Google is getting ready to ship a new tool that could help web sites load more quickly. It’s a data compression algorithm called Brotli that could allow some web content to load up to 25 percent more quickly. Brotli will be built into future versions of the Chrome web browser for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and […]
January 2016
Jide releases (some) Remix OS source code to comply with GPL, Apache licenses
Remix OS is a custom version of Google Android designed to run on desktop and notebook computers. While it’s based on open source software, the operating system itself is not fully open source… but as has recently been pointed out, the developers at Jide may have violated some software licenses when they released Remix OS for […]
Dell’s new 11.6 inch laptop now available for $200
Dell unveiled a new version of its Inspiron 11 3000 Series notebook at CES, and now it’s available for purchase for $200. The laptop features entry-level specs to go along with its entry-level price: it features 2GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC storage, and an Intel Celeron N3050 Braswell processor. The notebook features a fanless […]
Deals of the Day (1-19-2016)
Ultra HD monitors (and TVs) are starting to come down in price, but they still aren’t exactly cheap. But today Woot is selling a ViewSonic 28 inch, 2160p monitor for $270. That’s about $90 more than the price of a similar model with a 1080p display. The ViewSonic VX2880ml has 170 degree viewing angles, stereo 2W speakers, two […]
How to listen to OverDrive library audiobooks on nearly any mobile device
Many public libraries around the world partner with OverDrive to let you borrow eBooks and audiobooks. While OverDrive lets you listen to audiobooks in a web browser or using mobile apps, there are also other ways to listen. You can burn audiobooks to CDs. Or you can just download use OverDrive’s desktop app to download […]
Smartphone might not need proximity sensors to… sense proximity
When you hold a smartphone to your ear, you don’t usually have to worry about touching the screen with you cheek and accidentally ending a call. That’s because most smartphones have proximity sensors that can turn off the display and disable touch input when the phone is near your face. But Elliptic Labs has developed software that […]
Panasonic launches Lumix CM10 Android-powered camera
About a year after launching the Lumix CM1 smartphone with a high-quality camera lens, Panasonic is introducing a new model that looks virtually identical. But the new Panasonic Lumix CM10 has one key difference: it’s not a phone. It’s just an Android-powered point-and-shoot camera with a 28mm Leica DC lens, a 20 megapixel, 1 inch […]
Dell’s new Venue 8 Pro tablet is faster, higher-res, and twice as expensive
The 2013 Dell Venue 8 Pro was one of the first 8 inch Windows 8.1 tablets to feature digital pen support. It was priced at $299 and up, but over the past few years Dell has offered models for as little as $199. Now Dell is giving its 8 inch tablet a major overhaul… and […]
2016 Acer Chromebook 11 with IPS display now available for $180
At first glance, Acer’s new Chromebook 11 looks a lot like last year’s model. It’s still a Chrome OS laptop with an 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display and an Intel Celeron N2840 processor. But the new model has an IPS display with better viewing angles and a new case design that Acer says […]
Karma Neverstop “unlimited” mobile hotspot plans gets some limits
A few months ago mobile hotspot provider Karma launched a new unlimited data plan called Karma Neverstop, allowing customers to get unlimited data with speeds up to 5 Mbps for $50 per month. A few weeks ago the company acknowledged that there was a problem with offering unlimited data at that price: some customers were […]