Anyone having fun with their Google Home, but missing the opportunity to take it with them or move it between rooms, may be interested in Ninety7’s Loft.

The loft is essentially a very stylish battery pack. It replaces the Google Home’s base / speaker cover.

I previously didn’t realise, but the base of the Google Homes off, exposing the device’s speakers. It is this disembodied main unit of the Home that fits snuggly into the Loft base, secured by magnets. The Google Home power cord plugs directly into the Loft for charging.

It’s probably a matter of taste, but the but I think that the Loft’s more industrial black metal finish of the carbon review unit looks a lot better than the grey cloth of the standard base unit’s speaker cover. The Loft comes in three colours: carbon, snow and copper. Whereas “addon battery pack” usually means a ghastly appendage to your device, that is not the case with a Loft.

The Loft complements the styling of your Google Home, perfectly. There’s a small power button on the base and three LEDs to show the battery power level.

Just sitting around, you are likely to get around six-eight hours out of the battery. Playing music full blast, you could be looking at half that. So, don’t expect you Google Home to provide the entertainment on an extended day out.

To be fair, it’s not the sort of device that you want to be doing that with, anyway- there are other, more portable speakers for trips out. It’s a Google Home, and that’s were it is best situated.

The Loft enabled me to unplug the Google Home from its usual lounge position. I could then take it into the garage or garden, all the while continuing to listen to Spotify and ask Google for answers to stupid questions.

Another surprise use of the Loft came about after being presented with the Google Home by my three-year-old, who had transported it rugby-ball style up the stairs to me. A fully charged Loft will keep a Google Home going on top of a shelf away from prying little hands.

For around AUD$70 Ninety7’s Loft adds a great deal of functionally to you Google Home. It’s functionally that you may never have thought you needed but, the portability does come in very handy. It also, in my opinion, anyway, makes the Google Home look a lot more stylish, to boot.

The post Loft for Google Home Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

At this year’s Computex ASUS announced a Special Edition 30th Anniversary product lineup, groundbreaking Prime Utopia concept motherboard, ZenBook Pro Duo and ZenScreen Touch.

ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih hosted a special press event at Computex 2019 in celebration of the company’s 30th Anniversary, where he unveiled a series of limited-edition devices created to commemorate the milestone and introduced the groundbreaking Prime Utopia concept motherboard, ZenBook Pro Duo and ZenBook Duo laptops, and ZenScreen Touch portable monitor.

The ASUS 30th Anniversary Special Edition lineup features new versions of the ZenFone 6 Edition 30 smartphone, ZenBook Edition 30 laptop and Prime X299 Edition 30 motherboard, all featuring a special stylised ‘A’ monogram signifying ASUS’ values and history. It was created by the ASUS Design Centre to celebrate the anniversary as well as unique designs that embody the ASUS focus on refined aesthetics, outstanding performance and delivering exceptional user experiences. The foundation of the ‘A’ monogram is a representation of the Chinese symbol for people and shows the humanitarian side of ASUS. The top part creates an arrow shape signifying the ASUS ability to overcome obstacles and ascend industry norms, and the overall shape when flipped resembles a heart, which speaks to the heartfelt affection and endearment for life.

“ASUS is honoured to have been serving the hardcore tech community, enthusiast, gamers, creators, and tasteful consumers for the last 30 years,” said ASUS Chairman, Jonney Shih. “I am tremendously excited and proud that we have stayed true to our relentless engineering origin on this incredible journey — one that has made us wiser and stronger together. We aspire to continue to create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt, and joyful smart life for everyone for decades to come.”

ASUS ZenBook Edition 30 features a luxurious design with a genuine leather lid cover and an 18-karat rose gold plated logo and exclusively equipped with a complete set of premium accessories. It is also the world’s smallest 13-inch laptop featuring a 95% screen-to-body ratio, Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 discrete graphics. ZenFone 6 Edition 30 features the iconic Zen-inspired concentric-circle patterning in understated Matte Black with embossed Edition 30 logo. ZenFone 6 is the first notchless ZenFone with innovative Flip Camera. ZenFone 6 Edition 30 comes with 12GB RAM and 512GB of internal storage for a fast and smooth experience, offering owners the finest integration of art and technology. The Prime X299 Edition 30 motherboard features support for the latest high-core-count processors with an enhanced power solution and premium VRM heatsink design.

At its inception in 1989, ASUS revolutionised the motherboard industry with the creation of the company’s first motherboard, establishing a path to becoming the world’s best-selling and most award-winning motherboard maker. The next-gen Prime Utopia concept motherboard continues this legacy of innovation and is a complete re-thinking of motherboard design to meet the cooling and performance demands of future high-end processors, graphics cards and storage devices to offer system builders the most flexibility.

ASUS is also improving the experience for mobile creatives and professionals with the new ZenBook Pro Duo and ZenBook Duo ultraportable laptops featuring ScreenPad Plus, the next generation of the world’s first intelligent touchpad. ScreenPad Plus offers a larger and full-width display, a more intuitive design, seamless viewing experience and improved multi-screen workflow to empower the ultimate creativity. ZenBook Pro Duo features a 15.6-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) OLED HDR display with a 14-inch 4K(3840 x 1100) ScreenPad Plus and is powered by a 9th Gen Intel Core i9 eight-core processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ray-tracing graphics. It also features 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 3, NumberPad 2.0, Amazon Alexa voice control and a dedicated turbo-cooling button. ZenBook Duo features a 14-inch FHD display with a 12.6-inch FHD ScreenPad Plus, Intel Core i7 processor, and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 discrete graphics. Both models feature Intel Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with Gig+ to deliver networking speeds of up to 2.4 Gbps for rapid internet connectivity.

In addition to ScreenPad Plus, ASUS also announced that it is bringing ScreenPad 2.0 — an update to the revolutionary input device — to ZenBook 13 / 14 / 15, ZenBook Edition 30, ZenBook Flip 15 and VivoBook S14 and S15 to offer the creativity it empowers to more consumers.

ASUS also revealed ZenScreen Touch, a slim and light portable monitor designed for mobile productivity, creativity and entertainment. It weighs just 0.9 kg and is only 9mm slim and features a 10-point touch screen that supports swipe, scroll, drag and pinch gestures, a built-in 7800mAh battery and rich connectivity with hybrid-signal USB-C and micro-HDMI ports.

The post ASUS Celebrates 30 Years of Innovation at Computex 2019 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Nintendo’s first original IP created exclusively for smart devices is now here. 

Dragalia Lost, a vast multiplayer action-RPG in the palm of your hand, is now available for iOS and Android compatible smart devices in Australia and New Zealand.

Developed in partnership with Cygames, Dragalia Lost is a free-to-start game where you must unite with powerful dragons and assemble a customised party of adventurers to save the Kingdom of Alberia. By engaging in real-time battles using intuitive touch-screen controls, you can let loose powerful attacks and transform into a mighty dragon to conquer mysterious evil forces. While playing Dragalia Lost, you can also share the experience with up to three friends in synchronous online multiplayer to battle through the game’s main story adventure, additional quests and special Raid Events.

The game’s intuitive and easy-to-control battles are performed in real time to keep you in the action. You can drag your fingers on the screen to move characters, tap or hold to engage with various attacks and flick along the screen to dodge. 

By using the in-game currency Diamantium or Wyrmite, you can perform various in-game actions including summoning new characters, dragons or special accessories, called Wyrmprints, that can be equipped for powerful abilities or bonuses. Wyrmite is earned in the game as a reward for completing quests, while Diamantium can be purchased using real-world money.

To celebrate the release of Dragalia Lost in Australia and New Zealand, two special wallpapers will be available from today for Nintendo Account holders. Check out the My Nintendo website for more details.

The post Nintendo Create First IP for Smartdevices! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

OPPO has today announced it has successfully completed the first 5G Internet access on a mobile device. This is another positive step forward from OPPO and lays the foundations for the commercial launch of 5G smartphones by next year.

OPPO has been at the forefront of 5G technology since 2015 and has committed to be one of the key contributors to the 5G standard, as it strives to become the first brand to release a commercial 5G smartphone.

This latest test by the OPPO Research Institute is a significant milestone in helping the company achieve its goal. The 5G internet connection was carried out on a pre-commercially available 5G smartphone, developed on the basis of an OPPO R15. It was customised with fully integrated 5G components, including a System board, RF, RFFE and antenna.

“5G technology has been discussed among consumers for quite a few years and we’re looking forward to bringing the new technology to New Zealand shores. This is the first step in making 5G a reality and we’re excited about the opportunities this will provide our customers,” said Kevin Cho, Managing Director at OPPO New Zealand.

“5G will be the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, it will transform the way Kiwis interact with their mobile devices, with faster speeds and more reliable connections. Not only will this enable a better mobile experience but it will also open up a raft of new services, particularly in regards to augmented and virtual reality, that will change the game in terms of mobile technology.”

OPPO is already actively exploring 5G applications, as the company gears up to 5G. OPPO believes Virtual and Augmented Reality will be the first phase of 5G-supported application scenarios, such as 3D video calls, online games, AR selfies and AR shopping, providing customers with a truly immersive experience anytime and everywhere.

This demonstration is the first milestone in making 5G a reality. The 5G team at the OPPO Research Institute will continue to progress the new standard and accelerate the development of 5G smartphones, in order to release a commercially available 5G smartphone in 2019.

The post OPPO Smartphone Pioneers First 5G Internet Connection appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

New Zealanders are optimistic about the growing connected home trend according to new research revealed by Samsung. In the survey conducted in June, Kiwis cited cost savings, energy efficiency and the added convenience as the top three benefits from smart home technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The research also revealed that one in three people (36%) are open to using an AI personal assistant such as Samsung’s Bixby to take advantage of a connected home while three in ten people (30%) felt using AI could help them keep on top of personal affairs.

More than half of Kiwis believed they could save more than an hour per week using smart technologies and one in four (23%) said they could have the equivalent of an additional 100 hours of free time per year (or two and a half 40-hour working weeks) because of connected technology.

This comes as Samsung has pledged to ensure all its connected devices are intelligent by 2020.

“Increasingly we’re hearing people are working longer hours and having to juggle both their professional and personal roles. Given how time-poor people are, connected devices integrated with intelligent software can be part of the solution,” says Todd Selwyn, Head of Mobile Product for Samsung Electronics.

“Just as the smartphone has enabled people to share, connect and work more effectively, other smart devices have the potential to add efficiencies in the home. Applying the intelligence first seen in our smartphones to our other categories of smart technology is one way Samsung is helping make time and cost savings, freeing up people to do what they want.”

While smartphones, smart watches and smart TVs may be products people already own or have their eye on, other items piquing Kiwis’ interest as the smart product to buy next, included smart light bulbs (52%), an automated alarm system (47%) and Wi-Fi-enabled heat-pumps (46%).

“People want more leisure time,” says Rachel Kelly, Director of Ethical AI and Deputy Chair of NZTech Industry Association.

“If done right, technology can enable that, and home automation is a part of the journey. As working hours and the need for dual income increases, technology starts becoming a practical tool to manage house efficiency and overall comfort.”

Despite most Kiwis (90%) being aware of smart technology and the benefits of AI, there is still some nervousness about hacking, privacy and the misuse of personal data. Two out of three people (66%) worried about having their voice stolen or hacked and 62 per cent of Kiwis were scared their devices could be used without their knowledge. Trusted technology providers are continuing to ensure the relevant security measures are being put in place to protect their customers allaying any fears they might have.

“By design, the home is a very private place to recharge and find comfort. For AI and automation to succeed in the home, people need to know their privacy is respected and maintained. Until there’s more certainty and transparency around data, privacy, and security, technology adoption in the home will be challenged. Technology companies and suppliers need to be more transparent with the data being collected as well as invest heavily in AI ethics frameworks,” says Kelly.

Companies like Samsung are already looking closely at issues around privacy, building platforms and authentication systems that offer the highest levels of security.

“Samsung’s Knox platform is a premium security solution and its overlapping defence and security mechanisms protect against intrusion, malware and more malicious threats, giving people the freedom to work and play how, where and when they want,” says Selwyn.

“Biometric authentication, such as iris scanning and fingerprints are already being used to secure smart devices and sensitive information and offer the highest level of security.”

In spite of concerns over data security, 38 per cent of Kiwis agreed that they would feel more secure if they used smart technology to monitor their home and three in five people (61%) said a security system that detects when they have left the house and sets alarms and locks as the most appealing task to be automated.

“While the smart home and Internet of Things have been on the radar for early adopters in New Zealand, smart technology is only going to be more accessible in years to come. Integrating our intelligent assistant Bixby into the hardware of a wide range of smartphone and consumer electronic devices in the home is part of Samsung’s commitment to ensuring all devices are intelligent and connected by 2020, simplifying and enhancing the lives of many New Zealanders,” says Selwyn.

“The very point of technology is to help us do more of the things we love, and less of the things we don’t. We have an opportunity to build a home environment that is inviting, efficient, helpful, and safe. That will happen with an AI that is kind, thoughtful, self-regulating, and trustworthy – with a purpose to delight,” adds Kelly.

* The survey, facilitated by Buzz Channel, canvassed the views of 1,095 New Zealand consumers in June 2018.

The post Kiwis Keen to Befriend Robots appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Anti-virus legend Norton (by Symantec) has recently released the latest features of Norton Mobile Security for Android, its flagship mobile solution. The robust App Adviser feature, which deploys proactive protection against malicious apps and other sophisticated threats on Android devices has been redesigned for ease of use. The update also includes a Report Card feature and integration with Norton Safe Search and Web Protection.

“More than ever before consumers are increasingly faced with privacy and security threats for their personal data,” said Mark Gorrie, Director, Norton Business Unit, Pacific region, Symantec. “Norton Mobile Security has been carefully designed to empower consumers to seamlessly protect their personal data from potential privacy vulnerabilities, anywhere, any time.”

Mobile apps can access and control an ever-increasing amount of personal data and content stored on mobile phones, including photos and videos, health records and financial information. Today, hackers are enhancing their skills and hiding malware inside applications to steal personal information and profit. In fact, since January 2016, Norton by Symantec has identified 6,464,472 new pieces of malware apps and 5,741,834 new pieces of greyware – apps with potential privacy issues or intrusive behaviours.

The Report Card feature gives Norton Mobile Security for Android users a 360-degree view of their mobile device’s security and privacy status, helping them take control of and overcome potential mobile threats and privacy risks. Within this feature, subscribers can take advantage of the enhanced Privacy Report and see where mobile apps are sending their photos and other personal information. It also offers an easy-to-understand list of potential privacy vulnerabilities, like past unsecure Wi-Fi connections, so users can understand what data might be at risk and course correct.

The solution’s integration with Norton Safe Search and Web Protection protects users from visiting malware-infected sites and blocks phishing websites helping to protect devices from sites that can install ransomware, Trojans and other threats. It also protects users by displaying a website’s safety and shopping ratings before a user visits the site. In the event a device is lost or stolen, Norton Mobile Security for Android also includes anti-theft capabilities and contacts backup to help users find their device and restore lost information.

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The post Norton Gets Serious About Smart Device Security appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

F1 2016, the only official mobile game of the 2016 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, is now available on the Google Play Store, allowing Android users the chance to recreate the whole season, including the tense finale at the 2016 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Following the recent chart-topping release for iPhone, iPad and AppleTV, F1 2016 is now available on the Android platform, and features all of the official content, stunning visuals, multiple game modes and pick up and play controls, perfect for gaming on the move or at home.

All 21 of the official Formula One circuits from the 2016 season, including the thrilling new Baku City Circuit and icons of the sport such as Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps, Circuit De Monaco and Silverstone Circuit, are faithfully recreated in unprecedented detail on a mobile device, and are all available in quick race, full season, custom season or time trial.

Race as one of the world’s best drivers including Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s Lewis Hamilton, Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, McLaren-Honda’s Fernando Alonso, Sahara Force India F1 Team’s Sergio Perez and many more, with 22 of the world’s greatest drivers and all of the 11 teams from the 2016 season represented.

Ian Flatt, Executive Producer of the Formula One videogames at Codemasters, commented: “Following the great success of F1 2016 on the iOS and tvOS platforms, both in terms of user feedback and chart position, we are delighted to be bringing the same fantastic experience to Android users. This version of F1 2016 has been developed specifically for mobile devices but continues to deliver a console quality experience in terms of gameplay and graphics. Every car model and every circuit has been optimised from the full console game to ensure the highest quality experience, and we have pushed the technology to the absolute limits. Whether you want a quick race on your favourite circuit or an entire season of races containing practice sessions, qualifying and full length race sessions, it has been designed for playing on the go with flexible game modes that allow you to get straight into the action. The F1 2016 mobile game is great to play whether you are commuting, waiting for friends or sat at home on the sofa.

“There are four different control schemes as well as a full suite of driver assists and in game options that let you create the experience that suits you,” continued Ian. “Whether you are new to racing games or have been playing them for years, you can find your ideal gameplay experience in F1 2016.”

F1 2016 is now released and downloadable for Android and Apple smart devices.

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