You won’t see any Pixel-branded laptops anytime soon

Looks like we’ve seen the last of the premium Pixel-branded laptops. Let’s clarify, though, that this doesn’t mean the end of Chrome OS or Google’s laptop initiatives. According to Rick Osterloh, senior vice president for Hardware at Google, the company will not use the Pixel brand for laptops in the future. Pixel has been associated recently with Google’s new and well-received line of smartphones, which have, unfortunately, been having some issues with supply and demand recently.

Osterloh says during an interview at Mobile World Congress that there might be new product categories that will carry the Pixel name, though. As TechCrunch points out, if you head to the Google Store, there are no Pixel laptops for sale at the moment. But as Osterloh qualifies, there might be Google-branded laptops in the future still but they “don’t have any plans to discuss at this time.”

Netflix adds support for HDR video streaming on mobile phones

With Netflix getting aggressive in the mobile space and smartphones getting bigger, better screens, it seems the latest announcement from the company is an inevitability. According to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, their streaming video service will soon support HDR video streaming on smartphones. He made the announcement during his keynote at Mobile World Congress saying it’ll start with the LG G6. Having an 18:9 display ratio, the LG flagship allows for full screen viewing of Netflix originals like House of Cards and Stranger Things. Now, you can add being able to see these shows in HDR, too. The price that comes with it, though, is a bump in price at US$11.99 a month instead of US$9.99 and, of course, higher data use.

Aside from HDR, Hastings also announced that there will be new video encodes for mobile devices to help those with poor internet connection to stream up to 30 hours of Netflix videos per month even with a small 2GB data cap.

Source: Android Authority

Microsoft Xbox Game Pass gives unlimited access to over 100 games, debuts in Spring 2017

Ahead of Microsoft’s holiday launch of its “most powerful console ever,” Xbox gamers are in for a treat. There will be a new gaming subscription service called Xbox Game Pass. For $9.99 a month, it’ll give you access to over 100 Xbox One and backward-compatible Xbox 360 games with titles including Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and Tekken Tag 2, to name a few. The service allows for better discovery of new games and if you want to make the title yours, Xbox Game Pass members gain access to exclusive discounts from the catalog. Microsoft plans to cycle games in and out of the service for a constantly-updating library of games.

The service will be rolling out to the broader Xbox community in the spring. But at the moment select members of the Xbox Insider Program will get an Alpha Preview of it. There will only be around 20 titles there and expect it to be buggy, as this preview program is meant to work out the kinks in the service.

HP is flexing its 2-in-1 muscle with the new Pro X2 612 G2

HP announced a dynamic new commercial 2-in-1 detachable along with a range of innovative accessories that empower people to work wherever, whenever, with connected mobile devices that are fun as well as functional, powerful and secure. The new HP Pro x2 612 G2 is designed for today’s mobile professionals who want a stylish device that is easy to use. At the same time, they need applications that automate workflows in field services, government, healthcare, and retail verticals while delivering high productivity with the enterprise-class security and serviceability IT requires. The device will sell in Canada starting at $1,179.

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