News

HTC 10 announced: Android flagship for iPhone owners

Published

on

After months of leaks and rumors, HTC has unveiled its flagship smartphone for 2016, the simply named HTC 10. It has a lot riding on its shoulders — or, should we say, metal body? — given HTC’s consistently poor sales amid increasing competition from Apple, Samsung, and Chinese brands.

Note that the troubled Taiwanese-based manufacturer has dropped the One branding and M designation altogether, as well as many HTC-branded bloatware like HTC Audio and the standalone Zoe app (though Zoe is built in to the stock camera software), in an attempt to create a more focused device. One that, at first glance, seems to be aimed squarely at iPhone users who are considering making the switch to Android.

And if its gorgeous aluminum finish, unibody construction, and stripped-down interface aren’t appealing enough to sustain the interest of Apple fans, consider that the HTC 10 is the first non-Apple phone to support AirPlay, meaning it can be used to stream content to the Apple TV and other iOS devices.

HTC 10 official

The simply named HTC 10

Over to the camera department, the HTC 10 is equipped with a 12-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization and f/1.8 aperture lens for capturing more light and producing brighter and clearer photos in dim lighting. The 5-megapixel front-facer has the same aperture as the rear cam and is likewise optically stabilized — a first for any phone maker, according to HTC.

When it comes to under-the-hood specifications, the HTC 10 matches the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and LG G5 spec-for-spec, fitting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB of RAM. The 32GB of onboard storage should prove to be satisfactory for most users, though a microSD card slot that houses up to 1TB cards (that don’t exist yet) is there for those who need more memory.

Display purists will be delighted to note that the HTC 10 has one of the most pixel-dense screens around, sporting a 5.2-inch Quad HD display topped off with curved-edge glass. And while we’re not in a position to comment on picture quality, our positive experiences with recent HTC flagships going back to the HTC One M7 inspire much confidence.

However, we can’t say the same for the non-user-replaceable 3,000mAh cell, which the phone maker claims is big enough to power the device through two days of usage. Regardless, you’ll be able to charge it quickly through a USB Type-C connector that supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 rapid-charging technology.

The HTC 10 is now available for preorder in the U.S. for $700 (P32,500) and will ship in four colors: gray, silver, gold, and red. Shipping will begin around May.

[irp posts=”11392″ name=”HTC’s ‘unexpected surprise’ is surprisingly disappointing”]

Related Topics:

Accessories

Logitech introduces a dedicated shortcut for ChatGPT

Compatible with most keyboards and mice

Published

on

April 19, 2024

By

Artificial intelligence is already meant to simplify a workflow. However, despite the ease, there are still a few ways to optimize the process. Today, Logitech has launched a new shortcut to launch ChatGPT straight from your mouse or keyboard.

Minus programmable hotkeys or buttons, there are hardly any built-in way to easily access an AI model. For a typical workflow, it still consists of manually opening the model on a separate window and keeping it within cursor’s reach throughout the day.

Logitech is simplifying the process by adding a dedicated shortcut for its devices. With a Logitech keyboard or mouse supported by the Logi Options+ app, users can program a keyboard or mouse button for the new Logi AI Prompt Builder.

Once activated, the AI Prompt Builder automatically accesses easy options for highlighted text. For example, users can easily rephrase or summarize the text. Likewise, they can input their own custom queries. By eliminating a few clicks and some typing throughout the day, the new tool hopes to save you time.

While most Logitech keyboards and mice are compatible with the new tool, it is also more easily accessible with the new Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse. The new mouse has a dedicated button just for AI prompts. If you’re an AI power user, this one is perfect for you.

SEE ALSO: Logitech unveils G Pro X 60 gaming keyboard: Price, details

Continue Reading

News

X’s AI accused Klay Thompson of vandalizing houses with bricks

AI thought joke posts were real

Published

on

April 18, 2024

By

Image source: Keith Allison, Wikimedia

Despite the ease that the technology promises, artificial intelligence still isn’t the most reliable thing you can depend on. Today’s models can still flub answers. Now, the pitfalls of AI are abundantly clear with a few mishaps on X. Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson was just “accused” of a vandalism spree involving bricks.

Late Tuesday night, X presented an AI-generated news snippet. The article, posted soon after the Warriors’ play-in loss to the Sacramento Kings, reads: “Klay Thompson Accused in Bizarre Brick-Vandalism Spree.”

The snippet hilariously described an incident where Thompson supposedly vandalized houses in Sacramento with bricks. Thankfully, according to the snippet, no one was hurt. It even had a few sources for its claims below the news summary.

The sources, however, are just joke posts stemming from the recently concluded game. In that do-or-die game, Thompson put up a staggering 0 points on ten shot attempts, the most misses without a make by a Warrior since the ’68 season. Naturally, everyone joked that the Warriors guard just threw bricks all over Sacramento.

Now, X is currently experimenting with a new AI feature called Grok. The model collates trending topics and creates snippets of what’s happening for X users. However, it’s not exactly the smartest in determining real news from satiric ones. The feature notes as much, carrying a fine-print caveat warning users to “verify its outputs” because it’s an early feature and can make mistakes.

SEE ALSO: New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

Continue Reading

Apps

New X users must pay a dollar per year to post and reply

Rolling out globally now

Published

on

April 16, 2024

By

New users on X might soon face a tough time on the platform. The social media website will likely start charging new accounts a small fee for the right to post on the platform.

Now, the fee isn’t a new one. Almost six months ago, the company tested the paid system in New Zealand and the Philippines. New users in those countries had to pay a dollar per year for the ability to post and reply to content.

As spotted by X Daily News on the same platform, the company might be ready to take the experiment to a larger market. New text strings have shown that the policy is rolling out worldwide.

The policy is designed to combat a wave of bots appearing on the platform. By preventing new accounts from creating posts, X hopes to stave off the standard behavior of bots these days. You might have noticed them as OnlyFans creators in unrelated posts, peddling NSFW content on their bio.

Though the global rollout was only just spotted, owner Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed the change. Replying to X Daily News, Musk says that it is “the only way to curb the relentless onslaught of bots.” He says that the current breed of bots can easily bypass simple checks these days.

SEE ALSO: X will no longer let you hide your blue checkmark

Continue Reading

Trending