Baloyi5
All around us, there are all many apps that offer free versions but with limited functionalities. It is good to know that there are plenty of alternatives out there, only if we look closely.
EyeForAnEye
Thirteen hours sounds pretty amazing but I'm skeptical. Usually the advertised battery life of electronics doesn't pan out. The $900 price tag seems a bit too steep for what this laptop offers.
Baloyi5
Yes, there are a lot of devices/laptops out here that cost less than $900 but offer more (better specifications and overall performance). Again, battery life isn't something that any manufacturer can quantify, considering that people use them... See more
Jamiex
Since there is no 'right' way to restart a computer, I will stick to the usual default way. Indeed, it can be interesting to try the other methods just for variety's sake!
Baloyi5
As the article mentions, the "normal" way is through the Start, and that is the most common option. I am equally curious to try out the other methods laid out here.
Hammond
The Echo Buds are worth the price, despite being cheaper than the AirPods. However, the AirPods Pro could be the game-changer; now fitting in the ears securely and being sweat and water-resistant.
Baloyi5
Indeed, they are a game-changer. I don't know much about the Echo Buds, but Amazon will not sit back, especially after the launch of the AirPods Pro (that sound better than anything else now).
Hazard
I agree that the desire for more compact computers could have necessitated this. Why would I need an optical drive in this day and age? There are more file storage options now, plus plenty of streaming services available.
Baloyi5
The optical drive is no longer useful if the result is lighter and more convenient laptops. It had not hit me that modern devices no longer have them. It just highlights how (quickly) technology evolves.
Lachlan86
I can see why they would do this. There are many people who are upset with the way the inner workings of electronics have been made near inaccessible, especially cell phones. Remember when you could easily take out your cell phone battery? 
Baloyi5
I prefer a laptop that's hard for anyone to open; you don't want someone ripping off your computer in your absence. In the case of the Surface 3, the CPU and RAM attach to the motherboard, and the only thing that is removable is the M.2 2230 SSD... See more
KateWilliams
I'm with you.  The Pixel's camera has always been its standout feature and I think that will continue to be its legacy.  It sets them apart from other brands, I think.
Baloyi5
I don't pay much attention to the camera features, but for sure, Pixel cameras take care of a certain percentage of the population. For one, the popularity of social media necessitates an excellent camera-phone.
Baloyi5
Same here, and I think the company is not leaving anything to chance here. Either way, the acquisition of a beloved series could draw more people to it.
Baloyi5
It's more convenient to charge your phone when it's not in use or when it's low on charge. I have never heard of this myth before even though I always plug off my smartphone when it's fully charged.
VeryPunny - Edited
Well, supposedly they will have 100 members by their launch date, so they're hardly hurting for interest.  I'm not a huge fan of Facebook, but I don't see the company or their projects failing anytime soon.  That includes Project Libra.
Baloyi5
Back in the day, Facebook was very popular, but that has changed over time. Did the Cambridge Analytica scandal affect its numbers? What's the reason for the Libra mass exodus? That could determine how everything pans out.
DarrenJax
Zuckerberg hasn't gotten it wrong so far, so I don't understand why he faces so much pushback from his own executives and lower-level employees.  It would be one thing if the company was falling, but it isn't.
Baloyi5
Facebook's main undoing could have been that it didn't regard matters privacy with the seriousness it deserved. Nonetheless, everything else seems to be working. Great strategy, perhaps in place?
Baloyi5
I have come across reviews that give a thumbs up to this brand, but I doubt that it is fair to make a comparison with iPhones. I guess I'm too brand loyal to consider anything not manufactured by Apple. Either way OnePlus is slowly making its... See more
Baloyi5
I have heard a lot of reviews of these headphones, despite not owning them before. Either way, almost every such device has a 'noise-cancellation feature'. Is it something you consider when purchasing headphones?
PX1995
I don't think I'd be comfortable with Amazon listening to me all day.  That's a lot of microphone power to wear on your face everyday.  
Baloyi5
Wow, I hadn't looked at it from this point of view. Over time, the issue of privacy is becoming a mirage, with nearly every application out here invading our privacy in one way or the other. 
Baloyi5
I would look at this as an entry-level speaker because it will exist alongside the current Dot. It would serve as a great bedside alarm clock. The supremacy battle just went on a notch higher, and as usual, it is the consumer who stands to... See more
ApplesNOranges
I also use Chrome for the same reason, I like the extensions. But I also feel like Google does a lot to secure the information so it is a very secure browser, or at least a browser that I trust.
Baloyi5
I don't know much about Google being a secure browser, but the fact that it authenticates secure connections with HTTP Strict Transport Security places it above the rest. Have you heard of Puffin? Regarded as the most secure browser, it doesn't... See more
Baloyi5
It makes perfect sense for Apple to introduce a monthly plan, even though it ends up being a little more expensive in the long run. Apple didn't disappoint at all this year, and we can only hope that there will be more sales this year.
Baloyi5
The smartphone companies keep launching new models each year, and you wonder what happens to the previous models. Does this explain why Apple decided to lower the prices of the models launched last year? It seems that the iPhone 11's launch... See more
ItsFidgety
I have a love/hate relationship with my Kindle. I have an old one that I bought 7 years ago and it is so easy to travel with and I love reading on it but I find myself getting physical books still because I love being to physically see the... See more
Baloyi5
I haven't owned a Kindle before, but I often read eBooks on my phone. Just like you, I sometimes prefer to buy physical books because it feels good to flip through the pages. What are your thoughts on the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite? I have read... See more
Baloyi5
Technology is improving every passing day, but good phones are not getting any cheaper. Is it true that it also lacks the headphone jack? Though not everyone can afford this, it is definitely worth the price!
Baloyi5 - Edited
The Lenovo Thinkpad P53 has $1,799  price tag, and I think this is far-fetched for most people. I'd like to suppose that this is value for money, considering that Lenovo is a reputable brand. I have also come across smartphones made by the same... See more
Baloyi5
I am not a fan of the big headphones and so my pick would be the 64Audio/Adel. I have tried to find its price online in vain. Looks good to the eye as well.
joserock
That's an interesting info about Anker's USB charge. Do you think it's better to use power banks instead? I suppose nothing is better than the original charger straight to the power outlets or plugs.
Baloyi5
I agree with you that nothing is better than getting any device charged straight from a power outlet. Personally, I prefer to use a power bank instead because of the portability.
Baloyi5
Well, just like Google says, the future of video games is in the cloud. I am not a fan of streaming games, but that is the direction that future technology will want to follow.
Baloyi5
This was definitely long overdue because AAAA batteries are not always the easiest to find. I am interested in knowing how long the stylus would last while on full charge?
Baloyi5
Well, like you say, kickstarter campaigns don't always have that guarantee but this may be an exception. I have always known the Fatshark HDO to be mighty but the Orqa FPV.One has superior specs.
Baloyi5 commented on Smach Z debut
codechaser
It was announced in 2016, and after not hearing anything about it in years, I figured the project was dropped.  It's powered by AMD's Ryzen chip and it's a touchscreen device with outstanding graphics.  Is that enough to justify the price?  
Baloyi5
Well, I think three years is a long time and if anything, this device should have been in the market by now. Either way, it is great to hear that this gaming PC will be at E3 with three models on offer (with varying amounts of RAM).
GregP
USB-C is the current industry standard. Apple is just being stubborn and greedy if they don't make the switch. Almost nobody wants to use the Lightning port. Of course they want to keep it because then it keeps people buying their special... See more
Baloyi5
Well, I think that Apple prides itself in being different and so I would rather it retained the lightning port. The only problem with it is the non-compatibility and you basically have to carry your own charger everywhere you go.
GregP
I can't stand the tangle of cords, but at this point, I'd still rather have wired than wireless. The batteries can never run out of a wired pair of headphones. There must also be some sort of loss in quality, no?
Baloyi5
Same here Gregp. I think the one thing that I don't like about the wireless earphones is the fact you have to keep worrying about charging. A longer battery-life is what we need. Can we ever get to a point where we get a 12-hour battery life?
Delilah
The problem with limited edition electronics is that they're bound to become obsolete and perhaps worthless in a short time period.  Plus, if this is created with "genuine leather" like the article states, then you're getting the lowest quality... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
Well, it would be expensive to use the highest quality of leather for as many devices, right? I agree that limited edition devices can become obsolete and at times, it becomes hard to perform regular updates on them.
Baloyi5
Well, I would assume that these items are offered at a discount on Memorial Day? It is true that times have changed and retailers are now offering deals on national holidays.
Lachlan86
I don't really buy it. I don't believe the Huawei scare and I don't believe this one, either. I think people are just being paranoid, or even worse, purposely spreading fake news. 
Baloyi5
I don't also buy it. All this speculation could hurt especially the Chinese companies. The best the DHS can do is sample a few of these drones and actually ascertain if it is true that they are a compromise to security.
Lachlan86
It's unfortunate, but should be expected. Your data isn't safe anywhere these days. Honestly, I'm even beginning to doubt those "private" search engines like DuckDuckGo are truly private. I'm waiting for their scandal to break any day now.
Baloyi5 - Edited
When I read this, my mind quickly thought about DuckDuckGO and how it tends to make everyone believe that they don't store and track users' data. If this lawsuit turns out to have some truth to it, then a lot of people will lose confidence in... See more
Baloyi5
I don't intend to sound pessimistic but this sounds like a rushed idea. Either way, Lenovo can probably make this product a huge success if it can fix the issues that Samsung encountered with the Galaxy Fold.
GamerGlitter
It looks a great device for what it is, but I wonder how many people would be interested in something that doesn't offer more.  A Surface Pro doesn't cost that much more and it's an all-on-one device.  
Baloyi5 - Edited
Well, you have a point there but I guess there are many things that a Wacom tablet can do that a Surface Pro can't. Plus the price difference between the two devices would cause a digital photographer to opt for the cheaper option.
Baloyi5 commented on Shoot the stars.
Lachlan86
Great photos, thanks for sharing. I'm rooting for Huawei to come out of their security scandal unscathed. I think they're being targeted for other reasons and there is no security concern. 
Baloyi5
I also think that the security scandal might have had genuine concerns but it took a political twist at some point. These are excellent photos taken from a phone and I believe that Huawei will continue manufacturing great devices!
Baloyi5
I don't believe that Instagram is genuine in claiming that it is developing a technology to get rid of fake activity because if that was the case, we wouldn't be discussing this topic today. It is now not easy to believe everything we stumble... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
The Samsung Galaxy S10E looks like the outright winner here. The comparison would have been more elaborate, had Apple disclosed the RAM and battery power.
Baloyi5
Is Apple caving into pressure or going with what is convenient for consumers of its products? At some point, it was rumored that the company was considering ditching the lightning port for USB-C. We'll have to wait and see if this will be a... See more
Baloyi5 commented on Is That A Threat?
Baloyi5
The Huawei owner is confident that this is a passing wind but either way I think that it is better for this issue to get sorted away from the public eye. Hopefully, this isn't going to delay the launch of 5G.
CptJaneway
I think it's probably just too expensive for companies to invest in making phones more water resistant. There's also the added bonus of extra sales when your device goes belly up from coming into contact with water.
Baloyi5
It would both expensive for the companies and beyond reach for consumers. Since this is a far-fetched idea, it would be great for anyone to get an idea of these tips.
GregP
I agree with you guys. I never answer calls that say private or restricted number. I can't say I would go through all this trouble of playing detective and finding out who called.
Baloyi5
There are instances when someone (mistakenly) turns off a caller's identity and you keep wondering why people aren't picking your calls. Has this ever happened to anyone? I am quite skeptical about such callers.
Baloyi5
The newest iPhones have adopted the eSIM technology and I think this is the direction that many other smartphone could opt for, in the near future. I got used to a phone with a single sim slot so it might take some time to adjust.
Baloyi5
I tend to think that the discussion around Huawei and the 5G network has taken a political twist. The company is way ahead of others in terms of rolling out the 5G technology. The stand that the United Kingdom takes could have a bearing on what... See more
Baloyi5 commented on Nokia's Comeback
Baloyi5
Nokia had a big market share at some point and if everything could have fallen in place (as anticipated) the company would be rivalling the established companies in the current space. It will not be easy for Nokia considering that many other... See more
Sharkbait
The problem is not just with companies, but also with the government. Our health data, academic data, occupational data, and other information are all known by the government. We freely give it when we apply for licenses, so we actually don't... See more
Baloyi5
I agree with you but the issue here is not only do they pledge to protect our privacy and security; these same companies then go ahead and share this data for personal gain.
piperz
I find it hard to believe these were leaked accidentally. I think this was a deliberate act by Samsung to create some buzz for their new products.
Baloyi5
I think that any company will be careful not to reveal so much about an upcoming device launch. It could have been a mistake on their side but either way, I hope the event lives up to its billing.
Baloyi5 commented on New video of S10.
Baloyi5 - Edited
Is it the first time that Samsung will be releasing three versions of a model? As the article opines, there have been so many leaks to the extent that the February 20th may have little to reveal. It would be beneficial if companies were able to... See more
Altair
Sometimes, I'm glad that the storage of my phone is too small so that I don't have to download many apps. There were times though when I wanted to have a bigger space, like now, because of knowing some good apps to use.
Baloyi5 - Edited
Ditto to the above though a small storage space can both deter or encourage a smartphone user to get more space. At some point, it was easy to have all these apps on the phone and not use them. Nowadays, I just want to download what is useful... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
Why is it Facebook keeps on violating or breaching an agreement all the time? This might work against it in the long run though I also agree that it has a large number of users, a majority of whom don't seem bothered with all that is said out... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
This is a such a great invention but I doubt if there will be a significant drop in price. Hopefully, there will be more of such in future and this would mean cheaper alternatives out there.
Baloyi5
The only problem with more companies joining the fray is that quality may be compromised to a great extent. In such instances, it is always better to spend a little more and get a guarantee on quality.
Baloyi5 - Edited
With new technology comes an increase in price. The iPhone XS and XR didn't do so well in terms of sales and this could be attributed to the cost. Either way, technological trends change so fast. Hopefully, phones with OLED screens won't be too... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
The concept is still very much alive but I don't think that the smart home idea translates to having every device in the house, connected to the internet. I think that we now have a lot of smart devices that we don't need. It now becomes a... See more
techgirl
Disgusting. Microsoft should be held legally accountable for allowing these images to show up on their search engine. This is Microsoft, not some shady, underground, Dark Web company. Whoever allowed this "oversight" to exist should be fired.
Baloyi5 - Edited
At times I wonder if such issues are often sorted out without the knowledge of the general public. Big brands never want to be painted in bad light as this could have a direct (negative) effect on their businesses. How and when this gets sorted... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
I think that the only way to bring this to an end is to ensure that there are strong laws that govern the use of personal data by these companies. What is worrying is that most users seem not to care much even with all this information being in... See more
Baloyi5
Not everyone can code and even those who eventually learn how to do so, will have put in different amounts of effort. Most of the time, I lag behind when I try to learn on my own. I would prefer to be in a real classroom if I had to choose... See more
Baloyi5
Overall, robots are here to stay and they shouldn't be looked at as a risk to the general work force. I think that they should be embraced because of the greater good and efficiency that they will introduce.
Baloyi5
Samsung may the leading smartphone company in terms of market share but competition from the likes of Huawei means that there is greater need for products that meet increased customer preferences. It will continue to be a great year for those... See more
Baloyi5 commented on OnePlus7 Rumors
Baloyi5
I don't mind the notch and even if a phone lacked this feature, I would still purchase it if all other features were great. The smartphone companies that were considered 'small' in the past are really making their mark now.
Baloyi5
AI is becoming a reality each day. I cannot wait to explore the possibilities that the 5G technology will herald, including but not limited to fast download speeds. It is also great to hear that Apple is in talks with tech companies like Vizo.
Baloyi5 - Edited
I think it has reached a point where people don't worry so much about whether or not their location details are being shared because no action is being taken against the perpetrators. The greatest possibility is that companies use the location... See more
Baloyi5
Rather than copy from each other, it would be great if the developers came up with unique patented innovations. I will not be surprised if foldable phones soon become the order of the day!
Baloyi5 commented on More CES Reveals
Baloyi5
There is definitely a lot to look forward to at CES 2019 and I really love the idea of walking cars. The concept of the intelligent toilets is amusing and innovative, at the same time. Who wouldn't love to give voice commands?
Baloyi5
I agree that at times it is important to emulate your competition because failure to do so could translate to dismal performance in the business space. I am keeping my fingers crossed too!
Baloyi5 - Edited
We don't doubt that Facebook plays its role in attempting to answer most of the issues facing the society. What is of concern to most people is the issue around user privacy. That is a revenue stream for most of the social media giants.
Baloyi5 commented on The Smart Light
Baloyi5
I love the idea, especially because the costs are not so exorbitant. There is definitely no scope to what technology and innovations can achieve.
Elijah
I just don't think it's a priority for Zuckerberg or his team.  I'd like to see user privacy taken seriously, but the data is already out there.  Deleting it now will make little difference I think. 
Baloyi5
This is very true and the board may actually be in a catch-22 situation. The issue of user privacy and monetizing the data requires a careful approach and I believe that this is the direction that Facebook has already opted for.
Baloyi5
I may not be close to trying this out but I agree that the $150 or $200 cost isn't too prohibitive. It is good to note that the builders of the giant drone have singled out safety as a very important aspect.
Harper
I have mine set up to automatically  clear once I close my browser.  I still appreciate articles like these just to see the different options. 
Baloyi5 - Edited
I was just ask about your browser of choice until I searched online and found a way of enabling this for Google Chrome. I believe that this feature makes everything else pretty straight forward.
Harper
Well, that's because not many companies are monopolies like Facebook is.  It's easy to stay in power when you're the only one providing the service.  Of course, that's just my opinion.
Baloyi5 - Edited
I wish to digress a bit and opine that this could have been true a few years back when Facebook was the only social media platform. The issue could be arising from the fact that target advertising is a major revenue stream for Mark Zuckerberg... See more
techgirl
I don't like the thought of self-driving cars. I love to drive, I do it recreationally whenever I can. Driving gives me a sense of independence and freedom. Being driven by a self-driving car would eliminate that.
Baloyi5
Same here and I think it would really trouble my mind to be in a self-driving car. I agree with Altair that there should be separate roads for self-driving cars.
CptJaneway
People get really frustrated talking to automated systems. No one likes calling into a customer service line and having to explain to the system why they're calling. I think it would be just like that. I can't see myself using this feature.
Baloyi5
It is really frustrating and that is my main concern, in as far as this app is concerned. This feature may not really appeal to many people, as initially intended.
Baloyi5 commented on Revamping 911
Baloyi5 - Edited
This is a great advancement because responding to a distress call has become a nightmare in most countries. Why not take advantage of technological advancements to greatly improve this service? My taxi app has an SOS button for a distress call... See more
Baloyi5
I tried to get the link to this article in vain; it would have been great to get a description for each of these cool tech items. The camera and headphones really caught my attention. You can call me old school since I have always fancied the... See more
Harper
Mine gets too hot, but I admittedly abuse it and do many of the things the article says not to do.  The point of using a laptop is its portability and versatility.  I'd rather deal with it heating up and possibly degrading more quickly than to... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
Very true and I am thinking of getting a desktop PC for use only when at home. The laptop should be the device you use when on the go. It makes a whole difference when we regularly service our laptops.
Baloyi5
At $69, the Instax Mini isn't so pricey and I think such a camera would capture moments that even professional photographers wouldn't manage to snap. I had my reservations when the TCL brand of TVs were coming so it is good to see a model... See more
Baloyi5
Looks to me like a direct competition to Xbox's One Elite that is slightly cheaper. We will probably get more reviews when March 2019 comes and see whether or not Xbox enthusiasts will be missing out on some good stuff.
Baloyi5
For a company that was the first to cross the 1 trillion dollar mark, Apple performed well, overall. It is great to see Steve Job's legacy in action. 2019 will even be a bigger yeard.
Baloyi5 - Edited
I love it the fact that the MacBook Air (in particular) can't be repaired at third party stores plus I also feel like having AppleCare+ is a good thing. A lot of the things listed in the link aren't known to many Apple enthusiasts so thank you... See more
Archie
It doesn't look like an attempt to further understand the market to me. I'm not entirely sure, but I think outsourcing is cheaper than working on the phones by themselves. I think they are kind of giving up winning the market in China.
Baloyi5 - Edited
Outsourcing is much cheaper but then it seems like Samsung has pretty much lost its market share in the Eastern market. It will take a lot of effort to restore this but then wouldn't it be better to concentrate on the more promising markets?
JustinV
I like Twitter as is. I don't see the point of adding more features. I even dislike the thought of an edit button on Twitter as many users want. I was an early adopter and I love the simplicity of it. So I don't care for these trends at all.
Baloyi5 - Edited
I was an early adopter too and didn't we all love the fact that you couldn't/wouldn't use more than 140-characters in a tweet? I feel like Twitter will eventually succumb to the pressure and join the bandwagon.
Baloyi5
The idea of multiple headphones has never appealed to me and so I see how and why I'd easily settle on these but I don't like it when sound quality is described as 'quite good' instead of 'excellent'. Either way, if at $170 I get a better deal... See more
Marvel
Affordability is not in the vocabulary of Apple. Their products in the early stages of smartphones were a novelty, in terms of being new in the market. That period has long gone, but they got stuck with their pricing.
Baloyi5
This is true but it has taken ages to upgrade the Mac Mini and the last time I checked, the price was in the range of $600 or thereabouts. Any Apple enthusiast will not really care about the cost but rather whether or not there is value for... See more
Dennis
I don't mean to ask in an offensive way, but I am purely curious. How does this exactly work? Let's say someone loosely related to us gets his DNA tested. How does the group trace it back to us? What do they know at that point? I'm asking... See more
Baloyi5
I think the article, at face value, makes it look scary when in real sense, this information is gotten from DNA registries. The identification could happen through demographic identifiers, according to research. Nonetheless, this doesn't look... See more
Baloyi5
In as much as I agree that the common challenge is how to keep warm but not overheat and sweat, I wouldn't go for such a shirt. If the project becomes successful, the cost could probably surpass the $99 being offered to early birds.
Baloyi5
Whereas I am not of large phones, a smartphone the size of a credit card wouldn't really excite me, also considering the fact that it lacks a headphone jack. My current smartphone is 6" in screen size and it works just well!
Coooky
That's a really great read. I'm going to research the soundbar system deeper. Setting up the speakers is one of the worst things about the home theater since we need more than one, so that simplifies many things. I wonder if the quality is going... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
I wouldn't call setting up speakers the 'worst' experience but one that's hectic and can be time consuming too. I have tried several tricks using online guides and indeed, there will always be a difference in sound quality and experience.
Baloyi5
The smartphone market is quite competitive and such kind of tricks wouldn't really cement a company's place in the industry. This company could just be trying to make fun of the iPhone-maker. Nonetheless, Huawei actually recently overtook Apple... See more
Baloyi5
There seems to be no limit to what science in the modern era, can achieve. Neuromorphic engineering actually dates back to the 1980s and MIT researchers have been on this project, since about 7 years ago. It is actually interesting to imagine... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
If Apple users registered to other carriers are not experiencing any activation problems, then this could be an issue unique to Verizon users only. It would help if this carrier went ahead to address these issues on a case by case basis or work... See more
Baloyi5
Well, I think this event really failed to live up to its billing and it is equally surprising that there was no mention of the AirPower wirelss charger. I quite agree with the article in saying that it would have been more appropriate to label... See more
Baloyi5 - Edited
See, much as they are called iPhone XS and iPhone XR, they are pronounced as "Ten-Ess" and "Ten-Arr" respectively. This may not be much of an issue, but then it seems like going for an iPhone 7 is a cheaper bargain because there isn't much... See more
Breezy
Universal browsing and watching would be seriously awesome. That's probably my favorite one on the list. Outside of the ones mentioned, I'd like to see them put Siri to work with the Apple TV. She needs to step her game up. 
Baloyi5
Siri would be a good addition indeed plus I am also looking forward to when Apple TV 4K will start supporting the Dolby Atmos audio format.