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PSA: ‘Battle for Net Neutrality’ Internet Slowdown Protest Planned for Sept. 10th.

sept 10th internet slowdown net neutralityThe fight over Net Neutrality and the FCC’s proposed “Fast Lane” rules is heating up again.

Tomorrow, a number of sites around the internet will be intentionally slowing their traffic to demonstrate what a tiered internet might feel like for consumers. The Fast Lane rules have come under a lot of scrutiny, as many fear they will slow innovation online by creating more expensive barriers for companies wanting to create the next generation of data services.

The list of sites includes the ACLU, Imgur, Daily Kos, Etsy, Foursquare, Kickstarter, Vimeo, and adult sites YouPorn, RedTube, and Pornhub will be joining in as well.

For more info on the slowdown head over to https://www.battleforthenet.com/sept10th/

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Review: Kodak Pixpro SP360 Action Camera with Extreme Accessories Kit

I was a really big fan of Kodak’s Pixpro SP1 Action Camera, and JK Imaging is adding to the line up with a new action camera capable of shooting panoramic video! Let’s take a look at a little adventure cam which captures a full 360 degree view of your exploits!

UPDATED! Youtube 360 Degree VR Playback!
See more samples from the Kodak Pixpro SP360!
More info on the Kodak Pixpro SP360.

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New Moto G with 5″ Display set for $179 Off Contract Price

moto g teaser vidAlongside the Moto X refresh, the Moto G is also getting an update.

Keeping a similar shell, and the front facing speakers from the X, the new G will step up to a 5″ 720p screen paired with a low power 1.2GHz quad-core and 1GB of RAM. Depending on region it will receive 8 or 16GB of storage with a MicroSD slot to add more. A 2070 mAh battery should keep the device running all day thanks to the low power internals.

While the G wont have the same breadth of customization options through Moto Maker that the X will have, there will be a variety of backplates for consumers to choose in a variety of colors. Happily, for people shopping entry level devices, Moto stands with LG and Nokia in providing inexpensive phones which look very similar to their flagship counterparts. That simply because they aren’t spending as much, doesn’t mean they should get saddled with boring or “cheap” looking phones.

The new Moto G is available starting today off contract for $179.99 at Motorola.com. You can see Moto’s teaser for the new G below.

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New Moto X Debuts with Larger Screen for $499

moto x teaser vidMoto is refreshing their line up of smartphones, and the X is getting a top to bottom makeover.

Their flagship steps up to a more premier spec sheet. Moving up to a 5.2″ 1080p OLED powered by a Qualcomm 801 quad-core with 2GB of RAM. It will come in 16GB and 32GB variants, and a 2300mAh battery is on board. The Moto X also joins HTC in providing front facing stereo speakers.Customers will also still have access to Moto Maker, which allows them to customize the colors and materials used to build their phones.

The camera is now being supplied by Sony, and it’s the same sensor which was used on phones like the GS4 and G2. That might feel a little mid-pack by today’s standards, but it should be a welcome improvement from the mediocre 10MP shooter on the OG Moto X.

Motorola’s focus is on optimization, and this new X looks to be continuing in the tradition of pairing a lean build of Android (little to no skin running on top) with software services designed to make the experience a bit more ergonomic. Voice control seems to play a larger role in this generation, and better interaction with voice commands and 3rd party apps will be a welcome improvement.

This new Moto X should be available later this month, and Moto Maker customization will be available for AT&T and Verizon. Pricing is set at $499 off contract and will likely hit $99 on contract. Catch Moto’s teaser vid below.

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Glass Explorer Edition Now Available in Google Play Store

google glass in google play storeGlass is taking another step towards being a commercial product. Google is now offering the Explorer Edition in the Google Play store.

They’re slowly walking away from the previous invite system, and they’ve flirted with selling Glass at events and kiosks, and recently had a limited time open invitation for new Explorers. Now anyone who wants to jump on board can grab Google’s wearable eye-level computer. They are also selling frames and earbud accessories alongside Glass.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t come with any pricing breaks, and you’ll still drop $1500 to own a Glass of your very own. Still, we can consider this progress, and some small sign that Google still has faith in the project while we wait out a more reasonably priced consumer edition.

Google Glass in the Google Play Store.

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Do QHD Phone Screens Provide Enough Benefit to Outweigh Performance and Battery Woes?

It’s a feature I’ve been struggling with recently.

We’ve quickly stepped up through higher resolution displays, with higher PPI (pixel per inch) counts, and now it’s pretty common to hold pocketable computers which have the same resolution screens as the super large TV’s we enjoy mounting in our living rooms.

Higher resolution screens provide a more pleasant visual experience. Text is crisper. Photos are more detailed. It’s easier on the eyes, and stepping back to lower resolution screens can make you feel like you need to visit an optometrist.

However, after we started building out smaller 720p screens, I worry that we’re starting to see diminishing returns on packing more dots into a phone display.  Continue reading “Do QHD Phone Screens Provide Enough Benefit to Outweigh Performance and Battery Woes?”

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Lenovo Refreshes Helix Business Ultrabook and Horizon Portable All-In-One PC

Announced today at IFA, Lenovo has refreshes planned for some of their most unique Windows 8.1 PC’s.

ThinkPad Helix PowerBaseThe new Helix gets a slimmer build and finally gets the more powerful and efficient Intel Core M chipset. Helix is an 11.6″ tablet which can dock in a clam-shell keyboard for a more traditional laptop experience.  Lenovo calls their latching system “rip and flip” as the tablet can be inserted either facing towards or away from the keyboard for multi-mode usage. You can use the Helix as a tablet, laptop, or in “stand mode”. The Helix features up to 12 hour battery life with the Ultrabook Pro Keyboard dock.

As the Helix is a part of the Thinkpad line for business users, it includes support for a digitzer pen and security features like a fingerprint reader, smart card reader, and three factor authentication.

Lenovo Horizon 2e_Hero_01Consumers looking for an All-in-One experience can look to the Horizon 2s and 2e. Like the Flex 20 we reviewed recently, the Horizon 2 is a battery powered AiO. Like a semi portable, giant tablet which can replace your desktop PC running a full version of Windows 8.1 on an Intel Core processor.

Lenovo has shaved 10 pounds off the weight of its first Horizon PC, while including a battery capable of up to three hours of run time. The multi-mode stand also returns, allowing you to prop the screen upright, hold it at an angle, or lay it completely flat for tabletop gaming.

The Helix with Ultrabook Keyboard dock will be available in January starting at a price of $999. The Horizon 2e will launch in October starting at $749. You can catch Lenovo’s full PR below.

Continue reading “Lenovo Refreshes Helix Business Ultrabook and Horizon Portable All-In-One PC”

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Nokia Unveils “Affordable Flagship” Lumia 830 Smartphone

Lumia-830_group1Following the announcement of their Lumia Denim, Nokia showed off the first phone which will include the software update.

Nokia is positioning the 8XX line as upper mid-range. The Lumia 830 has a 5″ 720p display powered by a Qualcomm 400 series quad-core. The rear shooter scales back to a 10MP shooter which supports 1080p video and includes optical image stabilization. While there’s only 16GB of storage built in, it will include a MicroSD card slot unlike its bigger brother the 930.

It also retains a lot of the design language we current enjoy, a metal frame with a polycarb back which will come in white, black, orange, or green. It’s a nice aesthetic touch, not punishing consumers who opt for the less expensive models.

The Lumia 830 will be available this month with an expected launch price of 330EUR. You can see Nokia’s teaser vid below, and their full PR after the jump.

Continue reading “Nokia Unveils “Affordable Flagship” Lumia 830 Smartphone”

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