Sarah Silbert

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Stories By Sarah Silbert

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    Buying Guides
    Buying Guides By Sarah Silbert

    Back to School 2014: The 11 best smartphones

    If you're in the market for a new handset to accompany you on campus this fall, your timing's just right. You couldn't ask for a better selection of choices, and plenty of the phones in the gallery below are downright budget-friendly. That said, if you can hold off for a bit, you might want to see what Apple and Samsung have in store -- both companies are expected to announce new smartphones within the next month. Note that we've listed devices based on their unlocked and contract-free prices, though you'll pay less up front if you sign up with a carrier. Oh, and don't forget to check out the rest of our Back To School guide for more product picks. Winner: congratulations to Nick N. of Port Coquitlam, BC.

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    Buying Guides
    Buying Guides By Sarah Silbert

    Back to School Guide 2014: Laptops

    No gadget -- besides a smartphone, maybe -- is as crucial to a college student as the laptop. Regardless of your major, you'll want a solid machine with a well-crafted keyboard to see you through term papers, class presentations and more. From a sub-$400 Chromebook to sleek models from Lenovo and Samsung, our roundup has something for everyone. Click through the gallery below to see all 11 picks, and don't forget to check out the rest of our guide for other gadget recommendations. Winner: congratulations to Mutaz A. of Chicago, IL.

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    Buying Guides
    Buying Guides By Sarah Silbert

    Check out our 2014 Back to School guide!

    Crazily enough, the fall semester is about to begin. For that very reason, we're kicking off our Back to School 2014 guide, with comprehensive gadget recommendations to fit every budget. Even if your college days are behind you, we guarantee you'll find some new gear worthy of a place in your cubicle -- be it a new laptop or a Rubik's Cube lamp. Click here to check out all eight sections in the guide, and make sure to enter our back-to-school giveaway both below and via the 14 other links posted throughout the month on our sweepstakes page. Winner: congratulations to Pablo H. of Collegedale, TN.

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    News
    News By Sarah Silbert

    Engadget's Back to School 2014 sweepstakes: Enter to win one of 15 gadget-stuffed bags!

    As another summer comes to a close, wallets are beginning to open up in anticipation of the new school year. Whether you're looking to start fresh with new gadgets before heading off to campus or simply hoping to find a few dorm-room accessories, our guide has you covered. And for 15 lucky readers, our back-to-school sweepstakes will have them more than covered. We've rounded up 15 custom-made Timbuk2 messenger bags stuffed with all the tech you could possibly need for the new school (or work) year. (Scroll down for complete official rules.)

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    Smartphones
    Smartphones By Sarah Silbert

    You can now watch YouTube videos in 1440p on the LG G3

    LG's new flagship phone, the G3, stands out for its Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) display, and the handset is taking advantage of all those pixels to offer a high-res YouTube experience. As was first reported by TalkAndroid, G3 owners can now watch YouTube videos in 1440p, a welcome bump up from the usual max resolution of 1080p. This feature reportedly comes via a recent update, and it's still in the process of rolling out to all G3 handsets. If you're currently using LG's latest flagship, let us know if you're seeing the 1440p options by commenting below. If you don't have a G3, don't despair; we're bound to see a slew of new phones sporting Quad HD screens in the months to come. [Photo credit: Phone Arena]

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    Apps
    Apps By Sarah Silbert

    Anonymous email app Leak is down due to overnight success

    The anonymous email app Leak just launched in late July, but it's already been shut down -- for the time being, at least. The service, which lets you send emails to anyone without identifying yourself, was built over a weekend, and its creators used the Mandrill (MailChimp) API rather than building an email server of their own. Mandrill suspended the team's account -- likely because Leak didn't conform to the service's focus on opt-in emails -- so now the minds behind Leak are scrambling to find a new solution. If you can't wait for another opportunity to send an anonymous confession to your coworkers, you can keep tabs on this page to see when Leak is back. And hey, there are always the Secret and Whisper apps in the meantime.

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  • engadget
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    Technology
    Technology By Sarah Silbert

    Talkitt voice software helps the speech-impaired communicate in any language

    Over the years we've seen companies big and small introduce products to aid users with speech impediments, but many of these solutions ignore the fact that disabled users still have a voice. Talkitt, a new application currently up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo, translates users' pronunciation into understandable speech and plays back their words on a smartphone or tablet. Danny Weissberg, co-founder and CEO of VoiceItt, the company behind the product, said he began developing Talkitt after his grandmother had a stroke and experienced difficulties in communicating. For people with other conditions such as Lou Gehrig's, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Damage, Autism and Parkinson's Disease, this tech could make everyday tasks, such as ordering lunch and communicating with friends, more manageable.

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    Apps
    Apps By Sarah Silbert

    Wikipedia iOS app relaunches with mobile editing and a new design

    Wikipedia recently revamped its app for Android, bringing the ability to edit articles and view random articles in the process. Starting today, those features are also available on iOS, with a new version of the official app available for download in the App Store. In addition to adding new functionality, the Wikimedia Foundation's overhauled the design, and it promises a better, faster navigation experience. Check it out for yourself via the source link below.

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    Technology
    Technology By Sarah Silbert

    BlackBerry's BBM messenger app officially arrives on Windows Phone

    Have a Windows Phone and crave access to BlackBerry's famed messaging app? Today's your lucky day. Announced in a video posted today, BBM is now exiting beta to become available for download in the Windows Phone store. The company said it spent considerable time tweaking the app's interface to fit with Microsoft's mobile OS, and the result is a clean UI that looks considerably different than the versions you'll see on iOS and Android (not to mention BlackBerry OS 10). BBM for Windows consists of three main screens -- chats, feeds and contacts -- and you'll have the ability to pin a chat right to your phone's start screen. Windows Phone users who are new to BBM can pick up a few tips on getting started via the video (posted below). As of this posting, the app wasn't yet live in the Windows Phone store, but the rollout should begin shortly.

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    News
    News By Sarah Silbert

    Data Cuisine creates meals based on cultural statistics

    We've seen IBM's Watson computer serve up unlikely food pairings, but Data Cuisine takes culinary experimentation to a whole new level. Developed by data-visualization specialist Mortiz Stefaner and curator Susanne Jaschko, it's an initiative to create recipes that reflect a particular set of statistics. In the case of a workshop in Helsinki, that meant translating local fishing data, ethnic population stats and crime rates into a variety of dishes, from different types of fish stacked to represent various kinds of crime to a map of the country's alcoholic consumption made with various amounts of wine and regional dishes. (See the photo above for the latter.)

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    Technology
    Technology By Sarah Silbert

    Microsoft explains quantum computing in a way we can all understand

    Quantum computing -- it's a term we're hearing more and more, as companies such as D-Wave build their own early versions of super-machines. Microsoft, naturally, is investing considerable resources in the field as well; its Station Q research lab in Santa Barbara brings together experts studying topological quantum computing, with the goal of making a vastly more powerful successor to the classical computer. We've covered some quantum computing milestones in the past, and while you might have a basic grasp on the difference between qubits and bits, Microsoft's Quantum Computing 101 video -- published below -- is a well-done explainer, putting the implications of this research in human terms. For a deeper dive, check out this long read on Station Q, detailing the researchers' complex and thoroughly interesting work.

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    Apps
    Apps By Sarah Silbert

    Vent: A semi-anonymous app that feels your pain

    I really enjoy the anonymous sharing app Secret, as the posts are quite often hilarious and I'm usually able to narrow down a sharer's identity to two or three people. (Those Engadget in-jokes are a real telltale.) For the same reasons that I like reading Secret, though, I'd never consider posting on the app myself. If I were to share anything remotely personal, I'd want to get as far away from my extended group of friends and colleagues as possible. That's why I found a relatively new app, called Vent, so intriguing. Currently available on iOS (with an Android version on the way), it does exactly what its name implies: It lets you vent. And the best part is that your contacts list stays out of the picture -- you're sharing with random users who stumble upon your posts, and your profile can remain as anonymous as you like.

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    Wearables
    Wearables By Sarah Silbert

    Are we there yet? A century of the smartwatch in pictures

    With two Google-powered smartwatches currently on sale, and the circular Moto 360 already causing a stir among design geeks, wearables are one step closer to securing a place on our wrists. And while many of us aren't ready to strap on a Gear Live, G Watch or Pebble just yet, that doesn't mean the smartwatch is a new concept. In fact, depending on your definition of "smart," these gadgets have been fusing time-telling with extra functionality since the early 20th century. From wrist-borne spy cams to radio-controlled timepieces, here's a look at this wearable's evolution.

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    Apple
    Apple By Sarah Silbert

    iTunes Extras now available on Apple TV, will launch with iOS 8 in the fall

    Apple's iTunes Extras feature has offered customers a behind-the-scenes look at rented movies for some time, but up until now it only existed on the desktop. Thanks to an update that went out today, you'll now be able to view iTunes Extras on your Apple TV. To get the additional content, your device must be running software version 6.2, which was released last week. The iTunes Extras material, including deleted scenes, images and director's commentary, will automatically be added to your previously purchased HD movies. Additionally, movie studios will now be able to add more content to extras at any time. This update is good news for film buffs who use Apple's set-top box, but it still leaves iPhones, iPads and iPods devices out in the cold. That will change when the company releases iOS 8 this fall, though, so iTunes Extras is slowly making its way to every important platform.

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    EVs and Transportation
    EVs and Transportation By Sarah Silbert

    Lyft launching in New York with a focus on serving outer boroughs

    Lyft, the Uber alternative with a penchant for pink mustaches, will launch service in New York City at the end of the week. Initially, the ride-on-demand app will focus on boroughs beyond Manhattan, explaining that "Brooklyn and Queens are vastly underserved by public transit options compared to the rest of New York City." This is good news for many city residents -- not to mention Android Wear users eager to summon a car with their smartwatch -- the downside is that Lyft will only pick up customers in Brooklyn or Queens, at least for the time being. In other words, if you're trying to get back home from Manhattan, the app won't help you out. That said, the service will come in handy for those looking to get around in Brooklyn or Queens, or travel from one borough to the other.

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    Big Tech
    Big Tech By Sarah Silbert

    Intel, Samsung join forces to streamline connectivity for the Internet of Things

    The upside to connected devices is pretty obvious: From smart thermostats to smartphone-controlled light bulbs, these gadgets have the potential to make our lives easier. There is a downside, though and it's a pretty significant one; with so many companies trying their hands at the Internet of Things, there's an ever-growing list of protocols for getting gadgets connected. And considering that the IoT market is projected to reach 212 billion devices by 2020, it's pretty much guaranteed to be a huge mess if products continue to run independently of each other. One universal spec allowing interoperability across all kinds of devices would help to simplify things, and that's what Intel, Dell, Samsung and other tech giants hope to achieve with the just-announced Open Interconnect Consortium.

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    Google
    Google By Sarah Silbert

    Living in a Google world: Why Android L means you'll never have to disconnect

    The biggest news to come out of Google's developer-focused I/O conference isn't Android TV or even the several new Android Wear smartwatches; it's that Android is about to become much more than a mobile operating system. It's about to consume your life. With the introduction of the Android L platform (as the next version of that operating system's tentatively being called), Google wants to be a part of everything you do -- with technology, at least. Whether it's swiping through Google Now on your smartphone, dismissing notifications on your smartwatch, using voice search to find a movie on Android TV or searching for a cafe on your in-car display, Android will follow you everywhere. And while features like universal sync across devices and voice commands will likely make your life easier, Google's getting something pretty significant in return: access to nonstop streams of your personal data and search history. In short, it's pretty clear that the "L" stands for "Life."

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    Apps
    Apps By Sarah Silbert

    You can now edit articles, view random pages on the Android Wikipedia app

    Wikipedia already has an app, but get ready to meet its replacement. Available on Android starting today, the app's not just an aesthetic refresh; it adds the ability to edit entries directly from your mobile device. For those of us who use Wikipedia solely for browsing, that feature won't matter, but for active community members it's an important improvement.

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    Apps
    Apps By Sarah Silbert

    Shazam, Duolingo and several other apps head to Google Glass

    Just ahead of Google I/O, a slew of new Google Glass apps are hitting the MyGlass store. The new downloads include the popular music-recognizing service Shazam and Duolingo, which offers free foreign-language courses. Two fitness-focused apps, Runtastic and 94Fifty Basketball, are also new additions to the Glassware family. Rounding out the list are the GuidiGO personal tour guide, an app for The Guardian, Livestream, MusicXmatch, Goal.com and the game Zombies, Run! Finally, the Allthecooks app has been updated with voice commands, so you can use Glass hands-free while following recipes.

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    News
    News By Sarah Silbert

    Customizable bike horn MYBELL hits Kickstarter with an improved design

    We first played with the MYBELL, a customizable digital horn for your bike, several months ago at Engadget Expand NY. Now, the device has hit Kickstarter, and it's packing a new housing that makes the device both sleeker and stronger. The team behind the gadget, led by founder Peter Pottier, has also increased power efficiency. As before, though, MYBELL's all about biker safety, with a horn that can blast your choice of audio at more than 105 decibels. Its array of programmable LEDs is strong as well, letting you set your own pulse patterns to announce your presence at night.

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    Reviews
    Reviews By Sarah Silbert

    Honeywell's Lyric thermostat is a worthy Nest competitor (hands-on)

    Last week Honeywell announced the Lyric, its answer to the Nest learning thermostat. Today, we got a chance to see the WiFi-connected smart device in person. Retailing for $279 starting in August, the Lyric stands out for its geofencing feature, which uses smartphone location info to know whether you're home -- and to tweak the settings accordingly. When you're away, energy-saving mode is activated, and when you get within seven miles of your house, your preferred temperature will kick in. Honeywell thinks (well, hopes) you'll choose its product over the Nest for this reason, citing both the convenience factor and the energy savings.

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    Smartphones
    Smartphones By Sarah Silbert

    The next version of Android will enhance battery life, speed up apps

    Several months ago, Google added an experimental runtime option to speed up apps in Android 4.4 KitKat. A runtime, for the record, supports the apps running on your device -- without it they'd be nothing but piles of useless code. Called ART (short for Android Runtime), that same mode will become the default when Mountain View releases the next version of its operating system. Developers spotted tweaks to Android's open-source code indicating the upcoming change, and the update looks to be a positive one. Without getting bogged down in details, ART essentially makes apps run faster and more efficiently, with the downside being that they'll take up slightly more space on your phone, as well as lengthier install times.

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    Amazon
    Amazon By Sarah Silbert

    Amazon's Fire phone will come with free, unlimited cloud storage for photos

    Amazon just announced the much-anticipated Fire phone, and along with some solid display and camera specs, the handset offers unlimited photo storage via Cloud Drive. In an on-stage comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the iPhone 5s, the Fire's 13-megapixel rear-facing camera looked pretty capable -- especially with low-light performance -- and Amazon clearly thinks you'll be snapping up plenty of pictures. Free, unlimited photo storage definitely sets Amazon apart from Dropbox, Apple's iCloud and Microsoft's OneDrive, among other services, though Google also offers unlimited storage. Follow our liveblog for more news from the event in Seattle.

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    Apps
    Apps By Sarah Silbert

    You can now message businesses directly through Yelp

    Yelp has a very active community of reviewers, giving you plenty to consider as you search for the perfect restaurant, bar or spa. While the site gives you no shortage of opinions, sometimes you have something specific in mind -- like renting out an eatery for a rehearsal dinner -- that reviews don't answer. To help you find what you need, Yelp's added the ability to message businesses directly from the site.

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    Health
    Health By Sarah Silbert

    The Ekocycle Cube 3D-prints recycled plastic, is backed by will.i.am

    Who isn't making 3D printers these days? We've seen countless models hit the market, but the new Ekocycle Cube from 3D Systems may be the first to boast backing from both a beverage maker and a celebrity. Coca-Cola and will.i.am have been collaborating on the sustainability initiative dubbed Ekocycle since 2011, and at CES this year the artist shared his passion for 3D printing and other emerging tech. As the latest announcement in the eco-friendly campaign, the new printer uses post-consumer plastic to create a variety of designs. It's not the first attempt at make 3D-printing a bit greener, but with some star power and the clout of 3D Systems behind it, the Ekocycle Cube definitely looks to be the highest-profile one to date.

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    Robotics
    Robotics By Sarah Silbert

    An adorable, Wellies-wearing robot will bum rides across Canada this summer

    Humans have long wondered whether robots can be trusted, but what about the flip side of that question? Hitchbot, a project developed by researchers from McMaster and Ryerson universities, will examine how strangers interact with a bucket-shaped robot as it bums rides across Canada. With a pair of Wellington boots on its feet and pool noodles for arms, Hitchbot will be hitting the road in Halifax on July 27th.

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    Cybersecurity
    Cybersecurity By Sarah Silbert

    BlackBerry launches BBM Protected, bringing secure IM to the enterprise crowd

    While BlackBerry has traditionally been a favorite among business users, Android and iOS have made significant inroads into the enterprise area in the past few years -- bad news for a company that's already been struggling this year. The BBM maker is still in the game, though, having just launched a product aimed at its base of government, insurance and banking customers: BBM Protected, the first piece of its eBBM suite. The "e," of course, stands for enterprise, and the BBM Protected app lets BlackBerry owners instant-message with several layers of encryption to protect sensitive data.

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