Wednesday, 24 October 2018

The Morning After: Motorola's down with DIY phone repairs

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Wednesday, October 24, 2018.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome back! Your Wednesday may involve a decluttered Facebook Messenger, fixing your old smartphone with an official repair kit from iFixit or maybe you want a gaming smartphone with a familiar-looking control setup?

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A 37 percent improvement.

HP's latest Spectre x360 laptops boast up to a 22-hour battery

HP is once again tweaking its Spectre x360 convertible laptops, but this time the changes promise to be more tangible. The star of the show is undoubtedly the 13-inch model. It now boasts a whopping 22.5-hour peak battery life and optional gigabit-class LTE. Prices start at $1,150 for the Spectre x360 13 and scale to $1,390 for its 15-inch sibling.

An ideal coffee-table book for Nintendo fans.

The official 'Super Mario Bros.' Encyclopedia is here

After a years-long wait, the official Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia is available outside Japan. The 256-page compendium is available in both a $40 standard edition as well as an $80 limited version with a random, holofoil-trimmed cover in a question-mark slipcase. Whichever version you pick, it should be a relatively comprehensive history of the Mario series up to its 30th anniversary in 2015.

Why not DIY?

Motorola and iFixit sell official phone repair kits

Motorola is the first major phone maker to provide parts to iFixit, which now sells official repair kits for phones like the Z Play or Droid Turbo 2. The kits vary in cost depending on the phone and the nature of the repair, starting at $35 for a Moto X battery and scaling up to $200 for screen replacements on the Droid Turbo 2 and Moto Z Force.

Go, go, go!

Tesla drops Model S and X interior options to simplify production

Elon Musk has announced that his company is removing "many" Model S and Model X interior configuration options after November 1st to "simplify production." He didn't say which features were getting the chop, but it's safe to presume that you'll want to order quickly if you demand an interior that's equipped just so.

Without actually getting rid of anything.

Facebook is finally decluttering Messenger

Facebook said it’s trying to make Messenger friendlier with a refreshed design and a simplified experience. So, for example, instead of having to tap several times to send a photo or start a video call, you can now swipe on your friend's name on the Chats tab to access those features right from the home screen. Features aren’t going away though, so things like Stories and Games are still around. Messenger 4, with its three tabs instead of nine, is rolling out now.

And its fast-charging ‘tank’ is available for older bikes.

Zero Motorcycles' 2019 line-up boasts more power and longer range

The biggest changes come in the form of more power and a longer range. The entry-level Zero S and DS, both with the base ZF7.2 battery, are now getting a 35 percent increase in horsepower and an eight percent faster top speed, putting them on par with your standard internal combustion engine bikes. Prices for the new line-up range from $8,495 for the shorter range Zero FX and FXS, to $19,390 for the long-range Zero SR.

Prices will literally vary.

HTC's blockchain phone can only be bought with cryptocurrency

HTC’s newest phone wasn’t destined to be a hit. The Exodus 1 is a blockchain phone that’s very secure / very silly. It ships in December, but you can only buy it online for 0.15 bitcoins or 4.78 ethereum tokens. That’s roughly $960. No wait, $975. No wait...

Wait, that’s not a Joy-Con…

Xiaomi's new gaming smartphone comes with a Joy-Con

Because there’s apparently no such thing as too many gaming phones, say hello to the… Helo Black Shark, a gaming-centric smartphone made with help from Xiaomi. The most notable feature here has to be the bluetooth controller accessory, which slides on to the phone case, adding a joystick and a cluster of buttons that will look familiar to anyone with a Nintendo Switch. While the popularity of Fortnite, PUBG mobile and the rest can’t be argued, we’re still waiting to see if mobile gamers are convinced enough to make their next phone purchase a specialist one.

But wait, there's more...

1. The Ducati Multistrada 1260S is ready for anything

2. Google Play will upgrade your HD movies to 4K for free

3. Thalmic Labs' Focal smart glasses pick up where Google Glass left off

4. Dyson will build its electric cars in Singapore

5. MoviePass to spin out from its parent company amid legal woes

6. Drake is now co-owner of an esports brand

7. 'No Man's Sky' is getting a spooky update next week

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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Tuesday, 23 October 2018

E-Commerce Minute

E-Commerce Minute: Tuesday -- October 23, 2018

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

Headline Scan
6 Tactics to Bring Out the Superpowers in Retail SMBs
Harnessing Video for Customer Advocacy
Black Friday/Cyber Monday Is Coming - and It's Only the Beginning
Where Online Shopping Search Has Gone Wrong

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Today's Story Highlights

6 Tactics to Bring Out the Superpowers in Retail SMBs

There could be as much as a 22 percent increase in holiday sales this
season. The 2018 U.S. retail e-commerce season will reach $123.4
billion, up from $106.14 billion in 2017, according to Statista's
estimates. If you are a small business retailer, these numbers no doubt
will bring a twinkle to your eye. However, to get your share, you will
need to step up your game.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85633.html

Harnessing Video for Customer Advocacy

Video has risen in recent years to the forefront of any marketing
campaign, recognized as the optimum medium to elevate brand awareness
and share a company's latest product buzz with an increasingly diverse
and sophisticated audience. It's so easy to work with; platforms are
readily available, simple to learn, and hyper affordable. High-quality
results can be achieved on a budget.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85630.html

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Is Coming - and It's Only the Beginning

Are you a retailer trying to get ready for the 2018 holiday season?
Well, I'm afraid I can't help you. Just kidding. Sort of. I could just
sit here and share yet another checklist to remind you of all the
standard e-commerce table stakes you need to master. However, what I
really want to do is help you get ready for Cyber Monday 2019 -- and
beyond.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85628.html

Where Online Shopping Search Has Gone Wrong

While online shopping has exploded over the last decade and innovation
around e-commerce has skyrocketed, there has been very little
development around quality improvements in product search, navigation or
discovery, notwithstanding the success of generic and open source search
solutions, such as Elastic. That is ironic, as great search can make all
the difference for an etailer's bottom line. Here's the problem: Define
exactly what "great search" is.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/85621.html

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The Morning After: Apple's other iPhone X arrives

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Tuesday, October 23, 2018.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Finally, it’s time to meet Apple’s iPhone XR, and we couldn’t do that without asking some questions about the decisions behind the device. We’re also looking at Google’s Home Hub, and there’s a new video that every Tesla owner (or would-be Tesla thief) should watch, ASAP.

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'Far more than good enough.'

Apple iPhone XR review

From the perspective of Apple SVP Phil Schiller, “If we're going to push the upper boundaries with XS and XS Max to make something the best, how do we make something that's more affordable for a larger audience?” If you ask Chris Velazco, this other iPhone X is the best one for most people, with a battery life that outlasts its more expensive brethren and the same A12 Bionic chipset inside. Buying an iPhone XR means going without the benefits of a dual-camera setup and higher-res display, but there’s a lot here to love and it costs less than $1,000.

Who’s watching who?

Google Home Hub review: A more personal smart display

Google’s Home Hub is ideal for personal spaces like the bedroom for one simple reason: It doesn’t have a camera. That decision, along with blending Google Assistant smarts and an affordable price point at $149, helps it score as an extremely compelling smart display.

The hard sell behind a $15,000 TV.

Samsung's case for buying an 8K TV: Why wait?

Samsung’s saying its 8K TVs are the best TVs around right now, and they future-proof you for the resolution jump to come. And the company's also saying to anyone currently thinking about buying a high-end 4K TV: Don't make a purchase you'll regret. Of course, in two years, what Samsung thought was future-proof might well be obsolete already.

Do you really need a stylus?

How to pick a smartphone in 2018

There's never been a better time to be in the market for something new: Smartphones are more powerful than ever, and getting a truly great device doesn't require shelling out an obscene amount of money. Still, finding the right balance of features and price can be trickier than it needs to be, so we've put together a guide to help make this big decision a little easier.

Unplugging it was the tricky part.

Thieves steal a Tesla Model S by hacking the entry fob

A Tesla owner who recorded thieves stealing his Model S by hacking the passive entry system has published the video on YouTube, so we can all watch and learn. It shows the crooks using a tablet to apparently capture the passive signal from his keyfob, then using the data to open the vehicle. The problem? The owner never activated a PIN-to-drive feature that would have required a code to get the vehicle going.

And mid-range smartphones are getting a power bump.

Qualcomm is expecting two waves of 5G flagship smartphones in 2019

Speaking at the 4G/5G Summit in Hong Kong, Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon said that based on what his company has visibility to, they are expecting "at least two waves of major flagships" with 5G radio next year, with the first lot arriving sometime within the first half of the year, and the rest in the holiday season. OnePlus might make one of them, as it announced plans to be one of the first companies to use the new technology. Qualcomm also showed off its upgraded Snapdragon 675 chipset, which improves on its current mid-range 670 with enhanced power for gaming, multiple-lens camera setups and AI.

But wait, there's more...

1. Richard Branson steps down as Virgin Hyperloop One chairman

2. What we're buying: Making the switch from Apple to Samsung

3. 'Ghostbusters World' combines 'Pokémon Go' and turn-based battles

4. Netflix will raise $2 billion to pay for more original content

5. What's on TV this week: 'RDR 2,' 'Castlevania,' Hasan Minhaj, 'Sabrina' and 'Channel Zero'

6. The Boring Company's LA test tunnel is almost complete

7. A 2019 Windows 10 update will soften the performance blow of Spectre patches

8. Mars may have enough oxygen underneath its surface for life

9. 'Honor Magic 2' unveils sliding screen a week before launch

Our mailing address is:
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Monday, 22 October 2018

Editor's Pick: The Rise of Activist Employees in the Tech Industry

The Rise of Activist Employees in the Tech Industry

Rob Enderle Oct 22, 2018 5:00 AM PT
	Things have been changing at an almost unprecedented rate with regard to power structures. The last time I saw this happen was in the 1970s, when the EEOC took off. Suddenly a lot of the off-color, sexist and racist jokes that many executives regularly told could get them fired. A surprisingly large number of people got reassigned, fired, demoted, or otherwise punished. [More...]

More Picks:

Harnessing Video for Customer Advocacy
Video has risen in recent years to the forefront of any marketing campaign, recognized as the optimum medium to elevate brand awareness and share a company's latest product buzz with an increasingly diverse and sophisticated audience. It's so easy to work with; platforms are readily available, simple to learn, and hyper affordable. High-quality results can be achieved on a budget. [More...]

Turning a Corner in CRM
For the last 20 years, CRM has occupied a preeminent niche in enterprise software. It has been the hip, up-and-coming solution in the front office, brimming with innovation and new approaches to some difficult problems. CRM applied basic database technology to a business' chaotic collection of customer data, streamlining business practices and boosting productivity in sales and service. [More...]

Mostly Hotly Sought-After Linux Skills
The Linux Foundation's 2018 Open Source Technology Jobs Report shows rapid growth in the demand for open source technical talent, with Linux skills a must-have requirement for entry-level positions. Linux coding is the most sought-after open source skill. Linux-based container technology is a close second. The report provides an overview of open source career trends. [More...]

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