At this past CES, Lenovo announced its $130 Smart Assistant speaker with Amazon's Alexa inside. While that device is still listed as "coming soon" on Lenovo's website, the company isn't putting any of its smart home ambitions on hold. Lenovo's new Home Assistant Pack appears to be a pared-down version of the Smart Assistant—one that's built to connect to any Tab 4 tablet.
The Home Assistant also has the Alexa voice assistant inside, but it's not as powerful of a speaker as the Smart Assistant. It has a three-watt speaker and two built-in mics with far-field detection designed to pick up your voice from three meters away. The Smart Assistant instead has a five-watt tweet, a 10-watt subwoofer, and eight built-in mics with far-field detection.
Weighing 300 grams, the Home Assistant is basically an accessory version of the Smart Speaker that you can tote from room to room. By itself, it's akin to Amazon's Echo Dot—but paired with a Tab 4 tablet, it becomes similar to an Echo Show. Sliding one of Lenovo's tablets into the Home Assistant's dock will automatically bring up the "Home Assistant interface," in which you can ask Alexa to play music, check your calendar, give you weather updates, and more. The tablet will show "display cards" for visual information in addition to the Home Assistant providing voice answers via Alexa.
Lenovo hat die vierte Version seines Mittelklasse-Smartphones Moto X vorgestellt. Das Moto X4 ist wasserfest und hat eine Kamera, die automatisch Visitenkarten scannen kann und Gesichtsfilter auf Selbstporträts legt. Amazons Sprachassistent Alexaist bereits vorinstalliert. (Ifa 2017, Smartphone)
Lenovo hat die vierte Version seines Mittelklasse-Smartphones Moto X vorgestellt. Das Moto X4 ist wasserfest und hat eine Kamera, die automatisch Visitenkarten scannen kann und Gesichtsfilter auf Selbstporträts legt. Amazons Sprachassistent Alexaist bereits vorinstalliert. (Ifa 2017, Smartphone)
Das Miix 510, das Yoga 720 und das Yoga 920 sind neue Lenovo-Convertibles. Sie weisen eine Sprachsteuerung mit Fernfelderkennung und teilweise Quadcore-CPUs auf. Obendrein gibt es gleich zwei Star-Wars-Editionen. (Convertible, Notebook)
Das Miix 510, das Yoga 720 und das Yoga 920 sind neue Lenovo-Convertibles. Sie weisen eine Sprachsteuerung mit Fernfelderkennung und teilweise Quadcore-CPUs auf. Obendrein gibt es gleich zwei Star-Wars-Editionen. (Convertible, Notebook)
Mit dem Moto Z2 Force Edition bringt Lenovo ein Smartphone mit angeblich unzerstörbarem Display nach Deutschland. Das Gerät ist hochwertig ausgestattet, hat eine Dualkamera und erlaubt dem Nutzer die Nutzung von Moto Mods. (Ifa 2017, Smartphone)
Mit dem Moto Z2 Force Edition bringt Lenovo ein Smartphone mit angeblich unzerstörbarem Display nach Deutschland. Das Gerät ist hochwertig ausgestattet, hat eine Dualkamera und erlaubt dem Nutzer die Nutzung von Moto Mods. (Ifa 2017, Smartphone)
Plus deals on routers, action cams, smart TVs, and more.
Greetings, Arsians! Courtesy of our friends at TechBargains, we have a new batch of deals to share ahead of Labor Day weekend. Dell's Labor Day sale is happening now, with steals on monitors, laptops, and more. Now you can get an 1920x1200 UltraSharp IPS monitor for just $179, an Inspiron 14 7000 notebook with Core i5 CPU and 128GB SSD for $629, and a bunch of other items for low prices.
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The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is coming soon. But if you want to know what’s coming after that, Microsoft is giving some users an early look. Members of the Windows Insider program who opted for the “Skip Ahead” branch are now receiving the first Windows 10 Preview Build based on Redstone 4. The Fall Creators Update, […]
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is coming soon. But if you want to know what’s coming after that, Microsoft is giving some users an early look. Members of the Windows Insider program who opted for the “Skip Ahead” branch are now receiving the first Windows 10 Preview Build based on Redstone 4. The Fall Creators Update, […]
Arcimoto is now using a recent crowdfunding law to issue shares.
Jonathan Gitlin
Without a doubt, the most fun thing I've driven all year is also the cheapest. It's the Arcimoto SRK: a three-wheeled electric vehicle that remains the one thing I liked about CES 2016. Since then the Oregonian startup has been beavering away, refining the design of the $12,000 EV as it readies for production next year. The SRK made its way to DC recently, and that meant another chance to drive it—this time on some familiar city streets. Yet again, the experience blew me away.
It's a tandem trike, with each front wheel powered by its own 25kW (34hp) electric motor. But don't let the handlebars fool you; with seats, seatbelts, and a roof, even the bike-phobic like me are quite at home here. In fact, earlier versions of Arcimoto's platform actually used a steering wheel and pedals before evolving into the SRK, and it corners with almost no body roll. There's a 12kWh lithium-ion battery pack, good for about 70 miles (112km) of range, although a 20kWh pack will also be available. Depending on the state, you don't need a motorcyle license to drive it, but for those where that doesn't apply, you can take the test in the SRK.
The original Moto X was arguably the phone that relaunched Motorola’s smartphone business as we know it. The 2013 smartphone had nearly stock Android software and innovative (at the time) features including an Active Display (that showed notifications even when the screen was off), and Touchless controls (like always-listening voice controls). One thing that’s easy […]
The original Moto X was arguably the phone that relaunched Motorola’s smartphone business as we know it. The 2013 smartphone had nearly stock Android software and innovative (at the time) features including an Active Display (that showed notifications even when the screen was off), and Touchless controls (like always-listening voice controls). One thing that’s easy […]
TVAddons hosts thousands of third-party addons for Kodi but one, which was submitted last week by now-retired developer MetalKettle, has drawn criticism from the makers of Plex. In a strongly worded legal letter, Plex threatened tough action. But, after TVAddons promptly assisted, the dispute was quickly settled. This, TVAddons says, is a demonstration of how disputes should be handled.
Earlier this week, TF reported on the surprise retirement of established and respected Kodi addon developer, MetalKettle.
After several years of producing and distributing a wide range of addons for the popular media center, ‘MK’ threw in the towel.
“Over the past year or so Kodi has become more mainstream and public we’ve all seen the actions of others become highlighted legally, with authorities determined to target 3rd party addons making traction,” MK announced.
“This has eventually caused me to consider ‘what if?’ – the result of which never ends well in my mind.”
The “what if?” here is whether MK himself would ever find himself targeted by legal action. As the recent case filed against Kodi addons site TVAddons by Bell, Videotron, Groupe TVA, and Rogers shows, copyright holders are prepared to act aggressively to protect their rights.
While we don’t doubt MK’s reasons for retirement, it now transpires that MK was already in the spotlight of Plex Inc., the company behind Plex. They seem particularly unimpressed with some of his recent work.
Plex is a system which allows users to manage and organize their entire media library, import artwork and all kinds of metadata, and then stream it to any device, such as TVs, phones, and set-top boxes.
For people with content already around it’s a beautiful Netflix-beating system that’s free to use up to a point, but it also comes with premium features as part of a $5pm Plex Pass subscription. Those extras include a Kodi addon.
“Currently available as a preview to our premium Plex Pass subscribers, the Plex for Kodi add-on gives users the best of both worlds; the advanced customization of Kodi home theater and the beauty and simplicity of Plex for access on any device, anywhere, anytime,” the Plex site reads.
MK Plex, the addon produced by MetalKettle, unlocks the restrictions. Installable in Kodi with just a few clicks, the addon allows users of Plex to achieve the above without the need for a Plex Pass subscription. The addon was submitted by MK to the TVAddons repository last week but it took only days for Plex’s legal department to swing into action.
TorrentFreak obtained a copy of the company’s letter to TVAddons from a source close to the platform.
“We represent Plex, Inc. of Los Gatos, California, USA (‘Plex’) in trademark and other intellectual property legal matters. Plex recently learned that you offer a software product called MK Plex that is promoted on [your] website,” it begins.
“The designation MK Plex infringes on Plex’s intellectual property rights and therefore Plex hereby demands that you remove all web pages that use the designation MK Plex, delete all software branded MK Plex and disable all downloading, and cease all other use of Plex’s trademarks immediately.”
While this request would’ve been enough for TVAddons to respond, the lawyers went on in some detail about trademark issues, reiterating that “the designation ‘unofficial plugin’ indicates that your use of MK Plex is intended to trade on the reputation and goodwill of the Plex brand.”
In summary, Plex said that by presenting itself as an unofficial plug-in, MK Plex infringes trademark and unfair competition law in the United States. There was no mention at all of the features provided by the software, the entire issue was framed as a trademark dispute.
Plex’s lawyers continued by threatening formal legal action against TVAddons, including a claim for damages and a court order to shut down the entire site. That’s pretty aggressive for a letter that references an addon that was completely produced by a third-party. Nevertheless, TVAddons informs TF that it had no problem complying with Plex’s takedown request as a matter of urgency.
“We love Plex and would never do anything to cause them grief. The user generated addon in question should never have made its way into our repository in the first place and we apologize for that,” a site representative said.
“We’d like to stress, however, that we took swift action as soon as Plex made us aware of the issue. This is why it’s so important that all web sites with user generated institute a legitimate takedown notice system, so that issues like this can be amicably resolved much faster than they could be in court, without any harm done to either party. TV ADDONS has always and will continue to respect the rights of others.”
TVAddons doesn’t know if MK himself is fully aware of the problem Plex has with his addon or whether he’s going to put it into retirement along with himself. However, the undertone in our conversation indicated that might be a prudent course of action.
TVAddons said they responded immediately to all of Plex’s demands and were thanked for dealing with the matter comprehensively, so it’s at least possible that MK has similar options available.
While a trademark dispute for a Kodi addon is interesting enough, this case offers a perfect illustration of how problems with intellectual property can be worked through, if the parties are prepared to work together. In the ongoing case of the Canadian broadcasters against TVAddons, not a single takedown notice or piece of correspondence was sent to TVAddons in advance of super-aggressive legal action.
Had a simple email been sent, the problem could’ve been solved in a day, rather than the years currently expected.
A South Carolina couple claims in a proposed federal class-action lawsuit that Amazon sold defective eclipse-watching glasses that partially blinded them during the historic coast-to-coast solar eclipse on August 21.
Corey Payne and fiancée Kayla Harris say in their lawsuit that because of the eyewear Payne purchased from Amazon, the couple is now suffering from "blurriness, a central blind spot, increased sensitivity, changes in perception of color, and distorted vision."
Amazon issued a recall of defective and perhaps counterfeit eclipse eyewear in an e-mail sent out to customers before the event. Payne said he did not receive the message. His suit seeks to represent others who were injured or may be injured from the eyewear purchased on Amazon. The alleged Tennessee-based maker of the glasses, American Paper Optics, is not named in the suit.
Lenovo hat die vierte Version seines Mittelklasse-Smartphones Moto X vorgestellt. Das Moto X4 ist wasserfest und hat eine Kamera, die automatisch Visitenkarten scannen kann und Gesichtsfilter auf Selbstporträts legt. Amazons Sprachassistent Alexaist bereits vorinstalliert. (
Das Miix 510, das Yoga 720 und das Yoga 920 sind neue Lenovo-Convertibles. Sie weisen eine Sprachsteuerung mit Fernfelderkennung und teilweise Quadcore-CPUs auf. Obendrein gibt es gleich zwei Star-Wars-Editionen. (
Mit dem Moto Z2 Force Edition bringt Lenovo ein Smartphone mit angeblich unzerstörbarem Display nach Deutschland. Das Gerät ist hochwertig ausgestattet, hat eine Dualkamera und erlaubt dem Nutzer die Nutzung von Moto Mods. (
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