Author: Brad Linder

The Ultimate Ears UE Boom 2 and Megaboom are popular, well-reviewed cylindrical Bluetooth speakers that allow you to stream music from your phone, tablet, computer, or other gadgets without wires.

Their shape also makes them look a bit like Amazon’s Echo or Amazon Tap devices… and now you can UE’s speakers a lot like an Amazon Tap.

UE has rolled out a software update that lets you use the speakers to ask questions or send voice commands to Apple’s Siri or Google’s voice search digital assistants.

Continue reading UE Boom speakers now have “voice integration” for Siri, Google voice search at Liliputing.

Samsung has launched more than a half dozen smartwatches in the past few years, but the Samsung Gear S2 that launched in late 2015 was probably the most polished (and well received to date). Now it looks like Samsung is getting ready to introduce its successor.

Tizen Cafe has posted a few images on Twitter that it claims give us a first look at the upcoming Samsung Gear S3.

There aren’t many details about the new watch yet, but if the leaks are accurate, it will run a Tizen-based operating system, much like all of the company’s other recent wearables.

Continue reading Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch coming soon? at Liliputing.

The BLOCKS modular smartwatch is set to begin shipping to customers in September. This follows a $1.6 million Kickstarter campaign in 2015 and a lot of other behind-the-scenes work to turn the idea of a modular smartwatch into an actual, working product.

BLOCKs started showing off the final hardware designs earlier this month, and co-founder Serge Didenko joined me for the latest episode of the LPX Show to discuss the company’s vision for a wearable gadget that uses the wrist strap as more than a fashion accessory.

Continue reading Interview with BLOCKS modular smartwatch co-founder Serge Didenko (LPX Show) at Liliputing.

It looks like HP and Lenovo are both planning to launch new Chromebooks with Intel Braswell processors soon. Brent Evans dug up some information about an unannounced Lenovo N22 Chromebook with a touchscreen display recently, and Notebook Italia spotted an HP document for the company’s new Chromebook 11 G5.

Both laptops feature 11.6 inch displays, and it’s likely that they’re both aimed at the education market.

HP Chromebook 11 G5

About half a year after launching the HP Chromebook 11 G4, it looks like HP has a new model with a similar design, but a newer processor and a slightly lighter body.

Continue reading New HP and Lenovo Chromebooks leaked at Liliputing.

Android TV is basically Android… for TVs. Google’s operating system for smart TVs and set top boxes is based on the same code as the company’s software for smartphones and tablets, but it features a custom user interface designed to be easy to navigate using a remote control and big screen TV and it supports apps with similar features.

The simplest way to use Android TV is to buy a television or a TV box that runs the software.

Continue reading Now you can install Android TV on a PC (unofficially) at Liliputing.

The Dell Inspiron 13 may not be the thinnest or lightest laptop Dell offers. But measuring about 0.75 inches thick and weighing less than 3.5 pounds, the notebook isn’t exactly enormous… and right now you can pick up a model with some pretty serious specs for just $649.

That’s how much the Microsoft Store is charging for a model with a Core i7 Skylake processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB storage. Oh, and the notebook also has a 13.3 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display which folds back 360 degrees to let you use the computer as a tablet.

Continue reading Deals of the Day (6-20-2016) at Liliputing.

The Huawei Matebook is a 12 inch Windows tablet with a high-resolution display, an Intel Core M Skylake processor, and support for an optional keyboard cover and an optional digital pen.

First unveiled in February, Huawei has now announced that the Matebook is coming to America starting July 11th.

It’ll be available from the Microsoft Store for $699 and up… with an emphasis on up if you want all the available bells and whistles.

Continue reading Huawei Matebook launches in the US July 11th for $699 and up at Liliputing.

Some smartphone shoppers are looking for phones with the best possible specs, a software experience that meets their needs, or an attractive price point. But there are at least some people interested in a phone that puts ethical considerations front and center.

The Fairphone 2 is easy to take apart and repair, in order to let you hold onto your phone for longer. A portion of the sales price goes to a worker welfare fund that helps the people who actually manufacture the device.

Continue reading Fairphone 2 gets a little more fair thanks to conflict-free minerals at Liliputing.

Earlier this year Huawei launched a new line of smartphones under the Honor brand, starting with the $200 Honor 5X phone featuring a 5.5 inch full HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor, and a 3,000 mAh battery.

Now the company is turning to Europe, where it’s released a newer model called the Honor 5C. It has a smaller screen, the same big battery, and a different processor. But it’s still cheap for a phone with decent specs.

Continue reading Honor 5C smartphone hits Europe for £150 ($220) at Liliputing.

Google is bringing Android apps to Chromebooks, and the first model to support the feature is the Asus Chromebook Flip.

Soon you’ll be able to run Android apps on the Acer Chromebook R11, Google Chromebook Pixel (2015 model) and many other recent Chrome OS devices.

But Google is starting with the Chromebook Flip and the company has released Chrome OS 53 dev channel for the laptop, complete with support for Android apps and the Google Play Store.

Continue reading Closer look at Android apps on a Chromebook (video) at Liliputing.