Penetration of Smartphones to Boost the Electrostatic Discharge Protection Devices Market, Says Technavio

LONDON--(Business Wire)--The global electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 4% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest market research.

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Technavio has published a new report on the global ESD protection devices market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

In this market research report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the global ESD protection devices market for 2017-2021. The market is further categorized into two main material segments which are ceramic and silicon. The ceramic segment accounted for more than 62% of the market share in 2016.

"The growing demand for consumer electronics is one of the primary drivers for these devices. The increase in urbanization rates coupled with the increase in disposable incomes fuels the demand for consumer electronics. Also, the increasing smartphone penetration, especially in the developing countries, will propel the demand for ESD protection devices," says Neelesh Prakash Singh, a lead power research expert from Technavio.

Technavio's research analysts segment the global ESD protection devices market into the following regions:

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ESD Protection Devices Market in APAC

APAC will register rapid growth in the demand for ESD protection devices during the forecast period. Growing population along with the changing trends of urbanization and industrialization has made APAC the fastest growing market for ESD protection devices. China and India are the major drivers of the market due to increased penetration of smartphones coupled with rising disposable incomes in this region.

Furthermore, this region functions as an outsourcing destination for the North American and the European manufacturers. This is mainly because of the availability of cheap labor, low installation, and production costs, along with reduced capital expenditure, better flexibility, and faster cycle times, thereby resulting in a shorter time to market (TTM).

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ESD Protection Devices Market in Americas

The American countries have a mature market for electrical appliances and power protection systems. However, replacement of appliances, electricity generation, and new construction activities will result in an increase in demand for ESD protection devices. The increase in penetration of smartphones in the US plays a significant role in generating more demand for ESD protection devices.

The US accounts for most of the global connected devices market due primarily to its implementation of the Green Buildings Act. The Green Buildings Act covers the public, private, and non-profit sectors that have the goal to increase energy efficiency and sustainability of buildings.

"The use of connected devices has reduced the annual energy consumption in many countries. The Americas is home to many connected devices manufacturing companies such as Nest Labs, Honeywell, and Apple. Owing to the increased application of connected devices, the market for ceramic-based electrostatic protection devices will increase," says Neelesh.

ESD Protection Devices Market in EMEA

The revival of the automotive industry in Europe is expected to drive the demand for ESD protection devices in the region. Countries such as Germany, France, and Italy are the leading revenue contributors to the market from this region. It is further anticipated that smartphone penetration will witness an increase in Western Europe during the forecast period. There was an increase of around 167% in smartphone adoption between 2011 and 2016 as a percentage of the total population in Western Europe. The growing penetration year over year will result in the spurring demand for ESD protection devices as they are the key components in smartphone devices.

The top vendors in the global ESD protection devices market as highlighted in this market research analysis are:

Murata Manufacturing

Nexperia

STMicroelectronics

Texas Instruments

Browse Related Reports:

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170731005869/en/

Technavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 630 333 9501UK: +44 208 123 1770www.technavio.com

Source: Penetration of Smartphones to Boost the Electrostatic Discharge Protection Devices Market, Says Technavio

Galaxy Note 8 v iPhone 8 - Release date, price and which smartphone will be the best

There's a busy few months ahead for technology fans as Samsung and Apple both look set to announce fresh new smartphones.

The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks and are likely to feature a swathe of new updates and bonus features.

So, if you are in the market for a smartphone upgrade here is Express.co.uk's guide to when and what to expect from these latest devices

RELEASE DATE

Galaxy Note 8

Samsung has already sent out invites to major event in New York later next month which included an image of device with stylus.

This is certain to be an announcement for the new Note 8 and will take place on August 23.

It's currently unclear when the Note 8 will go on sale but Samsung's official website for Australia recently published a document which seemed to suggest the Galaxy Note 8 will be available for pre-order on August 25.

Although pre-orders could give live next month, expect to see this phablet hit shops in early September.

PH

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 v iPhone 8 Wed, April 26, 2017 THE Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is scheduled to launch this summer, with an Infinity Design similar to the Galaxy S8 – albeit with a larger display and advanced productivity features with the S Pen stylus.

KEVINNGUYEN

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 high-resolution render based on the latest leaks

iPhone 8

Apple never reveals its release date until a few weeks before the main event.

However, using previous years, Express.co.uk is predicting a launch on either September 6 or September 13.

Although the iPhone 8 is likely to be shown to world in early September, rumours are rife that fans of the iPhone 8 might have a wait a while to get hold of one.

It's thought the new technology inside the phone is causing some delays to production and, with it expected to be in high demand, stock levels could run low very quickly.

Some experts have even predicted that many avid iPhone users may have to wait until 2018 before they'll be able to buy one.

PH

PRICE

Galaxy Note 8

One big rumour about the Note 8 is that it's expected to hugely expensive.

Some experts are predicting that this new smartphone will break the $1,000 barrier with one Samsung official saying: "I know that it is about $1,000 to $1,100 depending on the country of origin."

Contract prices could also be sky-high and don't expect to be paying anything less £40 per month to own one.

iPhone 8

Apple users shouldn't be too smug about Samsung's extortionate prices as the iPhone 8 is also expected to be one of the most expensive devices the US technology firm has ever created.

Although nobody actually knows the true cost of the iPhone 8, it's thought Apple's new smartphone will also break the $1,000 mark.

And a fully loaded iPhone 8 in UK could cost over £1,000 - the current top of the range iPhone 7 Plus currently costs £919.

Sun, January 1, 2017 iPhone 8 is shaping up to be one of the most impressive Apple smartphones to date, with glass panels on the front and rear of the device, a curved borderless OLED display and no Home Button

CARVED BLOG

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An iPhone 8 sandwiched between an iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 Plus

SPECS

Galaxy Note 8

Although there's no official news from Samsung about its new Note 8 device there are plenty of rumours and leaks which gives us a good idea of what's to come.

It's though that this latest smartphone will feature a giant edge-to-edge curved Infinity display which will cover almost the entire front of the device.

A new dual-lens camera also looks likely to feature along with a refreshed S Pen which will bring an improved experience when scribbling on the screen.

Wireless charging, improved battery life and faster processor are all expected as well as iris and facial recognition for improved security.

Sadly, it does seem Samsung has still been unable to crack the technology which would allow them to place the fingerprint scanner under the display.

This means fans will have to put up with a rear-mounted sensor.

iPhone 8

The iPhone turned 10 this year and this milestone in its history means Apple is pulling out all the stops for its next generation smartphone.

It's thought the iPhone 8 will be packed with new features and upgrades which will make it the best smartphone the US technology firm has ever created.

Rumours are rife that the all-new iPhone will include a giant AMOLED display which will cover the entire front of the device.

This big screen should create a bigger viewing experience in a device that's physically smaller that its predecessors.

Along with this new display it's also thought that Apple is upgrading its dual-lens camera system with this snapper able to bring an improved augmented reality experience to users.

Much faster A11 processor and improved battery life are also expected and a recent leak may also prove that Apple is including wireless charging.

Facial recognition and iris scanning have also been rumoured.

SAMSUNG

Samsung recently sent out invites for its Note 8 launch

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?

From all of the rumours and leaks it seems both of these smartphones are going to offer a superior experience.

However, if you are thinking of buying either the Note 8 or iPhone 8 it will be worth waiting for both to be released before making any decision.

Expect full reviews of both devices to be out by the middle of September and then we'll know who has really won the battle of the 2017 smartphones.

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Source: Galaxy Note 8 v iPhone 8 - Release date, price and which smartphone will be the best

"Madoka Magica" Smartphone Game Locked in for August Release

Fans in Japan waiting to become meguca won't have to wait much longer. Magia Record, the Madoka Magica tie-in game, has received an official release date of August 22.

The game was originally supposed to come out in May, but further tweaking and programming were required before it would be considered fit for release. It was originally delayed until this month. Aniplex has confirmed the new release date on the game's official news page.

Magia Record Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica Gaiden... by pKjd

Magia Record introduces several new magical girls, including Iroha, who is on the hunt for her sister Ui. Her search coincides with Madoka's search for Homura in Kamihama. The game will feature new animation, full voice acting, and a new song from TrySail.

There is no word yet on whether Aniplex will make a localized version available for Western players.

Source: Anime! Anime!

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Kara Dennison is responsible for multiple webcomics, blogs and runs interviews for (Re)Generation Who and PotterVerse, and is half the creative team behind the OEL light novel series Owl's Flower. She blogs at karadennison.com and tweets @RubyCosmos.

Source: "Madoka Magica" Smartphone Game Locked in for August Release

Intex launches the Aqua Power IV 4G smartphone for Rs 5499

The smartphone has a 4000mAh battery, runs on Android 7, supports VoLTE and has a 5-inch display

Intex has announced the launch of a 4G VoLTE smartphone, the Aqua IV. The smartphone runs on Android 7 out of the box and is priced at Rs 5499. It is available in two colours - Gold and Black. Speaking of the specifications, the smartphone has a 5-inch FWVGA TN display, 1.3GHz quad-core SoC, 1GB RAM, 16GB built-in storage expandable via a microSD card up to 128GB. Both, the rear and the front of the smartphone have a 5MP camera. A 4000mAh battery powers the entire package. The smartphone weighs 172 grams and is 10.5mm thick. 

You can read the complete press release below 

Intex Technologies, one of the leading mobile handset players, today unveiled its latest feature-rich, powerful and stylish 4G-Volte smart phone - Aqua Power IV. Along with sleek looks and design, the smartphone is powered with an impressive 4000 mAh Li-Poly battery to ensure endless entertainment, complemented with latest Android 7 OS available at a pocket-friendly price of ₹ 5499/-

Aqua Power 4 comes with a 5-inch FWVGA display that offers razor sharp display and striking images. Powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor and 1 GB RAM, the device ensures users never run out of space or compromise on the speed of processor. Moreover, the device boasts of the latest Android Nougat 7.0 OS and is packed with the powerful 4000 mAh Li-Poly battery to ensure long lasting run.

Commenting on the launch of Aqua Power IV, Ms. Ishita Bansal, Product Head (Mobiles), Intex Technologies said, "With Aqua Power IV, the users will sense a top notch battery experience. We at Intex work to provide adept and smart products that meet the most essential needs of the consumers and Aqua Power IV will provide a seamless experience to the millennial generation."

Apart from the above specifications, the device comes pre-loaded with splendid VAS services for the users. One major feature is the QR Code scanner that decodes the QR code automatically and shows the relevant information with buttons for the next steps to be taken. Xender is another noteworthy feature for sharing files with friends at any place or anytime without using mobile data at 200 times faster speed than Bluetooth. Gaana is a one-stop solution for all music lovers' needs. Aqua Power IV also comes with the features called Prime Video, Tap & Buy and Vistoso. 

To make selfie lovers keep posing and photography enthusiasts to capture rich pictures, Aqua Power IV offers a powerful 5MP (AF) rear camera with flash to capture memorable moments and a 5MP (FF) selfie camera with flash. It is loaded with features such as face-detection, HDR and Panorama that helps click sharp and radiant pictures. The smartphone has an in-built 16GB ROM with an expandable memory of up to 128GB, that convinces users to be relieved of storage problems.

The elegant Aqua Power 4 is available in two premium colours - Gold and Black. 

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Source: Intex launches the Aqua Power IV 4G smartphone for Rs 5499

Windows 10 Now Lets Users Link Android Phones to PCs, iPhone Support Coming Soon

Microsoft's most recent Windows 10 insider build introduces a new feature that allows users to link phones and PCs and benefit from cloud synchronization that makes it possible to pick up from where you left off instantly.

For the time being, this feature only works with browsing sessions, but this is just the first step of a broader Microsoft project that includes more advanced functionality presented earlier this year at Build and including Windows Timeline and universal clipboard.

Currently working with Android devices but with iPhone support also on its way, the new feature can be configured from Settings > Phone – Microsoft has introduced a new Settings page just for this feature and it's only available starting with build 16251.

This is where you are prompted to link your phone with your PC by providing a phone number. Microsoft then sends you a text that includes the download link for a testing app called Microsoft Apps and which completes the connection between the phone and the PC all automatically.

iPhone version currently in the works

Once the two devices are linked, all you have to do is browse the web and use the share feature on Android to send your browsing session to your PC. Tap Share and then tap the option that reads "Continue on PC" You are provided with two different options, namely "Continue now" and "Continue later," with the first automatically transferring your browsing session to the linked Windows 10 PCs immediately.

The latter setting sends the browsing session to the Action Center, allowing you to resume it with just a click. The feature works with Microsoft Edge and will expand to iPhones very soon, Microsoft promises.

While similar features have been around for a while for users running the same browser on phones and PCs, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft has a much more advanced idea in mind, and today's release is just the first step of a much more ambitious goal that includes more synchronization features.

It remains to be seen how the whole process is going to work with iPhones, but on Android, pairing devices and have browsing sessions shared to PCs is pretty straightforward.

Source: Windows 10 Now Lets Users Link Android Phones to PCs, iPhone Support Coming Soon

Dentsu Aegis Network signs deal to acquire Sokrati

Post acquisition, Sokrati, a data driven performance marketing agency, will be renamed as Merkle Sokrati

Dentsu Aegis Network has recently announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pune headquartered data-driven performance marketing and analytics agency, Sokrati.

The network has also launched Merkle in the country, a global data-driven performance marketing agency in the Asia Pacific region. Post-acquisition, Sokrati will be rebranded as Merkle Sokrati, further scaling Dentsu Aegis India's data and performance marketing offering.

Nick Waters, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network, Asia Pacific, says in a press release, "India is the fastest growing large economy in the world. It is on track for 400 million smartphone users, making it second only to China, and has emerged as a major e-commerce market. Sokrati's strength in mobile, e-commerce, data, analytics and performance media provides an ideal basis from which to launch Merkle in India as we develop the roll-out plan for Asia Pacific. We will develop the unique M1 addressable media platform for India as a next step."

Ashish Bhasin, chairman and CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network, South Asia, says in a press release, "Sokrati has strong ability in CRM and data to accelerate the launch of Merkle in India and further bolster our data practice, which is becoming increasingly critical in all aspects of our business. It will also give our clients added value as we bring CRM and data into the heart of our digital offering. With Dentsu Aegis Network India already being a leader in performance marketing services, with iProspect and the recent acquisition of SVG, the complementary addition of Sokrati will enable the network to take a clearly dominant position in the rapidly growing Indian digital advertising market. With Sokrati on board, we will now be more than twice the size of any of our competitors in search and performance. Out of 3,500 staff in India, about 1,500 will be digital professionals, and over 35% of our revenue - a market-leading statistic - will come from digital."

Zhengda Shen, president, Merkle Asia Pacific, says in a press release, "Given Sokrati's strong credentials and proven capabilities in data & analytics, Sokrati will be in the ideal position to give strong footing to Merkle's launch in the Indian market, in line with Merkle's global growth strategy. India is strategic to Dentsu Aegis Network and is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. "

He adds, "Sokrati's data DNA, analytics-driven and performance approach to digital marketing make it a natural extension for Merkle into the Indian market. Furthermore, they are focused on expanding their CRM capabilities and connecting these capabilities across media and channels. Merkle is in a strong position to support this expansion and Sokrati's ecommerce-heavy client base is data rich, innovative, and ready to benefit from Sokrati's push into cross-channel marketing."

The co-founders of Sokrati, Ashish Mehta, CEO, Anubhav Sonthalia, enterprise business head, and Santosh Kumar Gannavarapu, head of innovations, will be joining the Dentsu Aegis Network leadership team in India. Anubhav Sonthalia will be the CEO of Merkle Sokrati and report to Vivek Bhargava, CEO of Performance, Dentsu Aegis Network India, and Zhengda Shen, president of Merkle Asia Pacific.

Anubhav Sonthalia, co-Founder and enterprise business head of Sokrati, says in a press release, "Our business is built on a highly data-driven culture, supported by the strong passion for digital and performance marketing from myself and two other founders - Ashish and Santosh. It is not often you meet amazing talent with the same drive and mindset, and we could not be more pleased to be joining forces with world-leading agency Merkle, as we expand our global footprint as part of Dentsu Aegis Network. It has been an incredible journey from the start, and we are all very excited about the next chapter for Sokrati."

The deal is expected to close this week.

Source: Dentsu Aegis Network signs deal to acquire Sokrati

Staffordshire Police release new smartphone app and here is how to use it

Staffordshire Police have designed their own mobile phone application to help keep Burton people informed about what's going on in their area.

Staffordshire Smart Alert is now available on most smart phones and can be downloaded from the app store.

After downloading, Staffordshire Police will keep you up-to-date with crime alerts as and when they happen through alerts which will pop up, right on your phone's screen.

The app allows you to modify and personalise which news you receive through to your phone by crime or area, so that you will only get what the information that you want.

Information is freely available on the app about your nearest police station and officers including direct contact numbers and when they are available.

But are you a bit confused on how to use the app and how to set up your very own custom notifications? Well worry no more, here is a step-by-step guide to the Staffordshire Police Smart Alert app.

How to download the app and set up your customised notifications

Step 1 – Search for 'staffs smart alert' in your respective app store and click on the far right hand side to download it.

Search 'staffs smart alert' in your app store

Step 2 – Once it has finished downloading, open the app and when prompted press "allow" to let notifications appear.

Make sure you allow notifications to be shared

Step 3 – When the application is fully open, click on the large green rectangle saying "Your Alerts".

Select "your alerts" on the main screen

Step 4 – Select the 'preferences' option at the bottom of the page to edit what notifications you want to receive.

Press on 'preferences' at the bottom of the page

Step 5 – Enter your postcode so that you receive local notifications and select other options by clicking the tick box based on what other information you want to get through.

You can now enter your postcode and select what information to receive

The app also holds plenty of information regarding how to set up or join a neighbourhood watch team and also how to directly contact the Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, Matthew Ellis.

Source: Staffordshire Police release new smartphone app and here is how to use it

Apple is working on a major change for future iPhones, and Samsung is in trouble

Samsung turned in a huge holiday quarter last year despite the Galaxy Note 7 debacle that cost the company billions in lost sales and cleanup expenses. The South Korean consumer electronics giant then followed up that fantastic performance with an even bigger first quarter, and unaudited results suggest the second quarter was Samsung's most profitable quarter ever.

Sure, strong sales of smartphones like the new Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have helped. But the real story here is Samsung's strength across its various component businesses. Sales of memory chips, processors, display panels, and other key components have been soaring lately, and Apple's iPhone 8 will play a huge role in pushing Samsung's earnings to new heights. As has been the case with various Apple partners in the past, however, this gravy train won't last forever, and Apple is reportedly working on a major change for future iPhones that could lead to tens of billions in lost sales for its top rival, Samsung.

According to a report on Monday morning from Korean-language ET News (via Digitimes), Apple is already taking steps toward an OLED future where the company would be far less reliant on Samsung. Well-sourced rumors suggest Apple's upcoming iPhone 8 will be the company's first smartphone to feature an OLED display, and Samsung will reportedly be the company's sole OLED panel supplier. Earlier reports have suggested that no other supplier is able to meet Apple's needs in terms of production volume.

But Apple is never satisfied with just one supplier, and that rings especially true when that supplier also just so happens to be its arch rival. Apropos, ET News reports that Apple is already taking steps to decrease its dependency on Samsung, and perhaps someday even move away from Samsung entirely as a display panel supplier.

Apple has reportedly purchased its own chemical vapor deposition (CVD) machines from a South Korean company called Sunic System, machines that are key to research and development surrounding OLED display panels. The report states that Apple is intent on developing its own OLED display technology so that it can move away from Samsung as its sole OLED supplier. The company likely has no interest in manufacturing its own panels, but Apple has in the past purchased or leased equipment and worked closely with manufacturing partners in order to perfect components for its devices. Apple's A series chipsets are a perfect example.

It's unclear exactly what Apple's plans are or how its own OLED tech might differ from Samsung, which is currently the clear leader in OLED smartphone display technology.

Source: Apple is working on a major change for future iPhones, and Samsung is in trouble

Facebook is preparing to release the modular smartphone

Google's Project Ara meant to make a modular phone that can be assembled using different units on to the "frames" provided by the company.

Are you excited about a Facebook-made modular phone? The vague description does not really say exactly Facebook has in mind and while a modular smartphone like Google's Project Ara is not out of the question, the accompanying images appear a bit thick for a mobile phone.

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The patent reveals the device would consist of a chassis, or a base, and a "plurality of functional modules that can be connected", including a speaker, microphone, touchpad, GPS, display screen, and thermometer.

According to reports by the Business Insider, many former Project Ara team members are now working in Facebook's Building 8. Facebook is declined to comment but should not surprise. However we should note that many companies do file patents from time to time and they don't always materialize as actual products, so maybe we shouldn't get our hopes up just yet. It was filed in early 2016 and published by United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 20, 2017. The social-media giant is apparently working on a "modular electrochemical device" which could be used as a phone among many other things.

Brokers Opinions on: Himax Technologies, Inc. (HIMX)TRADEMARK VIOLATION WARNING: This piece of content was posted by BBNS and is the property of of BBNS. Creative Planning raised its position in shares of Himax Technologies by 4.2% in the first quarter.

Bottom line, all signs point to Facebook at least toying with the idea of a truly modular smartphone or smart speaker, as "conventional consumer electronics have a short life cycle".

Under its original design, Project Ara was meant to consist of hardware modules providing common smartphone components, such as processors, displays, batteries, and cameras, as well as modules providing more specialized components, and "frames" that these modules were to be attached to. Dugan has a history with these devices and she was previously in charge of Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group. Now Facebook's Building 8 group is working new modular device. According to the patent, the hardware components in the gadgets that are marked as "outdated" can be used again, but owing to the closed system design of consumer electronics, such components are rendered unusable.

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Source: Facebook is preparing to release the modular smartphone

Moto G5S and G5S Plus release date, news and rumors

 There's going to be no shortage of Motorola cell phone screen replacement to choose from this year, as following the launch of the impressive Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus earlier in 2017 the company now looks to be coming back with improved versions, known as the Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus.

These new phones are set to offer more than just a slight specs bump, with more high-end designs and in the case of the G5S Plus even a dual-lens camera likely to be included.

We've collected everything there is to know about the two phones so far, so read on below for all the details on the specs, features and likely price and release date.

We could see the Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus very soon, as Motorola is holding an event on July 25.

So far the two phones haven't been confirmed for it. We're fairly certain based on a teaser that we'll see the high-end Moto Z2 Force, but there's every chance that Motorola will use the event to launch other handsets too, so the G5S range could make an appearance.

Then again, the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus only landed a few months ago, so Motorola might want to wait a little longer before launching improved versions.

Whenever the two phones launch it's likely that they will cost slightly more than the £170 (around $210/AU$275) Moto G5 and £249/$229 (around AU$290) Moto G5 Plus, but probably not too much more, as Motorola is sure to want to keep them far more affordable than the upcoming Moto X4 and Moto Z2.

TechRadar's take: July 25 is our best guess for a launch date right now, but with no evidence that the two phones will be shown at Motorola's event we wouldn't be surprised if we have to wait longer.

It looks very likely that the Moto G5S will have a 5.2-inch 1080p screen, while the Moto G5S Plus will have a 5.5-inch 1080p display.

That was all be confirmed by a leaked presentation slide that looked very convincing, and has since been echoed by reliable tipster Evan Blass.

It's not the most exciting aspect of these two ETS as the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus both already have 1080p displays, but the new phones have both seemingly had a size boost, as their predecessors are 5.0 and 5.2 inches respectively.

TechRadar's take: All the rumors are pointing to 5.2-inch and 5.5-inch 1080p displays, and that's a believable size and resolution.

Source: Moto G5S and G5S Plus release date, news and rumors

We Just Found Out the Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhone SE 2 Release Date…Maybe

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If you haven't had your fill of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) rumors, yet, here's something to munch on as we near this year's smartphone release season. The iPhone SE 2 release date is a major topic of discussion. This one is a bit of surprise and, just like all rumors, should be taken with a grain of salt.

A French site, iGeneration, claims that an iPhone SE 2 release date is coming in late-August; likely just before the much-anticipated iPhone 8.

Considering that there has been no news about an iPhone SE refresh up until now, this rumor makes us raise our eyebrows a bit. With that said, it does make sense that an iPhone SE refresh would be in the works since it has been over a year since the original.

The report is very limited on information about specs or anything other than pricing. iGeneration claims that the pricing of the iPhone SE 2 will actually come in below the current iPhone SE model. That would be welcome news in the face of the rumored iPhone 8 price which seems to be increasing by the day with the latest reports estimating the flagship device will cost $1,100 or more.

At that price, it would be a breath of fresh air to have a new, low-cost iPhone model to consider when out shopping for an upgrade.

There is another aspect of this leak that gives us pause. iGeneration chose to cite a new source to their website for this story. It's one thing when a new source comes out with information that has already been available. It's a whole different story when a new source comes along with an entirely new scoop. Of course, every source has to start somewhere so I don't want to immediately discount this as an unfounded internet rumor. However, the lack of history with the source makes me hold back on my excitement a little bit.

There is also the possibility that the source has confused an iPhone SE 2 release date announcement with the announcement of an iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus. If the source heard information about a low-cost iPhone releasing with or before the iPhone 8 then they could assume that an iPhone SE refresh is in the works when, really, they were getting information about the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus.

No matter whether or not this rumor proves to be true, you won't hear any complaints from tech writers who have no shortage of content these days. With smartphone release season coming up in the next few months, all of these rumors will quickly be confirmed or debunked. If there is an iPhone SE 2 release date on the horizon then it appears consumers will have a wealth of choices once the holiday shopping season rolls around.

Source: We Just Found Out the Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhone SE 2 Release Date…Maybe

Tech giants to lock horns with flagship smartphones in H2

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- Global smartphone giants are expected to compete fiercely in the second half of 2017, industry watchers said Friday, as South Korea's top two players are fixing the release dates of their latest flagship smartphones next month.

Samsung Electronics Co. said it will showcase the presumed Galaxy Note 8 in the United States on Aug. 23, with LG Electronics Inc. also planning to unveil the presumed V30 smartphone in Germany on Aug. 31.

U.S. smartphone behemoth Apple Inc. is also seeking to release the iPhone 8 later this year.

While the companies refrained from providing details, industry watchers said the presumed Galaxy Note 8 may come with a 6.3 to 6.4 inch Super AMOLED display. The size is larger than the 5.7-inch panel used on its Galaxy Note 7 predecessor released last year.

The new devices will also become the first flagship device made by Samsung to boast dual back facing cameras, expected to be 13-megapixel units, a slight bump up from the 12-megapixel ones used in the current line of Samsung premium phones. Other rumors also claim the S-Pen may come with its own speaker.

Industry watchers said the price of the new phablet is expected to be the most expensive among flagship devices at US$900-1,000. The ill-fated Note 7 came with a price tag of $850.

LG Electronics' anticipated V30 smartphone is expected to come with a 18:9 display under the title "Full-Vision."

   Just as the V10 and the V20, the new device is set to focus on boasting high-end audio-related features. It is also likely to come with 13-megapixel cameras.

Apple is widely expected to release three new iPhones, namely the iPhone 7s, the iPhone 7s Plus and another flagship model. The trio are follow-ups to last year's iPhone 7 sold by the Cupertino company.

Sources said to mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone series, the new smartphone may be called the iPhone X, instead of the iPhone 8. Taking the latest trend into consideration, the device is also expected to come with a nearly bezel-free design.

colin@yna.co.kr

(END)

Source: Tech giants to lock horns with flagship smartphones in H2

Here are phones to expect at IFA 2017

The annual Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) trade show in Berlin, Germany is just a month away and electronics and home appliances technology enthusiasts should now be excited about which brands are going to take the event by storm. Happening from 1 to 6 September, event staples Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC, Lenovo, Huawei will be participating and not only this many more companies will come together for an exciting showdown.

In the smartphone category, fans have a lot of expectations from industry leaders. Here are the phones expected to make an appearance at IFA 2017.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

In a scale of 1-10 of the possibility that the Galaxy Note 8 will make an appearance at the event, it is 10. There has not been a year without Samsung showcasing new flagship smartphone at IFA 2017. While the South Korean conglomerate has not been confirmed to execute the Galaxy Note 8 launch at the event, it might be debuted at an earlier event. Samsung fans can expect to see the device in Berlin by September.

LG V30

Early LG V30 prototypes have made rounds recently and people are excited about the specifications revealed by subsequent benchmark tests. LG is expected to launch its next-generation smartphone at the event or on 31 August, a day ahead of IFA 2017's official opening. LG V30 may not be a flagship smartphone but it boasts specifications that only high-end phones wear.

Huawei Mate 10

Huawei is uncertain as of now about the release of the Mate 10 phablet. Even if it is not coming out at IFA 2017, Huawei is surely introducing it before the year ends. Huawei Mate 10 is a high-end smartphone-tablet hybrid rocking 5.8-inch display with 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. If rumours hold water, the device will be carrying two main cameras with a killer 36-megapixel lens and a 16-megapixel lens.

Sony Xperia XZ1

Sony is slated to launch the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact on 31 August as part of the IFA 2017. Based on the posting of an online retail platform in Poland, Sony Xperia XZ1 price starts at US$859 with four colour variants: Black, Moonlite Blue, Venus Pink, and Warm Silver. Meanwhile, the Xperia XZ1 Compact costs US$737 and is available in four colour variants: Black, Horizon Blue, Snow Silver, and Twilight Pink.

Motorola Moto G5S Plus

Lenovo has already set the stage for devices to be launched at its own event on 25 July. However, Moto G5S Plus and its siblings Moto G5S, Moto Z2 Force, and Moto Z are expected to make an appearance at IFA 2017. Four Motorola phones will be introduced and thus Lenovo has a lot of marketing task to do, an IFA booth is expected to help them a lot.

Source: Here are phones to expect at IFA 2017

Chicken chain celebrates 30 years in China with smartphone release

KFC has marked the thirtieth anniversary of its launch in China with the launch of a scarlet smartphone with Colonel Sanders' face laser-engraved on the rear of the device.

The Enjoy 7 Plus Android phone, made in partnership with Huawei, features a 5.5-inch screen and fingerprint sensor above the colonel's image. It also comes installed with a KFC app and Sanders-based wallpaper.

The low-end Android 7 device also includes KFC's music app, which allows song sharing at some of the 5,000 KFC restaurants spread across China. It also comes with 100,000 of the Colonel's "K dollars", a virtual currency used at Chinese stores.

Huawei will only manufacture 5,000 of the lucky-coloured smartphones, which went on sale at online retailer Tmall costing RMB1,099 (US$161). Due to the limited production, they are expected to become collectors items.

KFC was among the first Western food brands to arrive in China, and is now the biggest restaurant chain in the country.

The brand has been known in marketing circles to run exuberant and slightly bizarre campaigns, featuring chicken-flavoured nail polish, erotic literature, scented candles and greaseproof keyboards.

Source: Chicken chain celebrates 30 years in China with smartphone release

Meizu A5 Budget Smartphone Launched: Price, Release Date, Specifications, and More

Chinese handset maker Meizu has unveiled a new 'A' series handset dubbed Meizu A5. The biggest highlight of the handset is its budget price tag.

The handset has been seen listed on the company's website with a price tag of CNY 699. While there is no word concerning the handset's global availability, Chinese buyers, however, can get their hands on the phone.

The Meizu A5 is been offered in Black, Gold, and Silver color options, and packs a single camera configuration at the back.

The handset also comes with a Home Button in the front and a round-shaped sleek frame overall. The volume and the power button both are present on the right edge of the handset.

Talking about specifications, the Meizu A5 runs Flyme OS customized on an unspecified variant of Android, and comes with a 5-inch HD (720×1280 pixels) display tagged with 294-pixel density.

The handset is powered by a 64-bit 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737 processor coupled with Mali-T720 GPU and 2GB of RAM.

The handset also comes with 16GB of internal storage that can be further expanded via microSD card (up to 128GB).The Meizu A5 bears an 8-megapixel rear camera tagged with f/2.0 aperture, dual-LED flash, and modes like panorama and continuous.

At the front, the handset also comes with a 5-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture and face exposure enhancements as well as the company's smart beauty filters. The handset is fitted a 3060mAh battery and supports 4G VoLTE as well.

It also comes with other connectivity options such as Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, and GPS. The device measures 144×70.5×8.3mm and weigh 140 grams. Onboard sensors include gravity, proximity, compass, ambient light, and infrared sensors.

Source: Meizu A5 Budget Smartphone Launched: Price, Release Date, Specifications, and More

Huawei H1711 Smartphone Certified By FCC Ahead Of US Release

Two variants of a Huawei-made smartphone bearing the model numbers H1711 and H1711z were certified by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) earlier this week, with the agency publishing their testing documentation on Thursday. The models are essentially the same, save for the fact that the H1711z doesn't seem to support Wi-Fi calling (VoWiFi) and Voice over LTE (VoLTE).

While relatively vague in terms of hardware details, the documents published by the FCC do reveal that both the H1711 and H1711z are powered by a battery with a minimal capacity of 3,900mAh and typical capacity of 4,000mAh. Coupled with the fact that the devices are clearly described as smartphones, the H1711 model number seems to belong to a phablet. The Chinese original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is expected to announce the Mate 10 in late 2017, though the model numbers of its predecessors suggest that the H1711 isn't related to that particular product lineup. The Huawei Y7 and Y7 Prime (Enjoy 7 Plus) are much more likely candidates for the aforementioned model numbers as both were unveiled by the company in the last few months and the latter already debuted in some markets, with the OEM already confirming that the handsets feature 4,000mAh batteries.

Both of the certified devices support GSM, UMTS, and LTE frequency bands, indicating that they're either unlocked models or intended to be carried by AT&T or T-Mobile, as Verizon Wireless and Sprint rely exclusively on CDMA networks. The newly published testing documentation also mentions that the handsets are equipped with a microSD card slot, without clarifying on how much external storage they support. Finally, while OEMs usually request a six-month confidentiality period when submitting their smartphones, tablets, and other devices with wireless connectivity capabilities to the FCC for certification, Huawei asked for less than two months of discretion from the agency, having originally submitted its application on June 7 and telling the FCC that all related documentation can be made public on July 30. This somewhat uncommon request indicates that the Shenzhen, China-based consumer electronics manufacturer is planning to launch the H1711 and H1711z in the near future, and with both models being submitted to the FCC, their stateside release seems like a probable scenario.

Source: Huawei H1711 Smartphone Certified By FCC Ahead Of US Release

Leaked Image Shows Sharp’s Upcoming Bezel Less Smartphone

Sharp was among the first companies to introduce the concept of bezel-less display on a smartphone. And now the company is going to launch a couple of bezel-less smartphone on July 17. And now that we are just a few days away from the launch date, a new leaked image has been spotted which shows off one of the upcoming smartphones and it looks amazing. Interestingly, this leaked image looks exactly like the teaser image of Andy Rubin's Essential smartphone.

Talking about this new smartphone from Sharp, not a lot of info is available as of now, however, it has been reported that these sharp handsets will carry the model number FS8010 and FS8016. Again, the details on these are scarce at this point in time, however, we do have a bunch of rumors about them. It has been reported that the only difference between these two devices will the chipset used them to power the smartphone. If the rumors are to be believed, then it looks like the FS8016 will be powered by the Snapdragon 660 SoC.

The FS8010, on the other hand, is expected to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 830. As far as the other specs are concerned, it looks like both of them will have a 5.5-inch display on the front. This display is expected to have a resolution of 2048 x 1080. Apparently, both of them are expected to sport 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It seems like 6GB RAM has become a standard norm for smartphones nowadays. In terms of the camera, both of these upcoming Sharp smartphones are expected to sport a dual rear camera setup.

Talking about the camera, at the back, it looks like both the devices will have dual 12MP sensors and on the front, there will be an 8MP selfie shooter. Both the Smartphones also seem to be running Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box, which is always nice to see. Having said that, it is worth noting that none of this info is confirmed as of now and we highly suggest you wait until the release date to everything about them. We would like to know your thoughts on this. Would you be interested in buying a smartphone from Sharp just for the display? Be sure to let us know by dropping a comment down below and also stay tuned to PhoneRadar to be the first one to know when the smartphone comes out.

Source – Weibo

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Source: Leaked Image Shows Sharp's Upcoming Bezel Less Smartphone

KFC release limited edition smartphone, fried chicken lovers rejoice

Technology and fried chicken together ... finally.

IF you a big fan of the Colonel and want a phone that's finger lickin' good, you are going to love KFC's latest product.

The fast food giant has announced it's releasing a KFC smartphone to commemorate 30 years of operation in China.

Through a partnership with leading Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei, the fried chicken establishment has been able make the move into the tech world.

The KFC edition Huawei Enjoy 7 Plus has a 5.5-inch display, 3,020mAh battery, a fingerprint scanner and 12MP camera.

It's powered by a Snapdragon 425 processor, has 3GB of RAM and offers 32GB of storage that can be expanded up to 128GB with a microSD card.

It really is a work of art. Picture: Yum ChinaSource:Supplied

These might be impressive specs, but the hero of the device is the embossed picture of Colonel Sanders on the back of the aptly coloured red device.

Google's translation of the announcement, which was made on Chinese social media site Weibo, might leave a little to the imagination, but you get the idea.

"Kentucky China 30 years from 1987 to 2017, 30 years accompanied by the taste of the times, suck refers to the aftertaste! Kentucky together with Huawei joint co-operation, the introduction of Huawei Chang enjoy 7 Kentucky commemorative version of gorgeous struck," the post reads.

"Commemorative Edition laser back carving, pre-installed Kentucky Super APP, with WOW member 10 thousand K gold, but also the first to experience k-music song function. Limited to 5000 will soon be on sale, waiting for you to grab."

The "10 thousand K gold" refers to a digital currency used by KFC in China and the "k-music" is a pre-installed app that lets users create playlists and share them in the restaurant.

With only 5000 units being made, you will have to be quick to snap up this iconic phone — you are probably going to have to go to China too.

Would you buy a KFC phone? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.

News.com.au tech editor Matt Dunn reviews the Huawei P10 smartphone

Source: KFC release limited edition smartphone, fried chicken lovers rejoice

Smartphone shipments in China slump in first half

GUANGZHOU -- Shipments of smartphones in China dropped for the first time in three years in the January-June period, lending credibility to predictions that the country's economy will slow down in the latter half of the year.

Smartphone shipments fell 3.9% to 226 million units, the first year-on-year decline for the period since 2014, according to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Shipments grew by double digits in the first half of last year, but sales have been slow since the start of 2017.

Only 450 new phone models hit the Chinese market in the first six months, down 30% from a year earlier. This is seen as a major factor behind the shipment downtick.

"We focused on clearing piled-up inventories due to overproduction since last year," said an official at a up-and-coming Chinese smartphone maker.

Running out of juice

China has been the world's biggest smartphone market since 2012, accounting for about 470 million of the roughly 1.47 billion devices shipped worldwide last year. The rise of smartphone makers has also fueled the growth of industries that manufacture key smartphone components, such as liquid crystal display panels.

The shipment shortfall in the first half of 2014 came amid an economic slowdown. But sales recovered in the second half, helped partly by the start of full-scale sales in China by Apple. The Chinese smartphone market kept growing after that, with domestic smartphone startups such as Oppo Electronics and Vivo flourishing.

Some believe that smartphone sales will also recover in the second half this year, as inventory adjustments run their course.

"We saw some inventory adjustments in the first half, but demand likely will recover in July or later," said Shigenao Ishiguro, president of Japanese electronics parts maker TDK.

Although smartphone makers are gearing up to release new models, some predict that full-year shipments will also end up lower than 2017 because the market has already reached a saturation point.

Watch out

The Chinese auto market presents a similar story. Beijing's efforts to shore up auto sales by offering tax breaks inflated new-car sales, but the market is now facing blowback as the measures simply accelerated future demand. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the growth in domestic shipments of new cars in the January-June period eased to 3.8%, the slowest pace in two years.

Consumer spending is holding firm, but it lacks the strength to lift up the overall economy, with spending growth moderating. When combined with predictions that real estate investment and other economic activities will run out of steam in the second half, there is a high probability that China's economy will start slowing.

The holiday period in early October, centering on National Day, is a major sales season in China. Releasing products timed specifically for this period is crucial for manufacturers as well as stores.

Trends in demand and shipments of smartphones, automobiles and their components over the summer will be key to predicting the Chinese economy's performance for the rest of the year.

Source: Smartphone shipments in China slump in first half

Lava A93 4G Smartphone with 8MP Camera & 3000mAh Battery Launched for Rs. 7,999

The local smartphone brand, Lava launched a new budget smartphone called Lava A93 today in India. While the Chinese-branded smartphones are capturing more market share by offering high-end specifications, most of the Indian brands are still continuing to offer mediocre specifications. The new Lava A93 priced at Rs. 7,999 also lacks the superior specifications to compete with the Chinese devices. It will be available in Gold and Grey color options. The device still runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and we don't expect them to release any software updates in the near future.

It comes with a polycarbonate shell with a 2.5D curved glass on the front. The 5.5-inch display on the front offers HD (1280 x 720 pixels) resolution. Under the hood, the Lava A93 packs an unknown quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. There is also 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage that can be expanded up to another 32GB using the MicroSD card slot. It supports dual SIM dual standby but offers 4G LTE network only on one SIM. In the camera department, the Lava A93 sports an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP selfie camera. Both the cameras are accompanied with LED flash for capturing photos even in low light conditions.

The device is backed by a 3,000mAh battery that should give at least day long battery life. Connectivity options include 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM Radio, 3.5mm audio port, and Micro USB 2.0 port. There also a few additional features like Smart Screenshot, Video PIP, Smart Music, and Smart Gestures. It measures 145 x 72.2 x 8.85 mm and weighs 152 grams. There are thick black bezels around display which makes the device look big even with a 5.5-inch display. Beneath the display are the three capacitive navigation button for multitasking, home, and back (from left to right).

The power button and volume rocker are placed on the right edge of the device. On the left side of the rear camera, we can also spot the loudspeaker. The availability of the device is not yet known, but we expect it to be sold via offline stores across the country. If it's an online exclusive device, it faces stiff competition from the likes of Xiaomi Redmi 4 and InFocus Turbo 5. Stay tuned on Phoneradar for details about the upcoming smartphones.

Via

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Source: Lava A93 4G Smartphone with 8MP Camera & 3000mAh Battery Launched for Rs. 7,999

New smartphone app 'Epic Health' offers non-invasive test for diabetics

New smartphone app 'Epic Health' offers non-invasive test for diabetics

London:

British scientists have developed a new smartphone app that can help measure and monitor blood glucose levels without using a drop of blood, a finding that can transform lives of millions of people with diabetes.

The app -- called as Epic Health -- replaces the need for diabetics to prick their fingers several times a day.

The app, suitable for both Type 1 and 2 diabetics, works by placing a fingertip over the camera lens of a smartphone and capturing a series of close-up images that convey information about the user's heart rate, temperature and blood pressure to respiration rate and blood oxygen saturation, the researchers said.

"The app uses a simple protocol which prompts the user to take a noninvasive test and this allows us to capture the vital information in a systematic way which produces the most consistent results," Dominic Wood, founder of the app, was quoted as saying to the express.co.uk.

"This is a massive driver of prevention," and even tartgets, "everyone yet to be diagnosed with or in the general risk of diabetes when it's still preventable", Wood added.

Importantly, the Epic app can measure insulin resistance levels -- a key way of determining whether someone is pre-diabetic.  It does this by measuring the variation in the patient's pulse which is related to blood glucose concentration.

This would allow someone to alter their lifestyle to avoid developing full-blown Type 2 diabetes, the researchers said.

"The prospect of a non-invasive app that monitors blood glucose levels without a drop of blood and without even an accompanying piece of technology is an exciting one," said Dan Howarth from Diabetes UK.

The app, which has been in development for three years, will undergo clinical trials in the coming months. It will be available to download, free of charge, by the end of the year, the researchers said.

Source: New smartphone app 'Epic Health' offers non-invasive test for diabetics

Red to release 'Hydrogen' smartphone that's the 1st 'holographic media machine'

The company detailed about the smartphone in a blog post and reveals that Hydrogen one boasts of the Red Hydrogen's display, camera capabilities, and sound system. Dubbed as Hydrogen One, and the smartphone features a holographic display is the key highlight of this smartphone.

First, the basic specifications of the Hydrogen One: The display of the phone will be 5.7 inches is size and Red claims in its statement that it has used some nanotechnology to make the switch between the normal 2D content and 3D content and it can further change to holographic display and even run interactive games without any serious effort by the user.

Dak Prescott accused of using machine to sign autographPanini America will issue replacements for the suspect 2016 cards, reportedly with genuine autographs and special Dak Prescott holograms.

You apparently won't need glasses to view all these wonders.

Little is known about the Hydrogen One's internal specs.

Ghani Leaves Kabul for Tajikistan On Official VisitThe statement said Ghani will also participate in a meeting between Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan and attend an agriculture exhibition.

Forbes reports that the phone will not come cheap, as there are two variants on offer - an aluminium option that will cost $1,195 and a titanium option that will cost $1,595. "Red has a reputation of delivering high-performance camera technology and that is undoubtedly one of the anchor elements of the device together with the holographic screen, but until more concrete details emerge it is hard to judge". This immersive experience is not limited to the display only. In order to create content for holographic content, Red has also created its own audio format that will sound like a 5.1 surround system on headphones. Buyers might not fully be aware of what they are buying considering that this is Red's first phone, but for those who really want to be at the bleeding edge of MR content, then this will probably be the phone to get. Red founder Jim Jannard later took to his company's forums to discuss the Android handset, stating that there was no good way to describe the holographic screen. It is not lenticular, which is inferior tech in every way, has been tried many times before and failed for good reason.

The company says the phone will be ready for shipping in early 2018; it is now available for preorder on the company website. From the only available photo of the Hydrogen One, it looks as though it'll have a headphone jack. The phone can also interact with their cameras to be used as a controller or a monitor.

Obama takes selfie with mom, baby at Alaska airportA chance encounter with a former president at an Alaska airport this week led to photos that will be treasured for a lifetime. I think it's unreal and pretty exciting that I get to have a picture with him and my baby.

Source: Red to release 'Hydrogen' smartphone that's the 1st 'holographic media machine'

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ‘leaked pictures’ hint at features of smartphone ahead of its release date

IS IT PHONEY?

Samsung confirms it will be bringing out the follow-up to the Note 7 in Autumn

RUMOURS are swirling that Samsung is preparing to release its most expensive smartphone ever to steal Apple thunder as it launches the iPhone 8.

The Korean manufacturer hinted that it would be bringing out the Galaxy Note 8 in Autumn.

This picture has been doing the rounds on Facebook and Twitter

But Samsung fans have been sharing a "leaked" picture of what they believe is the brand new handset across the web.

The close-up gives little away but shows two major features – a dual camera and fingerprint sensor on the rear.

Samsung hasn't officially confirmed any of the new features coming to the high-end gadget.

But all eyes will be on their new phone's launch after a terrible year for its predecessor.

The Note 7 was banned from flights and millions of the devices were recalled after battery problems caused handsets to burst into flames – sometimes while in customers' hands.

After a successful launch of its smaller smartphones – the S8 and S+ – it is counting on the Note launch to follow suit and bump up sales.

Mobile Fun

Accessories site Mobile Fun is already taking pre-orders for Samsung Galaxy Note 8 cases

It typically unveils its high-end gizmos at the IFA show in Berlin, which takes place in September.

But industry insiders reckon it will be revealed in late August in a bid to announce it before Apple's iPhone 8 launch, which will probably happen in September.

Check out the moment a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 caught fire in Burger King

These latest leak pictures should be viewed with a little bit of caution.

They appear similar to designs created by phone case manufacturer Mobile Fun, who is taking pre-orders for Note 8 accessories.

Reuters

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 batteries caused the phones to combust and were recalled internationally

Samsung has been slammed for its treatment of customers' privacy.

The Sun Online recently revealed how its "peeping Tom" smartphones can watch what you do on the web while monitoring your emails to target you with ads.

Their telly sets have also come under scrutiny.

Wikileaks claims UK government helped CIA hack Samsung smart TVs to turn them into "microphones".

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We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

Source: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 'leaked pictures' hint at features of smartphone ahead of its release date

CompassCom to Release CompassTracker App for iOS & Windows Mobile Smart Phones at Esri User Conference

Centennial, Colorado, 6 July 2017 – CompassCom Software, developers of industry-leading Mobile Resource Management (MRM) solutions, will release CompassTracker for iOS and Windows Mobile at the 2017 Esri User Conference. The CompassTracker App enables organizations using the CompassCom MRM solution to track their field personnel in real time within the same Esri ArcGIS environment where they track vehicles, IoT sensors, and other high-value assets.

"The new CompassTracker Apps significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of field personnel carrying their smart phones," said CompassCom CEO Brant Howard. "The App is now available for use on all Apple iOS, Google Android and Microsoft Windows Mobile devices."

Released earlier for Android smartphones, the CompassTracker App downloads easily to any iOS, Android or Windows Mobile device. The App uses the GPS in the wireless device to transmit periodic smart phone location and status reports to the CompassCom MRM system which displays the information on a live digital map.

CompassCom MRM solutions empower desktop, tablet and smartphone users to have full situational awareness. These solutions are used widely by public works, public safety, DOT, utility and local government agencies to manage and dispatch vehicles fleets and field personnel.

"With the CompassTracker App, organizations can leverage many of the analytic functions within the CompassCom MRM system to enhance the performance and accountability of their field crews," said Howard. "By monitoring the movement of people, vehicles and other assets, organizations improve their overall operational efficiency as well as personnel productivity."

CompassTracker also enables organizations to enact a 'Bring Your Own Device' policy which saves money by allowing them to track personnel on the smart phones they already carry instead of buying mobile devices and additional data plans for them.

CompassCom will demonst rate the CompassTracker App, along with the enhanced CompassTrac Enterprise 7.1 MRM system, in booth #2218 at the Esri User Conference being held July 11-13 at the San Diego Convention Center. Visit the booth to register to win a free 30-day trial for CompassTracker on a mobile device.

Clients of CompassCom MRM technology have the flexibility of deploying their systems in a managed cloud, private cloud or on premise. CompassTrac Enterprise is an on-premise platform that receives location and status data from any GPS-equipped vehicle, hand-held device or high-value asset and serves that information in real-time to digital map app. Components of the on-premise solution are based on the same platform that empowers CompassWorks, the CompassCom hosted cloud-based solution released in March 2017.

Version 7.1 of CompassTrac Enterprise, which will be unveiled at the Esri User Conference, enables Esri users to fully leverage their ArcGIS investment with real-time asset tracking, providing improved safety, efficiency and accountability for personnel and assets. Among its many upgrades, the new version offers Bring Your Own Device support, User Configurable Reporting, User-Specific Dashboards, and Open API for Third-Party Integration with Esri-based systems. CompassCom has a connector for Esri GeoEvent Server enabling power Esri users to develop their own real-time viewer to support user workflow.

About CompassComCompassCom has been at the forefront of the Automatic Vehicle Location and MRM industry since 1994, providing enterprise-level fleet management solutions using the Esri ArcGIS platform. Originally designed for tracking the locations and status of vehicles, the CompassTrac® app and CompassLDE® server products are now used to monitor smartphones, private mobile radios such as Motorola and any mobile assets equipped with GPS telematics. CompassCom mobile resource management solutions are used across North America by local governments, public saf ety agencies, public works departments, DOT and other organizations managing vehicle fleets and mobile field crews. For more information, visit www.compasscom.com or call 800-787-0651 or 1-303-680-3311.

Source: CompassCom to Release CompassTracker App for iOS & Windows Mobile Smart Phones at Esri User Conference

Nokia’s next smartphones have release dates and pricing

TECH

The first wave of Nokia smartphones since the company's re-emergence will go on-sale in the UK later this month.

The firm, now in partnership with Finnish start-up HMD Global which licenses the brand for phones and tablets, announced three new mid-range phones – the Nokia 3, 5 and 6 earlier this year.

The Nokia 6(Nokia/HMD Global)

Nokia and HMD have now revealed that Nokia 3 will go on sale on July 12, followed by the Nokia 6 on August 2 and finally the 5 on August 16.

The long-standing technology giant made its mobile phone comeback in the UK earlier this year when it launched a re-vamped version of the 3310, first released in 2000.

All three new devices are designed to sit in the mid-range smartphone market – below the flagship handsets of this world such as the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S8 – but Nokia has its sights on capturing the younger market with the competitive pricing of its new line-up.

Nokia 3 (Nokia/HMD Global)

The first of the new devices to go on-sale – the Nokia 3 – will cost £120, a modest price for a phone that comes with an eight megapixel rear camera and five-inch Gorilla Glass covered display.

The Nokia 6, which will go on-sale at the beginning of August, has the highest specs of the three devices, including a 5.5-inch full HD screen, a 16 megapixel camera and Dolby Atmos sound technology built-in, which improves sound clarity and offers deeper bass.

Nokia 6 (Nokia/HMD Global)

The 6 first went on-sale in China at the beginning of 2017.

The last of the new trio to launch in the UK will be the £180 Nokia 5, on August 16. As the name suggest it sits between the 3 and 6 in terms of specifications and includes a 5.2-inch display and a 13 megapixel camera.

Nokia 5 (Nokia/HMD Global)

The tech firm is banking on its reputation from the mobile phone era of the early 2000s helping establish links with the younger generation of smartphone users of today, with HMD chief marketing officer Pekka Rantala suggesting the brand "trust" Nokia offers can not be found elsewhere.

All three phones run on the most recent version of Android – 7.0 Nougat.

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Source: Nokia’s next smartphones have release dates and pricing

Nokia Is Currently Focused on Smartphones – Tablet Launch Looks Nowhere to Be in Company’s Sight

Setting itself free from Microsoft's web was the best thing that could have happened to Nokia, and the former Finnish smartphone giant is attempting to make a comeback in the Android and feature handset market space with the release of affordable devices. Speaking about smartphones, in a recent interview, Nokia's partner, HMD Global stated that neither it, or the tech firm is looking to release tablets in the foreseeable future since their core focus is to release mobile devices.

HMD's Global Marketing Officer Pekka Rantala stated in an interview that both it and Nokia's focus is currently concentrated towards smartphones. With the Nokia 3, 5, 6, and 3310 launched, it is high time that the company gave us a glimpse of what sort of flagship we should get. Earlier, it was rumored that a Nokia-branded flagship was going to be unveiled during the MWC 2017 trade show but that was not to be.

So far, the Nokia 9's rumored specifications detail a Snapdragon 835 and possibly 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM. With the Nokia 6 already available in the U.S., it is very difficult to get a handset that's made with premium materials and features such a high durability score, while carrying an affordable price tag. Similarly, we can expect the same attributes from the Nokia flagship, assuming it graces us in the near future.

As far as tablets go, an Android-powered slate is not going to be on the cards and that's actually a good decision from a business perspective. If you check out the latest sales reports, Apple's iPad lineup is possibly the only category of tablets that have been selling well, so if the market responds well in the near future for Android tablets, then it looks like HMD Global and Nokia might have something pleasant for us in the future.

Do you think that Nokia should pursue something in the tablet space? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

You'd also like to check out the following:

Source: Mobiili

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Source: Nokia Is Currently Focused on Smartphones – Tablet Launch Looks Nowhere to Be in Company's Sight

Gaming smartphones are still a thing in China

Now, the i7 is powered by MediaTek's 10-core, tri-cluster Helio X20 (MT6797) processor, so it's more of a mid-range device. You obviously wouldn't be getting the same level of performance as you would with Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 835, but it's still a good chipset for this price. It also features a 5-megapixel front camera and a 16-megapixel main camera on the back, though there's no word on what kind of image quality to expect from them. I couldn't confirm whether there's quick charging for the massive 6,000 mAh battery, but at least there's a USB Type-C port on the device.

On the gaming side, the i7 comes with a standard set of buttons: a D-pad and a joystick on the left, four action buttons plus another joystick on the right and two shoulder buttons. I got to play a Metal Slug-like game on a pre-production device for a short while and everything felt fine, though I'd obviously need some more hands-on time to make sure that the buttons were durable. A Snail Mobile rep added that the final version will have a more polished finish, which is something to look forward to at the July 30th launch.

Unlike most random Chinese smartphones, Snail Mobile is actually planning to bring its i7 overseas, starting with Hong Kong in August and then the Western markets in the very near future. Better yet, there will also be a premium model with 8GB of RAM plus 128GB of storage later this year, and it'll apparently cost just a little above 2,000 yuan ($295). It'll be interesting to see how much traction this peculiar product gets.

Source: Gaming smartphones are still a thing in China

Samsung Confirms Galaxy Note FE for Release on July 7th

Via a press release published in Korea, Samsung has formally announced the Galaxy Note Fan Edition. The device was detailed in a WSJ report released late last month where the publication stated the phone would be released on July 7th. Since them, Samsung has confirmed this is indeed the date when the revived smartphone would go on sale.

The backstory of the Galaxy Note FE is probably well known by many. Back in September, Samsung began receiving reports of their newly introduced Galaxy Note 7 bursting into flames. This led to a worldwide recall of the handset which was quickly replaced with a second iteration of the phone that was promised to fix things. This, unfortunately, led to yet another recall for the same exact reason as the first. Eventually, Samsung canceled all production of the phone so they could narrow down the cause of this serious issue.

After announcing the battery flaws that led to the Note 7 exploding, Samsung announced they would revive the smartphone by re-releasing it with a smaller, safer battery and the same specifications as before in order to minimize the waste of resources. The company ruled out they wouldn't release the handset in the U.S., but they never specified, other than India, whether it would be sold in other countries. Now, we know it'll be released in South Korea, with other locations being "decided later."

As previously mentioned, the Galaxy Note FE will sport safer, 3200mAh batteries and the same 2016 specifications as the original Note 7, including a Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, a 12MP camera, 64GB of storage, an IP68 rating, USB-C, and a 5.7-inch QHD AMOLED display. Software-wise, Samsung will outfit the handset with the same OS and features as the Galaxy S8 and S8+ in which it'll feature the same UI and Bixby assistant. In addition, Samsung touts they'll include the S Pen as was the case with the original Note 7. It'll come in Black Onyx, Blue Coral, Gold Platinum, and Silver Titanium.

Samsung says they'll only ship 400,000 Note FEs which isn't many. In the same breath, considering how many Note 7s exploded, I wouldn't be surprised if they simply ran out of resources that were still intact. The company also says they'll sell it for 699,600 won which is roughly $611. We'll let you know if more information surfaces before the July 7th date.

VIA: Engadget

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Source: Samsung Confirms Galaxy Note FE for Release on July 7th

Moto Z2 Play review: A sleek and impressive smartphone with great battery life

By Rehan Hooda / 01 Jul 2017, 11:57

Lenovo, the parent company of Motorola announced the launch of its latest premium smartphone, the Moto Z2 Play. The Moto Z2 Play is the latest release by Motorola in its Moto line-up. The smartphone makes an attempt at bridging the gaps left in Moto's premium segment after the launch of Moto G5 and G5 Plus late last year. One thing to note here is that the Moto Z2 Play is not the company's flagship device as we are still waiting for the Moto Z2 to arrive in India. The Moto Z2 Play is the successor to the Moto Z Play that was launched last year alongside the Moto Z.

Lenovo has announced that the Moto Z2 Play will retail at Rs 27,999, which is in line with the mid-range smartphones in the market. I got my hands on the Moto Z2 and used it as my daily driver for 8 days. I pushed the smartphone to its limits in terms of usage. After extensive tests and usage, the Moto Z2 Play leaves me impressed. Here's why!

Build and design: 8/10

Motorola has opted for an all-aluminum body on the back for the Moto Z2 Play. In comparison to the older model, the company has not made many changes to the design of the smartphone; except for that redesigned 'fingerprint' scanner on the front that is now rounded.

Instead of just working as a 'fingerprint scanner' (like on previous models), the new scanner also doubles up as a home button. Motorola emphasized that the company has redesigned the antennas on the Moto Z2 Play to ensure better connectivity for users no matter how they hold the smartphone.

In terms of the build quality of the smartphone, the device feels great. It feels sturdy without any squeaking parts. The smartphone maker has managed to make the smartphone even slimmer at 6 mm, in comparison to the 7 mm thickness of the previous model.

The slimmer profile of the smartphone is nice, but it also means that the device is hard to grip, especially in instances where I had to grab the phone from, say, a table, in a hurry.

The camera hump actually made it easier for me to grab the smartphone off the desk with the camera hump facing the table. The hump on the back raises the body of the phone by a few millimeters making it easier get a grip on.

Overall, the design and build remain virtually unchanged from the previous model.

Features: 7/10

The Moto Z2 Play features a 5.5-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels) Super AMOLED display with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen. The AMOLED panel comes with a 401 PPI pixel density and a 70.1 percent screen-to-body ratio. The phone is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 626 processor clocked at 2.2 GHz along with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage. It offers expandable memory using microSD cards of up to 256 GB via the microSD card slot. The smartphone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box.

The device features a 4G-enabled dual nano-SIM slot along with a dedicated micro-SD card to expand storage up to 256 GB. It comes with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth v4.2 A2DP and LE, GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC, FM Radio, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a reversible Type-C USB 3.1 port in terms of connectivity. Motorola has also added a water-repellent nano-coating to the device to make sure that the smartphone does not get damaged from minor splashes of water or sweat. The device also packs a fingerprint scanner on the front.

The Moto Z2 Play packs in a 3,000 mAh non-removable Lithium-Ion battery along with Turbo-Charge, which, according to Lenovo, should last you a day. Fans of the Z Play will be disappointed with the reduced battery size, which is down from the earlier 3,510 mAh. The device will be available in two color options, gray and gold. Lenovo also announced the launch of four new Moto Mods along with the smartphone.

Display: 7.5/10

The new Moto Z2 Play features a 5.5-inch Full-HD (1080 x 1920 pixels) Super AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The AMOLED panel comes with a 401 PPI pixel density and a 70.1 percent screen-to-body ratio. These things remain largely unchanged from the Motorola Moto Z Play that was launched last year. The display looks bright and vibrant with good viewing angles.

The colours on the display are crisp with no inaccuracy in terms of the colour rendering that I noticed. It comes with huge bezels at the top and bottom but it is not competing with the flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus or the Essential Phone so these details would not really matter. The only thing that Motorola needs to improve with the screen is the reflection. The display does not perform as desired in direct sunlight as there is a lot of reflection. The display is sharp and you can see all the details clearly without any haziness.

Software: 8.5/10

The Moto Z2 Play comes with Android Nougat 7.1.1 out of the box along with the April Android security patch. This is one of the few smartphones that is running Android Nougat 7.1.1 as some of the companies are still launching smartphones with Android Nougat 7.0. For comparison, I would like to point that the first generation Moto Z Play still runs Android Nougat 7.0 with a planned 7.1.1 release.

The best part about the Moto Z2 Play and in fact, the entire Moto line-up, is the stock Android approach that the company has adopted. This means that the software can be easily updated at far greater speed in comparison to a scenario where the company would need to integrate its own skin and apps into Android and test it to ensure that everything works fine before releasing it to the general public.

The company has continued the Motorola philosophy of not adding any bloatware except for the 'Moto' and 'Moto Mods' app on the smartphone to deliver the 'Moto Experience'. Lenovo detailed the 'Moto Experience' as the overall experience that it wants to deliver using the 'Moto Actions', 'Moto Display', and 'Moto Voice.'

Each adds additional functionality to the stock Android experience to improve overall usability. I did not face many problems when it came down to the operating system and the overall experience of the software. Everything was fluid, smooth and snappy except for some stuttering animations while swiping up from the home screen to access the app drawer and scrolling through the app drawer, which I am sure can be easily fixed by a bugfix update.

Last but not the least, the company has also added the subtle animation when the user long presses on the home button to activate Google Assistant.

Performance: 8/10

When it comes to performance, the smartphone is quite capable. I ran the smartphone through a number of benchmark tests and it scored decent scores. However, the smartphone left me extremely impressed when it came to the real world performance. I did not experience any lag or freezing during the length of my review.

Almost all the apps that I used ran perfectly well. Extended gaming sessions of heavy duty games like Modern Combat 5 ran at smooth 60 fps (the settings allowed for this) and similar performance levels were seen in games like Asphalt 8: Airborne, and Dead Trigger 2 as well.

I went about playing Modern Combat 5 for six hours straight — don't judge me, I had nothing better to do — without any heating issues on the device. One thing to note here is that the phone heats up a bit when using the Turbo-Charger.

There was no issue while placing cellular or internet calls using the Moto Z2 Play as the connectivity and voice clarity was spot on. The bundled earphones with the device did not pose any problems as the sound was clear with decent noise cancellation.

Camera: 6.5/10

The smartphone comes with a 12 MP camera with an f/1.7 aperture for better shots in low and dimly-lit conditions. The company has also added a dual autofocus system by adding phase detection and laser detection along with a dual tone dual-LED flash for sharper and improved focus.

The camera feels very snappy in performance and it does not hunt for focus as the shot is taken almost immediately. It could do with some software tweaking as the photographs lose texture and details once you zoom into the photos. Again, this is not limited to photos shot in low light but extends to the photos shot in sufficient daylight; as well as those shot in the HDR mode.

The photos turn blotchy when you shoot in darkness. Thankfully, Lenovo has added a professional mode that allows users to tinker with shutter speed, focus, white balance and the ISO settings of the camera. The professional mode does help with the noise but that means experimenting with the settings with makes it less than ideal for casual users.

The front-facing camera of the smartphone is decent with no issues. This comes as no surprise as Lenovo clarified that the 1.4 µm pixel size of each pixel in the camera sensor will ensure better photos. The front camera features a 5 MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture with a dual tone dual-LED flash.

In terms video recording, the rear camera can shoot 4K video at 30 fps, while the front camera can only manage 1080p video. When compared to the previous generation, the megapixel count is down from the 16 MP mark but the camera gains dual-autofocus.

Battery: 9/10

Motorola has ensured that the Z2 Play delivers when it comes to battery life. The smartphone easily lasted a day for me on heavy usage, which included gaming for an hour or so, three email accounts syncing, constant emailing, WhatsApp messages, 10-20 photos and listening to music for 3-3.5 hours at a stretch. The PCMark for Android Work 1.0 Battery test could not be completed as the benchmark test kept freezing after 20 percent on repeated attempts.

However, the Moto Z2 Play is not the only device to throw such an error so we collected the conventional battery graphs provided by Android.

My marathon six-hour session with Modern Combat 5 began when the battery was at 100 percent. At the end of six hours, there was still 26 percent to spare. More than enough to last me a few more hours of regular use.

The Moto Z2 Play comes with a 3,000 mAh non-removable Lithium-Ion battery along with Turbo-Charge. The smartphone boasts an impressive screen on time when you compare it with other competitors with a similar battery capacity. The battery is smaller than the one on its predecessor, but it doesn't seem to matter much now.

Verdict and Price in India:

Lenovo has priced the Moto Z2 Play at Rs 27,999 in the Indian market. The price of the Z2 Play places it as a premium device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626. The company has decided to focus on the overall experience instead of engaging in a race to pack the latest and greatest in terms of specifications. The final result of this direction has paid off as the Moto Z2 Play is an impressive device with great battery backup, stock Android with good additions in terms of Moto Actions and Moto Display.

The device marks a great improvement over the Moto Z and Moto Z Play. One thing we should not forget is the Moto Mods support where you can use the Mods that you have previously purchased. You can also invest in new mods without worrying about forward-compatibility. One thing which Lenovo can improve upon is the price, which seems a tad too high in the face of competition, especially from the likes of the more powerful OnePlus 3.

Motorola loyalists have no better option in India for a better smartphone but they can also look at the Moto G5 Plus if they want to save money. The Moto G5 Plus offers the similar design aesthetics, hardware options and Stock Android. However, you would lose on the Moto Mods support and end up with a budget smartphone offering from the company.

As concluded last year with the review of the Moto Z, the Moto Mod ecosystem needs to evolve to the second generation with significant improvements if it wants to be taken seriously. I can see that the company is working towards those improvements with the upcoming Gaming Pad Mod and other mods in hackathons that the company has held in the recent past.

If you are looking for alternatives then you can look at the OnePlus 3T which gives flagship specs along with a better camera and Dash Charge for Rs 29,999. If you are not a OnePlus fan then you can go with the Xiaomi Mi 5 for Rs 22,999 with comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 and 3 GB RAM for flagship grade specifications from 2016. Beyond the OnePlus 3T, Xiaomi 5, and Moto G5 Plus there are no smartphones that I can suggest you in the range.

To conclude, if you want stock Android with great battery life and you don't really care about the flagship specifications, you can invest your money in the Moto Z2 Play. But, if you want the latest and greatest, it's better to look at OnePlus 3T or Xiaomi Mi 5 for those specs.

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Related: #Lenovo #Moto #Moto Z Play #Moto Z2 Play #Moto Z2 Play Price India #Moto Z2 Play review #Moto Z2 Play Review India #Motorola #Motorola India

Source: Moto Z2 Play review: A sleek and impressive smartphone with great battery life