience.
Trump had clashed with tech leaders before his election, suggesting he would start a monopoly investigation into Amazon, whose founder, Jeff Bezos, was in attendance, and calling for a boycott of Apple after the tech company declined to break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino killers.""
'Call me': Donald Trump woos tech leaders at New York meeting | US news | The Guardian
“We have no formal chain of command around here,” the president-elect told the most powerful men and women in the technology industry, whom he encouraged to “call my people” and “call me”.
“We’re going to make it a lot easier for you to trade across borders,” he told the audience.
Trump had clashed with tech leaders before his election, suggesting he would start a monopoly investigation into Amazon, whose founder, Jeff Bezos, was in attendance, and calling for a boycott of Apple after the tech company declined to break into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino killers.""
'Call me': Donald Trump woos tech leaders at New York meeting | US news | The Guardian
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Sunday, December 11, 2016
What Trump said about Apple, Alphabet and Facebook — the tech companies he’s meeting next week - Recode
"In case you missed it: President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is convening a tech summit at Trump Tower next week, and top execs from Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and more are attending.
As one person familiar with the summit plans told my boss, Recode’s Kara Swisher, “Look, this is obviously a circus.” So, let’s do some social media-searching acrobatics and see what Trump has said about these companies.
Fun fact: Jobs was a vocal opponent of larger phones. Later in 2013, Trump tweeted about iPhone screen sizes five more times (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), eventually claiming that he “sold [his] Apple stock” in protest. Two years later, he got his wish, with the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
During the standoff between Apple and the FBI earlier this year over the locked iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters, he encouraged an all-out Apple boycott:
Alphabet, CEO Larry Page
Despite supposedly dumping iOS for Android, Trump has had relatively little to say about Google or its parent company Alphabet. After the botched launch of Healthcare.gov in 2013, he tweeted:
Ignoring manual retweets of people telling him to Google things, Trump most recently mentioned Google after FBI director James Comey resurfaced Hillary Clinton’s email server, shortly before the election:
(Side note: Per Kara’s story yesterday, it’s not totally clear if Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was invited to the summit, and if he was if he is attending).
Facebook, COO Sheryl Sandberg
Back in 2013, Trump was critical of the Facebook exec for having an ego. Um, sure thing, Donald:
A year before that, he also had marital advice for her colleague, CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
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