Zach Honig
Articles by Zach Honig
Philips adds web-connected tap switch, white-only lux bulb to Hue lighting lineup
Think you're all done building out your Hue lighting collection? Think again. Philips' latest product is one you're likely going to want to own. The tap switch, available later this year for $60, lets you control connected lights wirelessly by tapping one of four buttons. More impressive, however, is the switch's ability to turn lights off and on without requiring a power source of its own. The device is powered by kinetic energy, so a tap creates enough juice to complete each task. Philips is also announcing a new "lux" bulb, which looks and operates like traditional Hue units, albeit without the 16 million colors. This bulb emits only white light, but it's reportedly very bright. Lux is set to retail for $40 per bulb (compared to $60 for the color version), or $100 in a set of two bundled with a Hue base as well. Like the switch, lux will ship in Europe and North America after the summer.
Philips Hue targets the ultra high end with $3,500 3D-printed luminaires
Philips' Hue collection of app-controlled LED bulbs has never been the cheapest option for lighting a room, but the company's existing products are at least priced to be accessible to many homeowners. That's absolutely no concern when it comes to this latest lineup of lamps, however. The table and pendant luminaries (a fancy word for light fixture) were designed by WertelOberfell and Strand+Hvass. These works of art are still perfectly functional, though -- each is capable of displaying any of 16 million colors, with full wireless control. These 3D-printed fixtures are hardly affordable, however. A selection of table lamps will be available for pre-order beginning March 31st for €2,500 (about $3,500) while the pendant versions will retail for a whopping €3,000 (about $4,150).
Philips' new LED bulbs are powered over Ethernet, provide occupancy and climate info to office managers
Get ready for a whole new generation of connected lightbulbs. Philips latest concept replaces an office's traditional electrical wiring with Ethernet, used to power LED bulbs and pass info to and from each lamp. Each fixture outputs light, but also collects information from a variety of sensors. A motion sensor can track the number of employees in a given area, for example, while a thermometer can report back on the current temperature. Facility managers can track any section of the office in realtime, adjusting lighting and heating from a smartphone app to save on utilities whenever possible. Of course, as you'll need to replace traditional cabling with Ethernet, the installation itself is sure to cost a pretty penny. Philips quotes a 50-percent reduction in installation costs for PoE over traditional wiring with new installations, however, so if you're planning to refurbish an office this is definitely an interesting option to consider.
Turkish government bans YouTube following attempt to remove corruption videos
If you're currently in Turkey, get ready to fire up that VPN. The Turkish government has just added YouTube to its list of banned websites, which as of last week also included Twitter (that site is reportedly back online). According to Webrazzi, the ban is already active with some ISPs, while other networks are in the process of blocking access as well. A Wall Street Journal report last week stated that Google declined a government request to remove YouTube videos that allegedly feature an audio recording of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan telling his son to hide money from investigators. It's easy to speculate that today's ban is a final attempt to curb the spread of the aforementioned corruption videos, but given that millions of viewers have already tuned in, this latest effort likely won't be effective. We can only hope Turkey lifts the ban soon.
NYT Now curated news app coming to iPhone April 2nd for $8 per month
At a cocktail-fueled meet and greet at SXSW, we met with New York Times editors Jill Abramson and Clifford Levy to discuss the news organization's 2014 lineup of services, including a new enterprise dubbed NYT Now. Created as an iPhone (and iPod touch)-only application, NYT Now is the company's latest subscription-based product. On the surface, it appears to be simply a "lite" version of the paper's daily content, but The Times is reassigning nearly a dozen editors to Now full time to curate internal content as well as articles from third-party news orgs, such as Engadget. Now is not without its challenges, though. Full access will run you $8 per month, which, while a far cry from the $45 you'll fork over for a full digital subscription with Times Premier, is still a significant amount. You'll be able to download the app on April 2nd, with free access to headlines, summaries and 10 articles each month. The $8 fee (billed every four weeks) will enable full access to any article that appears in the NYT Now app.
Apple reportedly considering iTunes Store for Android phones
Apple's iTunes store may still be one of the most popular sources for downloading cheap music, but you need an iOS device to take advantage, and that leaves a heck of a lot of smartphone owners out in the cold. Rather than have those users hand over heaps of cash to competitors, it makes sense for Apple to bring its iTunes store to Android. And according to Billboard, that's exactly what Cupertino may be considering. The magazine's own sources claim that Apple has begun discussions with several record label execs, with topics ranging from a streaming service to compete with Spotify to an iTunes app for Android devices. Launching such an application isn't as simple as dropping it in Google Play, however. Complex negotiations with record labels are reportedly in the very early stages at this point, so it'll likely be some time before we see this latest concept materialize, if it's due to debut at all.
Tell the White House who you trust (or don't trust) with your data
President Clinton's former Chief of Staff, John Podesta, is back in the White House, working with President Obama to assess the state of big data and privacy. A thorough review is currently underway, and you can contribute by filling out a survey over at the White House website. First, you'll be asked about how much you trust certain institutions with your data, with responses ranging from "not at all" to very much" (ha!), before the survey prompts you to rank your concern when it comes to certain types of content (like video and audio, or location info) and data practices in general. It's not clear what change, if any, may result from the agency's review, but if you feel strongly about sharing your opinions (and we know you do!), head on over to let the prez know what's on your mind.
White House testing LG and Samsung smartphones, considering BlackBerry replacement (update)
It's been a rough few years for BlackBerry, but America's highest office remains a dedicated customer -- for at least a few more months. According to a Defense Department spokesman quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the White House is currently testing smartphone replacements from other manufacturers. Android appears to be the OS of choice, with the agency's internal tech team evaluating handsets from LG and Samsung. As for BlackBerry, while the relatively small White House is hardly a significant customer from a financial perspective, the symbolic move would clearly be a significant blow. Though according to the aforementioned spokesperson, any move away from BB is still "months away." Update: BlackBerry's response to the report (available in full after the break) includes this passage: "the U.S. government continues to choose BlackBerry for its unmatched security and cost effectiveness. Other vendors such as Samsung and LG still have a long way to go to catch up to meet the government's stringent requirements and certifications" Whatever the future holds, a White House spokesman tells the Washington Post that the Executive Office of the President "is not involved in any pilot program for testing non-BlackBerry phones." (Photo credit: Associated Press)
OUYA removes free-to-try requirement, lets devs choose whether to include demo content
OUYA will soon let developers choose whether or not to include free content. Since the platform's launch, customers have been able to try out any game before making a purchase, but some devs have been pushing back, requesting that OUYA allow them to make that call on their own. While free content certainly has its advantages, game makers have outlined several reasons why a free-to-try model may not be practical. Creating demo content costs money, of course, and in some cases, it's difficult to fit a selection of free gameplay within an existing storyline. It's not entirely clear when the policy change will take effect, so if you've been taking advantage of OUYA demo content, enjoy it while it lasts.
Sony A7 and A7R firmware update brings boosted performance, improved image quality
Sony's flagship duo of mirrorless cameras scored a few improvements today. After updating to firmware version 1.2, A7 and A7R owners will be able to take advantage of boosted image quality, new applications and faster start-up times when the camera is turned on immediately after being powered off. On the IQ front, Sony's managed to reduce color noise in speed priority continuous mode. You may also notice reduced color artifacts at object edges in bright scenes while shooting video. As for the Play Memories Camera apps, firmware 1.2 adds in new Live-view Grading and Smooth Reflection tools. There's also better AE tracking in the Timelapse app. Finally, the update enables compatibility with the new 70-200mm full-frame lens.
'Okay Google, take a photo' comes to Search for Android app
Glass users are all too familiar with the battery of commands required to get the headwear to spring into action. Beginning today, two of those lines are available in the Google Search for Android app. If you say "Okay Google" followed by "take a photo," your device will launch the camera app. Similarly, "take a video" accomplishes the same, albeit it in movie mode. Of course, we prefer to speak into a smartphone only when absolutely necessary, and with plenty of other methods for launching into photo mode (including, of course, simply tapping the camera icon), this is a feature we don't plan to use anytime soon.
Samsung's interchangeable-lens NX mini sports 1-inch sensor, fits in your pocket (hands-on)
Hey "style-conscious" men and women in your 20s and 30s, Samsung's got a new camera just for you. The electronics giant is touting its NX mini as the world's thinnest and lightest interchangeable-lens camera, and while it technically falls at the low end of the company's NX line, this new cam comes along with a 1-inch (smaller) sensor and a scaled-down lens mount, which means new lenses, though you can use larger NX glass with a $150 adapter. Without a lens, the camera weighs 158 grams (5.6 ounces), making it lighter than "some bananas" (the fruit), as Samsung demonstrated with a PowerPoint slide during a presentation earlier today. There's a 20.5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, WiFi, NFC, a 1/16,000 max shutter speed, 25,600 top ISO, 6 fps burst mode, 1080/30p video, a battery that can capture up to 650 shots with a full charge and a 3-inch HVGA flip-up touchscreen.
SXSW 2014 wrap-up: Snoop Dogg, stun copter, Snowden, Mario Kart and more!
SXSW Interactive can hardly match the significance of CES, MWC or IFA when it comes to consumer electronics launches, but there's always a ton of awesome gear to see. This year, Chaotic Moon's "CUPID" stun copter was perhaps the most shocking innovation, but IBM's Watson-powered food truck, a Leap Motion-equipped Oculus Rift and Neil Young's PonoMusic player also dominated on the gear front. In between hands-on demos, we caught up with Aereo, BlackBerry, Shaquille O'Neal and even Snoop Dogg, while also sitting in on SXSW sessions featuring the likes of Edward Snowden and 23andMe's Anne Wojcicki. We say farewell today, but South-by 2014 will live on for a few days to come, with hundreds of concerts and other events dominating the seemingly countless performance venues in Austin, Texas.
Appmethod lets you code native Android, iOS and desktop apps simultaneously (hands-on)
With different requirements and countless other incompatibilities, building applications for multiple platforms can be a tremendous chore. Embarcadero Technologies is setting out to simplify that process a bit with Appmethod, a multi-device development platform that lets you create apps for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows simultaneously. The WYSIWYG tool lets you drag and drop buttons, connectors, databases and other design elements into one emulated platform, then easily duplicate the app onto another.
Temple Run in first-person, courtesy of Epson's Android glasses (hands-on)
We saw Epson's Moverio BT-200 glasses back at CES, and while not much has changed on the hardware front since then, the company dropped by SXSW to demo a few new games. There's also a new homemade camera rig, so it's now possible to share the excitement here. Moverio supports the full version of Android 4.0, but unlike smartphones and tablets running the same OS, these glasses include a pair of embedded transparent displays, which provide a surprisingly usable view, while also preserving some of your field of vision -- we absolutely would not recommend walking, driving or interacting with humans while wearing them, though.
Watch a man get stunned by the Chaotic Unmanned Personal Intercept Drone (stun copter!)
You're gonna want to steer clear of this CUPID. The Chaotic Unmanned Personal Intercept Drone, or "stun copter," can deliver 80,000 volts of pure projectile terror directly into the skin of an ill-intentioned hoodlum. This is serious business for Chaotic Moon, the folks behind SharkPunch and the Pizza Hut touch table. The Austin-based design studio created the flying machine as a tech demo, but CUPID could be quickly brought to production whenever a personal security or law enforcement client sees fit. This prototype unit is based on a Tarot Hexacopter, originally designed to carry a digital SLR for video and aerial photo shoots. With a Phazzer Dragon on board, however, a few modifications made this an entirely different beast.
El Al teams up with ViaSat for speedy in-flight WiFi on flights to Europe
ViaSat's not yet a household name here in the US, but the company's super-fast WiFi is well on its way, due in no small part to successful launches on JetBlue and United. Now, the satellite provider is set to bring its Exede in-flight internet to El Al passengers, operating on several 737s between Tel Aviv and cities in Europe. Unlike the North American service, which connects to ViaSat-1, this European counterpart will hook up with Eutelsat's Ka-Sat, with ViaSat's terminals and antennas handling the connection on each plane. El Al plans to launch the Ka-band service within the next year.
United activates ViaSat's blazing-fast satellite WiFi on select 737s
JetBlue's Fly-Fi satellite internet has been online since November, but while a handful of United's 737s have been equipped with the necessary components to launch its own version of the service for the same period of time, that legacy carrier has kept passengers in the dark. Until this week. According to travel blogger Wandering Aramean, United has since flipped the switch on its latest WiFi effort. But unlike the Gogo available on its transcontinental 757s and the Panasonic satellite-based service aboard select A319, A320 and 747 aircraft, this latest version connects to the ultra-fast ViaSat-1 satellite, letting you surf at 30,000 feet with speeds you'd normally only find on the ground. We tested the same connection aboard a JetBlue A320 in November, and unlike United's existing connectivity options, which are often sluggish and spotty, this service flies. Unfortunately it's not clear where to find the Ka-band-equipped aircraft today, but if you're on a United 737 with DirecTV, there's a small chance it'll also have ViaSat satellite WiFi onboard. We're also not sure of pricing -- JetBlue is charging an introductory rate of $9 per hour for faster service, with basic connectivity available for free for the next few months, but United has yet to confirm its own fee structure. Based on the airline's current satellite WiFi pricing, we'd expect the new service to run between $10 and $15, depending on the length of your flight. We're of course eager to get onboard, so if you happen upon a United 737 with super-fast internet, please mark the tail number and give us a holler.
FCC Speed Test app for iOS lets the government track your iPhone's network performance
Downloading an app from the federal government might not top your list of priorities at the moment, but if you're looking to tick that public service box without a need to worry about measly pay, background checks and furloughs, the FCC could sure use your help. That org's latest venture, the FCC Speed Test app for iOS, delivers yet another connectivity benchmark tool to iPhone and iPad users. This free download also benefits the government's Measuring Broadband America program, however, enabling the FCC to build out a public database of network performance across the country. Unlike its Android counterpart, this iOS app doesn't test performance in the background, so you'll need to fire it up to see how well your cellular or WiFi connection is doing. It's available from the App Store today.
Tesla's feature-packed Model S tops Consumer Reports' 2014 auto picks
Tesla's Model S has scored an inordinate amount of coverage since its inception some five years ago, but there's perhaps no honor greater than landing the premier spot in Consumer Reports' Top Picks. 2014's award-winning autos also include Toyota's Prius in the green category and Audi's A6 in the top luxury slot, but the Tesla Model S scored Best Overall, despite an unfortunate battery fire and that infamous report in The New York Times. Minor setbacks aside, the EV has performed phenomenally in many reviews and safety tests, and with Superchargers now available throughout the US, it's possible to take the Model S on a cross-country road trip without spending a cent on fuel. As for this most recent win, Consumer Reports cites the vehicle's "blistering acceleration, razor-sharp handling, compliant ride, and versatile cabin," along with its "massive, easy-to-use 17-inch touch screen... totally keyless operation, full Internet access, and ultra-quiet, zero-emission driving experience." Overall, a very solid achievement for Mr. Musk.