Mobile in Motion
By Jerry Doremus | Mobile Design, Development and News - MobileinMotion.me
Timekettle’s WT2 real-time translation earpieces enable ordinary conversation across language barriers
At TechCrunch’s event in Shenzhen last month, we had a chance to test out the WT2, a clever and ambitious device from startup TimeKettle. It’s a pair of wireless earpieces; each person in a multilingual conversation wears one, and they translate what’s said into the language spoken by each …
LanguageMore than 1 billion people are now using WhatsApp every day
And its ephemeral content feature is booming<p>Facebook recently announced in its Q2 2017 earnings call that messaging app WhatsApp now boasts 1 billion users every day. WhatsApp Status, its cloned Snapchat Stories feature, also reached 250 million daily users. What’s more, these WhatsApp users are …
WhatsAppMotorcycle helmets finally get decent heads-up display navigation
I'm a huge proponent of reducing any and all distractions while riding a motorcycle, scooter, or moped. Helmets and padded gear are great, but when you get down to it, riders are still just squishy people zipping through traffic next to giant machines that could kill you if a driver sneezes or …
Gear & GadgetsTell your emergency contacts where you are with Trusted Contacts from Google
Why it matters to you<p>Getting in touch with a loved one in an emergency situation can be frustratingly difficult -- especially if you're on different …
iOSMeizu Pro 7 has a tiny selfie screen on its backside
It's been a while since a Meizu smartphone last caught our attention, but in a twist of fate, the freshly announced Pro 7 flagship series manages to pack some surprises. Most notably, these devices are the work of legendary design studio, Frog, and they feature a tiny 1.9-inch 240 x 536 (307 ppi) …
TabletsMacBook vs. MacBook Pro: how to pick between Apple’s two $1,299 laptops
I badly need a new computer. The last time I bought one was in the summer of 2011, not long after the MacBook Air’s first (and only) redesign. It was perfect timing: my last MacBook, the white plastic kind, had wiring literally sticking out of it after taking a spill. And Apple had just dropped the …
LaptopsWaze joins Google Maps on Android Auto
Google Maps has become the de facto way to get from point A to point B. But for commuters and Uber/Lyft drivers, Waze -- with Google's transit information overlaid and crowdsourced data -- has become invaluable. The only problem is that while Google Maps is part of Android Auto, Waze still requires …
GoogleApple and Cochlear team up on made-for-iPhone hearing implant
We've known that Apple has an interest in iOS-based hearing aids for some time, as they've worked with various manufacturers to bring these devices to the market. Now, Cochlear has teamed up with Apple to make the first cochlear implant sound processor that is specifically made for the iPhone. The …
Human AnatomyThese are the best “find my car” apps for Android and iOS
If you’ve ever found yourself running past scores of unfamiliar vans, jeeps, and SUVs while searching frantically for the parking spot you were <i>sure</i> …
AppsGoogle promises 11 Daydream VR phones by the end of the year
Google CEO and freshly appointed Alphabet board member Sundar Pichai was typically guarded during yesterday’s Alphabet earnings call, but he did disclose a nice number for us to look forward to. By the end of 2017, said Pichai, there will be 11 Android smartphones on the market that support …
Google Pixel 2: Everything we know about the launch date, specs and price
With its superb camera and elegant design, the Google Pixel (and its larger counterpart, Pixel XL) phone hit it out of the park last year. So it's no surprise that Google wants to keep the good times rolling with its pair of premium flagships. The company's hardware chief, Rick Osterloh, already …
Mobile TechnologyNew to MacOS? Here’s the 30 best Mac apps available right now
So you’ve got a new Mac and you’re looking to make the most of the robust application environment on MacOS Sierra? Well, we’ve got you covered. There …
iOSLyft's latest move shows how serious it is about taking over cities
Lyft recently took some heat for its new Shuttle service.<p>The ride-sharing company launched in June a beta version of Shuttle: a carpool service that will travel along a designated route and make specific stops along the way.<p>If that sounds like a familiar concept, it's because it is.<p>The biggest …
UberThe best smart helmets are full of cool tech, and totally worth the messy hair
Summer is prime time for sports, especially extreme ones in which people strap GoPros to their heads in an effort to record just how hardcore they …
Gear & GadgetsApple ARKit developer beats IKEA to the punch with AR furniture app
The augmented reality app space is expected to explode this fall thanks to developers using Apple's ARKit for iOS.<p>But one developer is moving faster than even some of the major brands linked to Apple's AR platform, having just demonstrated an amazing AR app before IKEA got a chance to launch its …
AppsApple is already preparing for the iPhone 9
Even though we’re a few months removed from the upcoming iPhone 8 release, rumors involving the iPhone 9 have already started trickling in. …
AppleYou don't need to close apps on your iPhone
Closing unused apps on your iPhone won't improve its battery life.<p>I repeat, opening up the multitasking window and swiping apps off the screen won't help your iPhone get through the day.<p>This myth that it does has persisted for years. Apple blogger and podcaster John Gruber said earlier this week …
iOSApple Watch 3: Everything we know about the launch date, specs and price
We're fast approaching the Apple Watch 2's first anniversary, and the current rumors are driving wild theories about what Apple has planned for the next generation -- and when we might see it.<p>Apple previewed the next generation of its wearable operating system, WatchOS 4, at its Worldwide …
SmartwatchesNow just $25 on Amazon, the Satechi wireless charging pad is sleek and fast
Modern wireless technology has opened up the door for all sorts of mobile device innovations, even for such mundane activities as charging your …
Gear & GadgetsGM now lets developers test their in-car apps running in actual cars
GM has been doing a lot to try to make it easier for developers to create software for use in their vehicle infotainment systems. Back in January, it opened up access to a wide range of data points from the vehicle, and made it possible to develop using a simulator on the desktop, instead of having …
SoftwareStrava's Premium service will pay for smartphones that break in cycling accidents
There’s some fine print, of course<p>Fitness-tracking app Strava is introducing some new perks for subscribers of its Premium membership option, which go on top of the additional in-app features the service already provides. Chief among the new perks is an offer for accidental damage coverage to …
CyclingChina forces its Muslim minority to install spyware on their phones
China has ramped up surveillance measures in Xinjiang, home to much of its Muslim minority population, according to reports from <i>Radio Free Asia</i>.<p>Authorities sent out a notice over a week ago instructing citizens to install a "surveillance app" on their phones, and are conducting spot checks in the …
ChinaThe OnePlus 5 has an update coming to fix its scary 911 reboot bug
If there's one thing your cellphone really needs to do, it's work in an emergency. A couple of days ago, however, one owner of the OnePlus 5 made two attempts to call 911 only to have his phone reboot both times. Other posters on Reddit observed the same error, which one commenter said came from an …
OnePlusIngenious AI Converts Images of Food Into a List of Ingredients
Researchers at MIT have developed deep-learning algorithm that can compile a list of ingredients and even recommend recipes after looking at photos …
Machine LearningGoogle Play Music now works with Apple’s CarPlay
Another option for tunes on those long drives<p>I really don’t know how many Android fans who’ve bought into Google’s ecosystem would favor CarPlay over Android Auto, but maybe Apple’s in-car software is your <i>only</i> choice. If that’s your situation, you can at least now stream from the Google Play Music …
GoogleA huge new survey shows that teens are bullied most on Instagram and Facebook
According to British anti-bullying organization Ditch The Label’s new annual survey, Instagram is the network of choice for cyberbullies in 2017, with Facebook close behind. This year’s survey collected results from 10,020 people between the ages of 12 and 20, making for a respectably robust data …
MillennialsNew iPhone 8 Details Confirm Tim Cook's Expensive Gamble
The iPhone 8 is coming, it’s going to pack in as much cutting edge technology as possible, and I think Apple would rather that most of the iPhone community buy another iPhone.<p>With a new OLED display, curved glass, new physical design, inductive charging, and a still to be confirmed change in …
AppleSwiftKey for iOS adds new emoji features & themes, 3D Touch improvements, more
SwiftKey is today pushing a notable update to its iOS keyboard app. The update adds a handful of new improvements and features, including emoji enhancements, new themes, and more.<p>Headlining the update is a new emoji prediction panel. Similar to what the built-in iOS keyboard offers, this feature …
iOSMy favorite travel logging app is also Google’s most controversial feature
And more authentic than Instagram<p>It’s summer in the northern hemisphere, which means it’s a popular time for people to get outside more, go on vacations, and — if you’re obsessed with the internet — chronicle just about everything you’re doing. Facebook and Instagram have evolved from social …
Travel