Cambridge Mobile Telematics Named Best Among Global and North American Telematics Service Providers of Smartphone Apps

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PTOLEMUS Consulting Group, a fast growing strategy consulting and research firm focused on the connected mobility world, announced its top usage-based insurance (UBI) companies across 15 different categories, in the most comprehensive global ranking of UBI providers and suppliers with more than 20 companies assessed.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160630/385497LOGO

In the category of smartphone apps, Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) was named the "best-in-class" telematics service provider both globally and in North America.  Business Wire reports, according to the PTOLEMUS study, "A new category of smartphone-only UBI providers sees Cambridge Mobile Telematics become a dominant force globally."

Over the past five years, CMT has pioneered behavior-based insurance (BBI) with smartphones, and has seen successful deployments of UBI and BBI programs with leading customers and partners in North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.  CMT's flagship telematics smartphone app, DriveWell, focuses on driver education and improvement, and provides an accurate, scalable, and highly customizable telematics solution for automobile insurance providers and their customers.  The app not only measures driving behavior, but also helps users become better drivers.

"We are excited to be recognized as the top global telematics smartphone app provider," said William Powers, President and Chief Executive Officer of CMT.  "Much success can be attributed to the collaborative relationships we have forged with our global partners."

About PTOLEMUS Consulting GroupPTOLEMUS is the first strategy consulting firm entirely focused on connected vehicle services and the Internet of Things.  It assists leading insurers, car makers and service providers in defining and executing their strategies and the end-to-end development of their telematics programs.

About Cambridge Mobile TelematicsCambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) makes roads and drivers safer around the world. CMT's patented intellectual property and technologies, highlighted in its flagship DriveWell offerings, are embedded in multiple popular mobile applications. DriveWell, a smartphone application, and DriveWell Plus, an App+Tag solution, are triggering big improvements in driving behavior and changing the global insurance market.  For more information, please visit cmtelematics.com and follow on Twitter @cmtelematics.

Media Contact:James Penswick+1 508 274 9820james.penswick@cmtelematics.com

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

 

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cambridge-mobile-telematics-named-best-among-global-and-north-american-telematics-service-providers-of-smartphone-apps-300293048.html

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Source: Cambridge Mobile Telematics Named Best Among Global and North American Telematics Service Providers of Smartphone Apps

Police release image of teenager involved in mobile phone robbery

16:11 30 June 2016

Simon Allin

A computer-generated image of one of the boys involved in the robbery

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The incident occurred in Margate on Sunday, June 14

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Police investigating a burglary in Margate, in which two mobile phones were stolen from a woman in her fifties, have released a computer-generated image of a teenager they would like to trace.

The woman was reportedly at home in Ramsgate Road between 7.30pm and 8pm on Sunday, June 19, when she walked into her conservatory to see two teenage boys standing there.

She called out to them and the two boys turned and ran out of the conservatory.

She later noticed that her two mobile phones, black IPhone 4S models, were missing.

The boys were last seen running across a field towards the Millmead area.

One boy was described as 13 or 14 years old, white, thin, 5ft 2in tall, with short, blond hair. He was wearing a black t-shirt with a pattern on it, black jogging bottoms and carrying a small black bag.

The second boy had a dark European complexion, aged 13 or 14 years old, with a medium build and around 5ft 2in tall.

He had short, black curly hair and was also wearing a black t-shirt and black jogging bottoms.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, or who recognises the boy in the image, should contact Kent Police on 01843 222289, quoting ZY/20372/16.

Alternatively, contact Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Source: Police release image of teenager involved in mobile phone robbery

Smartphone apps not so smart at helping users avoid or achieve pregnancy

WASHINGTON -- You might not want to depend on your smartphone app alone to help you avoid or achieve pregnancy, say the authors of a new study. A review of nearly 100 fertility awareness apps finds that most don't employ evidence-based methodology.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, also found that many apps include a disclaimer discouraging use for avoiding pregnancy.

The study was led by Marguerite Duane, MD, MHA, FAAFP, adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine and executive director of Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science (FACTS). Additional researchers include Alison Contreras, PhD, FCP, of FACTS, Elizabeth T. Jensen, MPH, PhD, of Wake Forest School of Medicine, and Amina White, MD, MA, of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"Smartphone apps are increasing in popularity because more and more women are interested in using natural or fertility awareness based methods of family planning because they want to feel empowered with greater knowledge of their bodies," says Duane, a family physician.

But as the authors write, "The effectiveness of fertility awareness based methods (FABMs) depends on women observing and recording fertility biomarkers and following evidence-based guidelines. Apps offer a convenient way to track fertility biomarkers, but only some employ evidence-based FABMs."2

Success using FABMs depends on many factors, including the ability to accurately make and classify daily observations. But the authors say relying solely on an FABM app may not be sufficient to avoid pregnancy.

For the review, more than 95 apps were identified on iTunes, Google, or Google play. Of those, 55 were excluded from evaluation because they either had a disclaimer prohibiting use for avoiding pregnancy or did not claim to employ an evidence-based FABM.

The researchers evaluated the remaining 40 apps for accuracy using a rating system based on criteria used by Family Practice Management. Each app was rated on a five-point scale for 10 clearly defined criteria, which were weighted based on their level of importance for avoiding pregnancy.

"Of those reviewed, 30 apps predict days of fertility for the user and 10 do not.

Only six apps had either a perfect score on accuracy or no false negatives (days of fertility classified as infertile)," the researchers wrote.

Apps that do not predict fertile days scored high on accuracy only if they required women receive training in an FABM prior to using the app.

"When learning how to track your fertility signs, we recommend that women first receive instruction from a trained educator and then look for an app that scored 4 or more on mean accuracy and authority in our review," says Dr. Duane.

Information about evidence based FABMs and a list of all the apps reviewed can be found at the FACTS website.

###

The co-authors report having no personal financial interests related to the study. Note: One of the apps reviewed, iCycleBeads, is based on a patented technology owned by Georgetown University that has been licensed to Cycle Technologies for commercialization.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Source: Smartphone apps not so smart at helping users avoid or achieve pregnancy

Invisible glass watermarks will ensure your new watch or smartphone is genuine

I think we've all got used to the copycat gadgets that appear on the market with increasing regularity. For example, Apple will release a new iPhone, iPad, or Watch, and sure enough, a white-label Chinese manufacturer will produce a device that looks almost exactly the same, but for a much lower price (and likely running a reskinned version of Android).

You can avoid these genuine-looking fakes by only purchasing gadgets from reputable stores. However, the startup Nanoga has created another way to tell a genuine from a fake: by using a watermark.

Watermarks have been used for decades to tell if bank notes are genuine. You hold a UV light over a note and it will reveal some hidden detail that helps confirm it is real. To do that for the latest gadgets, Nanoga came up with a manufacturing process that can hide a watermark in glass while remaining completely invisible until a UV light it directed at the surface.

It's called a nanometric image and can be applied to glass, ceramic, or metal as a layer of atoms 10,000x thinner than a human hair. The image can be anything a manufacturer wants, and who knows, one day you might even be able to choose your own unique nanometric image.

As for the potential for the watermark being copied and used in fakes, Nanoga insists that's nigh on impossible. Producing the watermarks requires very expensive machinery combined with a mix of chemicals whose recipe is both secret and patent protected. So a counterfeiter would have to try and find an alternative method or somehow go and steal Nanoga's secret recipe and manufacturing setup.

As the watermark is invisible, it has no impact on the final design of devices. That means a company such as Apple or Samsung would consider it for their mobile gadgets as long as the price wasn't too high. In fact, it may even help a plethora of companies fighting to stop counterfeit or copycat devices hitting the market. No watermark means no sale.

For now it looks as though Nanoga is focusing on Swiss luxury watches and offering a "smart labeling solution" under the brand DNAwatch. If it's as good as it sounds, though, I can see the watermarking system spreading to a wide range of devices (or Nanoga being acquired by someone to make it exclusive).

Source: Invisible glass watermarks will ensure your new watch or smartphone is genuine

Report: Google Wants to Release Its Own Phones By End of Year

Image: Getty

Finally, the rumor we've been waiting for: Google is working on its own line of smartphones that could be available by the end of the year.

Google's Android operating system already runs on several phones, and it's partnered with companies like Huawei to license the Nexus phone. But sources tell The Telegraph that the company wants to release its own handset and venture further into hardware. This would allow it to control everything about Android, just like a certain other company controls everything about the iPhone.

It's no secret that Google has been taking a closer look at phones. Not only has it been working on the modular Ara smartphone, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said at the Code Conference earlier that the company was "investing more effort" into phones, and would be "more opinionated" about Nexus designs.

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Still, as The Verge points out, the end-of-year timeline may be unrealistically aggressive given that even the Ara phone won't be out until 2017—meaning that the promised phones, if they exist, could take a lot more than six months to get into people's grubby hands.

[The Telegraph, The Verge]

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Source: Report: Google Wants to Release Its Own Phones By End of Year

Google Going Head-to-Head Against Apple/iPhone With Its Own Smartphone - Report

Google is reportedly planning to release its own smartphone this year, in a move that would position the company directly against Apple and the iPhone.

Citing sources, The Telegraph reports that Google is "in discussions with mobile operators about releasing a Google-branded phone that will extend the company's move into hardware."

Google is already involved with smartphones, of course, as the company runs the Android operating system. According to GameSpot sister site CNET, Android powers 80 percent of smartphones in the world right now. Some of its hardware partners include LG and Samsung.

Additionally, it's reported that Google would continue to work with other companies for smartphones under its Nexus brand. The new phone would be the first from Google, however, not made in direct collaboration with Android phone companies such as LG, HTC, and Huawei.

This rumored new effort, which Googled declined to comment on, would also be separate from the company's Project Ara modular smartphone project that will debut in 2017.

Would you be interested in a Google-developed smartphone? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Google Going Head-to-Head Against Apple/iPhone With Its Own Smartphone - Report

Report: Google Wants to Release Its Own Phones By End of Year

Image: Getty

Finally, the rumor we've been waiting for: Google is working on its own line of smartphones that could be available by the end of the year.

Google's Android operating system already runs on several phones, and it's partnered with companies like Huawei to license the Nexus phone. But sources tell The Telegraph that the company wants to release its own handset and venture further into hardware. This would allow it to control everything about Android, just like a certain other company controls everything about the iPhone.

It's no secret that Google has been taking a closer look at phones. Not only has it been working on the modular Ara smartphone, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said at the Code Conference earlier that the company was "investing more effort" into phones, and would be "more opinionated" about Nexus designs.

Advertisement

Still, as The Verge points out, the end-of-year timeline may be unrealistically aggressive given that even the Ara phone won't be out until 2017—meaning that the promised phones, if they exist, could take a lot more than six months to get into people's grubby hands.

[The Telegraph, The Verge]

Sponsored

Source: Report: Google Wants to Release Its Own Phones By End of Year

Google’s In-house Smartphone Coming Soon to Spoil Apple's Party: All You Need to Know

Undoubtedly, Google's Android mobile operating system is the leader among the rest. By saying the others, we also include the iOS and Windows platforms as well. Though Google is the dominator in terms of software, hardware wise the company has to take a giant leap.

Well, the Nexus devices can be claimed to be close to a smartphone made by Google, but they are actually not designed or built by Google. There are rumors that Google will be making an in-house device later this year to compete with its rival Apple. Though it is still a rumor, a report with some details have surfaced now.

SEE ALSO: 6 must have social media extensions for Opera browsers

As per a report by Telegraph, Google will release its rumored in-house smartphone some time by the end of this year in order to compete with Apple in the premium device market segment. As Google is looking forward to gain more control of its Android OS, an in-house smartphone would definitely give them the ability to do so.

Google can get more control over the Android OS and its looks, functions, and feel. This could be the major reason for Google to be willing to produce its own smartphone. Similar to what Apple does with the iPhones, Google might be able to control every aspect of the device right from the software experience to the overall functionality.

Going by the report, Google is in discussion with several mobile operators about the nature of launching a smartphone under its own name. However, none of the carriers have been mentioned so far.

SEE ALSO: These 7 Warning Signs Point Out That Its Time to Replace your Old PC

Despite planning to launch its own mobile, Google still has plans to continue supports the Nexus program and it will work with the other partners to make the Nexus smartphones. The in-house Google phone might just serve their motive of competing with iPhone in terms of both premium hardware and software.

Lately, Google re-hired Rick Osterloh, the former Motorola President who is running the Hardware division that Google recently launched. This seems to be an actual move that Google has taken towards the in-house handset.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Chilling Moments Captured on Instagram

Moreover, Google seems to be in plans to launch this device by the end of this year. If the rumors turn out to be true, Google might end up pushing the Nexus devices made by HTC as under its in-house device range.

Source: Google's In-house Smartphone Coming Soon to Spoil Apple's Party: All You Need to Know

Freedom 251 release date rumored to arrive on June 30th

Touted as the world's cheapest smartphone, Ringing Bells, the smartphone manufacturing company had rolled out Freedom 251 smartphone exclusively at a price of Rs 251 (which is less than $4) and invited everyone to make registrations for grabbing the smartphone at an inexpensive price. And rightly so, seeing that the "prototype" Freedom 251 units that Ringing Bells showed to the press were actually Adcom Ikon 4 units disguised with corrector fluid...

The Freedom 251 is now set to start shipping on June 30 to those who pre-ordered the device. Oh, and the app icons were basically ripped right off iOS.

It is a 4-inch entry level Android-powered smartphone and Ringing Bells has more than 200,000 units of Freedom 251 ready for shipment. "We have 1 lakh units in stock", Goel said.

While its true that the cost of buying an LED television has dramatically come down, as for buying a big-size TV for the price of a smartphone, we're not sure as to how Ringing Bells can truly offer a quality product.

According to Ringing Bells' Founder and CEO Mohit Goel, sitting comfortably in his Sector 62 office in Noida, the company has been able to keep its promise to consumers. Now we have a 4-inch, dual-SIM phone ready for delivery. "I feel vindicated", Goel told IANS. "We will have a loss, but I am happy that the dream of connecting rural and poor Indians as part of the 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' initiatives has been fulfilled with "Freedom 251", Goel said. There's also a larger 1,800 mAh battery. The handset is still rumored to arrive with a quad-core chip, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and a 3.2MP/VGA camera combo. The phone will be available in black and white. The Freedom 251 may seem extremely underpowered if you're used to flagship performance devices, but consider this: It has better specs than even the original iPhone when it was released nine years ago, and that was originally sold for $599.

Source: Freedom 251 release date rumored to arrive on June 30th

OnePlus 3 Soft Gold Release & Price: What We Know So Far About the ‘Flagship Killer’ Phone

The hype on the OnePlus 3 mobile units has been around for quite sometime, so it's understandable when a flurry of positive and negative feedback flew around after the model was first introduced and launched. Nonetheless, it was co-founder Carl Pei that took the high road on addressing dissatisfied customers about the quality of the phone.

Meanwhile, that's the case of the latest OnePlus 3 phones, but according to Know Your Mobile, it may take a while for the OnePlus 3 Soft Gold to be released. Alongside the arrival of the "graphite" OnePLus 3 was the announcement that OnePlus 3 Soft Gold will come at a later date; July specifically was the month indicated by Cart Pei on twitter.

There has been no official statement about the Soft Gold color, but if it helps to mention the price of the latest OnePlus 3 that came out in the market, expect the Soft Gold to be a little bit pricier than that. Online retailer JD.com priced the OnePlus 3 at approximately $379 USD. Take note that the OnePlus 3 Soft Gold may come at a higher price when it launches.

And because the OnePlus 3 Soft Gold edition is well, under the "Gold" edition, it was also revealed that it will have a white fascia, in fact, it will be the only unit in the flagship killer to have a white fascia. The Graphite OnePlus 3 unit on the other hand had a black fascia.

It may sound promising, but it is also important to take note some of the reviews about the latest OnePlus 3 gadgets wherein, consumers were a bit disappointed by the quality and specifications of the phone. Some even accused the company of cost cutting saying, they tried to remove the sRGB in order to market the phone at a cheaper price.

Pei responded on the accusations saying, "I want to make things really clear. There are no corners cut on the product, and there will never be. OnePlus cuts corners on business model (direct to consumer), org structure (nimble and fast team), and marketing (organic word of mouth focused)." 

TagsOnePlus, OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3 Graphite, OnePlus 3 Soft Gold

Source: OnePlus 3 Soft Gold Release & Price: What We Know So Far About the 'Flagship Killer' Phone

Georgetown Institute launches real-time study of smartphone fertility app use

WASHINGTON (June 26, 2016) -- In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center's Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH) are recruiting as many as 1,200 women to study, in real time, a smartphone app that calculates a woman's chance for pregnancy on a daily basis.

The app, called Dot™, (Dynamic Optimal Timing™), was created based on data from several published studies. Dot has been available for about a year and is increasingly being used globally.

Dot is one of the few fertility tracking apps -- there are estimated to be about 100 such apps -- that is based on empirical evidence, says Victoria Jennings, PhD, director of IRH.

In the current issue of the European Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Jennings and a group of statisticians report the data upon which Dot is based. This includes a detailed fertility analysis of about 1,000 women in six geographical and cultural diverse settings. The World Health Organization provided most of the data, with additional data from clinical research in the U.S.

The researchers say their analysis determined that Dot, from the beginning, would be 96-98 percent effective in women if used correctly. And as a woman continues to use it, the app increases its individual accuracy.

Recognizing that each woman's menstrual cycle can vary, the app allows for menstrual cycles that last as little as 20 days or as long as 40 days. It relies solely on a woman's period start date to provide her with tailored, accurate information about her chance of pregnancy for each day of her cycle -- and it alerts a woman if she is on a high or low risk day for the purpose of planning or avoiding pregnancy.

"The more you use Dot -- the more Dot gets to know you," Dot's creator, Cycle Technologies, says on its homepage.

Now Jennings and her team at Georgetown's IRH will study how women use the app. "To our knowledge this is the first prospective study on the effectiveness of a 'fertility app,'" Jennings says.  

They are recruiting study volunteers in the U.S. who have downloaded and are using Dot. "Our goal is to test the efficacy of Dot as a method to avoid unplanned pregnancy in a real-time situation," says Rebecca Simmons, MPH, a senior research officer at IRH.

Not only will the Georgetown researchers calculate how efficient and effective Dot is, they will collect social factors related to an individual woman's use of Dot, such as how the app might affect a couple's relationship and if a woman tires of using the app and why, among other questions. The participants will be interviewed four times in the yearlong study, and they will answer questions that pop-up in the app that are sent by the researchers.

"We are all smartphone based, and this study will be conducted on the phone and the app -- which is novel but quite appropriate," says Simmons.

To enroll in the study, women must download the app. When they use it as a means to avoid pregnancy, they will be invited to participate.

More than 220 million women worldwide have an unmet need for family planning, says Jennings. "Our work has shown that simple fertility awareness messages are extremely attractive to a wide range of women and can address their family planning needs. A method that only requires a user to enter her period start date is likely to appeal to many women."

###

The study is being funded by a grant from U.S. Agency for International Development called the Fertility Awareness for Community Transformation (FACT) Project.

About the Institute for Reproductive Health

The Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University Medical Center has more than 25 years of experience in designing and implementing evidence-based programs that address critical needs in sexual and reproductive health. The Institute's areas of research and program implementation include family planning, adolescents, gender equality, fertility awareness, and mobilizing technology for reproductive health. The Institute is highly respected for its focus on the introduction and scale-up of sustainable approaches to family planning and fertility awareness around the world. For more information, visit http://www. irh. org.

About Georgetown University Medical Center

Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award (UL1TR001409-01) from the National Institutes of Health.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Source: Georgetown Institute launches real-time study of smartphone fertility app use

Huawei P9 release date in India: Specifications, price, other details

Huawei seems to be keen on strengthening its foothold in the Indian market. The Chinese company, which produced Google's Nexus 6P, is planning to release the Huawei P9 in India. The device was launched in April and is expected to come to India perhaps next month.

Allen Wang, President, Huawei Consumer Business Group (India), told The Indian Express during the launch of the Honor 5C that the company is looking for the right time to launch the P series handsets in India.

"We are evaluating ways to complement the phone with Indian user specific content before launching the device," Allen told the publication. "For us P9 is not just a smartphone but an opportunity to collaborate with international brands. If Nexus 6P was all about Google, then P9 is all about Leica."

Allen went on to say that the launch of Huawei P9 "could bring us in the league of top smartphone brands but we will do what we are good at rather than just competing for the sake of market presence."

The Huawei P9 has a metal-body and a fingerprint sensor. It comes in two variants, one with a 2GB internal memory and a 3GB RAM priced at €599 (around $683 / Rs. 45,428), and the other with a 64GB internal storage and a 4GB RAM with a price tag of €649 (around $740 / Rs. 49,220).

The device sports a 5.2-inch full HD with 1,920x1,080p (423 ppi pixel density), powered by a 64-bit class HUAWEI Kirin 955 octa-core processor, and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It mounts a dual-12MP Leica camera with f/2.2 aperture, dual-tone LED flash, laser autofocus and BSI CMOS sensor, an 8MP camera with f/2.4 aperture, and a 3,000mAh battery.

In terms of connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.2, and USB Type C.

Source: Huawei P9 release date in India: Specifications, price, other details

LG Releases Promo Video for LG X Style, Focuses on Thinness

It's only been a few days since LG launched as many as 4 smartphones in the X series, one of which is LG X Style. It seems that this truly stylish smartphone now got a promotional video in which it can flaunt its thinness that makes it easy for users to place the phone in their pockets or bags.

LG X Style is part of the LG X series of smartphones that aren't as powerful as the LG G5. The company's flagship, LG G5 was launched roughly in the same period of time as Samsung's Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge and Xiaomi Mi 5.

In fact, the LG X style was introduced first in Ukraine in May and the company decided to unveil it again this month, alongside the X Mach and X Max devices.

LG X Style is considered to be part of entry-level series of smartphones because of its unimpressive specs. Therefore, it's no wonder that LG decided to launch a promo video for the phone, one that rather focuses on the device's design rather than its specifications.

The whole 39-second video focuses on LG X Style's thinness, which is no wonder since the phone is just 6.9mm thick. It's not one of the thinnest smartphones on the market, but it is quite slim.

LG X Style comes with a 5.3-inch display and 8MP rear camera

As we said earlier, LG X Style doesn't impress with its specs, but rather with the phone's design. The smartphone comes with a 5.3-inch 720p display, only 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which could be expanded to 256GB using a microSD card.

At its core, the smartphone comes with Snapdragon 410 64-bit processor, coupled with Adreno 306 GPU. It also has an 8MP rear camera and comes with 5MP in the front. It drains power from the 2100mAh battery and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with LG custom UI on top.

Source: LG Releases Promo Video for LG X Style, Focuses on Thinness

Google Nexus 2016 Phone, Specs, Release Date: The Next Nexus Phone is Named HTC Marlin?

Jun 24, 2016 09:32 AM EDT By Anita Valencia, UniversityHerald Reporter

Google Nexus 2016 Phone rumors have been swirling around the specs but little did we know that this smartphone is HTC-built device.(Photo : Janitors/Pixabay)

Google Nexus 2016 Phone rumors have been swirling around the specs but little did we know that this smartphone is HTC-built device.

It seems like the previous rumors on Google Nexus 7 may no longer be valid since there is a new leak of the smartphone stating that it will be named HTC Marlin.

Google Nexus 2016 HTC

Rumors leak indicate two versions of Google Nexus 2016 phone. Both devices are expected to be developed for high-end range. The Google Nexus 2016 HTC phones are said to be called HTC Marlin and Sailfish, Pocket-Lint reported.

Google Nexus 2016 HTC specs

Before the rumors revealed HTC Nexus specs, there were news on Google Nexus 7 which will arrive this year. However, after a render on HTC Nexus 2016 leaked on the internet, this might be another clue on the smartphone's design that is similar to HTC 10.

The Taiwanese phonemaker might make Google Nexus 2016 HTC with similar design and place premium features for higher specs, IBTimes reported.

Another speculation on the HTC Nexus specs include 4 GB of RAM and possible Android Nutella with better specs than the previous Nexus 5X that's packed with 5.2 inch display, 12.3 MP rear camera and runs Android Marshmallow.

Google Nexus 2016 HTC price

If the rumor about Google Nexus 2016 HTC Marlin as premium flagship is true, then the price might be between $400 and $500. HTC mid-range smartphones are usually priced around $300. Thus, the HTC Marlin and Sailfish, dubbed as high-end devices, could be a lot more expensive than that.

Google Nexus 2016 release date

Nexus 5X has been on sales and this could indicate the upcoming Google Nexus 2016 to arrive soon. Rumors on the release date of HTC Nexus indicate that the phone will be released sometime in October after all of the Android developer preview milestones have been reached.

What do you think about Google Nexus 2016 HTC? Have you heard any other rumors around the flagship?

© 2016 University Daily News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Source: Google Nexus 2016 Phone, Specs, Release Date: The Next Nexus Phone is Named HTC Marlin?

Sony to Release 1st Smartphone in Korea in 2 Years

Sony is set to return to the Korean market with its first smartphone in nearly two years.

The Japanese company said Wednesday that it will start taking pre-orders for its Xperia X Performance on Friday.

It released the Xperia Z3 in October 2014 in Korea.

The Xperia X Performance is at the top of the premium Xperia X line, which Sony unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain in February.

Other models in the series include the Xperia X and XA.

Source: Sony to Release 1st Smartphone in Korea in 2 Years

Samsung Galaxy C5 & Galaxy C7 To Release In India!

New Delhi, Thu, 23 Jun 2016 NI Wire

South Korean smartphone giant - Samsung has launched its coveted Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 in China and the devices are ready for pre-orders in the country as of now. C5 and C7 have hit the Chinese smartphone stores from June 17 onwards.

The release in China was done amidst much pomp & fare, and now Samsung has confirmed about the release in international market as well including India and US.

They have even got Federal Communication Commission (FCC) certification, which hints that their launch in the U.S. is quite nearby.

This is indeed a great piece of news for the elite smartphone lovers but the question is will C5 & C7 enjoy a good run in the Indian market, which is highly price conscious. As known, the 32GB model of Galaxy C5 costs 2199 Yuan which in Indian currency would be nearly Rs. 22,500 whereas the 34Gb is priced 2399 Yuan which is approximately Rs. 24,500. The C7 with 32GB model comes for 2599 Yuan i.e. Rs. 26,600 and its 64GB model is priced 2799 Yuan which is nearly Rs. 26,600.

Release In India

As we said, the release in Indian market is still under clouds of doubt. But if it does get released the cost would surely be Rs.20,000 plus where the two devices from Samsung will directly compete against the likes of more liked OnePlus 2, Xiaomi Mi 5 and LG Nexus 5X.

As far as the specifications are concerned then Samsung Galaxy C5 and Galaxy C7 stand substandard to quite a few of the smartphones which are in the Rs. 20,000-Rs. 25,000 range. This apparently makes their show in the market a bit doubtful.

Not just this, there are many mid-range phones available as well like the Moto G4 Plus, OnePlus X, Galaxy J5 (2016), Galaxy J7 (2017) that would give audiences a wide range of choice.

If we look at the specifications the two Samsung devices offer:

Galaxy C5

To begin with, Samsung Galaxy C5 comes with a 5.2-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display backed by 1,920×1,080 pixels (424 ppi pixel density). At the processor front, it is backed by an Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor. It further comes with Adreno 405 GPU, and runs the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. For storage, the device has two variants, one comes with 32GB and the other comes with 64GB internal storage and both these can be expanded up to 128GB through microSD card. The smartphone comes with 16MP rear camera that has f/1.9 aperture. For selfies, it has 8MP front-snapper that has f/1.9 aperture. C5 comes with 2600mAh battery that has the Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

Galaxy C7

Next is the Galaxy C7 which comes with a 5.7-inch full HD super AMOLED screen backed by 1,920x1,080 pixels. At the processor front, the C7 device comes decked with Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. It runs the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Like C5, this Samsung device also has two variants based on the internal storage size. One of the variants has 32 while the other has 64GB internal memory which is expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card. Both the variants come with the same 4GB RAM and have 16MP main camera backed by f/1.9 aperture. For selfies it has 8MP front-camera with f/1.9 aperture. The device sports 3,300mAh battery supported by Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

Let us wait to see what date Samsung finalizes for releasing the all new C5 & C7 in India and it would also be interesting to see how the two will do in the Indian market which is currently being ruled by the budget devices.

Source: Samsung Galaxy C5 & Galaxy C7 To Release In India!

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Release Date Delayed Until 2017: Here's Why

The Surface Phone has been a device which has quite a challenge ahead of it - the phone is expected to carry the weight of many expectations, as Microsoft has been anticipated to release the Surface Phone as their final ray of hope in the smartphone markets, where they have not been able to perform as well as they expected.

In February, Microsoft's head of Surface hardware assured owners it had fixed the devices' power-management issues. However, since these processors are only due to be ready at the end of the year, it is likely that the Surface Book 2 will only be releasing next year, after they arrive.

Furthermore, there also is a possibility that Microsoft plans to make a joint release of its hybrid 2-in-1 with the Windows 10 Redstone operating system. Instead, it is expected to be released sometime in 2017 because Intel will not yet release its next generation of processing chips anytime soon.

Those eager to use the Microsoft Surface Book 2, however, will most likely have to wait before getting their hands on this new laptop, which is believed to be part of new wave of devices to be launched early next year together with Windows 10's next major update.

One reason for the delay from Microsoft is the fact that the company is still waiting for Intel to release its latest Kaby Lake processor. The laptop is rumored to come equipped with up to 1TB internal storage, which is bigger compared to its predecessor's 512GB storage capacity.

In addition, the upcoming Microsoft Surface Book 2 is rumored to run on Core i7 and sport an improved Surface Pen.

We would advise our readers to take the information with a big grain of salt as nothing yet has been officially announced by Microsoft. We're not aware of any issues for the time being, but we'll be keeping an eye out on reports and will let you know should bugs be discovered.

 

Source: Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Release Date Delayed Until 2017: Here's Why

Famous Biker Dating Site BikerKiss.com Launches New Smartphone Dating App for Bikers

Vaughan, ON -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/22/2016 -- Stated to be the largest online dating network for the biker community, BikerKiss.com is now providing their service in the form of a Smartphone app. The app is available of Apple and Android both.

Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, BikerKiss.com became the world's largest dating site for bikers and motorcyclists shortly after its initial launch. According to the website, their online module is not only big but very effective also. The user base consists of bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts from all around the world. The website team has now developed a dating app so that the services provided by BikerKiss.com can be accessible on smartphones also.

The website can be used simply by filling a form with some simple details to find matches in the locality. "Two wheels, two hearts, one road," states the BikerKiss slogan displayed on their website. The new and official BikerKiss dating app is now available on the Apple store and the G oogle Play Store.

A website representative made an official press statement to address the app launch and to discuss its features "Here at BikerKiss, we are now very proud to announce that our official dating app for bikers has now been launched. Available for both Apple and Android phones, the app will allow users to access all the amazing features of BikerKiss, right from their phone screens. The app boasts a very smooth and user friendly interface."

He further added "It is very easy to toggle between pages. The entire world of biker singles is at the app users' fingertips to go through and explore."

More about BikerKiss and their new app can be seen on their official website at https://www.bikerkiss.com/

Contact:KobeBikerkiss.com416-628-1072Email: Support@bikerkss.com

Source: Famous Biker Dating Site BikerKiss.com Launches New Smartphone Dating App for Bikers

This add-on device for DSLRs can be used as a shutter release and for theft prevention

There are Wi-Fi-enabled cameras, and then there's Pinout, a fully funded Indigogo project that gives Nikon DSLRs a bit more than just a basic Wi-Fi connection. While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are available on many newer DSLRs, Pinout isn't just a remote shutter release — it's also a theft prevention tool.

Pinout uses a built-in GPS, and for more than just geotagging photos. Users can set up an alert if their camera gets too far away (up to 98 feet) to prevent theft — or to keep themselves from leaving it behind.

Related: Did Nikon falsely advertise the D500's Wi-Fi Capabilities?

Wi-Fi-enabled cameras make it easier to share photos on social media, but most still fall short of the same capabilities of many smartphone apps — Zesty 6, the developer behind Pinout, is hoping to fill in those gaps, and then some. With the small device plugged into a port on a DSLR, users can create HDR images and timelapses in the app, skipping out the usual tedious editing process that smartphone cameras can already forgo.

While remote release through a phone isn't new, the Pinout appears to be more fully featured. Instead of just touchscreen control, the Pinout app will allow users to take a photo by pressing the volume button or shaking the phone — and there's even a voice-activated shutter option.

Pinout can also control up to ten cameras from one smartphone, which could be a useful tool for video production and advanced shoots.

Pinout's pin-shaped design plugs into the accessory port on most modern Nikon DSLRs, leaving the hot-shoe free for other accessories. The design also allows the device to stay in the camera when stored. Without a battery, Pinout does take some of the camera's battery power, but the developers say using the device for a year will only take about the amount of power that's stored in a button battery.

After reaching full funding on Indiegogo earlier this year, Pinout is expected to ship as early as next week. The project is still open for backers, though, with three different price levels extending from $24 to $89.

Source: This add-on device for DSLRs can be used as a shutter release and for theft prevention

Samsung to Boost OLED Display Production Before 2017 iPhone Release

IT&Software

Jun 21 2016 by Anna Nguyen

Galaxy customers seem to love the organic panels, which are well known for having near infinite contrast levels and bright, vibrant colors. While the OEM's own phones usually make use of the technology, in recent years this has spread to supply for competitors as well, including most recently, OnePlus's OnePlus 3. It's according to Nikkei that Samsung intends to spend approximately KRW 8 trillion (or $6.8 billion) to bring OLED panel production sky-high.

Bulking up OLED production will account for around 80% of Samsung's capital investment in its panel business this year. This comes as little surprise to the masses following leaks and rumors surrounding the iPhone 7, as an OLED panel for an iPhone has been expected since past year at this time.

Samsung's current OLED panel production capacity is estimated to be equivalent for 300 million smartphone screens per year. "Japan Display will spend 50 billion yen to build a new OLED production line in spring 2017, with mass production to start in 2018 or later".

Samsung is one of the world's biggest manufacturers of OLED displays and the company features such screens on all of its smartphones.

Samsung Electronics aims to raise production of next-generation smartphone displays by more than 50% in 2016, as it eyes Apple's iPhone supply chain and other manufacturers that are updating device specs, reported the Nikkei.

However the boost in production at Samsung suggests that it's quota has been increased; factors such as quality control and volume are accountable.

LG Display also plans to invest more into expanding production of OLED television and other panels over the next several years. The increase in investment will enable the company to increase smartphone production by at least 200 million. Indeed, Samsung is producing OLED for far more clients than just Apple, it is now the market leader in the OLED production space and aims to hold onto that lead in the face of ambitious usurpers, including fellow-Korean rival LG, which has its own plans to boost its OLED efforts to the tune of $8.6 billion for TVs alone; the firm is expected to make similar moves in the smartphone space.

Source: Samsung to Boost OLED Display Production Before 2017 iPhone Release

Motorola Moto Z: dawn of a new era of the smartphone

Details WhaTech Channel: Mobile Reviews Published: 21 June 2016 Submitted by Eza Ezamie News from Eza Ezamie Viewed: 30 times

It has been quite a while since we have seen product innovation in the smartphone territory and the things that Motorola Moto Z is capable of, will change your perception of a smartphone's ability for good.

Not only that, Moto Z has all the best specs available and stylishly as well. It is rare that a smartphone gets this great treatment, but it seems that Motorola is set to take it to new heights.

So here's what you should know about Moto Z:

5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 1440 x 2560 pixels or ~535 ppi pixel density

Metal body

Fingerprint sensor

Gorilla Glass 4 protection

Super slim at just and light at 136 g (4.80 oz)

Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 chipset, Dual-core 2.15 GHz Kryo & Dual-core 1.6 GHz Kryo, Adreno 530 graphics, and 4GB RAM

13MP primary camera with f/1.8, laser autofocus, OIS, dual-LED (dual tone) flash

5MP secondary camera

32GB or 64GB internal storage + microSD expansion slot up to maximum 256GB

Android Marshmallow 6.0.1

Non-removable Li-Ion 2600 mAh battery with Fast battery charging, 8 hours battery life with 15 minutes charge

4G LTE

Moto Mods

Let's start things off by admiring how super slim the Moto Z at just 0.20 inch thick. It is wrapped beautifully in an aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel body which further enhances its look and feel.

The body is good, and the screen is even better with its 5.5-inch Quad HD resolution which is sure to bring to life all your favorite movies and everything that you read on it. The excitement gets way better on the hardware side of things as the Moto Z is powered by the latest and fastest Snapdragon 820 chipset, so you know that this smartphone is indeed fast.

There's a slight disappointment though on the camera, as it is only equipped with a rather average 13MP-5MP camera setup. You somehow feel that it should have come with a much better camera than this.

Now let's get down to what the Moto Z can do more than a typical smartphone, with Moto Mods - Turn your smartphone into a movie projector, boombox, battery powerhouse, and more, in a snap. Just hook it up, and see it transform. More details of that can be viewed with this video on Motorola's website.

Conclusion:

They say seeing is believing, and at the moment, Motorola Moto Z is still another 2-3 months away before its release. But from what we gathered so far, you will be getting the best smartphone experience (minus the camera performance) and so much more. The ability to further extend a smartphone's capability sounds cool.

Motorola Moto Z is expected to be released in September 2016 although there's no price confirmation yet. It will be available in Black/Gray, Black/Rose Gold, Black/Gold, and White.

...

Source: Motorola Moto Z: dawn of a new era of the smartphone

Lenovo Join Flexible Smartphone Arms Race with CPlus and Folio

Posted by: Vince Foxgold on 20 June, 2016

The smartphone market is in the middle of a little bit of divergence at the moment it would seem. Companies seem to be focusing their efforts on two potential markets, the modular smartphone concept, the prominent of which would be Google's Project Ara the second market looks to be the flexible smartphone, of which we've already discussed the efforts of Samsung and Moxi in this endeavour.

This article is going to be looking at the flexible smartphone, because Lenovo has thrown its hat into the ring. At Lenovo tech world this year amongst the major launches for two new devices; one of which throws us back to the modular smartphone, the company debuted a number of prototypes for flexible screen technology.

The devices which are niftily named the CPlus flexible smartphone/smartwatch and the Folio foldable tablet/smartphone. Those obliques in the names are quite telling, it implies the company views these as a blurring of the lines between smart devices, and it's easy to see why.

The CPlus Flexible Smartphone Prototype

There were a couple of caveats to the devices however. It was made clear that the design for the mechanical parts had been done in conjunction with "a major manufacturing partner" and that the display technology they were using was not their own.

Despite this, they two pieces looked remarkably ready for sale for prototypes, although that doesn't take into account background software work that might be needed. The prototypes shown were even fully functional, with the company showing off their tricks in real time. With these tricks comes one of the best innovations for the flexible smartphone yet.

As the Folio is folded to take it from tablet to smartphone the user interface changes in real time, moving from a UI that would be frankly unwieldy on a smartphone to something tried, tested, and effective. This is a phenomenal achievement and something sorely needed for the flexible smart device market if it is to take hold.

Lenovo's Folio Flexible Tablet Prototype

It is one thing to have a smart device flex around your wrist or fold in half, it's quite another to have it do so and still be as functional as others, and this would seem to be the way around it. The CPlus has a similar feature, as it's snapped to the user's wrist the UI changes from your typical smartphone fare to something a great deal more functional from a wrist based perspective. The UI adaptation was so smooth as to be something barely noticeable.

The specs are still a long way off as is the release date, with the Lenovo CTO Peter Hortensius only stating that they can be expected within the next five years. Regardless of how soon or far away these devices are it's easy to see the smartphone arms race begin to heat up. As the current market becomes saturated with incremental updates and very little major change, it's exciting to see companies take a vested interest in where the future of smart technology is going.

If Flexible and modular technology are our next logical step, it's exciting to wonder where we might find ourselves in the distant future.

Tags: CPlus, Flexible Technology, Folio, Lenovo, smartphone, Tablet

Source: Lenovo Join Flexible Smartphone Arms Race with CPlus and Folio

This Week In Tech: OnePlus 3 has almost everything you want in a smartphone

MANILA, Philippines – You may not have heard of Chinese smartphone startup OnePlus, but don't discount it – especially if you're after a top-end phone for way less than Apple's or Samsung's $750 flagship.

Now on its third iteration, the OnePlus 3 could potentially be the flagship killer its makers have been hoping for since their initial release. At least from a technical standpoint, with all the impressive specs thrown at this model, it should be more powerful than any phone Apple or Samsung has built so far.

And with a very attractive $399 price tag, it's likely to appeal to a broader demographic.

The specs sheet reads like that of a current upmarket phone: 5.5-inch AMOLED display (albeit at 1080p resolution); home button doubling as a fingerprint reader; 16- and 8-megapixel rear and front cameras; Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip; 6GB of RAM to go along with 64GB of non-expandable flash storage; USB Type-C port with fast-charging support for the 3,000mAh fixed battery (over 60-percent capacity from a 30-minute charge); and Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

The front of the phone is identical to its predecessor, while the screen is covered in Gorilla Glass 4. The rear panel is made of aluminum, which comes in a gray or gold paint job, and is sleeker this time around. It should be easier to handle as well, thanks to its more rounded design.

But perhaps the most encouraging news of all is that you won't have to deal with OnePlus' invite system nonsense this year. You can simply ignore the hype, and head to the company's website to purchase the OnePlus 3 today. But if you'd rather see the hardware first before throwing money at it, you'll be able to buy the phone offline at select locations in New York, Paris, London, Berlin, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore.

Can Microsoft's 'most powerful console ever' really play games at 4k?

E3 2016 saw the launch of a new Xbox One console that should give Sony's PlayStation 4 a run for its money. Gaming's biggest show also saw the soft unveiling of what is perhaps the most ambitious Xbox yet, a gaming beast which gobs more speed and graphics power than the machine Microsoft is shipping to stores this August. It certainly will be capable of more things than playing videos at super-sharp 4K resolution.

When Xbox Project Scorpio debuts in 2017, it is said to do 4K gaming and play nicely with high-end VR gear. If all falls into place, it will shake the very bedrock of the gaming industry and drastically change the landscape for years to come. And you'd find my rather newly acquired gaming PC up for sale on eBay.

Here's the thing, though: Despite all the firepower Project Scorpio promises to bring – six teraflops of processing power is a massive upgrade over the Xbox One's one teraflop – rendering games at native 4K is a big ask for any rig, even if you factor the fact that it will probably run a lighter, more streamlined operating system. For perspective, consider Nvidia's best graphics card on the market today, the GTX 1080, which pumps out nine teraflops.

You'd think it wouldn't break a sweat pushing graphics to the 4K range, but you'd be wrong; as early reviews have shown, the GTX 1080 misses the mark occasionally. The bottom line, as Eurogamer says, is that "6TF [teraflops] of GPU power isn't enough to power a convincing 4K experience." But hey, we're still a long way from 2017, and a lot of things could change between now and then. (Don't discount the wizards, I mean, engineers, at Redmond.)

But suppose Microsoft does come through with a product worthy of the hype, at what price will Project Scorpio sell to the public? It definitely won't come cheap.

Remember the GTX 1080 card I was referring to earlier? The reference version is priced at a whopping $700. I can only imagine how expensive a console that fully supports 4K will cost. Pricing for the Xbox One S starts at $300, and goes as high as $400 for the model with 2TB of storage. It's not hard to imagine Project Scorpio retailing for twice the price of its predecessor, what with all its impressive capabilities.

Sony's Xperia X smartphones are coming to more markets soon

After announcing its new smartphone line in Barcelona last February, Sony is finally making good on its promise of rolling out its Xperia X smartphones across the globe. Following a May release in the UK, the Xperia X and XA are coming to the Philippines in mid-July.

The Xperia X and XA will retail for P29,990 and P13,990 respectively.

 

The Xperia X replaces Sony's premium Xperia Z line of smartphones, signaling a shift in focus away from a more affluent user base Sony has been catering to for the longest time. And that's important to note, because the midrange is shaping up to be the most important battleground for smartphone makers.

Of the phone's many new features, its 23 camera is supposed to be a main highlight, so we thought we'd post a few. Are they impressive enough to justify Sony's pricing? Let us know by visiting GadgetMatch.com and leaving us a comment.

Source: This Week In Tech: OnePlus 3 has almost everything you want in a smartphone

To fend off iPhone Competition, Samsung to release phablet in August

The Galaxy J2 (2016) has no official release date for now though it is believed that it will come out before the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in August.

Samsung might be starting the production of their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Edge next month plus a new leak claims that it will feature the new innovative Smart Glow capability.

As anticipation builds around the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the rumors about the smartphone have been reaching fever pitch.

Lowry on top at US OpenWith his undeniable talent and newfound touch on the putting greens, I don't think anyone is counting out the Aussie anymore. It wasn't so enjoyable earlier in the day when he was lining up a 30-foot birdie putt and nudged the ball with his putter.

The specs and features have been set on the table, including that previous post which sees the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 carrying close similarities (with reference to the curved edge screen display) to the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

But now we're hearing yet more evidence of it, as the Korea Herald reports that Patron (a South Korean camera module-maker) will be supplying modules for Samsung's "next premium smartphone", having apparently won a bid to do so months ago.

The feature could be a useful addition to the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 but right now there is no confirmation that the "Smart Glow" LED feature will be included.

Canadian parliament passes medically-assisted death billEarlier on Wednesday, the Senate voted 64-12 to significantly amend Bill C-14 and send it to the House of Commons. If it is rejected, senators could agree to pass the bill unchanged.

Samsung may try to top the Galaxy Note 5 (shown here) by adopting a dual-edge display for the next Galaxy Note.

A new series of leaked images passed along by Dutch tech blog "Galaxy Club" is making the rounds, indicating that Samsung is working on a new LED-based notification system for upcoming smartphones. Like the Galaxy Tab E, the Galaxy On5 supports T-Mobile LTE bands 2, 4, and 12.

Neurogadget noted that a "new vibration pattern concept" and an advanced power mode are incorporated along with new Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The phablet will also consist of Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 823 processor, Adreno 530 GPU, and 6 GB of RAM. This was due to the fact that iris scanning technology was still in its infancy at that stage and was not as simple as user-friendly as a fingerprint scanner.

F1 European GP: Perez 'angry' to lose second with gearbox penaltyIt was a very hard session for me, after the crash I lost some confidence, but to get it back and get in rhythm again was great. Perez's penalty elevates Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull onto the front row alongside Rosberg.

It is hinted by the teaser, with the help of Phone Arena, that there is no doubt that Samsung is skipping a numeral, and the name that they have planned for their next pallet is Galaxy Note 7.

Source: To fend off iPhone Competition, Samsung to release phablet in August

OnePlus releases new "flagship killer", smaller X discontinued

Source: OnePlus releases new "flagship killer", smaller X discontinued

Your smartphone could be hacked without your knowledge

Not only can your smartphone be hacked, it can be done very easily without your knowledge.

"At the end of the day, everything is hackable. What I am surprised about is that people sometimes forget that it's so easy to hack into these devices," said Adi Sharabani, the co-founder of mobile security company Skycure, who used to work for Israeli Intelligence.

Even if a malicious attacker cannot get into your phone, they can try to get the sensitive data stored inside, including contacts, places visited and e-mails.

"It's important to realize that the services your smartphone relies on are much more attractive target to attackers. So for example, the photo leak that happened from iCloud where a bunch of celebrities had their photos posted all over the Internet is the perfect example," said Alex McGeorge, the head of threat intelligence at cybersecurity company Immunity, Inc.

Often, the hack or data breach occurs without the consumer's knowledge, according to Sharabani.

And it's not just consumers that criminals target. With the rise of smartphones and tablets in the workplace, hackers attempt to attack enterprises through vulnerabilities in mobile devices.

Both Sharabani and McGeorge perform attack simulations for clients and find that these hacking demonstrations usually go undetected.

"It's usually very rare that a breach that originated through a mobile device or is just contained to a mobile device is likely to be detected by a corporation's incident response team," McGeorge said.

And Sharibani agrees. He says he's still waiting for someone to call him and say that their IT department identified the attack demonstration.

"No one knows," he said. "And the fact that organizations do not know how many of their mobile devices encountered an attack in the last month is a problem."

Read MoreCost of data breaches hits $4 million on average: IBM

But there is a silver lining, according to the wireless industry.

"The U.S. has one of the lowest malware infection rate in the world thanks to the entire wireless ecosystem working together and individually to vigilantly protect consumers," said John Marinho, vice president of technology & cybersecurity at CTIA, the wireless association. CTIA is an industry group which represents both phone carriers and manufacturers.

Here are the three ways a smartphone is most likely to be breached.

Source: Your smartphone could be hacked without your knowledge

Hyperkin’s Game Boy Smartphone Adapter Actually Being Built

April Fools has been a great way for some companies to introduce ideas and concepts with questionable marketability potential. ThinkGeek has gone on to produce a number of items it listed as jokes in the last few years after they received a lot of public interest. Hyperkin, a company known for designing and selling video game accessories, has dipped their toes in the same pool and seems to be paying off, or at least will in the near future.

Last year Hyperkin featured a small dock that turned your iPhone into a fully functional Game Boy, and included the classic controls, including the D-pad, and A,B, Start, and Select buttons. Despite being a clear ruse, the mob went nuts and began promising to throw their entire wallets at Hyperkin if they just built this thing. Turns out Hyperkin was paying attention and is planning to release, what they have dubbed the Smart Boy, possibly by the end of 2016.

Courtesy of Hyperkin

Meet the Smart Boy, an upcoming Game Boy-compatible device for the iPhone 6 Plus (with more compatible smartphones to follow). This concept art shows that it will attach to the iPhone 6 Plus, turning the phone into a handheld gaming device compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges.

It will also feature an eight-way D-pad; two action buttons; a start and select button; and an included battery that can be charged through the phone itself providing 5 hours of game-play. The gameplay itself will output through the iPhone 6 Plus' own screen.

Despite there still being a fair amount of work left to bring the adapter to market, Hyperkin did have a functional one on display at this year's E3 Conference. And more good news: although it was first introduced as an iPhone accessory, there will be iOS and Android versions, with a Samsung Galaxy S6 used to demo the device at E3.

The simplest way to describe the Smart Boy is that it uses your smartphone screen to display the games while adding classic controls. However the adapter will not be using emulators, but will actually accept Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges so you will be playing the originals, fully satisfying that nostalgic little hipster in all of us. And it looks great, with a perfect translation of the Game Boy design of old.

Courtesy of Neowin

If you're interested in speeding up or improving the process, Hyperkin is selling a developer kit for $59.99 with promises of royalty percentages to those who help make the platform.

WE built the Smartboy. YOU can make it great. The Smartboy Development Kit attaches to Android smartphones, turning the phone into a handheld gaming device. It will be compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges. Included in the kit is an open source serial app and firmware, which will enable developers of all kinds to advance Hyperkin's current build toward a retail-ready model.

Hyperkin is offering a royalty percentage – of retail-ready Smartboy units sold – to anyone that can improve the Smartboy's serial app and firmware. Updates and builds of the serial app and firmware can be uploaded to a dedicated Hyperkin Lab forum. Hyperkin Lab is dedicated to product testing and development.

As of now, details about availability, pricing and compatibility yet to be announced. The website is a little confusing as it's not really clear if December 2016 is the planned shipping date for the developer kit or the finished product.

What do you think about Hyperkin's Smart Boy? Let us know in the comments below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

  Source: Neowin
Source: Hyperkin's Game Boy Smartphone Adapter Actually Being Built

6GB of RAM isn’t enough, LeEco’s next smartphone could have 8

If you're looking for the biggest and baddest phone on the planet, you may want to wait for the LeMax 2 from LeEco. According to the latest rumor, the LeMax 2 will be powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 821 processor which will be paired up with a staggering 8GB of RAM. That's right, the LeEco LeMax 2 could have 2GB of RAM more than the newly-launched OnePlus 3 and 4GB of RAM more than what Samsung, HTC and LG have bestowed upon their 2016 flagship smartphones. 

Other rumored specifications for the LeMax 2 include a 25-megapixel rear camera, aluminum unibody shell available in red, blue or silver, fingerprint sensor and a sticker price of 3000 Yuan (roughly $455 USD). 

It's clear that LeEco is trying to make a name for itself by being the first smartphone manufacturer to release a phone with 8GB of RAM, but we're hoping this doesn't become a trend. While most of us want phones with the best specs possible, simply adding more RAM doesn't always translate to better performance if proper memory management is not implemented. This is clearly highlighted by the OnePlus 3 and its 6GB of RAM. 

Do you think your Android phone would benefit from having 8GB of RAM?

Auto-load comments: Off On

Source: 6GB of RAM isn't enough, LeEco's next smartphone could have 8

Your smartphone loses half of its value in a month!

LONDON: Planning to buy a new smartphone? Remember that the device may lose half of its value in a month which is even faster than your car, says an interesting study.

While cars typically lost 20 per cent of their value a year after being driven off, money-draining smartphones went down up to 65 per cent of their value in just a month of being released, musicMagpie.co.uk reported on Thursday.

The findings showed that only iPhones could retain their value much better than android-based devices.

While the iPhone 4 continues to retain 39 per cent of its value even five years after its launch, the iPhone 6 (16 GB) has managed to keep 50 per cent of its 539 British pounds market value a year after its release.

However, iPhone 5 showed a significant depreciation, losing 66 per cent of its value after eight months, the report stated.

The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4, which released in 2014 lost half of its value within two months of appearing on the market .

That's nearly a £300 loss off its original selling price of £579, the study said.

HTC One M9 has suffered the worst in the android sector. It was sold for 579 British pounds when released in March 2015 but lost a staggering 65 per cent of its value in just a month.

Phones go down in value because better, faster and technologically superior models replace them.

Demand for a certain phone model can also affect its popularity and consequently depreciate its value, the report concluded.

--IANS

rt/na/vt

Source: Your smartphone loses half of its value in a month!

LG announces X mach and X max smartphones

The LG X mach is headed to Europe and Asia, perhaps not to the United States, though. With a 5.3-inch 720p display and an ageing Snapdragon 410 at 1.2 Ghz with 1.5GB of RAM, the X Style certainly appears as budget as a device can be, but it does feature 16GB of expandable storage.

Meanwhile LG's X Mach supports the LTE Cat 9 3CA standard for lightning-fast downloads, although not all networks will have the technology ready to take advantage of this speedy mobile data. The X style is all about the looks with a curved body that is very thin.

Further details on all the handsets including pricing and release dates should follow soon.

Previously, LG did this with their K-series line of products, but now it appears to be the X-series that represents LG's value for money lineup and they've quietly announced four new devices today, too.

However, as per rumours, LG X mach is expected to have an IPS Quantum display and will be powered by a 1.8GHz processor. Each new device in the X series has a unique feature that's matched to a specific user need or interest, features include a faster processor, greater battery capacity, larger display, and more sophisticated styling.

Unlike the X Cam that came with dual rear camera sensors, the X Power is aimed at users who wish to avoid any problems with the battery running low. It has a 4,100mAh battery with Fast Charging. If you don't know, the X-series of phones are all positioned as affordable options for those not looking to break the bank, however each phone focuses on one key area of excellence.

X style differentiates itself with its elegant design boasting gracefully curving lines and extra-slim body. X max sports a large display for an enhanced viewing experience, making it the ideal phone for consuming multimedia content.

Source: LG announces X mach and X max smartphones

Pokemon Go releases to smartphones next month

Pokemon Go Plus allows wearers to play without taking out their smartphones.

Augmented reality game Pokemon Go will release to smartphones in July, Nintendo announced via its E3 livestream today.

Developed by Game Freak and Niantic Labs, Pokemon Go uses AR technology and smartphone cameras to allow players to find, photograph, and capture Pokemon in their physical surroundings.

Players will gain experience and level up as they capture Pokemon, allowing them to battle and capture stronger and rarer Pokemon.

Legendary Pokemon will also be available for capture through events hosted in different cities, while set locations called PokeStops will allow players to stock up on Poke Balls, berries, and Pokemon eggs.

A paid version of the game, Pokemon Go Plus, will include a wearable hardware accessory that, when paired with smartphones, vibrates when a Pokemon is nearby, allowing players to attempt a capture by pressing a hardware button.

While Nintendo has confirmed it is developing a Pokemon-trading feature, it will not be available at the game's release.

The game will also be compatible with future Pokemon titles, although to what extent remains unclear.

Pokemon Go will be free when it releases next month to iOS and Android, while Pokemon Go Plus will cost US$34.99.

Source: Pokemon Go releases to smartphones next month

Strong Demand for Huawei’s P9 and P9 Plus Smartphones

Posted by Nathan Kirsch Wed, Jun 15, 2016 - 10:16 AM

Strong Demand for Huawei's P9 and P9 Plus Smartphones Leads to Significant Growth

 

Shenzhen, China (June 14, 2016) – Huawei Consumer Business Group today announced its newest flagship smartphones, the P9 and P9 Plus, have achieved unprecedented global sales since they were launched in London on April 6. Global shipments of the P9 and P9 Plus exceeded 2.6 million within six weeks of their release, with tremendous sales occurring in China, France, Finland and Britain. Instantly becoming a popular product, sales of the P9 are 130 percent higher than P8 sales in global markets. These outstanding results have increased Huawei's global market share to 8.5 percent^ and cemented the company's top-three position in the smartphone industry.

During Q1 2016, Huawei shipped 28.3 million units globally, a 64 percent^ increase year-over-year. Huawei also experienced notable achievements in regional markets:

Strong P9 sales: The Huawei P9 has huge popularity globally, achieving significant numbers of pre-orders and sales. In China, over 5 million online pre-orders were made within a week since its global release in London.

P9 vs. P8 sales: Sales of the P9 are 130 percent higher than P8 sales in global markets outside of China. In France, P9 sales are up more than 1,000 percent higher than P8 sales. P9 sales are also up more than 400 percent in Poland and Finland, and more than 300 percent in Britain, over those of the P8.

Growing popularity in global markets: After the P9's global launch in London, its popularity in various regions has continuously increased with wide-ranging promotion activities. In Egypt, as the major sponsor of the Fashion Festival in Cairo, branded elements of Huawei and the P9 were seen throughout the event while P9 smartphones were also used to take selfie by celebrities and models on-stage, resulting in massive media attention. In Hong Kong, Huawei collaborated with renowned photographer Water Poon and celebrity Simon Yam on the P9's photo gallery at an outdoor bus shelter located at a prominent location, maximizing its reach to diverse audience.  In Germany, the P9 has also received significant accolades, including: "Technology Award" from Hardware Luxx; "Recommendation Award" from Allround-PC.

"Huawei is focused on creating premium devices that exhibit our dedication to flawless design and technological innovation," said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. "These high end devices are attracting more fans than ever before, who want to use the latest and most innovative smartphone technology. When consumers around the world are lining up to be the first to buy Huawei's flagship smartphones, as they have for the P9 and P9 Plus, it's clear the appeal of our devices is universal."

Huawei collaborated with Leica Camera AG to create the P9's and P9 Plus's signature dual-lens camera, resulting in aesthetically-stunning devices that deliver amazing true-to-life color pictures. The dual-lens camera takes smartphone photography to the next level, allowing users to capture both vivid colors and striking black and white images.

About Huawei Consumer BG

Huawei's products and services are available in more than 170 countries, and are used by a third of the world's population, ranking third in the world in mobile phone shipments in 2015. Sixteen R&D centers have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India, and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei's three business units and covers smartphones, PC and tablets, Wearables and cloud services, etc. Huawei's global network is built on 20 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.

For more information please visit: http://consumer.huawei.com

Source: Strong Demand for Huawei's P9 and P9 Plus Smartphones

OnePlus 3 release date, news and features

Update: The OnePlus 3 is finally here! Below you can learn about everything you need to know on the latest flagship killer phone from OnePlus.

It's official and the OnePlus 3 is yet another great looking smartphone with a brilliantly low price. The OnePlus 2 was a fantastic phone - we gave it four and a half stars in our review - but the OnePlus 3 looks to be even better.

OnePlus has a lot to live up to with the OnePlus 3. OnePlus Co-Founder Carl Pei told TechRadar, "People have very, very high expectations. We got very lucky with the first device, and people wanted more. We have to balance expectations with what we're capable of."

Last year, OnePlus underwent a lot of criticism for losing NFC and the OnePlus 3 has brought it back on board as well as including the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 16MP rear camera.

The best bit of all? The OnePlus 3 is out right now and there are no invites. You can just visit the website and buy it without having to wait - hurrah!

Before you buy, read our review of the OnePlus 3 or watch our video review below

OnePlus 3 display

OnePlus has kept to the 5.5-inch display size we saw on the OnePlus 2 and is using a Full HD AMOLED screen. It looks much the same as the OnePlus 2.

Some had hoped the OnePlus 3 would opt for a 2K display, but that would have likely had a big impact on the phone's battery life. It offers 401 pixels-per-inch - the same as the OnePlus 2.

The bezels are ultra-slim on the OnePlus 3 though coming in at under a millimeter each meaning the phone is really making the most of the space it has. There's also Gorilla Glass 4 to help tackle any scratches and drops.

OnePlus 3 specs and power

OnePlus has upped the power in the OnePlus 3 - on paper it's very impressive under-the-hood. There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor clocked at 2.2GHz as well as a huge 6GB of RAM.

The OnePlus 3 is one of the only phones in the world to tote 6GB of RAM alongside the ZTE Axon 7 and LeEco Le Max 2.

Storage wise there's only one option for the OnePlus 3 this year - your only choice is a 64GB version. You may ask why there's no smaller and cheaper OnePlus 3? The reason is not enough 32GB OnePlus 2 phones were selling.

OnePlus Co-Founder Carl Pei told TechRadar, "90% of users chose the larger storage option - [the] price difference wasn't that great between the two [storage sizes], and one model makes it easier for us too."

There's also no microSD support on the OnePlus 3 - you're stuck with just 64GB of storage. Pei said, "MicroSD is a big ask [from our fans], but it's not a good ask. It's not a good user experience. What happens if you use it as adoptable storage and remove the card?

"All your apps gets messed up. If you don't adopt it, it can only used for media. Not the best experience in our mind."

That's a strong opinion on microSD and may mean we won't see a card slot on the OnePlus 4 or OnePlus X 2 either.

NFC is back for OnePlus allowing you to use Android Pay on the OnePlus 3 - that's a big feature that many were disappointed was dropped from the OnePlus 2.

Underneath the screen also sits a fingerprint sensor, which OnePlus claims can be unlocked in under 0.2 seconds.

OnePlus 3 battery

This year there's a 3,000mAh non-removable battery in the OnePlus flagship phone. OnePlus now has a fast charging technology called Dash Charge that allows you to juice up your OnePlus 3 from zero to 60% in just half an hour.

Most fast-charging options mean your phone will get hot and overpowered during the process, but the OnePlus 3 does most of the hard work in the adaptor for the charger, so the heat won't even get to the phone. For you, that'll mean means you can still play games and use your phone while it's fast charging.

OnePlus 3 camera

Shooter wise there's a 16MP Sony PDAF sensor on the back of the OnePlus 3 that boasts a f/2.0 aperture as well as an auto HDR mode and a dynamic de-noise feature.

The manual mode on the OnePlus 3 has been improved as well and there's a new RAW image support mode as well as new stabilization features.

OnePlus 3 price

OnePlus has confirmed it will cost US$399 or £309 for the OnePlus 3. That's a similar price to how much the 64GB OnePlus 2 originally cost when it launched.

OnePlus 3 competition

OnePlus launched the OnePlus 2 as the "2016 flagship killer" even though it came mid-way through 2015. It held its own against some of the best phones you can buy, but now the OnePlus 3 is ready for action.

There's stiff competition for OnePlus with the Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5, HTC 10 and the iPhone 6S. In September, we also expect to see the iPhone 7 launch.

But then there's both the OnePlus X and the OnePlus 2 as well. Even though both of these phones are older, they're both cheaper than the OnePlus 3 and there's likely to be a lot of stock available as well.

More to read
Source: OnePlus 3 release date, news and features