Smart

Google Nest Hub vs Amazon Echo Show 8: Which should you buy?

(Pocket-lint) – Google’s second generation Nest Hub features a similar design to its predecessor, along with a few improvements and extra features. Its size puts it in direct competition with Amazon’s Echo Show 8, but which should you buy? We’ve compared the Google Nest Hub to the Amazon Echo Show 8 to help you work… Read more

Asus ROG Strix G15 2021 review: A gaming laptop masterclass

(Pocket-lint) – For 2021 it seems like Asus is going after competitive gamers with the 2021 versions of the ROG Strix G15 and G17. The G15 is now not only more compact than the previous model, but also boasts Nvidia’s RTX 3000 series graphics cards. Something that’s notoriously hard to get hold of in the desktop… Read more

Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free review: Ding dong

(Pocket-lint) – Arlo is a big name in home security, with a wide range of cameras, so extending its offering to the front door makes a lot of sense. Having originally launched an Audio Doorbell – which connected to an Arlo system – the obvious leap was to integrate video and audio to make it… Read more

Wahoo Kickr Climb review: Taking indoor training up a level

(Pocket-lint) – The Wahoo Kickr Climb is a simple yet innovative product – but one that’s likely to split opinion. While some people will see it as an expensive gimmick with appeal that will soon wear off, others will view it as the next step along the road to making indoor riding even more immersive… Read more

iPhone 12 Pro revamped as a 1 kilo gold bar

Caviar transforms the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) into a 1 kilogram 24-karat gold bar. These unique Limited Edition smartphones will retain their value over time. The Russian company Caviar is known for enriching and decorating high-end Apple and Samsung smartphones with rare materials, including precious metals. This time Caviar takes a slightly different approach. The… Read more

Apple has discontinued the original HomePod

Home News (Image credit: Apple) According to TechCrunch, Apple has discontinued the original HomePod. The website quotes an unnamed Apple representative as stating that the company is “focusing our efforts on HomePod Mini”. Not only is this a disappointing development – the HomePod is one of the very best-sounding wireless speakers you can buy, after… Read more

Apple discontinues HomePod, but HomePod Mini will live on

Apple is discontinuing the original, full-size HomePod and will now focus its speaker efforts on the HomePod mini, the company told TechCrunch on Friday evening. Here is what Apple said in a statement to TechCrunch: HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart… Read more

Facebook’s next big AI project is training its machines on users’ public videos

Teaching AI systems to understand what’s happening in videos as completely as a human can is one of the hardest challenges — and biggest potential breakthroughs — in the world of machine learning. Today, Facebook announced a new initiative that it hopes will give it an edge in this consequential work: training its AI on… Read more

Best dimmer switches 2021: Set the tone with an adjustable light switch

(Pocket-lint) – The right dimmer switch can act as the perfect solution for those who want to fine-tune their home lighting, providing complete control over the brightness levels from overhead bulbs. It allows you to upgrade from the basic functionality of the on-off switch and replace it with something that can help you match the… Read more

I guess I have to watch ads everywhere on my $1,500 LG TV now

This afternoon, I was updating the streaming apps on my 2020 LG CX OLED TV, something I do from time to time, but today was different. Out of nowhere, I saw (and heard) an ad for Ace Hardware start playing in the lower-left corner. It autoplayed with sound without any action on my part. Now… Read more

I guess I have to watch ads everywhere on my $1,500 LG TV now

This afternoon, I was updating the streaming apps on my 2020 LG CX OLED TV, something I do from time to time, but today was different. Out of nowhere, I saw (and heard) an ad for Ace Hardware start playing in the lower-left corner. It autoplayed with sound without any action on my part. Now… Read more

Apple iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro vs iPhone 11 Pro Max: Which should you buy?

(Pocket-lint) – Apple announced the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max in September 2019. They were then succeeded by the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max in September 2020. If you’re in the market for a new iPhone but you don’t want the latest models, you’re… Read more

Amazon’s secret home robot Vesta reportedly in ‘late-prototype stage’ of development

Amazon appears to have reached the “late-prototype stage” in the creation of its secretive home robot codenamed Vesta, claims a new report from Insider. The device has been under development for around four years and now has more than 800 employees working on it, says the publication. If the robot launches, it will be one… Read more

Mark Zuckerberg says realistic avatars are Facebook’s next big VR bet

Facebook’s future virtual reality headsets should capture users’ facial expressions for more realistic digital avatars, says CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In a podcast interview for The Information, Zuckerberg expounded on the next decade in virtual and augmented reality, including future Oculus VR devices. “One of the things that I’m really excited about for future versions is… Read more

Best speaker stands 2021: budget and premium

Home Best-buys Best Speaker Stands Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi?’s round-up of the best speaker stands you can buy in 2021. We’d argue there’s really no such thing as bookshelf speakers. Even if that’s how yours were advertised, it’ll take a sturdy pair of speaker stands to have them sounding their best. You needn’t… Read more