“Light + Sound = UMA” is the motto of a new sound lantern designed by the San Francisco-based studio and it is a pretty suggestive one because, as anyone could have guessed so far, the lantern combines sound with light to give the best experience possible.

The people behind the project are Pablo Pardo and Carmine Deganello. Pardo is the man who founded Pablo Designs in San Francisco back in 1993, and ever since then his studio has become internationally renowned mainly for their new designs and their home furnishings, and UMA combines a bit of both. Pardo comes from a family of Venezuelan origins in the middle of which he was among artists and engineers; now he takes parts from those professions and unties them through his work. On the other hand, Deganello is another well-acclaimed artist in this work-sphere: the products of his imagination have been presented at the Triennale Design Museum as part of the New Italian Design collection and at the MAK Museum for applied and contemporary art in Vienna, but of course not only here. The materials from which the products are made represent a very important aspect and thus research on the ways different materials affect the process of productivity is essential for him. Their new common project is the UMA Sound Lantern, a revolutionary idea that elegantly combines light and sound, as its name suggests.

It mimics the shape of an old fashioned oil lamp, but if the light is not on, it could be considered a piece of home furnishing and not a lamp, because it has nothing of the general characteristics a normal-looking lamp has. The design is modern, using simple, uncomplicated forms: the lantern is cone-shaped, being 11 inches (28 cm) high with a 6 inches (15.4 cm) wide base, and it has a strap attached to the top end so that it can easily be moved around.

UMA is made of a diffused polycarbonate lens, which creates a hard shell that won’t break easily and feels very luxurious. The base of the lantern is made of silicone, while the upper part is a steel grill, both being silver-colored, so as to fit the modern design. The above-mentioned strap is made out of leather and it has two color options: grey or tan. Also, as an add-on, the lantern comes with a protective cotton bag that also has a leather cord that can come in handy when the lantern is used on surfaces such as sand so that those tiny particles won’t get through the steel grill and damage the inside mechanisms.

In order to give the best possible experience to its users, UMA has some unique features that make it really easy to use. The top end of the lantern is equipped with a touch-sensitive dial that is used to change the sound volume. The Sound, while not impressive, is more than adequate to enjoy your music outdoors. One of the few downsides of the simple design is the lack of option to skip any tracks on the device. Also, by rotating the entire upper part, the intensity and color temperature of the light can be changed. One of the major advantages this lantern has is the fact that it provides both sound and light at 360°, which actually means there is light in any direction from the UMA Sound Lantern, regardless of the surrounding environment. The color temperature can vary from 2000 to 2700 Kelvin. Light has a maximum luminosity of 190 lumens and an efficacy of 42 lumens/watt. The power consumption is relatively low: UMA uses up to 4.5W for the lighting and 12W MAX for the speakers. The lantern has Bluetooth connectivity so that any user can simply link their mobile phones or tablets to it and stream whatever audio they want at a high quality.

Since it is a portable and rechargeable gadget, battery life is another important aspect that should be taken into consideration. The product specifications say that the battery can last up to 8 hours, which should be quite enough for a regular user. However, the charging time is estimated at 3.5 hours which is a pretty long time to wait until you can use UMA again. If you don’t need to move the lantern too far away from a power supply, there is the alternative of keeping it plugged in, since the provided power cord is 6 feet (183 cm) long. Also, there is a global multi-plug adapter available so you don’t have to worry about whether you’ll need to buy an adapter if you want to take UMA on international trips.

Finally, it is noteworthy to mention that the UMA Sound Lantern has won several awards so far: in 2016 they won the People’s Choice Award from the Azure Magazine, a North American magazine that focuses especially on the contemporary part of many related fields, such as design, architecture and different products. That same year, they also won the Good Design Award Australia, which is managed by Good Design Australia and which promotes the best products when it comes to design, innovation, and creativity at an international level. Last but not least, they were awarded the German Design Award in 2017.

To sum up, Pablo Design’s new revolutionary Sound Lantern, UMA, changes the definition of a modern age lantern rising up to every expectation users might have. It is the perfect choice for both outdoor and indoor gatherings, parties and social events, or even as a fairly pretentious piece of decoration for modern homes.

The post UMA Sound Lantern Review – Illuminate your Sound Experience appeared first on ChipIn.

The watch only weighs 49 grams, which means that it won’t slow any athlete down during their activities, but will still attract the curious looks of other people if the user chooses one of the brightly colored, interchangeable silicone straps. The bezel is made of fiber-reinforced polymer, while the display, which is transflective memory-in-pixel and sunlight visible, is sadly not protected by any special material, like sapphire, as you’d find in other smartwatches designed for the outdoors and intense activities, the lens being made of glass. The watch itself has a definite sporty look to it, and it may not blend all that well with certain outfits, but then again, this watch is designed for physical activities, not showing off.

Despite not being extremely good-looking, the watch excels at everything it promises to do, and that’s being perhaps one of the most impressive sports smartwatches on the market. This is because the watch is packed with so many features that it’s hard to think of something missing from a device that is supposed to be tracking your activity.

For the regular features expected from a modern smartwatch, the Garmin Forerunner 935 is an okay choice, as it has a calendar, weather app, Find My Phone and Find My Watch functionality, connectivity via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to iOS, Android and even Windows Phone via the Garmin Connect app, and is highly customizable due to its downloadable watch faces, widgets and apps. Additionally, users can create their own watch faces via the Face It application.

However, if you do pick this device up, it’ll most likely be for its sports and leisure activities applications. In order to truly shine in these aspects, the watch contains every practical sensor you can think of: GPS, GLONASS, heart rate sensors, compass, barometric altimeter, gyroscope, accelerometer and even a thermometer. The battery life is fairly good for a watch that’s supposed to be mostly used while training or engaging in physical activity, as with GPS on, it should last up to 24 hours, while on power saving mode, it should last up to 60 hours.

Garmin Forerunner 935 is available in Black and Yellow from Q2 2017

The activity tracking features, in general, are aplenty, as the watch is able to accurately track your steps, your sleep patterns, calories burned, distance traveled, intensity minutes and even floors climbed, and has TrueUp and Move IQ functionality, which are Garmin-specific features.

In order to be the ultimate training device, the Garmin Forerunner 935 also has training-specific features. That being said, users will be able to get data for their lap times, finish times, speed and distance based on GPS, audio prompts, advanced workouts and a lot more customization options in order to allow athletes to create their perfect training sessions.

One thing that the team behind the Forerunner 935 has nailed is the fact that whether you’re a swimmer, runner or even a golfer, there are specific features for every sport that allow users to track and store their stats, and in many cases improve their abilities, because the watch provides a weekly “opinion” regarding their data, telling them whether they are training in the right zone, if they made any progress recently, and whether they’re going too easy or too hard on themselves during activity.

For professional runners who would like to know every single detail about their runs, the Garmin Forerunner 935 does a fairly good job by itself. However, in order to get additional details, a separate purchase of Garmin’s new “Running Dynamics Pod”, a small device users clip to their waistbands, is necessary. Therefore, with a Running Dynamics Pod, the user will be able to check out their vertical oscillation and ratio, their stride length, the time their feet touched the ground during the run, and a thorough analysis of their pace and heart rate.

Preinstalled on the Forerunner 935, the TrainingPeaks app will also be a nice addition to the many features available. The app allows users to download and view various workouts, as well as upload their data from the workout online for evaluation.

While it may not be the most versatile watch when it comes to daily activities, the Garmin Forerunner 935 is the ultimate smartwatch for just about any sport or physical activity you can think of, providing accurate data that allows athletes to improve their skills. The Garmin Forerunner 935 is available starting at $499, while the Running Dynamics Pod will be available in the second quarter of 2017.

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The Misfit Vapor Smartwatch will run the all new Android Wear 2.0

However, design alone will not win too many consumers over to the Misfit brand, especially when there are certain companies that make smartwatches similar in looks to luxury watches, albeit for ridiculous prices. Luckily, the device will also feature a huge variety of apps at launch, with the estimated number surpassing hundreds. That being said, whether the user has an Android device or an iPhone, they will be able to use apps such as Foursquare, Lifesum, Runtastic, Runkeeper, Uber and more, in addition to just about every Google app available on phones.

The Misfit Vapor comes with built-in GPS and Heart Rate Monitor.

One final feature that will ensure the success of the Misfit Vapor is the fact that users are able to use the built-in Google Assistant in order to receive answers to questions or create reminders and alarms even with their hands full. Given that Google Assistant has been a hit on phones so far, it’s only natural that smartwatches with the assistant built in are going to be winners with users.

The Misfit Vapor is a true jack-of-all-trades: it doesn’t have any killer features or top-of-the-line specifications, but it offers a lot of value for such a low price. For those interested, the Misfit Vapor will be released in the second half of 2017 for the starting price of $199, and will be available in black and gold. If you want to keep up with the latest news on the Misfit Vapor, you can sign up for the official newsletter on their website, or you can stay tuned.

The post Misfit Vapor Smartwatch: Premium Quality at a Low Price appeared first on ChipIn.

The new smartwatch was engineered in collaboration with Intel and features GPS, and NFC chip that allows users to make contactless payments using Android Pay, a high definition AMOLED screen that offers a great resolution and vibrant colors, along with a sapphire crystal touchscreen and a wide selection of customizable TAG Heuer dials. The device is also water-resistant to 50 meters and features 4GB of storage memory in order to allow users to store their music collection and play it without being tethered to a phone. The device is powered by an Intel Atom Z34XX processor and has a water-resistant microphone that enables users to use Google Assistant.

The Tag Heuer Connected Smartwatch comes with a variety of Fitness Sensors and GPS

As Google’s Android Wear 2.0 was released this year, naturally, the new TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 uses it, along with a TAG Heuer companion app for phones that enriches the user experience by letting users control their devices easily and effortlessly. In addition, the watch continues to work with data even without being tethered to a phone, as long as it has a Wi-Fi connection, as it stores data on the Cloud. As expected, the installed apps can be used regardless of connectivity.

The main feature of the Connected Modular 45, however, lies, as its name suggests, in its modular nature. The concept of modularity refers, in this case, to both hardware and software, making it a world-first in watchmaking. The base model of the watch is a Carrera Model, measuring 45 mm in diameter and having a regular luxury watch design. There are 56 different versions available at launch, with the entire exterior of the watch being available for customization. In addition, users can complete their collections by purchasing additional straps and accessories from the TAG Heuer official website.

The modularity in software is expressed by the highly sophisticated watch dials which are interchangeable and customizable. 30 designed by TAG Heuer at launch, the watch dials draw inspiration from the brand’s famous designs such as the panda dial. What is more, the more creative types can forge their own dial using the TAG Heuer Studio dial configurator, which enables users to customize everything, from the colors to the look of the metal on the indices and hands.

As part of the company’s “See now, buy now” fast fashion concept, the smartwatch is already available for purchase in TAG Heuer boutiques, at select retailers or from the brand’s online store, with a starting price of $1,650 or its regional equivalent. The company also offers a deluxe set for the high price of $17,000, which comes with a COSC-certified chronograph Heuer-02T tourbillon mechanical module and an additional black rubber strap.

The post TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45: Fashion Meets Power appeared first on ChipIn.

Jack Dorsey is this year’s Keynote Speaker and we are very excited to hear from him.

Debuting in 2016, the event has already left a huge mark on the industry, acting as a true catalyst for the quick development of new innovative designs that will improve the financial services ecosystem, therefore being a resounding success in its field. That being said, the resounding success consisted in over 115 exciting company announcements which were witnessed by more than 150 tech, industry and mainstream journalists, broadcasters and analysts who then transformed the announcements into more than 200 original online and offline articles. As for the number of attendees, the event enjoyed 3725 visitors, of which 500 were CEOs from over 70 different countries. There were many speeches and keynotes hosted, a fact indicated by the 422 speakers present.

Money20/20 Europe in Copenhagen on 26-28 June 2017

Despite enjoying a great success for its first year, the organizers of this event are determined to make an even bigger impact with the 2017 edition of the Money20/20 Europe event. The event will be hosted in Copenhagen on 26-28 June 2017, and seeks to improve upon the success of its previous iteration, as the official website states that “Copenhagen will once again take center stage as the companies and individuals disrupting how consumers and businesses manage, spend and borrow money come together at scale.” Money20/20 Europe has also been devised as a way for the biggest players in the financial services, retail services, and payment markets to meet up, discuss and cooperate in order to provide a better growth for the future of their respective fields.

This year’s agenda themes are already well-defined, spanning over 15 different subjects that will be discussed on the main keynote stage and five additional track stages: from User Experience (UX) to Mobile Payments & Wallets to Entrepreneurship and Investing, the event will feature something for everyone. Perhaps one of the most interesting and intriguing subjects that will be discussed this year is Data, AI & Algorithm based Innovation, which will focus on integrating artificial intelligence into many of the current financial practices in order to make gathering data an easier job and deliver optimal user experiences through more efficient systems.

Another eye-catching subject on the roster this year is Risk, Security & Fraud, which will undoubtedly feature useful information for every online user, but especially for the ones that handle large sums of money online. New innovations in this field will also be presented, such as ways to improve the security of systems, and upcoming technology that will help combat even the fiercest cybercriminal.

All of these and more will be happening in Copenhagen, in June. Chipin will attend this year’s edition of the event, and will cover the most important and attractive news and subjects, so stay tuned for more!

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Duo: A Computer in a Mirror
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First of all, the mirror has a 27-inch 1080p touchscreen that has a five-point multi-touch technology. It puts this in use through the Applet Bar, which is pretty much a taskbar that contains all the downloaded apps located in the upper part of the screen. Previews of those apps are available while minimized, and users can simply pull the apps down in order to open them. According to the official website, Duo only weighs approximately 8 pounds, while the separate computer box, which is really tiny, weighs one pound.

The reflective surface is actually a 0.25” two-way mirror, coated with anti-fingerprint treatment, while the backside is currently made of ABS plastic, but this is subject to change until the official release. Duo will also come with a built-in microphone and speaker, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability, a Duo Core chip onboard and several native apps such as Duo Music, Duo News, and Duo App Store.

Many may think that the idea is not that creative or futuristic, as, at its base, Duo is simply a large tablet with a really well-developed virtual assistant. If we’re completely sincere, that’s not extremely far from the truth, but it’s not the specs that matter.

As shown in the tech demo video and the presentation video, Duo is capable of a wide range of responses and actions, such as turning off the lights in your house, showing you whoever’s at the door through the intercom, controlling temperature, showing you online tutorials, which restaurant’s closest to you and many other things. These were just a few features showcased in the videos, but we can think of various other possible interactions that would make the Duo a life-changer.

Duo is simply a large tablet with a really well-developed virtual assistant.

Albert, the virtual assistant offered by Duo is certainly not an original idea, it’s widely improved here, as users will be able to customize every single detail about their assistants, from the name, accent, and voice to the sarcasm levels due to the “Personality Packs” feature. As shown in the concept video, users will be able to save and access multiple personality packs, making it possible for every person in a household to have its own, personal assistant.

The first 1000 units sold will only cost $399, after which the retail price will be $500. According to the official website, the first batch of pre-orders is expected to be shipped in October 2017, so if you want your Duo as fast and cheap as possible, it’s recommended that you sign up for their newsletter.

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While there are not so many visual changes in the design of the interface, Google did change one aspect that will influence the looks of icons in the future. Given that the Play Store never provided developers with a certain standard for the app icons, many choose different styles, leading to many users’ menu screens looking completely out of order. “Adaptive icons” are Google solutions to this problem, as Android O takes the app icons, shrinks them and puts them in other icons, meaning that your screens will finally have one design across all apps, giving some peace of mind to adepts of minimalistic and unified design.

The notifications shade also received a significant update, shrinking the time and date and using the space more wisely in order to display more status bar icons. Meanwhile, the notifications themselves are the exact same as you’ll find them in Android Nougat.

There are many more changes than just some minor design tweaks, though. Perhaps one of the most exciting feature, and probably the one that will see the most use is picture in picture support. Finally, users will be able to keep watching their videos or live streams in smaller sizes while they carry on using their device. This feature is already implemented in certain apps such as YouTube or Twitch, but the feature is not supported outside of any app.

Users will also get a lot more control over their notifications, as the new notification shade allows users to long press any desired notification in order to open a prompt that then asks them whether they want to disable all future notifications from the app. Additionally, if users swipe any app to the side, they will see two icons: one that takes them to the notifications section in settings, and the other one that allows them to snooze the notification for 15 minutes, but there is a drop-down menu that gives more choice regarding the amount of time that notification should be snoozed for.

Google has also made some changes under the hood, which may not be visible, but are noticeable in time. Perhaps one of the most welcome ones is an increase battery life. Given that the team behind Android has been striving to find new ways to improve battery life ever since Android Marshmellow, with the Doze mode that kept phones in low power states while not used, it was expected to see a new idea that will preserve our batteries by improving on their previous ones. That being said, Android O takes Doze one step further by limiting what apps can do while open in the background. This is also said to improve speed, as Android O’s runtime is twice as fast in certain benchmarks.

Another unseen change is better autofill support, which will lead to more accurate and effortless password management because users will now be able to choose their preferred password and data management app which will work with autofill.

People who extensively use their Android devices for music listening are going to be delighted with the latest additions regarding sound, namely sound over Bluetooth, as the Android O features a built-in high-quality Bluetooth audio codecs, along with Sony’s LDAC technology which will allow hi-res audio playback over Bluetooth. This is a blessing in a time where one of the biggest competitors of the mobile market, Apple, has chosen to remove the headphone jack, possibly giving birth to a new fad. This leads to more and more people being pushed towards Bluetooth headphones, meaning that Android O will be a blessing for those who are preparing for the worst in the future or simply jumping ship from an iDevice.

One of the many other features brought by Android O is Wi-Fi awareness, which will allow devices connected to the same Wi-Fi connection to communicate with each other and interact using apps without requiring an actual internet connection.

If you are intrigued and excited by these new features and you feel like you absolutely need to try them out right now, you should know that you don’t actually have to be a developer to download the developer preview version. All you have to do is navigate to Google’s Android Developer website, where they have uploaded versions of Android O tailored for the following phones: Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Pixel and Pixel XL, download the image for your phone and then manually flash it to your device. If you don’t know how to flash an image, or you don’t have a supported device, you’ll have to wait for a possible OTA update.

However, just because you can it doesn’t mean you should install Android O on your primary device. While the new features may be fun to play with, the developer build is just that: a taste of what’s to come, and as such, it’s probably buggy and may lead to unpleasant experiences whenever you need your phone the most. If you do have a spare device around, then it might be worth the effort to install Android O just to check out the new features. Casual Android users should stick to their current versions of Android until the official release of Android O in order to avoid damaging their phones.

All in all, it might be too early to pass a verdict on whether or not Android O will be a resounding success, but so far it definitely looks promising, featuring some welcome additions such as picture-in-picture support and little visual tweaks that are sure to win over some new fans. Stay tuned in order to read the latest developments regarding Android O.

The post Android O: Top O’ the Line | Review of the latest Android OS appeared first on ChipIn.

Named Bixby, Samsung’s AI will not only represent the main feature of its new TouchWiz version, but will also have its own button on the side of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus, meaning that the South Korean company has great expectations regarding this assistant. Of course, Bixby will also be available to several other Samsung-branded devices that still receive software updates.

According to Samsung, Bixby was designed in order to make their devices more intuitive to use, and it will work with several pre-installed apps. In time, Samsung has plans to make Bixby work with many other apps by releasing a tool for third-party developers to make their creations Bixby-enabled with ease.

The company also claims that the assistant will be smart enough to process incomplete phrases and be contextually aware, meaning that it will understand most of your commands even if they are vague. Supposedly, Bixby is also capable of translating text and using the S8’s camera to recognise objects and find them online, allowing users to compare prices and make effortless purchases.

While it certainly seems that Bixby will be clearly superior to the other assistants available now, it’s not the first time Samsung got overexcited and overconfident over an AI, as the company’s “S Voice” launched in 2012 wasn’t as useful and clever as the company thought, ultimately failing to draw enough attention. However, this time, it seems that Samsung is extremely convinced to change the way that users carry out their mobile interactions, as the company pushes for a shift from touch controls to voice controls, in spite of making their phones bigger in size with each iteration.

All in all, the Bixby assistant has a lot to prove, especially after Samsung has been parading it on the Internet with some incredible claims. However, if the company does hit it out of the park with Bixby, we might be looking at an actual change in the way we deal with our phones without any of the nonsense current voice assistants do when tasked with even trivial things. For more on Bixby and the Samsung Galaxy S8, stay tuned with us as we will deliver the latest news brought by the March 29 launch event, where the South Korean company will launch their newest flagships.

The post Bixby AI: Innovative or Unimaginative? The New Samsung Personal Assistant appeared first on ChipIn.

Both the phone and the event come at a critical time, as they represent the company’s shot at redeeming their public image and attracting customers once again. The phone’s design has already been teased by Samsung in a 30-second ad that announced the Galaxy Unpacked event. However, will a curvy design be enough to make people forget about the shortcomings of the past, or will the phone’s specs manage to dazzle consumers back into the Samsung brand?

Only few more days until we find out everything about the new Samsung Galaxy S8

While several details have been leaked online, what is currently known for sure is that Samsung will pay a lot more attention to the handling of the batteries in order to avoid last year’s scandal happening all over again. Supposedly, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have more space allocated for its battery and will use a revised testing procedure in order to assure consumers of its safety.

According to leaks circulating the Internet, the retail prices for the Samsung Galaxy S8 will average at 799 pounds or euros in Europe. As expected, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will launch at the same time as its “big brother”, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, which will retail at 899 pounds or euros in Europe. Supposedly, these prices are for the 64gb models.

If you want more details about the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, then you should know that the main difference between the two models is the size. While the S8 is expected to have a 5.8-inch display, the S8 Plus may have a 6.2-inch one, along with a larger battery and a larger body to make room for these changes.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge was groundbreaking. What will the S8 bring?

So what else is known about the Galaxy S8? Well, first of all, it seems that Samsung wants to get on with the rest of the cool kids and swap the Micro USB port with the increasingly-popular USB-C port. Despite early rumors, everyone can rest easy, as Samsung will not remove the headphone jack as Apple did.

Initially, it was believed that the flagship phone will feature a state-of-the-art fingerprint scanner inside its display, but recent reports state that Samsung ran out of time to implement this feature. Therefore, fans of this feature will have to wait an extra year for the Galaxy S9 to come out. In the meanwhile, the Galaxy S8 will have a fingerprint sensor on the rear, positioned to the right side of the camera, which may put left-handed consumers in an awkward position when trying to simply unlock their phone. An iris scanner is also reported to be included on the front of the device, as Samsung included it in the failed Note 7.

Regarding specifications, Samsung leaves nothing else to be desired, as the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus are packed with top-of-the-line components such as a Snapdragon 835 chipset, 4GB of RAM, a 12MP rear camera, an 8MP frontal camera, a 3,000, respectively 3,500 mAH battery, and different sizes of storage available, starting at 32GB. The phone will run Android 7.1 Nougat, of course, modified to use Samsung’s TouchWiz interface. Additionally, the phone will feature an exclusive assistant called Bixby AI, meant to be Samsung’s answer to Apple’s well-known Siri assistant. It seems that Samsung has great expectations for Bixby, as they have even reserved a button on the side of the new devices that will be used exclusively to summon the assistant.

By far the phone’s most unique feature is its sleek design, on which Samsung also seems to rely their hype campaign on. Featuring a Quad-HD+ SuperAMOLED dual-curved-edge, Force Touch, always-on display, the phone does away with most of the bezels, making it so that the screen covers 83% of the surface of the phone. This comes along with a complete redesign job, making the phone look a lot sleeker than would be expected, as it doesn’t offer a button on the front. The design of the phone is something that Samsung expects to blow consumers away, as they have even made a 30-second ad solely to advertise their designers’ ingenuity in making the phone stand out of the crowd.

Besides these almost-certain details about the upcoming flagship devices, there have been some confusing and incredible rumors. Without a doubt, one of the most farfetched ones is a rumor claiming that the Galaxy S8 will dual-boot Android 7.1 Nougat and Windows. It is unclear why Samsung would let users jump ship from their prized interface, and even more unclear why Microsoft would give their competitors access to Windows 10. However, as impossible as that may be, it would certainly make for a surprise feature that would take the tech world by storm, and just maybe create an actual market share for Windows 10 mobile.

It is unclear whether or not Samsung will manage to win back its fans with its annual flagship, especially considering the fact that it was one of their flagships that turned most fans away from their brand. However, the rumored specifications and features are certainly intriguing, and the sleek design of the phone is sure to have lots of fans. If you want to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, stay tuned, as we will post news about the phone as soon as they are available. Additionally, you might want to keep an eye on Samsung’s official social media pages for the March 29 live event, in which the new flagships will be officially unveiled.

The post Samsung Galaxy S8 Review: Much-Needed Redemption appeared first on ChipIn.

The survey was conducted by Gartner in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia on 10,000 people. The results of the survey underlined the fact that only 10% of those polled currently own a connected home in any form. In addition, approximately 75% of people opt for manual control of their homes, while 58% prefer purchasing standalone products that cannot be controlled remotely by apps.

This comes as a punch to the majority of tech companies, as many big names such as Nokia, Microsoft and, more recently, Apple, have been pushing the connected home down their user’s throats online and offline, at expos and tech conferences. Ergo, the Internet of Things, as it is widely known by people due to the added influence of mass media, has been the prized vision of those companies for the future of home comfort, as illustrated through the many concept videos available online.

Internet of Things Security Flaws

That being said, why is the Internet of Things not as desirable in a home as it is at a tech conference? The main reason for the people’s distrust is the fact that the mass media has been rife with news of many intelligence and security agencies snooping on people’s personal lives through the devices connected in their own homes. The distrust of the people is at such a high level that many people choose to tape over their laptop camera. Some even hesitate to discuss important or personal things near their microwaves in fear of being listened to.

There is one more factor at play here, though. The Internet can be many things: a huge encyclopedia, a means of communicating or simply a way to read the latest news. There’s one thing the Internet can’t be, and that is trusted. Everyone has read about online trolls destroying people’s lives solely for their entertainment, so what would happen if you allowed things such as light bulbs or even gas ovens to be connected remotely from the Internet? Pure chaos, as several YouTube videos explicitly show. Using shodan.io, a search directory for all devices connected to the Internet, people are able to control security cameras and even light bulbs that aren’t protected by a password.

What does the future hold?

To sum up, seeing the low percentage of people who would opt for smart homes is a bit astounding at first, but just a few YouTube videos are enough to put you off the idea. It’s unclear whether companies will end up winning over their consumers or how they will do it exactly, but it might take a while for the numerous scandals to be forgotten about.

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