Dell Revamps XPS 13 and Alienware Laptops

It's time for CES and that means one thing: Product announcements. Dell has some new systems on the way, ranging from a redesigned Dell XPS 13 to two new Alienware gaming laptops, and several updated models featuring new Intel processors, Intel's RealSense camera technology, and other hardware options.


Dell XPS 13

Dell's flagship 13-inch ultrabook, the Dell XPS 13 is getting a complete makeover this year, with a ground-up redesign that shrinks down the overall size without diminishing the 13-inch display. The new design proves that a thin chassis isn't everything, with vanishingly narrow bezels around the display allowing the 13-inch screen to fit into an 11-inch laptop chassis. But portability is still a major focus, and the new design features carbon fiber and machined aluminum for a stronger, lighter chassis. The reduction in volume and weight make the Dell XPS 13 extremely portable, weighing just 2.6 pounds and measuring just 0.6 inches thick.

The basic model of the new XPS 13 comes with an full HD (1080p) display, without touch capability, but both higher resolutions (up to Quad HD+) and touch options will be available. Regardless of display type, the XPS 13 features 400-nit brightness for better visibility, as well as an all new selection of Intel's fifth-generation Broadwell processors, with up to Core i7 CPUs and up to 512GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage.

Dell claims up to 15 hours of continuous use battery life, and also offers the Dell Power Companion, an external battery that adds up to 7 hours of juice. For the business minded, the XPS 13 can be had with an integrated TPM chip and Dell's Corporate Manageability software.

The basic model of the Dell XPS 13 comes with a fifth-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD). The new Dell XPS 13 starts at $799.

Alienware Laptops

Alienware 17Alienware, Dell's gaming brand, is also announcing new systems at CES, with the new Alienware 15 and Alienware 17 laptops. Designed for gaming on the go, the new gaming laptops are thinner and lighter than present models, with premium materials like carbon-fiber composites, aluminum, and copper for lighter weight and sturdier construction.

Both the 15- and 17-inch notebooks feature Haswell Intel Core i7 quad-core processors, AMD and Nvidia GPUs (with up to Nvidia GTX 980m graphics), and are compatible with Alienware's Graphics Amplifier external GPU. Both models come standard with full HD displays, but the Alienware 15 can also be purchased with a 4K display.

The Alienware 15 will start at $1,199, with the larger Alienware 17 starting at $1,499.

Dell Inspiron 23 7000

Inspiron Updates
In addition to the new XPS 13 and Alienware systems, Dell is also updating several of its existing Inspiron laptops and desktops with new hardware and features. The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Series 2-in-1 Special Edition gets updated from the current model Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Series 2-in-1 with Intel's new fifth-generation processors, which should improve battery life, graphics capability and overall performance. It's also becoming more affordable, with a new base price of $599.

Intel's RealSense camera technology, the same depth-sensing technology seen on the HP Sprout, is also coming to some systems, namely the Inspiron 15 5000 series laptops and the Inspiron 23 AIO, an all-in-one desktop PC. The Inspiron 15 500 series is also being updated with Intel's fifth-generation processors, while the similar Inspiron 15 7000 Series will now be offered with a 4K UltraHD display option

How To Add A MicroSD Slot To Your iPhone

With ever-improving cameras, bigger screens to watch videos, and better speakers for listening to music, we’re storing more on our phones than ever before.

However, it seems phone manufacturers can’t (or won’t) keep up with the demand for physical memory, instead politely pushing us towards their cloud storage accounts while muttering about subscription fees under their breath. Apple deserves to be singled out for this.

After being criticized for years for only offering limited physical storage, they launched a 128GB version of the iPhone 6 – only to axe this option a year later when they announced the iPhone 6S.

But there is an alternative to paying monthly for iCloud, which Android users have enjoyed for years. The Leef iAccess allows iPhone and iPad users to transfer data to a microSD card.

As well as backing up files, its also a great way of transferring photos from your digital camera to share them online on the go.

Transfer photos using Leef iAccess

01.) Clip and connect

Insert a microSD card into the rear slot of the Leef iAccess, before clipping the device into the lightning port of your iPhone.

02.) Open the app

Now download the MobileMemory app from the App option listed on the main menu. Store. Once opened, it will perform You can then select what you want a scan to try and find your iAccess.

3. Transfer files

Choose the ‘Transfer Files’ option listed on the main menu. You can then select what you want to move across from your phone.

4. Interchange cards

At any point you can swap microSD cards around. Press on the inserted card to eject it and slot in a new card instead.

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WHY SHOULD YOU USE MICROSD CARDS?

Competition is rife for those who want a simple solution to store and transfer their files. Despite this, the market for microSD cards has never been stronger, with more users looking for a secure and cheap way to keep their files with them wherever they go. Here’s why we think microSD cards will still be here for years to come.

01.) They’re safer than the cloud

While our smartphones are now tailored for cloud storage, the lack of encryption can potentially put your files at risk from snoopers and thieves. Having a physical microSD card enables users to take their most treasured files with them and there is a range of carry cases available to stop you misplacing them.

02.) You can use them everywhere

MicroSD support is so widespread that there is a whole bunch of devices you can use with them. For example, everyone’s favourite action camera, the GoPro, contains microSD ports for users to record in-flight footage and then have a simple way of transferring the footage onto their PC or Mac.

03.) Transfer speeds are unbelievable

One of the gleaming features of most modern microSD cards is the incredible transfer speeds that they can achieve when moving files to and from devices. SanDisk’s newest Ultra range of microSD cards can move files at 45MB per second. For larger files, this sort of card is a no-brainer to use.

04.) Lots of storage, low price

As more companies are developing microSD cards, prices are at the lowest they have ever been. A standard 64GB card can now be picked up for less than £20, which works out cheaper in the long-term than if taking out a cloud storage account subscription.

05.) Easy to convert

Once you have downloaded your files to your microSD card, you may wonder what you can now do with them. It’s simple enough to port them directly onto your desktop computer or even use a microSD adapter to convert them across to a full SD card and expand your options even further.

First Look: Audi and LG's Mysterious WebOS Smartwatch

Audi and LG don't want to talk about the webOS smartwatch. The car company made a splash here at CES when it showed tap-to-unlock technology in the new Audi S7 using a tablet, phone, and a previously unseen LG smartwatch. The watch's user interface doesn't look like Android Wear (see the images below), and after a closer look at the watch, reporters from Android Central saw that it said it was running Open webOS.

After LG folks told me that there was actually no webOS smartwatch, I ended up talking to visibly frustrated Audi automotive security engineer Roman Kochanek. "It's a prototype," he sighed. "Some people say they saw a settings screen which says it's webOS. We're not saying it's webOS."

Well, obviously, it is a webOS smartwatch. But presumably what LG and Kochanek were trying to get across was that the companies may have no plans to release this model, for now. Kochanek said it was a co-developed prototype designed with a phone-like "secure element" so it could activate the new S7's remote unlock and start functions.

The remote-unlock feature can also let you "lend" keys to your friends' smartphones and smartwatches, Kochanek said, showing a Samsung phone that could open not only his demo vehicle, but two of his friends'. All of the devices involved need the Audi app and the appropriate security hardware.

The Audi/LG smartwatch's body is very similar to LG's existing G Watch R . The watch has Audi branding on the watch face, but an LG logo on the band clasp. The UI is like a spiral of built-in and third-party apps retreating into the distance. The apps include a phone dialer, SMS, music player, step tracker, calendar, language translator, email, voice recorder, and some things that were in Korean.

In any case, things have gotten more locked down since yesterday, when Android Authority and The Verge were both able to get the watches off of the Audi engineers' wrists. Kochanek kept driving the watch back to its remote-unlock and remote-start functions, both of which are cool but not what everyone's going crazy about: a full-scale smartwatch OS with a clearer and more usable interface than the pervasive and disappointingly confusing Android Wear.

Kochanek said that the Audi remote-unlock function will come to more smartwatches than this one, as long as they have NFC and the appropriate security hardware. As for the LG webOS smartwatch line, which The Wall Street Journal says is a real thing, we might learn more at Mobile World Congress at the end of February.

G-Technology's New Hard Drives Can Take a Beating

At CES today, G-Technology added a pair of hard drives to its G-Drive ev lineup. The G-Drive ev RaW with Rugged Bumper and G-Drive ev ATC are made for the photographers and videographers who travel to distant lands, particularly those who are rough on their equipment.

The G-Drive ev RaW with Rugged Bumper is a 7,200rpm hard drive with a SATA and USB 3.0 interface designed to work with the G-Dock ev with Thunderbolt. This time, the ev cartridge is painted black, and is 35 percent lighter than the silver G-Drive ev cartridge. As its name indicates, it comes with a cushioning bumper that will protect the drive from a 1.5 meter drop. You'll need to remove the bumper to use the ev RaW with the G-Dock, but you can use the drive as is with the included USB 3.0 cable in day-to-day use. The drive is formatted HFS+ for Macs, but you can reformat it for Windows use.

The G-Drive ev RaW comes in a 500GB capacity for US$99.95 and 1TB capacity for US$129.99. Look for it in stores later this month.

G-Technology G-Drive ev ATCYou'll also find a G-Drive ev RaW cartridge in the new G-Drive ev ATC with Thunderbolt and G-Drive ATC with USB. Essentially, the G-Drive ev ATC adds a watertight case in place of the rugged bumper. Both ev ATC drives have a 2.0 meter drop spec, and are water tight up to 1 foot submerged for 30 seconds. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it will save your data from a quick drop and dunk in liquid. The G-Drive ev ATC will also float, helping you recover the drive if it falls overboard on a scuba trip.

As their names suggest, one version has a tethered Thunderbolt cable, while the other has a tethered USB 3.0 cable: you can't lose either as long as you have the drive. The ev RaW cartridge is removable for use in the G-Dock ev.

The G-Drive ev ATC with Thunderbolt goes for US$229.95 (1TB) or $129.95 (for just the case), the USB version is US$179.95 (1TB) or US$79.95 (case only). The ev ATC case works with most G-Drive ev cartridges, though the G-Drive ev 220 is too thick to be used with the case. Look for the Thunderbolt drive and case later this month, with the USB versions in February.

Unlock Hidden Netflix Movies

The next time you’re struggling to find something on Netflix, consider this: there are thousands of movies and TV boxsets you can’t see because of where you live. With the right app, it’s possible to get around these restrictions (if you don’t mind breaching the site’s terms and conditions).

You’ll have access to a wealth of new content: Mad Men and Family Guy in the US, for example, plus all the latest blockbusters that Sky keeps for itself in the UK. Unblock-US is one of the best tools for the job, making your device appear to be located in a country of your choice.

1. Changing DNS settings

Once you’ve signed up for a free trial at unblockus.com, follow the online guide to download the Windows or Mac set-up app, or reconfigure your computer’s DNS settings as instructed. You might have to reset both your computer and your router before the new settings take effect.

2. Verify the connection

Everything is handled via the Unblock-US website (which uses your email address for verification) so there are no settings screens to work through or software applications you have to install after the initial setup. On the Unblock-US home page you will see three green bars when you’re successfully connected.

3. Choose your country

After that you simply need to pick what part of the world you want to appear to be from: 22 different countries are supported and the check box underneath lets you turn on Netflix captions if you’re not confident of being able to understand everything that’s being said on the screen.

4. Enjoy the content

The final step: get watching. You should find your Netflix account repopulated with all kinds of good material you haven’t come across before, though you can still use the same account and Netflix will keep hold of your viewing history for the shows you’ve been watching previously.

Rivals Team Up for Virtual Reality Standards

Virtual reality has been a vague and scattered concept for decades now, with various companies offering their own takes on head-mounted displays, motion controls, and integration of the two, to varying levels of success.

The Oculus Rift rekindled interest in VR a few years ago, with the development kit's inexpensive price and relative ease of use. Now virtual reality is growing again, and this time several industry leaders are going to try to unify the different products under one standard.

A consortium of device manufacturers and developers have announced the Open-Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) ecosystem, a collaborative effort between multiple companies to ensure broad cross-compatibility with different VR devices. OSVR will use a standardized device interface that, with plugins, will ensure compatibility with different controllers and head-mounted displays.

Several major names in VR and gaming peripherals are currently supported by OSVR, including devices made by Oculus, Razer, LeapMotion, TrinityVR, and Sixense. OSVR is also compatible with several major game engines, including Unity 3D and Unreal Engine 4. Ubisoft, Gearbox, and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) have also signed on with OSVR.

For hobbyists and small developers, OSVR is producing the OSVR Hacker Development Kit. The package includes individual modules for the head-mounted display's sensors, screen, and optics, along with a separate belt box for additional connectivity. It won't be a ready-to-use device like the Oculus Rift Devleopment Kits, but will instead encourage working with the different parts of a VR system. It's currently being distributed under limited developer access, and will be available to the public for US$199.99 in June.

Quitbit Lighter Helps Curb Your Smoking Habit

LAS VEGAS—Sin City isn't the first place you think of when you think about kicking a nicotine habit. But the Quitbit lighter definitely caught my eye at the Consumer Electronics Show. It's a smart lighter designed to help you quit smoking. It'll light your cigarettes for you, but it also keeps track of your smoking habits to make it easier to put the pack down for good.

The first thing you should know about the Quitbit is that it's an actual lighter, though it doesn't use an actual flame. Instead, it uses a powerful heating element similar to a car lighter, so there's no need for gas or butane. That's pretty convenient, but you'll need to charge the battery every 100 lights, or roughly once a week.

Physically, the Quitbit looks like something of a cross between a Zippo lighter and the face of Samsung smartwatch. Beyond the actual lighter element, the Quitbit has a built-in display that shows information like the amount of cigarettes you've smoked for the day, your goal amount, and the amount of time since you last puffed. It automatically tracks every time you have a cigarette, and it doesn't record multiple smoking events in a few-minute time window, so it won't count relighting your cigarette as smoking a whole new one. It works as a standalone product, with all of the above information displayed on the Quitbit itself, but you get a much more detailed look by connecting it to an Android or iOS device.

This Lighter Can Help You Quit Smoking

The Quitbit wirelessly syncs your data via Bluetooth, allowing you to view how much you smoke across a graph, which makes it easy to see what parts of the day, week, or month you smoke the most. You can also use the app to customize how the Quitbit works, setting new targets and goals as you go along. And if you don't actually trust yourself to stick to the plan, you can even set limits for how often or when the device can work as lighter. There's a social aspect as well, that allows you to share your progress with others, as well as the Quitbit community.

The US$99 Quitbit is available for preorder and is expected to ship in March. That's a pretty steep price to pay for a lighter, but Quitbit points out that even if you start smoking one cigarette less a day, it will pay for itself in a year. I've used my fair share of activity trackers, and they've definitely made me more conscious about the number of steps I take per day. I can see how this same sort of logic can be applied to smoking, but I'm curious to see how well it works. So for all the smokers out there: Let me know if you think this might help more than the patch or e-cigs in the comments below.