Friday, 14 June 2013
Use AirDrop to Share Photos, Contacts, & Other Files in iOS 7
Sharing just got a whole lot easier in the new iOS 7. Apple has decided to integrate AirDrop, the local vicinity file-sharing service found in Mac OS X, into the latest version of iOS.
With AirDrop, you can share pictures, contacts, notes, and more between two iPhones without the need for a wireless network. Instead, it uses an ad-hoc Wi-Fi connection or Bluetooth to share with anyone near your device.
To use AirDrop, just slide the new Control Center up from anywhere on your device and tap on the AirDrop option.
Once you select it, you'll be prompted with the option to make yourself discoverable to no one, to your contacts only, or to everyone.
Once you make yourself discoverable, others can easily send and share files with you. If you want to send something like a picture, just tap on the newShare button located on the bottom left.
This will take you to the share page where all the users that are connected to AirDrop will show up. BAMF is the person I want to send a photo to.
You can also send directions straight from the Maps app. Tapping the share sign at the bottom will prompt you to either send your current location or directions, and from there you can choose who to share it to from AirDrop.
If the other user (in this case BAMF) sends me a file, I'll be prompted with the following.
From there, all I have to do is tap Accept and the file will be saved to my device. It's really as simple as that.
Revamp Your Nexus 7 Tablet with a "Smartphone Only" Android Launcher
One thing you can always count on from Google Play is a never-ending list of lousy launcher apps. Just search for "launchers" on the store and you'll see hundreds of apps hoping to replace the one you're already using. Problem is, none of them really stand out from the crowd. If you're not interested in a stock-look or iOS clone, you're out of luck.
Or, are you?
Today, I'll be showing you how to simplify and revamp your Android launcher experience with Atom Launcher. Touted as "minimalistic, beautiful, and rock-solid," Atom Launcher looks to be a worthy contender for your Android home screen. Now, let's see if it lives up to the hype.
Download and Install Atom Launcher
Downloading Atom Launcher on the Nexus 7 requires a bit of a workaround. Some of you might be able to to download the app, but most of you won't be able to because the app is restricted to smartphones only—tablet users are left out of the fun.
This just means we'll have to manually download and install the APK file. Head over to this alternative link on your Nexus 7 and download the APK file directly to your tablet. If that link doesn't work, you can find another onehere.
Make sure have to have Unknown Sources checked under Settings before doing this, so you're able to install the APK file.
You'll also need to install the Atom Store and Atom All in One Widgets to get the most out of the launcher. Afterward, just launch Atom from the app drawer.
Getting Familiar with Atom Launcher
At first launch, Atom launcher will ask to import your current launcher's icon and widget layout. Here's how it looks at first glance.
Atom uses its own set of icons for the stock Google apps, giving them a nice clean look.
In portrait mode, a bar at the top displays the date, time, and power level of your tablet. The stock status bar can be turned off (if desired) with Atom.
Long pressing anywhere on the home screen will bring up a menu to add items to the home screen or change your wallpaper, in addition to a menu for Atom.
As previously mentioned, Atom has its own set of widgets. It's just as clean and minimalistic as the themed icons. Below are the calendar, note, quick settings, and favorite contacts widgets.
Adding a folder is as easy as bring up the Menu, tapping Folder, then selecting the apps you want to put in the folder.
App folders can also be "flipped" through or resized to show more apps to your liking.
In the app drawer, tapping the small arrow icon will bring up more options.
You can:
- Search for apps (magnifying glass)
- Add apps to the home screen or make a folder in the app drawer (pencil icon)
- Reorganize them in a specific order (blocks icon)
- Bring up Atom settings
Here's what the app drawer looks like organized alphabetically.
Be sure to check out all the different settings on Atom and configure it to your liking. Personally, I recommend setting it up so that the home screen and app drawer hold as many apps as possible with a 6x6 grid.
Now, let's check out the Atom Store.
Atom Store: Free Theme of the Day!
Unique to Atom is a built-in store for purchasing and downloading themes.
The best part is, if you link your Facebook account, you can download the free theme they offer each day. Just flick to the left to get it.
Here's the IRON theme loaded up. If you've seen Iron Man recently, you should enjoy this one! JARVIK anyone?
Closing Thoughts...
Atom Launcher is a new take on Android launchers. It doesn't try to be any of the wildly popular launchers on some Android devices, and it knows not everyone wants the stock look. It tries to offer something new with its own unique feature set and throws in a theme store for good measure.
It's a bummer this isn't available for tablet users without the workaround. Until it is, give Atom Launcher a try and tell us what you think in the comments!
The GoPro Hero 3 action camera is totally rad
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What is a GoPro HERO camera?
The GoPro HERO can be described as an extreme sports camera. The new HERO3 model, in particular, has a 6-lens optical system with ultra-wide field of view and it is capable of shooting high-resolution video at high framerates. When placed in its waterproof housing, the little snapper can be safely taken down to 60 meters (197 feet) underwater, while accessories allow it to be mounted and worn on one's head or chest. On top of it all, the GoPro HERO3 has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows one to control the camera'ssettings and the shutter remotely. Totally rad, isn't it?
The GoPro HERO can be described as an extreme sports camera. The new HERO3 model, in particular, has a 6-lens optical system with ultra-wide field of view and it is capable of shooting high-resolution video at high framerates. When placed in its waterproof housing, the little snapper can be safely taken down to 60 meters (197 feet) underwater, while accessories allow it to be mounted and worn on one's head or chest. On top of it all, the GoPro HERO3 has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows one to control the camera'ssettings and the shutter remotely. Totally rad, isn't it?
Siri learns new commands with iOS 7
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Siri – the intelligent voice-operated assistant found on Apple's top mobile devices, has been getting smarter and smarter with each new iOS release. After the launch of iOS 6, for example, users could not only ask her to perform basic tasks – setting an alarm clock or taking down a note, to name a few examples, but also to launch apps, and to request restaurant or movie recommendations with Siri's aid. Of course, iOS 7 won't be an exception as a handful of new commands will be added to her repertoire. Oh, have we been saying "her" all along? Well, actually Apple has included the option to pick a male voice for Siri in iOS 7. She can also speak new languages now, such as French and German, with more to come eventually.
But let's focus on the new commands for now. With iOS 7, Siri is getting even better at looking up stuff on the internet. She is totally fine with searching for stuff on Wikipedia, Twitter, even Bing, so next time you can't remember what album Michael Jackson released in 1982, she'll be able to quickly provide you with that information. Another nice trick that Siri can perform in iOS 7 is to change some of the smartphone's settings. For example, one can just instruct her to turn up the screen's brightness or to turn the Bluetooth radio on or off.
Interested to see how these new commands work? Well, we've got a video demonstration for you so don't hesitate to check it out. What do you think of Siri now that she's getting even more capable than before?
HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook review
LOOK AND FEEL
It looks and feels cheap, and manages to be one giant dust and fingerprint magnet.
It's hard to get excited about the Pavilion 14's design. There's nothing offensive about it, but it's not particularly inspired either. Unlike a MacBook, Pixel or even Samsung's ARM-based Chromebook it blends in nicely with other generic laptops. Perhaps that's the intent, since HP's chosen to build this Chromebook on the same chassis as the Pavilion 14 Sleekbook, an AMD-powered PC running Windows. At first glance, the only clue you're dealing with something different is the Chrome logo in the top-left corner of the lid. Most surfaces on the Pavilion 14 are finished in a sparkly metallic paint that's black, dark grey or dark brown depending on the ambient light. The sides, screen bezel and top half of the removable Li-ion battery are shiny black, and the individual keys and bottom surface are matte black. It looks and feels cheap, and manages to be one giant dust and fingerprint magnet.
Besides the Chrome branding, HP's logo is embossed in the bottom-left corner of the lid. There's an HD webcam, while LED and microphone above the glossy display and the company's emblem is replicated below. A thin, horizontal chrome strip separates the speaker grille from the two-button trackpad and chiclet keyboard -- it brings some flair to an otherwise bland design. The silver power button with an embedded white LED (on the left) and Altec Lansing logo (on the right) are inset in this speaker grille. A standard 3.5mm headphone jack, single USB 2.0 port, cooling vent and Kensington lock are located on the left edge. The right side is home to a pair of white LEDs (power / sleep and SSD), an SD / MMC card slot, two more USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI output, a 10 / 100 Ethernet jack, another LED (charge) and the power connector. You'll find more cooling vents on the bottom, along with the battery's sliding lock mechanism.
While the Pavilion 14 is currently the largest Chromebook on the market, it remains reasonably compact (13.66 x 9.37 x 0.83 inches) and light (3.96 pounds). It's top-heavy, however, and kept wanting to fall over backwards when we used it on our lap. Thankfully, the build quality inspires confidence -- this Chromebook should be sturdy enough to survive a drop or two.
KEYBOARD AND TRACKPAD
Until the Acer C7, every Chromebook featured a standardized keyboard layout very similar to what's found on current MacBooks, with the power button integrated into the top-right corner and large Ctrl and Alt keys paired on either side of the space bar. Chromebook keyboards also eschewed the vestigial Caps Lock key and replaced it with a search button (Alt + search is the default key combination for Caps Lock on Chromebooks, and this can be changed in the settings).
HP breaks these conventions on the Pavilion 14 by recycling a PC keyboard layout. While the function key labels have been updated to reflect the Chromebook shortcuts and the Windows key now behaves as a search button, the Ctrl and Alt keys are too small and separated by other keys, making them easier to miss when typing. Even worse is the extra column of redundant keys on the right (Delete, Home, Pg Up / Dn, End). Throughout this review, we kept hitting the Home key instead of Backspace, which was extremely annoying, especially when pressing search + left cursor already provides the same functionality.
Oh, the trackpad -- it's something right out of a landfill full of dead Compaq laptops.
Of course, Acer's also guilty of changing the keyboard layout on the C7. We understand this is the result of chassis sharing to reduce manufacturing costs, but if you're a longtime Chromebook user like us, it's a jarring experience. Google really needs to put an end to this fragmentation, especially when Samsung's making no such compromises with the keyboard on its inexpensive ARM-based Chromebook. Beyond the layout issues, HP's keyboard deck is solid and the keys provide decent tactile feedback. This places the Pavilion 14 somewhere in the middle of the Chromebook pack in terms of keyboard quality.
Then there's HP's trackpad. Oh, the trackpad -- it's something right out of a landfill full of dead Compaq laptops. Welcome back to 2003. The Pavilion 14 is the first Chromebook to ditch the one-piece clickable trackpad that's commonplace today. What you get instead are two overly stiff buttons below a roughly patterned surface -- it looks and feels terrible. Then there's the unused button / indent (and matching LED) in the top-left corner of the trackpad, which is designed to toggle the trackpad on / off in Windows, but does absolutely nothing here. At least two-finger scrolling works -- it's just not nearly as smooth as on other Chromebooks. None of the other gestures illustrated in the tutorial that ships pre-installed with every Chromebook are supported. We're not sure how that slipped through the cracks (see screenshot above), but we're guessing that first-time buyers are going to be quite confused.
DISPLAY AND SOUND
The Pavilion 14 features a glossy, 14-inch screen with a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. Considering the larger display is this Chromebook's top selling point, we'd hoped for better-than-average performance in this area. Unfortunately, HP chose a panel that's merely adequate. Brightness is serviceable, but contrast is mediocre. And viewing angles are poor, especially in the vertical axis. Glare is a major issue with this screen and we found ourselves constantly having to adjust the lid to minimize reflections. Another point to consider is that Chromebooks like Acer's C7 and Samsung's ARM-based model pack the same resolution as the Pavilion 14 into smaller 11.6-inch displays, resulting in better pixel density. This screen might be okay for casual web browsing, but forget getting any serious work done unless you want to strain your eyes.
On the plus side, the Pavilion 14's Altec Lansing speakers sound pretty decent. It's refreshing since audio performance is generally an afterthought with most Chromebooks (Pixel excepted). The speakers are somewhat lacking in bass, but produce sound that's loud and clear overall -- perfect for that extended Hulu or Netflix session.
PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY LIFE
On Chromebooks, CPU and GPU performance generally affect page rendering, scrolling and video playback, while the amount of RAM dictates how many tabs you're able to open simultaneously and storage performance usually impacts such things as page caching and boot times. The Pavilion 14 ships with a 1.1GHz dual-core Celeron 847 (with Intel HD graphics), 2GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD. In terms of speed, it slots behind the Pixel and Samsung's Chromebook 550 (which both offer faster processors and 4GB of RAM), but ahead of Acer's hard-drive-equipped C7 and Samsung's ARM-based Chromebook. We measured an average SunSpider score of 519ms (version 0.91) and a boot time of eight seconds. Video playback was glitch free, even at 1080p, and the fan, while noticeable, was never loud enough to be a problem. Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity worked fine in our tests. In practice, the Pavilion 14 is a snappy web terminal that handles multiple tabs with aplomb. Some might be interested in increasing the amount of RAM and while this system isn't officially user-upgradable, HP's hinted that you'll find a standard SoDIMM slot inside -- hackers, start your screwdrivers.
Unfortunately, battery life is disappointing. On paper, the removable four-cell 37Wh Li-ion battery is supposed to last up to four hours and 15 minutes. In our standard rundown test -- which involves looping a locally stored video with WiFi connected -- we only managed to keep the Pavilion 14 alive and kicking for three hours and 35 minutes. That's only marginally better than Acer's C7 and significantly worse than every other Chromebook. Then again, HP's quick to point out that spare batteries are available for $63 on the company's website. Your mileage may vary, but you've been warned.
SOFTWARE
It's pretty liberating to have a machine that's focused on doing a single task well.
We have several Chrome OS aficionados in our midst here at Engadget. It's not for everyone, but if you spend a lot of time using cloud services, it's pretty liberating to have a machine that's focused on doing a single task well (web browsing). There's also something to be said for having a system that requires no maintenance and is safe to lend to family and friends. Still, you really have to live with Chrome OS for a little while to appreciate it. Once you do, it can be a very productive and rewarding work environment.
Our Pavilion 14 review unit came with version 23 of Chrome OS pre-installed, but immediately updated itself to version 27, which introduces a number of new features. Panel Windows provide a way for certain Chrome OS apps (such as Hangouts) to be docked at the bottom-right corner of the display next to the clock and status icons. Open tabs and apps are easier to manage thanks to lists which appear when you hover over the icons in the launcher -- this is similar to jump lists in Windows. Speaking of which, the launcher can now be repositioned to the left, bottom or right of the screen. Other tweaks include a hierarchical folder view in the Files app along with autocomplete during search. It's worth noting that several of these improvements don't come enabled by default and have to be switched on in the Experimental Features menu (chrome://flags). You'll find a shortcut to HP's registration page in the Apps menu, and like other Chromebooks, the Pavilion 14 comes with 100GB of free storage on Google Drive.
WRAP-UP
If -- as HP suggests -- there's a market for a larger Chromebook that spends most of its time at home, the Pavilion 14 is a poor ambassador. The company simply made too many compromises when it decided to build its first Chromebook from a recycled PC chassis. While it's reasonably thin and light for a 14-inch laptop, the non-standard keyboard layout and antiquated trackpad are dealbreakers. Add a lackluster display and mediocre battery life to the mix and you have a recipe for disaster. The Pavilion 14's only redeeming qualities are its zippy performance, decent speakers and solid build quality. Is it worth $329? Absolutely not. You'd be far better off picking up Acer's C7 for $199 -- especially now that it ships with an SSD instead of a traditional hard drive -- and enjoy the same level of performance with a better trackpad. Spend a little more and Samsung's $449 Chromebook 550 walks all over the Pavilion 14. Ultimately, we think that Samsung's $249 ARM-based model remains the best low-end Chromebook on the market today -- and the truest to form. As for us hardcore Chromebook fans? We'll give up our Pixels when you pry them from our cold dead hands
MacBook Air 11 2013 teardown breaks up baby Haswell
11-inch MacBook Air couldn’t escape afterits bigger sibling suffered the indignity on Wednesday. iFixit stripped the slimline ultraportable to its component boards in the hunt for something electronically interesting, finding a bigger battery than the old model, as well as new flash storage that’s a little less Samsung dominated.
In fact, the 128GB flash drive – which is, again, proprietary – uses components from three different suppliers. Where the 13-incher’s storage was from Samsung, the 11-inch version gets SanDisk NAND, a Marvell PCIe SSD controller, and Samsung SDRAM.
Meanwhile, the battery has climbed from last year’s 35Whr pack to a 38.75Wh pack, though jumps up to 8.08oz from 7.90oz in the process. Apple claims up to 9hrs runtime from a single charge, if you’re doing solid browsing over WiFi, and on that subject there’s now 802.11ac which is supplied by exactly the same AirPort card as in the 13-inch Air.
Otherwise, it’s the 13-inch model but smaller. The SSD is more compact, there’s no separate platform controller hub, and there’s a new heat-sink clamp.
Apple’s Macs have been getting progressively worse ratings from repair companies like iFixit over the years, as Apple trades user-replaceable parts for slicker, lighter design and custom components. The 11-inch MacBook Air is little different in that respect, with some early praise for how easy it is to open up and access the parts, but then slammed for all of the key parts being either proprietary or soldered in place.
In short, when you first buy an Air, make sure you buy the model you think you’ll eventually want, since you won’t be able to upgrade it down the line.
DirecTV buying Hulu source claims
DirecTV will buy Hulu in a roughly billion-dollar deal, it’s reported, with the acquisition in “very advanced stages” according to insiders familiar with the deal. The streaming provider has entertained interest from Time Warner Cable, Yahoo, and others over the past months, but is likely to settle on DirecTV as the new owner, sources tell PandoDaily, and a contract signed by the end of June.
Exact financial terms of the deal are unclear, though it’s said to be measured in the billions “but just barely.” That’s a far cry from the $2bn in bids that Hulu was fielding last year, though since then the promise of exclusive streaming deals with Walt Disney Co., News Corp, and Comcast has been withdrawn. Instead, Hulu’s new owner will have to negotiate deals as usual.
Even so, early feedback on the deal is that Hulu and DirecTV make a good match. The buyer lacks a built-out online offering – though it does have an iPad app for streaming – and could benefit from Hulu’s established name, not to mention its 4m paying Hulu Plus subscribers.
For Hulu, meanwhile, the billion dollar deal is better than some of the other serious offers believed to have been made. Yahoo, for instance, is said to have offered $800m for the company, though was later outbid by three unnamed rivals, all roughly in the $1bn ballpark.
What’s still unclear is what sort of deal structures and other agreements may be in place, aspects which are believed to have scuppered a $4bn offer from Google last year, for instance. There’s also the question of regulatory approval, with the DoJ potentially deciding to withhold its blessing.
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