Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies: Gizmodo Australia

REGULARS

Australian Government Warns That Android Smartphones Aren't Wiping Themselves Correctly

Here’s a heads up for anyone running older Android devices: the Aussie Government is warning local users that devices aren’t being wiped properly in an apparent security flaw.

GADGETS

Everything We Know So Far About Google I/O 2015

DARREN ORFTODAY 7:00 AM

Google I/O is the annual tech holiday for all fandroids and lovers of Mountain View moonshots. It’s a software party mostly, so check your new hardware expectations at the door. It’s a full two days for Google to showcase the future — or at least the next 12 months — and it all starts tomorrow.

GADGETS

An App Helped Me Realise That I Need Glasses

CAMPBELL SIMPSONTODAY 2:00 PM

Until a few weeks ago, I’d never had an eye test. I’ve been thinking about this more and more recently — after a long day in front of the computer, writing for Gizmodo (or pretending to write for Gizmodo while actually playing Skiing Yeti Mountain on my phone), my eyes hurt.

GEEK OUT

Full Bank Accounts, Empty Storefronts: The Economics Of High-Rent Blight

ALISSA WALKERTODAY 1:30 PM

Urban blight is nothing new. The signature image of plummeting real estate is block after block of properties vacated as businesses move out. Now the high price of real estate in American cities is creating a new phenomenon: In otherwise healthy economic areas, the rents are climbing so high they’re driving businesses away — and no other businesses can afford to move in.

CAR REVIEWS

Android Auto Preview: It's Not Perfect, But You Want It

BRENT ROSETODAY 1:00 PM

I was really excited when Google announced Android Auto last year. I spend a lot of time driving, and it sounded way safer and more convenient than sticking my phone to the dash. Eleven months later, I finally got to take it for a spin. The TL;DR version? I want it in my car, like, now. I bet you’d like it too.

GADGETS

Lenovo's Dual Screen Smartwatch And Projector Phone Are Pretty Out There

CHRIS JAGERTODAY 12:55 PM

Lenovo’s Tech World conference in Beijing has just shown off some interesting concept devices that are currently worming their way through the pre-production phase. How does a smartphone with an inbuilt projector tickle your fancy? Or a dual screen smartwatch?

MOBILE

Turn Off Read Receipts

ADAM CLARK ESTESTODAY 12:45 PM

Rumour has it, Apple wants to give you the option to use read receipts on a contact-by-contact basis in iMessage. This is a dreadfully bad idea that will undoubtedly destroy relationships, estrange friends, and piss off teens. Why? Because read receipts are awful, and making them more sophisticated is bullshit.

ENTERTAINMENT

Fast And Furious' Justin Lin Directs Live Action 360 Video For Google

MARIO AGUILARTODAY 12:15 PM

Following from last year’s beautiful Duet, Google just pushed out a sweet little short from Justin Lin, best known as the director of the Fast and Furious.

MOBILE

Lenovo Launches Windows 10 Tablet For The Business Set

CHRIS JAGERTODAY 12:01 PM

The product announcements are coming thick and fast at Lenovo Tech World in Beijing. We just got shown a new business tablet running on Windows 10; the ThinkPad 10. Here’s a look at the specs.

ENTERTAINMENT

Cortana Leaps Onto Lenovo PCs With Boosted Search Capabilities

CHRIS JAGERTODAY 12:00 PM

Lenovo today announced a new collaboration with Microsoft that will see Windows 10’s Siri challenger, Cortana, enhanced with a new propitiatory search platform. Dubbed REACHit, it will allow Cortana to search and locate difficult-to-find content across multiple devices and cloud services with a few spoken commands.

ENTERTAINMENT

Lenovo Cast Is A Wireless Streaming Hub For Tablets And Smartphones

CHRIS JAGERTODAY 12:00 PM

Lenovo has lifted the curtains on Lenovo Cast, the company’s first media casting device for tablets and smartphones. It allows users to stream content wirelessly from their portable screens to a TV. Read on for the specifications.