Huawei begged for comparison to Apple’s AirPods when they made the FreeBuds 3 look like the ubiquitous earbuds. The FreeBuds 3 style is so close to AirPods, that from a few feet away, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the white stem with a chrome end dipping low from your subway seatmate’s ears was the non-noise canceling version of Airpods, but you’d be wrong.
The idea of an “always-on”, “always connected” computer has been around for a while. Unfortunately, the available technology wasn’t quite ready to make such computers possible. Thanks to the just-announced new Qualcomm Snapdragon Compute platform portfolio, the “always computer” may finally be at hand. Long battery life, AI, and cellular connectivity are just the beginning of this revolution.
Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit has entered its final day with the introduction of the new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform. The Snapdragon XR2 Platform is “the world’s first 5G-supported extended reality (XR) platform.” This new era of mobile computing is made possible by a combination of Qualcomm’s recent 5G and AI innovations and their proven XR technology.
This is the second day of the 2019 Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit and it was spent doing a deep-dive into the features of Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 765/765G. The new mobile platforms are impressive and, best of all, we expect devices built on these new platforms to be available later in the first quarter of 2020.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Platform is targeted for flagship phones. Many consumers would prefer not to spend as much on their next phone as they did on their current laptops. The good news is that Qualcomm has also introduced the new Snapdragon 765 and 765G. Like the Snapdragon 865 Platform, it’s a huge step forward in speed, connectivity, and battery life.
I’m excited to attend the 2019 Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit again this year; it’s a chance to get an early look at the technology that will drive the next generation of mobile devices. The Summit is just beginning, but its already clear that Qualcomm has a lot to share. As you might expect, 5G and AI are centerstage.
Earlier this year, I reviewed the Huawei Watch GT; I was a huge fan of its long battery life and sleep tracking, but I felt its larger size might be an issue for those with smaller wrists, and I lamented the limited selection of watch faces. Well, the updated Huawei Watch GT 2 is here, and I’ve been wearing it for the past month. How does it compare?
If you’ve got a Pixel 4, you’ve no doubt noticed that the square-shaped camera lens on the back protrudes a bit. As tempting as it might be to carry this surprisingly non-slippery phone without a case, you need to protect its screen, its corners, and the protruding camera lens on the back if you’re prone to dropping things; Gear4 can help!
I gave up Diet Cokes a few years ago, for many reasons. One of the things that helped me keep my resolve to stop drinking “DC”s was flavored carbonated water; I could still get that bubbly burn that I craved but without all of the artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and caramel food coloring. With the Spärkel Carbonator, I can now make my own flavored carbonated drinks at home.
I know that most premium smartphones come with Gorilla Glass displays which are less likely to shatter or scratch than a plastic or lesser glass display, but guess what? I can still manage to scratch Gorilla Glass without even trying. That’s why I am a huge advocate for glass screen protectors like the Invisible Shield Glass Elite VisionGuard+ for the Google Pixel 4 XL.
If you’ve grown tired of the feeling of silicone, TPU, or plastic touching your fingers when holding your brand new Google Pixel 4 XL, then you’re really going to like the Nomad Rugged Case. Luxurious black or rustic brown Horween leather wraps a protective yet slim body. If you’ve gotta cover up your phone, this case will almost make doing so regret-free.
I’ve just returned from Hong Kong, where I was attending the Global Source s Show. Global Sources is one of the largest consumer electronics shows in Asia, billing itself as the “world’s biggest mobile sourcing show” which means that it’s a great source for companies who need to find new products to sell. Here are some of the products I thought were noteworthy.
Whether you’re a retro gamer or just a lover of all things quirky and cute, you are going to want to check out the Divoom Ditoo. The Ditoo is a cute little clock that also functions as a retro gaming device and speaker.
Sometimes it’s the little things that make life easier, and I suspect that the Vago Portable Compressor might be just such an item. If you are trying to pack or store clothing and you want to be as space-efficient as possible, the Vago can help make that happen.
Creating with plastic building blocks is fun, but building with Metomics Metal Designer Blocks looks like it will take creativity to the next level with gorgeous and long-lasting anodized aluminum designer blocks!
Today, the OnePlus 7T goes on sale in the US, and I can safely say that if you’re in the market for a new phone, it should be a front-running contender. Loaded with flagship features, at $599 the 7T is almost a no-brainer. Let’s take a look at why I think this is the best phone for your money.
It would be easy to discount a portable speaker that comes with a built-in light show as a jack of all trades and a master of none, but in the case of the JBL Pulse 4, doing so would be a huge mistake. The Pulse 4 delivers 360º sound and an LED light show that can both soothe or enliven.
One of the new devices that caught my eye at CES this January was the Lenovo Smart Clock with Google Assistant. It wasn’t just that this particular smart display was sized similarly to a traditional bedside clock, it was that all of its features had been thoughtfully curated for bedroom use.
Where do you stow all of your electronic accessories when you travel? If you’ve been guilty of tossing your charging cables, USB dongles, USB hubs, and other “stuff” into the bottom of your backpack or a pocket in your suitcase (as I have), then you’ll appreciate the organization and protection the Oneadaptr Evri Accessories Pouch will give your gear.
Berlin’s annual IFA show is the largest consumer electronics event in Europe with “more digital lifestyle products in one place than any other show worldwide.” After walking the show floor, sitting in on private pre-briefings, standing inside packed press conferences, and attending media-only showcase events, these are the items we’ve chosen for Gear Diary’s Best of IFA 2019 Awards.
Until folding phones manufacturers are able to sort out all their devices’ inherent issues, we can look to LG and their Dual Screen solution which we first saw on the V50 ThinQ at MWC. That Dual Screen case option wasn’t available in the US, however. Now we have the LG G8X ThinQ, and yes — it’s coming to the US!