Cameras are a window to the smartphone's future

It's too soon to write off our smartphones as boring.The gadgets are still evolving with new technologies. And for a clue as to what the smartphone of the future might look like, turn your attention to the device's cameras and the software and sensors that make them tick.

Here's a peek into how the camera may come into play: As soon as you pick up your gadget, it will see you and know you are the owner and unlock the screen. Overseas, you will be able to point the camera at a restaurant menu to translate items into your native language.

When shopping for furniture, you can point your phone camera at your living room floor and place a virtual rendering of a coffee table down to see how it looks and move around and peek undern eath it.

Some of this futurism is already starting to happen.

Next month, Apple plans to hold a special event to introduce a set of new iPhones, including a premium model that can scan 3D objects -including your face. Samsung also recently introduced the Galaxy Note 8, highlighting its fast dual-lens camera.

"2018 will be the year where the smartphone camera takes a quantum leap in technology," said PhilipJames Jacobowitz, a product manager for chip maker Qualcomm.

Here's a rundown on what this all means for how your next smartphone will work.

FACE SCANNING

For the past few years, we have become accustomed to unlocking our smartphones by scanning our fingerprints or entering a passcode. But when Apple shows its new iPhones next month, including a premium model, the company will introduce infrared facial recognition as a new method for unlocking the device.

Qualcomm's Spectra, a so-called depth-sensing camera system, is one example of how face scanning works .

The Spectra system includes a module that sprays an object with infrared dots to gather information about the depth of an object based on the size and the contortion of the dots. If the dots are smaller, then the object is farther away; if they are bigger, the object is closer. The imaging system can then stitch the patterns into a detailed 3D image of your face to determine if you are indeed the owner of your smartphone before unlocking it.

AUGMENTED REALITY

Depth-sensing cameras may be crucial to enhancing augmented reality. Next month, Apple will release iOS 11, its next mobile OS that includes support for apps made with ARKit, a tool kit for app developers to easily create AR apps. All the tech giants are betting big on augmented reality. For years, Microsoft has been developing HoloLens, an augmentedreality headset. In April, Facebook announced Camera Effects Platform, an environment for software developers to build AR apps for Facebook.This week, Google unv eiled ARCore, an augmented-reality tool kit for Android devices, in response to Apple's ARKit.

Source: Cameras are a window to the smartphone's future

New app to use smartphone selfies to screen for pancreatic cancer

The app, BiliScreen, uses a smartphone camera, computer vision algorithms and machine learning tools to detect increased bilirubin levels in a person's sclera, or the white part of the eye. [Photo/VCG]

SAN FRANCISCO - University of Washington (UW) researchers are developing a software application, or app, to allow people to screen for pancreatic cancer and other diseases by snapping a smartphone selfie.

With a five-year survival rate of 9 percent, pancreatic cancer has one of the worst prognoses in part because there are no telltale symptoms or non-invasive screening tools to catch a tumor before it spreads.

The app, BiliScreen, uses a smartphone camera, computer vision algorithms and machine learning tools to detect increased bilirubin levels in a person's sclera, or the white part of the eye.

One of the earliest symptoms of pancreatic cancer, as well as other diseases, is jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. The blood test currently in use to measure bilirubin levels is typically not administered to adults unless there is reason for concern.

"The problem with pancreatic cancer is that by the time you're symptomatic, it's frequently too late," Alex Mariakakis, a doctoral student at UW's Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, was quoted as saying in a news release. The ability to detect signs of jaundice when bilirubin levels are minimally elevated could enable an entirely new screening program for at-risk individuals.

"The hope is that if people can do this simple test once a month - in the privacy of their own homes - some might catch the disease early enough to undergo treatment that could save their lives," explained Mariakakis, who as lead author of a paper will present the app at Ubicomp 2017, the Association for Computing Machinery's International Joint Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing, in Maui, Hawaii, on September 13.

In adults, the whites of the eyes are more sensitive than skin to changes in bilirubin levels, which can be an early warning sign for pancreatic cancer, hepatitis or the generally harmless Gilbert's syndrome. Unlike skin color, changes in the sclera are more consistent across all races and ethnicities. Yet by the time people notice the yellowish discoloration in the sclera, bilirubin levels are already well past cause for concern.

Wondering if computer vision and machine learning tools could detect those color changes in the eye before humans can see them, the UW team built BiliScreen on earlier work from the university's Ubiquitous Computing Lab, which previously developed BiliCam, a smartphone app that screens for newborn jaundice by taking a picture of a baby's skin. A recent study in the journal Pediatrics showed BiliCam provided accurate estimates of bilirubin levels in 530 infants.

The new app uses a smartphone's built-in camera and flash to collect pictures of a person's eye as they snap a selfie, then calculates the color information from the sclera and correlates it with bilirubin levels using machine learning algorithms.

To account for different lighting conditions, the team tested BiliScreen with two different accessories: paper glasses printed with colored squares to help calibrate color and a 3-D printed box that blocks out ambient lighting. Using the app with the box accessory led to slightly better results.

In an initial clinical study of 70 people, BiliScreen correctly identified cases of concern 89.7 percent of the time.

Source: New app to use smartphone selfies to screen for pancreatic cancer

iPhone 8 release date, price and latest news on Apple's next smartphone

The iPhone 8 is all set to be released next month and it is due to be Apple's biggest launch for years.

This could partly be down to the fact that 2017 is the tenth anniversary of the original iPhone.

The very first Apple smartphone was announced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007 and later released on June 29.

It seems that the iPhone 8 will be a momentous occasion as the rumours and leaked specs about the possible ground breaking features have been swirling around the internet for months.

Before the launch we have had a look at some of the latest news to help you decide if you are going to invest in the new phone.

Read More Latest news

Sources have apparently told Apple-focused site Mac4Ever that the company is planning to launch its next iPhones on September 12, The Mirror reports .

What's more, they believe that the new phones will be available to pre-order from Friday, September 15. They could be in store (or online) as soon as September 22.

The site reports that mobile operators have been told the date by Apple in preparation for what could be the biggest gadget launch of the year.

Although these dates fit in with Apple's history, the information is still unconfirmed so it shouldn't be taken as gospel at the moment.

Three sizes

Apple is rumoured to be working on three versions of its next iPhone, including a 4.7-inch iPhone 7s, a 5.5-inch iPhone 7s Plus and a 5.8-inch iPhone 8.

While early reports suggested that all three models would boast identical specifications , it's looking increasingly likely that the larger iPhone 8 model will be significantly more advanced than the 7s and 7s Plus - which are expected to closely resemble the iPhone 7.

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Meanwhile, a recent report in the Wall Street Journal claimed that Apple is currently testing more than 10 different prototypes for its next smartphone.

Name

Based on Apple's well-established "tick-tock" cycle, the 2017 model would be called the iPhone 7s.

The tick-tock cycle refers to Apple releasing a new design every two years, and new features within the same casing on alternate years (which are usually known as "s" models).

However, rumour has it that Apple is moving to a three-year cycle on major iPhone refreshes.

This, combined with the fact that next year is the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, suggests that Apple's flagship 2017 model will be a fairly major upgrade.

Apple's limited edition red iPhone 7 which as been produced in partnership with Aids charity (PRODUCT)RED, with proceeds from each device sale going towards programs run by the charity.

It seems unlikely, in that case, that Apple will opt for the name iPhone 7s - as that would downplay the upgrade. It's more likely that it will be called the iPhone 8.

Apple may even decide to go for something completely different - the iPhone 10 or iPhone X, to mark the anniversary, perhaps, or even the iPhone Air, iPhone Pro or iPhone Edition, to reflect the iPad and Apple watch lineups.

As mentioned, Apple may choose to launch lower-spec iPhone 7s and 7s Plus devices alongside its flagship device.

Release date

The iPhone 8 release date is rumoured to be the week of September 4 or September 11, 2017 .

Apple traditionally releases its latest iPhones during the first two weeks of September, in good time for the start of the Christmas shopping season.

However, one report hints that Apple may break with tradition this year and launch its next flagship smartphone earlier than expected.

According to information gathered by BlueFin Research Partners and shared by Barron's Tech Trader Daily , there is "some indication" that Apple will start production of the iPhone 8 in June.

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If Apple is feeling particularly nostalgic, it may opt for June 29 - the same day the first iPhone was released.

Meanwhile, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a track record of leaking accurate information on Apple products, has previously claimed the iPhone 8 could be delayed until October or November, due to "significant hardware upgrades".

Apparently, Apple is struggling to integrate its Touch ID sensor into new iPhone's the display.

So while the iPhone 8 could be unveiled in September, it may not go on sale immediately, according to Kuo.

However Carphone Warehouse have already opened their pre-registration, so if you are looking to pick up the new iPhone as soon as it's released, you can sign up for free here.

Price

Apple products are not exactly known for being cheap. When the company launched its 'budget' iPhone 5c in 2013, it still cost an eye-watering £469.

But the latest reports suggest that Apple's next device will be its most expensive yet, exceeding the $1,000 (£795) mark for the first time.

The price was reportedly leaked to The Fast Company by "a source with knowledge of Apple's plans".

The source said that Apple will be launching three devices this year - a massive 5.8-inch model (likely called the iPhone 8), a 5.5-inch model (called iPhone 7s Plus), and a 4.7-inch model (called iPhone 7s).

The iPhone 8 will reportedly have a new OLED display that will stretch across the whole front of the phone.

This is part of the reason for the high price tag, according to the source, as the OLED display will cost Apple roughly twice as much as the LCD display used in current iPhones.

The new phone is also likely to get a memory upgrade from the current iPhone 7 line, which will add to the cost of manufacturing the device.

All-glass design

Apple is allegedly planning a major design overhaul for the iPhone 8. The company is said to be working on an all-glass version of its iconic iPhone , for release in 2017.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published a report in May claiming the American tech firm will completely redesign the iPhone in 2017.

Instead of the aluminium casing used in the iPhone 7 , Apple will move to an all-glass enclosure.

This wouldn't be the first time Apple has used glass in its iPhones. The iPhone 4 and 4s had glass front and back panels, with a stainless steel band sandwiched between the two.

However, these phones were plagued by durability issues, with many customers claiming their phones cracked too easily when dropped .

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Kuo noted that some investors are concerned that glass casing would be too heavy or fail a drop test, but said he believes that a return to glass casing will not be problematic for Apple.

"Apple already uses glass casing for iPhone 4/ 4S, and non-Apple brands have also been using glass casings. We therefore think a drop test will not be problematic for glass casing," he wrote in his report, according to MacRumours .

"A glass casing may be slightly heavier than an aluminum one of the same thickness, but the difference is so small that the use of the thinner and lighter AMOLED panel will compensate for that."

Apple logo (Image: AP)

The rumour has been backed up by a couple of other leaks. A source reportedly told Japanese website Nikkei that "Foxconn has been trying glass chassis' since last year."

The arguments to be made for a glass smartphone include better antenna reception and more options for wireless charging.

Curved OLED display

At least one of the iPhone 8 prototypes is said to feature a new cutting-edge curved OLED display with practically no bezels - similar to that used on Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge.

Although there is no functional reason to have a curved screen, Samsung has been seeing significantly higher sales of the curved versions of its Galaxy smartphones.

In March 2016, Nikkei reported that Apple was planning to ditch LCD displays in favour of OLED screens, with the first OLED iPhone arriving in 2017.

Then in April 2017, DigiTimes reported that Apple had signed a two-year deal with Samsung to supply the OLED panels.

Read More

The deal, which is rumoured to be worth $9 billion, will see Samsung shipping 70-92 million OLED panels to Apple this year, representing 30% of all iPhone devices expected to be sold in 2017.

OLED displays are superior to the LCD panels currently used in Apple's iPhones because, rather than requiring a backlight, an OLED-based screen lights up individual pixels when necessary.

his translates to blacker blacks and brighter whites, lower power consumption and faster response times compared to LED displays.

Like the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8, the iPhone 8's display could have a new longer aspect ratio, IHS Markit analyst Wayne Lam told MacRumors .

It could also have a 4K resolution - which would make it more suitable for virtual reality applications.

End of the Home button

Rumours have been swirling for some time that Apple is planning to get rid of the traditional physical Home button and replace it with a touch-sensitive digital button.

This was originally rumoured for the iPhone 7, but it's now looking likely that it will be one of the major changes coming with the iPhone 8.

A Chinese website called Storm reports that the virtual home button will have the same haptic feedback motors used in the iPhone 7 to create the illusion of a Home button, even if it's really just a flat capacitive surface.

The biggest challenge appears to be integrating the Touch ID sensor into the display, with some rumours suggesting it will get around the problem by moving the fingerprint reader to the back of the phone.

Apple iPhone 6s (right) and iPhone 6s Plus (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

In June, mobile technology firm Qualcomm unveiled a new "ultrasonic" fingerprint technology that is capable of scanning through thick glass, metal and - crucially - OLED smartphone displays.

The technology works by emitting ultrasonic sound waves, which penetrate the skin of your finger and capture a precise, 3D image of your fingerprint, according to Mashable .

Qualcomm already provides many of the internal components of Apple's iPhones, but the relationship between the two companies has soured in recently month, due to an ongoing lawsuit.

Mashable claims that Apple is unlikely to use Qualcomm's solution, but could use it as the basis for similar technology developed in-house.

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However, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 8 could ship without a TouchID fingerprint scanner at all.

Kuo doesn't go into any more detail about how Apple will replace TouchID, but notes that "3D sensing for facial recognition" will be a part of the iPhone 8 , suggesting that Apple could replace fingerprint scanning with facial recognition or eye-scanning tech.

There's one upside to Kuo's prediction; he says that because Apple won't need to bother with scanning your digits, there'll be no delay in production.

Leaked renders

Designers around the world have been speculating about what Apple has planned, and one artist, Marek Weidlich , has created an intriguing concept video.

Weidlich has turned the entire front of the iPhone into a screen - leaving no home button or any visible bezel.

Meanwhile, new renders and drawings leaked by Weibo user KK appear to show an iPhone 8 with a curved screen that covers the entire front of the device .

An accompanying dimensional drawing shows that the bezel around the edge of the display is only 4mm thick, with the curved glass on either side of the screen accounting for 2.577mm of that width.

Read More

The device itself measures 137.54 x 67.54 mm, which is roughly the same size as the iPhone 7 , but the screen is 5.768 inches diagonally - almost identical to the Galaxy S8 .

The drawing shows a narrow earpiece at the top of the screen, with the selfie camera, microphone and other sensors on either side.

The renderings suggest that these components will all be concealed below the glass, although it is unclear how this would work in reality.

One of the renderings shows the back of the phone with a new vertical dual camera setup.

The veracity of the new images can not be confirmed, but KK has on several occasions shared accurate details about previous devices, according to MacRumours .

Camera

The iPhone 8 is expected the feature the same dual-lens rear camera featured on the iPhone 7 Plus. Given that Apple only unveiled its dual-lens technology in 2016, it is unlikely to make any major changes to it in 2017.

However, if you were hoping that the 4.7-inch iPhone 7s was going to feature a dual-lens camera, you may be disappointed.

KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple's dual-camera system will remain exclusive to the larger "Plus" model .

"While an attractive addition for avid picture takers and professional photographers, the iPhone 7 Plus dual-camera is not a mass-market killer application yet," Kuo says in the note seen by Apple Insider and 9to5Mac .

"Along with its high cost (estimated at over US$30-40) and the necessity for Apple to enhance the added value of high-end iPhone models, we expect only high-end new iPhone models (30-40% of them) to have a dual-camera next year."

However, Kuo thinks that Apple's next iPhone could come with a "revolutionary" new selfie camera that uses infrared technology to detect the location and depth of objects in its field of vision.

The 3D camera system could be used for facial recognition, iris recognition and 3D selfies. It could also be used in augmented reality mobile games, to accurately replace a character's head with that of the user, Kuo wrote in a research report seen by 9to5mac .

Boxes containing the new iPhone 7 stand lined up for customers at the Berlin Apple store on the first day of sales of the new phone on September 16, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The new phone comes in two sizes, one with a 4.7 inch display, the other with a 5.5 inch display. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The 3D system works by sending invisible infrared light signals outwards from the phone and then detecting the signals that bounce back off of objects using the 1.4 megapixel infrared receiver.

Kuo said that, in the future, Apple could add 3D sensing technology to its rear cameras as well, removing the need for large dual camera iris systems.

Specs

The iPhone 8 will, more than likely, feature an A11 chip, built on ARM's highly-efficient 10nm manufacturing process, and run the next version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 11.

It will come in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB storage options.

Wireless charging

Wireless charging has become a common feature of some Android smartphones - including Samsung's latest family of devices - although it is still a lot slower than wired charging methods.

A report in Bloomberg in January claimed that Apple was working on "cutting edge" wireless technology that would allow future iPhones and iPads to be placed further away from charging mats than current smartphones.

Apple iPhone (Image: PA)

The unnamed sources said Apple was working on overcoming "technical barriers including loss of power over distance," and that the technology will feature in iPhones coming out in 2017.

Now pictures have been leaked on Chinese social networking site Weibo by a Foxconn employee, providing a look at the inside of Apple's OLED iPhone.

The pictures show a large, central black spot, which represents the device's wireless charging coil, according to MacRumours .

Facial recognition

One of the stand-out features of Samsung 's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8, is facial recognition technology, allowing users to unlock their phone by simply looking at it.

Now eagle-eyed software engineers have found evidence that the same feature could be included in Apple's iPhone 8, by scouring through the code for one of Apple's other gadgets .

The HomePod speaker is Apple's version of the Amazon Echo or Google Home and is set to be launched in December 2017.

Apple employee prepares Apple iPhone 7 phones on the first day of sales (Image: Getty Images Europe)

As the speaker needs to work seamlessly with Apple's new phones, the firmware code contains references to some upcoming features that Apple fans can expect to see.

Revealed on Twitter by developer Steve Troughton-Smith it appears the next iPhone will include an infrared camera that could be used to scan your face, even in the dark.

Read More

It's likely this technology will be included so users can unlock the phone just by looking at it - in a similar way to Samsung's Galaxy S8 smartphone.

Meanwhile, an earlier report from Chinese-language website MoneyDJ.com , picked up by Digitimes , suggests that Apple may be planning to introduce iris recognition technology with the iPhone 8.

According to the report, a Taiwan-based company called Xintec is to start mass producing iris-recognition chips, some of which will be embedded in the 2017 series of iPhones.

Water-resistant

Apple's iPhone 7 is water-resistant to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes - a rating known as IP67, which is the same as the Apple Watch .

It therefore makes sense that Apple would carry this through to the iPhone 8.

IP67 means it will survive a dip in the sink or down the loo, and it won't break if you pour a drink over it, but you probably don't want to take it swimming.

Colours

Apple's next iPhone could come in a striking "copper gold" colour , if new leaked photos are to be believed.

The pictures, shared on popular Chinese microblogging site Weibo, show what appears to be Apple's forthcoming iPhone 8 in three colours - white, jet black, and a new colour described as a "champagne gold".

The gold option is "closer to copper" in colour, according to Chinese website MyDrivers , which first shared the images. It also bears a close resemblance to Apple's rose gold iPhone 7 .

Boxes containing the new iPhone 7 stand lined up for customers at the Berlin Apple store on the first day of sales of the new phone on September 16, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The new phone comes in two sizes, one with a 4.7 inch display, the other with a 5.5 inch display. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The pictures, which have not been verified, show the widely-rumoured vertical dual-lens rear camera, as well as a slightly elongated power button on the side of the device.

It is not clear whether the devices pictured are taken directly from the supply chain, or if they are dummy models made by non-Apple suppliers based on recent rumours.

AirPods

Apple's next top-of-the-range iPhone could come with an accessory worth £160 in the box.

According to a new report from analysts at JPMorgan, seen by 9to5Mac , the iPhone 8 may come bundled with a free pair of AirPods .

The wireless earphones were announced along with the iPhone 7 and went on sale just before Christmas. They currently cost £159 to buy in the Apple Store .

Read More

The AirPods link up to your iPhone or Apple Watch via Bluetooth. They use sensors to automatically detect when they are in your ears, and play or pause your music accordingly.

They contain a pair of microphones, so you can control your music, change the volume and check your battery life using Siri.

The AirPods deliver up to 5 hours of listening time on one charge, and come in a special case that doubles as a charger, offering more than 24 hours of listening time in total.

Source: iPhone 8 release date, price and latest news on Apple's next smartphone

New app uses smartphone selfies to screen for pancreatic cancer

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A new app could lead to earlier detection of pancreatic cancer simply by snapping a smartphone selfie. The disease kills 90 percent of patients within five years, in part because there are no telltale symptoms or non-invasive screening tools to catch a tumor before it spreads.

September 7, 2016

UW engineers have developed HemaApp, which uses a smartphone camera to estimate hemoglobin concentrations and screen for anemia without sticking patients with needles.

May 11, 2016

Researchers from the University of Washington, Disney Research and Carnegie Mellon University have created ways to give a piece of paper sensing capabilities that allows it to respond to gesture commands and connect to the digital world.

May 2, 2016

University of Washington researchers have developed SpiroCall, a new health sensing tool that can accurately measure lung function from anywhere in the world over a simple phone call.

February 18, 2016

Three members of the UW faculty hav e received the 2016 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor given by the U.S. government to early-career scientists and engineers.

November 9, 2015

The University of Washington and Tsinghua University have agreed to launch an integrated dual degree program through the Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) that combines project-based learning in design thinking, technology development and entrepreneurship.

October 15, 2015

Peering into a grocery store bin, it's hard to tell if a peach or tomato or avocado is starting to go bad underneath its skin. A new affordable hyperspectral camera technology developed by UW and Microsoft Research uses both visible and invisible near-infrared light to "see" beneath surfaces and capture hidden details.

September 8, 2015

A new wearable technology developed at the University of Washington called MagnifiSense can sense what devices and vehicles its user interacts with, which can help track that individual's carbon footprint, enable smart home applications or even assist with elder care.

September 19, 2014

University of Washington engineers have developed a new form of low-power wireless sensing technology that lets users "train" their smartphones to recognize and respond to specific hand gestures near the phone.

September 3, 2014

University of Washington researchers have taken inspiration from a centuries-old clock design and created a power harvester that uses natural fluctuations in temperature and pressure as its power source.

August 27, 2014

University of Washington engineers and physicians have developed a smartphone application that checks for jaundice in newborns and can deliver results to parents and pediatricians within minutes.

August 21, 2013

Julie Kientz, a UW assistant professor of human centered design & engineering, has been named one of the world's top 35 innovators under age 35 by MIT Technology Review magazine.

June 4, 2013

University of Washington researchers have shown it's possible to leverage Wi -Fi signals around us to detect specific movements without needing sensors on the human body or cameras.

September 20, 2011

Shwetak Patel, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering and electrical engineering who explores how people and computers interact, has been named one of this years MacArthur Fellows.

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Source: New app uses smartphone selfies to screen for pancreatic cancer

Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8 - Which Samsung smartphone is best and which should you buy?

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 v Samsung Galaxy S8

Samsung has had a stellar year with the launch of its stunning flagship Galaxy S8.

With its unique curved design this blockbuster smartphone is on course to win every gong going in 2017.

However, it's just got some serious competition in the form of the all-new Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung unveiled its latest phablet at an event last week and there's plenty of reasons why this new device could take the crown of the best phone of the year.

The S8 and Note 8 both feature a stunning Infinity display, latest processors, wireless charging and decent battery life but which is the really the best?

Express.co.uk has been lucky enough to have them in our hands and here's what we think.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 REVEALED - New flagship phone in pictures Wed, August 23, 2017 SAMSUNG'S Galaxy Note 8 has finally been unveiled and features a giant cured 6.3-inch display, new S Pen and dual lens camera.

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 launch

WHAT'S NEW ON THE NOTE 8?

Although the Note 8 looks almost identical to the S8 there are some key differences.

Firstly, unlike the S8, you can only buy the Note 8 in one giant 6.3-inch size.

With its clever bezel-free design, Samsung has been able to keep the overall dimensions down, however, the Note 8 is still a very large device and it won't be for everyone.

If you don't mind its size there are plenty of extras you won't find on the Galaxy S8.

Being a Note smartphone, you'll find a new S Pen stylus tucked inside the base of the device.

This new digital pen is now more accurate and features a waterproof design so you can scribble on the screen when it's wet.

The S Pen also brings new Live Messages to the device which instantly turn handwriting into fun animated GIFS.

Plus a new translate feature means the S Pen can help decipher foreign text with one easy command.

Along with the S Pen is a completely revamped dual-lens camera on the rear of the Note.

Many hoped that Samsung would include a double camera on the Galaxy S8 but this feature never materialised.

Note 8 owners get two 12-megapixel snappers which have a number of neat tricks up their sleeve.

With a wide-angle and telephoto lens both included, the Note 8 now offers the ability to zoom without losing image quality and add DSLR-style depth of field to your family snaps.

Samsung is also allowing users to tweak this clever bokeh effect after the image is taken and even remove it altogether.

This is because the Note 8 always keeps a copy of the original image tucked in its memory banks.

To make full use of its monster monitor, Samsung has included a new feature called App Pair which instantly loads two of your favourites applications side by side on the display.

This means you can surf the web and check your emails at the same time or watch YouTube and tweet without closing apps.

App Pair is fully customisable with users able to choose which applications they want to be paired.

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 features a dual-lens camera

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

Samsung's Note 8 has a new S Pen tucked inside its shellS8 v NOTE 8 PRICE?

There really is only one winner when it comes to price as the S8 is dramatically cheaper than the new Note 8.

Amazon is currently selling the S8 for £536 while the new Note 8 will set you back a very hefty £869.

Contract prices are also wildly different with the Note 8 costing around £48 per month - the S8 can currently be grabbed for just £29 per month.

It's also worth noting that you can pick up the S8 today but you'll have wait until September for the Note 8 to be officially released.

Samsung Galaxy S8 release - Latest smartphone in pictures Wed, March 29, 2017

EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS

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Samsung Galaxy S8 release in pictures

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?

If you love the Note series you should definitely take a look at Samsung's latest member to this popular family.

The Note 8 is fabulous smartphone that offers a swathe of new features including the dual-lens camera and all-new S Pen.

However, this is a very big phone which may not suit all tastes.

The S8 is far more manageable in your hand and also won't make such a huge dent in your wallet.

Both devices are clear contenders for best phone of the year - you just have to decide if your pocket can cope with taking delivery of the Note 8.

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Source: Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8 - Which Samsung smartphone is best and which should you buy?

Yakuza Online Revealed For Smartphones And PC With A 2018 Release

By Sato . August 26, 2017 . 4:15am

Sega revealed during their new titles announcement event a new Yakuza project is in the works and its first title is Yakuza Online, an upcoming game planned for release on smartphones and PC in 2018.

 

The above is a look at a prologue video that was shared for the new Yakuza project set after the events of Yakuza 6 in Kamurocho.

The game features a brand new protagonist named Kasuga Ichiban (CV: Kazuhiro Nakatani).

Yakuza Online will release in 2018 for PC, iOS, and Android.

Video game stories from other sites on the web. These links leave Siliconera.

Source: Yakuza Online Revealed For Smartphones And PC With A 2018 Release

C Spire begins pre-orders for new Samsung Galaxy Note8 smartphone

RIDGELAND, Miss., Aug. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- C Spire began accepting customer pre-orders Thursday for the new Samsung Galaxy Note8 smartphone that will be unveiled on its "Customer Inspired" Maximum Range 4G LTE network next month.

Consumers can reserve Samsung's Galaxy Note8 online at www.cspire.com/note8 or via phone through Customer Telesales at 1.855.CSPIRE4 for home delivery or pick up at any C Spire retail store once the device is available in retail channels beginning on Sept. 15.

For a limited time, consumers who pre-order the Galaxy Note8 can choose either a free Gear 360 camera or a 128GB memory card and fast wireless charging convertible valued at up to $229. 

The Note8's 6.3" inch Quad HD+Super AMOLED Infinity Display is the biggest screen ever on a Note device while the narrow body makes it comfortable to hold in one hand, see more and scroll less.  The device also features an S pen performance stylus, dual 12MP rear cameras with pro mode and a powerfully fast Octa core (2.35GHz Quad + 1.9GHz Quad) 10nm processor.

Pricing for the flagship device, which has garnered praise from leading technology media, starts at $38.74 per month for 24 months on C Spire's Device Payment Plan.  The phone is available for $929.99 without an agreement or payment plan and comes in Midnight Black with 64GB of storage.

For more information on C Spire products and services, please visit www.cspire.com. To pre-order the new Galaxy Note8, qualify for the free Gear 360 camera, memory card and wireless charging offer, please visit www.cspire.com/note8.

About C Spire C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses.  This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire.

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/c-spire-begins-pre-orders-for-new-samsung-galaxy-note8-smartphone-300509920.html

SOURCE C Spire

Source: C Spire begins pre-orders for new Samsung Galaxy Note8 smartphone

Galaxy Note 8 release date, price and specs

SAMSUNG HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED the Galaxy Note 8, its big-screened flagship for 2017.

Naturally, Samsung has been keen to extinguish the controversy surrounding last year's Galaxy Note 7, which was binned following reports of handsets catching on fire and exploding. The Note 8's battery, it claims, has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it isn't hit by a similar scandal.

Related: Galaxy S9 price, release date and specs

If you're looking to pick up a Galaxy Note 8, we've rounded everything we know about its UK availability below. 

Release dateThe Samsung Galaxy Note 8 went on sale in the UK just moments after its unveiling and will start shipping on 15 September. 

PriceSamsung's own website has started taking Note 8 pre-orders. The smartphone, along with a dual-SIM variant, can both be picked up for £869 SIM-free.

Carphone Warehouse has started taking pre-orders for the Galaxy Note 8. It's on sale for £869 SIM-free, and the retailer is also offering handset on tariffs with EE, iD, O2 and Vodafone, with prices starting from £56 per month for a 24-month contract with 10GB monthly data. It's also throwing in a free DeX station worth £139.99.

EE is also offering a free DeX dock to those who pre-order before 14 September. The firm is recommending its £62.99 per month tariff, which comes with 15GB data and an upfront cost of £49.99. 

O2 has been quick to open up pre-orders. Over on its website, the Galaxy Note 8 can be picked up for £49.99 on a choice of £56, £66, £76 and £96 (!) tariffs, which come with 3GB, 10GB, 30GB or 50GB monthly data.

Three is taking pre-orders, and is also chucking in a free DeX dock. It's offering 1GB data for £48 per month (with a £99 upfront cost), 12GB data for £56 per month (£79 upfront) and 100GB data for £64 per month (£79 upfront). 

Vodafone has started taking orders for the Note 8 and, surprise surprise, is also offering a free DeX. Prices start from £44 a month with a £300 upfront cost, which gets you 500MB data and 500 minutes per month. If you're after more data, Vodafone is offering 16GB and 32GB for £60 and £66 a month, respectively, with a £50 upfront cost. 

Specifications- 6.3in 1440x2160 Super AMOLED curved Infinity Display with 18.5:9 ratio- S Pen support- 163mmx75mmx8.6mm- Iris scanner/fingerprint scanner- Built-in 'Bixby' AI assistant- Samsung Exynos 8895 CPU, 6GB RAM- 12MP dual rear-facing camera, 8MP front-facing camera- USB-C connectivity, 3.5mm headphone jack- Android 7.0 Nougat- IP68 certification - 64GB built-in storage, microSD expansion- 3,300mAh battery. - Fast charging, wireless charging support- Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Orchid Grey and Deep Sea Blue colour options. 

Latest newsThe Galaxy Note 8 is official, and it has few surprises in store. There's a 6.3in QHD+ AMOLED Infinity display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio at the forefront of the Galaxy Note 8 and, unsurprisingly, and this comes with support for Samsung's new-and-improved S Pen which supports a finer tip and better pressure sensitivity.

The S Pen also comes with a new 'Screen Off Memo' feature that lets users doodle on the display while it's switched off, while Live Message allows users to scribble animated doodles and easily turn into a GIF. 

Looks wise, the Galaxy Note 8 sports the same metal and glass chassis as that first seen on the Galaxy S8. It boasts the same IP68 resistance against water and dust, and both fingerprint sensor and iris scanners for unlocking the device. 

Under the hood, in the UK at least, you'll find Samsung's homegrown Exynos 8895 processor, which comes paired with 6GB RAM and 64GB built-in storage, which can be expanded up to 256GB via the built-in microSD slot. There's also a 3,300mAh battery, and Samsung has been keen to point out that this has gone through rigorous testing and probably won't, er, explode.

This supposedly fire-proof battery comes with support for both fast charging via USB-C and wireless charging baked-in. 

Camera-wise, there's a dual 12MP sensor setup on the rear of the phone, which packs Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) on both the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens. There's also an 8MP camera on the front, which offers both OIS and optical zoom. 

Despite the recent launch of Android Oreo, the Galaxy Note 8 runs Android 7.0 Nougat, which comes topped in Samsung's usual custom user interface. Bixby, unsurprisingly, is included and can be accessed via the smartphone's dedicated Bixby button.

Samsung DeX support is also included, when means when the Galaxy Note 8 is docked, it will offer a desktop experience. 

At launch, the Galaxy Note 8 will be available in Midnight Black and Maple Gold colour variants in the UK. There's talk that two additional colours, Orchid Grey and Deepsea Blue, will be made available at a later date. µ

Source: Galaxy Note 8 release date, price and specs

Galaxy Note 8 hands-on: Samsung found a way to improve upon 2017’s best phones

Following up the disaster that was the Galaxy Note 7 was never going to be easy for Samsung. After recalling the phones, going on a year-long apology tour and having to cope with the fact that everyone who flew anywhere was going to have a hear a message about how they wouldn't be allowed to bring a certain Samsung phone on the flight, the company still had to release a worthy successor to the Note 7. After getting my hands on the Note 8, I am happy to confirm that Samsung passed with flying colors.

I think it's fair to say that the Galaxy Note 8 is the culmination of Samsung's smartphone strategy in 2017. At a glance, it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between the Note 8 and the S8+ — a byproduct of the bezel-less era that we've entered — but the Note 8 is a step up in so many ways.

Measuring in at 6.3 inches, the Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display of the Note 8 is both stunning and responsive. As the leaks revealed, the corners of the display are slightly less rounded on the Note 8, which gives off the impression that there's even more real estate to work with. And Note 8 owners will need every centimeter they can get in order to take advantage of the phone's unique features, many of which revolve around the new and improved S Pen accessory.

Image Source: Samsung

The S Pen stylus has long been a signature feature of the Note brand. For the Note 8, Samsung has upgraded the accessory with a finer tip (0.7mm) and improved pressure sensitivity. Along with improving the hardware, Samsung has also added some compelling new functionality to support the S Pen, such as Live Messages. Note 8 users will be able to craft a handwritten message with the S Pen, add a variety of special effects and send it to any other phone or share it on a social app as a GIF.

Samsung has also taken advantage of the phone's always-on display by giving the surprisingly useful screen off memo feature a boost. With screen off memo, you can take notes on your Note with the S Pen without ever unlocking your phone, and on the Note 8, Samsung has increased the maximum number of pages to 100. At the meeting to preview the Note 8, my pen actually ran out of ink, which would have been the perfect time for me to pull out a Note 8 and continue taking notes.

Finally, Samsung has enhanced the S Pen's Translate feature as well, allowing Note 8 users to translate entire sentences at once rather than just words. This feature currently supports 71 languages.

Image Source: Jacob Siegal/BGR

As intrigued as I was by the new S Pen, the camera stole the show. Samsung claims that the Note 8 is the first smartphone to feature two 12-megapixel rear cameras with optical image stabilization (a wide-angle camera with an f/1.7 aperture lens and a telephoto camera with an f/2.4 aperture lens), and though the location of the meeting wasn't the optimal location for testing it, I have little doubt that the Note 8 will be a top contender for the best smartphone camera of the year.

Beyond the specifications, Samsung has added a few new features to the camera suite as well. Live Focus will almost certainly receive the most attention, allowing Note 8 users to control the depth of field in order to add a bokeh effect to a photo both before taking the shot and after the shot has been taken. Not having to think about the depth of field in the moment is a major improvement.

Another way that Samsung is taking full advantage of the dual cameras is with Dual Capture mode, in which both the wide-angle camera and the telephoto camera capture a photo at the same time. You can keep both images, so you'll have one shot focused on the subject and another with a greater frame of reference. As much control as we like to have over our photos, taking these kinds of decisions out of our hands (unless we decide to turn the features off) is an incredibly smart move.

Image Source: Jacob Siegal/BGR

With 6GB of RAM and a 10nm processor, the Note 8 will arrive as one of the most powerful phones on the market. As someone who has stuck with an iPhone 6 for the past three years, virtually any modern phone feels lightning fast, but the Note 8 is genuinely a step up. It should be able to handle anything you throw at it for the foreseeable future, which is a pleasant change of pace for me personally.

But aside from the specs and the feature, the Galaxy Note 8 is just an exceptionally well-made device. It's thinner and lighter than you would expect from a 6.3-inch phablet, the curved back fits nicely in the palm of your hand, and for the limited time I had with it, the Note 8 was a joy to use.

Preorders for the Galaxy Note 8 open up tomorrow, on August 24th, with the phone set to go on sale on September 15th. Anyone who preorders the phone before September 15th will be able to pick between two preorder bonuses: a Gear 360 camera or a 256GB microSD card and wireless charger. In the US, the phone will be available in Midnight Black and Orchid Gray color options. Samsung also plans on offering the unlocked version of the phone on launch day.

Source: Galaxy Note 8 hands-on: Samsung found a way to improve upon 2017's best phones

Readers Can Open Flipping Book on Tablets and Smartphones with PubHTML5

Hong Kong, China -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/22/2017 --Online digital publishing has become the new trend with the increase in the use of online platform for everything, including reading. PubHTML5 has become a leading digital publishing platform with its ability to create HTML5 based flipbooks, magazines and catalogs providing amazing results. The company understood the need to cater the rising number of mobile readers and thus they have optimized their functions to create flipping book for the mobile readers making them accessible from all devices including smartphones and tablets.

Informing about the mobile-friendly flipping book, Anna Lee, Chief Designer of PubHTML5 said, "The number of mobile readers are increasing and will keep on increasing in the future too. Publishers require their work to be made easily accessible for their mobile readers as the number of such readers will keep on rising. Thus we have made sure that our clients get the highly mobile device optimized fli pping book for their readers."

As told, the flipping book is created in a manner so that it can provide the smartphone and tablet readers a better experience, considering their small screen size. "The flipping books created through our platform are highly adaptable to any screen size. So no matter what device is being used to read the content, it adjusts itself as per the reader's device's screen size and give them a much better reading experience." she added. Not only this, the powerful, interactive and highly engaging HTML5 animations, which make the flipbook content really eye-catching, also are compatible to smartphones and tablets keeping the charm of animated content intact despite of the device it is being viewed at.

PubHTML5 is a powerful platform for people to publish their flipping book online easily. With different options of publishing the work online and offline, the flipping book assists the publishers to reach out to a wide reader base in various different manners. Now with the optimization of the flipping book to make it highly adaptable to the mobile devices, the makers have made it really comfortable for the publishers to cater to the reading requirements of mobile readers and give them a great reading experience.

About PubHTML5PubHTML5 offers cutting edge digital publishing software solutions to enhance the content delivery of businesses and individuals worldwide.

For more information, please visit http://pubhtml5.com/.

Source: Readers Can Open Flipping Book on Tablets and Smartphones with PubHTML5

iPhone 7s and 7s Plus leak shows brand new phones with the same old design

In 2016, Apple surprised many of its fans by releasing two new phones that featured the same design as the iPhones they were replacing. That concept isn't terribly strange since Apple reuses designs all the time. What was odd about the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, however, was that they weren't "S" phones, which always have the same basic exterior design along with upgraded internal components and features. Instead, Apple's iPhone 7 handsets looked just like the company's iPhone 6s handsets, which looked just like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. That's three consecutive years with the same design, and many people weren't happy about it.

Well, we've got some bad news for those people on Monday morning. This year's iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus will indeed be big upgrades compared to last year's phone. They'll also sport new glass backs instead of the aluminum on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. But according to a fresh leak, the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus will sport the same overall design as their predecessors, potentially making this the fourth year in a row that Apple has recycled the design it introduced back in 2014.

Apple's iPhone 8 is set to be unveiled in just a few weeks. Since this is the iPhone that will feature Apple's bold new design, it's also the iPhone that has everyone's attention. Unfortunately, the iPhone 8 will be in extremely short supply for months to come following its release, so it's not the new iPhone most Apple fans will end up with if they want an upgrade anytime soon. Instead, they'll have to choose between the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus.

Both new 7s iPhone models will feature the new A11 processor and other key components from the iPhone 8. They'll also have glass backs and wireless charging support like the iPhone 8. But as we can see in a new set of leaked CAD drawings posted by gadget blog Techno Buffalo, they'll also feature the same overall iPhone designs we've seen since 2014.

A few of the leaked drawings can be seen below. They are believed to be accurate depictions of Apple's new iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus based in details from the factories building these new phones.

iPhone 7s

iPhone 7s Plus

As you can see in both cases, the new iPhone 7s and 7s Plus lack all of the key features that differentiate the iPhone 8 from earlier iPhone models. They still have home buttons and massive bezels, they still have LCD displays with comparatively low display-to-body ratios, and they still have the same exact sizing and shape as the iPhone 6, 6s, and 7 duos.

Apple is expected to unveil all three new iPhone models during a press conference early next month.

Source: iPhone 7s and 7s Plus leak shows brand new phones with the same old design

iPhone 8 Release Date 2017: Apple set to launch iPhones 8, 7S, Plus in new ‘Blush Gold’ Colors

The iPhone 8 rumors and leaks are lighting up the worldwide web and the mobile industry as technology enthusiasts wait for the most hotly anticipated flagship smartphone. The Cupertino-headquartered company, Apple Inc., as always is going to keep us in eager suspense. For this year, however, things are quite going little bit different.

We have an extremely strong projection of the iPhone 8 release date, and the specs sheet and new features of the much-awaited handset have appeared in a countless leaks over the last few months. Here's a loop of what we know about the much-awaited gadget from the Cupertino tech giant, so you can make up your mind.The iPhone 8 release date can be expected to fall on the second week of September. This is a very strong indication because the world's most valuable company in terms of market capital has a comprehensible annual launch cycle and release pattern of its iPhone lineup. In 2061 the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus was unveiled to the general public on September 7. In 2017, iPhone 6S and the supersized model was launched for the first time on September 9.

In recent years, it's been Apple's tradition to set these launches on the second week of September, either Tuesday or Wednesday. This allows the Infinity Loop to stock brick-and-mortar stores in preparation for the beginning of sales ahead of the October. As for this year, the company really has only a couple of dates to choose from that meet those elements. Apple could either opt to set the iPhone 8, 7S and Plus models launch for September 9 or 10. Given the issues with the iPhone 8's high-tech specs this year, the later date is the better one.

Earlier this year, there was rumors that the iPhone 8 release date would be delayed and possibly set back to October or November and some claims that Apple will push it through 2018.

The industry analysts at Wall Street suggests an iPhone 8 release date in September. Given the Apple's product launch and release history, and assuming an announcement on September 12th, observers are expecting the actual iPhone 8 release date to fall around September 22nd.

The iPhone 8 drastically radical design seems to be ready to blow all other top-end smartphones in the market. There have been a slew of leaks about the smartphone's overhaul design, including some from the company itself. Those leaks have provided all sorts of talented artists to render images of what the iPhone will look like.

The iPhone 8 specs and features, on the other side of the rumors, revealed in a massive number of leaks. We're getting three color options: Black, White and Blush Gold.

Now the American fast food chain McDonald's apparently have to chill and patience waiting to use the upcoming iPhone 8 to market its own business.

Yes, an iPhone 8 mockup has emerged in the McDonald's promotional email to customers in Australia while the Cupertino must be preparing for its next-iteration flagship smartphone's unveiling sometime in September.

Source: iPhone 8 Release Date 2017: Apple set to launch iPhones 8, 7S, Plus in new 'Blush Gold' Colors

Galaxy Note 8 Release Date 2017: Samsung To Bundle Note 8 With SD Card, Wireless Charger or Gear 360 in US, Dex Dock in Europe

Samsung electronics will officially unveil its highly anticipated oversized smartphone — the Galaxy Note 8 — on Wednesday, August 23 in New York. The Note 8 will almost certainly be the South Korean's highest-end flagship handset and to a certain degree because the previous iteration had a huge proneness to explode into flames.

You'll be able to watch the "Samsung Unpacked" event live at 8 A.M. PT, right here at Velvetiere.

For a while after the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, the fortune of Samsung's phablet smartphone line was undetermined. It soon became quite clear that Samsung electronics isn't assassinating the brand name. Well all know that Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Note 8 on August 23rd, and according to notoriously reputable smartphone leaker Evan Blass (evleaks), the supersized smartphone will be available as early as September 15th.

Additionally, consumers will be able to pre-order the Galaxy Note 8 on August 24th, just a day after the the Samsung's Unpacked event.

Blass claimed that the Note 8 pre-orders will come up with freebies of your choice: a 256GB microSD card and a wireless charger or the Gear 360 camera bundles. It's unclear what freebies in other markets are they getting, but the notable leaker claimed that Samsung will bundle Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders with the DeX dock in European markets. That's the same dock the South Korea-based technology firm released with the Galaxy S8 that can turn your handset into a PC.

Blass, who goes by the username @evleaks on Twitter, also tweeted a full renders of the Note 8 in black and gold, which can give us an idea of what the device and its dual-camera would look like.

Meanwhile, the company has untimely listed the U.S. unlocked version (model UZKAXAA) of the Galaxy Note 8 on its online store. The product linkage itself won't go anywhere, but it does confirmed the leaked earlier which claimed that the smartphone would be shipped with 64GB of on-board storage for the entry-level model.

Source: Galaxy Note 8 Release Date 2017: Samsung To Bundle Note 8 With SD Card, Wireless Charger or Gear 360 in US, Dex Dock in Europe

Galaxy Note 8 Pictures Emerge Ahead of Release Date

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With less than one week until the release of the Samsung Electronic (OTCMKTS:SSNLF) Galaxy Note 8, some new Galaxy Note 8 pictures have emerged. It is usual for the magnitude of leaked photographs to escalate ahead of the release of such a major device, and this has been the case once more with the Galaxy Note 8. This eagerly awaited phablet will be made official at the Unpacked event in New York, which will be held on August 23 this year.

New Galaxy Note 8 pictures

Now a number of new Galaxy Note 8 pictures have emerged, with one image seemingly depicting a dummy Galaxy Note 8 device. This is the best indication yet regarding the appearance of this device, with Samsung having already confirmed its existence earlier this year.

Naturally, the Galaxy Note 8 has a tough task on its hands to recover from the fiasco associated with the Galaxy Note 7. This earlier phablet release was notable for exploding with alarming regularity, and Samsung has instigated an eight-point safety scheme in an attempt to ensure that this mobile is significantly more durable.

The latest Galaxy Note 8 pictures will only whet appetites further ahead of the release of this device, though. Despite the negative connotations that the Galaxy Note series may have garnered from the unfortunate episode with the Galaxy Note 7, the consumer desire for a sequel is generally considered to be undiminished.

Image source: Weibo

iPhone competition

Aside from the importance of recovering from the Galaxy Note 7, this is also an important release for Samsung with the tenth generation of the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone 8 on the horizon. This smart phone is expected to be a revolutionary handset from Apple in order to acknowledge the tenth anniversary of the iconic iPhone brand.

With Apple set to include a wraparound OLED display in its iPhone 8 release, Samsung will respond strongly with the Galaxy Note 8. Powered by the Snapdragon 835 in the United States, 6GB of RAM memory will be included in order to ensure that this smartphone performs admirably.

Legendary analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo has also suggested that the camera in the Galaxy Note 8 will be particularly impressive. This will be a dual-camera unit, which Kuo believes will significantly outperform the iPhone 7 Plus from last year. Whether this will put Samsung ahead of Apple in the phablet battleground remains to be seen, though, as Apple is also expected to escalate the photographic capabilities of the iPhone range this year.

Meanwhile, the S Pen stylus that has come to characterize the Galaxy Note range will also receive improvements in the forthcoming generation. Aside from the usual functionality associated with this peripheral, it is believed that the S Pen could include an innovative speaker system in the Galaxy Note 8 series. Vibrational functionality has also been linked with the S Pen, as Samsung attempts to improve the usability of this unit.

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Source: Galaxy Note 8 Pictures Emerge Ahead of Release Date

Press Release: Econet launches massive smartphone credit scheme for Civil Servants

Fayaz King, Econet COO

Mobile telecommunications market leader Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has announced a huge credit scheme that will empower civil servants and all eligible government employees to get new smart phones for free, and then pay as little as $12 per month.

According to the company, the scheme will benefit teachers, nurses, doctors and members of the uniformed forces – the police, the army, the air force and members of the prison services – as well as all employees of the government.

"We are excited to launch this scheme and to make smart phones available to our civil servants upfront, so that they can then pay very, very affordable monthly instalments when they already own the device," said Mr Fayaz King, Econet's Chief Operating Officer (COO).

"We are delighted to extend this offer to all civil servants and believe it will be great value for money for them as the festive season beckons," said Mr King, whose company is in the process of upgrading its entire network to 100 percent 3G coverage by the end of the year.

Econet's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Douglas Mboweni, recently announced that Econet, the largest telecoms company in the country with over 10.5 million connected customers, was in the process of upgrading all its network sites to 3G.

The company, which refers to itself as the Smart Data Network because of its commanding share of the data market, also offers the widest coverage of LTE (Long-term Evolution), or 4G, with over 260,000 LTE customers using the service, according to figures from the sector's regulator, POTRAZ (Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe).

Announcing the launch of the civil service device scheme, Mr King said Econet had partnered with local smart device companies GTel & Astro to sell the data-capable devices to Civil servants, and – for their convenience – make pay their monthly installations directly through the Salaries Services Bureau (SSB).

"We have partnered with local device companies to offer this service, and we are also working with the Salaries Services Bureau to ensure participating Civil Servants have a hassle-free method of settling their monthly instalments" said the Econet COO.

Confirming the development, Econet's Chief Marketing Officer Mr Navdeep Kapur said Civil Servants wishing to participate in the scheme would simply need to submit a copy of their national identity document, their army identity card (if they are in the army), their current pay slip and their proof of residence at any Econet Shop to acquire their new smart phone.

"All they need to do is produce a copy of their national ID, their army ID, their current pay slip and proof of residence at any Econet Shop country wide, and walk away with their new smart phone," said Mr Kapur, adding that there would be no waiting period once all the documentation was submitted.

Econet Wireless, which recently opened a service centre (Econet Shop) at Mabelreign Shopping Centre in Harare, has the largest and widest retail footprint among the three main mobile network operators in Zimbabwe, boasting 112 shops country wide.

Mr Kapur said the Civil Service device credit scheme will make data-capable devices available to all civil servants at affordable prices, and will enable government employees to enjoy high data speeds to be able to access popular data applications such as Whatsapp and Facebook.

"They will also enjoy the convenience of accessing a variety of Econet Apps such as the 'My Econet App' which puts several Econet services like checking one's balance, airtime top up or buying data bundles, accessing self-care services and finding where Econet outlets are located" Mr Kapur explained.

He added that the customers would also be able to access the recently optimized Ecocash App, the Steward Bank App, and the EconetPlus roaming up, among other convenient services, via their smart phones.

Mr Kapur said monthly payments for voice, data and SMS services would start from as low $12 up to $32 per month, depending on a customer's chosen package.

The latest offer comes on the heels of several data services and packages that Econet has launched in recent years, including Wifi-in-Kombis, that traveling and commuting Civil Servants will be able to access with their new smart phones.

The company said those wishing to be first to take advantage of the offer needed to visit any Econet Shop with a copy of their national ID, their payslip and staff ID so as to get their applications vetted and processed.

Source: Press Release: Econet launches massive smartphone credit scheme for Civil Servants

The Essential phone by the cofounder of Android will be shipping sooner than expected

YouTube/ReCode

Essential's Andy Rubin sent out an email on Wednesday to customers who pre-ordered the Essential smartphone stating that they should expect their smartphone to ship in the next seven days, according to 9to5Google.

That's great news for customers who pre-ordered the Essential smartphone, who originally expected the phone to be shipped in June. After Essential missed the original June release date for the smartphone, news that the company had lost its head of marketing and head of communications meant things were looking shaky for the startup.

But Essential has been on point with keeping customers up to date with the progress of their orders via Twitter. On July 21, Rubin posted a tweet that the Essential phone will be shipped "in a few weeks." While the update was welcomed, the shipment date of "a few weeks" was still a little vague. On August 9, Rubin posted another tweet saying that the device was in "full mass production," and he promised another update in the following week. Again, the progress update was positive, but the shipping date was still vague.

We are in full mass production, ramping up to deliver your Essential Phone. Find out where you can get yours next week! #thisisessential pic.twitter.com/CYrhTMSt1g

— Andy Rubin (@Arubin) August 9, 2017

Indeed, Rubin kept his promise with Wednesday's email, and the device is being shipped to pre-order customers sooner than expected. However, those who ordered the white model will have to wait "a couple weeks," as only the "black moon" option will be ready to ship in the next seven days. Rubin offered the chance for those who pre-ordered the white model to switch their order to the "black moon" option.

Essential

There's no official word on when the Essential phone will be available to buy outside of pre-orders, but things are looking up. Considering that the company is hosting an event on August 21 in New York City and another on August 25 in Los Angeles, it's likely that the phone will be fully released some time after August 25. 

SEE ALSO: Google's Android O operating system could be released next week – here are 11 of the best new features NOW WATCH: Here's how Google Maps knows when there is traffic
Source: The Essential phone by the cofounder of Android will be shipping sooner than expected