This is our best look yet at OnePlus’ first all-screen smartphone

It shouldn't be a secret anymore that OnePlus is looking to launch a brand new smartphone come late November, a OnePlus 5T model that will be similar to the OnePlus 5 in many ways.

However, the OnePlus 5T will also bring over the one feature its predecessor lacked, an all-screen design to rival the Galaxy S8, iPhone X, and every other phone out there featuring a huge display.

We've already seen a bunch of leaks showing the OnePlus 5T design and its specs, but the following image gives us our best look at the upcoming OnePlus handset. That's simply because it's coming from Evan Blass, one of the most trusted leakers out there.

As with previous leaks, Evan Blass shared what appears to be a press render of the upcoming handset. OnePlus fans have probably recognized the famous "Never Settle" motto — or is it a promise? — that OnePlus broke so many times in the past. But other than that, and Blass's word that we're looking at the OnePlus 5T, there's no actual indication this is the first all-screen phone from OnePlus.

It's also unclear why this press render only shows a portion of the handset. But if there's one thing clear is that the OnePlus 5T will look more like a Galaxy S8 than an iPhone.

The phone is supposed to feature the same main specs as the OnePlus 5, as a processor upgrade isn't expected for this model. Qualcomm has not released a Snapdragon 835 yet. That might anger some of the OnePlus 5 buyers who just purchased the device.

The OnePlus 5T should drop in late November, with a recent leak claiming the handset will be unveiled on November 16th.

Source: This is our best look yet at OnePlus' first all-screen smartphone

iPhone X: UK release date, price, features and specs of Apple's new flagship iPhone for 2017

Apple has unveiled its long-rumoured iPhone X to mark the 10-year anniversary of the first ever iPhone.

Pronounced 'iPhone ten', like the Roman numeral it represents, the device was launched alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus during an event at the company's new "spaceship campus" in California.

Along with a radical new edge-to-edge design, the iPhone X includes new tech that enables users to unlock the handset with their face, as well as animated emojis called 'Animojis' that mirror the user's facial expressions.

Here's everything you need to know about the iPhone X.

Read More All-glass design

Instead of the aluminium casing used in last year's iPhone 7, the new iPhone X has an all-glass enclosure.

This isn't 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 .

Apple claims that the glass used in the iPhone X is the most durable glass to ever appear in a smartphone.

This ultra-strong glass could spell the end for smashed smartphone screens

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) OLED display

The iPhone X was long rumoured to feature a new cutting-edge OLED display with practically no bezels - and the rumours were correct.

The handset has a cutting-edge Super Retina OLED screen, measuring 5.8 inches diagonally across.

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.

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

No Home button

As expected, the home button has been completely replaced.

The large touch screen, combined with the new iOS 11 software, enables users to simply swipe up from the foot of the screen at any time to return to the Home screen.

TrueDepth camera

Easily the handset's biggest draw is the TrueDepth camera which enables users to unlock their phone using a facial recognition system called Face ID. Using depth-sensing technologies, the system can map and recognise the user's face, even in the dark.

This technology also enables the user to send animated emojis called 'Animojis' based on their facial expressions.

(Image: Daily Mirror) iPhone X specs

The iPhone X sports the A11 Bionic chip, which has six cores and is the most powerful chip yet in a smartphone, according to Apple.

It will run the next version of Apple's mobile operating system, iOS 11 , which features an overhauled version of its Siri voice assistant, a new "Do Not Disturb While Driving" feature, and a revamped App Store.

Read More Wireless charging

The all-glass design of the iPhone X enables wireless charging and charging devices from Belkin and Mophie will be available.

Apple also gave a sneak preview of its AirPower charging pad, which can charge an iPhone, Watch and AirPods simultaneously.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock) Water-resistant

The iPhone X is water-resistant to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes - a rating known as IP67. This is the same rating seen on last year's iPhone 7.

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

Despite rumours of a new 'blush gold' colour, only the iPhone 8 was given a new colour option, simply known as 'gold'.

The iPhone X will only be available in space grey or silver.

(Image: Getty Images North America) Triumph or flop?

If you want to know whether we think the iPhone X will be a triumph or a flop, listen to our latest Future File podcast.

In this episode, we compare our first impressions of the new gadget, and discuss which features are most likely to catch on with consumers.

iPhone X price and release date

The iPhone X is available to pre-order now from Apple and all the major mobile operators. The flagship handset is due to start shipping on 3 November 2017.

It will come with a steep price tag, starting at £999 for the 64GB version and going up to £1,149 for the 256GB model.

Read More Where to buy the new Apple iPhone X

Available in silver and space grey in 64GB and 256GB models, the new Apple iPhone X can be picked up from Apple.com/uk and Apple Stores, of course, as well as all the usual suspects.

Read More

The likes of Carphone Warehouse, EE, Three, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and o2 and have all already announced that they will be stocking the smartphone, with many more retailers expected to announce so in the near future.

Source: iPhone X: UK release date, price, features and specs of Apple's new flagship iPhone for 2017

Hungarian operators to drop charges imposed to porting subs for unlocking phones

We welcome comments that add value to the discussion. We attempt to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam, and our editors frequently review the comments to ensure they are appropriate. If you see a comment that you believe is inappropriate to the discussion, you can bring it to our attention by using the report abuse links. As the comments are written and submitted by visitors of the Telecompaper website, they in no way represent the opinion of Telecompaper.

Source: Hungarian operators to drop charges imposed to porting subs for unlocking phones

Samsung Patents Foldable Smartphone

Recently, the Korean Intellectual Property Office received sketches of a foldable smartphone from Samsung Electronics and this device is believed to be the rumored Galaxy X. From the sketches, this smartphone will fold inwards similar to the archaic flip phones but unlike the flipping devices, this smartphone will not have a keyboard. Instead, it sports two screens which can be combined to make a single large screen.

Since the beginning of this year, there have been rumors that Samsung is working on a foldable smartphone called Galaxy X. There were also rumors that only 100,000 units of Samsung Galaxy X foldable smartphone will be produced. This current news could mean that this device is on its way but don't get excited just yet, its projected release date as of last month was 2019. Also, a majority of Samsung's approved patents never make it to the market, so technically this is just a tip of the iceberg.

Recall that ZTE's Axon M foldable smartphone had some issues in which the dual screen left a small gap after it was joined to form a single screen. It is expected that the South Korean manufacturing giant should be able to avoid this setback. As of now, the specs of this device is unknown as the sketches show designs that Samsung is considering, but not necessarily those it is committed to using.

Related

I'm a professional geologist and an enthusiastic writer who is interested in technology. I sleep and wake with my mobile phone, data connection on 24/7. My PC is never more than a metre from me.

Source: Samsung Patents Foldable Smartphone

OnePlus 5T price, specs and release date revealed as 'pre-order' site for the new phone appears in China

Over the last week, rumours have been circulating of a brand new phone from Chinese manufacturer OnePlus.

The OnePlus 5T is rumoured to have an edge-to-edge screen similar to the upcoming iPhone X - as well as the latest specs and a dual lens camera - but cost roughly half the price.

Now, a website in China appears to have revealed everything about the new gadget on an official-looking pre-order page.

It clearly shows the new phone along with a list of specifications and even an estimated delivery date.

Read More Screengrab of the website offering the OnePlus 5T for pre-order (Image: Mirror Tech)

According to the site, the phone will pack the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and boast a 6-inch QHD screen with the same 18:9 aspect ratio Apple and Google offer on the iPhone X and the Pixel 2 XL.

The price is listed as $549 - around £417 - which is vastly cheaper than the aforementioned smartphones.

The retailer adds that the estimated delivery date is the end of November 2017.

Read More The leaked image of the rumoured OnePlus 5T

According to the site, the phone will be available with a choice of 6GB or 8GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage and a rear-facing dual camera made up of a 20MP and 16MP sensors.

As with all leaks, it's wise to take it with a pinch of salt - although this does seem fairly accurate with estimations.

A mid-tier refresh wouldn't be a huge surprise as OnePlus previously released the OnePlus 3T to bridge the gap between the OnePlus 3 and the current OnePlus 5 flagship phone .

Mirror Tech has contacted OnePlus for a comment on the rumours and we will update this article as and when we hear back.

Source: OnePlus 5T price, specs and release date revealed as 'pre-order' site for the new phone appears in China

Discover the New Rugged, Cat® S41 Smartphone: Extreme Power for Extraordinary Consumers

Discover the New Rugged, Cat® S41 Smartphone: Extreme Power for Extraordinary Consumers

NEW YORK, October 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Cat phones introduces the Cat S41, a rugged and resilient smartphone with a massive and powerful battery, designed to keep users connected no matter what challenges the day presents.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8209851-new-rugged-cat-s41-smartphone/

The Cat S41 is the successor to the Cat S40 smartphone and carries the legacy of the Caterpillar brand, well known for high quality and rugged reliability. Running full Android capabilities, the Cat S41 is specifically engineered for consumers who work across a range of industries or pursue recreational activities that regularly put their smartphone at risk of damage including construction, forestry, agriculture, security and vehicle repair, as well as activities such as skiing, hiking, fishing, biking, home DIY and cooking. View the Cat S41 in action here.

A massive 5000mAh battery forms the heart of the Cat S41, providing up to 38 hours 3G talk time and as much as 44 days standby. The Cat S41's Battery Share functionality allows the phone to serve as a power bank, easily charging other devices and accessories through an included USB Battery Share connector, while reserving a predetermined power level for the phone based on an easy-to-navigate in-app slider.

In addition to its extended battery capabilities, the Cat S41 was designed to address key features most valued by customers. In a study of nearly 22,000 Cat phone users, 76 percent said a long battery life was essential, while 98 percent ranked it as a highly valued key feature. The survey also showed 76 percent of respondents have damaged their previous mobile phone, leading to 94 percent who consider drop proof a necessity, and another 71 percent who said a scratch resistant screen is essential.

"The Cat S41 is an uncompromised smartphone specifically engineered and built for the tough environments in which our customers use their devices. Its rugged, shock, shatter, water and dust proof construction is built to address the needs of ourcustomers and their unique lifestyles. Our research revealed that what Cat customers want most is a powerful rugged smartphone combined with a huge shareable battery - and the Cat S41 delivers all of that and more," said Peter Stephens, CEO of Bullitt Group, global mobile licensee for Caterpillar.

The Cat S41 builds on Cat phones' legacy of creating rugged devices, with its heavy-duty credentials including IP68 water and dust proof, and MIL SPEC 810G. Like all Cat smartphones in the product suite, the Cat S41 is built to survive repeated drop tests onto concrete from up to 5 feet 9 inches, from every orientation. It is waterproof tested up to a depth of 6.5 feet for up to one hour, and able to withstand thermal shocks. Further, the Cat S41's large and bright five-inch, full HD display is protected by the latest scratch-resistant Corning� Gorilla� Glass 5, which can be read in direct sunlight with a touch screen, and can be controlled with wet fingers or when wearing gloves. The Cat S41 also has a camera that can be used underwater.

Key Specifications include: �

5000mAh battery with up to 38 hours of 3G talk time or 44 days standby

Charge other devices and accessories with the Battery Share power bank feature - cable provided

Waterproof/Dust proof (IP68), drop tested to 5 feet 9 inches onto concrete, MIL SPEC 810G, Gorilla Glass 5 protected

Android� Nougat

3GB RAM, 32GB ROM. Expandable storage (microSD� up to 2TB)

MediaTek octa-core 2.3GHz chipset

13MP rear camera with LED flash, autofocus with PDAF, 8MP front camera - both with underwater mode functionality

LTE Cat 6, VoLTE, VoWiFi

Super bright 5" FHD display, optimized for outdoor use with a touchscreen that can be used with wet fingers or gloves

Textured, extra grip design

Programmable Shortcut Key useful for Push to Talk (PTT), SOS (Lone Worker app), or to easily launch flashlight or camera

Curated apps and content catalog

The Cat S41 smartphone has an MSRP of $449 and is available to order online at http://www.catphones.com, as well as leading retailers including Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, eBay, The Home Depot and B&H.

- MORE - �

About Cat devices and accessories�

The Cat brand stands for trust, durability, reliability and quality. The Cat DNA is found in every Cat mobile phone and accessory offered by Bullitt Mobile Ltd. and provides boundless experience with robust mobility. Our products are created for wireless communication using the latest technology to meet a variety of needs of a demanding lifestyle and won't let you down. To find out more about what Cat phones and accessories are made of, visit http://www.catphones.com.

About Bullitt Group�

Bullitt Group enables the world's leading brands to enter into rapid growth consumer technology categories creating broader appeal and new, long-term income streams in the process. Since its formation six years ago, Bullitt Group has designed, manufactured and distributed millions of mobile phones, audio products, other connected devices and related peripherals to more than 60 countries across the globe. Bullitt Group's Head Office is in Reading, England with additional office locations in Taipei (Taiwan), Shenzhen (China) and New York (USA). Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook or visit http://www.bullitt-group.com to learn more.

All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

���� (Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/591171/Cat_phones_S41_Charge.jpg )

Video:����� https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8209851-new-rugged-cat-s41-smartphone/

SOURCE Cat phones

[ InfoTech Spotlight's Homepage ]

Source: Discover the New Rugged, Cat® S41 Smartphone: Extreme Power for Extraordinary Consumers

Daughter of Apple exec leaks video of herself trying the upcoming iPhone X, weeks before its release

THE daughter of an Apple engineer has filmed herself exploring the hotly anticipated iPhone X and uploaded the video to YouTube, weeks before its launch.

Dad's bosses clearly weren't impressed with the early leak, which came from inside the secretive technology company's California headquarters.

Just hours after vlogger Brooke Amelia Peterson's clip went live, it was promptly deleted.

"Dad has the new iPhone X ... look how big the screen is. It's pretty," she says in the since-removed clip.

However Apple enthusiasts made copies of the footage and began sharing it, eager to get an in-depth look at the most advanced iPhone model yet.

Websites devoted to the company's gadgets quickly described it as the "most extensive hands-on video yet".

RELATED: Apple's iPhone X nightmare — a dire shortage of the devices

The smartphone was created to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the revolutionary gadget but pre-orders don't open until this Friday.

It'll then be another week at least until the handsets begin shipping.

While the iPhone X was announced last month, along with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus models, there were few detailed looks at it.

In her clip, apparently shot at the cafeteria at her dad's office, Peterson gives a thorough overview of the phone's many features.

She pays for her lunch with Apple Pay — technology she claims her father worked on — and then marvel's at the iPhone X's huge screen, vibrant display and cameras.

"The camera is what is so insane to me. See how good it looks?"

She also shows its animated emoji technology — users can scan their own face and have it animated as an emoji character. Her dad can be heard in the background demonstrating the feature.

A big new inclusion of the iPhone X is a in-built security system called Face ID that lets users unlock the handset with their face.

Source: Daughter of Apple exec leaks video of herself trying the upcoming iPhone X, weeks before its release

Pixel 2 XL Users Report Screen Burn-In A Week After Phone’s Release, Google Investigating

By Oliver Haslam | October 24th, 2017

Google's Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the hottest smartphones around right now, at least until the next big thing comes along – the industry is just fickle like that. This being a flagship smartphone release, there have unfortunately been a couple of headlines that do not paint Google's new offering in a good light, namely, the larger, more expensive variant suffers from very specific screen issues.

The Pixel 2 XL's display has been deemed by many to be lacking in color, with some color shifting observed at angles, too. More worryingly, though, this larger, more costly version also has problems in that it appears susceptible to burn-in.

Burn-in, something that gamers used to be terrified of when buying plasma TVs back in the day, happens when a display made of certain technologies displays a static image for too long, with that image remaining on-screen, albeit faintly, even when the image is no longer displayed at all. It is something that should take a long time to come to the fore, if at all, but Google's Pixel 2 XL is suffering from it already, and reviewers have only had the phones for a period of around a week!

Reportedly, Google is already investigating why some of the POLED screens built into the Pixel 2 XL are beginning to display burn-in, so we can only hope a remedy is identified soon.

The Pixel 2 XL screen has been designed with an advanced POLED technology, including QHD+ resolution, wide color gamut, and high contrast ratio for natural and beautiful colors and renderings. We put all of our products through extensive quality testing before launch and in the manufacturing of every unit. We are actively investigating this report.

If you do pick up a Pixel 2 XL, then you can check for burn-in on your model by opening a full-screen, solid colored image and looking for the faint outline of the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen. Gray works well as a color to test with, but if you value your sanity, we suggest you don't go looking for problems just yet – otherwise it's all you will be doing with your brand new smartphone for the foreseeable future!

(Source: The Verge, Alex Dobie [Twitter])

You may also like to check out:

Download Kodi 17.5 IPA, APK, DEB File Of Final Version For iOS, Android And More

Kodi Android Installer App Addon: How To Download And Use It [Guide]

iOS 11.1 Beta 5 Changes, Release Notes, Changelog: What's New?

Download iOS 11.1 Beta 5 IPSW Links On Your Compatible Test Device

SNES4iOS iOS 11 IPA Download On iPhone [No Jailbreak Required]

Downgrade iOS 11 / 11.1 On iPhone Or iPad [How-To Guide]

Download iOS 11, 11.1, 11.0.3 Links & Install On iPhone 8, 7 Plus, 6s, 6, SE, 5s, iPad, iPod [Tutorial]

Jailbreak iOS 11 / 11.1 / 11.0.3 On iPhone And iPad [Status Update]

Related Stories

Source: Pixel 2 XL Users Report Screen Burn-In A Week After Phone's Release, Google Investigating

Huawei CEO Confirms Plans To Release Foldable Smartphone As Early As 2018

It looks like the next big thing in smartphones will be devices that fold, and the first company that started to talk seriously about bringing them out in the next year was Samsung. Now several other smartphone makers are standing up and saying they too will be bringing devices with folding screens to market with the latest being Huawei. Huawei's CEO Richard Yu has stated that the company already has a working prototype.

The Huawei device isn't ready for prime time just yet, but could be ready to launch as early as next year. There have been rumors that the Samsung folding screen smartphone could debut at CES 2018 in January.

Yu said that the smartphone needs a better screen and a better mechanical design, and that the sample out now uses a pair of screens with a slight gap between them. Hu said, "We have two screens. But we still have a small gap [between the screens]. That's not good, and we should get rid of that gap."

ZTE recently launched a smartphone called the Axon M that uses a pair of screens and unfolds to make a single larger screen with a gap between them. It sounds as if the Huawei prototype is a similar device. Huawei isn't a huge player in the smartphone world in the U.S., but it is a massive player globally, especially in its home market of China. That means Huawei certainly has the cash and marketing muscle behind it to bring a flexible, folding screen smartphone to market.

In fact, Yu thinks that his company will eventually pass Apple and Samsung as the largest smartphone maker in the world. Considering its popularity in China and the fact that China is one of the biggest growth markets in the entire smartphone realm, that goal can certainly be met.

"We will overtake them definitely," Yu said. "That's our destiny. Maybe I'm not humble ... but nobody can stop us."

Huawei does face some challenges in becoming as big, or bigger than Apple and Samsung in the U.S. The company doesn't get the same carrier support that the other major brands get and it has a black eye in the States by name association with the ban on its networking gear. That ban had to do with fears that the Chinese government might have backdoors in the network hardware it could use to steal government or trade secrets.

LG is reportedly working on folding screens for a future iPhone model.

Source: Huawei CEO Confirms Plans To Release Foldable Smartphone As Early As 2018

Huawei is reportedly working on a foldable smartphone; 2018 release likely

It seems like foldable smartphones are going to be the new trend. After Samsung and ZTE, Chinese manufacturer Huawei is reportedly working on a foldable smartphone that could be released as early as 2018.

In an interview with CNET, Huawei's CEO Richard Yu confirmed that the company already has a "working sample" of its upcoming foldable phone. However, Huawei is still working on improving the mechanical design of the device so that it offers a "better, more flexible screen technology." Richard Yu further says the current "working sample" has two displays just like the newly launched ZTE Axon M.

However, Huawei plans to eventually launch the phone with a single foldable screen. As yet, this is pretty much everything we know about the upcoming phone since it is still in the initial stages of production. We expect more details to emerge in the coming months as Huawei may release the foldable phone next year.

Huawei recently launched its flagships Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro, which are said to be most advanced devices in the company's long lineup of smartphones. Both Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro is powered by the in-house Kirin 970 processor. Built on the 10nm process, this chipset is the first mobile computing unit to feature a built-in AI computing neural processing unit (NPU).

The camera department is another highlight of the Mate 10 duo. The smartphones feature a rear dual camera setup that is comprised of a 20MP Monochrome sensor and a 12MP RGB sensor. The cameras are equipped with OIS, BSI CMOS, PDAF, CAF, Laser Autofocus, and Depth Autofocus and dual-tone LED flash. Up front, there is also an 8MP fixed-focus shooter.

Huawei Mate 10 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro are backed by a large 4,000mAh battery and run on EMUI 8.0 based on Android 8.0 Operating system.

Source: Huawei is reportedly working on a foldable smartphone; 2018 release likely

FD : Jazz launches Phicomm Energy 4S Smartphone in Pakistan - Press Release issued by Mobilink

Following is the text of press release issued by Mobilink

Quote

Jazz, a leading Telco in Pakistan, has launched Phicomm's latest smartphone - Energy 4S - across Pakistan. These devices are being introduced with Jazz's branding and will be available at Jazz Experience Centers and Franchises for PKR 12,200. Phicomm, a leading brand, is an established handsets manufacturer in European markets with an aim to introduce high quality, premium handsets at affordable prices. Swift Biz Solutions is the official partner of Phicomm in Pakistan.

"We are hopeful that the cooperation between Jazz and Phicomm will be a great success. Phicomm products will be available nationwide under Swift Biz Solutions one year official warranty program", said Mr. Abdul Rehman, CEO of Swiftbsol.com at the launch ceremony. "Phicomm's strong in-house research and development team have created a powerful device exclusively for our market. Energy 4S allows our subscribers to experience Jazz's exceptional data service on a robust smartphone, which provides for all their daily communications needs," said Muhammad Ali Khan, Head of Devices at Jazz.

Phicomm Energy 4S is a full metal unibody handset with 5 inch display, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, 2,400mAh battery, a 13MP back camera and a 5MP front camera. The device runs on a Quadcore processor providing optimum performance along with Android 7.0. It will be one of the most competitively priced LTE handsets in the market offering all the main features that are part of high-end smartphone devices nowadays - including a fingerprint scanner. Upon purchase of the smartphone, Jazz shall be offering customers free 6GB LTE data for a period of 6 months, so they can get the best experience out of their Energy 4S smartphone.

For more information, contact:

Manager - Corporate Communications

Mobilink

42, Kulsum Plaza, Blue Area,

Islamabad, Pakistan

Phone +92-51-2273984, 0301 822 9546

Email: [email protected]

UAN +92-51-111300300

Unquote

(c) 2017 Pakistan Press International (PPI). All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info)., source Middle East & North African Newspapers

Source: FD : Jazz launches Phicomm Energy 4S Smartphone in Pakistan - Press Release issued by Mobilink

Which Smartphones Will Release With Android Oreo?

Android fans are anxious for the Android 8.0 Oreo update to hit their current devices, but there is also a whole different class of smartphones to anticipate: those that will release running Android Oreo out of the box. Some have already been confirmed, while others are still speculated. Still, those that remain in the realm of rumors have a high likelihood of releasing with the latest Google software. Here's a rundown of native Android Oreo smartphones.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will release to market Thursday, selling for a starting price of $649 and $849 respectively. The Google-branded smartphones will be the first to run Android 8.0 Oreo natively. They will also soon update to Android 8.1, to enable a dormant dedicated image chip within the handsets. Highlight features on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL include their 12-megapixel camera, which Google advertises as being able to perform with one lens, features for which most mobile cameras require two lenses. Much like devices, including the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL camera includes a Portrait Mode feature to allow for stylized bokeh effects.

The Huawei Mate 10 (Mate 10 Pro and Mate 10 Porsche Design) will be available to market between late-October and mid-November, selling for between €699 and €1395. The models will feature Android 8.0 Oreo with Huawei's EMUI 8.0 overlay. Highlight features on the Mate 10 include its AI supported Kirin 970 chip and its 20-megapixel monochrome lens and 12-megapixel RGB dual camera setup. The devices uses an onboard NPU for functions, including identifying subjects for a photo and adjusting the camera settings for the best image.

Rumors suggest HTC is announcing a device Nov. 2 and that device may be the HTC U11 Plus. The device recently appeared on a Geekbench benchmark, supposedly running Android Oreo. The smartphone is expected to feature a Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB of RAM, but no details about the device have been confirmed at this time.

Samsung Galaxy S9 rumors are already circulating and the device will likely be among the 2018 flagships to run Android Oreo, especially since the Galaxy Note 8 launched with Android Nougat. Reports indicate Samsung is already working on custom firmware for two Galaxy S9 models, which would likely be its Samsung Experience UX that would run on top of Android Oreo. Rumors also suggest the Galaxy S9 may feature several camera updates a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.   

The LG G7 may similarly run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box as a 2018 flagship after the LG V30 released with Android Nougat. There are very few rumors surrounding the LG G7 at this time. One report suggested it might be the first to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip, while another suggested it might be among the first to feature 5G network support.  

Source: Which Smartphones Will Release With Android Oreo?

Razer is about to release a gaming smartphone on November 1

Razer is about to release a gaming smartphone on November 1: – Well, if you are a gaming insect or you can say addicted then this news is for you. Here, we are talking about the very first official gaming Smartphone which is just designed for the gaming purpose but it will do a lot more things. As per the reports, Razer created ripples in the technology industry by teasing the launch of its new smartphone.

You all may know that the company is expected to unveil a gaming smartphone at an event on November 1. After a long wait finally, the company took the charge and made this very fine Smartphone for gaming purpose. Well, these smartphones are going to be only for the gaming but you can do everything with these phones. Recently, the device made an appearance on a benchmarking website GFXBench.

Now a new leak reveals the design of the alleged smartphone. Yes! Here we are going to share a poster or picture with you of this smartphone which is about to release soon. First picked by GSMArena, the leaked image was posted on a Slovakian website called TechByte. The image shows the rear panel of the smartphone revealing the dual camera on a top-left corner along with an LED flash.

The Razer branding can be seen on the in the center of the phone. Now, if we talk about the specification then we can say that these smartphones are going to be the next level thing for the market. As for the specifications, the smartphone is said to sport a 5.7-inch quad-HD display and will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor clocked at 2.4GHz and backed by Adreno 540 GPU. It has 8GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

Yes! This mobile will come out with 8Gb ram which is quite good for the starting. Also, the 64 Gb storage may not look cool to you but we think it's great for the starting handset. Also, the reports are saying that this device will have a 12MP rear camera which will be capable of capturing 4K. Also, for the selfies, this handset have 8MP camera.

Source: Razer is about to release a gaming smartphone on November 1

This is probably Razer’s first Android phone

Razer a few days ago started teasing a product announcement for November 1st, and it quickly became clear the gaming company actually build its own Android smartphone. That's hardly surprising considering that Razer acquired Nextbit, a smartphone startup that released a great Android phone a few years ago.

Then, a benchmark listing revealed the Razer phone will be even more powerful than this year's best Android handsets, sporting 8GB of RAM alongside regular 2017 high-end components. The leak also told us the phone won't have a full-screen design like the iPhone X or Galaxy S8. And now we have the first leaked picture of the handset.

Obtained by Slovakian tech site TechByte, the following image shows the back side of the Razer phone — at least it has the right logo in it.

We're looking at a Nextbit Robin-like design, although the device also has a dual lens camera on the back. The phone will come in black rather than the wild colors of the Robin (see top image). A couple of buttons can be easily spotted on the right side, and that's pretty much what this leak offers us.

Image Source: TechByte

The front side of the handset is still a secret, but we still have two weeks to go until Razer's November 1st announcement. Things do not stay secret for too long in the Android universe, and all new devices are leaked well ahead of their official launch.


But what's really interesting to find out is why is Razer making a phone. The leaked specs list tells the story of a regular 2017 Android flagship, albeit it has more RAM. What's its secret sauce? What is Razer doing with it that no other handset maker has thought of? Leaks will probably not explain any of that.

Source: This is probably Razer's first Android phone

Huawei's budget smartphone now has a tall display and narrow bezels

Huawei announced its next-generation budget phone today: the Honor 7X. The biggest change over last year's device, the Honor 6X, has a new aspect ratio and screen dimensions. This is the company's first device with an 18:9 display. You'll notice it still has bezels, although they're minimized, and the screen size is slightly longer, at 5.93 inches. The 6X had a 5.5-inch screen.

Here are the rest of the specs:

Kirin 659 chipset

4GB of RAM

Up to 128GB of expandable storage

3340mAh battery

Android Nougat with a custom skin

Micro USB

Dual 16-megapixel and 2-megapixel rear-facing camera system for taking portraits; 8-megapixel front-facing camera

It'll go on sale in China on October 17th for between 1,300 yuan, or $200, and 2,000 yuan, or $300. It comes in three colors: blue, gold, and black. The 6X debuted in China first, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually brought the device to the US.

Source: Huawei's budget smartphone now has a tall display and narrow bezels

Oculus Announces Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset That Does Not Require PC Or Smartphone To Work

By Oliver Haslam | October 12th, 2017

Oculus has announced a whole new virtual reality headset that will plant itself between the mobile Gear VR and high-end Oculus Rift, called Oculus Go and importantly, it will ship as a standalone device.

Shipping next year, the Oculus Go will cost $199 which is a little more than the Gear VR's $129 asking price and a fair chunk of change less than the Rift's $499 price tag.

The aim of the Oculus Go is to enable users to enjoy the world of virtual reality without the hassle of plugging in a smartphone or a powerful computer. Importantly, that $199 price point also ensures it is not out of reach for a sizeable portion of the market.

While the Go was rumored ahead of the Oculus Connect event during which it was announced, this is not a full retail version of the Santa Cruz prototype that was shown off last year. Importantly, the Go does not include inside-out tracking or fully tracked motion controllers which goes a long way to keeping the selling price as low as possible. For those wondering about that Santa Cruz prototype, you'll be pleased to know that it, and the additional features the Go is lacking, is still in the works and is expected to be made available to developers some time next year.

Oculus Go

Oculus' Hugo Barra says that this is the easiest way to get into virtual reality, with its a 2560×1440 screen and spatial audio built into the headset. That means that the Oculus Go can be used without headphones, another barrier to entry that can sometimes put people off virtual reality implementations.

Santa Cruz prototype update

The controller that the Go uses is similar to the remote that ships with the Gear VR, too, which should mean that developers will have a relatively easy time porting things over and those developers will get their kits, allowing them to get started on creating software, next month.

You may also like to check out:

USTVcatchup Kodi Addon 2017: Install In USA The Right Way, Here's How

iOS 11.0.3 Release Notes, Changelog: Here Are All The Changes

Download iOS 11.0.3 IPSW Links And OTA For iPhone, iPad, iPod touch Device

Happy Chick iOS 11 IPA Download [No Jailbreak Required]

Pokemon Go 1.47.1 IPA And 0.77.1 APK Hack Available To Download Now

How To Downgrade iOS 11.0.3 / 11 To iOS 10.3.3 / iOS 10 [Tutorial]

Download iOS 11, 11.0.3, 11.1 Links & Install On iPhone 8, 7 Plus, 6s, 6, SE, 5s, iPad, iPod [Tutorial]

Jailbreak iOS 11 / 11.0.3 / 11.0.2 / 11.0.1 On iPhone And iPad [Status Update]

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.

Related Stories

Source: Oculus Announces Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset That Does Not Require PC Or Smartphone To Work

Apple iPhone X price, features, specs and release date: iPhone X will hide notifications from everyone but you

Apple's 10th anniversary iPhone, the iPhone X, was announced on 12 September at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park, the tech giant's new San Francisco headquarters. 

It brings a whole range of new features to Apple's flagship device a decade after Jobs launched the original, multi-touch iPhone.

iPhone X latest news

13/10/2017: iPhone X will hide notifications from everyone but you

The iPhone X's Face ID feature will do more than just unlock your phone -- it will also hide notifications from unfamiliar faces.

The lock screen on Apple's next flagship smartphone will only show the content of notifications if Face ID recognises the face as the owner of the phone, according to Phone Arena. If someone else picks up the phone, the lock screen will not display the actual content of the notification, just the notification's source. It's a handy feature that could prove incredibly useful for maintaining a user's security and privacy.

This feature will also be available on iOS 11 although it will work a bit differently since earlier iPhones lack the hardware to power Face ID. Those running Apple's latest OS on earlier iPhone models will be able to go into settings and enable notifications with content only when the device is unlocked, much like the setting Android devices have used for a while now.

As reported by Mac Rumors, the technology used for Face ID is already being shipped to Apple, suggesting that this feature will be ready for the IPhone X when its released in early November.

29/09/2017: How will iPhone X's Face ID work?

Apple has released a video explaining how its FaceID identification platform will work, revealing it uses neural networks to resist spoofing attempts. However, it would seem even Apple can't explain exactly how the technology works, according to the BBC.

Because it's been designed to prevent people that are not the owner from breaking into the phone, its behaviour "can be observed but the underlying process remains opaque," the BBC explained.

Although it will be able to tell the difference between its rightful owner trying to unlock the device and someone wearing a mask that closely resembles them, it will never be able to reveal how it came to the conclusion the disguised individual wasn't the person who set up Face ID.

"The developers of these kinds of systems have some level of insight into what is happening but can't really create a narrative answer for why, in a specific case, a specific action is selected," Rob Wortham, an artificial intelligence researcher at the University of Bath told the broadcaster.

"With neural networks there's nothing in there to hang on to - even if you can inspect what's going on inside the black box, you are none the wiser after doing so. There's no machinery to enable you to trace what decisions led to the outputs."

However, Apple does explain very roughly how it identifies the facial features of the face trying to unlock the device, shining 30,000 invisible infrared dots on it in a randomised way (which will vary from device to device). The information is then turned into an encrypted mathematical formulation and then compared to the data gleaned from the owner's face, which is stored in a secure compartment of the iPhone.

It's this final part that uses Apple-developed neural networks that cannot be hacked or changed, or in fact, explained by Apple.

Facial recognition has come under quite a lot of scrutiny in the past, with people claiming it's not as secure as fingerprint recognition, for example. However, Apple launching the video so far ahead of the iPhone X's launch date will hopefully go some way to allay those worries.

UK release date

The iPhone 10 comes out on 3 November. There were plenty of rumours of supply chain delays in the months preceding the device's unveiling, and it looks like they were true. While the iPhone 8 comes out on 22 September, roughly the usual time an iPhone comes out, the iPhone 10 won't follow for another six weeks. However, it is available for pre-order on 27 October.

Price

Even for Apple the iPhone X costs a pretty penny. At £999 for the 64GB model, the iPhone X is the most expensive smartphone Apple - or probably most major smartphone vendors - has ever produced.

Specs and hardware

A new six-core A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture (up from last year's four-core A10) powers most of the iPhone X's capabilities. It has 30% faster graphics than the A10, and runs 70% faster, according to Apple.

When it comes to storage, the iPhone X comes in only two sizes - 64GB and 256GB.

Display

The iPhone 10's 5.8in screen is Apple's first to cover the entire front of the phone, which has a glass front OLED multi-touch display on the front, and a glass back as well - pretty sleek, but also pretty breakable, though it is toughened glass.

Its Super Retina HD display helps the Face ID feature (more on which below), while it boasts a 2436x1125-pixel resolution at 458 ppi. The screen includes 3D Touch, which allows you to execute different commands by pressing the screen with varying degrees of pressure.

Crucially, this edge-toedge display leaves no room for the home button, meaning Touch ID is no more.

Battery

Apple reckons the iPhone X lasts up to two hours longer than the iPhone 7, which itself lasted an impressive 13 hours in our review.

Camera

The iPhone X's 12MP camera is the same - on the surface - as the iPhone 7's, but boasts a lot more in terms of its software capabilities. Both larger and faster, this camera can measure depth with the TrueDepth sensor - key to the X's Face ID feature. There's also two of them, one front-facing and one rear-facing, both of course using optical image stabilisation.

Digital zoom on the lenses offers 10x zoom on photos and 6x for videos. The front-facing camera also offers a Portait Lighting feature using the 3D TrueDepth sensor. 

It's faster than ever before, too, recording 4K video at 60fps and slo-mo videos in 1080p at 240fps.

Features

Face ID

The A11 chip's integrated neural engine powers the iPhone X's Face ID feature, which replaces Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor of yore.

This facial recognition capability has been trained on one billion photos (and on rubber masks to distinguish between real and fake faces) to be able to recognise a user quickly and easily. Apple claims this means Face ID is so secure the chances of it being fooled are one in one million, compared to Touch ID's one in 50,000.

Animoji/AR

In a lighthearted move, Apple has made use of the camera's augmented reality technology to map your facial movements to various animals emoji, 

The iPhone X will also support 'animoji' - animated emojis that uses AR technology to map your face and transpose your movements to certain Emoji, creating stickers and animated voice messages Naturally, the company has also partnered with Snapchat to optimise masks and filters for the iPhone X's new AR capabilities.

Wireless charging

This feature isn't exclusive to the iPhone X, but Apple's AirPower pad allows you to charge your iPhone 8, X or Apple Watch 3 without the tangly mess of attaching a cable. 

Colours

The iPhone X is available in Silver and Space Gray on launch.

Source: Apple iPhone X price, features, specs and release date: iPhone X will hide notifications from everyone but you

Razer will unveil its new smartphone for gamers on Nov 1

Razer has been rumored to release its own smartphone for so long now, it almost doesn't feel real... but it is, and it's coming soon. Razer is teasing an event for November 1, with someone holding a phone-sized device.

 

 

Razer hasn't provided any details on the event, other than saying it's "biggest unveiling" will take place on November 1, and the hype being one of the largest gaming peripheral companies in the world releasing a gaming-oriented smartphone would be absolutely huge. We have no idea what to expect from a Razer smartphone, but I'd expect a slick as hell smartphone with a black and green look, and I'm sure some RGB LEDs of some sort.

Source: Razer will unveil its new smartphone for gamers on Nov 1

iPhone 8 splitting fault hanging over Apple ahead of iPhone X release

WITH the much anticipated release of the iPhone X just weeks away, Apple has yet to publicly diagnose an issue with its iPhone 8, with some users reporting the device is splitting open when charging.

Late last month an iPhone 8 Plus owner in Taiwan said her phone broke open while charging after buying it just five days earlier.

A second report of an iPhone 8 busting open came from Japan, with the customer claiming the device was already broken when it arrived in the box.

In the past week, Canadian man Anthony Wu also reported his battery swelling after being put on charge, causing his iPhone to split open along the edges of the device.

Meanwhile The Guardian has reported the same problem effecting a user in Greece and there has also been a report of the "splitting" defect to come out of Hong Kong.

The iPhone 8 was released on September 22 and is the first iPhone to have wireless charging technology but the issue only appears to occur when the phone is being charged with the regular lightning cord.

Although it's still early days, the problem seems to be very rare.

Apple has not said much about the apparent defect but a spokesperson said the company was aware of the reported incidences, and was looking into them.

It's not the first time the consumer tech giant has had issues with one of its new handset models. When the iPhone 6 was released in 2014 there were multiple reports of the phone being susceptible to bending, leading to the hashtag #bendgate trending on social media.

The splitting issue pales in comparison to the battery-related issue faced by Apple's main rival Samsung last year which was forced to recall the global stock of its Galaxy Note 7, costing the company about $6.5 billion.

Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus also had reports of exploding batteries but they were very isolated incidents which didn't prompt any recall.

The Next Web has previously shared unconfirmed reports that the battery used in the new iPhone 8 was built by the same manufacturer, Amperex Technology Limited, that made the battery for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

Apple's new premium model smartphone, The iPhone X, is due to be released on November 3.

Source: iPhone 8 splitting fault hanging over Apple ahead of iPhone X release

ZTE Axon M foldable smartphone spotted on FCC’s website

We've been hearing about dual screen smartphones for a while now, but it's looking like ZTE will be the first to release something for 2017. At the beginning of September, we first heard the rumblings that the device would be available on AT&T and would be dubbed the Axon Multy. Later on in the month, we got our first peek at the rumored device, which we learned will be called the Axon M.

Now, today's FCC filings seem to indicate that we'll be seeing the device pretty soon. The phone appears to be running Android 7.1 Nougat and the FCC documents label it as a "multi-mode digital mobile phone." Rumors suggest the device features two 1920 x 1080 displays that are capable of functioning as a single 6.8-inch display when they've been unfolded.

ZTE has a press conference scheduled for October 17th in Brooklyn, so it's likely the Chinese company will finally take the wraps off the Axon M then.

What do you think of this concept? Would you be willing to get a foldable smartphone that can turn into a tablet?

Auto-load comments: Off On

Source: ZTE Axon M foldable smartphone spotted on FCC's website

Why Microsoft Bid Sayonara To Windows Phones And Windows 10 Mobile

HP's announcement that it is discontinuing its Elite x3 Windows 10 Mobile phone further confirmed that Microsoft completely shelved its smartphone ambition.

Nadella himself admitted in his book that he was against Microsoft's purchase of Nokia's old phone business. He wrote off the entire $7.6 billion acquisition.

Nadella never believed that Windows phones can catch up with Android and iOS. Don't expect a Surface phone to be released as long as Nadella is in charge.

My fearless forecast now is that Microsoft will soon discontinue support for Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 last July.

Shelving Windows 10 Mobile completes a cathartic release for Microsoft from its misadventure in mobile phones.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is being quiet, but it is ready to say sayonara to Windows 10 Mobile. It already ended support for Window Phone 8.1 last July. Getting rid of Windows 10 Mobile should complete the detoxification of Microsoft's failure in mobile. HP, Inc. (NYSE:HPQ) recently announced that it will discontinue its Elite x3 Windows 10 Mobile smartphone.

An unidentified HP executive explained that "Microsoft, as all companies do, decided on a change in strategy and so they are less focused on what they thought they would be focused on today."

(Source: Microsoft)

We did not get the memo but Microsoft made it clear to its OEM partners that Windows 10 Mobile is a walking dead. Microsoft already ended support for Windows Phone 8.1 last July. The culling will continue until Windows 10 Mobile eventually joins the graveyard where Zune and Windows RT were laid to rest.

Nadella's book also revealed he was against Ballmer's idea of buying Nokia's (NYSE:NOK) old phone business. It explained why Nadella ended up writing off the $7.6 billion Lumia phone business that Ballmer acquired. His heart and mind were never for Windows smartphones. He is determined to extricate Microsoft out of its misery in Windows phones.

We can expect that there will never be another phone from Microsoft as long as Nadella is in charge. Consequently, there will be no eulogies, but Windows 10 Mobile's days are numbered. Sooner than later, Microsoft will completely divorce itself from Windows 10 Mobile like it did with its phone hardware business.

There's no point developing/maintaining a mobile operating system when Microsoft has thrown the towel on Windows phones.

The only consolation is that Microsoft got a $1.8 billion tax write-down from Ballmer's ill-fated bet on Windows phones. Windows 10 Mobile also taught us that software developers did not like Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform.

Why Letting Windows 10 Mobile Die Is Cathartic For Microsoft

Raising the white flag and accepting defeat is an act of courage. Accepting the reality that Android and iOS reign supreme on mobile is a back to the future move from Nadella. It allows Microsoft to better adapt to the reality that Android OS devices now outnumber Windows computers/devices.

Without the excess baggage of Lumia and Windows 10 Mobile, Nadella can focus more on his device-agnostic strategy in disseminating Microsoft's software products and services. The prosperity of Microsoft now depends on how effective it can attract (and retain) business and personal users of Android/iOS/MacOS devices to buy/subscribe to Office 365, Skype, OneDrive, and Azure.

Microsoft tried and failed to compete against iPhones. However, its Cellular PC concept which enables Surface hybrid laptops to make phone calls should help it continue disrupting Mac sales.

Cloud Computing, Not Smartphone Computing

A complete retreat from Windows phones and Windows 10 Mobile will let Microsoft focus more on competing better against Amazon (AMZN) Web Services. Microsoft is the clear leader in SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). However, Azure is still a far-second to Amazon when it comes to cloud computing infrastructure services.

The savings from killing the Lumia phone business and Windows 10 Mobile can go to improving Azure.

(Source: Synergy Research)

Abandoning Windows phones gives Microsoft more leeway to create new cloud computing services like its Coco Framework Enterprise Blockchain-as-a-Service. A stronger focus on cloud computing is very important for Microsoft. Synergy Research predicted last July that global revenue from cloud computing and SaaS will have a CAGR of 23-29% for the next five years. It will reach $200 billion by 2020.

Public IaaS/PaaS, where Amazon Web Services is the runaway leader (with 34% market share), is going to have the fastest CAGR at 29%.

Conclusion

MSFT already touts an YTD gain of +21.40%, but I still rate it as a buy. My takeaway is that Nadella is weaning Microsoft away from its dependency on the Windows ecosystem. A Microsoft that can flourish without its dominant Windows operating system becomes a more resilient company.

(Source: Morningstar)

Microsoft doesn't need its own mobile operating system, mobile app store, and its own brand of phones to benefit from the rise in smartphone usage.

Microsoft's software products and services are now device agnostic and platform independent. Many Android/iOS device users will still be captured customers of Office 365. Let us also never forget that Microsoft will continue to reap patent licensing fees from Android device manufacturers.

The coming demise of Windows 10 Mobile is therefore just another painful lesson that made Microsoft smarter and stronger.

Disclosure: I am/we are long MSFT, AMZN, HPQ, NOK.

I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Source: Why Microsoft Bid Sayonara To Windows Phones And Windows 10 Mobile

Did Apple Just Overtake Google in Smartphone AI?

For several years, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) has been one of the acknowledged leaders in artificial intelligence (AI). Its Google Brain project was pioneering work in deep learning, a subdiscipline of AI that builds software models inspired by the structure and function of the human brain and how it sorts and processes data. Called neural networks, these models mimic the inner workings of neurons and synapses, and allow these systems to learn in much the same way as humans.

Their ability to excel at pattern recognition has led to such breakthroughs as the voice recognition employed by digital assistants and smart speakers, the image recognition that tags friends in photos, and language translation services found on Google search, and forms the foundations for self-driving cars.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), was hailed for the initial promise of its Siri voice-activated digital assistant, but seemed to languish as the AI that powered Siri's responses was overshadowed by more impressive advances from the Google AI camp. To its credit, Apple said its primary focus was on user privacy, which may have initially hampered its efforts. With the release of Apple's latest flagship iPhone, however, it may finally have overtaken its rival in smartphone AI.

The iPhone X has leading-edge technology under the hood. Image source: Apple.

AI pioneer

Google's work on the Google Brain project in 2012 showed one of the earliest concrete examples of the potential for AI when its system was fed 10 million randomly selected images from YouTube and was able to correctly identify cats. Its purchase of deep learning start-up DeepMind in 2014 solidified its lead in the space. DeepMind's AlphaGo computer was able to achieve what many thought impossible just a few short years ago, defeating the reigning world champion in the ancient and highly sophisticated Chinese game of Go.

With the recent release of its latest iPhone models, Apple appears to have surpassed Google in the crucial area of "at-the-edge" AI computing.

Apple's leading edge

Most AI systems reside on the cloud, as they require large amounts of data and processing power to do their best work. The more they are used, the smarter these systems become due to the ability to continuously hone and improve their learning. By comparison, cutting-edge AI computing happens on the devices themselves, as is the case with Apple's iPhone 8 and X.

In a research report from DigiTimes, analysts Ashley Huang and Luke Lin posit that Apple has taken the lead in the at-the-edge or "on-device" category. With the addition of the A11 Bionic chip, which Apple calls "the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone," the company has brought AI capabilities to the iPhone itself, foregoing the cloud. The analysts point out that:

The built-in dual-core neural engine chip incorporated within the A11 processors, which power the iPhone X and iPhone 8 devices, integrates functionality such as machine learning, inference model and related algorithm to perform as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip for image recognition and achieve hardware acceleration. 

iPhone X users will experience the onboard AI with Face ID, Apple's cutting-edge facial recognition that uses 33,000 infrared dots to create a mathematical model of your face to "recognize" you and unlock your device. It can adapt to a gradually changing physical appearance over time. The data is stored in a secure enclave on the phone, and the processing that is done on the device is designed to protect user data. The neural engine on the A11 Bionic chip also improves the camera function and creates powerful augmented reality capabilities and immersive 3D games. 

Fast paced and ever changing

Apple has long insisted on the importance of user privacy, and by bringing its AI capabilities to the device, it has accomplished this to a greater degree, while also bringing a level of technological innovation that others have yet to achieve.

It is important to note that breakthroughs in AI technology are happening almost daily, and while Apple may have the lead, for now. But it can't afford to rest on its laurels for long -- Google and others will be looking to take back the lead from the iPhone maker. For the moment, though it can bask in the limelight.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Danny Vena owns shares of Alphabet (A shares) and Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Apple. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2020 $150 calls on Apple and short January 2020 $155 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Source: Did Apple Just Overtake Google in Smartphone AI?

Samsung Galaxy X Foldable Phone Rumors: Limited Edition Smartphone that May Release Only in South Korea

Samsung is rumored to be working on a foldable smartphone called Galaxy X. The handset has been certified by Bluetooth SIG as well as National Radio Agency from South Korea. These certifications have revealed that the Galaxy X has a model number of SM-G888N0. Fresh information suggest that it could be a limited phone as the South Korean company is speculated to manufacture only 10,000 units.

If the Galaxy X is a limited edition, it may not receive a worldwide release and may be only made available in the home country of South Korea. In 2014, the Galaxy Note Edge that features a single edge curved display was only launched in South Korea and India. Hence, the first Galaxy X could be a test device because of which it may be available in limited edition in South Korea. There is a possibility it may receive a global launch in 2019.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Records Highest Score of 94 on DxOMark

Interestingly, Samsung has confirmed in the previous month that if it is able to overcome the technical glitches, it may launch a foldable Galaxy Note in 2018. However, there is no confirmation that this smartphone will launch as Galaxy X.

According to Forbes, Samsung may showcase the Galaxy X foldable phone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that will be held between Jan. 9 to Jan. 12 in January 2018. The company is unlikely to launch the Galaxy X at Mobile World Congress (MWC) that is usually held in February. The reason behind it is that Samsung is known for launching its new S-series flagship just before MWC.

Next year's MWC 2018 will be held between Feb. 26 and March 1. Hence, the South Korean company is expected to debut the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ on Feb. 25. There is a possibility that the Galaxy X may get unveiled alongside the Galaxy Note 9 in August next year or during the IFA 2018 that will be held in between Aug. 31 to Sept. 5.

The Galaxy X is expected to arrive with flagship specification and it goes without saying that its foldable design will be its USP.  The South Korean company will not want the Galaxy X to cannibalize the sales of its next generation Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series smartphones.

When do you think will Samsung release the Galaxy X foldable phone next year? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

(source)

Source: Samsung Galaxy X Foldable Phone Rumors: Limited Edition Smartphone that May Release Only in South Korea

The Best iPhone X Cases Ahead of the Smartphone's Nov. 3 Release

Everything You Needfor a Great New School Year

Smart Home DevicesThat Will Make Your Home Feel Futuristic

Awesome iPhone 7 CasesFor Every Type of Person

Fitness GearFor iPhone Owners Who Want to Get in Shape

Great GiftsFor Father's Day

The Best Home Security CamerasThat Work With Smartphones

The Best Wireless Speakersfor Every Type of Environment

Great AccessoriesFor The iPad Enthusiast

Hot New Casesfor Your Apple Handset

Make Your Life EasierWith These Products

The Best Kitchen Gadgetsfor Those Who Love to Cook

The Best Apple GiftsFor Everyone

Wireless Chargersfor the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X

Grab These Accessoriesfor Your AirPods

The Best AirPrint PrintersFor Every Type of Printer

The Best Apple BooksFor the Apple Fan

Health Accessories for iPhone UsersTo Help Monitor your Body

Smart Light BulbsTo Improve Your Home

Even MoreBack to School Accessories

The Best iPhone AccessoriesFor Everyone

The Best Bluetooth HeadphonesFor Every Type of Scenario

Cases and Sleevesfor the 10.5-inch iPad Pro

Great Cases for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro

Cool Gift Gifts Under $30That Anyone Would Appreciate

Because Your Home Deservesthe Best Connection Possible

The Best Outdoor SpeakersThat Pack A Punch

Cool GadgetsFor iPhone and iPad Owners

The Best Cellphone HoldersFor Any Smartphone

iPhone Photography AccessoriesTo Take Your Images To The Next Level

Protect and HighlightYour New Gadget

Enjoy the Sounds of the SeasonWith These Products

Best Mac AccessoriesFor Power Users

Great iPhone AccessoriesYou Need Now

The Best Portable ChargersFor Every Occasion

Car AccessoriesThat Make Your Ride More Enjoyable

The Best Third-Party Apple Watch Bandsand Accessories

Perfect Accessoriesfor Apple's New 2017 iPad Pro Lineup

The Best Laptop Bagsfor any MacBook

Awesome Gadgets and Productsfor Fanboys Everywhere

Smart Home DevicesTailor-Made for Your iPhone or iPad

Great Apple TVAccessories

App-Enabled Toys and GamesThat Work with iPhones and iPads

Source: The Best iPhone X Cases Ahead of the Smartphone's Nov. 3 Release

Pixel 2 release countdown - UK Price, specs and what time Google will reveal new phones

Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL - Leaked photos, concept images, and renders Wed, July 5, 2017

ANDROID POLICE

1 of 13

High-resolution render of the Google Pixel 2 XL, published by AndroidPolice

After months of rumours, leaks and speculation the Google Pixel 2 and larger Pixel 2 XL will finally be unveiled later today.

Google has a major event taking place with the internet giant expected to show off its new smartphones and a host of other devices.

So, if you're a fan of the Pixel here's everything you need to know about tonight's event.

SPECS

There's no official specs about these new devices but a recent Google Pixel 2 leak has already exposed many of the features.

These include the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, a new 12-megapixel camera and stereo speakers.

It's thought the Pixel 2 will include a 5-inch 1080p display with the larger Pixel 2 XL landing with a giant 6-inch screen.

A leaked images also shows that the Pixel 2 will keep its thick bezels at the top and bottom of the device whilst the Pixel 2 XL appears to have an almost edge-to-edge screen.

Other features under the hood include 4GB of RAM and either 64GB of 128GB of memory - it's unclear if this will be expandable.

GOOGLE • PH

Google Pixel 2 will be unveiled later today

PRICE

According to a recent post from Droid Life, the Pixel will be priced at $649/$749 and the Pixel 2 XL will cost $849/$949, depending on capacity.

There's no word on UK prices although they are expected to be revealed later tonight.

The original Pixel currently costs £599 with the larger Pixel XL costing £719 so expect similar pricing for the new phones.

WHAT TIME WILL THE ANNOUNCEMENT BE MADE?

The event kicks off at 5pm BST although it's unlikely the Pixel will be first thing Google talks about.

Expect all the announcements to have been made by around 6.30pm.

GOOGLE

The Google Pixel 2 XL could feature an almost edge-to-edge display

WHAT ELSE IS BEING ANNOUNCED?

According to the latest rumours, Google could introduce a new pair of headphones designed specifically to work with the talkative A.I. assistant.

The wireless earbuds will purportedly be similar to Apple AirPods, which were announced alongside the iPhone 7 in September last year.

However, sources believe Google's new headphones will have a wire that connects the two buds.

Along with these headphones a recent tweet Raymond Durk, may have revealed a new speaker on its way.

The San Francisco resident claims that he spotted a new Google speaker being used.

Although there's no way of knowing if this is a real device, it could be that a Google staff member was testing the speaker nearby when Durk stumbled across the setup process.

There had already been plenty of rumours that Google was planning to launch a new music device and this tweet could confirm it's called the Home Mini.

Finally it's thought Google reveal an updated VR headset which aims to improve the current virtual reality experience.

GOOGLW

Google may announce a new speaker at its event tonight

Google's big event kicks off at 5pm BST and Express.co.uk will be there to bring you all the latest news so be sure to visit Express.co.uk/techology.

Related articles
Source: Pixel 2 release countdown - UK Price, specs and what time Google will reveal new phones

The iPhone Wasn't the First Smartphone. Here's How It Managed to Change the World

What is it about the history of the iPhone that makes it unique and different from Android? originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.

Answer by Brian Merchant, Writer, editor, author of 'The One Device', on Quora:

What is it about the history of the iPhone that makes it unique and different from Android?

That's a question that cuts to the heart of some of the major themes of my book--both the iPhone and Android phones are based on many of the same broader technologies and ideas, some of which are older even than Google or Apple. The first smartphone, the IBM Simon, which tried to do many of the basic things the iPhone does today, hit the market in the early 90s. The raw parts of the modern smartphone, the hardware, whether it iPhone or Android--the ARM processors, the glass screen, the multitouch sensors, the lithium ion batteries and so on--are in a general sense fairly similar.

The iPhone was unique in that Apple pioneered a unique and striking way to combine and utilize these hardware features, and then to create a software interface that was instantly appealing to most people. Apple had a team, called the Explore New Rich Interactions team, that the iPhone concept grew out of, that had been experimenting with touch-based computing since nearly the turn of the century.

Then, Apple's Human Interface Group--among them, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri, and Greg Christie--designed a fluid, multitouch-based interface, one that lets you poke, prod, scroll, pinch and zoom on computers, that would help sell the world on the idea of smartphones, period. Apple also had software engineers like Richard Williamson and Henri Lamiraux who helped squeeze an actually good web browser onto a phone-sized device--a first for the time. Then it had an industrial design team and a hardware squad that made the whole physical product look good and function well.

Apple also embraced multitouch in a way that no company had before, and used this relatively untested new technology as the centerpiece for interacting with its new device.

At the time of the iPhone's release, in fact, Android was missing most of those features--the team was, by most counts, stunned at the elegance of the iPhone when Jobs debuted it in January 2007. The Android team was working on a plastic, hard keyboard-style phone, a la Blackberry, that looked instantly dated when the iPhone dropped. They had to go back to the drawing board, and "borrowed" a lot of the key elements of the iPhone, kicking off a series of legal disputes that continues to this day.

In other words, the wider-lens history of the components and general concepts that make the iPhone and Android possible, the basic ingredients, is rather similar, and in that sense both phone makers are lucky they got into the game when they did, as the technologies needed matured at around that point in the mid-00s. But Apple had the jump on the user interface, web browser, and design by a mile, and had been thinking about the iPhone's fundamentals for years before they started in on turning it into a phone-based product. That helped Apple nail the model for the modern smartphone first.

This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions:

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

Source: The iPhone Wasn't the First Smartphone. Here's How It Managed to Change the World

PS5 v Xbox One X: Microsoft's smartphone business model at odds with Sony PlayStation

SONY

Sony is planning to release the PlayStation 5 as a true next-gen console

Sony and Microsoft appear to be taking different approaches with the PS5 and Xbox One.

According to a Digital Foundry panel at EGX, Sony is planning a next-gen PS5, while Microsoft will adopt a smartphone-style business model.

This means that while we can expect the PlayStation 5 to stick around for a number of years, Microsoft will continually refresh and evolve its hardware.

PS4 lead architect Mark Cerny reportedly said that Sony believes in the console generation, while Microsoft's Mike Ybarra said the opposite.

Microsoft will instead make the latest technology available, suggesting that new hardware or graphics cards will release for the Xbox.

The news comes as one industry analyst predicts a 2020 release date for the PS5.

PS4 upcoming must-have games - Top games heading to Sony's PlayStation 4 console Thu, September 21, 2017

SQUARE ENIX

1 of 23

In comments reported by PSU, industry analyst Michael Pachter said: "I think that's exactly when you'll see one (PS5) 2019 or 2020, and if I had to bet, it's 2020. 

"Sony's making so much money with the PS4 that I think they'll continue to milk it as long as they can milk it. 

"And I think the natural extension of that is the PS4 Pro becomes the default PS4, and they just knock that price down to $250 when they can and they keep selling it - a ton of those. 

"The PS5 is probably going to be their real 4K device, and so it just feels to me that they're not going to launch the PS5 until sales momentum for the PS4 slows, and it just hasn't. 

"So you certainly get through 2017, 2018, and I just don't see it slowing in 2018 which should prop them to launch something in 2019. 

"If it slows in 2019, they're probably launching in 2020."

And the PS5 could already have its first blockbuster game, as Avalanche Studios hints at what's to come for the next-gen.

While the PS5 release date remains a mystery, Just Cause developer Avalanche has provided further proof that the next-generation of consoles is coming.

And it looks like Avalanche will be at the forefront of the new generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

The developer is advertising for staff to work on its next-gen sandbox engine.

"Avalanche Studios is currently looking for a senior programmer to join a small team developing our next generation open world / sandbox multiplayer engine," reads an Avalanche job post.

Related articles
Source: PS5 v Xbox One X: Microsoft's smartphone business model at odds with Sony PlayStation