Overall Findings Both Bixby and Siri have strengths and unique aspects. The functionality of each assistant is so different that it’s challenging to compare each in a head to head competition. Still, Bixby seems to excel in the voice command area, while Siri does exceptionally well at detail-oriented tasks. Samsung and Apple are dedicated to updating and improving their digital assistants, so they upgrade Bixby and Siri regularly to accommodate new features....

A new Apple patent suggests the company could use an optical audio transmission from VR headsets to AirPods. Optical audio systems use fiber optic cables and laser light to transmit digital audio signals between two devices. Apple is among the companies exploring alternatives to Bluetooth for audio. “Though freeing in many ways, wireless technology typically offers relatively slow data transmission rates, with 25Mbps being the standard,” CEO of the audio engineering company Voices, David Ciccarelli, told Lifewire in an email interview....

I unboxed a PIXMA G6020, carefully topped up the ink tanks, and put it to use in my office over the course of an intense testing session and about eight hours of use over five days. I looked at everything from print speed and quality to usability and operating costs to help you decide whether or not this intriguing option belongs in your own home, office, or even business setting....

What Audio Amplifiers Do In both home and car audio systems, an amplifier strengthens a weak audio signal. When the signal that goes into the amplifier is too weak to drive speakers, the signal that comes out can get the job done. The power of an amp dictates how loud and distortion-free the sound is. Do You Really Need a Car Audio Amp? Here are a few benefits of including a separate amplifier in your car audio system:...

How Do You Plan to Use the Photo? For photos you plan to only share on the internet or send by e-mail, you can shoot at a lower resolution. If you want to print the photo, you need to shoot at a higher resolution. But, if you aren’t sure exactly how you plan to use it, it’s best to just shoot the images at the highest resolution you have available with your camera....

General Preferences To access Firefox’s general preferences, enter the following text in the address bar: The following settings and features are found in this section: Designate Firefox as your default browserDefine Firefox’s startup behavior each time it is launchedChange your home pageModify the location where downloaded files are savedConfigure Firefox’s tabbed browsing settings Search Preferences Firefox’s search preferences are accessible by typing the following text into the address bar: The following search-related settings are available on this page....

If you’re a writer, coder, gamer, all three, or simply like the click-clack of a typewriter, there’s a modern alternative that can satisfy your desire for a musical, tactile and more comfortable typing experience. The Das Keyboard 4 Professional is a mechanical keyboard with a solid and sleek-looking build that offers precision for a full day of typing and a break for gaming too. In addition to a heavy-duty build, this mechanical keyboard features clicky Cherry MX Blue switches and distinctive add-ons including media controls, two USB passthrough ports, and a ruler that dutifully acts like a footbar until you need it....

When the Dell Inspiron 7370 launched in 2017, it was ahead of the pack in terms of processing power, size, weight, and overall design. Things have changed in the last two years, however. That doesn’t mean the 7370 isn’t still a strong contender. I spent more than 40 hours testing the Dell Inspiron 7370 to see if it holds up in the 2019 laptop market. Design: Outdated but solid When the laptop was released in 2017, it was competing with—among others—the likes of the MacBook Air....

Common Directions in Designs The three directions common in designs used to direct the eye are: Horizontal: If you divide the page or screen in half from side to side with a line or other element, the eye moves to each element in the top half of the design before moving to the section under the horizontal line or element that divides the page.Vertical: If you have two long, narrow columns of text or two long, narrow photos or graphic elements, you have a design with a vertical direction....

The reason that all your TVs may now require a box, even if you don’t subscribe to premium pay channels, is that your cable service has finally gone all-digital and, on top of that, may also be implementing copy-protection (scrambling) on most, or all, its signal feeds going into your home. Extra Equipment, Extra Cost This change not only affects what you need to receive your cable TV programming but also adds extra costs to your monthly cable bill....

Whether you’re in one of those groups or have another reason to avoid iTunes, you may wonder whether you must use iTunes with your iOS devices. The answer is no. Using iTunes is not required. You have other choices. Sync With iCloud Only While the combination of iTunes and a Mac or PC used to be the only way to manage data on your device and to make backups, that’s no longer the case....

The thing is, these aren’t podcasts. Podcasts are like web pages—anyone can listen to any podcast in any podcast app, just like you can view any web page in any browser. While Audible (and also Spotify) might call its audio shows “podcasts,” they are not. “The danger could be that shows born as podcasts morph into a conceptually different format that can be processed and packed as an exclusive show,” Andrea Nepori, podcaster and writer for Italian newspaper La Stampa, told Lifewire via message....

A security researcher has demonstrated a mechanism for attackers to steal data from an air-gapped computer, which is a computer that is completely disconnected from the network and has no wireless or wired connectivity to the internet. Dubbed SATAn, the attack involves repurposing serial ATA (SATA) cables inside most computers as a wireless antenna. “This is a good example of why there is a need for defense in depth,” Josh Lospinoso, CEO and co-founder of Shift5, told Lifewire in an email....

Focal length determines how much of a scene the camera sees, and it varies with the lens. A wide-angle lens can take in an entire landscape; a telephoto lens zooms in on a small subject in the distance. Focal length is important to understand, particularly if you’re shooting with a DSLR camera. Some basic knowledge of the concept can help you choose the right lens for a particular subject and know what to expect even before you look through the viewfinder....

The Escort iX is a mid-level radar detector that boasts long-range, advanced Autolearn technology, and GPS lockouts to filter stationary false alerts. Its GPS capabilities also sync with an included database to locate red lights and speed cameras. Let’s take a closer look at what the iX delivers in terms of performance, design, and value. Design: Problematic mounting The Escort iX is a medium-sized detector that fits in the palm of your hand and has good build quality....

How to Estimate Inverter Size Requirements Before you buy and install a power inverter, it’s essential to determine what your power needs are going to be. It’s also important to avoid overtaxing your electrical system, which is mainly an issue when dealing with automotive applications. When installing an inverter in a car or truck, the amount of power available is limited by the capabilities of the electrical system, which—barring the installation of a performance alternator—are pretty much set in stone....

What Is the Formjacking Scam? Formjacking is a relatively new online scam, having received mainstream attention in 2018 and 2019 after a number of major online retailers, such as Target and British Airways, were hacked and the private credit card information of hundreds of thousands customers was stolen. How Does the E-Skimming Scam Work? Unlike a system hack or data breach which steals saved information, formjacking involves the hacking of an online storefront and the placing of JavaScript code into checkout-related forms....

You never need to pay for an email checker program. Plenty of them are 100 percent free and should provide all the features you need. Plus, you can add all your email accounts to the same program. You can preview and delete messages. Plus, it supports adding an unlimited number of accounts, meaning you can check all your email accounts from the same place. Here are more features you’ll get with PopTray:...

As internet speeds and computing power have steadily increased over the years, streaming games has become a lot more practical for gamers around the world. While Google isn’t the first tech company to enter this realm, they are one of the biggest to throw their weight behind a new platform. Stadia promises a lot on the surface. Being able to play your favorite games from a budget laptop, your TV or even your smartphone is something many have only dreamed of⁠, but now Stadia lets you do just that—with some caveats....

Overall Findings GoPro cameras are generally more expensive than dashcams and aren’t designed to sit indefinitely in a vehicle. These devices can’t be set to turn on and start recording when the car is started, and lack hardware to protect against extreme cold or extreme heat. If you use a GoPro as a dashcam, you must mount it on the dash, plug it in, and turn it on every time you drive....