Watch Out for These New Cool Updates Coming to Your Android Devices

This year, Google wasted no time in coming up with new features that Android users will surely enjoy. So if you're a proud owner of an Android device or are planning to get one, you might want to know these huge updates that you will soon get to experience.

Google's pace of change has always been impressive, and expect that there will always be new updates like the ones below that you can look forward to on your Android device.

No More Now Launcher

With the fancy new Pixel Launcher basically doing the same job but with a slicker look, the Now Launcher will soon be no more. This however, will be a little frustrating for non-Pixel/Nougat users in the meantime, since the Pixel Launcher isn't yet in the know of everyone, but eventually switching to it may probably makes the most sense.

Offline Reading in Chrome

From Chrome 56 onwards, you will be able to save pages for offline reading simply by tapping the Chrome's menu icon at the upper-right corner, and then tapping the down arrow button (or Download button). The page will then be saved in the Downloads section of Chrome for your offline reading enjoyment.

Useful New Tab Page on Chrome

Another new and helpful feature you will see from Chrome 56 onwards is a New Tab page, which now shows your downloads (including those pages you saved for offline reading), recent bookmarks, and favorite websites. It's a marked improvement on the pretty barebones New Tab page that existed before and makes everything on Chrome that much more interclickable.

Progressive Web Apps

Progressive Web Apps have been Chrome's useful features since 2015, which lets users to add their favorite websites to their Android homescreen, provided the site in question meets certain usability criteria.

Google is now introducing its next stage, which will integrate your favorite websites deeper into Android. If a site develops one of these web apps, and then someone adds it to their home screen, it will now also appear in the user's app drawer (with fully customizable icons) and be treated by Android just like an app. This will allow users to access its App Info page, control its permissions, and have it interact with other apps.

Update to My Apps Screen

If you've owned an Android device for years, then it's safe to assume that you've built up a pile of apps linked to your account over the years. However, the current way the My Apps section of Play Store is designed fails to reflect that, as the only limited organization in it is to toggle between lists of installed and owned apps.

That's all changed with Play Store 7.4, and Google will now have three categories in the My Apps section, namely -- Updates, Installed, and Library. The important part here is that you'll now be able to organize your lists of apps alphabetically, by size, by Last Used, and by Last Update. You will also be able to open them directly from the list, as well as see their size.

Some Unnecessary Pieces of Technology You May Want to Know About

In today's age, we live in a world where almost everything is infused with technology. Our phones are powerful mini-computers that we bring along and keep in our pockets, and we can stream movies and shows directly to our smart TVs. We can even converse and learn different things from virtual assistants named Alexa and Siri. We have advanced so quickly that we're now living in a technological future. However, this reality isn't actually a good thing all the time, because sometimes, we take it too far.

Below are some tech products that don't have the need to be technological at all.

Sensoria Smart Socks

When was the last time your gym sock judged your jogging style? Never? Thought so. If in case you wanted some advice from your sweaty footwear, you need to get Sensoria. It has the data-tracking socks that you may be looking for. The socks' sensors connect to a clunky-looking anklet that sends running information regarding your step count, altitude, and distance straight to the smartphone app. Not to mention these pair will cost you around $200.

Sunrise Touchscreen Faucet

There are tons of different kinds of faucets out there, and some of the rare ones can be challenging to use. So what we definitely don't need is a faucet operated by a touchscreen to confuse matters even further. That's what this unnecessary piece of tech from DORO Design is. The Sunrise Faucet looks like a hammerhead shark, does nothing a tech-free faucet can't do, and is guaranteed to confound your guests. With that said, it's better to leave this unnecessary piece of tech behind.

Numi Toilet

Toilets are relatively simple appliances. Through the ingenious combination of a tank, bowl, pipe, and a couple of valves, these essential furnishings make modern life possible. So why complicate something that works so perfectly?

With its Numi Toilet, Kohler thinks it has improved on the traditional toilet. You'll feel like royalty on this high-tech throne, as the lid automatically opens at your approach, the toilet seat warms your skin, and they even put some effort to make it to play your favorite music. The catch? The whole thing costs over $6,000, and that's not counting the touchscreen remote control, which you need to buy separately.

Quirky Egg Minder

If running out of eggs tends to be a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions for you, you'll want this Quirky Egg Minder. Place your eggs in it, download the app, and you can check how many eggs you have in your fridge from anywhere in the world. Neat, huh? It also keeps track of how old each egg is, which might come in useful if you don't eat eggs very often. But if that's the case, then why would you want this at all?

Hidrate Spark smart water bottle

Just like with the other items in this list, the Hidrate Spark smart water bottle is a regular item with a sensor in it that tracks information and sends it to an app on your phone. The information here is how much water you've consumed, which is perfect for people who don't know how to count. It also glows when it thinks you need more water, in case you don't have enough distractions in your life at the moment.

Samsung Smart Suit

In the rush to make just about everything and anything smart, Samsung has come out with something it calls the smart suit. Apparently, it allows you to transfer your contact information to another smartphone through a button on your sleeve, or a shirt that measures your comfort. Samsung even plans a Welty-like belt called the "Welt" (not sure if they checked the English meaning of this word), but in any case you can't wash these items -- they all have to be hand washed.

While the idea sounds good, the problem is in the care. Most of use don't have the time in our busy lives to individually hand wash our garments. That makes the current iterations of "smart clothing" a little inconvenient.

AromaCare

Sure, we all like to make our living spaces smell good, but when you can get a bottle of Glade for less than $5, does AromaCare's $100 "connected" air freshener make sense? Yes, it's got connectivity that allows you to precisely control the scent and strength, but there are many non-connected air fresheners will do just as good of a job, and at a fraction of the price.

There's also the problem of proprietary cartridges. While the company hasn't yet specified pricing (it is set to release later this year), we think it's safe to assume that even the cartridges alone will be more expensive than a traditional bottle of air freshener.

If you want a little bit more in the way of automation when it comes to air freshening, look at the devices made by Glade and others. Some feature motion sensing and timed release, and are less than a quarter of the price of AromaCare.

Free Backup Tools that Can Save You Big Time in Case Something Bad Happens to Your Computer

Regularly backing up all your important files is often the only thing that can save everything when a hard drive failure or otherwise catastrophic PC crash occurs. If your files go poof, then they’re gone forever and no amount of magic or incantations can bring them back.

Ideally, the best way to back up is to have two backups, one kept at home, presumably in an external hard drive, and one stored off-site like with cloud solutions. There are also various backup tools you can use that are awesome and just totally free. Remember to back up all your personal files because that’s really the most critical stuff you want to save. Computers and operating systems can be replaced, but treasured photos and accounting documents will be lost forever.

Easeus Todo Backup Free

When you start Easeus Todo Backup Free, its Smart Backup function kicks into gear, immediately backing up your Documents directory, the favorites from your web browser, and any files on your desktop. It makes a full back up once a week by default, with differential backups every half an hour if changes are detected. It’s an ingenious feature that immediately takes some of the hassle out of protecting your data, and you can customize it later to back up other files when needed.

AOMEI Backupper Standard

AOMEI Backupper Standard includes a simple wizard that makes the work straightforward, even for complete beginners. It suggests which drives to back up and where to store the resulting image, whether it’s a local drive, an optical disc, or a network attached storage. Give the image a name (ideally including the date) so you can find it easily later, create a schedule so the process is repeated at regular intervals, and click “Start backup.” For day-to-day backups, AOMEI lets you save whole partitions or selected directories, with a simple drop-down menu enabling you to choose between full, differential, or incremental backups. Again, these can be scheduled to take place at regular intervals, making it a simple set-and-forget affair.

Genie Timeline Free

Sneakily, Genie backs up your files quietly in the background, an unobtrusive approach that’s welcome, but wouldn’t be possible if it was creating an image. It’s not mentioned in the interface, but all backups are incremental, making them as fast as possible. The restore tool is similarly straightforward: simply select the backed-up files to restore, choose where to restore them to, and whether to overwrite existing files with the same name, and click “OK.” Genie has its own iOS app, which provides status updates on your scheduled backups. It’s a welcome addition for those of an anxious disposition, and a modern alternative to the e-mail notifications offered by some other backup tools.

Knowing the Pros and Cons of Wearable Technology

We can all say that wearable technology is here for good. Whether it be because of the buzz behind a ridiculous collection of shoes that can detect radiation and record conversations or Will.i.am's second wearable tech which is a voice-activated smartwatch, wearable tech is definitely making a splash.

What exactly is wearable tech?

Wearable technology is clearly gadgets you wear, but there are important distinctions from each other. Wearable tech isn't a trendy pair of headphones, for example, or a digital watch. The new age of wearables tap into the connected self -- they're laden with smart sensors, and make use of a web connection, usually using Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to your smartphone. They use these sensors to connect to you as a person, and they help you to achieve goals such as staying fit, active, losing weight or being more organised.

How do you wear them?

Most wearables are wrist worn, but an increasing number can be clipped to the body and hung around the neck. Wearables are quickly blending with jewellery, and are worn in the same way. Watches, rings, pendants -- you name it, there's a wearable that does it.

So what are the advantages and the disadvantages of using wearables techs?

PROS:

1.    Hands-free user experience

Most consumer and enterprise wearables can receive messages, communicate with others and provide visual aids, all the while the user's hands remain free for use. Part of the advantages lie in the ability to better filter messages, alleviating users from the need to constantly draw their smartphone and check. Moreover, this gives users the opportunity to receive visual assistance in real-time while performing a certain action. This hands-free concept is very lucrative in the enterprise setting, especially for hands-on industries such as manufacturing and the oil and gas industries.

2.    Personalized information

Many wearables today have the ability to retrieve different physiological parameters about you as a user. This gives way to drawing personalized health and fitness information that can revolutionize the health & fitness industries by allowing individuals to be better aware of themselves and possibly keep better track of possible ailments.

3.    Personal assistant

Wearables on many levels were created in an attempt to simplify our daily functions. The idea is that analyzed data and critical information will be at the user's immediate disposal, simplifying daily functions dramatically and making us more productive and efficient than ever before.

4.    The gateway to the Internet of Things (IoT) world

Wearables are set to become one of the more integral devices in the IoT vision. The idea of connected devices will be ever more realistic and necessary once individuals will have a "personal assistant" that will be able to speak with the surrounding environment and devices. This "personal assistant" will be able to help the user remotely control other devices and therefore will become that much more essential.

CONS:

1.    Data accuracy

One aspect that needs to be better developed in many wearables is the actual accuracy of the physiological measurements. It seems that wearables in general and smartwatches in particular, just haven't been able to retrieve and measure the data with sufficient accuracy. Sensors will need to be better positioned or used and data better analyzed.

2.    Usability barriers

Since many wearables are still very much a concept in development and fairly new to the market, usability drawbacks are a natural part of the process. These drawbacks include uncomfortable design of the device and a user experience or user interface that isn't as intuitive as expected. However, since wearables are such a personalized and frequently used instrument in the nature, device manufacturers will have to learn quickly how to adjust any usability issues since this parameter is undoubtedly key for adoption. Users do not want to feel that their wearable is an intrusive alien object on their body, but should be an extension of themselves.

3.    Charging

The wearable charging mechanism and battery life are one of the more critical challenges for various wearable devices. Device manufacturers are aware of this and therefore should search for new ways on how to prolong their device's battery life on one hand, while providing a natural charging solution on the other. Currently, many wearables are coupled with uncomfortable dongles and other charging cables that are irritating for users to handle. Wireless charging for wearables is becoming the inevitable reality as users are becoming impatient to other alternatives (cables, dongles, and other weird attempts) that are simply impractical. With wireless charging, device manufacturers will also be able to create a truly waterproof wearable by getting rid of the need for a USB port altogether.

Understanding the Benefits of Wireless Charging Technology

Whether you're at home, on the go, or at the airport, everyone has experienced that feeling of sitting awkwardly on the floor, tethered to a wall outlet while waiting for your mobile device to charge. It's a helpless feeling, and with the wealth of technology already within our reach, it's an outdated practice which no one should have to endure.

With so much important information sitting in our pockets and on our wrists, it's ridiculous that our devices have such limited battery life and our options for charging those devices on the go are so limited. As the IoT (Internet of Things) revolution comes to fruition, wireless charging is shifting from a luxury to a necessity. Modern devices revolve around user mobility, so our charging solutions should too. Wireless charging will give us freedom to no longer worry about carrying around charging cables and hoping that our devices will keep running until we reach the next power outlet.

In addition, wireless charging will make a huge difference for medical patients with technological devices embedded in their bodies. Currently, patients with implanted devices have to endure frequent and invasive surgeries since their devices have short battery lifespans. Wireless charging will allow medical patients to charge their devices without surgery, improving the patients' wellbeing and also saving them time and money.

Wireless charging capabilities also need to be built into the infrastructure of cities. Imagine if every workplace, school, and coffee house had wireless charging; finally you would be able to ditch power cords and use your devices without worrying about the batteries dying. IoT and wireless charging will make a huge impact on a variety of industries.

Today's electric cars or many other vehicles charge by the charging pads. It does not require any diesel or petrol, which can greatly help in making the environment clean and pollution-free. In the future, you do not have to stop or park your car to charge it. In England, lanes on the road sends electrical charges to electric-powered cars, which means it won't run out of battery. This can be a huge technological breakthrough should other countries implement the same.

Clearly, there's a lot of promising technology here, but there's still one big question to be asked of wireless technology: why should consumers choose it over the convenience of a bedside USB cable? Honestly, it's a tough one to answer, but ease of use and ubiquitous gadget support and charging stations will probably be required.

Despite being around for a number of years already, wireless charging still hasn't become critically important technology in the gadget market. Perhaps some of the improvements and new product ideas that are in development will push wireless charging into the mainstream.

Exciting New Technologies that Could be Hitting the World in 2017

Now that 2016 is finally behind us, there’s the saying, “out with the old and in with the new.” However, technology in the second decade of the 21^st century can be a bit confusing since what was about to come out in 2016 could spill over in 2017 or a product can suddenly have a big upgrade.

Regardless, we’re not here to see what products are looming ahead in the next year, or if your hoverboard won’t explode since you bought a ‘made in China’ brand. We’re here to see what exciting new technology in general may hit with an impact in 2017.

Jet Pack International H202

Jet Pack International is making great strides with its H202 and H202-Z jetpacks. As the name suggests, both the H202 and H202-Z are hydrogen peroxide-fueled jetpacks that allow users to fly up to 77 miles per hour at a maximum height of 250 feet. However, the higher-capacity H202-Z is only capable of a maximum flight length of 33 seconds and a maximum travel distance of 3,300 feet. Admittedly, it’s a start and since when was technology successful overnight, anyway?

Aerofex Aero-X

If you’re a Star Wars fan, the Aerofex Aero-X, a real-life equivalent of the Star Wars speeder bike, is definitely something you’ll want to keep your eyes on. The Aero-X is the result of more than 15 years of research and development. It is powered by a water-cooled 240 HP engine and two large rotors. The Aero-X can hover at an altitude of 12 feet and at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. It can even carry up to 310 pounds. Also, as a result of this extended research and development period, Aerofex claims to have overcome the dangerous coupling effect that can arise due to using two rotors, ensuring that the Aero-X will be safe and easy to control.

Prosthetics with a sense of touch

As far back as 2013, Denis Aabo Sorensen had the privilege of testing a new type of prosthetic hand, created by a group of European engineers and scientists. Unlike conventional prosthetics, the new prosthetic hand connects directly to the remaining nerves in Denis’ upper arm. This means that the prosthetic hand has a sense of touch and is actually controllable. Blindfolded tests showed that Denis was indeed able to differentiate between different items such as a bottle, a baseball and a mandarin orange. It could also exert different levels of pressure to touch, hold or grab something.

TALOS “Iron Man” Suit

TALOS stands for Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, a combat suit that the US Army hopes will become a reality within the next year. The TALOS provides ballistic, shock, and fire protection for Special Operations soldiers. The aim is to provide these soldiers with better, more mobile and more versatile protection than what currently exists. The development of the TALOS suit will be a collaborative effort between universities, government agencies, and corporations.

The Difference Between OEM and Retail Versions of Windows Operating System

We’re betting our Christmas dinners that not many people aren’t aware that there’s such a thing as an OEM version of Windows OS and Retail version of the same Windows OS, let alone the difference between the two.

So, what is the difference?

OEM is short for Original Equipment Manufacturer. This is the Windows operating system with its license referring to the installed Windows OS on pre-built and manufactured computers, laptops, and some tablets for sale to consumers in stores or online. For this reason, it’s very likely that the Windows you’re using right now is OEM. The primary limitation for this version is that you cannot install this same system and its same license key on another computer, even if you uninstall it from the original computer first.

Many people find this very impractical, and may even feel that it’s very restrictive, but the manufacturer saves money on a bulk number of licenses by accepting that restriction and passed their savings on to you. And this works out for most people most of the time. It’s rare that someone would benefit from the ability to transfer their Windows installation given that a new computer purchase usually comes with a new OEM license.

The Retail version of Windows operating system is a retail license for the need for installation on multiple computers. It’s usually sold as a single installer that can be installed on some 3 or 4 or more computers. It’s only available as a standalone purchase so if you’ve bought a copy of Windows on its own, separately from a computer, then you have this version. To be clear, though, the OS can still only be installed on one computer at any given time. This means that, for instance, if you decide to upgrade, you can buy a computer with no OS, uninstall your retail version of Windows from the old box, and install it on the new one. It’s a way to save money if you know that you’ll be sticking with Windows long term. Another advantage of the retail version is that if you have different devices, say a PC, a laptop, and a PC, all you need to buy is a single Windows OS installer to install Windows in all three. You don’t need to buy three separate installers.

Another difference between the two is that OEM copies do not come with any support from Microsoft. If you need to call Microsoft, you must pay a fee to do so. Retail copies come with a phone support. To be clear, the free upgrade to Windows 10 is for lower versions starting with Windows 7, regardless of whether the OS is OEM or retail. However, the free upgrades were only until last July.