Tuesday 28 February 2017

The Morning After: Rolling with Handle, the new Boston Dynamics robot

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Tuesday, February 28, 2017.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

It’s Tuesday. That means Boston Dynamics has unveiled a new robot harbinger of death, there are more new smartphones and we have an idea who screwed up at the Oscars. In more encouraging news, we checked in with some very charitable gamers, and mobile carriers keep making their data plans better. Keep an eye on the site today for more dispatches from MWC, as well as our reports from the Game Developers Conference.

Phones and more phones

All the news from Mobile World Congress

MWC 2017 is in full swing, and our team in Barcelona is digging up all the information you need to know. Looking for a head-to-head comparison of the LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, Huawei P10, Nokia 6 Arte Black Edition and BlackBerry Keyone? We’ve got you. Hands-on time with the new motion controller for Samsung’s Gear VR? Say no more. Oh, and of course, the highlights from every big press event condensed into one six minute video. You’re welcome.

AT&T vs. T-Mobile, round whatever

The unlimited data wars rage on

Oh, you thought it was over? Yesterday two mobile carriers continued to make minor adjustments in their battle for unlimited data supremacy. First, AT&T rolled out an Unlimited Plus package with 10GB of tethering and 22GB of high-speed data (before throttling kicks in) for $90 per month, plus some credits for DirecTV subscribers. T-Mobile quickly responded, however, with a promotion allowing customers with two lines to add a third one for free. That could be a phone, or it could be the data plan that links up your car, tablet or smartwatch. The only question now is what’s next?

No strings on me

Raspberry Pi Zero W packs WiFi and Bluetooth for $10

The Raspberry Pi Zero’s cheap-but-powerful computing has powered many maker projects, but networking adapters could be inconvenient. Now there’s a version with Bluetooth and 802.11n wireless aboard the credit card-sized computer. Of course, it also costs twice as much as the original Zero model, but at just $10 we doubt there will be many complaints.

You had one job

It’s possible that a tweet was responsible for that Oscars Best Picture screw-up

If you’re still wondering how Warren Beatty could end up with the wrong envelope to present the biggest Academy Award of the night, we may have an answer. The Wall Street Journal reports that the PricewaterhouseCoopers accountant in charge of making the hand-off was busy tweeting a pic of Emma Stone instead. That led to Faye Dunaway announcing La La Land as the winner instead of Moonlight, and then everything got really awkward. Oops.

Boston Dynamics’ latest robot swaps out the peg legs for wheels

Meet ‘Handle.’

We got an early look at Handle last month via a leaked video, but now you can check out rolling, jumping, spinning automaton in all its direct-feed glory. Capable of leaping 4 feet in the air and moving along at up to 9mph, it can still easily handle obstacles like snowy terrain and stairs, so adjust your getaway plans during a robot apocalypse accordingly.

But wait, there's more...

1. Gamers Outreach Foundation: The charity that wants video game karts in every hospital

2. 'MythBusters' revival hosts unveiled

3. YouTube is coming to Comcast's cable boxes

4. Take a peek at Netflix's 'Bright,' starring Will Smith

5. What's on TV this week: 'Horizon Zero Dawn,' 'Moonlight' Blu-ray

6. Let's play 'Horizon Zero Dawn': 15 minutes in Aloy's robot-hunting shoes

7. SpaceX is sending two private citizens around the moon in 2018

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't subscribe.

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Monday 27 February 2017

Editor's Pick: 4 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

4 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

Chris Bucholtz
Feb 27, 2017 2:38 PM PT

I recently received an email from my health club that said, in part: "Dear Chris, We've noticed you haven't been in as regularly in recent weeks. I understand there may be many reasons for not being able to make it in, but I just wanted to send a quick note to check if you're happy with the service we've been providing. Let me know if I can be of any assistance and I hope to see you very soon!" [More...]

More Picks:

Mobile World Congress: Gigabit Wireless and the Anti-iPhone Set
One of the biggest disappointments at this year's Mobile World Congress is that the Samsung Galaxy 8 phone won't make it. The Galaxy line has been the ultimate iPhone fighter. Rumors around the anniversary edition of the iPhone suggest that it will do amazing, magical things, like 3D selfies. OK, I'm really missing Steve Jobs at the moment -- who the hell wants 3D selfies?!? [More...]

Snap Sells Itself as Camera Company as IPO Nears
As it approaches its IPO, Snap, maker of the popular Snapchat messaging app, is positioning itself as a camera company. "We feel like we're really at the beginning of what cameras can do," said Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. "Before, cameras were the best way to perfectly save or record something that you saw. They sort of helped augment memory -- but now, you know, cameras augment the way that we talk." [More...]

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E-Commerce Minute

E-Commerce Minute: Monday -- February 27, 2017

The E-Commerce Times -- E-Business Means Business
http://www.ecommercetimes.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
Snap Sells Itself as Camera Company as IPO Nears
FCC Head Champions FM Radio for Smartphones
4 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid
Google Cracks Key Security Code, Calls for New Standard
Apple's New Space Station Ready for Takeoff
Social Marketing Grows Up

Today's Story Highlights

Snap Sells Itself as Camera Company as IPO Nears

As it approaches its IPO, Snap, maker of the popular Snapchat messaging
app, is positioning itself as a camera company. "We feel like we're
really at the beginning of what cameras can do," said Snap CEO Evan
Spiegel. "Before, cameras were the best way to perfectly save or record
something that you saw. They sort of helped augment memory -- but now,
you know, cameras augment the way that we talk."
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84334.html

FCC Head Champions FM Radio for Smartphones

Ajit Pai, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission,
last week issued a call for activation of the FM chips in smartphones.
The vast majority of smartphones sold in the U.S. have FM chips, but
they're activated in only about 44 percent of the top brands, Pai said.
Although that's nearly twice the 25 percent figure of two years ago,
it's not good enough, he suggested.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84332.html

4 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

I recently received an email from my health club that said, in part:
"Dear Chris, We've noticed you haven't been in as regularly in recent
weeks. I understand there may be many reasons for not being able to make
it in, but I just wanted to send a quick note to check if you're happy
with the service we've been providing. Let me know if I can be of any
assistance and I hope to see you very soon!"
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84333.html

Google Cracks Key Security Code, Calls for New Standard

Google on Thursday announced that its two years of collaboration with
CWI resulted in the launch of a successful attack against the SHA-1
cryptographic algorithm, a widely used standard protocol used to protect
sensitive data in millions of computers. The breakthrough research hows
that the industry needs to send the SHA-1 standard into retirement,
Google said.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84329.html

Apple's New Space Station Ready for Takeoff

Apple on Wednesday announced that its long-awaited new headquarters,
anchored by a 2.8 million square foot mothership building, is near
completion. Named "Apple Park," the complex will make its official debut
in April. The 175-acre campus, which falls somewhere between the
Pentagon and an Olympic village in terms of size, is the fulfillment of
the dream of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84325.html

Social Marketing Grows Up

Before there was experimental data to support various contentions, it
made perfect sense to believe that the likes and endorsements posted to
friends on social media would drive more business. After all, didn't we
all subscribe to the idea that a disgruntled customer would tell many
more people about a brand's shortcomings than a happy customer would
sing its praises?
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/84327.html

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The Morning After: Say hello (again) to the Nokia 3310

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Monday, February 27, 2017.

Hey, good morning!

Welcome to your Monday. The world’s premier mobile show, MWC, kicked off over the weekend, and the biggest launch might have been a 17-year-old dumbphone. Yes, as rumors suggested, Nokia has resurrected the 3310. That was just the start, however.

They say you always remember your first.

Say hello (again) to the Nokia 3310

The Nokia 3310 is back. Courtesy of new brand owner HMD, the phone is returning with a mixture of dumbphone charm and some specification upgrades. The good news: it's cheap (around $50), it has Snake, those nostalgic ringtones of yesteryear and seems pretty darn indestructible again. It's an iconic phone, but one that's over 15 years old. That's a long time in mobile. A lot of people are going to want one. Do you?

Sony's bringing its A-game this year.

The Xperia XZ Premium may be the 4K flagship we've been waiting for

After a mostly disappointing year of Sony smartphones (ahem, Xperia X and X Performance), the company might have just built its finest yet. Say hello to the Xperia XZ Premium, a high-performance sequel that ticks just about every box on our list when it comes to flagship devices. Sony seems to have gotten enough right that we're willing to see where the XZ Premium takes us. That includes an incredible 960 frames-per-second super slow-motion mode and a 4K display that does HDR like thousand-dollar TVs.

Samsung's convertible will also support new S Pen features.

The Galaxy Book crams desktop power in portable body

In addition to its Tab S3, Samsung is showing off two new hybrids that it's calling the Galaxy Book. They're ten- and twelve-inch Windows 10 tablets that support new S Pen features, come with keyboards and are light enough to carry around. They're well-designed and performed quickly during a brief hands-on, and apart from the S Pen support there are a few small features that differentiate the Galaxy Books from rival Windows 10 convertibles.

LG G6 ditches modularity in favor of essentials

In return we get a longer screen, a waterproof design and wireless charging.

LG has taken a more sensible approach with its latest flagship. It’s tougher, more practical and better-looking than its predecessor, and its unusually proportioned display is a much-welcome feature in a market where phones tend to struggle to stand out.

The Lockheed Martin-designed aircraft is one step closer to reality.

NASA starts wind tunnel tests for its quiet supersonic jet

NASA's plans for a quiet supersonic jet, the QueSST, just became tangible: the agency and Lockheed Martin have started wind tunnel tests for the future X-plane. It's a scale model at this stage, but it will be subjected to winds as high as Mach 1.6 (950MPH).

The phone formerly known as 'Mercury' launches in April for $549

BlackBerry's KEYone is an exciting return to form

With a global launch in the works and the hopes of diehards at an all-time high, the pressure was on BlackBerry and TCL to deliver on all that Mercury hype. We can't render an official verdict yet, but my gut tells me they're onto something. Say hello to the BlackBerry KEYone. Yes, "Mercury" was a better name, and yes, the capitalization is weirding us out too. No matter: Despite the nature of its creation, the KEYone feels like a pretty triumphant return to form for a brand in need of a boost.

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