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Amazon's high-end Kindle Oasis is sleek, sharp and pricey
Jeff Bezos probably wasn't pleased to see his surprise spoiled this week, but e-book fans still have reason to get pumped. Amazon just pulled back the curtain on its new premium reader, the Kindle Oasis, and it's the slimmest and sleekest model the company has put out yet. Of course, with a price starting at $290 (£270), it's also one of the most expensive. As Amazon tells it, all the decisions were made with one goal in mind: to let the hardware itself almost disappear from view so that readers can lose themselves in their stories.
The HTC 10 feels like the company's best smartphone in years
Between having to settle for a pair of merely average flagships and seeing the company's profits tank, HTC fans have had a rough time in recent years. As it turns out, though, HTC might have the cure for those woes (and no, I'm not just talking about the Vive). Though the surprise was spoiled, the company pulled back the curtain on its new HTC 10 smartphone today, and you know what? It feels like the HTC phone I've wanted for years.
Apple's smaller iPad Pro is the 9.7-inch iPad we've always wanted
Last year's iPad Pro was, without question, the most powerful tablet Apple had ever made, but let's be real: Its size made it a complete nonstarter for some people. That's why the folks in Cupertino took all the things that made the iPad Pro a pro and shoved them into a smaller chassis for everyone else to use. Heading into the event, I was skeptical about how well this would work, but I didn't need to be. After playing with the new, smaller Pro, I realize it's actually the iPad Air 2 sequel I was hoping for. Well, in most ways, at least.
The iPhone SE is a powerful little blast from the past
We've had years to get used to the the iPhone 6 family and its curvy lines, but some people still yearn for the crisper angles -- and smaller screens -- of iPhones past. For them, Apple's new iPhone SE comes across as a sort of low-cost love letter. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Apple took most of what was special about the iPhone 6s and stuck it into a close approximation of the handsome, chamfered body made famous by the iPhone 5. I just got the chance to put the SE through its paces, and one thing seems clear from the get-go: It's a fascinating blend of old and new that will probably sell like hotcakes.
Adobe lets you try new Lightroom features before they're released
Lightroom on the web is handy for using the photo-editing software when you're away from your personal computer. Today, Adobe announced that it's adding a big boost to the web-based software with Technology Previews. This means that Lightroom users will be able to test drive new features before they're widely available on the regular desktop app. The first tool that you'll be able to try is a universal search feature that lets you sort through all of the images synced online through Lightroom mobile, Lightroom on the web and the Lightroom desktop application. More new stuff is on the way, and you'll be able to offer feedback ahead of major feature releases.
Latest Windows 10 preview brings Edge browser extensions
Microsoft has finally started testing the feature that could make its new Edge browser a real alternative to the likes of Chrome and Firefox: extensions. An updated browser with support for extensions is part of the new build rolling out to Preview users in the Fast ring. There are updates for both PCs and Mobile, although extensions are a desktop-only feature and there are only three of them available right now: Translate, Mouse Gestures and the Reddit Enhancement Suite. Versions of popular extensions from the likes of AdBlock Plus, LastPass, Amazon and more are promised to arrive later this year. The video below explains how the installation process works, so you can watch that while your computer updates.
Android N for phones is promising, but not for the faint of heart
Last Wednesday, Google threw us all for a loop by pushing out an Android N Developer Preview well ahead of its I/O developer conference. We already dug into what this preview build means for tablets like the Pixel C, but that's only part of the story. The only thing left to do was to throw N onto a sacrificial Nexus 5X and spent a few days getting a feel things on the small screen. Long story short, while most of you should steer clear, the preview offers a tantalizing -- and feature-packed-- peek at Google's refined vision of mobile computing.
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are beautiful, if unsurprising sequels
When Samsung outed the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge last year, we all generally lavished it with praise. It was for a good reason -- they were easily the nicest phones Samsung had crafted in years, even though one was clearly more popular than the other. This year isn't really about reinventing those formulas, but about refining them, and the results are the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. You'll be able to get your own starting on March 11, but read on to get our early impressions.
LG made a robot ball and a VR headset for the G5
LG basically just shot for the moon with the new G5, but that's not all the company's been working on. There's a fascinating spate of accessories to go with the phone, though what's really weird is how LG is characterizing them. They're not just accessories -- oh, no. They're "friends."
LG's modular G5 is its most daring flagship phone ever
LG is in a tricky position: starting with the G2, it's made consistently lovely flagship smartphones, but it can't even crack the top five top-selling mobile brands. The time has come for something seriously off the wall, and, well, LG went for it. Say hello to the LG G5, the most ambitious smartphone the company has ever made.
Alcatel doubles down on cheap-good phones with two new Idols
Alcatel OneTouch had a surprise hit on its hands with the Idol 3, a reversible smartphone seated at the crucial corner of cheap and good. Is it any surprise, then, that the Idol 4S popped here at Mobile World Congress? (In a word: no.) We don't have a price to go with the phone yet, but it seems poised to keep the company's mobile momentum rolling along nicely.
Telltale Games previews 'The Walking Dead: Michonne'
As promised, Telltale Games has delivered a six-minute preview for its next The Walking Dead game. TWD: Michonne will focus on the dual-katana wielding character in a story that fits into a bit of missing time from the original graphic novel. It won't have anything to do with the new episode that aired on TB tonight, but instead players will follow along as Michonne turns pirate and hits the zombie-infested high seas. The first episode of the $15 miniseries will come to PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360 on February 23rd, before arriving on Android and iOS on February 25th.
Samsung's Galaxy TabPro S is a crazy-thin Windows 10 2-in-1
Surface Pro 4 not your speed? HP's Spectre X2 not svelte enough for you? Never fear: Samsung's jumping back into the Windows 10 fray with the Galaxy TabPro S, a sleek convertible whose ultra-portable design could win it more than a little love from the Windows community.
Samsung outs two super-light 'Notebook 9 series' laptops
Samsung might blow the most minds with its TVs here at CES, but don't worry — it brought a pair of new laptops to show off here, too. The tech titan showed off its new 13.3-inch and 15-inch Notebook 9 series laptops today and we got the chance to play with them a bit before the official unveiling on-stage. It's obviously way too early to pass judgment on these things, but they might be worth a look if you're on the market for an ultra-portable PC (too bad Samsung won't tell us how much they cost).
Huawei's flagship Mate 8 phone goes global, we go hands-on
Huawei earned a new legion of fans after crafting the surprisingly good Nexus 6P, but its new flagship — the Mate 8 — is a drastically different beast. The company announced at its CES press conference that the Mate 8 will get a global launch, but I've been fiddling with the phone for a few days already. I plan to put it through the wringer by using it all the way through the nightmare that is CES, but one thing is clear even after a few days: Huawei knows how to craft a lovely phone. Now, if only its software chops were as good.
What to expect from CES in 2016
In just a few days the Engadget team will be getting on a plane (well several different planes) and heading to Vegas. That's right, it's time for CES again -- the biggest consumer technology show of the year. Each January some of the largest (and some of the smallest) names in tech bring their newest and shiniest wares to the desert. Wondering what to expect this year? For starters, definitely more wearables, more connected home goods and, yes, all the TVs. Need more detail? Check out the gallery below for a breakdown of what we expect to see on the ground.
Todoist is bringing its popular productivity app to Windows 10
Todoist's take on the to-do list is handy for keep your daily agenda organized, and now it's available for Windows 10 users. The free productivity app is available for Microsoft's operating system as a preview, syncing those important tasks across mobile and desktop devices. And yes, it will update across operating systems too, in cause you need to tuck your Surface Pro 4 away and check your to-do list on your iPhone or Android handset. Many of the tools are held over from desktop, iOS and Android versions of the app including setting due dates, managing tasks and collaborating with your colleagues. Just like the add-on for Gmail, there's an Outlook extension that allows you to turn emails into tasks with a click or tap. For larger screens like the Surface tablets, Todoist offers a three-pane view to help keep things organized and easy to find. While the app supports Live Tiles now, it'll also play nice with Cortana in the near future. If you're looking to give it a shot, the Todoist preview is available in the Windows Store now.
Hands-on with the Galaxy View: A huge $599 screen for streaming
Is it a TV? Is it a tablet? As far as Samsung is concerned, its enormous new Galaxy View is a little bit of both. We took one home for some hands-on time on our own turf, and after a day the View seems to have struck a decent balance between the two. Don't get us wrong: it's still a little silly and will continue to inspire endless Twitter jokes, but the View has the chance to carve out a curious (and possibly lucrative) new niche.
The Droid Maxx 2 is a Moto X Play with loads of Verizon bloatware
Verizon and Motorola didn't just announce the Droid Turbo 2 today — the two smartphone buddies also confirmed the arrival of the Droid Maxx 2. The thing is, the Maxx 2 is really just a Verizon-customized version of the Moto X Play, a neat little mid-range device we reviewed earlier this year. In case you hadn't read Aaron's full report, it's a solid addition to the Moto X line up with a badass battery, and the changes we got in the American version are minimal. Well, most of them are, anyway.
Hands-on with Motorola's shockingly sturdy Droid Turbo 2
Motorola's new Droid Turbo is here, and its arrival might be a tough pill to swallow for Verizon customers who just shelled out cash for a new Moto X. After a bit of hands-on time, though, it's clear that the Droid Turbo 2 has plenty of compromises of its own.
