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DJI launches its own power stations to charge your drones when far from home

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Drone brand DJI is breaking new ground by launching its first power stations in the US, Europe, and Australia. They’re known as the Power 500 and the Power 1000 with the latter being the more powerful of the two. It has a battery capacity of 1,024 Wh capable of outputting 2,200W of energy. Even better, the company gave the chargers the ability to fast charge several of their drones

Charge time for all the supporting models differs slightly, but on average, it takes roughly half an hour. A drone from the Mavic 3 Series, for example, takes 32 minutes to go from 10 percent to 95 percent, according to DJI, while the Inspire 3 takes 28 minutes. In order to fast charge a drone, the device’s battery needs to have the DJI Power SDC feature and a special cable. This cable can be purchased at checkout, but it’s not universal, so you’ll need to make sure you buy the right cable. So if you have a Mavic 3 Pro, you have to get the Mavic 3 Series Fast Charge Cable. If you own an Air 3, you need to purchase the Air 3 cable and so on. 

DJI hasn’t indicated how long it takes to charge a drone without Power SDC, so all we know is that the Power 1000 station can charge drones about 12 times before it runs out of juice, easily making it one of the best portable charging stations going.

DJI Power 1000 charging tablet

(Image credit: DJI)

A real powerhouse

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AltStore PAL Alternative App Marketplace Launches on iPhone in EU

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One of the first alternative app marketplaces went live in the European Union today, with developer Riley Testut introducing AltStore PAL, a version of his AltStore that can be accessed in EU countries.

altstore pal eu
AltStore PAL is an open-source app that is designed to distribute apps from independent developers. At launch, it features two apps, including Testut’s Delta game emulator and clipboard manager app Clip. Delta is also being simultaneously released in the App Store outside of the European Union, but it looks like EU customers will need to download it from AltStore.

Testut says that once AltStore PAL is “running smoothly,” third-party app developers will be able to submit their apps for distribution outside of the App Store. The app marketplace is designed to be decentralized with no directory, so developers will need to self-promote their apps and direct users to their websites to install an app through AltStore.

Distributing apps through AltStore is free of charge, but it is worth noting that apps that see more than one million first annual installs will need to pay Apple an 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee. App marketplaces have to pay the fee for every install with no free allowance, so AltStore is charged 0.50 euros each time it is installed. To afford the fee, Testut is charging 1.50 euros per year for AltStore PAL access.

Testut has been working on AltStore PAL since Apple announced plans to support alternative app marketplaces in iOS 17.4. It is open to all apps, but Testut says that it makes the most sense for “smaller, indie apps that otherwise couldn’t exist due to ‌App Store‌ rules.”

AltStore PAL is equipped with Patreon integration to allow developers to monetize their apps. Developers can offer their apps to just their patrons, and this method of distribution also allows for a sub-1 million cap on those who can subscribe to use an app.

iPhone users in the European Union can download AltStore PAL from the AltStore website. Alternative app marketplaces are not available outside of the European Union.

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Samsung launches Music Frame speaker in India

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Today, Samsung launched the Music Frame wireless speaker in India. The speaker was launched alongside the company’s 2024 TV lineup but isn’t available for pre-order or purchase yet. While the speaker’s pricing has been revealed, Samsung is mum about its availability in the Indian market.

Music Frame pricing in India

In India, the Music Frame (HW-LS60D) wireless speaker is priced at INR 29,990 ($358). It has been listed on Samsung India’s website, but the website says it is currently out of stock. Since Samsung hasn’t launched its 2024 soundbar lineup in the country, it is possible that the Music Frame will be launched in a few days alongside the company’s new soundbars.

This speaker is bundled for free with some Neo QLED and OLED TVs from Samsung that were launched today.

Music Frame features

Samsung Music Frame Design

The Music Frame is Samsung’s first wireless speaker with a completely different form factor. It resembles a real photo frame; you can even attach printed photos to it. You can even customize the frame’s bezels to match your interior design preferences. Inside, it features a six-speaker system featuring two tweeters, two mid-range drivers, and two woofers. You can watch how it looks and sounds in our hands-on video below.

It features Active Voice Amplifier, Dolby Atmos (Dolby Atmos Music and Dolby Atmos), Dolby Digital Plus, Night Mode, SpaceFit Sound Pro (for automatic audio tuning as per the room’s dimensions and placement of the speaker), and Voice Enhancer. It even features Wireless Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony 4.0. It can be connected wirelessly to a Samsung soundbar or TV for a more immersive audio experience.

Samsung Music Frame Q-Symphony Pair TV Soundbar

The speaker features an optical port, Bluetooth 5.2, and Wi-Fi b/g/n. It also features wireless AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Roon Connect, Spotify Connect, and Tap Sound for audio mirroring. It can be controlled using Samsung TV’s or soundbar’s remote controller. It can be controlled using Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. It has a USB port on the rear, which can be used to connect the SmartThings Dongle (VG-STDB10A), making the Music Frame a Smart Home Hub that can control SmartThings and Zigbee devices.

Samsung Music Frame LS60D AirPlay Alexa Chromecast Built In Google Home

Since it has built-in microphones, it supports Alexa and Bixby voice assistants.

Music Frame is ‘Roon Tested’

Samsung Music Frame LS60D Roon Tested

It is the first Samsung device with the ‘Roon Tested’ tag, which means it works flawlessly with Roon. If you don’t know what Roon is, it is an audiophile-grade music platform that integrates online and offline music. It supports Hi-Res Lossless music and advanced music routing features. Roon was acquired by Samsung a few months ago.

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WD launches enormous 4TB SD card for creative pros — smashes world record for largest removable memory card to smithereens at twice the capacity of biggest microSD cards

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As higher resolutions and more frames per second become standard in photography and video creation, the demand for larger, more adaptable storage solutions is growing. In response, manufacturers are developing faster, more user-friendly storage options to meet the rigorous project timelines and extensive data requirements of creative professionals. 

Western Digital has unveiled a new SD card for that market, and the SanDisk Extreme PRO SDUC UHS-I memory card packs a staggering 4TB of storage into the popular form factor. Yes, 4TB.

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DuckDuckGo Launches 3-in-1 ‘Privacy Pro’ Subscription With VPN and Personal Data Removal Tool

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DuckDuckGo today announced the launch of Privacy Pro, a new subscription service that bundles three privacy-focused features together.

duckduckgo privacy pro
Privacy Pro includes a VPN for anonymous browsing and secure connections regardless of location, personal information removal for removing personal data from data broker sites, and identity theft restoration should any DuckDuckGo subscriber suffer from an identity theft situation.

The VPN works on up to five devices simultaneously, so it can be installed and used on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, and other devices at the same time. It is turned on through the DuckDuckGo browser so a second app is not required, and it does filter traffic through all apps and browsers.

DuckDuckGo’s personal information removal tool regularly scans 50 sites that sell information, such as Spokeo. Personal information is stored on device, and removal requests are initiated using the information provided during setup. The process is automated, and there is a dashboard to monitor results.

Identity theft restoration includes the support of a dedicated advisor that will work with users to restore stolen accounts, replace bank cards and other identifying documents, recover financial losses, and correct credit reports.

Privacy Pro from DuckDuckGo is priced at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, and it is currently only available in the United States. Users will need to ensure they are using the latest version of the DuckDuckGo browser to take advantage of the features.

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Android’s Find My clone launches along with Apple-compatible tracker tags

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Google thinks Apple’s Find My network is so clever it “borrowed” the idea. After announcing the system last year, Android’s Find My Device network is ready to locate misplaced handsets, tablets and tracking tags.

Aside from an opportunity to mock Google for its “innovation,” the new system is relevant to iPhone users because Rolling Square unveiled a pair of tags that support both Google’s and Apple’s system.

Android Find My Device is very familiar

Apple’s Find My system allows a lost tracking tag, Apple device or compatible third-party product (like this backpack) to be located by any iPhone that passes near it. That means the lost item’s location can be determined almost anywhere on Earth. Google’s Find My Device system allows a lost tracking tag or similar accessory to be located by any Android that passes near it, yadda yadda yadda.

Apple implemented its version years ago and launched its AirTag trackers in 2021. Google unveiled the Android knockoff in May 2023, and the system is finally available.

Rolling Square AirThingy Pro supports Apple and Google Find My systems

Rolling Square AirThingy Pro and Card Pro
Rolling Square AirThingy Pro and Card Pro support Apple Find My.
Photo: Rolling Square

Chipolo and Pebblebee announced tracker tags that support Android’s Find My Device network, but these will only be for devices running Google’s operating system.

That’s where Rolling Square AirThingy Pro stands out: It will work with both. It will be loaded with other features as well.

“AirThingy Pro will have the loudest speaker ever seen in similar devices, it will be extremely durable, with a CNC machined aluminum and ABS structure with IP68 rating, so it can be used even in extreme environments,” explains Carlo Ferraris, cofounder of Rolling Square. “Lastly, it will have a 50% longer battery life than competitors, and feature photo-luminescent inserts for easier findability in the dark.”

The accessory will cost $29. It’s expected to launch before the end of June.

Rolling Square is also working on AirCard Pro, a card-shaped wallet tracker also compatible with Apple’s and Google’s systems. It will have Qi wireless charging and come in at 2.2mm thickness.

The price for this version is also $29, but there’s not yet an estimated release date.

Apple and Google try to hinder stalkers

Tracking tags like AirTag and the Android equivalents prove ideal for keeping track of keys, bags and more. But there’s also the potential for abuse by criminals, creeps and stalkers.

Apple built antistalking features into AirTag and its associated Find My system. But there’s a weakness. While iPhone users get a warning if an unknown AirTag is following them, Android users must install a separate app for that.

To make the whole process better, Apple and Google collaborated on a cross-platform system so users of one platform will be alerted if they’re being followed by a location tracker that uses the rival platform.

“The standard means that both Android and iOS users will receive unknown tracker alerts if the on-device algorithm detects that someone may be using a Find My Device network-compatible tag to track them without their knowledge, proactively alerting the user through a notification on their phone,” promises Google.



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Acer launches two all-new 14-inch gaming laptops alongside updated 16-inch models

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Acer’s midrange gaming laptop line has four new arrivals today following the company’s refresh of its flagship models at CES 2024. On Tuesday, the company unveiled a pair of new 14-inch entries alongside two refreshes of existing 16-inch models. The Intel-powered Predator Helios Neo 14 and Nitro 16 will join the AMD-fueled Nitro 14 and Nitro 16, launching globally later this spring.

As is often the case with pre-launch laptop announcements, Acer only reveals the devices’ minimum pricing rather than a full specs-to-cost breakdown (Acer says they aren’t yet finalized), making it impossible to gauge their overall value. You can expect that info closer to their respective launches in May and June.

Product marketing image for the Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 gaming laptop. An open version sits on th left, with a partially closed view from behind on the right. Grayish-blue background.Product marketing image for the Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 gaming laptop. An open version sits on th left, with a partially closed view from behind on the right. Grayish-blue background.

Acer

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 14, one of the two all-new models, is the first sub-16-inch variant in the high-performance line. (At $1,800 and up, it’s also the most expensive of the new batch.) That price gets you up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 185H (with dedicated AI acceleration) paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. The lower-cost models will downgrade those to Intel Core Ultra 7 155H or Intel Core Ultra 5 125H and RTX 4060 or 4050 graphics.

The top-of-the-line variant has a 14.5-inch WQXGA (3072×1920) display with a 165Hz refresh rate, 100 percent coverage of the sRGB color spectrum and NVIDIA G-Sync support. Its cheaper variants will drop the resolution to 2560 x 1600 or 1920 x 1200 with a 120Hz refresh rate.

The Windows 11 laptop has a 76Wh battery and offers up to 32GB of LPDDR5X SDRAM and 1TB of storage. It weighs 4.19 lbs, has a built-in 1080p webcam, and supports Intel Killer Wireless Wi-Fi 6E. It includes a USB-C/ThunderBolt 4 port with a microSD reader. On the cooling front, it uses a 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan and Vortex Flow tech.

The Predator Helios Neo 14 arrives in North America in May, starting at $1,800.

Product marketing image of the Acer Nitro 14 gaming laptop. Two models float dramatically in the air: one facing forward with its screen and keyboard visible, the other (behind it) showing a back view. Grayish-blue background.Product marketing image of the Acer Nitro 14 gaming laptop. Two models float dramatically in the air: one facing forward with its screen and keyboard visible, the other (behind it) showing a back view. Grayish-blue background.

Acer

The Nitro 14 is the first 14-inch variant in the company’s midrange Nitro line. It should offer solid performance with up to AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor and RTX 4060 graphics. Cheaper variants drop that down to a Ryzen 5 8645HS processor and RTX 4050 or 3050 graphics.

Its maxed-out model gives you a 14.5-inch 2560 x 1500 display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 9ms response time and sRGB 100 percent gamut support. The entry-level model drops that down to 1080p at 120Hz.

The laptop has USB 4 and USB 3.2 Type C ports, a pair of USB-A ports (including one with offline charging support), HDMI 2.1 and a microSD slot.

The Acer Nitro 14 arrives in North America in May. It starts at $1,300.

A gamer sits in a posh, modern-lit gaming room with an Acer gaming laptop. A second TV shows a different part of a game behind them.A gamer sits in a posh, modern-lit gaming room with an Acer gaming laptop. A second TV shows a different part of a game behind them.

Acer

The company’s updated Nitro 16 is launching in separate Intel and AMD variants with different model numbers (AN16-73 for Intel and AN16-43 for AMD). The former has up to an Intel Core i7-14700HX processor, while the AMD version has up to a Ryzen 9 8945HS (the same as the maxed-out Nitro 14). Otherwise, the two models are only separated by extremely minor weight differences (5.37 lbs for the AMD, 5.4 lbs for Intel) and Wi-Fi (Intel’s branded Killer Wireless Wi-Fi 6E vs. a nondescript Wi-Fi 6E for AMD).

As for the many specs the Intel and AMD variants of the Nitro 16 share, they both have Nvidia graphics, maxing out at RTX 4060 with 8GB of dedicated GDDR6 RAM. Cheaper models swap that for either an RTX 4050 or 3050.

Their screens have up to 2560 x 1600 resolution with 500 nits brightness, 165Hz refresh rates and a 3ms response time. The laptops each offer up to 32GB of DDR5 SDRAM and 2TB storage. They have 76Wh batteries with measly 720p webcams.

Both versions of the Nitro 16 will launch in North America in May. They start at $1,400. If you’re considering the new models, you can expect a more detailed configuration-pricing breakdown at or around launch time, so stay tuned.

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Samsung launches 2024 Evo Select, Evo Plus memory cards in the US

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Samsung has launched the 2024 lineups of Evo Select and Evo Plus microSD memory cards in the United States. According to the company, the new lineups of memory cards offer up to 160 MB/s read speed, which is 30 MB/s higher than the 2023 lineups of Evo Select and Evo Plus microSD memory cards. That’s not all though.

Samsung’s launches its 1TB microSD memory card

The new lineup of Evo Select microSD memory cards also offers a 1TB storage model, which is a first for Samsung. Up until now, the company has been offering microSD memory cards with a capacity of up to 512GB. The brand says that the 1TB storage option will also be available in the Pro Plus lineup of microSD cards. According to Samsung, the 1TB Evo Select and Evo Pro Plus memory cards are “coming later this year.

Apart from the 1TB model, the 2024 lineup of Evo Select microSD memory cards include four storage options: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The same goes for the 2024 lineup of Evo Plus microSD memory cards. It too will offer four storage models:  64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.

2024 Evo Select and Evo Plus microSD memory cards specs, price, and availability

Apart from the increased read speed, the new lineups of memory cards don’t offer any improvement. Like the previous models, the new ones come with U3 Speed Grade, A2 application performance class rating, and V30 video speed class rating, and offer protection against water, temperature, x-ray, magnet, drop, and wearout. All-in-all, these memory cards are packed with features. Below are the prices of all the variants.

2024 Evo Select microSD memory card prices

  • 64GB – USD 14.99
  • 128GB – USD 18.99
  • 256GB – USD 29.99
  • 512GB – USD 55.99

2024 Evo Plus microSD memory card prices

  • 64GB – USD 15.99
  • 128GB – USD 20.99
  • 256GB – USD 31.99
  • 512GB – USD 60.99

Samsung has neither listed the new memory cards on its official website for the country nor made them available to purchase on any platform in the region yet. That being said, We expect the Korean tech giant to list the new memory card and make them available for purchase in the next few days.

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Google Launches Android Find My Device Network

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Google today introduced the Find My Device network for Android-based products, mirroring the functionality of Apple’s ‌Find My‌ network that’s designed to locate Apple devices.

android find my device
Like Apple ‌Find My‌, the Android ‌Find My‌ Device network is able to use the millions of Android devices (running Android 9 or later) out in the wild to track down lost, stolen, and missing Android products. A lost Android smartphone is able to ping nearby Android devices using Bluetooth, relaying location information back to the owner.

Because the network uses Bluetooth, it works even when Android devices are offline and do not have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Some devices, such as the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, will be locatable even when powered off or when the battery is dead. ‌Find My‌ offers the same feature set for iPhones.

Starting in May, the ‌Find My‌ Device network for Android smartphones will also work with Bluetooth trackers from companies like Chipolo and Pebblebee, allowing Android users to attach trackers to items to locate them with the Android network. While Google isn’t designing its own trackers, these third-party trackers will work in the same way that AirTags work.

To keep iPhone users from being tracked without their knowledge using this new network, Google worked with Apple to create an industry specification that lets both ‌iPhone‌ and Android users get alerts about nearby unknown item trackers regardless of the brand of the tracking device. Google waited until Apple implemented support for third-party tracker alerts to launch its network, based on code found in iOS 17.5.

iOS 17.5 appears to expand the “Found Moving With You” AirTag alerts to third-party item trackers, allowing the ‌iPhone‌ to recognize Android-based item trackers and those from other companies. “You can disable this item and stop it from sharing its location with the owner. To do this, follow the instructions provided on a website by the manufacturer of this item,” reads some of the iOS 17.5 code.

Google was able to learn from the criticism that Apple faced after launching AirTags. There have been numerous news stories and reports of criminals using AirTags for stalking, car thefts, and more, leading Apple to make multiple changes to unwanted tracker alerts. Apple upped the frequency of notifications and also designed a Tracker Detect app for Android devices, but Apple’s work with Google ensures a more permanent solution that keeps Android and ‌iPhone‌ users safe as another major tracking network launches.

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Google’s long-awaited Find My Device network launches today

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Google has finally launched its long-awaited Find My Device network after . The technology leverages a crowdsourced network of over a billion Android devices to help people locate lost gadgets, with a basic functionality in line with similar offerings from Apple and Tile. It’s rolling out today to Android users in the US and Canada, with a global release coming soon.

Once installed, people can use the app to locate compatible Android phones and tablets. The tool will cause them to ring at your command and their location will pop up on a map. This map data works even if the items are offline. Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones will appear on the map if they’re powered off or if the battery is completely dead. That sounds pretty handy.

The technology isn’t yet available for everyday items, but that’s coming soon. Bluetooth tracker tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee will get integrated into the Find My Device app in May. This will let users locate just about anything, including car keys, purses, wallets and, hopefully, . The upcoming tags are being built specifically for the network.

An image of three new Pebblebee trackers.An image of three new Pebblebee trackers.

Google

The Pebblebee offerings include tags, clips and slim cards for wallets. They hit store shelves in late May or early June. Chipolo is making versions of its One Point and Card Point trackers for Android devices, which will arrive in May. Google says more trackers are coming later this year, including products made by Motorola and eufy.

Google’s Find My Device service also integrates with Nest smart home gadgets. If you lose something in the home, the Find My Device app will show you the location of the item in relation to pre-existing Nest devices. This should help provide an “easy reference point” to snatch them back up.

Finally, there’s a nifty feature that lets you share the location of an item with other people, so friends and family can keep an eye on precious belongings. Google says it’ll let folks “easily divide and conquer if something goes missing.”

The new Find My Device tracking technology works on devices running Android 9 and above. That OS came out in 2018, so it means a whole lot of people will have access to this service. As for compatible products beyond Android devices and Bluetooth tags, the company says future software updates will allow integration with a full range of headphones from JBL and Sony.

Of course, there are the usual privacy concerns with this kind of thing. Google says that users can opt out of the service via a web portal if they feel uncomfortable, . Reports indicate that the technology has been ready for a while, but Google delayed it until Apple implemented tracking protections into iOS to . To that end, both companies to develop industry standards to fight the misuse of tracking devices. Apple applied updated protections against stalking in iOS 17.5, which is still in beta.

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.

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