Zach Honig
Articles by Zach Honig
Samsung USB cable lets you charge three mobile devices at once
If you've owned a handful of portable gadgets in recent years, you've probably managed to build up a healthy supply of micro-USB cables. Spending 40 bucks to acquire another might sound absurd -- unless this is the cable you're looking to buy. While a bit pricey, this Multi-Charging Wall Charger from Samsung packs three connectors at the tail end, letting you power multiple devices from a single USB port. There's a 2-amp charger included in the box, which outputs two amps of power when charging one device, one amp per device when you have two attached or 667mA each when you're using all three ports. Samsung hasn't announced a ship date yet, but you can pre-order the cable today.
Xbox One gamers could soon try before they buy with a 'Free Play Day' (update)
At $60 per year, an Xbox Live Gold subscription isn't cheap, but Microsoft's working to make the all-access package a bit more attractive to gamers. The 'Games with Gold' offering that we first saw with Xbox 360 made its way to One as well, and now it appears that the company's latest console may soon get a second bonus feature. Xbox One beta users noticed a new 'Free Game Day' option this week, which enables 24 hours of access to select titles, giving you a chance to preview games before making a purchase. Max: The Curse of Brotherhood appears to be the first offering, and if an Xbox Support tweet is any indication, a broader rollout may be on the way very soon. Update: Microsoft tells GamesIndustry.biz that the tile was posted "in error" yesterday, and would only say that it's "constantly exploring different ways to offer more benefits to our Xbox Live Gold members." Our interpretation? It's not if, just when this kind of promo starts popping up regularly.
Sony Alpha 5100 is the smallest APS-C camera with a built-in flash
If you've been holding out on purchasing an Alpha 6000 because you don't need an electronic viewfinder, Sony's got a mirrorless camera just for you. Internally, the Alpha 5100, which replaces the NEX-5T, is nearly identical to its pricier counterpart, with a 24.3-megapixel sensor and a BIONZ X processor. You also get a 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 power-zoom lens, bundled with the camera for $700 ($550 for the body only), and the same hybrid focusing system, letting you acquire a subject in as little as 0.07 second. It excludes an EVF, but the A5100 does have a 921k-dot display (with touch functionality this time) that flips forward 180 degrees for self-portraits. There's also built-in WiFi, XAVC S video capture and a top sensitivity of ISO 25,600. It ships next month in black and white.
The death of the original jumbo jet, Boeing's 747-400
Later this month, Cathay Pacific's 747 will fly from San Francisco to Hong Kong for the very last time. It's a story we're hearing from nearly every airline still flying the most recognizable passenger jet in aviation history -- rising fuel costs are prompting carriers to ground their fleets, opting to shuttle passengers in more modern (and efficient) airliners instead. Hundreds of 747s still take to the skies every day, but their numbers are dwindling, with Boeing's 777-300ER and 787 Dreamliner, as well as the enormous Airbus A380, picking up the slack. The flagships of yesteryear now litter the desert, with several sites in California serving as a permanent resting place for the plane that was once known as the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747-400.
Motorola will unveil new smartphones and the Moto 360 on September 4th
With Samsung's Note 4 announcement on September 3rd and Apple's iPhone launch expected a few days later, September is shaping up to be a busy month when it comes to smartphone (and wearable) unveils. Motorola's just sent out invitations for its own launch in Chicago, scheduled for the day after Samsung's big event in Berlin. Of course, we don't know exactly what to expect, but given the "choose your own adventure" invite, it looks like two smartphones (perhaps the X+1 and a new G model), Moto 360 and an in-ear wearable (Bluetooth headset?) are on order.
ViaSat adds 'virtually unlimited' Freedom satellite internet plan for $70 per month
It didn't happen overnight, but ViaSat's finally on its way to transforming the satellite internet space, be it through speedy in-flight WiFi on JetBlue and United or the Exede residential service. That latter product, while the fastest internet option for customers without access to cable or fiber, isn't without its critics, due in no small part to some rather prohibitive monthly data caps. Well, no more. The company's new Freedom plan, available beginning August 18th for $70 per month (or $60 when bundled with phone service), delivers "virtually unlimited" access for streaming, web browsing and anything else you might plan to do. Officially, there's a monthly cap of 150 GB, but ViaSat likely won't enforce that limit. Of course, Exede still won't be a fit for downloading terabytes of video or linking up your remote server farm, but if you plan to do some work during the day and stream an HD movie each night, you should be good to go.
Cable rates are rising, but what are you paying for?
On average, Americans are paying more for TV service than ever before -- $64.41 per month as of January 2013, according to the FCC, though if you add any premium channels and DVR to the mix, that figure can increase twofold or more. Earlier this year, the FCC released a report stating that from 2012 to 2013, the average monthly price of basic cable jumped 5.1 percent, while the average price per channel increased by just 2.1 percent. More cable channels are to blame, but programming costs have also jumped, according to Comcast executives cited in a New York Times report. Technically, you're paying more to get more, but I barely venture beyond the staples: Comedy Central, local broadcast channels and The Food Network. And occasionally Showtime or HBO. I spent a day with my Verizon FiOS remote (and the handy streaming app) to see what else, exactly, I was paying $92.99 for -- before internet, taxes and equipment-rental fees. Turns out, there's a lot of garbage on the tube, and an even greater amount of redundancy.
OM Audio's levitating Bluetooth speaker can be yours for $179
We've seen levitating pens, levitating lamps, levitating loungers and even levitating fish -- now there's a Bluetooth speaker to add to the mix. OM Audio, maker of such respectable audio accessories as the Inearpeace earphones and Mantra speakers, has taken a bold leap into the world of novelty products with the OM/One. The compact sphere can be used with or without its magnetic base (which requires an AC adapter), and includes an integrated battery with up to 15 hours of continuous play. There's also a microphone on board, so you can use the OM/One as a speakerphone as well. We had a chance to check out an early prototype, which you can see in action after the break. Sound quality was fine -- not fantastic, but on par with other compact Bluetooth speakers. You can improve the experience by adding a second OM/One, which pairs with the first to produce stereo audio. The levitating effect is interesting to look at, but it also reportedly helps produce better audio with a lower-power driver, since nearby objects won't absorb sound. You can pre-order it today in black, white or "disco ball" on OM's site for $179. OM reps expect to ship the first batch in December.
Watch this fish play 'Pokemon' live on the internet (currently in betta)
The world record holder for longest consecutive Pokemon gameplay might just be a fish. Grayson Hopper, a bright orange betta, has been "playing" the game for 135 hours and counting, with the event broadcast live on the internet from a "tiny dorm room." Before you get too excited, the aquatic creature's owner mapped out a video feed of an otherwise ordinary bowl, and, to the best of our knowledge, Grayson's entirely unaware that he's become the latest Twitch sensation. As of the last update, the fish had defeated his first opponent and even managed to acquire a Pokemon. Mr. Hopper has paused to rest throughout the experiment, so he should be in good shape to continue until his owner relocates the rig later this summer.
Apple patent application hints at a Siri-like assistant for Macs
Siri might be making her way to a Mac near you. According to a patent application filed in February and released today, Apple's considering bringing the iPhone personal assistant to its desktop OS. The 92-page document details how you'll interact with Apple's "digital assistant," a term that occurs 574 times in the patent app (the name Siri never makes an appearance, however). According to the document, a desktop version could pair Siri's current actions with more complex functionality, such as file and system management. After calling on the assistant by using a specific gesture on the touchpad or clicking an icon in the dock, you could use it to send emails, find images or YouTube videos on the web, print documents or copy and "hold" multiple files. As TechCrunch notes, there's no reference to such an assistant in the Yosemite beta preview, so it'll probably be at least another year before Siri (or her better-equipped equivalent) arrives on the Mac.
NASA successfully tests microwave thruster, paving the way for speedier space travel
As with airplanes and many other self-powered machines, the fuel a shuttle engine requires can weigh nearly as much as the object it's propelling, increasing costs while significantly limiting range. It's a challenge we're going to need to overcome before launching long-distance treks through space, where carrying enough fuel may not currently be possible. One proposed method for getting future spacecrafts to their destinations is by utilizing a device called a microwave thruster. A British scientist named Roger Shawyer managed to build a similar engine called an EmDrive several years ago, and while a Chinese team also accomplished the same, the rest of the world hasn't paid much attention until NASA confirmed from its own research that such a device could work during a presentation earlier this week.
New Twitter feature labels #hashtags you may not recognize
My feed is currently littered with hashtags I've never seen before. Iberia (the Spanish airline) tweeted with #ttot (Travel Talk on Twitter), Al Gore used #CRinBrazil (Climate Reality in Brazil) and Verizon posted something with #MobileBKsweeps (no clue). Things can get even more confusing during evening hours on the East Coast, when tags like #TWD (The Walking Dead), #AHSFX (American Horror Story) and #HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) might appear. A quick trip to Google typically clears things up, but most of the time it's simply not worth the hassle. According to #WSJ, Twitter's now testing a tool that would help bring some clarity to those cryptic tags, in an attempt to make the service more user-friendly. The Wall Street Journal noticed expanded hashtags in Twitter's iOS app, and while reps declined to comment, it appears that the new feature is beginning to roll out. #itsabouttime.
Share iconic movie quotes with Quotacle's GIF maker
We love a great idea, but when it doesn't pan out as expected, it's easy to get really bummed out. Today's poorly executed great idea is called Quotacle, a web database of hundred of movies (not a typo) that lets you pull up choice quotes and export a GIF. That all sounds great, beyond the limited library, but each clip is far longer than it needs to be, resulting in a low resolution, yet very large file that dramatically minimizes the impact of an otherwise punchy quote. We took the liberty of cleaning up the Anchorman bit seen above, which just wasn't effective at the 11 seconds you'll find on Quotacle. Still, the site's a decent resource for pulling up random flicks, and you can download an MP4 version instead and handle the GIF building on your own.
Amazon Prime members get a $1 video credit for choosing slower shipping
One of the most attractive benefits of subscribing to Amazon Prime is the free two-day shipping or an overnight option available for a small fee, depending on the item and destination. But in many cases, you might not need your stuff until the following week, making the e-tailer's new "no-rush shipping" option appealing. If you opt for Amazon's slowest delivery speed, you'll also be rewarded with a $1 Amazon Instant Video credit. Credits do expire, and certain content is excluded, such as HBO titles. It's a "limited time offer," according to the site's terms and conditions, but considering the cost savings for Amazon, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect the incentive to remain.
Modbook will let you convert your Retina MacBook Pro to a tablet for $1,999
Modbook, the company behind those aftermarket Apple tablets, just launched a Kickstarter campaign for its latest product, the Modbook Pro X. After paying a pre-order price of $1,999 today, backers will be able to convert their own Retina MacBook Pros into a tablet beginning early next year. The conversion incorporates the laptop's original hardware, with components shifted from the lower half of the computer to just behind the 15.4-inch 2,880 x 1,800-pixel LCD.
How to make your dumb home smarter without spending a fortune
If you go all out connecting your house, you can end up spending as much upgrading a smart home as it costs to build a dumb one. But you don't need a ton of proprietary gear to pimp your crib with 21st-century tech. Your smartphone and tablet already serve to consolidate your digital life, and they can do the same with your lights, power outlets, air conditioning and nanny cam -- even your door locks and Crock-Pot can be app-controlled, if you so please. Join us below to explore affordable options for your entire home, all of which can be installed yourself.
Watching 'Sharknado' with Syfy Sync and Philips Hue
When I open my mailbox, I often find Amazon packages that I don't remember ordering. But today's surprise was a DVD of Sharknado, a movie I absolutely did not purchase. My first instinct was to contact Amazon and change my password, but then I found a note inside: "For you to test out the new Syfy Sync app with your Philips Hue lights." Wait, what? A quick web search cleared things up pretty quickly -- the latest Syfy Sync app enables full control of a Hue bridge (and connected lights) on the same network. The movie, app and lights work together, in theory, to bring you a more immersive entertainment experience.
Google Play gets a section for offline games
In an ideal world, your smartphone and tablet would always be online (and you'd still have an unlimited data plan), but that's just not the case. Problem is, some Android games require a connection even after you've completed your download, but others do not. It's that latter list that Google's breaking out into its own section in Play, called "Offline Games." There you'll find Asphalt 8, Dots, Jetpack Joyride, Assassin's Creed Pirates and a few others -- 54 games in all. That's a shockingly slim selection, so this list is hardly all-inclusive, but if you're in the market for a game to play on your next flight or subway ride, it's a good place to start.
China and Macs power Apple's growth as iPad demand wanes
Apple had a very strong second quarter. iPhone sales were up significantly over Q2 2013 and the company pocketed $700 million more in profit than it did during the same period last year, even though iPad sales slipped slightly. The company's third quarter results, released today, reflect a similar trend. At $37.4 billion, revenue is up $2.3 billion over the same period last year, thanks in no small part to boosted sales in Asia. iPhone and Mac adoption remains strong, with 13- and 18-percent increases over the same period in 2013, respectively, but iPad and iPod sales both slipped, registering 9-percent and 36-percent respective drops. Apple sold 35 million iPhones during Q3 of this year, compared to 31 million in 2013, while iPad sales dropped to 13.3 million, from 14.6 million last year.
Framed gesture-controlled digital canvas debuts on Kickstarter, starting at $399
It's shaping up to be a big month for digital art displays. Electric Objects popped up on Kickstarter with its successfully funded 23-inch LCD for $299, and now a familiar face has turned to the funding site with its own rebooted version. Framed 2.0, an update to 2011's overpowered 40-inch model, includes integrated WiFi, a 720p front-facing camera and motion sensors, so you can interact with the frame using gestures. There's also a companion smartphone app, for purchasing and swapping art, creating schedules and adjusting settings. The first 250 backers can take home a 24-inch 1080p screen for $399. A 40-inch version will be available for $1,500, while a "super limited" 55-inch model will go for a whopping $10,000, including dinner with the design team in Tokyo. All three frames are available for pre-order on Kickstarter now, with select models shipping in November.