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Archive for October 15, 2019

So What Did Google Announce Today?

Posted in Commentary with tags Google on October 15, 2019 by itnerd

Google had an event called Made by Google event in New York today and they made a bunch of announcements. Here’s the highlights:

Pixel 4: The new Pixel 4 and 4 XL were announced today. You can pre-order a Pixel 4 for $799 USD and Pixel 4 XL for $899 USD, and phones will ship on October 24, globally. The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL feature 5.7- and 6.3-inch OLED 90Hz “Smooth Displays.” The Pixel 4 comes with a 2,800mAh battery while the 4 XL has a 3,700mAh capacity. They use the Snapdragon 855 processors, have 6GB or RAM, and have 64 or 128GB storage. They support face unlocking. And it has a new Motion Sense feature that uses a miniature radar sensor to detect movement around the phone to turn off alarms and the like.

Pixel Buds 2: The latest attempt in terms of coming up with an AirPods killer comes in the form of the Pixel Buds 2. They are truly wireless unlike the first Pixel Buds and they’ll supposedly going to fit well and securely in most ears. Pixel Buds will be available for $179 USD in spring 2020 in four colors.

Pixelbook Go: Google’s latest ChromeBook comes in the form of the Pixelbook Go. It has a 13″ screen, 8th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 16GB RAM, up to 256GB flash storage, up to 12 hours of battery life, a backlight keyboard with soft typing, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack. It’s 13mm thick and weighs just over two pounds. Expect to fork out $879 USD and up for one. You can preorder today in North America.

Stadia: Google also gave a firm launch date of November 19 for its Stadia gaming service.

Nest Mini and Nest Wifi: Finally Google unveiled the Nest Mini. Key features include stronger bass and faster response times. There’s also the Nest Wifi router with two times the speed and up to 25 percent better coverage. You can pick up the Nest Mini for $49 USD. As for the Nest WiFi, you can get a two pack with one router and one point for $269 USD or a three pack with one router and two points for $349 USD.

If you want to watch the full announcement, here’s the video:

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UAG Releases Civilian Series Cases For The iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, & iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted in Commentary with tags Urban Armor Gear on October 15, 2019 by itnerd

Urban Armor Gear has developed a new series for those who choose to live beyond the known and venture into the unknown.

UAG’s new Civilian Series is stunningly sleek and was designed for individuals looking for something different- a modest design with bold hints of superior protection. Civilian Series’ features a multi-layer construction engineered to disperse energy from impact and lessen the forces transferred to your device. Offered in three daring colorways, there is sure to be a Civilian case that fits any of our customer’s style.

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CIVILIAN SERIES – iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

Available colors: Black, Slate, Olive Drab

Price: $49.95 | £40 | €45

Feather-light composite construction
Tactile buttons & easy access to touchscreen and ports
Screen surround
Apple Pay compatible
Wireless charging compatible
Meets military drop-test standards (MIL STD 810G 516.6)

Salesforce Serves Up New Report On How Canadian Shoppers Browse And Buy

Posted in Commentary with tags Salesforce on October 15, 2019 by itnerd

Today, Salesforce Research released its third edition of the Connected Shoppers Report, exploring today’s evolving shopper expectations, preferences and channels that brands and retailers must cater to.

It is no surprise that retail is transforming, however the transformation can no longer be boiled down to stores vs. eCommerce. This latest study shows that even in a retail landscape where ecommerce is a rising star, physical stores remain critical and brands are expanding their reach to meet shoppers wherever they are. With the upcoming holiday shopping season, and looking to 2020, understanding how shoppers navigate the crowded retail landscape will be the key to winning customer loyalty and sales.

Key Canadian highlights from the report include:

Retailers, brands and online marketplaces are battling for wallet share:
- 81% of consumers buy from a combination of retailers, brands and online marketplaces
- 40% of repeat purchases are made at physical stores
Shopping is evolving as consumers define new terms of engagement:
- 49% of consumers shop with a specific brand in mind
- The number one trait of a shoppers’ favorite brand is offering exclusive shopping experiences/promotions
Shopper journeys are moving to the edge:
- 17% of shoppers buy products with a mobile wallet
- On average, consumers have 2 shopping apps on their mobile devices
Stores remain critical for discovery, experience and fulfillment:
- 52% of shoppers have purchased a product online for in-store pickup
- The number one reason consumers shop in-store is to get merchandise immediately, followed by the ability to touch and feel merchandise
SPOTLIGHT: 2019 holiday shopping:
- 47% of shoppers plan to buy more from online marketplaces this holiday season
- The number one factor influencing holiday purchases this season is what’s available in physical stores

You can read the full report here.

The Apple TV App & Apple TV+ Is Coming To The Roku Platform Today

Posted in Commentary with tags Roku on October 15, 2019 by itnerd

Roku, Inc. has announced the Apple TV app is available on the Roku® platform starting today. For the first time ever, Roku users can add the Apple TV app via the Roku Channel Store to discover and watch movies, TV shows and more, including accessing their iTunes video library and subscribing to Apple TV channels directly on Roku devices. Starting November 1, Apple TV+, Apple’s home for all-original shows and movies from the world’s greatest storytellers, will be available on the Apple TV app on the Roku platform.

Apple TV App

Through the Apple TV app on their Roku devices, customers can enjoy personalized recommendations of shows and movies; subscribe directly to Apple TV channels and more using their Apple ID and password; browse, buy or rent more than 100,000 movies and TV shows; and watch all the shows and movies they have previously purchased from iTunes.

Apple TV+

Beginning November 1, Apple TV+ will be available in the Apple TV app on Roku, giving users access to exclusive shows, movies and documentaries from the most celebrated creative artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan, Jon M. Chu and more. Roku users can subscribe to Apple TV+ right in the Apple TV app on their Roku devices for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. Apple TV+ subscribers can also watch on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac and other platforms, including the web (https://tv.apple.com). For more information about Apple TV+, please visit https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-plus/.

Availability

Supported Roku streaming devices can add the Apple TV app for free starting today. Apple TV+ through the Apple TV app will be available in supported regions starting on November 1. In addition to the U.S., the Apple TV app is available to Roku users in the following markets: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

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