Nicole Lee
Articles by Nicole Lee
Panic's quirky Playdate handheld will be available for developers soon
Several months ago, Panic unveiled the Playdate, a tiny gaming handheld with a crank that is perhaps the most adorable gadget we've seen this year. As cute it is, however, it's not quite ready for pre-orders just yet. But the hardware itself is effectively done. That's why Panic is announcing a new preview program where developers can get their hands on one early, so they can start creating games for it.
Google's new depth feature makes its AR experiences more realistic
Google has been experimenting with ARCore for the better part of two years, adding more features to its AR development platform over time. Back at I/O this year, Google introduced Environmental HDR, which brings real world lighting to AR objects and scenes. Today, it's incorporating a Depth API that will introduce occlusion, 3D understanding, and a new level of realism.
Battle of the smart screens: Lenovo and Amazon's latest compared
Amazon's Echo Show was the only smart display on the market in 2017, but fast forward a couple years later and devices like these have become ubiquitous. Much of that is due to competition from the likes of Google, which in addition to making its own hardware, has licensed out its tech to third-party manufacturers like Lenovo. Plus, two years on it's become clear that smart displays are actually useful -- they do everything smart speakers can, with a dash of helpful visuals. Now that there are so many smart displays, though, they've started to look and feel very similar, which can make buying one a little confusing.
The Echo Flex is Amazon’s Alexa gateway drug
One of Engadget's favorite smart speakers over the past few years has been Amazon's Echo Dot. It's small, easy to use and incredibly affordable at only $50. Sure, there are speakers offering better audio, but if all you wanted was a cheap way to get Alexa into the home, the Echo Dot was the way to go. That is, until earlier this year, when Amazon announced an entirely new product: the Echo Flex. At $25, it's one of the cheapest Alexa devices on the market.
'Pokémon Go' will let you play with your friends’ monster pals in AR
Niantic has been around for nine years now (it was originally part of Google before it spun out on its own), and the company is still going strong. A lot of that has to do with the success of Pokémon Go, as well as the recent debut of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. Today, the company is making several announcements — a couple of improvements to Pokémon Go and new programs for small businesses and developers — that it hopes will fulfill its ever-growing AR ambitions.
Portal TV review: Facebook invades the living room
Facebook's Portal video chat displays have faced quite a bit of scrutiny over the past year due to the company's terrible record when it comes to privacy, security and lack of transparency. Perhaps as a result, reports have surfaced that Portal products are not selling very well. But that hasn't stopped Facebook from moving forward with the idea.
Here's everything you need for your new Pixel 4
After months of leaks, Google's Pixel 4 and 4 XL are finally available in stores. Touted as Android's answer to iPhones, there are already a healthy number of Pixel accessories to choose from. Here are some of our picks to get you started.
The (Day)dream is over: Phone-based VR is well and truly dead
When Google introduced Cardboard at I/O 2014, a lot of people thought it was a joke. A cardboard-based contraption that turned your phone into a primitive VR headset seemed more like a kid's science project than a serious endeavor. But Google's Cardboard was just the first in a long line of phone-powered VR. Samsung's Gear VR combined serious Oculus optics and tracking with its own Galaxy handsets, and Google later came up with its own "real" VR hardware with the Daydream View.
Facebook Portal review (2019): A redesign doesn't ease privacy fears
When Facebook debuted its Portal video chat devices last year, they were met with a great deal of skepticism. After all, the company doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation on security and privacy. Following their release, Facebook faced even further scrutiny when it sent confusing messages on whether the devices collect data (they do) and when employees were caught leaving five-star reviews for them on Amazon. Oops.
Amazon Fire TV Cube review (2019): Alexa's streaming box grows up
With so many streaming devices on the market, it can be difficult for new ones to stand out. Amazon, for its part, has differentiated its Fire TV products with one notable feature: They work with Alexa. If you have an Echo paired with a Fire TV device, you can launch TV shows, play tunes, check the weather or even turn the TV on and off, simply by using your voice. Last year, Amazon married an Echo and a Fire TV together in one product called the Fire TV Cube, so you could use one device instead of two. At the time, however, it couldn't handle some simple voice commands and it lacked core Echo functions like voice messaging.
Tile’s latest Bluetooth tracker is a tiny, waterproof sticker
Tile is so well-known for its Bluetooth trackers that it's practically synonymous with the category. But as useful as they are for finding your stuff, they can only be attached via a keychain or slipped into a pocket. Sure, you could stick them on with an adhesive, but that can be a little awkward and unwieldy, especially on smaller devices. Today, Tile has unveiled a potential solution to that with the Tile Sticker. It retails for $39.99 for a pack of two or $59.99 for a pack of four.
3D body scanner promises perfectly fitting clothes
Last year, we had a look at TG3D Studio's Scanatic 360 Body Scanner, which susses out your body's measurements so you know exactly what clothing size to get at the store. Now, the company has renamed it to the VTO (Virtual Try-On) by Scanatic for Fashion, and has upgraded it so it can capture higher density scans, making them much more accurate than before. This way, you can "see" just how the clothes will fit on your body, hopefully making it that much easier to get the right outfit for your body type.
Accudio's earbuds use an 'inner mic' to put phone calls first
True wireless earbuds are one of the hottest consumer electronics categories right now, what with big companies like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft all jumping in on the wireless earbud trend. That hasn't stopped smaller startups from coming up with their own spin on it however. Orfeo Soundworks, a Korean company that's been making audio hardware since 2015, is planning on its own version called Accudio. But unlike other earbuds that focus more on listening to music, these have another focus: clearer phone calls.
Echo Loop hands-on: Alexa on your knuckles and at your fingertips
Aside from a pair of glasses, Amazon also announced another interesting Alexa-powered wearable: a smart ring. The Echo Loop is a chunky piece of smart jewelry made out of titanium, with a tiny discreet button. In order to activate it, you have to press the button with your thumb, after which you can say the usual Alexa commands. It has a built-in microphone and speakers.
Echo Frames hands-on: Amazon's glasses bring Alexa everywhere
Amazon is entering into the eyewear business. At the company's annual event today, it announced its first-ever pair of smart glasses, called the Echo Frames. There's no AR here, so don't expect floating images; they're not anything like the North Focals. Instead, think of them as an Alexa-powered speaker that you put on your face. They're designed to look and feel like a regular pair of glasses, and based on the brief time I had with them, I think they nailed it. It really does look like a normal pair of frames.
Echo Buds hands-on: Bose quality in an Amazon package
Amazon released not just smart speakers at today's big event, but also a pair of wireless earbuds. The Echo Buds are Alexa-powered of course, but that's not the only thing unique about them. Thanks to a Bose partnership, they also have active noise reduction (ANR) on board. And, based on my brief experience with them, that noise-reduction really works.
Echo Studio hands-on: Amazon's biggest speaker sounds amazing
One of the biggest announcements at today's Amazon event is also big in size. The Echo Studio is Amazon's first-ever play at high-end audio, promising immersive 3D sound, Dolby Atmos capabilities and support for lossless audio streaming. It looks and feels like a premium product, with a sound that fills the whole room, and a design that's not too shabby either.
Tilt Five wants to bring augmented reality to tabletop games
In 2013, former Valve engineer Jeri Ellsworth used an idea for projection-based AR glasses from her prior employment and built a company called Technical Illusions, which would then become castAR. Despite early success, including a $15 million investment from Andy Rubin's Playground, the company shuttered in 2017 amid financial troubles. However, Ellsworth and a small crew of former castAR employees put together enough funds to buy back the assets and created a new company called Tilt Five. Now, after two years of retooling, Ellsworth and crew are ready to launch the new and improved version of her AR glasses, along with a renewed focus in tabletop AR gaming. The Kickstarter for Tilt Five launches today, where you can get a basic kit starting at $299. One of the key differentiators between this project and the last one? Ellsworth is now CEO and has greater control over its direction.
Here’s everything you need for your new iPhone 11
Apple announced its latest smartphones, the iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro (and Pro Max), a week ago, but now they're officially in stores. If you decided to upgrade, you might want to consider getting a few accessories to go along with your new purchase. Unsurprisingly, there's a vast array already on sale, but here are a few that caught our eye. Every accessory here can be used with either the 11, the 11 Pro, or the 11 Pro Max (You just need to select the right case to fit your preferred model).
Yahoo’s redesigned Mail app aims to bring order to your inbox
The way we use email has changed a lot over the years, evolving from person-to-person communications to an all-in-one depository for newsletters, coupons, travel receipts and (a lot of) miscellaneous junk. This can lead to an overwhelmingly messy inbox, making it that much harder to find that e-ticket right before the concert. Yahoo Mail's revamped app, however, hopes to change that with an approach that prioritizes organization and avoid email overload (Full disclosure: Yahoo's parent company is Verizon, which is the same as Engadget's).