Author Archives: Chris Davies

It's already a given that Apple wants to give the iPhone 8 the biggest possible display for 2017, but the jury is still out on where that leaves its fingerprint sensor. Getting rid of the home button has obvious benefits, but a rear-mounted Touch ID scanner is ergonomically questionable, while integrating it into the Retina display is technologically tricky. Now, another way for Apple to slim the new iPhone's bezels and maximize screen real-estate without sacrificing Touch ID has emerged, an alternative to baking the sensor into the display itself.

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Amazon has quietly launched Amazon Reload, promising Prime subscribers a 2-percent reward back on every purchase as long as they jump through a few hoops. The deal builds on Amazon's gift card system, though it can be funded with any debit card or bank account. Effectively, in return for preloading cash into your Amazon account, the retail behemoth is promising 2-percent cash back on whatever you buy.

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Sous-vide is getting cheaper, with Anova throwing open pre-orders for its Precision Cooker Nano, a sub-$100 version of its kitchen gadget. Intended to unlock sous-vide cooking for an audience that might blanch at spending three-figures on a niche cooking toy, the $99 Precision Cooker Nano borrows tech from its more expensive siblings.

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130 new autonomous Bolt EV test cars have rolled off GM's production line, the automaker has announced today, each fitted with the new version of its self-driving hardware. The expanded Chevrolet fleet will join the 50+ current-gen autonomous Bolt EV cars which GM has already been using to refine its self-driving platform. They're currently navigating the streets in three US states.

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The Tesla Model X has become the first SUV to ever score a full 5-stars in NHTSA crash testing, with the all-electric car credited as being the safest SUV around. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration examines crash performance in categories like frontal impacts, side impacts, and pole impacts. For SUVs, though, the most arduous challenge is often the risk of overturning in an incident, which the NHTSA calls the rollover probability.

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Windows XP users are being warned to update their PC, after Microsoft spotted "elevated risk" of cyberattacks from WannaCrypt-style malware. The update, which is being pushed out today as part of the company's regular Update Tuesday service, is unusual, because officially Windows XP falls outside of the currently active operating systems that Microsoft supports. In fact, Microsoft put Windows XP out to pasture back in April 2014.

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eero kick-started the home mesh WiFi revolution, now it's rolling out two new models and a subscription based filtering and security service to keep its edge. The 2nd-generation eero, eero Beacon, and optional eero Plus network protection package promise more speed, more safety, and even more flexibility. Still, they also take pains not to undermine the reputation for plug-and-play ease that eero has become known for.

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Plans for a trio of Google Pixel 2 phones for 2017 have apparently been shaken up, with Google reportedly shelving its original Pixel XL successor this year. Flagships of Google's Android line-up, and expected to debut the new Android "O" version later this year, the Pixel range had been expected to grow with a third member. Along with a Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, there was chatter of a Pixel 2 XXL.

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If gamers have been the long-standing wireless peripheral hold-outs, then Logitech thinks it finally has the answer to cutting the cord. Four years in the making, the Logitech G Powerplay system is the mouse and keyboard maker's foray into its own wireless charging system. Rather than go for one of the off-the-shelf approaches already in the wild, Logitech developed its own suited to the demanding requirements of the PC gaming community.

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Easy-to-fly drones are big business these days, and Parrot is looking to get novice pilots off the ground sooner with a pair of "Adventurer" packs. Combining two of Parrot's most popular models - one fixed-wing; one quadcopter - the bundles allow newbie pilots to get a drone's-eye view courtesy of a head-mounted display. Meanwhile, there's also potential for autonomous flight.

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At first, I thought Mophie had screwed up. The portable battery company has made a name for itself as offering some of the easiest ways to keep your smartphone going when its own charge is running low, with an array of external power-packs and battery cases for the most popular handsets. Yet the newest Mophie Charge Force Cases for iPhone 7 don't even have a battery inside.

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With Uber making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately, arch rival Lyft has been focusing on cutting deals and raising cash, with Jaguar Land Rover latest to invest. The automaker has pumped $25m into the ride-sharing service, courtesy of its InMotion mobility services business. However, the deal will also include Jaguar Land Rover supplying cars to Lyft drivers, which could mean a big upgrade on your next commute.

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