Author Archives: JC Torres

Everyone’s doing AI these days, from Google to Apple, from smart speakers to smart cars. While different people and companies have different ideas about what artificial intelligence means in theory and in practice, almost all agree about using AI to build a better future. Lenovo, one of if not the leading PC makers in the world, is just as invested in this trend, or so it says. At its Tech World Innovation in Shanghai, it demonstrated just how serious it is with five AI powered products that you may or may not see in the near future.

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Almost every other movie these days has a virtual reality tie in. It’s almost unavoidable considering how popular VR is. That’s especially true if the film in question is fantasy or, better yet, sci-fi. With the San Diego Comic Con kicking into full gear this week, there is no better time to promote such virtual reality experiences. Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to a sci-fi cult classic, is no different, and Oculus is only too happy to bring Gear VR owners an appetizer of what’s to come later this year.

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YouTube is arguably the biggest source of streaming multimedia, video or audio, on the Internet but its viewing experience on mobile, even on Google’s own Android, leaves much to be desired. We are almost at the mercy of how Google dictates mobile users should experience YouTube, which isn’t really that much compared to what you can do on the desktop. There are, however, a few enterprising and daring developers who are giving users a bit more control. Like this NewPipes app that even lets you slow down or speed up YouTube vids, whether Google allows it or not.

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Just last month, Intel bid farewell to its ambitions to corner the still nascent Internet of Things (IoT) market. Now it seems that even wearables are a no go as well. Although Intel has yet to actually formally announce or even confirm that it has pt an end to both IoT and Wearable plans, the writing has been on the wall. Not only has Intel kept mum on wearables for quite some time now, an insider source says that Intel has already closed the group in charge of pushing its wearable technologies forward.

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Meizu isn’t exactly one of the more popular smartphone brands outside of China but, for the past weeks, it has managed to pique market watchers’ curiosity. Not because it has banished all bezels (it still has some) or implemented an onscreen fingerprint scanner (it doesn’t). Instead, it is an odd curiosity because of the way it is implementing a niche “second screen” feature. Fortunately for Meizu fans, that won’t be the only interesting thing about it, at least based on this sighting at China’s TENAA agency.

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Come September, it will almost be a year since Lenovo wowed the world with its unusual Yoga Book laptop/tablet convertible. You’d think that, just like most mobile devices, it would be time for a new model. Lenovo will indeed launch two new Yoga Books in September, but they will barely be different from last year’s model. Their only difference is that they will come in two new colors of Pearl White and Ruby Red and nothing more.

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You see a lot of people these days wearing headphones of all shapes, sizes, and designs, ranging from curious to ridiculous. Some might not care how they look as long as they sound great. Others, however, are unwilling to compromise and want both quality and beauty in a single package. For these audiophiles, Apple-owned Beats by Dre have partnered with fashion brand Balmain to introduce a new collection of wireless headphones that look as exquisite as their price tags.

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Huawei’s announcement of its new Band 2 and Band 2 Pro has got people wondering where Fitbit is in all of these. Last we heard, the famed fitness tracker maker was on the road to creating its first true smartwatch (no, the Blaze above doesn’t really count) but has been hit with delays. Breaking his silence, company chief James Park assures fans and critics alike that the Fitbit Smartwatch, whatever it will be called, is actually still on track and has even shared what features it will and will not have.

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If you’ve been holding out on sinking your teeth, not to mention your wallet, into a Galaxy S8 or S8+, now might be a good time to review your options. Not only has Samsung finally, yes finally, unleashed Bixby Voice upon the masses, at least the US masses, it is now also expanding the phones’ color options. Usually available only in select markets or carriers, Samsung will soon be making available a Coral Blue hue for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. And this time, almost anyone can enjoy it. Almost.

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Huawei might not be able to make heads or tails of smartwatches, but it seems to know exactly where it wants to go as far as fitness trackers go. After giving the first Huawei Band a confusing smartwatch design, Huawei has decided to go with a more conventional tracker look with the Band 2 and Band 2 Pro. And by “conventional”, we mean “looks like a Fitbit”, which is a fair comparison considering what the Huawei Band 2 is capable of.

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If you had any fantasies of running a "regular" Windows 10 stack on your phone, Microsoft just dashed them. Not that it was a completely viable dream anyway, even with Windows 10 on ARM almost in full swing. Microsoft's own Joe Belfiore confirms that phones, if there will ever be new ones, will be running Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10 Mobile only. Which also implies that Windows 10 Mobile isn't going anywhere, at least for now.

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On Friday, Nintendo Switch owners will be scrambling to download and play the next big title intended for the nascent gaming console. Or at least most will. There might be a fraction of owners might be more interested in something that’s suppose to happen on that day too: the launch of the Switch’s online service app. Well, no need to wait, because someone at Nintendo flipped the switch early. Except the app isn’t exactly usable yet anyway.

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