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The aftermarket vehicle data/tracking service Automatic is shutting down

1 5 月, 2020 Phil Nickinson 0

And rebates are being offered.

Automatic — which uses a cellular-connected device plugged into your car’s OBD-II port to provide diagnostic, tracking and analytics data — is shutting down. The company sent out an email to users today noting that the COVID-19 pandemic is the cause, and that means the end of “the Automatic connected car product, service, and platform.”

The service will shut down at midnight Pacific time on May 28.

Automatic was purchased by SiriusXM in April 2017 and featured a couple flavors of connected car devices. Automatic Pro housed its own 3G radio and could upload information at its leisure, which also allowed for real-time tracking of a vehicle. Automatic Lite relied on a Bluetooth connection with your phone to upload the data.

Automatic worked with pretty much any car out there, and with both Android and iOS devices. You’d buy it once and have a “lifetime” of use. It’d track each drive, showing how much (and where) you traveled, estimating the cost …

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The best wheels to take your PS4 racing to the next level

1 5 月, 2020 Richard Devine 0

If you’re looking to get into console-based sim racing, then the PlayStation 4 is a strong place to be. Not only does Sony have a strong first-party title in Gran Turismo, but it’s well supported by third-party offerings like F1 and Project Cars. To take your experience to the next level, a wheel is a sound investment, and the good news is that there are some really awesome choices for the PlayStation. This includes the Thrustmaster T300 RS GT, which is the best option for most people.

Best Overall: Thrustmaster T300 RS GT

The T300 RS GT isn’t the most expensive wheel, nor is it the most feature-packed or advanced when it comes to the tech inside. However, what it is, for most people, is a fantastic all-rounder that balances all of these things. It’s approachable for newcomers with an attractive price, yet still delivers a quality experience.

It might be a Gran Turismo-branded product, but it’s great for all racing games on PS4 and PC. The wheel rim itself is 11 inches in diamet…

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Geoff Keighley announces Summer Game Fest, 4 months of news and more

1 5 月, 2020 Samuel Tolbert 0

E3 isn’t happening but that doesn’t mean we won’t have a summer of gaming news.

What you need to know

Geoff Keighley is the host of multiple game events like Opening Night Live at Gamescom and the Game Awards.
E3 2020 and other physical events have been canceled due to the ongoing global pandemic.
Today, Keighley has announced Summer Game Fest, a four month event bringing news, digital showcases and more.

Geoff Keighley, host of the Game Awards and Opening Night Live at Gamescom, has revealed an entirely-new project called Summer Game Fest. Running from May through August 2020, this event is four months of news, digital shows and demos from multiple publishers, including but not even remotely limited to: CD Projekt Red, Xbox, PlayStation, WB Games and Bethesda.

Introducing @summergamefest, a new season of news, in-game events, and playable content from the entire video game industry. May – August 2020, and a developer showcase with @iam8bit too. See you soon! https://t.co/Hp7Wu…

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The Facebook Portal Mother’s Day sale lets you see mom face to face again

1 5 月, 2020 Alex Smith 0

This Mother’s Day will be a bit different than most. With everyone practicing social distancing and staying at home, you might not be around your mother during this special day for the first time in years. Luckily, this Mother’s Day sale on Facebook Portal devices will help make sure you and mom can see each other whenever you choose. With select devices now $50 off, today’s sale offers some of the best discounts yet on Facebook Portal models with prices starting as low as $79. Shipping is free.

The Portal Mini is the most affordable option during the sale, priced at $79.99. This 8-inch device lets you easily video call other Portal users, or even just Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp users, using its built-in apps. The Smart Camera tracks you and adjusts to follow you around, meaning you could, for instance, chat with your sister while cooking dinner, or hang out with long-distance relatives while they open up their birthday presents. It features Alexa built-in so you can control you…

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How to enable Bedtime Mode to slow wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 Pro

1 5 月, 2020 Andrew Martonik 0

The first wireless charger out of OnePlus is a stunner. The Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charger charges nearly as fast as its wired counterpart, which is an incredible achievement. But to accomplish those speeds, it generates a lot of heat, and subsequently has a built-in fan to keep everything cool. That can be a bit annoying, but thankfully you can tell your OnePlus 8 Pro to charge more slowly at specific times, taking away the wireless charger’s bothersome fan noise.

Products used in this guide

Best wireless charging: OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charger ($70 at OnePlus)

How to use Bedtime Mode to slow OnePlus 8 Pro wireless charging

Go to Settings, Battery and Bedtime Mode.

Tap the toggle next to “schedule” to turn Bedtime Mode on.
Set your start and end times for Bedtime Mode — during these hours, charging will be slowed and the fan noise will be reduced.

Don’t be concerned with starting it early, since the phone will have plenty of time to charge overnight.

That’s …

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Disable 5G to improve battery life on the OnePlus 8

1 5 月, 2020 Hayato Huseman 0

The OnePlus 8 is a fantastic phone with great hardware and the company’s beloved OxygenOS software atop Android 10. Like many other high-end phones released this year, it features support for the budding 5G network, which sounds great at first glance — but most markets still don’t have a 5G network to connect to. In the meantime your OnePlus 8 will be draining its battery searching for a network that isn’t there. Luckily, you can tell it to stop looking.

Products used in this guide

5G powerhouse: OnePlus 8 ($700 at OnePlus)
LTE only: OnePlus 7T ($500 at OnePlus)

How to disable 5G

While 5G theoretically allows you to hit incredible gigabit speeds and download huge movies and games in a matter of seconds (in ideal situations), it takes a considerable toll on your phone’s battery life. That may well be worth it in exchange for those speeds, but if your area doesn’t have 5G, you’re draining power without gaining any benefits. Disabling 5G connectivity only takes a few steps in t…

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The mid-range OnePlus Z could be powered by a Snapdragon 765 chipset

1 5 月, 2020 Babu Mohan 0

OnePlus has exclusively been using Snapdragon chips since it launched its first phone in 2014.

What you need to know

A new leak claims the OnePlus Z will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765 chipset.
It was previously tipped to be feature MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000 chipset.
OnePlus Z is expected to make its global debut in July.

In March this year, a leak had suggested that the OnePlus Z would be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 5G chipset. A new leak has now surfaced, which claims the phone will feature Qualcomm’s 7nm Snapdragon 765 chipset instead. The latest information comes from popular leaker Max J.

pic.twitter.com/3pOxPgddM8— Max J. (@MaxJmb) May 1, 2020

Since the Snapdragon 765 and 765G are among the most powerful and efficient mid-range mobile processors on the market right now, the info is certainly not surprising. The leaker says it may be possible that OnePlus had initially planned to use the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 chipset but changed its mind later.

M…

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Xiaomi accused of sneakily collecting vast amounts of private data

1 5 月, 2020 Michael Allison 0

Xiaomi may be collecting more data than users are aware of, but the company says it’s doing so strictly within legal limits.

What you need to know

Xiaomi has been accused of collecting more data than would reasonably be anticipated from smartphone users.
A report from Forbes spotted data from incongito mode being routed to servers in Russia and Singapore.
Xiaomi denied the allegations, arguing that it was strictly abiding by local regulations.

Browsing on incognito mode may not be as private as users think if you’re using a Xiaomi phone. As per a report from Forbes (working with security researcher Gabi Cirlig), the default Xiaomi browser was sending records of every website users accessed, even while they were in incognito mode.

Forbes reports:

The device was also recording what folders he opened and to which screens he swiped, including the status bar and the settings page. All of the data was being packaged up and sent to remote servers in Singapore and Russia, though t…

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10 great accessories any Instant Pot owner will appreciate

1 5 月, 2020 Christine Persaud 0

Instant Pot fans are a loyal and passionate bunch who swear by cooking a multitude of foods in the versatile small kitchen appliance. I’m one of them, and over the years, like many others who love their Pots, I have spent tons on different accessories that come in handy when cooking a variety of foods. In many cases, cheap accessories can make a world of difference. Here are some great ones that are worth considering if you’re looking for something new to add to your Instant Pot accessories collection.

Steam to perfection

Kitchen Deluxe Vegetable Steamer

Staff pick

This convenient basket expands to fit all Instant Pot sizes (as well as stovetop pots) then collapses to put away when not in use. It is great for steaming vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, or use it as an egg rack or colander. A center handle makes for easy removal. It comes with a recipe ebook and julienne peeler, too.

$17 at Amazon

Squash the smell

House Again 3-pack Silicone Rings

The sealing ring n…

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Call to Unite live stream: What is it, when it airs & how to watch

1 5 月, 2020 Alex Smith 0

Join a collective of global leaders, entertainers, and citizens coming together in a 24-hour livestreamed event this weekend. The Call to Unite livestream will bring together a range of cultural, spiritual, and civic leaders from across the world for a global movement to directly support COVID-19 relief efforts. As the world stays at home to support social distancing measures, the livestream acts as a celebration of the support and strength shown during the past several weeks.

During its special opening hour, The Call to Unite livestream will feature host Tim Shriver with guests like Oprah Winfrey, Eckhart Tolle, T.D. Jakes, former Presidents, and more. As the livestream progresses on, the guests will share positivity and support in their own ways, from teaching a practice to performing a song, recounting a past memory or offering a prayer, sharing a poem, or another unique gift.

UNITE is partnered with GiveDirectly to help raise financial support for families from around the world…