T-Mobile Offers Free iPhone 7 or 7 Plus With Eligible Device Trade-In for Black Friday

T-Mobile Offers Free iPhone 7 or 7 Plus With Eligible Device Trade-In for Black Friday

T-Mobile today announced its Black Friday deals, bringing back a popular trade-in offer that will allow customers to get a free or discounted iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus when trading in an older device.

Uber just streamlined the hell out of its app

Uber just streamlined the hell out of its app But it also added a lot of clutter

Uber is rolling out a major redesign of its app today — the most significant update since 2012. The changes, which are only for users and not drivers, are supposed to offer a much cleaner interface, less confusion around which service to request, and shortcut options to frequent destinations.

Apple Delays AirPods

Apple Delays AirPods, October Launch No Longer Happening

When Apple debuted its AirPods in September, the company said the wireless earbuds would launch in late October. Now that it's late October, people have been wondering if a release is imminent, but as it turns out, the AirPods are delayed.

Huawei Honor Pad 2 tablet

Huawei Honor Pad 2 tablet

Huawei Honor Pad 2 tablet

Huawei may already have a lot of devices beyond smartphones, but its sub-brand honor hasn’t ventured outside as much. That changes today as the company launches two new devices that aren’t phones. The Honor Pad 2, as the number implies, follows up on Honor’s previous slate, while the Honor Watch S1 dives head first into full smartwatch territory. And, in typical Honor fashion, these devices will be offered with dirt cheap prices, though which markets outside of China will get it remains an open question.

Amazon's full on-demand streaming music

Amazon's full on-demand streaming music service launches today

Amazon’s long-rumored on-demand music streaming service is now available. The company is launching its new service as Amazon Music Unlimited, a on-demand competitor to the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music. Amazon has done a number of things to differentiate Music Unlimited from its competitors, but the most notable one is its price: the service will be available to Amazon Prime members for $7.99 per month or $79 per year, which is cheaper than the premium options from Spotify or Apple Music. In addition, owners of one of Amazon’s voice-controlled Echo devices will be able to get the service for just $3.99 per month.

At its core, Amazon Music Unlimited is very similar to the other services you could subscribe to. It has a catalog of "tens of millions" of songs (Amazon’s Steve Boom tells me it has deals with all three major labels, in addition to "hundreds" of indies); a recommendations engine to surface new music; both algorithmic and hand-made playlists; and apps for Android, iOS, Sonos, and desktop (plus Amazon’s Fire tablets and set top boxes). Amazon’s new Music apps have been completely redesigned with fresh typography, revised navigation, and a focus on artist imagery and album art. They feature some clever perks, such as the ability to automatically download music Amazon thinks you’d like while in the background, so you’ll always have something to listen to while offline, as well as lyrics integration.

But while Spotify relies on its intelligent music recommendation and discovery as a draw and Apple pushes people toward its service with major album exclusives, Amazon is touting Music Unlimited’s tight integration with its Echo devices and Alexa voice assistant as the real differentiator here. Not only do Echo owners have access to a discounted version of the service (though it’s only available on one Echo device at a time), they can request songs from Music Unlimited in a variety of ways just using their voices. In addition to fielding specific song, artist, album, or playlist requests, Alexa can pull up the "latest song" from an artist, play music based on a requested mood or time period, or even find songs from snippets of lyrics. Requests can be strung together — one of the examples Amazon demoed to me was "play U2 songs from the '80s" and the Echo started playing the only listenable songs from Bono and crew. Amazon says that the more people use the service, the better its responses and suggestions will get. (For example, if you ask the Echo to "play workout music" and have a history of listening to metal, it won’t start bumping EDM.)

In addition, Amazon Music Unlimited has a new feature called Side-by-Side, which pairs artist commentary with selected tracks from the their catalog. The company says it is launching with a few dozen Side-by-Side features, including from artists such as The Chainsmokers, Jason Aldean, Lindsey Stirling, Sting, Norah Jones, One Republic, and Kongos, with more to come in the future. Readers of a certain generation might liken this feature to an updated take on MTV’s Unplugged or VH1’s Storytellers.

Amazon isn’t launching the new service with any major artist or album exclusives, but vice president of Amazon Music Steve Boom says the company "doesn’t have a firm stance on full-on exclusives" and it is still evaluating whether or not to pursue them. For now, Boom points to the service’s ease of use, voice integration, and recommendations technology as the main differentiators for it.

But for many, Amazon Music Unlimited’s price will likely be its main draw. The yearly plan option for Prime members brings the price of the service down to about $6.58 per month, well below the cost of single-account plans from other services. (Non-prime members will be able to sign up for $9.99 per month, which is the same price as competing services.) Amazon says it will also introduce a six-account family plan for $14.99 per month or $149 per year before the end of the year, matching similar options from Spotify, Google, and Apple.



source: theverge

Top 3 Adapters That Let You Listen To Music And Charge Your iPhone 7 At The Same Time

Top 3 Adapters That Let You Listen To Music And Charge Your iPhone 7 At The Same Time

Customers aren't alone in mourning the loss of the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, and that's a good thing because companies here and there have started to push out creative and effective ways to bring it back.
Of course, users can opt for the pair of Lightning EarPods or the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter included in the box, but since the two need the single port of the handset, they can't be used to listen to music and charge at the same time. Well, there's always the new wireless AirPods, but that's a different story.
Now that that's cleared up, here are three of the best adapters with the perfect kind and right number of ports to date.

Missing the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus? Don't fret, we've got three of the best adapters in the market that let you plug in your favorite listening device and charge your phone at the same time.  ( Stephen Lam | Getty Images )

iLDOCK

(Photo: ildockgear)

Los Angeles startup ildockgear is bringing the small-sized dongle that is the iLDOCK to the table.
Out of the bunch, it triumphs over the others in terms of price, as users can pledge just $10 at the company's Kickstarter campaign page to reserve one. Bump that up to $20, and they'll get the iLDOCK Plus, an upgraded version that hass microSD card and SD card slots along with USB ports.
They're expected to ship out this November, and they're available in gold, silver, rose gold and gray to suit the color options of the iPhone 7.

Fstop Labs Lightning To 3.5mm Power Audio Charge Headphone Jack Adapter Cable

Priced at $25.99, Fstop Labs' Lightning to 3.5mm Power Audio Charge Headphone Jack Adapter Cable — that's a bit of a mouthful — is one of the cheapest ways to make both the headphone jack and Lightning port available for use at the same time.
It's available for preorder via Amazon, and it's set to be in stock on Oct. 13.

Fuze Case

Last but not least, the Fuze Case doesn't only offer a solution to the current conundrum, but it also gets rid of another potential problem — unwieldy dongles and wires.
Going even further, it also provides protection and some extra juice to boot, not to mention that it won't be bulky because of its form factor. The case for the iPhone 7 packs an additional 2,400 mAh battery, while the version for the iPhone 7 Plus is loaded with a 3,600 mAh cell.
For those who are interested in the Fuze Case, it's already up for preorder at the accessory maker's Indiegogo page for $69, and it's expected to arrive to backers' doorsteps on Dec. 23.
There you have it — some of the best ways to listen to music and charge that iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus simultaneously. Needless to say, it's safe to assume that more similar products will soon begin hitting shelves here and there too, and they might be worth keeping an eye out for.




source: techtimes

Upcoming BlackBerry DTEK60 Android Smartphone

This Is The Upcoming BlackBerry DTEK60 Android Smartphone, According To Trusted Tipster

BlackBerry's third Android smartphone, the DTEK60, should make its debut soon and it now stars in a new leak. The latest image gives a good look at the front of the device, and it looks pretty sleek.  ( Evan Blass | Twitter )

BlackBerry's upcoming Android smartphone, the DTEK60, is the star of a new leak that gives a clearer look at its front design.
The latest image comes from trusted tipster Evan Blass, also known as @evleaks, who has offered accurate information about unreleased devices or plans in the tech world on countless occasions so far. That's no guarantee that the leak is 100 percent accurate, but it does make it more credible.
BlackBerry, for its part, was once at the top of the food chain, but after falling significantly behind rivals on the smartphone market, it eventually moved to Android in an effort to keep its head above the water.
The company released its very first Android smartphone late in 2015, when it introduced the BlackBerry Priv. BlackBerry launched its second Android smartphone back in July this year, with the DTEK50, and it's now expected to reveal a new DTEK60 Android-powered smartphone soon enough.
The company's Android smartphones bear little resemblance to the old BlackBerry look with an iconic QWERTY keyboard, but that's hardly a surprise anymore. Times are changing, and BlackBerry is just trying to keep up.

The first images of the purported BlackBerry DTEK60 leaked last week, finally revealing what the smartphone should look like, but Blass now offers a clearer, less blurry look at the front of the device.
Based on this image, the DTEK60 will have slightly curved edges, on-screen navigation buttons and a sleek design overall. The leaked image also shows a few app icons such as the Google Play Store, BBM and others.
Blass makes no mention of specifications in this new leak, but the BlackBerry DTEK60 (codenamed "Argon") is expected to sport high-end internals and previous information from BlackBerry itself already painted a picture of what's in store.
The BlackBerry DTEK60 will come with a 5.5-inch QHD display (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) with a pixel density of 534 ppi and pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC under the hood, paired with Adreno 530 graphics and 4 GB of RAM.
Other specs of the DTEK60 include 32 GB of internal storage capacity, a 21-megapixel main camera on its rear, an 8-megapixel front shooter, a 3,000 mAh battery and a USB Type-C port.
The new BlackBerry DTEK60 may hit the market as a rebranded TCL 950, a smartphone that made its debut in China last week. For reference, the BlackBerry DTEK50 was a rebranded Alcatel Idol 4.
No information is available at this point as to when the BlackBerry DTEK60 will officially launch.




source: techtimes

Pixel phone by Google

Latest Pixel leaks give comprehensive look at the ‘phone by Google’

The published pages from Carphone Warehouse came with full specs, including familiar details (5-inch and 5.5-inch displays on the Pixel and Pixel XL respectively, Snapdragon 821 processors, and 4GB of RAM) as well as some that might just be placeholders (such as a microSD slot). Other listed specs include the choice of 32GB or 128GB of internal storage, a 2770mAh battery for the Pixel and a 3450mAh battery for the Pixel XL, and screen resolutions of 1080 x 1920 for the smaller device, and 1440 x 2560 for the larger.

THE TWO PHONES ARE IDENTICAL IN EVERYTHING BUT SIZE

As we've seen before, the phones are identical in looks. There's an offset camera on the front of the case, what looks like a circular fingerprint scanner on the rear, an antenna line on the bottom, and a split material design on the rear — with a shinier surface on the top third of the phone, and a matte finish on the bottom. We can see a USB Type-C port on the bottom, and a cut-out in the case suggests there's a headphone jack on the top of the devices. Previous rumors have said the handsets will be manufactured by HTC.

Pulled slides from Carphone Warehouse also showcased a number of Google software features, including free photo storage on Google Photos, and the Duo video chat app and Allo messaging app (complete with built-in Google Assistant). Also mentioned is a quick charge feature (15 minutes of charging for seven hours' battery life) and the return of Live Cases — customized phone cases that were introduced earlier this year for the Nexus 6, 5X, and 6P for $35 a pop. Let's just hope there are at least some new information left for Google to announce tomorrow.

Purported images of the Pixel (left) and Pixel XL (right), courtesy of the Canadian Bell leak. (via Android Central)

source: theverge

Honda's superhot Civic Type R

Honda's superhot Civic Type R looks absolutely insane

Honda Civic Type R

At a time when small car sales are generally suffering, Honda has found a hit in its newly redesigned Civic. Now, it plans to kick it up a notch.

The performance concept version of the Civic, the Type R, just made its debut last week at the Paris auto show, and will make its first appearance in the U.S. next month. It comes to showrooms next year.

It will mark the first time that Honda has offered the Type R in the U.S., and it's based on the Civic Hatchback, which was also introduced in Paris.

Note the twin tailpipes at the bacf end of the Honda Civic Type R Prototype  

For now, details are scant about just how hot of a performer the new car will be. The concept showed several performance details, most notably a long spoiler in back. Honda is saying, for now, "trust us."

"For the first time ever in America, Honda fans and enthusiasts will have access to the ultimate in Civic performance in the form of the new Type R," says Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda's U.S. car operation.

The Type R "H" badge is prominent on the grille and the car gets more of its sinister look comes from darkened lenses on its LED headlights. on the front grille at the nose of the car. There is a also new intake on the hood with an air scoop.

Honda Civic Type R Prototype from above 

source: usatoday

iPhone 7 And iPhone 7 Plus Launch Weekend Sales Lower By 25 Percent

iPhone 7 And iPhone 7 Plus Launch Weekend Sales Lower By 25 Percent

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus launch weekend sales were 25 percent lower than their predecessors, reports a German research firm. However, the orders for components of the new iPhones beat suppliers' estimation. 

The weekend sales of the newly launched iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus were lower than launch weekend sales of iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.

Apple launched its new-generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in early September and both devices hit the shelves on Sept. 16. The new iPhones are packed with better features than their predecessors. An improved chip, new color options, better camera capabilities and new software features of the novel iPhones have attracted millions of iFans across the world.
A previous Tech Times report highlighted that Apple raised the order quantities of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus components in anticipation of high sales. The report said the iPhone maker ordered between 72 million and 78 million new iPhones for 2016, and the figure was 20 percent more than analysts' estimation.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple analyst at KGI Securities, also predicted high sale volume for the new iPhones.
However, according to Germany's market research institute GfK, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus's launch weekend sales have not been great. By analyzing Apple's sales channels, GfK found that Apple's new iPhone sales were 25 percent lower year-over-year.
This is not the first instance a GfK's report has rocked Apple. In 2015, the market research firm also reported that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus turnover was not as impressive as claimed by the company.
It is worth noting that Apple has not officially revealed the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus's first weekend sales figure.
A report from Taiwanese publication DigiTimes cites sources familiar with Apple's manufacturing partners and suggests that Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus chip orders for the first quarter of 2017 are likely to fall 20 percent less than the chips ordered in the same period of 2016.

The weekend sales of the newly launched iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus were lower than launch weekend sales of iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
Apple launched its new-generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in early September and both devices hit the shelves on Sept. 16. The new iPhones are packed with better features than their predecessors. An improved chip, new color options, better camera capabilities and new software features of the novel iPhones have attracted millions of iFans across the world.
A previous Tech Times report highlighted that Apple raised the order quantities of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus components in anticipation of high sales. The report said the iPhone maker ordered between 72 million and 78 million new iPhones for 2016, and the figure was 20 percent more than analysts' estimation.
Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple analyst at KGI Securities, also predicted high sale volume for the new iPhones.
However, according to Germany's market research institute GfK, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus's launch weekend sales have not been great. By analyzing Apple's sales channels, GfK found that Apple's new iPhone sales were 25 percent lower year-over-year.
This is not the first instance a GfK's report has rocked Apple. In 2015, the market research firm also reported that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus turnover was not as impressive as claimed by the company.
It is worth noting that Apple has not officially revealed the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus's first weekend sales figure.
A report from Taiwanese publication DigiTimes cites sources familiar with Apple's manufacturing partners and suggests that Apple's iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus chip orders for the first quarter of 2017 are likely to fall 20 percent less than the chips ordered in the same period of 2016.
"Apple has requested its manufacturing partners stock ICs for a combined 50 million iPhone 7/7 Plus units in the third quarter of 2016, and another 45 million units in the fourth quarter, according to sources at analog chip firms. The estimated volume for the first quarter of 2017 has reduced to 35-37 million units, said the sources," reports DigiTimes.
Although this year's iPhone launch weekend sales have been reported as lower than last year, Apple is said to be pushing its iPhone component makers to make 100 million units of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 2016. Apple suppliers were estimating to get orders for about 80 to 85 million units.
It has just been about a week since the official release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Even though launch weekend sales are low, holiday sales could be higher for the two new offerings from Apple.





source: techtimes

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 users’ phones are blowing up, literally

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was supposed to be the next jewel in the South Korean company's line of Android smartphones, touted for its bigger battery that could power the phone for an impressive nine hours.

The entire phone was, as the company advertised, "designed to be a key that opens the door to new experiences on the go."

Since its Aug. 19 release, the Note 7 has indeed become known for all of the above, though probably not in the way Samsung had hoped.

On Thursday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of the new Samsung phones, saying that defective Note 7 batteries had been linked to "26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, including fires in cars and a garage."

The recall followed numerous recent reports, including one last Tuesday, when Port St. Lucie police officers responded to a report of a car on fire in a residential neighborhood in the southern Florida beach city. They found a vehicle "fully engulfed in flames."

The driver, who was unharmed, told police he had been charging his Samsung 7 phone when it burst into flames.

"[The] suggestion that the phone caused the fire has not been confirmed at this time as The Fire Marshall is continuing their investigation into the cause of the fire," the Port St. Lucie Police Department said in a statement.

In what is believed to be the first lawsuit related to the phone, a Florida man filed a claim against Samsung last Friday, alleging that his Galaxy Note 7 exploded and caused him severe burns on his right thigh and left thumb, Reuters reported.

In the lawsuit, Jonathan Strobel claimed that his Note 7 exploded in his front pants pocket while he was at a Costco on Sept. 9. The explosion was intense enough to burn through his pants and also severely burn his left thumb when he reached in to try to remove the phone, Reuters reported.

"He has a deep second-degree burn, roughly the size of the phone, on his right thigh," Strobel's attorney, Keith Pierro, told Reuters.

Such reports have continued to plague Samsung, which first issued a voluntary recall of its Galaxy Note 7 phones because of a "battery issue" on Sept. 2, offering to give replacement phones to customers who had bought the devices. The lithium-ion batteries in the phones could overheat and pose a safety risk, the company said after it had received a few dozen reports of Note 7 batteries catching on fire.

"To date (as of September 1) there have been 35 cases that have been reported globally and we are currently conducting a thorough inspection with our suppliers to identify possible affected batteries in the market," the company said in a statement. "However, because our customers’ safety is an absolute priority at Samsung, we have stopped sales of the Galaxy Note7."

According to the mobile analytics firm Apteligent, most owners of the phone were still using it almost two weeks after Samsung's voluntary recall began, although new sales had dropped off, The Washington Post reported Friday.

On Thursday, U.S. safety regulators ordered a nationwide recall of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, and Samsung updated its recall with increased urgency.

"Since the affected devices can overheat and pose a safety risk, if you own a Galaxy Note7, it is extremely important to stop using your device, power it down and immediately exchange it using our U.S. Note7 Exchange Program," the company said in another statement.

Issues with the Note 7 battery have become so widely known that they have been singled out in some airline boarding announcements.

Before Delta Flight 2557 took off from Norfolk to Atlanta early Friday morning, flight attendants advised passengers to place their phones in airplane mode. Those who had the Galaxy Note 7s, however, were advised to power them down completely.

"They made a specific point to mention that phone, and I thought that was really interesting," Robyn Sidersky, a passenger on the flight, told The Post. "I did know the issues going on, so it made sense."

Shortly after takeoff, Sidersky, who was sitting in row 35, said she heard a person screaming "Fire!" and saw smoke emanating from across the aisle in row 34. Soon, flight attendants evacuated about 20 passengers seated around the row and then used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames.

"It was really scary," said Sidersky, a reporter with the Virginian-Pilot. "I think that some people's first thought when there was smoke was [the engines] were on fire."

About 20 minutes later, passengers were told that the culprit was a spare lithium-ion battery apparently wedged between the window and middle seats, she said.

The airline confirmed that the incident took place on board its flight Friday.

"During ascent from Norfolk International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the flight attendants of Delta flight 2557 observed smoke in the rear portion of the aircraft. They acted quickly to immediately dissipate the smoke," Delta spokesman Brian Kruse said in a statement. "It quickly became evident that the source of the smoke was from a spare battery not affixed to a device."

Kruse said the battery "did not appear" to be one from the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 but said the source and type of battery involved were being investigated.

The flight, with 143 passengers and five crew members on board, landed safely in Atlanta, Kruse said. As a goodwill gesture, Delta gave passengers aboard the flight 15,000 frequent-flier miles or a $150 travel voucher.

No one on board ever claimed the battery, Sidersky said.

"It’s unclear if it was someone who was on the plane or if it was just left between the seats," she said. "People were kind of angry about that."

One request was clear after the onboard battery fire, though: Flight attendants immediately asked all passengers to power down their phones, regardless of whether it was a Samsung or not. From what Sidersky could observe, everyone complied.

"Everybody around us was like, man, turn your phone off," she said.





source: washingtonpost

Apple iPhone 7 Plus

Apple iPhone 7 Plus Has A Great Secret Feature

When Apple AAPL -2.23% launched the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 this week it proved yet again that keeping a secret in the tech world is almost impossible these days. The new models had almost no surprises, except one…

‘Great Features’ and ‘Nasty Surprises’ are my regular columns investigating operating system updates for the best features / biggest problems hidden behind the headlines.

Throughout the Apple keynote, company executives always referred to the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus as a pair. We were told they share the same design, software, main camera (excluding the iPhone 7 Plus second telephoto lens) and performance. But it appears this last claim isn’t true.

Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are likely to be the biggest selling smartphones of 2016. Image credit: Apple

Tried and trusted smartphone benchmarking software Geekbench has recorded what looks to be a legitimate test of the iPhone 7 Plus which reveals it has 3GB of RAM – 50% more than the iPhone 7. And this should give the larger handset a significant performance advantage over its smaller stablemate.

It also ties in with widespread speculation before the launch event that Apple would give the iPhone 7 Plus additional RAM. But hopes of this appeared to be dashed when Apple’s presentation implied no performance difference between the two models existed. With hindsight this may have been to avoid presenting the iPhone 7 as a downgraded handset, given it also lacks the dual rear camera of the iPhone 7 Plus.

So how likely is this to be correct? I suspect very. Geekbench automatically detects the model of phone when a test is run on it and it shows the correct ‘iPhone 9,4’ signature. Why 9,4? Because iPhone 9,1, 9,2 and 9,3 are the three storage tiers of the iPhone 7, implying it was a 32GB iPhone 7 Plus that was tested on Geekbench.

One note of caution for those now planning to scrap their iPhone 7 pre-orders and buy an iPhone 7 Plus: the performance gap between the two phones may not turn out to be as big as it might appear.

The reason for this is the iPhone 7 Plus has a much higher resolution display (1080p) than the iPhone 7 (750p) so it has to drive almost twice the number of pixels. The iPhone 7 Plus will also require more power to process its dual camera photos than the single rear camera on the iPhone 7, so performance there won’t be drastically faster either.

That said, the Geekbench scores still show the iPhone 7 Plus as the fastest iOS device Apple has ever made – even beaten the iPad Pro 12.9-inch which has 4GB RAM. So if it is office bragging rights you want, then iPhone 7 Plus is what you should buy…





source: forbes

The iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 is going to be so much more exciting than you think

If you believe everything you read, Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are going to be “boring.” Dozens of tech blogs have been harping on the idea that Apple’s new iPhone models are going to be boring ever since details first began leaking months ago. Are they crazy? Are they intentionally being obtuse? Or are they correct that Apple’s new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be the most boring new iPhones the company has ever made?

Google announces add-ons for Docs and Sheets' mobile apps

Google announces add-ons for Docs and Sheets' mobile apps

Now you can use DocuSign, Scanbot, Appsheet, Easybib and more from your phone.

Ever wish you could do even more work on your phone? Then today's your day. Google just announced third-party add-on support for its Docs and Sheets Android app, allowing the mobile version of its office suite to seamlessly integrate with other productivity tools. Starting today, users will be able to sign documents, import CRM data or create apps from spreadsheets -- so long as they download the appropriate add-on, that is.

Want to be able to sign documents on the go? You can download the Android DocuSign app and prepare documents for signatures from inside the Google Docs interface. Need to add complex annotations to a document while riding the train? Use EasyBib to streamline the process. Users can add ProsperWorks to import CRM data, AppSheet to generate mobile apps from data sheets, Scanbot to capture physical documents with your smartphone camera and more.

While these add-ons seem like a great way to be more productive on your phone, there's not very many of them. Google's Docs and Sheets add-on page on Google Play lists just nine compatible apps -- a far cry from the massive library available to desktop users -- but it's a start. Check out Google's announcement post for more details.




source: engadget

Facebook Connectivity Lab’s Aquila Aircraft Takes Flight

Facebook Connectivity Lab’s Aquila Aircraft Takes Flight

Nearly one year ago, Facebook announced that its Aquila high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft was ready for flight testing, and the social network took the next step Thursday.

Global head of engineering and infrastructure Jay Parikh announced in a Newsroom post that the first full-scale test flight of Aquila was a success.

Xbox One S Launch

Xbox One S to launch on August 2

The first console to support 4K Ultra HD video, the smaller S version of the Xbox One will initially be up for grabs across 25 different countries.

Microsoft will kick off sales of its new Xbox One S starting Tuesday, August 2.

There is one catch. The Xbox One S will be available in three different capacities and price tags -- a 500GB version for $299, a 1TB version for $349 and a 2TB version for $399. However, only the 2TB version lifts off on August 2.

Launch dates for the other two models are currently unknown but "will be shared soon," Matt Lapsen, general manager for Xbox Devices Marketing, said in a blog post on Monday.

All three models are currently available for preorder through Microsoft, Best Buy, Amazon and GameStop. Anyone who preorders the 2TB version of the console will be able to grab it come August 2. You can also try walking into your local Microsoft, Best Buy or GameStop store. However, "availability is limited and demand is high," according to Lapsen, who advises preordering the console soon.

Microsoft has tried a number of tactics to boost Xbox One sales, including slashing the price, bundling free games and offering a Kinect-free version of the console. But the Xbox One S represents a new shift. The console is smaller, cheaper and throws in support for 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray discs and 4K streaming services as a way to do battle with both gaming consoles and Blu-ray players.

By supporting 4K (3,820x2,160-pixel) resolution, the Xbox One S will display more vibrant colors and darker blacks. The higher resolution is reserved for movies and TVs and won't work with games, however, and you'll also need a 4K compatible TV.

Those of you who have a 4K TV and are looking for a 4K Blu-ray player may be tempted by the Xbox One S since you also get the option to play games. The new console also supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) for video and gaming, which means certain games will look better due to a higher contrast ratio.

The Xbox One S will initially arrive in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and the US. Other regions will get dibs on the new console later this year.



source: cnet

ZTE Axon 7 Canadian Pre-Orders Open Ahead Of July 27 Launch

ZTE Axon 7 Canadian Pre-Orders Open Ahead Of July 27 Launch

ZTE Axon 7

Towards the end of May, the new ZTE Axon 7 was officially announced. ZTE initially launched the device in China, but it was expected that availability for international markets would soon follow. The European and the US markets were expected to be first in line, but ZTE said that Canada was soon to follow. Speaking of which, the retailer Newegg Canada is now taking pre-orders for the device with a release date of July 27. Newegg’s ‘low price guarantee’ shows a pre-order price of $509.99 plus $8.99 shipping for a total of $518.98. It is a steep price to be sure, but it seems like quite a bargain when you look at its specs.

The ZTE Axon 7 does resemble past ZTE models – however, ZTE went the extra mile and worked with Designworks, owned by BMW, to help design the Axon 7 and then hired the world-renowned pianist, Lang Lang, to endorse the device. The all-metal design has bold grilles across the top and bottom of the device, and the sides and back are slightly rounded, making it easy to hold for extended periods of time. It measures 151.8 x 75 x 8.7 mm, weighs in at 185 grams, and will initially be offered in Ion Gold for Canada. The device comes in two variants – 4GB RAM with 64GB of storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB of storage – however, only the 4GB/64GB model is being sold in Canada. Both variants will offer expansion up to 128GB via a microSD card. It will run Android 6.0.1 with ZTE’s MiFlavor UI 4.0 on top.

The ZTE Axon 7 comes with a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 534 pixels-per-inch (PPI.) ZTE picked the best processor currently on the market – the Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor to power the smartphone with dual cores clocked at 1.6 GHz and dual cores clocked at 2.15 GHz and an Adreno 530 GPU to handle the heavy graphics. The model sold in Canada packs 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 64GB of the new, faster UFS 2.0 memory that is expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card. A large 3,250 mAh non-removable battery powers the lot. The Axon 7 takes advantage of Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 to give you a full charge in 100 minutes. The main camera is a 20-megapixel ISO-Cell sensor with a sapphire lens, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), OIS, EIS, and an aperture of f/1.8 for good low light shots. The front-facing camera (FFC) is an 8-megapixel camera for great selfies and video chatting. Lastly, it comes with a fingerprint sensor and NFC for mobile payments.




source: androidheadlines

Samsung Gets Ahead in Handsets by Not Phoning It In

Samsung Gets Ahead in Handsets by Not Phoning It In

Samsung’s preliminary earnings suggest it has struck gold with models that stand out

Water resistance is one of the features that Samsung’s Galaxy S7 boasts, which Apple’s iPhone doesn’t. PHOTO: REUTERS

SEOUL—The conventional wisdom is that smartphones have become commodities: ubiquitous, interchangeable slabs of metal and glass whose falling prices spell disaster for companies that have come to rely on selling them at high prices.

With its preliminary second-quarter earnings numbers, Samsung Electronics Co. is showing that, even if that is the case, there is still plenty of money to be made selling handsets that can stand out from the pack.

On Thursday, Samsung said it likely earned 8.1 trillion Korean won ($7.00 billion) in the three months that ended in June, a 17% increase from a year earlier and the biggest quarterly operating profit the technology giant has recorded since early 2014, during the glory days for smartphone makers.

The results are in contrast to those of longtime rival Apple Inc., which in April reported its first quarterly revenue decline in 13 years, raising questions about the sustainability of smartphones as a profit engine at a time when Chinese handsets can offer many of the same specifications, often at a fraction of the price.

For Samsung, the second-quarter earnings surprise highlights the Suwon, South Korea-based company’s ability to bounce back after a pair of underwhelming flagship smartphone releases the last two years.

While Samsung won’t break out the details of its second-quarter earnings until the end of the month, analysts have attributed the strong operating profit to the success of the Galaxy S7, which the South Korean technology giant introduced in early March to favorable reviews.

Unlike its two predecessors, the flagship Galaxy S7 combined a sleek curved-edged look that sets it apart from the iPhone, with practical features that consumers have long clamored for, including water resistance and expandable memory. Those features are missing from the latest iPhone. And Apple’s next iPhone, expected to be released in the fall, will likely offer only subtle improvements on existing models, further underscoring the challenge of standing out in an increasingly crowded field of look-alike smartphones.

Analysts estimate that Samsung shipped as many as 17 million Galaxy S7 smartphones in the second quarter, after moving about 10 million units in the last three weeks of the first quarter.

That puts the Galaxy S7 on a sales pace that is nearly twice as fast as that of last year’s Galaxy S6, which analysts estimate took Samsung about six months to hit 27 million unit shipments. The rollout of the Galaxy S6, a product that received upbeat reviews, was marred by supply constraints that hampered Samsung’s ability to profit off a potential hit product.

All of this makes the Galaxy S7 a rare blockbuster at a time when global smartphone sales growth is expected to slow to about 7% this year, about half last year’s growth rate, according to a report last month by research firm Gartner.

Samsung’s Galaxy S7 has proved a hit on which it is capitalizing. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

Even as growth in the overall smartphone market slows and consumers replace their smartphones less often, Samsung’s success shows that there is still money to be made by creating a product that still stands out, says Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.

Mr. Moorhead said smartphones, though they are becoming more similar, aren't yet commodities.

The question will be whether Samsung can continue to differentiate its smartphones from those of its rivals.

Samsung’s distinctive curved screen displays are likely to become a lot more common in the industry, as Samsung’s components business gains traction selling organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, display panels, to outside customers like Apple and other Android handset makers.

While that would boost profits in Samsung’s components division, it could hurt Samsung’s mobile business by depriving the Galaxy S series of a key selling point.

If Samsung can continue persuading consumers that its smartphones are worth paying up for, it appears well-placed to fulfill its promise to investors of sustaining mobile profit margins in the low double-digit percentages, as executives have promised investors.

In the third quarter of 2014, Samsung’s mobile profit margin tumbled to 7.1%, from 18% the quarter before. Since then, the company has struggled to push it back to its peak levels, though in the first quarter of 2016 the mobile division reported an operating profit margin of 14%, the highest in about two years, thanks to strong sales and cost cutting.

That number could rise higher once final second-quarter results are reported later this month, analysts estimate, though the company didn’t disclose profit estimates by division.

Samsung said its second-quarter revenue likely rose 3% to about 50 trillion won from 48.5 trillion won a year earlier.

Samsung shares tacked on 2% on Thursday after the earnings release, bringing its year-to-date advance to 15% and putting the stock within striking distance of a fresh three-year high. Apple shares, in comparison, have fallen 11% this year.




source: WSJ

You can play Red Dead Redemption on Xbox One starting July 8

You can play Red Dead Redemption on Xbox One starting July 8

Fans of Red Dead Redemption will finally be able to play the open-world Western on the Xbox One later this week.

Rockstar has announced that the game will be added to the Xbox One's list of supported backward compatible games as of July 8. That means anyone with a disc or digital version of the 2010 Xbox 360 game can play it on Microsoft's current console as of Friday, at no additional charge.

Furthermore, the game will be added to the Xbox One's digital download store for new customers to purchase as well. (Price was not disclosed.)

The title has a Metracritic score of 95/100 and has consistently been one of the most requested Xbox 360 titles to be added to the Xbox One.

source: cnet

Patent Hints Triple-Lens Camera For Galaxy Note 7

Patent Hints Triple-Lens Camera For Galaxy Note 7

Recently filed patent applications suggest that Samsung is looking to implement facial scanning and iris recognition capabilities on Galaxy Note 7.

Image Credit: USPTO

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 triple camera technology

There has been a lot of rumors about the inclusion of a dual lens on the back of phones for greater zooming capabilities. But Samsung appear to want to take that a step further, with a triple lens on the front of the device, used mainly for security purposes.

It seems with the new patent application (20160180169), you may be able to unlock your phone or phablet with just a look. Trademarks have already been registered recently for ‘Samsung Iris’ and ‘Samsung Eyeprint’, and don’t forget the new tablet, the Galaxy Tab Iris already incorporates iris recognition.

From this, people are concluding that the new Galaxy Note 7, likely to be released in August this year, will include this interesting new feature.

The ability to unlock through just looking at the machine could be implemented on all Samsung products and not just smartphones and phablets, with laptops likely to be the next area to see this being implemented.

How it works

It appears from the patent that three front facing cameras will be able to capture images of both the whole face, and a specific eye/iris shot. By capturing the whole face, the scanner can determine distance from the phone and help to locate the position of the eyes.

Each lens is designed with a different scope, with two narrow-angle ones to capture only the eyes and a further one that can capture the face in its entirety. One of the lenses is likely to be a zoom lens too, which would be a first on the front side of a device.

The patent also includes an infrared illuminator to help with the iris scanning. By using one of the lenses to capture infrared images, it will be able to help the device in conditions where light is limited.

The camera system, after being used to allow access by the owner, can then by switched to a standard camera. This is interesting news for all the selfie fanatics out there who would be able to capture images of themselves with the improved front cameras.

It seems that if the system fails to recognize the user, a voice message will be given, accompanied by on-screen directions to re-try the scanning procedure.

Conclusion

Overall this is exciting news. Outside of the security aspect, the bottom line is that there will be a much better camera. The Kardashian wannabes will be able to take even better selfies, bad for humanity, good for Instagram.

The security aspect is also encouraging. While clever people will always be able to find loop holes, it is pretty hard to replicate someone’s iris and face structure, certainly harder than looking over a shoulder to learn a four-digit pin. The only problem will come with the practicality of the technology.

It needs to be reliable and easy to operate. The fingerprint scanner on the iPhone, while not perfect, is certainly pretty good. In the speed of life today, just touching the button to operate rather than typing a pin saves precious seconds, which people no longer are prepared to waste.

For this iris scanning to really take off it needs to be fast. It must be almost instantaneous or people will rapidly lose interest. Also, what about in the dark, should you want to turn your phone on in the middle of the night, will it still for well? what about in a really crowded place, like a packed train or music concert, where the device may struggle to identify your face among the all the others present.

These issues need to addressed and solved before the technology will become standardised and accepted by the population at large.





source: valuewalk

The next HTC

The next HTC-made Nexus could have a 5-inch screen

Earlier this year, HTC was essentially confirmed as the maker of the next generation of Nexus phones — codenamed at Google as Marlin and Sailfish. Now, Android Police is following up on its initial report with rumors of what we can expect to see built into the Sailfish. We’ve got:

• 5-inch, 1080p display
• Quad-core 2.0GHz 64-bit processor
• 4GB RAM, 32GB storage
• 2770 mAh battery
• 12-megapixel rear camera
• 8-megapixel front camera
• USB-C port
• Fingerprint scanner
• Top-mounted headphone jack

Android Police gives its speculation an eight out of 10 on the reliability scale, so I suppose that’s resounding enough? Hopefully we’ll get more concrete details and maybe even a photo leak soon.

Meanwhile, these specs show some interesting decisions on HTC's part. Its move to keep the headphone jack goes against Apple and other companies' work to rid our world of traditional headphones. The iPhone 7, for instance, is rumored to come without a headphone jack and LeEco launched three jack-less phones earlier this year. You're going to love dongles and Bluetooth. That being said, the new Nexus does fit into the small-is-back phone trend. The iPhone SE had Apple retreating from its 6 and 6S Plus and moving back to a 4-inch screen. Such trends.

HTC last manufactured the Nexus 9 for Google, which wasn't great, but its original Nexus One was actually good, so maybe Sailfish and Marlin will be the re-do HTC needs.


source: theverge

iPhone 7 w/ similar design

WSJ: iPhone 7 w/ similar design and removed headphone jack this fall, major changes next year

iPhone 7 rumors have been notably tame this year, and that’s because the next-generation iPhone is widely expected to be a further revision to the iPhone 6 series and not a radically different design. The Wall Street Journal is the latest to report on Apple’s expected plans for the iPhone 7, describing a situation where the iPhone 7 closely resembles the iPhone 6s minus the headphone jack. WSJ reports that this will result in a thinner design that’s more water-resistant than current models.

But the report also believes the 2017 iPhone will be dramatically different, featuring an OLED display like the Apple Watch and embedding the Touch ID sensor in the display while losing the Home button…

For years, Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive has expressed a desire for the iPhone to appear like a single sheet of glass, according to people familiar with the matter. The current design ideas for the 2017 iPhones are expected to push the handsets in that direction by eliminating much of the bezel around the display, with the OLED screen.

Aside from the headphone jack’s removal on the iPhone 7, rumors point toward a redesigned antenna design that creates a cleaner look on the back side and potentially a new color option. A deep blue color option could replace the space gray option that Apple has used since the iPhone 5s in 2013; Apple perviously used a deep blue finish on its black models with the iPhone 5 in 2012 with a color it called slate.

As usual, camera upgrades are expected to be a big selling point for the updated iPhones this fall. The larger 5.5″ Plus model has been rumored to include a dual-camera sensor, a first for the iPhone, and storage options could include 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Flagship models currently ship in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB models.

The big deal here is that since the iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS, Apple has demonstrated a pattern of introducing an iPhone design one year, using mostly the same external design the next year, but dramatically improving performance and features. The rumored iPhone 7 is set to change that pattern by adding an extra tock to the tick-tock pattern and saving the major redesign for 2017 when the iPhone sees its 10th anniversary. The issue, however, is that iPhone sales in 2016 haven’t climbed year-over-year, which is a first for the product.




source: 9to5mac

Smarter home security camera recognises intruders says maker

Smarter home security camera recognizes intruders says maker

Netatmo Welcome is one of a growing number of smart home security cameras competing for its share of the market. Developed by a French company, it uses smart face recognition technology to identify family members and friends and alerts home owners of unwanted visitors.

Owners can build up to 16 individual profiles. Only people recognised by the device can enter the home, and users are informed in real time of a human presence inside the house thanks to a dedicated smartphone app.

The company says the device is far more efficient than systems based on movement sensors.

“Current security cameras are not that smart,” says Janina Mattausch, Product Marketing Manager at Netatmo. “So they can tell you if something is moving but they don’t necessarily know if it’s a human being or if it’s your kids, they don’t know the difference. So they will alert you all the time, also if lighting conditions change, and it can be very annoying. But, if you’re a very busy working professional, you want to know what’s going on at your place and therefore we developed face recognition technology so you would know if your kids are back home or if there’s an intruder at your place, for example.”

The camera relies on a home’s wi-fi network to communicate. It is equipped with infrared LEDs for night vision and has a field of view of 130 degrees. But detractors say it lacks many common home-security camera features including sound detection and two-way audio.

And while its makers say the system only requires a couple of glimpses of a person’s face to build a full picture, critics say its facial recognition technology is “far from reliable” and results in exactly the kind of vague alerts it promises to eliminate

“There is a face recognition algorithm, a deep-learning algorithm in the camera. Basically what it does is make a mathematical representation of the face. So we’ll calculate all the distances and all the characteristics on your face and thereby build a representation of your face in terms of numbers and algorithm,” says Janina Mattausch.

The company claims its face-recognition camera has already helped at least one user catch a thief. Damien decided to test the smart security camera after noticing money kept disappearing from the living room drawer in his Paris apartment.

He was able to give the police images of the burglar, who was arrested and sentenced to nine months in prison.

“I was at work when my phone vibrated,” explains Damien. “At first I thought, ‘It must be a false alert, I need to make some adjustments’. But the notification on my phone was not only telling me there was movement in my flat but also that there was a face that the app wasn’t familiar with, and this person was wondering around my flat, and I could see this live in video mode.”

The face recognition security camera is not only targeted at home owners worried about security. A key market is also busy parents trying to balance work and childcare. The device allows you to set a curfew time for notification, for example when your kids are meant to arrive home from school.

According to Janina Mattausch: “If there was an intruder in my house, then I would be alerted with the camera, so I don’t have to spend time worrying about what’s happening at home or worrying, ‘Where are my kids? Are they already home?’ Because I know I will be alerted by the camera.”

All video is recorded locally in a data card that slots into the back of the camera – there is no external storage backup. While this eliminates the cost of monthly storage fees, it also means that if your camera is stolen, so are the recordings it contains, depriving you of any forensic evidence.

source: euronews