The official design for the next-generation, reversible USB has been finalised, and it can be plugged in upside down.
USB 3.0
The USB 3.0 Promoter Group has announced that it has finalised its redesign of the USB.
Called USB Type-C, the specification -- which was announced last December -- aims to solve several problems with current USB design; possibly the most exciting of which is the eradication of "right way up" with a reversible plug. Like Apple's Lightning connector, it can be plugged into its port either way.
The new USB is also designed both to be small enough to fit mobile devices, yet robust enough for laptops and tablets.
"Interest in the USB Type-C connector has not only been global, but cross-industry as well," said USB 3.0 Promoter Group chairman Brad Saunders. "Representatives from the PC, mobile, automotive and IoT industries have been knocking down our door anticipating this new standard. This specification is the culmination of an extensive, cooperative effort among industry leaders to standardize the next generation USB connector as a long-lasting, robust solution."
The USB is comparable in size with micro USB 2.0 Type-B connectors, with a port size of 8.4 by 2.6mm, yet will be compatible with SuperSpeed USB at 10Gbps (USB 3.1). It will also support USB Power Delivery up to 100W, with additional support for scalable power charging and future USB performance needs.
It won't, of course, be compatible with existing USB plugs and receptacles. While the industry begins the slow transition, USB Type-C ports will coexist with other USB ports on devices, and new-to-existing cables and adapters will be made available so that consumers will be able to use the new connector with their existing tech.
A new security bug means that people all across the Web are vulnerable to having their passwords and other sensitive data stolen. Here's what consumers can do to protect themselves.
A major new security vulnerability dubbed Heartbleed was disclosed Monday night with severe implications for the entire Web. The bug can scrape a server's memory, where sensitive user data is stored, including private data such as usernames, passwords, and credit card numbers.
It's an extremely serious issue, affecting some 500,000 servers, according to Netcraft, an Internet research firm. Here's what you can do to make sure your information is protected.
Do not log into accounts from afflicted sites until you're sure the company has patched the problem. If the company hasn't been forthcoming -- confirming a fix or keeping you up to date with progress -- reach out to its customer service teams for information, said John Miller, security research manager for TrustWave, a security and compliance firm.
Some Web sites that appeared to have been affected included Yahoo and OKCupid, though the companies have said their sites are all or partly fixed (see below for details). You can check sites on an individual basis here, though caution is still advised even if the site gives you an "all clear" indication. If you're given a red flag, avoid the site for now.
The natural response might be to want to change passwords immediately, but security experts suggest waiting for confirmation of a fix because further activity on a vulnerable site could exacerbate the problem.
Once you've got confirmation of a security patch, change passwords of sensitive accounts like banks and email first. Even if you've implemented two-factor authentication -- which, in addition to a password asks for another piece of identifying information, like a code that's been texted to you -- changing that password is recommended.
Don't be shy about reaching out to small businesses that have your data to make sure they are secure.While the high-profile companies like Yahoo and Imgur certainly know about the problem, small businesses might not even be aware of it, said TrustWave's Miller. Be proactive about making sure your information is safe.
Keep a close eye on financial statements for the next few days. Because attackers can access a server's memory for credit card information, it wouldn't hurt to be on the lookout for unfamiliar charges on your bank statements.
Even after following these guidelines, there is still some riskiness in surfing the Web in the aftermath of the bug. Heartbleed is even said to affect browser cookies, which track users' activity on a site, so even visiting a vulnerable site without logging in could be risky. The Tor Project, which stresses anonymity and privacy, wrote in a blog post that users with those needs "might want to stay away from the Internet entirely for the next few days while things settle."
Yahoo seems to be the most major Web to site have been vulnerable to the bug (preliminary tests for Facebook, Google, and Twitter's Web sites said they appear to be safe). The company said that it has "successfully made appropriate corrections" to the main Yahoo properties: Yahoo Homepage, Search, Mail, Finance, Sports, Food, Tech, Flickr and Tumblr. Still, a Yahoo spokesperson said the company is still working to make the fix across the rest of the Yahoo sites.
"I encourage users to not log in into [Yahoo] and other services that are affected since the credentials could have been leaked if they used the service," said Jaime Blasco, director of AlienVault Labs, a security research firm. "As soon as Yahoo solves the issue, it will be helpful if users change their password just in case."
Yahoo has been stressing authentication of late, so that the company would be able to provide a more personalized experience to users, a drum CEO Marissa Mayer has been beating almost since she took over the company. Yahoo provides services like email and fantasy sports, requiring passwords to get access to the applications.
The company has already had some trouble in the security arena. In January, the company had to reset the passwords of some email users after an attempted attack on a third-party's database. In response to the Heartbleed bug, some users have already expressed their outrage on Twitter. Brandon Oxford, from Royal, Ark., wrote: "After this I'm officially done with Yahoo email. I've now set up a Gmail. They seem to be more on top of stuff than Yahoo."
Other companies that were said to be affected chimed in as well. Imgur, the photo-sharing site popular with Reddit users, said: "[We] invalidated sensitive data such as cookies and session IDs, just to be on the safe side. We're proceeding with caution, since the nature of the attack makes it hard to detect, but we have no reason to believe it has been used against Imgur." OKCupid said, "The fix is now fully live on OKCupid."
The question in the aftermath of something like this is whether Web companies will reform their security practices. There has been a move toward Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS) by many of the major Web companies, but not all of them have implemented the practice. PFS means essentially that encryption keys get a very short shelf life, and are not used forever. "People should want their communications to be secure as possible. PFS is one thing they can push for in the future," said Miller.
Qualcomm has just revealed the specifications for its 2015 mobile chips-and if you thought this year's offering sounded good, you are in for a massive treat when you read about these newer slabs of silicon.
The two new Snapdragon chips, known as the 810 and 808, are both 64-bit, and billed as high performance hardware designed for flagship Android devices. They aren't joking.
Both chips, made using 20 nanometer production techniques, will be smaller, lighter and more power efficient than this year's offering. But the octa-core 810 is the one you really care about: it will sport four Cortex-A57 cores for power-intensive tasks, along with four lower-power Cortex-A53 cores for other times, to keep power consumption down. The chip will support 4K displays, LPDDR4 RAM-that's faster and more efficient than the current LPDDR3 standard- as well as packing voice activation and dual Image Signal Processors for better imaging. Phew.
In terms of the GPU, the on-board Adreno 430 is supposed to be 30 percent faster than the current 420, while Cat 6 LTE-Advanced is baked right into the chip. Finally, there's a 2-stream multi-user MIMO, which, in simple terms, means your Wi-Fi connection will be way faster, too. As for the 808, it will feature just six cores-two A57 and four A53-and support 2K displays. Its Adreno 418 GPU will be 20 percent faster than the current Adreno 330.
All told, that's a lot of features to squeeze into a pair of chips. If Qualcomm delivers on its promises, the phones of 2015 should melt our faces off. We can't wait.
Company is targeting shipments of 65 million smartwatches for 2014, claims a new report out of Taiwan.
This rough mockup shows what CNET thinks an Apple iWatch might look like. Will the much-rumored Apple iWatch finally debut later this year? Yes, at least according to one of the latest rumors.
Apple will reportedly unveil its long-awaited smartwatch in the third quarter of 2014, according to Taiwan's Economic Daily News. Based on an alleged bill of materials, supply chain sources told the news site that Apple is aiming to produce 65 million iWatches by year's end.
The watch itself will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, say the sources. Richtek Technology will make the chips, while TPK will create the watch's sapphire touch panels. Further, Apple is developing the watch's processor but will farm out chip production to Samsung, the sources added.
Samsung and other tech players have unveiled their own smartwatches, so Apple is already fashionably late to this party. But Apple could shake up the smartwatch market with a device that outshines rival products. Beyond pairing with your iPhone, an Apple iWatch reportedly would serve as a health and fitness tracker by tapping into an iOS 8 app called Healthbook.
This latest in a long line of iWatch rumors should certainly be taken with a grain of salt. Reports of an Apple smartwatch have been surfacing for quite a while now. But other recent reports have pegged a 2014 launch for the iWatch.
Apple shares were up nearly $3 to about $526.40 in pre-market trading on Tuesday.
With support for Win XP ending, it's time to upgrade your ancient computer.
If you're still running Windows XP on one or more PCs at home or at work, you're not alone. Even after 12 years, more than 25 percent of PCs still use the XP operating system, and many still will even after the April 8 deadline for Microsoft to cease official support.
For any XP system you have, chances are the hardware it's running on is very old, and it may be time for an upgrade, even without needing a new, more secure OS. Below are some picks, from inexpensive to premium, that will get you into Windows 8, or even (gasp!) a different operating system.
A Chromebook is essentially a low-power PC that runs a Google operating system called Chrome. That largely restricts you to online tasks, but includes Gmail, Facebook, Netflix, and other cloud-based apps, sites, and tasks. This Acer model adds a touch screen, making it our favorite.
Smaller eight-inch tablets running full Windows 8 are finally getting good enough to recommend. This Lenovo model is well built and has an optional, camera-friendly cover. Hook up an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and it becomes a usable basic desktop PC, as well.
A perfectly fine budget-priced laptop that stands out from the crowd, thanks to the inclusion of a basic discrete Nvidia graphics card, making it possible to catch up on all the years of PC games you missed while on Windows XP.
A great example of the 13-inch ultrabook, this slim, lightweight system has a very bright touch screen, good speakers, and an extra-wide touch pad for all those windows 8 gestures.
XP users are probably still scratching their heads at the idea of a hybrid that is part laptop, part tablet. The Yoga line from Lenovo is still our favorite because it doesn't compromise the laptop shape, and it includes an extra high-res screen.
If you're still running Windows XP, then Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 didn't sufficiently tempt you to upgrade. That might mean you're looking to jump ship entirely, and there's no better way to do that than with a 13-inch MacBook Air, which I consider to be the single most universally useful laptop ever made.
Asus G750, $2,999 A giant gaming rig to put consoles to shame
Maybe you've stuck with that XP laptop for so many years just to save up for a big splurge. Different configurations cost more or less, but this $3,000 build of a high-end Asus gaming laptop gave us the newest top-end Nividia card, the GeForce GTX 880M, and benchmark scores that just about justify the price.
That's just one possible deal you can get from Best Buy when you trade in your old Windows XP system, which is good for a $100 credit.
Last month, Microsoft offered a $100 credit toward the purchase of a new PC when you traded in an old one running Windows XP. The catch: You had to a buy a system (or Surface) priced at $599 or more.
Starting this Sunday, April 6, Best Buy will offer a minimum $100 credit when you trade in an old XP PC. And you can use that credit toward the purchase of any new Apple or Windows computer or Chromebook.
Like this one: Best Buy sells the Acer C720 Chromebook for $199, shipped (plus tax). By applying the credit, you'd be able to get the C720 for $99 (again, plus tax).
That credit is the result of a minimum $25 Best Buy gift card (depending on the value of your trade-in, it could be higher) and a $75 new-PC coupon that goes with it. Needless to say, you don't have to use the credit on this particular Chromebook; it's good on any of the aforementioned products.
Still, if you have an old desktop or laptop collecting dust in a closet, this is a great chance to score a Chromebook for dirt cheap. The C720 includes a Celeron processor (blech for Windows, but sufficient for Chrome OS), 2GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD drive, and an 11.6-inch display -- in other words, your standard entry-level Chromebook.
Despite those seemingly anemic specs, this model scored a robust 4.5 stars out of 5 from over 200 Best Buy customers. And check out CNET's preview of the C720, which highlights its matte display, thinner design, and long battery life. Sounds pretty sweet for $99.
Because this deal doesn't kick off until Sunday, there's no landing page I can steer you to at the moment. But you've got today and tomorrow to dig out that old PC and make sure the hard drive is wiped. And, of course, you'll want to check Best Buy's computer deals come Sunday, as they may be different than they are right now.
Bonus deal: Why choose a Roku 1 box instead of the newer Roku Streaming Stick? Reason one: The latter requires an HDMI port, meaning it's no good for older TVs. Reason two: The former is a little cheaper, at least for the moment. DealFisher has the refurbished Roku 1 for $39.99, shipped. That's only $10 off the regular price, but it comes with the same accessories and warranty as a new box.
Google could soon introduce additional groups, pinning, and snoozing to the Gmail experience.
New Gmail features reportedly being tested The Gmail mobile experience may soon become much cleaner and more user-friendly, according to a new Geek report.
Details obtained by the tech site suggest Google may introduce a host of handy, fresh features. Leaked screen shots apparently show a more refined user interface along with other new abilities plus support for more kinds of groups.
Should the rumors prove accurate, Gmail will add three extra categories (Travel, Purchases, and Finance) to the existing four of Social, Promotions, Forums, and Updates. Likely user-defined and customized, these could go a long way to making Google Now even smarter.
Additional features Google is possibly testing include pinning an email to the top of your inbox and snoozing (marking read) for a determinate amount of time.
The look and feel of Gmail may change as well; the leaked images show round contact icons, more white space, and a more Google-y overall appearance.
As Geek writer Russell Holly points out, not all of these features may arrive at the same time. Some could be delivered piecemeal while others maybe shelved altogether. And, if we're to expect a new mobile experience, a refreshed desktop UI might not be far behind either.
During a keynote presentation at the Build developer conference earlier today, former Nokia CEO and current Executive Vice President of Devices at Microsoft Stephen Elop unveiled the Nokia Lumia 930, a Windows Phone 8.1 flagship handset that packs a 20-megapixel camera and wireless charging. It will launch in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and India beginning in June for $599.
The phone will be available in several bright colors including orange and green with metallic trimmings.
The phone also felt sturdy, with severe edges that are straight enough to stand the 930 upright. It flaunts a 5-inch full HD ClearBlack display with a 1080p resolution, and a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. Powering its insides is a 2,420mAh battery, which has a reported talk time of up to 15.5 hours.
The 4G LTE handset's 20-megapixel PureView camera can record full HD video and with Nokia's Creative Studio app, it has a number of photo-editing features. One new tool is Living Images, which enables users to combine photos and short videos for a more creative cinematic image. There are also four microphones built into the device to lend a more robust audio-recording experience.
Other trimmings include 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory, and 7GB of of Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage.
As for Windows Phone 8.1, the updated OS will feature Cortana, a digital assistant not unlike Apple's Siri or Google's Google Now. Currently in its beta phase, Cortana is represented by a pair of moving circles and lives in its own Windows live tile on the homescreen. Powered by Bing, Cortana can look up airline flights, sports scores, and even nutritional data.
There's also an Action Center, similar to the drop-down menus for Android and iOS, where you can quickly turn on and off settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, as well as a Notifications menu. The update has bolstered security and privacy settings like email encryption; a refreshed Word Flow keyboard with slide-type capabilities; and Wi-Fi Sense, a service that suggests and connects to free surrounding networks.
With the update, users can now change their background image in the home screen. However, when we tried it out ourselves, we found that the Live Tiles obscured the wallpaper so much that it ended up covering much of the picture anyway.
Located on the back is a 20-megapixel PureView camera with Carl Zeiss optics. Though the dev preview for Windows Phone 8.1 will roll out to developers in April, it will be available to consumers in the coming months. Existing Windows Phone users can receive an over-the-air update to version 8.1 this summer.
Save for its OS update, the Nokia Lumia 930 is nearly identical to the Lumia Icon in terms of specs. Sold exclusively on Verizon Wireless in only black and white, the Icon has the same screen, camera, and processor as the 930. However, we were told that unlike the Icon, the 930 can have an extra column of Live Tiles on the start screen. This is a new feature included in the OS update, and it will be an option on any Nokia phone from now that measures five inches or larger.
The Lumia 930 is just one of three new devices Nokia announced today. The more budget-friendly Lumia 630 and 635 are the other phones launching with Windows Phone 8.1, and both feature 4.5-inch touch screens.
The latest update to Windows 8 will be available on April 8 and brings much-needed tweaks for desktop users, restoring some of the features Windows users have been missing since the Metro interface first launched.
First and foremost, the OS now detects whether you're using a tablet or desktop and mouse setup, and delivers the best experience for your device. This means that upon launch, if you're on a desktop computer, the OS will boot straight to the desktop, and on a tablet, you'll get the touchable tiles of Microsoft's modern interface. But don't worry if you prefer the way Windows currently behaves; you still have the option to choose your startup preferences in the settings.
5 BIG CHANGES IN THE WINDOWS 8.1 UPDATE
Microsoft also made some changes with full-screen apps making them a lot more intuitive for desktop users and more in line with the history of the Windows OS. Full screen apps now (once again) have a title bar at the top, with the X in the upper right so you can quit out of an app easily with a click of your mouse. You also can pin Modern apps to the taskbar alongside your other pinned apps for a more unified experience.
With the modern interface out of the way on your desktop, it makes sense that Microsoft would find a way to make the Windows Store more accessible. Now, with this latest update, the Windows Store is automatically pinned to the taskbar on your desktop.
One of the biggest complaints about Windows 8 was the loss of the Start Button as we knew it in previous versions of Windows, and we're still not going to get a fix in this update, but there's some good news. As we know, Windows 8.1 brought back the Start Button for some functions, but still didn't offer many of the most used features in older Windows versions. Microsoft announced that a future update will give us a mash up of both the traditional Start Button view and the live tiles. So, with a click you will be able to get recently opened apps, your documents folder, and other common options found in older versions of the Start Menu, but on the right, you'll get the live tiles from the modern interface. It seems like a good compromise between the two, and I think it's the setup most people have been asking for.
Meet Cortana, Microsoft's new virtual assistant.Forget about Siri or even Google Now because according to Microsoft its new virtual assistant Cortana has way more mobile brains than its rivals. Announced at the company's Build keynote in San Francisco, Cortana will be baked into the fresh Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone operating system and rely heavily on Microsoft's Bing search engine and voice recognition technology.
Envisioned around the AI computer from the popular Halo game franchise, Microsoft says Cortana has the ability to pay attention to what you search for, your interests, and the places you visit. In this way Cortana will offer tailored search suggestions. Additionally it will get smarter the more you interact with it, or shall I say "her".
Other skills in Cortana's arsenal are looking up and keeping track of your flights, checking when your next appointments are and delving into associated details to better serve you. For instance Cortana will be able to dive into your appointment specifics to say call the restaurant where you're planning on having lunch and adjust the reservation if necessary.
Additionally, you'll be able to ask Cortana to perform typical voice assistant tasks such as saving calendar reminders and the like. Where Microsoft expects Cortana to really surpass other similar solutions, however, is in the realm of contextual awareness.
For instance you can tell Cortana to create reminders centered around people. Specifically have the feature remind you to ask about your sister's puppy the next time she calls. Cortana is also supposed to be intelligent enough to understand a wide range of queries using more natural language. Users can say, "Facebook, what's up with such and such?" and Cortana will initiate a report of your friend's recent Facebook activity.
It all sound very futuristic but don't get too excited just yet. Microsoft explains that the Cortana feature is still officially in beta so I assume some bugs still need to be worked out.
Amazon is ready to battle Apple, Roku, and Google to earn a spot in your living room.
The Fire TV streaming box was announced at Amazon's press event in New York this morning, focusing on improving search, performance, and gaming over competitors. The new box is already available for purchase from Amazon for $99, as well as the new gaming controller accessory, the Fire Game Controller, for $39.
The Fire TV's focus on gaming goes well beyond current streaming devices like the Apple TV, Chromecast and Roku's boxes. The included Bluetooth remote will be capable of playing some games, but Fire Game Controller allows for a more game console-like experience. Amazon is working with several developers, including Sega, EA, and Disney, in addition to mobile game developers, to populate its game library, which Amazon claims will be in the thousands. Amazon Game Studies will also be developing games for the Fire TV, including a third-person shooter called Sev Zero.
For search, Amazon is implementing voice search using a mic built into the remote. The idea is to finally ditch the annoying process of typing in search phrases letter-by-letter, which is how search is done on Roku's boxes. From the initial demo, it's unclear whether the search will be able to comb through services other than Amazon Instant, but Fire TV will support a healthy collection of apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Watch ESPN, Showtime, MLB, iHeartRadio and Disney.
On the performance side, the Fire TV has a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, which Amazon claims delivers 3 times the performance of competitors like Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast. Amazon also highlighted a new "ASAP" feature designed to get movies and TV shows streaming faster, cutting down on tedious "buffering" screens.
The device itself has a familiar set top box look, although its slimmer than average; Amazon says Fire TV is thinner than a dime standing on its edge. Around the back, you get all the typical connections, including HDMI, an optical audio output, Ethernet and USB. Dual band Wi-Fi is built-in as well, and the remote works via Bluetooth, so you won't need to point it at the box to control it.
The biggest surprise of all from Amazon's new box may be the price. Amazon has a history of offering aggressively-priced hardware, but the Fire TV's $99 price is significantly more than current budget options like the $35 Google Chromecast and $49 Roku Streaming Stick. That puts more pressure on Amazon to deliver a superior overall experience to justify its price. The good news is we'll have our hands-on a unit shortly to find out how the Fire TV stacks up.
The upcoming USB cable design is reversible, has no right-side-up or upside-down problems, and will click when you plug it in. Expect the new design on the market as soon as this year.
The USB Type-C connector, which governs ports and cables, will be smaller than typical USB ports on PCs but bigger than those on mobile phones.USB Implementers Forum So now we know what the next-gen USB cable will look like.
The new design, called USB Type-C, is designed to replace today's multitude of cables and fix a number of their shortcomings. Type-C USB jacks will be small enough for mobile phones, the cable will be reversible end-to-end so it doesn't matter which end you attach to your computer and which to your digital camera, and as with Apple's Lightning connector there will be no upside-down when it's time to actually plug the cable in.
The USB Implementers Forum, which oversees the Universal Serial Bus specification, announced its plans for a new USB cable and port in December but hadn't settled on the exact physical design of the connector. Now it's done, and the new cables could arrive in months, the USB IF said Wednesday at the Intel Developer Forum conference in Shenzhen, China.
"The specification is anticipated to be completed in July 2014. We could see products with the new cable by end of year," the USB IF told CNET.
USB has a remarkable history of success, starting in PCs but now connecting everything from tablets to headphones and appearing in everything from cars to TVs. But with the success has come complexity. One issues is that there's an inconveniently large number of connectors, so people can't always find the one they need amid the tangle in desk drawers or suitcases. Another is that today's cables often have different connectors at each end. And when fumbling around the back of a PC or trying to plug a phone into its charger late at night, it can be extra work to be sure you get the cable plugged in right side up.
Type-C cures all these ills, the USB IF argues.
But along with the difficulties of dragging the entire PC, phone, tablet, and gadget ecosystem into the future, USB Type-C faces another challenge from the USB IF itself: a new attempt to encourage wireless USB data transfer after last decade's effort flopped. Cables still have advantages, though, including the ability to charge and power devices and fast data-transfer speeds. Although the new wireless USB in principle can reach into the gigabit-per-second range with 60GHz 802.11ad wireless networking, Type-C cables will support USB 3.1's 10Gbps rates.
Expect new USB Type-C ports to live side by side with old-style ports for awhile.USB Implementers Forum
The USB prong itself measures 8.3x2.5mm, smaller than the plugs that fit into a PC's USB ports today but larger than the 6.85x1.8mm of the Micro-USB B-type those widely used in mobile phones. Cable supported cable lengths won't change.
Other attributes of the Type-C design, according to the USB-IF:
It'll make an audible click when plugged in correctly.
It's designed to accommodate future USB incarnations with higher data-transfer speeds.
It'll support USB's growing role in carrying power to operate and charge devices through the USB Power Delivery technology.
It's designed to be plugged and unplugged 10,000 times.
With so many USB devices in the market today, don't expect an immediate transition to the new cable. It's likely PCs will include new and old port styles side by side, and that people will have use for cables and adapters that bridge the old and new styles.
Amazon is holding a press conference on Wednesday, April 2nd, where it is widely rumored that the company will announce a streaming video device.
Amazon sent out invites for a press event for this Wednesday, and all signs point to this being the release of the long-rumored Amazon streaming video device.
There has been speculation of an Amazon streaming device since about a year ago, but the recent flood of rumors seems to indicate that it may finally be on its way. Here's a roundup of all the rumors regarding Amazon's mystery device.
Amazon's streamer could be a stick
Following in the footsteps of the Google Chromecast and Roku Streaming Stick, TechCrunch reports reports that Amazon's streaming device will have a "stick" form factor, rather than a set-top box.
Netflix and Hulu Plus (among others) may be supported
There's no doubt that any Amazon-produced streaming device will feature the company's Amazon Instant streaming platform front and center. According to Gigaom, the device will also support Netflix and Hulu Plus, indicating that the device won't be just for Amazon's video (and possibly music) content. The Wall Street Journal also says Netflix and Hulu Plus are coming, along with Pandora.
Advertising-supporting TV service?
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Amazon is "considering an advertising-supported streaming television and music-video service". However, an Amazon spokesperson recently deniedthat the company is working on a "free streaming-media service", so it's unclear exactly how advertising would affect pricing. There's no indication that this would necessarily be announced with the new streaming device, but it would be a way for Amazon to differentiate its new gadget from the strong competitors that are always on the market.
There could be a focus on gaming
Will Amazon's rumored set-top box come with this Bluetooth game controller?There are quite a few rumors that Amazon's new device will support gaming in addition to traditional video playback. Dave Zatz tracked down photos of an Amazon-branded Bluetooth gaming controller, featuring Android-style buttons such as home and back. TechCrunch also reports that Amazon may offer streaming PC games, working in a similar fashion to OnLive or PlayStation Now.
Price? Name? All unknown
While some details have leaked out, any specific information on the name or price of the device is still unknown. The only small nugget of info comes from the Wall Street Journal, which reports that Amazon's streamer will be released in April and be sold at Amazon and other retailers, such as Best Buy and Staples.
CNET editor Dong Ngo picks his favorite battery packs that will give your smartphone or tablet the extra power to last a long road trip or an intercontinental flight.
I've never met anyone who is completely satisfied with the battery life of his or her mobile device. And now that the FAA has given the green light to using electronics during takeoff and landing , you'll need even a few minutes more of juice.
The good news is there's a plethora of battery packs (aka juice packs) that now offer you many ways to conveniently carry extra power with you. The following are my favorite juice packs (yes, I have a lot of favorites) that, when paired with a mobile device, are great not only for long flights, but also when you're out and about camping or hiking, even in rough environments. It's always great to have one or two of them in your car, just in case.
Note that I haven't officially tested and reviewed these devices (at least, not all of them) but via personal and collective experiences, I consider these among the best on the market. In any case, if extra battery life for a smartphone is what you want, you won't go wrong with any of these.
Bracketron: SmartLantern
This is my favorite juice pack. This compact battery packs 7,800mAh of power, enough to charge an iPhone from empty to full about three times and still have juice left. On top of that it can also work as a flash light or a portable lantern for up to 48 hours straight. In my testing, it wasn't really bright (64 lumens), but it's bright enough for reading or if you need to replace a flat tire in the dark. What I love the most about it is the design. The top can be pulled up to work as a lantern and when pulled down, it's a flashlight. If you're a camper, it's great to hang it on top of your tent. The SmartLantern is available on Amazon for $60. There seems to be another version of it that's about half the price.
Battstation Optimus
At 20,400mAh, this is one of the highest-capacity juice packs I've seen. The Optimus can easily provide two full charges to most tablets and about eight full charges for most smartphones. In my testing it could provide about 10 charges for my iPhone 5, basically enough juice for me to survive outdoors for more than a week. You can charge two devices at a time and on a side, the Optimus incorporates a little flashlight that's bright enough for you to take a walk in the dark to look for your phone that you left somewhere in the tent. In all, it's quite worth the current $130 price-tag.
Mophie Space Pack
This is a juice pack for the iPhone 5/5S only. Apart from offering another 1,800mAh of battery life (almost another full charge), this juice pack also works as a protective case and a storage extender. It's not cheap, though, costing about $150 or $180 for 16GB or 32GB, respectively. On top of that, in my experience, protective-case juice packs tend to lower the phone's reception quite a bit. But if you're looking to add more storage to your iPhone, this is about as convenient as it gets.
Tenergy ARC5200 Universal Mobile Power Pack
For just $50 on Amazon, the Tenergy ARC5200 seems an excellent deal. This juice pack is compact, just about the size of an energy bar, but it packs a 5,200mAh battery, enough to refill an iPhone 5's battery more than twice. The best thing about the Tenergy is the fact that it has two built-in charging cables, one with a Lightning head for an iOS device and the other with a standard Micro-USB head that fits most other mobile devices. These two cables are tucked away on the side of the juice pack when not in use and can be pulled out easily, allowing you to charge your device even when you forget the charging cable at home. And yes, it can charge two mobile devices at a time.
HooToo TripMate
The HooToo TripMate is not just a juice pack, it's also a mobile Wi-Fi router that can convert any wired network to wireless with the support for 801.11n. It can also host a portable USB storage device and work as a network storage server to host data shared between connected clients. With a 5,200mAh internal battery, this little device can also provide plenty of power for any mobile devices. With this Swiss Army Knife-like approach, almost any traveler will find a use for the HooToo, which can be had for just $50 on Amazon.
The Samsung LTE HotSpot Pro
Similar to the HooToo above, the Samsung is actually not a juice pack; rather, it's a mobile cellular modem that brings the Internet to up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices (and it works very well in that regard). However, this is also the first device of its type that comes with a very powerful 3,100mAh battery that, apart from giving the device itself some exceptional battery life, can also work as charger or a juice pack for any smartphone or tablet that uses a standard USB charger. In my testing, the Samsung, when fully charged, packed enough juice to bring an iPhone 5 from empty to full and still had some power left. More impressively, it did that while working simultaneously as a mobile hot spot. If you're also looking for a mobile hot spot, the Samsung definitely makes an excellent solution. Read the full review of the Samsung LTE HotSpot Pro.
Lenmar Meridian iPhone 5/5S Rechargeable Extended Battery Case
If you have multiple mobile devices, be they tablets or smartphones, the Satechi 10,000mAh Portable Energy Station is for you. This is a compact 10,000mAh battery pack that can charge two devices simultaneously. It has enough power to fully charge an iPhone 5S from empty about four times. It can be used to charge virtually all mobile devices that use USB charging. Measuring just 5.5 inches by 2 inches by 0.75 inch and weighing just 7.4 ounces, the Satechi is supercompact for the amount of power it carries. Make sure you charge it overnight before your trip, however, since it takes up to 9 hours to fully charge itself. The Satechi 10,000mAh Portable Energy Station currently costs just $60 on Amazon.
Lenmar Meridian iPhone 5/5S Rechargeable Extended Battery Case
The Lenmar Meridian iPhone 5/5S juice pack, as the name suggests, works only with the iPhone 5 and 5S. It packs a 2,300mAh battery, and that means it has enough power to double the battery life of the phone. Apart from being a juice pack, it's also a protective case that you can use with your phone permanently. In this case you can sync or charge the phone using a standard Micro-USB cable. The juice pack also includes a headphone extension cable. Currently the Lenmar Meridian juice pack goes for just a little over $50 on Amazon.
Joos Solar Orange Portable Solar Charger
At almost 1.5 pounds and about a size of a regular-size book, the Joos Solar Orange Portable Solar Charger is not something you want to use on a flight but rather for a long road trip or when working out in the wild. Claimed to be one of the most efficient solar chargers, the device is said to offer 2 hours of 3G talk time for each hour of direct solar charging. On top of that, it comes with a built-in 5,400mAh battery to continue to charge devices when the sun is down. This battery can be charged via a wall socket like any juice pack and takes 8 hours to fully charge from nil. When charged using the sun, it takes about 12 hours. The great thing about this juice pack is the fact that it can deal with rough environments and can even work underwater. The Joos Solar Orange Portable Solar Charger can be found on Amazon for about $150.
Coming in a "lipstick" design, the RAVPower Luster is tiny, just about the size of a AA-battery flashlight, and it is a LED flashlight itself. On the inside, this versatile juice pack comes with a 3,000mAh battery, more than enough power to fill an iPhone 5 from empty, and it can provide extra power to most mobile devices. The device itself takes about 5 hours to charge from empty to full using a standard USB adapter (or a computer's USB port). At just $20, the RAVPower Luster 3,000mAh Compact External Battery Pack Backup Charger is a steal. And the fact that it comes in multiple colors, including pink, is a bonus.
Anker 2nd Gen Astro3 12,000mAh Portable Charger
The long name says it all. This is a battery pack that comes with a 12,000mAh internal battery, enough power to charge an iPhone to full from empty six times. Considering the compact size -- just 4.4 inches by 3.3 inches by 1 inch and weighing just 10.6 ounces -- this is arguably the most powerful juice pack of its type. The Anker comes with three USB ports to charge three devices at a time, and is able to charge virtually all mobile devices, including larger ones, such as an iPad or a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The juice pack itself takes about 9 hours to fill up from empty, so make sure you start charging it well before your trip. The Anker 2nd Gen Astro3 12000mAh Portable Charger is available on Amazon for just $50.
RAVPower Element 10,400mAh External Battery Pack Charger
With a 10,400mAh internal battery -- enough juice to charge an iPhone from empty more than five times -- the RAVPower Element is just a tad less powerful than the Anker above. And more than making up for it, it costs just $30 on Amazon. The juice pack can charge any mobile device, including those with large screens, two at a time. Just slightly wider and thicker than the iPhone 5, the RAVPower Element can be easily tucked away in any backpack or purse.
