In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. Too much, in fact, for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of the top 10 tech stories from this week. From HBO’s confirmation of eight seasons for Game of Thrones, to Motorola announcing the all new Moto X Play, Moto X Style, and Moto G and our review of Windows 10 — it’s all here.
Since September of last year, OnePlus’ CEO Carl Pei has been teasing the OnePlus 2. The OnePlus 2 sports a 5.5.-inch IPS LCD screen with a Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution, which is lower than most flagships, but is the same as the iPhone 6 Plus’ resolution. The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB RAM, and a 3,300mAh battery that should last at least one day of use. We had some hands on time with the OnePlus 2, and came away impressed by the affordable flagship.
Read our hands on review of the OnePlus 2 here.
Game of Thrones addicts who just can’t get enough of the series have a new reason to rejoice. The HBO show’s creators confirmed that the award-winning show will last at least eight seasons and may even get a prequel. “Seven seasons and out has never been the [internal] conversation,” said Michael Lombardo. “The question is, how much beyond seven are we going to do? Obviously we’re shooting six now, hopefully discussing seven. [Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss] feel like there’s two more years after six. I would always love for them to change their minds, but that’s what we’re looking at right now.” Lombardo also addressed the fate of a recently departed fan favorite who shall not be named, saying that “dead is dead is dead.”
Motorola held a live event from New York City, London, and Sao Paulo to unveil three new smartphones: the Moto X Style, Moto X Play, and the Moto G. The $400 Moto X Style features a gigantic 5.7-inch display, a Snapdragon 808 chip, 3GB RAM, a 21-megapixel camera, and a 3,000mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Moto X Play features a 5.5-inch display, a Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM, a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera, and an impressive 3,630mAh battery. Finally, the Moto G sports a 5.2-inch 720p screen, the Snapdragon 410 chip, 1GB RAM, a 13-megapixel camera, and other decent specs for just $180.
Moto X Style hands on review | Moto G release news | Moto X Play specs, price, and more
Most desktop users were unhappy with the release of Windows 8. While it offered new features, most users were missing the Start Menu. Microsoft is launching Windows 10 with three new key features including Continuum, Cortana, and Edge. Cortana can work as an assistant, she can schedule meetings, and search both local files and the Web. Our extensive review of Windows 10 covers all the new features.
Read our full review of Windows 10 here.
There’s a new major security flaw on Android phones that lets hackers break in with a single text message. Hackers only need to send a multi-media message (MMS) with malicious code to take control of the device and get access to personal information, according to mobile security firm Zimperium. Luckily, a new workaround that will prevent the multimedia message’s content from automatically downloading helps protect users from the hack.
Next page: 5 more tech stories you might have missed this week
After much ado, the Apple TV may finally be on its way. According to a BuzzFeed news report, the TV streaming set-top box will arrive in September with the iPhone 6S. The chassis will be smaller than the current-generation Apple TV, and the system will be powered by Apple’s A8 system on a chip. It will have a new touchpad remote, Siri voice controls, full App Store support, and may even serve as a hub for HomeKit.
The “Imperial Spherificator,” a kitchen gadget that’s making its way through Kickstarter, turns fruits and vegetables, sauces, and spices into liquid-filled pearls. The gadget, which is currently $115-$135 on Kickstarter, streamlines a culinary technique that is known as spherification. The company said on its website, “Spherification simply put is the culinary process of shaping a liquid into spheres that visually and texturally resemble caviar or pearls.” Those who are fond of caviar may be interested in nabbing one for a discount on Kickstarter.
Samsung sent out invitations to the press on Monday for another “Unpacked” event which will be held on August 13 in New York City. Samsung’s Unpacked event will start at 11 a.m. EST. The Galaxy Note 5 is expected at the event, as is the S6 Edge Plus, which is a larger version of the flagship Galaxy S6. Samsung may also have a few more surprises in store at the event, and we’ll be there covering it live.
Dot is a new smartwatch created by a South Korean startup that gives the visually impaired access to digital information. Dot can relay text messages, set alarms, and read location directions. Dot co-founder and CEO Eric Ju Yoon Kim said, “90 percent of blind people become blind after birth, and there’s nothing for them right now — they lose their access to information so suddenly. Dot can be their lifeline, so they can learn Braille and access everyday information through their fingers, which is the goal of Braille literacy.” He aims to launch the Dot for less than $300 in December, assuming Dot reaches its funding goal of $1 million.
In a keynote earlier this week, Intel and Micron announced an all-new storage technology, 3D XPoint, which is up to 1,000 times quicker than NAND flash. In a statement VP Rob Rooke said, “For decades, the industry has searched for ways to reduce the lag time between the processor and data to allow much faster analysis. This new class of non-volatile memory achieves the goal and brings game-changing performance to memory and storage solutions.” The first drives with the new tech could arrive in 2016.
A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server run by the VPN provider. Websites see the VPN server’s IP address instead of yours, and you can get around geo-blocks, censorship, and ISP throttling. The best VPN services are paid, but there are still a handful of free options that do the job well.
Most free VPNs come with a hidden cost, because running servers isn’t cheap and a company that doesn’t charge you has to make its money somewhere else. Many do so by logging your browsing activity and selling it to advertisers, while others flood you with ads and track you across apps.
There's nothing quite like curling up with a good book on a cold evening. As much as I love the feel of a physical book, books take up a lot of space, and carrying more than one on a trip quickly becomes a chore. That's where e-readers come in, and the Amazon Kindle remains one of the best options.
Amazon just refreshed its Kindle lineup with thinner, lighter designs, a new flush-front display, and colors that wrap from front to back. Add the Kindle Scribe and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft to the mix, and you have more choices than ever before.
A good Android app should earn its place on your phone. It might make an everyday task easier, handle something the built-in software can't, or let you change an experience that never quite worked for you.
These 20 apps cover everything from quick notes and password management to automation and local file sharing. Some are free, others charge for advanced features, and a few take some effort to figure out. The point isn't to install them all. It's to find the ones that make your phone work better for you.