Remember Palm, maker of the iconic Pre smartphone? Well after being on hiatus for the past half-decade, Palm is reportedly going to be making a comeback next year.
Well according to the folks at Android Planet who talked to TCL’s Marketing Manager Stefan Streit, new Palm devices (he did not mention smartphones specifically) are in the pipeline.
TCL – the company that’s currently trying to revive the BlackBerry brand – purchased the Palm brand back in 2011. Six years after, the electronics giant wants to make Palm great again.
But there’s a caveat to take into consideration. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem likely the new Palm devices will run Palm OS / webOS, although Streit said they will be targeted at users familiar with the old ones.
webOS, the mobile gesture-based operating system which Palm developed for its devices was part of the HP acquisition and later got sold off to LG which is still using it to power some of its smart TV products.
We can assume the new Palm devices will run on Android, just like the latest BlackBerry KEYone, but that’s not a detail we can be 100% sure about at this point.
Streit further detailed TCL’s upcoming mobile strategy by explaining the Alcatel brand will be aimed at “millennials”, BlackBerry at enterprise customers and Palm will be used to lure in older users who still remember how great the brand used to be.
Would you consider buying a new Palm device with Android onboard?
It has literally been only a few days since Google has launched the latest version of its Mobile operating system, Android Oreo 8.0. While it has not even officially reached devices other than the Pixel and the Nexus yet, Google has now started working on the next major software version, the Android P.
Some members at XDA have spotted that a new tag called Master-P has been opened up in the Android Open Source project which is presumed to be the upcoming version of Android 9.0. While the name game is still on, it is quite fascinating that Google has already begun the development process of a newer version of Android.
This quick start could also mean that Google is planning to add a lot of new features to the upcoming version of Android or even try to completely change the design language just like it did when upgrading Android from KitKat to Lollipop.
It has been a long time since Google rolled out a software update with a visual overhaul, so we could hope that happens in Android P. However it is too soon to decide on anything until further announcements from Google. Maybe Google will release an incremental update for Android Oreo 8.0 as 8.1 just like it did for Nougat 7.1.1. But only time will tell.
As of now, the only official things that could be derived are that Google is testing an Android version named Android P, in the Pixel and the Pixel XL devices. This was identified by the code name of these devices, Sailfish and Marlin respectively, mentioned in the version_defaults.mk file.
Another commit which goes by the name, “master is P only, removing old values”, shows that the platform version was updated from 8.0.0 to P. So, it is quite clear that Google is working on something new and has also updated the Platform version.
All we could do now is to wait for a more visual and a less textual confirmation about Android P from Google. Until then, keep waiting for Android Oreo to hit your phone.
BLU is one of the most prevalent smartphone manufacturers on the planet right now. While most of the devices BLU creates are quite niche and not big-time sellers, there’s enough variety to cover all types of customer needs. BLU’s Vivo line is generally considered among the premium lineup even though the specs and price aren’t in the same ballpark as Samsung’s, LG’s, HTC’s or Sony’s best smartphones.
BLU is targeting the budget-conscious consumer with the new Vivo 8 – customers that may be considering the Motorola G5 Plus or OnePlus Five. This device is launching at $299 USD but will be available at the promo price of $199 USD from August 31 to Septemer 1, 2017 on Amazon. This price point makes the Vivo 8 extremely competitive in the ever-growing budget market, but the overall design and specs make it a top consideration for anyone looking for a new unlocked phone.
In the box
Inside the box, BLU includes the Vivo 8 smartphone, earbud headphones, a power adapter, a micro-USB charging/data cable, a silicon protective case, a plastic screen protector, sim ejection tool, quick start guide and manual.
The Vivo 8 showed up in this nice little box and as a collector of neat boxes for electronic devices, I was pleased.
Upon removing the phone from the box I was pleased with the overall feel of the Vivo 8. It’s not overly heavy or obtuse and feels balanced in the hand. While holding the Vivo 8 I felt as though the metal backing was quite slippery and I immediately worried about dropping it. Thankfully BLU includes a silicon case that adds protection and some additional grip.
The BLU Vivo 8 features a soft gold metal back plate that looks great from any angle.
Setting up the Vivo 8
After just a few moments I had the Vivo 8 booted and completely set up – or so I thought. Once at the home-screen, I was completely lost. I’ve played with a lot of Android devices and my home-screen never looked quite like this. After a few minutes of tinkering, I discovered that BLU employs a unique overlay to the stock Android OS that lay hidden somewhere below this monstrosity of a UI.
While the overall design won’t turn any heads it will feel comfortable in most hands.
Quick settings and toggles are at the bottom and accessed by swiping up. Notifications are still found by swiping down and look slightly different than stock Android, but are still completely functional. It all felt foreign at first glance with the strange icons, a wonky launcher and flip-flopped quick menus. Thankfully, this is Android and I was able to install a new launcher and icon pack as well as disable some basic BLU add-ons that were more annoying than helpful.
Any Android user can and will find the widgets, apps, features and particular settings that he or she likes – and I appreciated that BLU did not go overboard with some of the OS specific settings and overlays. This was a minor inconvenience but honestly my biggest gripe with the entire Vivo 8 experience.
Initial Impression
After logging into my email, social media sites, and general user accounts, I felt at home on the Vivo 8. I have used Samsung Galaxy devices as my daily drivers for years now but felt that the Vivo 8 could do anything I needed when it came to daily smartphone tasks. The front-mounted fingerprint reader is super snappy and unlocks the Vivo 8 from the lock screen as well as sleep mode – major kudos here!
Applications downloaded super fast and installed within moments. While connected to my home network I ran a few different speed tests that gave me some mixed results but speeds were always sufficient for browsing and downloading. I never felt as though the Vivo 8 was having a hard time with my requests and I rarely noticed the device stutter while loading content. The Vivo 8 easily flips between open applications, the camera app, and music and video players without so much of a hitch.
Pressing the recent apps button brings up your apps and current memory usage which I found very informative.
After a few hours of heavy use I found that the battery was hefty enough to easily get me through the day. The impressive 4010mAh battery really packed a punch without adding too much weight to the device. Coupled with the 1080p LCD screen, the embedded battery could easily push me through two days of general use.
BLU crammed the Vivo 8 with impressive specs in all the key areas such as a large, vivid screen, a hefty battery, a functional camera and a fast and accurate fingerprint reader. While there is no water resistance, ultra high-res screen, or top of the line cameras, the Vivo 8 still rocks a ton of RAM and storage as wells as an eight-core processor. The Vivo 8 feels like an “everyman’s” smartphone.
Spec Rundown
Dimensions: 154.3 mm x 76.5 mm x 8.3 mm
Weight: 180 Grams Total
CPU: Octa-Core 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-A53
Chipset: MediaTek MT6755 Helio P10
GPU: ARM Mali-T860 MP2 700MHz
Rear Camera: 13 Megapixel With AF and Dual-LED Flash
Front Camera: 16 Megapixel Front Camera with LED Flash
I ran the BLU Vivo 8 through a multitude of benchmarks to see how the processor performed in simulated tests. Overall, I was impressed at some of the capabilities of the Vivo 8–especially with overall processing, but when comparing scores I determined that a lot of these numbers were close to half of what premium phones were capable of–at least on paper.
Benchmark Scores
Geekbench 4:
729 Single-Core
2814 Multi-Core
Antutu Benchmark: 50,306
QUADRANT: Standard: 21,754
PC Mark for Android
Work 2.0: 3,406
Computer Vision: 1,608
Benchmarks are great for getting an idea of how capable the internals of a device is, but to fully understand actual real-world performance I put the Vivo 8 to the test by using a variety of everyday applications.
Web-browsing through Chrome as well as applications like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were quick to load and scrolled smoothly and with little interruption. Applications downloaded and installed quickly and sometimes rivaled high-end devices like the Galaxy S8+ and iPhone 7. I was impressed at the basic processing capabilities of the Vivo 8 from the moment I started using the device.
The Vivo 8 [left] has a similar screen and external design when compared to an iPhone 7 Plus [right] yet operates more like a specced down Galaxy S8+ [center]I also tried a host of photo editing utilities, office software, and productivity apps. I found that the display on the Vivo 8 was very responsive while editing photos and typing up long-worded text documents and emails. Adobe Photoshop was quick to render photo effects and WPS Office ran great while editing standard office documents. I did some head-to-head tests with a Samsung Galaxy S8+ and discovered that the Galaxy phone was anywhere from a few milliseconds to a maximum of three seconds faster than the Vivo 8 when it came to loading larger applications.
Next up I wanted to put the Vivo 8 through the paces with some “high-end” Android gaming. I loaded up some of the most demanding games like Need for Speed No Limits, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Temple Run 2, Assassin’s Creed Pirates and Bullet Force.
While some may consider the Vivo 8 a large smartphone, a child can easily use this device
Every game I played performed perfectly fine. Some had slightly lower frame rates or lesser effects when compared to other, more expensive devices, but all games were 100% playable. I don’t know if this is a testament to the capabilities of the Vivo 8 or more to the scalability of Android applications–but the fact remains–the Vivo 8 is a perfectly capable gaming smartphone.
After about 10-15 minutes of gaming, I felt that the Vivo 8 had become quite warm, but never so much that I was concerned about the temperature and no games crashed or displayed errors from extensive gaming sessions. In fact, I’ve used other devices that felt much hotter over a shorter amount of time.
The Vivo 8 has a vivid LCD screen that’s perfect for outdoor use on those bright, sunny days.
Camera capabilities
The BLU Vivo 8 has a 16MP selfie cam that faces forward and a 13MP rear-facing shooter. Both cameras take decent shots in well-lit environments but struggle in low light. A large amount of grain is evident in any outdoor shot taken after dusk. HDR modes can assist as usual, but also take a super steady hand or tripod to pull off effectively.
The Vivo 8 does not feature optical image stabilization nor an optical zoom. The f/2.0 lens does include autofocus as well as touch-to-focus capabilities as well as face detection and the typical geotagging feature of practically every smartphone today. While not overly impressed by the quality of the photos I shot, I still found the camera to be one of the better shooters on a device in this price range.
Multimedia experience
Listening to music on a smartphone is never a great experience. It’ll do for those times where you don’t have access to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones but is obviously not recommended. With that in mind, the Vivo 8 still does a decent job of providing a legitimate aural experience. At the bottom of the device, you’ll find dual speakers that are loud and clear. As a bonus, the earpiece at the top also outputs sound while playing music, games or video with sound. By using all speakers available the Vivo 8 gets plenty loud and rivals flagships from other manufacturers.
Video content on the Vivo 8 is sharp and accurate. I was impressed by the viewing angles on the 5.5-inch screen and never experienced any color wash-out. With a large screen and great viewing angles, the Vivo 8 is perfect for sharing photos or video content with friends and family at social gatherings.
The dual speakers at the bottom of the Vivo 8 get plenty loud and remain clear at any volume. The inclusion of two also prevents muffled sound from accidental blocking while holding the device
Wrap up
BLU has created a smartphone that can hang with the big boys at a fraction of the price. While it lacks in high-end 3D processing and overall camera capabilities, the BLU Vivo 8 can do virtually anything else an $800 premium phone can do. If you need a GSM phone and don’t need the best camera or gaming prowess, the Vivo 8 has a great design with solid specs at a great price.
BLU has included a plethora of usable features and software functions that make the Vivo 8 a great device for everyday use. The BLU Vivo 8 is an admirable alternative to the high-priced premium phones that so many users gravitate towards. While it lacks tech such as an infinity display, dual rear cameras, waterproofing or retina scanner, the Vivo 8 is still a smartphone worth considering at a much more affordable price.
You can pick up the BLU VIVO 8 on Amazon for only $199.99, a $100 discount, until September 2, 2017.
When it comes to smart homes, one of the first names that come to mind is Nest who have been in the business of smart thermostats since 2011.
Nest today have expanded its range with the launch of the Thermostat E to further help owners who have saved more than 14 billion kWh to date.
The new Thermostat E brings a new look and new features at a lower price point. It also comes with a pre-configured schedule to start saving energy straight out of the box.
“In 2011, we reinvented the thermostat category to make it easy for people to save energy,” said Matt Rogers, co-founder and chief product officer, Nest. ”Fast forward six years: Nest owners have saved more than 14 billion kWh — the equivalent of providing electricity to all the homes in New York State for over 100 days — and now we are bringing beautiful design and proven energy saving capabilities into even more homes. To do that, we needed to simplify. The more subtle look and feel of the Nest Thermostat E will seamlessly blend into any environment. It’s everything our customers have come to know and love from Nest thermostats with a renewed focus on user simplicity and control.”
• New industrial design. The Nest Thermostat E moves away from the prominent look of the Nest Learning Thermostat and replaces it with a more subtle design, highlighted by a white exterior ring and frosted display.
• Frosted display. The frosted display is designed to blend into your home. It achieves this effect with special display technology that lets light out but doesn’t let light in. When the frosted display is off, the screen is grey. When it’s on, it displays soft text and images that are designed to be easy to see and read with a slight glow. The frosted display uses an ambient light sensor to share information at just the right brightness.
• Scheduling made simple. The Nest Thermostat E comes with a pre-set schedule, which enables customers to save energy right out of the box. This can be easily managed directly from the Nest app. Or it can learn your schedule, just like the Nest Learning Thermostat. It’s ENERGY STARⓇ certified and expected to save between $131 and $145 a year per the results of an internal Nest study and two independent studies of the previous model.
The Thermostat E can also turn off automatically when it detects nobody is at home to offer even further energy savings.
The Nest Thermostat E is available on www.nest.com for $169 USD, as well as from leading retailers and energy partners.
Chromebooks are often known for their affordable pricing along with their good feature sets, and Acer has been a company known for its own Chromebook designs. As with every new year, new devices come to the big stage, and Acer is back with its newly-announced Acer Chromebook 15 at IFA 2017 in Berlin. The new Acer Chromebook 15 comes in touch and non-touch models, so you can pick whether you want the full touchscreen experience or the old-fashioned laptop experience without touch. The device, named “Acer Chromebook 15” because of its 15.6-inch screen, features a Full HD, 1080p display, 12-hour battery life, aluminum build, dual speakers with HD audio for multimedia, and an HD webcam for video chats. The fanless design lets your device perform at its best in a quiet fashion, enabling your focus on productivity without distraction.Weighing in at 3.79 pounds (making the device heavier than the ruggedized, 2.98-pound Chromebook 11 N7 unveiled at CES 2017) and featuring dual-core Intel Celeron and quad-core Intel Pentium processors, the Acer Chromebook 15 also features a backlit keyboard so that you can work, even at night, along with two USB Type-C charging ports and two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI port, headphone jack, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, SD card reader, and has multi-user account support. Following in the same vein as all new Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook 15 will have full Google Play Store support, letting you download Android apps on your Chromebook as you do on your Android-powered smartphone. The feature is still in beta mode for now, though we expect it to roll out in a mass release at some point in the near future.You can choose between 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with the Acer Chromebook 15, as well as 4GB and 8GB of RAM, as well as Gold and Silver colors. The Acer Chromebook 15 will be available in EMEA and North America (including the US) in October with a $399 price tag. American buyers can grab Acer’s new Chromebook at Best Buy and the Acer Store.
After months of leaks and teasers, the LG V30 is finally official. It’s the first smartphone from the V-series to come without a secondary ticker display which has been replaced by a more elegant floating bar software solution.
Visually, the LG V30 looks quite stunning. It features the same edge-to-edge FullVision display with 18:9 aspect ratio of the LG G6. However, instead of an IPS LCD panel, customers will get a more vibrant 6-inch OLED display instead.
The LG V30 boasts a curved glass front and back, as well as the polished metal frame, but also comes with IP68 certification, which means it is dust- and water-resistant. LG notes the phone has passed 14 categories of the MIL-STD 810G Transit Drop Test, making it making it compliant for military operations.
The V30 is the first LG phone to come with a Snapdragon 835 processor out of the box, which is aided by 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage (microSD card slot available for memory expansion up to 2TB). The phablet relies on a 3,300 mAh battery.
Now that we’ve taken the raw specs out of the equation, we can tell you more about what makes the LG V30 special:
Audio
Like its predecessor, the V30 will bring real joy to audiophiles. The phone includes an innovative Hi-Fi DAC feature which has been developed in partnership with California-based ESS Technology to bring features such as digital filters and sound presets for clearer audio even with average headphones.
LG has also collaborated with B&O Play (a Bang & Olufsen company) to fine-tune the overall sound experience. It’s worth mentioning the V30 will also be an excellent device to record audio with, as the handset comes with an audio receiver that also doubles as a microphone.
Video
LG is putting a bigger emphasis on video with this year’s V30. To that end, it has implemented a series of new software features like Cine Video which allows users to apply movie-grade hues and filters to videos and photos for a more professional look. We also have Point Zoom (part of Cine Video) – a tool which lets you zoom into any part of the video.
Last but not least, Cine Log lets users capture a wide dynamic range and color gamut, record video with log gamma curve and save the details for later editing.
Photography
Following tradition, the LG V30 comes with a dual-camera setup which this year pairs a 16-megapixel primary sensor with a large f/1.6 aperture and phase detection autofocus with a 13-megapixel wide-angle shooter with f/1.9 and a 120-degree field of view.
An updated Camera app has been included to help users take better photos. For example, there’s a new feature called Graphy which is basically a database of images taken by professional photographers. If you see an image you fancy and you’d like to be able to shoot in this manner, now you’ll be able to do just that by choosing that particular style for your photos (before or after you’ve taken them).
When it comes to selfies, the LG V30 sports a 5-megapixel secondary shooter.
Floating bar
As we mentioned above, the LG V30 does away with the secondary ticker display in favor of a floating bar which houses shortcuts for things like Settings, Notes and so on. Users can bring up the Floating Bar by swiping from the edge of the display.
Furthermore, the LG V30 also features an upgraded version of LG G6’s always-on-display that can show more than time and notifications. You can choose to have it display other things such as Quick Tools, Music Player or a personal photo.
Since we’re on the topic of software, we should also note that LG has added two new face unlock and voice unlock features. The V30 also comes with the Google Assistant.
The phone which also supports wireless charging will be available in Aurora Black, Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue and Lavender Violet. Information about pricing and availability will be revealed soon. What we can tell you is that the phone will arrive in South Korea on September 21.
YouTube this week started rolling out a new desktop and mobile design, which the company has been testing for a few months now.
Perhaps more surprising is that the Google-owned company – which has been sitting on the same logo for the last 12-years, unveiled a new logo too. The bright red rectangle that encapsulated the “Tube” has been moved in front of YouTube moniker. The new design is believed to work better with multiple screen sizes, even tiny ones.
On top of that, YouTube also introduced a series of new features for its mobile and desktop versions. Now when you’re accessing YouTube on your phone you’ll notice the navigation tabs have been moved to the bottom in order to be closer to your thumbs. New Library and Account tabs have been added too.
The ability to speed up or slow down a video’s playback has also been made available for mobile users, as well as the option of viewing a row of suggested videos while in full screen.
YouTube has been working to implement gestures into its service, so in the coming months, we can expect to see new ones arrive like a feature that lets you jump between videos with a simple swipe.
The idea behind the design overhaul is to bring YouTube in line with Google’s Material Design look. To that end font and buttons are now more pronounced and navigation has been simplified with dividers splitting up the content on the website for a cleaner experience.
These changes are now live so if you want to experience them for yourself, you can open YouTube on your desktop browser or fire up the app on your Android right now.
Samsung on Wednesday introduced three new devices as part of its portfolio of wearable products. The trio emphasize fitness features such as the ability to swim in salt water with the Gear Sport and Fit 2 Pro, but they do not include the Bixby voice assistant technology. Moreover, they fill in gaps between current products and look to help the Samsung brand further push into wearables.
Expected to launch over the coming weeks, consumers should be on the lookout for the Gear Sport, Gear Fit2 Pro, and IconX 2018.
Features and Highlights of Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro
Water Resistance and Swim Tracking: An ideal companion for any swim – from laps to playing in the pool – these devices are 5 ATM certified for water resistance… track key swim metrics including lap count, lap time, stroke type and more.
Top-of-the-line Heart Rate Monitoring: With improved accuracy, the devices offer advanced real-time heart rate monitoring… continuously monitor your heart activity.
Premium Partnerships: Daily activity can be supplemented with updated Under Armour and Spotify partnerships… access to Under Armour’s fitness apps including UA Record™, MyFitnessPal®, MapMyRun® and Endomondo™ for activity, nutrition, sleep, and fitness tracking functions.
Auto Activity Detection: Automatic activity detection… can recognize the following categories of activities: Walking, Running, Cycling or performing Dynamic Activities that could include dancing to basketball.
Personalized Motivation: You can customize your own wellness plan with tailored goals and alerts.
Samsung Gear Sport
The Gear Sport is positioned as more of a smartwatch designed for active lifestyles. Wearers can use it to track health and wellness goals, get nutrition management alerts, and more. Available in Blue and Black, it includes traditional Gear features such as Samsung Pay, activity tracking, and controlling Samsung IoT-enabled devices.
Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
As an updated take on an already existing model, the Gear Fit2 Pro features advanced built-in GPS tracking. Offered in Black and Red, it’s a stylish fitness band that can also track swimming and heart rate.
Samsung IconX 2018
Refreshed for fall, the updated set of truly wireless headphones now provide five hours of battery life when streaming audio. Moreover, the battery case (charged by USB-C) can also fully charge the buds.
Each bud includes 4GB of storage, giving listeners the ability to carry music around in the ears. That means no watch, no phone, no armband, no nothing — just you and the music.
The IconX 2018 add support for Samsung’s Bixby assistant (tap and hold the earbud) for select handsets. These earphones will be sold in black, gray and pink.
Gear Fit2 Pro will be available for pre-order on August 31, 2017 at 9:00am EST for $199.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Macys and Samsung.com. Those who pre-order the Gear Fit2 Pro from participating retailers are eligible to receive a free pair of Samsung U Flex wireless headphones, redeemable at Samsungpromotions.com. Gear Fit2 Pro will be available on September 15, 2017 through Amazon, Best Buy, B&H, Macys, Samsung.com, Sprint and U.S. Cellular.
Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve wanted to instantly share 360-degree footage you’ve taken but had to wait till you found an internet connection? Or perhaps been in a situation where a livestream would be amazing, but you forgot your smartphone to stream from?
Acer has today introduced two 360-degree cameras that feature LTE connectivity. The Holo360 all-in-one camera that allows users to capture, view, edit and share with just one device, and the Vision360 cloud-connected in-car camera, designed for using in driving experiences.
Acer Holo360 Camera
The Acer Holo360 is powered by the Qualcomm Connected Camera Platform with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 mobile processor meaning it has some good processing power behind it. This means that it can stitch videos together in real-time for instant sharing. It has a 3-inch screen and delivers photos in 6.9K resolution and videos in 4K. The Holo360 runs on Android 7.1, which allows users to share 360-degree photos and videos directly to social networks.
Acer Vision360 Camera
There are two cameras functioning together to provide a full 360-degree viewing angle. That means that you’ll capture the road and your reaction when racing around the track. The camera is capable of capturing in 4K and when something collides with the vehicle while it is in motion, the device will trigger a recording that includes GPS coordinates of where the incident occurred, which is not only saved in a secure area on the device’s internal
It can be used in everyday scenarios too – the camera is capable of capturing in 4K and when something collides with the vehicle while it is in motion, the device will trigger a recording that includes GPS coordinates of where the incident occurred, which is not only saved in a secure area on the device’s internal storage, but also uploaded to the cloud.
You can also use the device while the car is stationary and parked to capture any collisions with the footage being sent to the cloud. The Vision360 also provides users with on-demand remote viewing and location-tracking from the device for peace-of-mind.
The Acer Holo360 connected camera will be available in North America in November at $429 bundled with a water-resistant case, and in EMEA in Q4 with prices starting at €349.
Check out the full press release for more information.
Last month, the HTC U11 become the first smartphone with integrated, hands-free Amazon Alexa assistant.
Sure other phones like the Huawei Mate 9 let you access Alexa, but they require users to open an app and pushing a button before issuing a voice request. You don’t have to do so on the HTC though. You can simply say “Alexa” and Amazon’s assistant will pop up.
And to celebrate the wonderful marriage between the U11 and Alexa, HTC announced it’s giving away three smart home bundles that will change the way you interact with your house and phone.
Customers who place an order for an HTC U11 (on HTC.com or Amazon.com) from now through Sept 19 will automatically be entered to win one of three sweepstakes bundles. The winners will be randomly picked on the following dates: September 6, 13 and 20.
Bundles include the following products:
1. HTC U11 ($650 Value) with HTC Alexa
2. Under Armor Health Box
3. Wink Home Hub
4. Schlage Connect Smart Lock
5. Ecobee 4 Smart Thermostat
6. TP Link Smartplug (2 per pack)
7. TP Link Lightswitch (2 per pack)
8. Amazon Music 3-month subscription
9. Amazon Audible 3-month subscription
FYI there’s also a more old-school way to enter the race and win a bundle. Fill out a 3 x 5 postcard with your full name, address, daytime phone number and email address and ship it to:
HTC U11 Smart Home Bundle Sweepstakes
308 Occidental Ave. South
Seattle, WA 98104
So if you were thinking of purchasing the HTC U11, now it would be a great time to do so!
The new Acer Chromebook 15 comes in touch and non-touch models, so you can pick whether you want the full touchscreen experience or the old-fashioned laptop experience without touch. The device, named “Acer Chromebook 15” because of its 15.6-inch screen, features a Full HD, 1080p display, 12-hour battery life, aluminum build, dual speakers with HD audio for multimedia, and an HD webcam for video chats. The fanless design lets your device perform at its best in a quiet fashion, enabling your focus on productivity without distraction.
Weighing in at 3.79 pounds (making the device 
You can choose between 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with the Acer Chromebook 15, as well as 4GB and 8GB of RAM, as well as Gold and Silver colors. The Acer Chromebook 15 will be available in EMEA and North America (including the US) in October with a $399 price tag. American buyers can grab Acer’s new Chromebook at Best Buy and the Acer Store.
