Google Maps adds Lyft and Gett to its ride hailing options

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/08/google-maps-lyft-gett-options/

Users searching for directions from Point A to Point B in Google Maps just got a few more options for getting there. According to the official Google Maps blog, both the iOS and Android versions now include estimated fares and wait times for ridesharing services Lyft and Gett when searching in cities in the United States.

Google Maps actually rolled out the feature for Uber way back in 2014 and other competing ridesharing services were added outside the US earlier this year, alongside Gett in New York City. With today's addition of Lyft, Google Maps now offers options from nine different ridesharing services in 60 different countries. (Of course, which options are available to you will depend on which city and country you're in.)

The ride hailing feature works exactly as you might expect: a "ride services" tab with a taxi icon now shows up alongside the driving, transit and walking directions. Switching to the tab brings up a list of available ridesharing services and the various ride types, such as Lyft Line or UberX, offered by each. Lyft estimates should start showing up for users wherever Lyft is available, but Gett is still limited to New York City for now.

Source: Google Maps

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Acer's latest convertible Chromebook is bigger and beefier

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/03/acer-chromebook-r13/

In May, Google announced that it would be bringing Android apps to Chrome OS, finally marrying the two operating systems in a way that makes Chromebooks that much more useful (A million-plus more apps!) All of a sudden, convertible Chromebooks sound way more appealing. Acer must've thought so too, because it unveiled the Chromebook R13 just a few days ago at IFA. Just like its R11 predecessor, the R13 has a 360-degree hinge that lets it seamlessly transition from Chromebook to Android-esque tablet in no time flat.

As the name suggests, the R13 has a 13.3-inch display. Acer was keen to point out that this is the first ever convertible Chromebook at this size, which is certainly of note if you're a fan of larger screens. It's a pretty nice display too, with a full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution plus it's an LED-lit IPS LCD. Measuring 12.83 by 8.98 by 0.61 inches and weighing in at 3.28 pounds, it won't weigh down your backpack. That said, when it was flipped over into tablet mode, I had a slight problem holding it due to its weight. This is definitely a tablet that you'd rest on your lap rather than grip it one-handed.

Speaking of tablet mode, I thought the display hinge felt pretty solid as I was turning it around. It was sturdy enough so that I could hold the R13 in a variety of positions; standard laptop mode, tent mode, presentation mode and of course as a flat tablet. I thought the touchscreen felt pretty responsive too, though I didn't have the opportunity to run too many apps on the demo unit at the Acer booth. What I especially enjoyed was the keyboard. The keys have a nice shallow clickiness, which I feel results in super fast travel. I felt like I could touch type pretty fast on this if I wanted to.

As for internals, the R13 has a MediaTek M8173C CorePilot quad-core processor, a HD webcam on the front for those webchats, plus a USB Type-C port on the side. It also has USB 3.0, HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0 and the usual microphone and headset jacks. Storage-wise, it'll come in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB varieties. Prices start at $399 and it'll be available starting this October. Which is around when the Play Store should arrive on Chromebooks. Great timing, right?

We're live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.

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Withings launches its first watch with heart rate monitoring

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/01/withings-launches-its-first-watch-with-heart-rate-monitoring/

Much like it was mandatory to wear Loom Bands in 2014, if a fitness wearable can't track your heart rate then it's dead... dead, ya hear? Withings doesn't make fitness wearables so much as timepieces that just happen to track your activity, which justifies its decision to drag its feet on the heart rate sensor issue until now. That's now set to change with the Withings Steel HR, a follow-on to the Activité analog watch that gains an optical HR sensor and a new digital sub-display for smartphone notifications.

It's the digital sub-display that's probably the most striking new addition, a round circle that'll display your step count, heart rate and message notifications. The idea of cramming in a digital screen alongside an analog watch face isn't a new one, although Withings' version is significantly more elegant than Guess' version. Users can determine what's displayed on the screen via the company's iOS and Android companion app. Then, they can cycle through those options by pushing the multifunction button that sits where the crown should be.

Withings has historically been resistant to add too much technology to its timepieces to avoid compromising style and battery life. As such, the Steel HR follows the Activité and is a French-designed watch with a stainless steel case, chrome hands and silicone straps. Integrated into the face, below the main dial, is a sub-dial that, as usual, will creep toward your daily fitness goal as you move about your day. As well as being stylish, that level of restraint had another positive: a battery life that's measured in months, rather than days.

With the Steel HR, the company has managed to get 45 days of use out of its rechargeable cell, although that's a bit of a fudge. The first 25 days will offer you continuous HR for workouts, average HR for your working day and your resting HR at night. After that, the watch will go into power saving mode, giving you 20 further days with just basic step and activity tracking, but nothing more.

The Withings Steel HR will be available from the company's official website from the start of October and in stores by the end of that month. Available in both black or white, the 36mm edition will retail for $179.95/£169.95 while the 40mm version will set you back $199.95/£179.95.

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Jabra's truly wireless earbuds track your heart rate during workouts

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/01/jabras-true-wireless-earbuds-track-your-heart-rate-during-worko/

Jabra just announced a two revised sports headphone models last month, but the company is already back with more portable audio news. This time around, the in-ear headphones are truly wireless without a short cord to connect the two buds. Following on the heels of the Bragi Dash and Samsung Gear IconX, Jabra's Elite Sport is two separate wireless earbuds that offer heart rate tracking.

In addition to keeping you free of cord tangles during a workout, the in-ear headphones analyze physical activity by keeping tabs on your pulse (with 90 percent or greater accuracy) and VO2 Max levels. More specifically, you can expect details on distance, pace, route, calories, and more. Like previous Jabra models, the Elite Sport also works with the Sport Life app for coaching tips during your session. They're also IP67-rated for water resistance and Jabra tacks on an extra 3-year warranty to protect against sweat damage.

In terms of battery life, Jabra claims up to three hours of music and calls before you'll need to recharge. That can be done with a portable charge case that's included with the headphones. While Samsung noted that battery life took a major hit when fitness tracking was turned on, Jabra doesn't mention it. That's not to say battery life doesn't take a hit when the heart rate monitor is being used on the Elite Sport, Jabra just didn't clarify. For comparison, the $199 Gear IconX can be used for 3.4 hours or music or during a 1.5-hour workout if you're listening to tunes at the same time. Jabra's Elite Sport will also cost your $50 more, but if that doesn't deter you, they'll go on sale at Best Buy October 30th.

We're live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.

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Philips' new OLED TV has built-in, super colorful ambient lighting

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/01/philips-android-tv-first-oled-ambilight/

If you've been waiting your whole life for a TV that offers a 4K resolution, an OLED panel and Philips' funky Ambilight technology, you're going to love TP Vision's newest 55-inch set.

The company is well-known for making Philips-branded TVs, and has gone a step further for its first model by integrating the ambient color-changing technology into the set too.

By using the "Philips Perfect Pixel Ultra HD engine" in combination with OLED pixels that have the ability to completely switch off, TP-Vision says the catchily named 901F delivers deeper, more accurate black levels.

Combine this with the Ambilight back-lighting effect on three sides of the TV and colors should look even more vibrant. It's also trying to side-step the achilles heel of many slim, Smart TVs by providing a 30W 6.1 sound bar that integrates into the unit.

Keeping it all ticking along nicely, hopefully, is Android for TVs, which offers up the usual Google services and apps that you'd expect from any other Android device.

While TP Vision could win a TV buzzword bingo prize for this announcement, it neglected to say when the set will be released, where it'll go on sale or how much it will cost.

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