Features - SlashGear

Audi’s e-tron SUV 95 kWh battery makes a debut Tesla would be proud of

Vincent Nguyen | Apr 20, 2018

Audi gets an A for showmanship, introducing the world’s first 95kWh battery for the upcoming all-electric Audi e-tron SUV in a lighting-filled Faraday cage. Typically, you wouldn't want the sort of high voltages your EV relies on to be visibly dancing around the car, but a big battery deserves a big splash. When it reaches the road, mind, the e-tron's bleeding-edge power tech will be an even bigger deal.

How to use Alexa Blueprints for DIY fun galore

Chris Burns | Apr 20, 2018

It's time to turn Alexa into a joke machine, using the first round of Alexa Blueprints to do some mischief. If you're a big fan of The Office, you know the episode cold open where Michael Scott figures out he can make his computer speak. Today, you can make all your Amazon Echo or otherwise Alexa-infused devices do what you want. Or at least answer all the questions you ask it, how you wish.

Cadillac Super Cruise Review: I like this more than Tesla Autopilot

Chris Davies | Apr 18, 2018

Tesla may have convinced drivers that Autopilot is the pinnacle of driver-assistance technologies you can actually buy on a new car today, but Cadillac might have Elon Musk beat. Quietly added mid-year to the 2018 Cadillac CT6, Super Cruise is the first hands-off adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping system on the market. It's promise is straightforward: on the right road, the CT6 luxury sedan will handle speed, braking, and steering, without pestering you to keep your hands on the wheel.

This is your next phone (but here’s one better)

Chris Burns | Apr 17, 2018

Today we're having a peek at the current state of the mobile industry by-the-numbers to find your next smartphone. We're using the most recent sales numbers for the smartphone market in the United States, working forward from the most recent quarter, fast-forwarding to now. What we've got is a pretty good idea of what you'll most likely have in your pocket next.

Which phones let me control any TV in 2018?

Chris Burns | Apr 16, 2018

A wide variety of smartphones have the ability to control your television - or almost any other TV you can see. Since the dawn of the mobile smart device, we've been looking for ways to turn it into things we had in the past. A flashlight, a boombox, a phone, and a remote control that'd allow channels to be changed, volume to be adjusted, and power to be turned on or off.

Wireless CarPlay Review: 2018 BMW 640i GT cuts the cord

Chris Davies | Apr 16, 2018

Android Auto Wireless may now be arriving on select phones and head-units, but iPhone owners wanting wireless CarPlay don't have to wait - it's available now. While there's plenty to like about the 2018 BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, not least its 3.0-liter, 335 horsepower engine, I had one particular spec in mind for testing. With iPhone X supporting wireless charging, and CarPlay wireless available in a growing number of vehicles, is it worth spending more on the option if you're buying a new car?

Android Auto Wireless reminded me of Google’s big Pixel mistake

Chris Davies | Apr 13, 2018

Google enabling Android Auto Wireless is great news, but Pixel phones' lagging behind iPhone in one key area does put the brakes on how useful the update is. Putting down your smartphone while you're behind the wheel is safety advice all of us would do well to remember. I just wish I could put my Pixel 2 XL down on a wireless charger when I do.

God of War review roundup: 3 things we learned

Eric Abent | Apr 12, 2018

While God of War 3 did a lot to neatly wrap up the original trilogy, it seems that Sony wasn't quite finished with one of its marquee franchises. Deep down, we all probably knew that God of War would be returning one day, but few of us probably expected to return like this. Instead of continuing the exploits of Kratos in Ancient Greece, this year's God of War serves as something of a soft reboot for the series, placing our fiery protagonist in a Norse setting.

Nest Cam IQ Outdoor Review

Chris Davies | Apr 11, 2018

Nest has built a name for itself for its sleekly-designed, premium-priced security cameras, thermostats, and other connected home tech, and the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is no different. Latest in the Google-owned company's intelligence-toting cameras, it packs a surprising amount of smarts into an elegant housing.

2019 Aston Martin Vantage first drive: The Porsche hunter

Vincent Nguyen | Apr 10, 2018

In the long-running battle between Porsche and Aston Martin, the familiar - and legendary - 911 is getting a very different challenger. The all-new 2019 Aston Martin Vantage is the automaker's new weapon, starting with a clean sheet design from the ground up, inside and out. Its goal is simple: be the most badass, Ferrari, Porsche and Bentley-hunting machine you could hope for.

Honor 7x Review: This $200 phone surprised me

Chris Burns | Apr 10, 2018

Over the past couple of weeks I've had the $200 smartphone Honor 7x in my pocket. This smartphone's surprised me - and not only because it's rather feature-full for its price. This phone's surprised me because it's doing what OnePlus said it'd do when they started. This smartphone goes to war with the most excellent (and far more expensive) phones in the world, and it does so without any major "me too" tricks.

I took the 2019 Camaro Turbo 1LE to the track

Vincent Nguyen | Apr 10, 2018

The battle is no longer just Camaro versus Mustang. The 2019 Camaro Turbo 1LE is the tip of a new spear for Chevrolet: an entry-level track car with a key differentiator that sets it apart from what its rivals - beyond simply Ford - are offering: it's all under warranty, should something blow up on the track. Final pricing hasn't been confirmed but, with a sticker expected to fall somewhere inside $30-$35k, the Camaro Turbo 1LE is on course to be appealingly affordable, too. Still, is that appealing enough to sway would-be buyers in this increasingly competitive segment?