Moto Z2 Force release set for all four big US carriers at
That means you’ll be able to experience some of the Moto Z2 Force’s marquee features regardless of who you get your cell service from. Those marquee features include things like built in ruggedness – like a number of Droid-branded phones that came before it, the Moto Z2 Force had increased durability thanks to Motorola’s own ShatterShield technology. With that reinforced 5.5-inch Quad HD display, Motorola says that the Moto Z2 Force should stand up to drops and bumps, guaranteeing that your screen won’t shatter or crack (scratching, though, is still something to look out for). If it does, you can take advantage of the four-year warranty Motorola has put in place for the display.Another big draw of the Moto Z2 Force will likely be its dual 12MP cameras. In keeping with some other flagships we’ve seen recently, one of those lenses is monochrome and the other is color, and the dual-lens setup allows you to shoot photos that feature depth of field. A Snapdragon 835 SoC is powering the show with 4GB of RAM to keep things snappy, and Motorola says that the Z2 Force’s 2730mAh battery will last all day on a single charge. Motorola has developed a reputation for crafting solid, dependable smartphones in recent years, but the only issue is that your exposure to some of the best Motorola handsets has been limited if you don’t have Verizon. Some Motorola phones, such as the Moto Z Force, have only been available through Verizon here in the States. That all changes with the freshly-announced Moto Z2 Force, which will be available through the big four carriers here in the US. So, from a hardware standpoint, this is more or less a standard flagship, but the Moto Z2 Force has one advantage over the other flagships from Motorola’s competitors: Moto Mods. The Moto Z2 Force will support all existing and incoming Moto Mods, including the new 360-camera that was also announced today.If this sounds like the phone for you, you’ll be able to find it at Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Best Buy stores beginning on August 10. Pre-orders begin today at all of those carriers and at Motorola.com, which lists the phone’s retail price as $799.99, or around $33.33 per month if you buy it on a device payment plan. Has Motorola piqued your interest with the Z2 Force? Head down to the comments section and let us know!
Story TimelineiPhone 8 screen keeps spilling its secretsiPhone 8 Bronze/Copper Gold leaked in more detailiPhone 8 release date in September says KGI5 names for iPhone 8 : What’ll Apple call it?iPhone 8 ‘Blush Gold’ tipped as name of leaked copper colorThis iPhone 8 just went full AndroidiPhone 8: The big wireless charging upgrade may just have leakediPhone 8 featured in McDonald’s app advertisement The images you’re about to look at show an iPhone 8 casing with a leather exterior. The details on the back and within are exceedingly convincing – embossing and tiny bits of text that usually only show up in legit, Apple-made pieces of hardware. While we’d expect this sort of level of detail on a case for an iPhone made by an accessory maker, these details can’t legally exist on a 3rd-party case at all. On the back we’ve got an embossed Apple logo, a hole for a Touch ID sensor – for a finger, and a vertically-aligned camera array hole. If this is what it looks like, there are two distinct possibilities. Either the iPhone 8 is slightly different from what we expected, or there’s a new design for the iPhone 7s Plus (aka iPhone 8 Plus).The detailing on the inside of this case further suggests that it is a legit piece of work made by Apple. That embossing likely takes place before the backside material is applied, complete with Apple logo embossing. These details combined makes for a leather case that’s likely been tossed aside due to a defect.Either this case is real or it’s made by a faker with an intense love of the fake game – such a love that they didn’t even sign their work with a watermark. That’s intense stuff right there. Regardless, it doesn’t seem that this case aligns very well with the other much more historically-trustworthy leak sources spreading images over the past few weeks, so it might be a moot point.OR it could be that this design will take on a life of its own. Perhaps the iPhone 8 is actually the successor to the iPhone 7, and the iPhone 8 Plus is the successor to the iPhone 7 Plus. Maybe what we’re looking at here is a case for the iPhone 8 Plus with a camera array that’s just as vertical as the iPhone 8 (or iPhone Pro) we’ve been seeing for the past few weeks!These images above come from Weibo user Kumamoto Technology. In a post about the images, this blogger suggests they are leather and that they’re cases rejected for low quality.EDIT: once I look at the embossing interior of this case right before I publish this article, I now see that the embossing is different from that of the final silicone case which I have on an iPhone on my desk. That real-deal model has just one line of text which reads “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.” This case says the same thing, but on two lines of text, with the addition of an odd partial code: “(1527C” – which doesn’t seem to correspond to anything.Also the “iPhone” part doesn’t seem to have its interior carved out – or the creator of this case used an iPhone outline cut instead of the proper block letter cut. Something fishy is certainly going on here.
If your demands from a smart speaker focus more on, well, music than how well it answers questions, the latest update to Google Home might be of interest. In a new update, the Google Home and Google Home Mini have gained an equalizer, allowing owners to tweak the audio levels to suit their own particular tastes. Story TimelineGoogle Home Mini Review: Affordability comes at a costYouTube TV voice control arrives via Google HomeGoogle Home broadcast turns the Assistant into a PA Now, before you get too excited, don’t expect some fancy multi-band equalizer with hugely granular control. What Google is actually offering is the ability to notch the bass and the treble individually, either down by -6 dB, or up by 6 dB. It means that, if you’re into bass-heavy tracks, you can tweak the speaker output to suit that. Vocal music, meanwhile, might benefit from lifting up the high-end. Unfortunately there’s no profile support, though given the brevity of options that’s probably not too great a limitation. While the equalizer settings are handy on the Google Home and the smaller Google Home Mini, it’s not hard to see that they’re really paving the way for the company’s upcoming Google Home Max. Announced alongside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL a few months back, the larger smart speaker will have the same, Google Assistant powered functionality as its smaller siblings, but matched with a far greater emphasis on musical playback. Larger, and oblong in shape, the fabric-fronted speaker has two 4.5-inch high-excursion dual voice-coil woofers and two 0.7-inch custom tweeters, all in a sealed rigid housing.MORE Do you really need a Google Home?The goal is to take on multi-room stalwarts like Sonos, though the Google Assistant is due to turn up on the recent Sonos One sometime within the next couple of months. Both the Google Home and the Google Home Mini can do multi-room, but neither is going to come close to a Sonos One or similar in audio quality, regardless of how much equalizer tinkering you do.To adjust the new audio controls, update the Google Home app for iOS or Android. Choose “Devices” from the menu in the upper left corner, and then hit the “…” button on the upper right corner of the speaker you want to adjust. Then choose “Settings” and scroll down. If you’re not seeing the option yet, you might not have received the necessary updates, so give it some time to deploy fully. After all, we’ve still got a little to go before the Google Home Max arrives to really take advantage of them. 
Granted, it’s actually the first phone he tested in 2018, which isn’t surprising since we don’t expect this year’s stars until a few months from now. He did already test the Huawei Mate 10 last year, but not all phones, even from the same OEM from the same generation, are created equal. Fortunately, these two are.The screen tests these days have become a bit boring. Never mind the practically useless burn test, even scratch tests have become rote with everyone using Gorilla Glass protection. Everyone except those with shatter proof but not scratch proof screens, that is. And with more phones sporting glass backs, that’s pretty much the same story on the rear side as well. Except for the plastic covering on the fingerprint sensor. Fortunately, that still works even after having been severely scratched, unlike some other high-end phones.The bend test is probably the most important part of JerryRigEverything’s durability show. And here, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro passes with flying colors. No flex or bend from either front or back. It would be interesting to see how it does on a drop test but, with few exceptions, he doesn’t exactly do those.AdChoices广告 The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is probably one of the more controversial phones of 2018, but not because of the phone itself. 2018 started badly for Huawei when, just days, maybe even hours, before its proud announcement, AT&T pulled out from its partnership with the Chinese company, reportedly due to political pressure. That hasn’t stopped Huawei from offering the phone in the US, albeit without carrier perks and strings, with pre-orders starting this week. And for those who want to get their hands on this flagship, JerryRigEverything has just proved it to be one of the most durable phones of 2018. Story TimelineHuawei Mate 10, Pro aim for iPhone X release warHuawei Mate 10 Pro US release detailed (but no AT&T deal)Huawei Mate 10 Pro pre-order starts with gift card offer
A certain sort of everyday iPhone user might not be pleased with the latest change in iOS 12. If they’re connected to their computer via USB, they’ll need to unlock their phone every hour to maintain a data connection. This breaking connection does not affect connections to power supply.This mode is called USB Restricted Mode, and it’s in play in the latest iOS 12 beta. This mode previously centered on the initial connection, but now it’s extended to once-per-hour. Users can choose to turn this restriction off in settings. This setting is found under Touch ID and Passcode.Previous versions of iOS allowed a data connection over USB without an iPhone unlock. Not all data, mind you – but enough to break in using such tools as Grayshift’s GrayKey, and methods used by Cellebrite. Speaking with AppleInsider, Point3 Security director Ryan Duff suggested the following. “[The new USB Restricted Mode] pretty much kills GrayKey and Cellebrite.”AdChoices广告“If it actually does what it says and doesn’t let any type of data connection happen until it’s unlocked, then yes. You can’t exploit the device if you can’t communicate with it.” Apple continued their battle for the security of the end user this week at WWDC 2018. They’ve added a bit of a blocker in iOS 12 that should but a crunch in the mix for law enforcement officials and malicious entities trying to break in to the iPhone using brute force – or any sort long-term attack aimed at breaking down the front door. In iOS 12, users need to unlock their phone every hour if they want to maintain a USB connection. Story TimelineAT&T off-contract iPhone unlock in 4 easy stepsApple faces €1m fine per iPhone unlocking refusal in FranceGrayKey: The best iPhone unlocker is now in the hands of police
Brakes are standard Brembo 14-inch rotors with six-piston calipers front and 13.4-inch rotors and four-piston calipers rear. Buyers get standard magnetic ride control suspension, special stabilizer bars, and unique springs. Standard electronic limited slip differential is included. Power comes by way of a 460hp LT1 V8 engine with a dry-sump oil system and active exhaust.Buyers can choose between a 7-speed manual or an 8-speed paddle shift auto transmission. Choosing the Z07 package adds carbon ceramic brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Cup tires. The car also has a track aero package with special front fenders and other tidbits from the Z06. The car in the images is a special Collector Edition with Tension Blue leather and suede interior and special Watkins Glen Gray Metallic exterior with Tension Blue hash marks. The Grand Sport launches this summer in the US and later this year in Europe.SOURCE: Chevrolet Corvette engineers adapted the chassis turning, upgraded cooling systems, and performance tech of the Z06 for the Grand Sport and the result is a car ready to hit the track. The Grand Sport with the Z07 package was less than a second off the track record for the previous generation Corvette ZR1 on the GM Milford Proving Ground road course. The car gets a special Grand Sport wheel design at 19×10-inches front and 20×12-inches rear. Chevrolet has rolled out a new version of the Corvette Stingray called the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport. You can think of this car as the naturally aspirated version of the Corvette Z06. If you liked what the Z06 was about, but aren’t a fan of supercharged cars for your track day weapon of choice, the Grand Sport is what you want. Chevy says that the 2016 Grand Sport has an estimated 1.05g in cornering capability with 1.2g if you choose the Z07 package.
Under the hood will be a single engine option, Honda’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, tuned either for 174 HP and 162 lb-ft. of torque in the LX, EX, and EX-L trims, or for 180 GP and 162 lb-ft. of torque in the Sport and Sport Touring. LX, Sport, and EX models will optionally be fitted with a six-speed manual transmission; otherwise, you’re looking at a CVT which Honda claims has been tuned for more sporting feel than you might typically expect. EPA fuel economy ratings haven’t been finalized yet, though Honda is predicting 31/40/34 mpg on the tougher 2017 city/highway/combined tests. AdChoices广告Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available on EX or higher models, as will heated front seats and side mirrors, power seats in the front, remote engine stat, and Honda Sensing, the company’s various active safety systems. When fitted, that’ll include adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assistance, and all the other features we’ve tested on recent Honda cars and trucks, most recently the 2017 Ridgeline.Of course, much of the excitement round the Civic Hatchback is because of the upcoming Civic Type-R which, as with the European version of the hot hatch, will be based on the five-door model in the US, too. That’s expected to hit American forecourts in 2017, though Honda is keeping details like performance close to its chest. Honda sells its Civic by the bucketload, so anticipation is high for this, the all-new 2017 Civic Hatchback due to arrive at US dealerships this fall. The third body-style of the latest Civic to see a release, it’s of particular interest to American fans of the compact since this is actually the first time they’ll be able to buy the five-door version. Honda started its Civic assault with the Civic Sedan, which we drove back in late 2015, promptly winning 2016 North American Car of the Year. It followed that with the Civic Coupe earlier this year, but the hatchback promises to be the most flexible version yet. That’s because, even though it’s built on the same platform as the sedan and coupe, it offers both more cargo and passenger space and – courtesy of that fifth “door” – more readily-available space too. Compared to the Civic Sedan’s 97.8 cubic feet of interior space, the Civic Hatchback has 122.9 cubic feet. 
Story TimelineHonda pushes CarPlay and Android Auto in 2016 CivicHonda prices up the 2016 CivicThis is the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe
Apple’s CarPlay has added support for WhatsApp, allowing for voice control of the popular instant messaging service while driving. The latest update to WhatsApp quietly added CarPlay compatibility this week, making the messaging app one of a short list of third-party applications and services that Apple has allowed into its walled garden of features deemed safe enough for the road. Story TimelineAlpine iLX-107 CarPlay review: Siri goes wirelessTIDAL gets Apple CarPlay support: here are your other optionsToyota CarPlay support arrives in 2019 Avalon Indeed, WhatsApp is the first, major messaging app to be added. Apple’s approach with CarPlay and third-party support has been markedly at odds with Android Auto since the start, with Apple taking a more regimented approach to what it believes drivers should have access to while operating their vehicle. That given, new additions are always worth noting. We’ve confirmed that, with the latest version of WhatsApp 2.18.2 for iOS, when you plug in your iPhone into a CarPlay-compatible vehicle or aftermarket head-unit the icon for the messaging app is automatically added. The new functionality was first reported by iCulture. We tested it on a 2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI, but it should work across any vehicle that promises support for Apple’s infotainment system. It’s not the first time we’ve been able to control WhatsApp through the CarPlay interface, mind. Thanks to Apple opening up Siri’s messaging talents in a previous version of iOS, it had been possible to use the virtual assistant to dictate messages to be sent to WhatsApp contacts. However, it was not possible to actually read or hear any replies. That’s been addressed by this update. Incoming WhatsApp messages are flagged up on-screen as CarPlay notifications, just as updates from Apple’s own Messages app would be. Tapping on them has Siri automatically read the text out, and then offer to reply. However, whereas you can see a list of chat conversations in Messages, WhatsApp currently doesn’t have the same functionality in CarPlay. Press the icon, and you get the option to either dictate a new message or hear a spoken summary of currently unread messages. There’s no way to browse through existing conversations without opening up the app on your phone. That’s probably for the best in terms of potential driver distraction, though it’s still going to be frustrating for many users. Apple’s argument with CarPlay has always been that it’s intended to give the fundamentals of the iPhone experience while not monopolizing the driver’s attention from the road ahead, hence the interface’s relatively pared-back array of functionality. 
Story TimelineScribd Audiobooks: expanding beyond AmazonScribd adds thousands of comic books to ebook serviceScribd calls it quits on comics in less than a year Scribd, the document-hosting company that slowly transformed into an ebook destination, has launched its own original content. Simply called Scribd Originals, the new roster includes original content from a selection of authors, all of it available exclusively through Scribd. The launch is akin to Amazon’s Audible Originals program, which offers original audiobook content exclusive to its platform. Unlike Audible Originals, which involve audiobooks, Scribd Originals are focused on content spanning multiple genres offered both in ebook and audiobook formats. The company points out that originals are a great option for unlimited subscription reading services like the one offered by the company. Scribd says it will work directly with both authors and publishers on drawing in readers from beyond traditional book releases. Authors benefit from the company’s personalized recommendation engine, at least according to Scribd, because readers are shown new content based on what they already enjoy reading.Amazon currently offers anyone the ability to publish their own ebooks, something Scribd is officially competing with. The company states:AdChoices广告Scribd Originals will take the form of entirely new content or extensions of existing short-form works that an author feels are deserving of more attention. Authors are free to experiment with stories they might want to expand into full books, movies, and tv series down the road. The first Scribd Original is now available, and it’s called Mueller’s War. Scribd has a number of authors currently on board with its new program, including Paul Theroux, Hilton Als, Roxane Gay, Mark Seal, and Garrett Graff.
Story Timeline2019 BMW 330i and 2020 M340i First DrivePorsche and BMW show off ultra-fast EV charging stations that fully charge in 15-minutesBMW just settled one big Toyota Supra question A teardrop camper gets its name from the typically teardrop-shaped design. These campers are usually only large enough for one or two people; the small size makes them ideal for smaller vehicles, offering the best of camping and portability combined with the comforts of something more substantial than a simple tent.The Futurelight camper concept developed by The North Face and BMW’s Designworks subsidiary features the same general shape, but more rounded and featuring a design that immediately catches the eye. The concept features an inner geodesic dome with The North Face’s Futurelight fabric stretched over its exterior. The camper is intended to showcase a particular potential use for the advanced fabric. The material is notable due to its nano-sized holes, which are the result of The North Face’s Nanospinning process. The tiny holes are too small for water to enter, but air can still pass through the material, making it both waterproof but also breathable. In addition to something like the camper, the fabric could be used in outdoor clothing intended to protect from rain and snow. According to BMW, the camper concept was inspired by the 2008 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept car. Unfortunately, the concept won’t be brought to market, but The North Face will introduce its Futurelight fabric into its Fall 2019 products. BMW has teamed with outdoor sporting company The North Face to develop a new type of teardrop camper trailer, one featuring a fabric outer shell showcasing The North Face’s new innovation “Futurelight.” This new fabric is waterproof, yet remains breathable, forming the camper’s outer shell as one potential use for a material that can’t be limited to just clothing.
IBM, Time Warner Move Retirees To Private Health Exchanges IBM and Time Warner are moving retirees out of company-sponsored health plans and giving them money to buy coverage in private health insurance exchanges. The companies will allocate funds that retirees can use to shop for coverage in marketplaces similar to those being set up under the federal health care law. The Associated Press: IBM Moving Some Retirees Off Its Health PlanIBM plans to move many retired workers off its health plan and give them money to buy coverage on a health-insurance exchange. The move is part of a corporate trend away from providing traditional retiree health benefits as costs rise. The company says it acted after projections showed that costs under its current plan for Medicare-eligible retirees will triple by 2020 and that the increases would be paid by retirees through premiums and out-of-pocket costs (Koenig, 9/7).The Wall Street Journal: IBM To Move Retirees Off Health Plan IBM’s shift is an indication that health-insurance marketplaces, similar to the public exchanges proposed under President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul, will play a bigger role as companies move coverage down the path taken by many pensions, paying employees and retirees a fixed sum to manage their own care. In notices signed by Chief Health Director Kyu Rhee, IBM has told retirees in recent weeks that to keep receiving coverage, they will need to pick a plan offered through Extend Health, a large private Medicare exchange run by New York-based Towers Watson & Co. (Ante, 9/7).The Wall Street Journal: Time Warner Joins IBM In Health Shift For RetireesInsurance exchanges are the health-care experiment du jour. Retirees are the test case. The latest indication: Media-company Time Warner Inc. plans to move its U.S. retirees from company-administered health plans to private exchanges, according to a person familiar with the matter. The company will allocate funds in special accounts that retirees can use to go shop for coverage, the person said (Ante, 9/8).Reuters: Time Warner To Move U.S. Retirees To Healthcare ExchangesTime Warner Inc is planning to transfer its U.S. retirees from company-sponsored health plans and move them to private insurance exchanges. According to an August memo obtained by Reuters, the media company will make allocations to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement account for retirees to use towards the purchase of coverage on an exchange. Previously, Time Warner provided an indirect subsidy through a supplementary Medicare program (9/8).Reuters: IBM To Transfer U.S. Retirees To Healthcare Exchanges Next YearIBM plans to move U.S. retirees off its company-sponsored health plan and shift them into new private insurance exchanges as a way of lowering costs for retirees. IBM had selected Extend Health, which is owned by Towers Watson & Co, to provide retirees with new health options for medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage, the company said in a statement on Friday (9/7).The Associated Press/Washington Post: Time Warner Joins IBM In Moving Retirees To Private Health Insurance Exchanges To Cut CostsMedia and entertainment company Time Warner Inc. plans to move its retired workers off its health plan and provide money to them to purchase coverage on private exchanges at the beginning of next year (9/8).Earlier, related KHN coverage: As More Employers Drop Coverage, Retirees Turn To Specialized Insurance Exchanges (Andrews, 8/15/2012). In a related development, employers are also cutting health care coverage for workers’ spouses -Indianapolis Star: Kroger Health Insurance End For Spouses May Be Model For Future Cincinnati-based grocer Kroger has become the latest major employer to cut health care coverage for workers’ spouses, negotiating an Indiana contract that could become a model for companies nationwide. The contract applies to only 11,000 Kroger workers in Indiana, but it puts Kroger at the leading edge of a growing movement to restrict or eliminate spousal coverage. … Few [companies] have eliminated spousal coverage altogether, though. That’s beginning to change. Last year, 4 percent of companies barred coverage of spouses in the same way Kroger now does in Indiana, according to Towers Watson, a human resources consulting firm. Next year, that figure is expected to climb to 12 percent (Horn, 9/8).The Columbus Dispatch: Employers Limit Health Plans For Spouses Employers are placing greater limits on how two-income families get health coverage through their jobs. … This year, 34 percent of public employers in Ohio have some type of stipulation for employees whose spouses have other means of medical coverage, according to survey results reported last month by the State Employment Relations Board. That compares with 26 percent five years ago. Most Ohio public employers who have spousal restrictions require that employee spouses use their own employer insurance as their primary form of coverage, if available, the survey found (Sutherly, 9/8). This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
Sign up for the Mobile NewsletterSign Up Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from Goodtoknow and other brands operated by TI Media Limited via email. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The TicWatch E2 runs on Google’s Wear OS – meaning you’ll have a ton of options when it comes to apps to use and ways to customise the look of your smartwatch. Unlike an Apple Watch, the TicWatch works with both Android and iOS too.The TicWatch also brings you a ton of smartwatch features that you expect but at a great price. The E2 is water-resistant – perfect for monitoring your activity when swimming. There’s a 24-hour heart rate monitor and a built-in GPS onboard too. TicWatch E2 DealTicwatch E2, Waterproof Smartwatch with 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Wear OS by Google, Compatible with Android and iOSThe TicWatch E2 offers a great alternative to the Apple Watch at a much more affordable price point. The smartwatch still offers typical features like a heart rate monitor and it works with both Android and iOS.Amazon US|Save 30%|Now $111.99View DealNow $111.99|Save 30%|Amazon US For non-fitness fanatics, this smartwatch works great if you are just after a way for getting smartphone notifications to your wrist – it even comes with Google Assistant built in. You won’t be charging the watch all that often even as it comes with up to 2 days of battery life.Our review had plenty of good to say about the wallet-friendly smartwatch: “Mobvoi is back with another bang-for-your-buck Wear OS smartwatch.If you’re not looking to drop a lot of cash for a more premium Wear OS smartwatch, then you should consider the TicWatch E2. It’s still a good-looking smartwatch that’s well built, has good performance, good (albeit basic) exercise tracking, and has decent battery life overall”.If you’ve ever considered a TicWatch E2 – or any smartwatch at all – then now is the time to take a look at this smartwatch. The TicWatch E2 is an amazingly affordable smartwatch and you can bag it now for 30% off at only $111.99.BUY NOW: TicWatch E2 for just $111.99 at Amazon The TicWatch E2 has had a price crash – falling down from $159.99 RRP to just $111.99. The new TicWatch came out earlier this year and this is the first time the price has ever dropped on Amazon.There’s a ton of smartwatches on the market at the moment which soar above the $200-$300 mark – making the TicWatch E2 impossible to ignore especially with almost $50 off for Prime Day.BUY NOW: TicWatch E2 for just $111.99 at Amazon TicWatch E2 DealTicwatch E2, Waterproof Smartwatch with 24 Hours Heart Rate Monitor, Wear OS by Google, Compatible with Android and iOSThe TicWatch E2 offers a great alternative to the Apple Watch at a much more affordable price point. The smartwatch still offers typical features like a heart rate monitor and it works with both Android and iOS.Amazon US|Save 30%|Now $111.99View DealNow $111.99|Save 30%|Amazon US
We’d also like to send you special offers and news just by email from other carefully selected companies we think you might like. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies – we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please tick here if you are happy to receive these messages.By submitting your information, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy. Amazon Prime Day Deals Show More Unlike other sites, we thoroughly review everything we recommend, using industry standard tests to evaluate products. We’ll always tell you what we find. We may get a commission if you buy via our price links.Tell us what you think – email the Editor
Sign up for the Mobile NewsletterSign Up Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from Goodtoknow and other brands operated by TI Media Limited via email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Show More Unlike other sites, we thoroughly review everything we recommend, using industry standard tests to evaluate products. We’ll always tell you what we find. We may get a commission if you buy via our price links.Tell us what you think – email the Editor This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Once the biggest player in the world of Android phones, HTC has gone a bit quiet of late. That’s understandable, having lost much of its smartphone talent to Google, but since the company’s wildcard blockchain handset there’s not been a peep out of the firm.Until now, anyway. Over the weekend, HTC put up a teaser phone on its Taiwanese Facebook page. A warning in advance, there’s really not much to go on at all here:Told you. So there’s the brand – that’s a start – and there’s a date: 6.11, meaning we’ll hear more tomorrow. Related: Best smartphonesIf you’re particularly eagle-eyed, you’ll also spot the “e” in the text below the data. That, says the internet, is a key detail as it suggests HTC is planning on releasing a midranger. If that feels like a stretch, remember that the cut-down version of the Samsung Galaxy S10 is called the S10e.More importantly, there are benchmarks as well. Back in April, a mysterious HTC handset appeared on benchmarking site Antutu with fairly middling specifications. An Android 9 device, powered by a Snapdragon 710 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. That’s identical specs to the Oppo RX17 Pro if you want an early insight into how it should perform.Related: Best Android phonesThe 2160×1080 device came with the distinctly uncatchy codename of “HTC 2Q7A100”, but the general internet consensus is that this will be the HTC U19e.We’ll see tomorrow, but it’s hard to keep too much enthusiasm. While HTC used to make the best Android phones around (we still have a soft spot for the HTC One M8), the company’s recent output has been considerably less inspiring. Its last big release was the HTC U12 Plus, a phone that got a middling three-star review from us. “A great camera – but, sadly, not much else to get excited about” was Max’s verdict back in the day.Fingers crossed that HTC can prove us wrong tomorrow.Are you excited about a new HTC phone? Let us know on Twitter: @TrustedReviews. We’d also like to send you special offers and news just by email from other carefully selected companies we think you might like. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies – we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please tick here if you are happy to receive these messages.By submitting your information, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
‘Sea of tranquility’: Ontario pitches its debt as a haven to European investors amid Brexit Finance Minister Vic Fedeli says Ontario is finding investor interest for an eventual deal in Europe Sponsored By: Related Stories Featured Stories ← Previous Next → Global trade is the biggest question mark hanging over Canada’s corporate bond market next year June 11, 20193:23 PM EDT Filed under News FP Street Twitter Reddit Email More Facebook Dealmakers 2019: Find all of our charts here and get the scoop on the dollars, the deals and who did them
0 Comments Share this story’Sea of tranquility’: Ontario pitches its debt as a haven to European investors amid Brexit Tumblr Pinterest Google+ LinkedIn Esteban Duarte and Jill Ward Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli.Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg What you need to know about passing the family cottage to the next generation Comment BlackRock warns Canadian government borrowing is ‘crowding out’ companies advertisement Join the conversation → Ontario is pitching its debt to European investors as a haven from Brexit and other geopolitical risks, allowing the world’s largest sub-sovereign borrower to expand its list of bond buyers.“On this trip, a lot of people are bringing up Brexit, U.S. and China in their discussions,” Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said in a BNN Bloomberg TV interview in London Tuesday. Investors view Ontario as a “safe haven” and “sea of tranquility,” Fedeli said.Fedeli and his top debt manager are visiting European investors just as the Canadian economy is picking up steam after a slowdown in the first quarter. Canada’s unemployment rate fell in May to 5.4%, the lowest in data going back to 1976. BlackRock warns Canadian government borrowing is ‘crowding out’ companies Ontario sharpens axe as it readies plan to cut mounting $15-billion deficit Ontario debt sale breaks record after post-election absence Ontario, which is a regular issuer of green bonds in the domestic market, is finding investor interest for an eventual deal in Europe, said Fedeli. Ontario is Canada’s most-populous province.Ontario issued $1 billion (US$750 million) of 10-year bonds Tuesday, meaning it has raised $8.1 billion this fiscal year, said Gadi Mayman, chief executive officer of the Ontario Financing Authority. That’s more than a quarter of the $36 billion in financing targeted for the fiscal year ending in March. The latest transaction was priced to yield 2.257 per cent, compared with a 3.44 per cent average borrowing cost estimated by the province for the current period.“We’re now back to incredibly attractive interest rates, so we’re trying to move out the curve, borrow as much 10- and 30-year paper as we can and take advantage of these rates,” Mayman said in an interview in London.Bloomberg.com Bloomberg News 
Source: Adamas Intelligence Author Liberty Access TechnologiesPosted on March 6, 2019Categories Electric Vehicle News Prediction: 50% Of All New Cars Sold Globally Will Be Electric By 2033 Source: Electric Vehicle News Deloitte Predicts Strong Growth Of EV Market: Oversupply In 10 Years
Small Businesses Expect Fully Electric Fleets Within 20 Years Sales would not increase so fast without rapidly evolving productsAccording to Adamas Intelligence, sales of electrified passenger cars (hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric) increased in 2018 by 28.6% to 4.28 million, at 5.2% of total global volume.The new report notes that the market of electrified cars not only expands fast, but at the same time evolves even faster, which can be seen on all levels from models, to battery packs, to battery cells and even cell chemistry itself.See Also In the case of models – the market is evolving towards scalable modular platforms – some dedicated to handle different powertrains, and some dedicated for BEVs. It will be rare to see a new conventional model converted to electric just to have some compliance EV.Global average EV battery capacity steadily rising (Source: Adamas Intelligence)Average battery pack capacity is quickly growing from around 1.4 kWh (initially mostly hybrids) in January 2010 to 24.8 kWh in December 2018.“The average EV pack capacity (in kWh) is continually increasing. This increase is happening for a number of reasons; such as advances in cell chemistry, greater sales of BEVs relative to HEVs, and due to an urgency on the part of automakers to expand driving range (distance per charge) so as to differentiate their EV model(s) from those of incumbents.Overall, the global sales-weighted average EV battery capacity has increased by a factor of 18x in nine years, from 1.4 kWh in January 2010 to 24.8 kWh in December 2018 (see recent insight from Adamas Intelligence).”The battery cells (in three main form factors – prismatic, pouch and cylindrical) also are changing to higher capacity versions and bigger size.“As of 2019, the three main form factors (prismatic, pouch and cylindrical) continue to be widely used but if-and-when some cell suppliers do broadly adopt high-nickel NCM 811 (or other high-nickel NCM or NCA cathodes), cylindrical and pouch form factors will become the logical choice to accommodate the thermal expansion associated with these chemistries.Although form factors haven’t evolved much in recent years, the sales-weighted average cell volume and capacity continues to expand, as reflected by Tesla’s switch from 18650 to 21700 cylindrical cells, as well as CATL’s shift from 45Ah to 50Ah prismatic cells, and beyond.”Adamas Intelligence said that the total deployment of batteries in electrified passenger cars (including hybrids) was in 2018 72.3 GWh (up 81% year-over-year from 40 GWh in 2017).Nickel-rich cathodes are on the rise:Lastly, at the cell chemistry level, the landscape is rapidly moving towards ‘higher’ nickel cathode varieties (i.e. NCM 523/622) but remains broadly cautious of adopting the ‘highest’ nickel varieties (i.e. NCM 811) due to cost, reliability and safety concerns.In 2018, global deployment of NCM 523 (in GWh) for passenger EVs increased 129% year-over-year and deployment of NCM 622 increased 230% year-over-year while global deployment of NCM 811 among first movers decreased 46% year-over-year (see recent insight from Adamas Intelligence).
It’s expected that the tech behind the Taycan Cross Turismo will be the same as in the Taycan, which will be unveiled in full at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The car will go on sale by the end of this year. Already, more than 20,000 customers wait for the Taycan.We guess that both models will be available in a few battery/motor versions. Additionally, there is a big chance that other body versions will follow later – like the Taycan Wagon.Porsche Mission E Cross TurismoPorsche Mission E Cross Turismo Porsche Taycan Electric Car Racks Up Over 20,000 Orders Porsche Taycan Wagon Spotted Playing In Snow Porsche Taycan Turismo Electric Wagon Spied Winter Testing Taycan in 2019, Taycan Cross Turismo in 2020, Taycan Wagon in 2021?The second all-electric car from Porsche, the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo (based on the Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo concept) is scheduled for market launch one year after the Porsche Taycan – at the end of 2020.The date was revealed by Porsche CEO Oliver Blume who also named the car the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.Porsche news Source: Electric Vehicle News Source: Autoblog Author Liberty Access TechnologiesPosted on March 16, 2019Categories Electric Vehicle News 30 photos
New Museum Exhibit Showcases Only Electric Motorcycles Ever Wonder What Makes Electric Motorcycles Tick? Video Author Liberty Access TechnologiesPosted on April 9, 2019Categories Electric Vehicle News Honda Unveils CR Electric Motorcycle Prototype In Tokyo The streetfighter won’t be available for public sale until May, and the range-improving “power tank” not until autumn of 2019. On race day at Pikes Peak, Sunday June 30th, the Zero SR/F will still have that new-bike smell.Piloting the Zero will be Cory West, an American-born professional racer who’s been on two wheels since the age of four. He and the bike are entered into the Heavyweight division of the hill climb, competing against traditional internal combustion engine bikes like the Aprilia Tuono V4 1100, the Ducati Multistrada, and the BMW S1000R.Also known as the Race to the Clouds, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been an annual event in Colorado since 1916 and is the second oldest motorsports event in the Western Hemisphere. It is a timed trial consisting of 12.42 miles packed with 156 turns and a 4,720 foot total vertical climb that starts at 9,390 feet above sea level. The finish line is 14,115 feet above sea level and high enough to induce altitude sickness in those susceptible. The air is so thin at the top, internal combustion engines lose power from lack of oxygen. This is where the electric bikes may have an advantage in this particular race: they do not need to breathe air.The SR/F puts out 110hp and 140ft-lbs of torque in its 485lb curb weight frame. It has a range of about 160 miles on a charge (less if you’re blasting it down a highway), and will take a full charge in 80 minutes (or sixty with the charger upgrade). It can reach a top speed of 124mph, it is clutchless, and has a belt final drive.Source: Zero Motorcycles, BikesRepublic, MCN Source: Electric Vehicle News The new Zero electric streetfighter will join the heavyweights on Pikes Peak this year.The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is fast approaching, and as it does more and more manufacturers are announcing their participation and revealing their machinery. Dedicated electric bike manufacturer Zero Motorcycles will be participating with their recently-released SR/F streetfighter.More E-Bikes
A sea of Teslas and other EVs draw plenty of attentionSource: Electric Vehicle News
Recently outgoing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein delivered this speech to a university audience. Like many of Rosenstein’s prior speeches highlighted on these pages, the speech was a pleasure to read for its general advice.For instance, Rosenstein stated: “Today, you are relentlessly bombarded with information, much of it of unknown reliability. The internet lets people share their most ignorant thoughts. Many news stories rely on anonymous sources, without providing details to assess their credibility and bias. Some critics worry that our society will be unable to distinguish fact from opinion, and truth from fiction.”Perhaps Rosenstein was talking about certain FCPA commentary? (See here, here and here for instance).Moving on to more legal subjects, Rosenstein (as he has done in several prior speeches) stated:“At the Department of Justice, our patriotic mission is to promote the rule of law. The term “rule of law” describes the government’s obligation to follow neutral principles. The idea dates at least to the fourth century BC, when Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that “[i]t is more proper that law should govern than any one of the citizens.[…]The rule of law is indispensable to a thriving and vibrant society. It shields citizens from government overreach. It allows businesses to invest with confidence. It gives innovators protection for their discoveries. It keeps people safe from dangerous criminals. And it allows us to resolve differences peacefully through reason and logic.When you follow the law, it does not always yield the outcome you would choose. In fact, one indicator that you are following the law is when you respect a result although you do not agree with it. You respect it because it is dictated by the facts and the law.”Rosenstein also talked about the rule of law in this other recent speech.As discussed in this prior post, it is an open question whether certain FCPA enforcement actions or enforcement agency policy are even consistent with the rule of law.Rosenstein next stated:“Prosecutions are an important deterrent to crime, but strong corporate compliance programs are the first line of defense. That is why the Department of Justice should reward companies that try in good faith to deter crime – those that voluntarily implement meaningful compliance programs. When crimes occur, good corporate citizens investigate it, report it to the authorities, cooperate in investigations, and implement appropriate remedies.Law enforcement agencies should give the greatest consideration to companies that establish effective compliance programs, because it frees our agents and prosecutors to focus on people who commit more serious financial crimes or pose other threats to America.During my tenure as Deputy Attorney General, we updated Department policies to reflect those principles and to create stronger incentives to uphold the law.[…]Corporations need to prepare for unexpected events, but government should provide certainty when possible.That principle underlies my approach to corporate liability. Companies can be held legally responsible for criminal acts by their employees, but that is not always the most reasonable outcome. In our Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, we established a policy that incentivizes exemplary corporate conduct. Companies that self-report violations, cooperate with investigations, and remediate harm are rewarded with a presumption that we will decline to pursue the company with criminal charges. Instead, we focus our limited resources on companies that fail to take compliance obligations seriously.”Once again (see here for the prior post), Rosenstein nicely articulated the policy rationale for an FCPA compliance defense. However, the best way to “reward companies that try in good faith to deter crime,” and “incentivize exemplary corporate conduct” is not through non-binding DOJ guidance full of vague terms (see here) that the DOJ refuses to provide clarity on (see here).Rather, those laudable policy goals could best be accomplished through an FCPA compliance defense (see here for article Revisiting an FCPA Compliance Defense).Separately, Rosenstein’s suggestion that to be a “good corporate citizen,” a business organization must report improper conduct to authorities should be rejected. In the FCPA context, a business organization can be a “good corporate citizen” by thoroughly investigating an issue, terminating or disciplining culpable actors, and implementing appropriate remedial measures – all without disclosing to the government.In this recent speech, Rosenstein stated:“When our government makes an allegation of wrongdoing, we need to prove it.”Well, not exactly. In the FCPA context, all the government needs to do is make allegations and then risk averse business organizations will generally roll-over and play dead and agree to a non-prosecution agreement, deferred prosecution agreement or declination with disgorgement.In fact, in FCPA history the DOJ is believed to be 0-2 when put to its ultimate burden of proof by a business organization (see here and here). Learn More & Register FCPA Institute – Boston (Oct. 3-4) A unique two-day learning experience ideal for a diverse group of professionals seeking to elevate their FCPA knowledge and practical skills through active learning. Learn more, spend less. CLE credit is available.