Don’t forget Android Wear! Google launches ad as Tim Cook kicks off Apple Watch event

By Trevor Mogg Published March 10, 2015

Android: Wear what you want

Just as Tim Cook was stepping out on stage to kick off Apple’s ‘Spring Forward’ event in San Francisco Monday morning, Google deemed it the perfect moment to stick on YouTube an ad for Android Wear, the OS used to power smartwatches such as the Moto 360.

Reminding consumers that there is an alternative to the Apple Watch, in fact, many alternatives, the ad – called Android: Wear what you want – features fresh-faced hipsters showing off various Android Wear devices to an upbeat Shamir soundtrack (On The Regular).

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The 17-second sequence finishes up with the line, “Be together. Not the same,” a little sideswipe at Apple for the relatively few options that come with its debut wearable.

The Cupertino company announced on Monday that the Apple Watch will hit stores on April 24, with pre-orders starting April 10. Prices begin at $349, topping out at $17,000 for a version of the swanky Apple Watch Edition, its high-end model that features a case crafted from 18-karat gold.

All eyes are on whether iPhone owners jump at the chance of adding another Apple device to their collection, and whether the company’s entry into the smartwatch market will be a turning point for a device that till now doesn’t appear to have caught the imagination of consumers in quite the way manufacturers had hoped.

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Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

News

Facebook ad boycotters to Congress: Don’t let Zuckerberg off easy

mark zuckerberg thinking

The organizers of the #StopHateforProfit Facebook ad boycott have written a letter to the House Judiciary Committee asking the members to particularly press Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the company’s alleged monopoly over the advertising sphere.
First reported by Axios, the letter suggests several pointed questions that lawmakers could ask: For instance, what percentage of U.S. digital ad spending runs through Facebook and its subsidiaries, what this means for small and medium businesses, and whether there are any alternatives for advertisers to reach certain demographics with the power and efficiency that Facebook uses. The questions seem intended to get at whether Facebook is truly the monopoly it claims not to be.
In June, several hundred major brands, including Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Starbucks, signed on with activist groups led by Common Sense Media, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Anti-Defamation League to remove their ads from Facebook for the month of July. This was an attempt, the groups said, the put pressure on Facebook to change its policies about hate speech and misinformation.

However, Facebook has proven resilient against so many big advertisers leaving its platform. Although MarketWatch reported that its stock tanked briefly in June when the boycott was announced, total ad revenue has remained basically steady throughout the boycott, according to Forbes. The social media giant is set to publish its second-quarter earnings report on Thursday, which should show whether the boycott had any kind of major effect on Facebook's bottom line.

Deals

Razer Anzu smart glasses deal knocks $140 off the price tag

The Razer Anzu smart glasses placed on top of an open book.

While smartwatch deals have slowly claimed their place in the mainstream, smart glasses haven't turned out to be as popular. Gaming-focused brand Razer, however, is trying to renew interest in smart glasses with the Razer Anzu, which you can currently purchase from Best Buy at $140 off. If you'd like to give them a try, they're available for just $60, less than half their original price of $200.

There have been failures like the Google Glass and Snap Spectacles, and hopeful attempts like Oppo's Air Glass and Apple's secretive project, but the Razer Anzu smart glasses take a different spin on the wearable device by designing them for indoors. While they come with polarized sunglass lenses, their clear lenses are more useful with their blue light filter, which protects your eyes from screen glare to prevent discomfort even after hours of playing video games or working from home. The smart glasses, which also have a built-in omnidirectional microphone and speakers, may also be more comfortable to wear for an extended period of time compared to headsets and headphones. You'll enjoy smooth, stutter-free sound with the Razer Anzu's low latency audio with a 60ms Bluetooth connection.

Mobile

The best Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 screen protectors

Person holding skateboard while wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

A new, sleek design and digital bezel help the Galaxy Watch 4 stand out in the crowd and set it apart from the traditional style of the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Whether you've picked up a 40mm model with a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED screen or opted for more screen real estate with the 44mm model, that stand-out design needs protecting from scratches and knocks. That means it's time for our picks of the best Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 screen protectors, with something to suit all budgets.

These screen protectors will all fit the 40mm or 44mm models of the Galaxy Watch 4. If you've got a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, these won't fit.
Spigen Glas.tR EZ Fit Screen Protector