42 Percent Of Voice Assistant Users Favor Their Smartphone

Despite the growth in adoption of voice-activated smart speakers this year, it appears that consumers still prefer to issue commands via the personal device they're most accustomed to: Of those who use voice-activated assistants, 42 percent do so via their smartphone, according to a study from Pew Research Center cited by eMarketer.

Significantly fewer used a virtual assistant on a PC or tablet (14 percent) or a standalone device like Amazon Echo or Google Home (8 percent) to interact via voice this year.

That doesn't mean that adoption of these devices has slowed or ceased: In October 2017, comScore reported that smart speakers had hit a "critical adoption threshold" in the US. But these findings underscore the fact that consumers are still most comfortable with their long-held most personal device — and reminds marketers that thinking about "mobile" now inherently means thinking about voice.

Mobile Voice Search: Answering Users' Questions

eMarketer reports that 60 percent of respondents said they preferred using spoken language because it is a "more natural way to interact with services than physical typing." This corresponds with J. Walter Thompson and Mindshare's findings earlier this year proving that voice is cognitively simpler for people than swipe/text.

With this in mind, it's easy to see why a mass shift from typing on smartphones to talking to them is underway. And it means that marketers need to prioritize ranking in the kind of searches users make on mobile via voice — as well as thinking about how to become a voice assistant's preferred answer.

As Hilton's director of global SEO, Melissa Walner, put it earlier this year, "the challenge… is making sure that [you] have the content on your website that is answering the questions that customers are actually looking for. This means making sure you know exactly what your customers are searching for: Looking at different types of search query data is very helpful. A lot of times, people will think they know what their customer is looking for, but then you find out later on — especially when it comes to using voice search — that they didn't know the intent [behind the query.]"

Essentially, marketers need to make sure they know exactly what their customers are asking for — knowing the intent behind it, and then making sure they have content on their site that specifically addresses and answers it in order to rank in these search results.

Yext VP of Industry Insights Duane Forrester echoed this sentiment in a discussion following the release of his book, Voice Search Changes Everything: "Marketers… have to adopt that long-tail, conversational phrase approach to targeting what to produce content around. You do need to build the detailed answers. You have to think about this in terms of the common and uncommon questions that are related to your product and services. Let's use an example: If a person buys a "red widget," inevitably, they're going to need a widget polishing cloth, and you sell a widget polishing cloth. Well, that means you have to talk about red widgets. That's an easy win for you."

Source: 42 Percent Of Voice Assistant Users Favor Their Smartphone

A practical, stylish and convenient smartphone series with serious attitude

Korea – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Samsung Electronics today announced the latest additions to the Galaxy A series: the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018).

The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) feature a Dual Front Camera, a large Infinity Display and stunning ergonomic design that draws on Samsung's flagship design heritage and experience. With additional everyday features, the Galaxy A series is more stylish, practical and convenient than ever before.

"With the release of the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018), we're bringing our customers' favorite features from our flagship smartphones, such as the Infinity Display and our first Dual Front Camera with Live Focus, to our Galaxy A series, which is already known for its premium design," said Junho Park, Vice President of Global Product Planning, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) exemplify our continued dedication to meeting the needs of our consumers by providing them with greater choice and convenience."

Snap bright, clear selfies with the 16MP F1.7 rear camera and 16MP+8MP F1.9Dual Front Camera, no matter where you are or what you're doing. The Dual Front Camera is made up of two separate cameras so you can switch between the two to take the type of selfie you want – from close-ups with the background to portrait shots with a clear and crisp background. And with the advanced Live Focus feature, you can easily adjust the bokeh effect before or after you take the picture to create high-quality images.

From day to night, the advanced camera makes sure you capture sharp images, even in low-light conditions. The new devices also allow you to customize your photos with fun options, from adding stickers to your selfie or highlighting a culinary extravaganza with Food Mode.

Shaky video footage will be a thing of the past with video digital image stabilisation (VDis) technology, and with an added hyperlapse feature, you can now create time-lapse videos that let you record, tell and share even longer stories.

When watching movies or playing games, the latest Galaxy A devices set a new standard for uninterrupted, immersive viewing experiences. The Infinity Display goes beyond the bezel with an immersive 18.5:9 display ratio1, so that you can view the whole scene across your screen for the ultimate cinematic experience. The large screen is supported with ergonomic curved glass on the back and front. Its sleek glass and metal frame, smooth curves and comfortable grip make it even easier to watch or interact with content on your phone. The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) are available in four colors including black, orchid grey, gold and blue to suit your personal style2.

Both devices will continually keep you informed with the Always On Display, meaning you can get information at a glance without unlocking your phone. With Samsung Pay3, there's no need to bring your wallet with you every time you go out. Supporting Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) and Near Field Communication (NFC), the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) can be used virtually anywhere you can tap or swipe your card. Every transaction via Samsung Pay is secure, yet very simple. All it takes is one swipe and one fingerprint scan.

Offering IP68 water and dust resistance4, the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) can withstand the elements, including sweat, rain, sand and dust, making it suitable for nearly any activity or situation. The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) support microSD cards so you can expand your storage capacity by as much as 256GB, and are the first in the A series to support Samsung's Gear VR.

The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) will be available in early January 2018.

--------

* Features and functions will vary by market and mobile operator

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document

including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability,

and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

1 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners

2 Color availability may vary by country

3 Availability of service may vary by country

4 Carrying an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Based on test conditions of submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes

( Press Release Image: https://photos.webwire.com/prmedia/6/218183/218183-1.jpg )

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Source: A practical, stylish and convenient smartphone series with serious attitude

Samsung to Release New Mid-Range Smartphones

Samsung will roll out its new mid-range Galaxy A smartphones in January, the company said on Tuesday.

The Galaxy A8 and A8 Plus will be the first Samsung handsets equipped with front-facing dual cameras. The main 16-megapixel camera shoots selfies and the secondary 8-megapixel captures depth-of-field data.

They have wide 5.6-inch and 6-inch screens with a minimal bezel and have water and dust resistance levels similar to the Galaxy S8. 

The new phones are expected to be priced at around W600,000, up to W100,000 higher than its predecessors (US$1=W1,084). 

Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com

Source: Samsung to Release New Mid-Range Smartphones

Microsoft Surface Phone CONFIRMED as code hidden in new app hints at FOLDING smartphone

Surface Phone - Leaked photos, concept images, and renders Thu, May 4, 2017

CASMIR VALERI • BEHANCE

1 of 17

Microsoft CEO hinted it could be 'ultimate mobile device'

Surface Phone rumours are back, thanks to a morsel of code buried in the latest version of Microsoft's Whiteboard desktop app.

Whispers of a premium smartphone designed by Panos Panay and the team behind the likes of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop had died down following the demise of Windows 10 Mobile.

Of course, Microsoft never confirmed it was building a flagship Windows 10 smartphone.

However, a number of prominent figures had teased the development of a productivity-focused mobile phone.

CEO Satya Nadella raised hopes amongst Microsoft fans earlier this year when he claimed that a smartphone from the company could be "the ultimate mobile device".

And now, code buried within Microsoft's Whiteboard app hints at a foldable Surface Phone.

RYAN SMALLEY • BEHANCE.NET

Code within the new Microsoft software points to a Surface Phone with folding screens

One of the most persistent rumours about the so-called Surface Phone was that the smartphone would include a hinge, enabling owners to increase the size of the display by folding opening the device and increasing productivity.

Code within the Microsoft software points directly to a device with this design.

According to a reliable Windows tipster, known as WalkingCat online, the Whiteboard app includes references to "Journal; app' left and right page references."

This is a clear hint that Microsoft is working on a device with a separate left and right interface.

The Journal app referred to within the code could be designed for said hardware.

WalkingCat detailed another reference within the Whiteboard app.

"This is the accessibility title for the whiteboard application which is a single large canvas for creation with a chrome toolbar at the bottom," the leakster tweeted.

Earlier this year, a user claiming to be a former employee of a Microsoft contractor posted on Reddit, stating the Surface Phone wouldn't launch for at least another year.

The source – who shared the news under the handle zombieacc – said the device would "probably" be released in late 2018 or 2019.

The source went on to claim that despite this delay, Microsoft is not giving up on the Surface Phone, which is set to be one of the most powerful devices launched by the company.

"Nobody knows what they are working on right now, but they don't seem to be giving up," the user added. 

"Some special phone-PC-like Windows 10 ARM device will probably arrive in late 2018 or 2019. I have no more info on that, but I think Windows 10 ARM is much further away than some of us hope."

Related articles
Source: Microsoft Surface Phone CONFIRMED as code hidden in new app hints at FOLDING smartphone

Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus Launching in February (Report)

Samsung will release its next flagship phones sooner than expected, according to a report from Bloomberg. The company will reportedly introduce the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus in late February and release them in March.

The new phones will allegedly look a lot like the current Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, but may have far better cameras to take on the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The release would come just months after the September release of the Note 8.

Bloomberg's report is otherwise light on specs and other information. Other rumors we've heard before include a fingerprint reader under the screen, a Snapdragon 845 CPU and a dual-lens camera.

The phone would be in hot competition with Apple's $999 iPhone X, which was released this fall for $999.

Source: Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus Launching in February (Report)

Recent Samsung patent reveals smartphone with a double-sided display

Samsung has long-since been rumored to be releasing a foldable smartphone, but that might not be the only innovative handset it has in the works: the South Korean giant may also be developing on a device with a double-sided display.

This speculation arrives from LetsGoDigital (via The Korea Herald), who recently picked up a Samsung Display patent application which revealed a device with such a design. This was originally submitted in 2015 in Korea and in 2016 in the US, before being published by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) yesterday.

The patent application, a sample from which you can see above, pertains to a smartphone with a display that would wrap around the side of the phone and cover part of the rear. This, presumably, would have touchscreen capabilities on the front and back, given that system icons can be seen on both sides.

It's a similar setup to what Meizu recently delivered with the Meizu Pro 7 Plus, though that device had a completely separate rear display, while Samsung's would feature a single screen (whether that would be an advantage or disadvantage we can't say). Samsung does have previous experience with smartphones that have curved displays and additional functionality on their edges, so this product wouldn't be a world away from what the company has already produced.

Editor's Pick

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus: Everything we know so far (Updated)

Update, 12/11/2017: The Korea Herald has added to the speculation of the Galaxy S9's improved iris scanning technology with some new details. According to the website, citing a source familiar with the matter, the Galaxy S9's …

As with any smartphone patent application, don't expect to see a device rocking this design appear anytime soon, however; Samsung and other tech companies submit regular patents as part of their business operations, it's not necessarily an indication that it is actively working on this type of product.

While we liked the rear display feature on the Meizu Pro 7 Plus from an innovation standpoint, we didn't think it added anything interesting to the handset in terms of functionality (it can show notifications, time, and weather information, just like the front display). Should Samsung release a device with this design, we would hope it has something more to offer.

Tell us what you think of the potential for this device in the comments.

Source: Recent Samsung patent reveals smartphone with a double-sided display

Galaxy S9 price, release date and specs: Leaked schematics reveal new-look back panel and slimmed-down bezels

THE GALAXY S8 may have arrived on shelves mere months ago, but reports claim that Samsung has already started production of next year's flagship: the Galaxy S9. 

We've done some digging, and this isn't all we know about the so-called Galaxy S9, so we've rounded up everything we know about the handset so far. 

Specs- 5.8in / 6.2in QHD+ Super AMOLED curved display (570ppi / 529ppi)- Android 8.0 'O'- Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (US) / Samsung Exynos (UK)- Cat 18 LTE support (1.2Gbps download speeds)- Display embedded fingerprint scanner- Dual rear-facing camera- Bixby AI assistant with dedicated button- USB-C

Release dateWith reports claiming that Samsung will start production of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus this year, it's likely that the handsets will debut earlier in the year than the Galaxy S8, and hints that Samsung could be planning a launch at next year's MWC.

This has been further fuelled as the displays look set to arrive in November, which puts the final delivery date, based on previous timings, in January.

PriceThere's no word yet on pricing for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. If anything like the S8, expect handsets to fetch around £689 and £779 SIM-free.

Latest news 14/12/17: Schematic drawings of the Galaxy S9 (above) have appeared on Chinese social network Weibo and 'confirm' that the upcoming flagship will sport a new-look back panel. The drawings show that the phone will feature a vertically-aligned camera, with what looks like a fingerprint scanner underneath and a heart rate monitor on the right-hand side. Around the front, the Galaxy S9 looks set to sport a slimmed-down bezel that should allow for more screen real estate.  

11/12/17: A purported image of the Galaxy S9 (below), obtained by Android Headlines, shows that the Samsung flagship will likely pack a single lens rear-facing camera, despite earlier speculation of a dual lens upgrade.

However, the report notes that the bigger Galaxy S9 Plus will sport a dual lens set-up, similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 8. The image doesn't give much else away but does appear to confirm that the fingerprint scanner will sit underneath the camera sensor, while a sticker on the rear of the phone points to a variant with 64GB internal storage. 

7/12/17: Qualcomm this week revealed the Snapdragon 845 SoC, which is expected to debut inside the Galaxy S9.

The chipmaker is promising more power than before, with the 845's high-power cores offering a 25-30 per cent boost in performance, while the low power cores offer a 15 per cent improvement. Better battery life is also touted, with the Snapdragon 845 promising 30 per cent better battery efficiency, along with faster LTE speeds with Qualcomm's new X20 LTE modem offer Cat 18 speeds of over 1Gbps. The chip will also support the capture of Ultra HD Premium footage at 60fps, and comes with a new  Secure Processing Unit (SPU) that claims to offer "vault-like security."

6/12/17: Samsung has denied rumours that the Galaxy S9 will launch in January, telling the Korea Herald that it's "unlikely" that its next flagship smartphone will make an appearance at next year's CES. However, the firm's long-rumoured Galaxy X could make its debut at the Las Vegas tech show, the SamMobile reporting that Samsung will be showing off the foldable smartphone behind closed doors. 

5/12/17: Samsung has announced that it's started production of the 'world's first' 512GB embedded Universal Flash Storage (eUFS). The chip, Samsung claims, boasts sequential read speeds of 860 MB/s and sequential writes of 255 MB/s, and the firm says it's intended for "next generation" mobile devices, likely a sign that it'll debut inside next year's Galaxy S9. 

4/12/17: Ever-reliable Samsung blog SamMobile is claiming that the Galaxy S9 will be made available in four different colour options: black, gold, blue and purple. Last year, speculation had claimed that the Galaxy S8 would also launch in a purple variant, but this rumour never came to fruition. 

SamMobile notes, however, that there's a "high chance" this isn't the final list of colours, adding that Orchid Gray and Arctic Silver could also turn out to be a part of the lineup.

1/12/17: The Leaker is reporting that while some models of the Galaxy S9 will pack Qualcomm's 10nm Snapdragon 845 processor, others will feature an Exynos 9th series CPU, which will be "15 per cent more efficient" than the Exynos chip found in the Galaxy S8. This, according to the report, comes as Samsung looks to challenge Apple's A11 Bionic CPU, and could make for "staggering" battery life on next year's flagship.

29/11/17: ET News has debunked rumours that the Galaxy S9 will feature souped-up facial recognition technology similar to the iPhone X's Face ID, and has claimed that, instead, it'll feature the same iris scanning tech as the Galaxy S9. Don't expect an under screen fingerprint sensor, either, as the report notes that the S9 will feature a scanner on its rear.

There's some good news, though. ET News adds weight to rumours that next year's Samsung flagship will launch earlier than usual with its claims that mass production will begin in January. 

27/11/17: According to a report at SamMobile, the Galaxy S9 will boast less bezel than its S8 predecessor. A tipster told the website that there could be a 90 per cent screen-to-body ratio on Samsung's upcoming flagship, up from around 84 per cent on the Galaxy S8. According to the report, this will mean that the bottom bezel is almost non-existent, potentially giving Samsung room to squeeze a large screen into the device.

24/11/17: Accessory maker Ghostek has leaked renders (below) of the Galaxy S9 to BGR, confirming the smartphone's full-screen design, dual cameras and rear-facing fingerprint scanner, However, BGR notes that while the renders are "mostly accurate", another source said that the bezel above the phone's display will be a bit narrower, and the speaker at the top looks a bit different.

23/11/17: The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus will make their first public appearance at next year's CES, according to a report at VentureBeat. The report claims, having spoken to someone 'briefed on the company's plans', that Samsung will give a sneak peak of the devices at the January tech show before a full unveiling takes place in March next year.

The report also claims that the S9 will arrive as an iterative update, featuring a 'near identical' design to the last year's Galaxy S8.  What's more, it's tipped to feature the same 5.8in screen as the S8, while the S9 Plus will sport the same 6.2in Infinity display as its predecessor.

Under the hood, both phones are expected to Qualcomm's upcoming 10nm Snapdragon 845 CPU. The S9+ will reportedly offer more RAM (6GB vs 4GB) and a second rear camera, similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 8. Elsewhere, expect both the S9 and S9 Plus to pack a microSD slot, 3.5mm headphone jack and AKG stereo speakers

20/11/17: Samsung plans to equip the Galaxy S9 with souped-up iris and face recognition tools, according to a report at ET News. The report claims that the firm is "developing software to increase the face recognition rate of the Galaxy S9 front iris recognition sensor." Industry insiders claim that these improvements come as Samsung looks to take on Face ID, which Apple is touting as the most secure face-scanning tech on the market today.

17/11/17: New benchmark results for a Samsung smartphone with the model number SM-G960F - widely expected to the global version of the Galaxy S9 - have appeared on the Geekbench website. The handset, which likely will come powered by Samsung's new Exynos 9 Series 9810 processor, scored 2680 on the single-core Geekbench 4 test and a 7787 on the multi-core test. While impressive, this puts the device far behind the iPhone X, which scored a single-core score of 4197 and multi-core score of 10051.

15/11/17:  Just a day after rumours claimed that Apple was planning to launch three new iPhones in 2018, Ice Universe (via ValueWalk) claims that Samsung is going to beat the firm to it by reviving its 'mini'' line next year. The tipster claims that the so-called Galaxy S9 Mini will launch alongside the S9 and S9+, and will tout a 5in(ish) Infinity display. 

14/11/17: SlashLeaks has posted CAD drawings supposedly belonging to the Galaxy S9, which 'confirms' that the smartphone will be a full-screen device with far slimmer bezels than those seen on the Galaxy S8. The image also confirms that the smartphone will sport Samsung's signature curved edges, while a second CAD render shows a vertically-aligned dual camera setup on its backside and a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. However, we'd advise taking this latest leak with a pinch of salt, as reputable tipster @OnLeaks has tweeted that the images are "very likely fake, or at least inaccurate."

9/11/17: South Korea's The Investor reports that, due to "technical difficulties" in developing an under-screen fingerprint sensor, Samsung will stick the scanner on the back of its Galaxy S9 and S9+ handsets. This rumour comes amid speculation that Samsung could ditch the sensor altogether in favour of Face ID-style face recognition technology, but an industry source debunked this to The Investor, saying: "Samsung won't get rid of fingerprint sensors in its handsets, as there many services and platforms run based on the technology."

3/11/17: Samsung has launched a public beta for Experience 9.0, its take on Android Oreo that will show up on 'the next Galaxy flagship', no doubt the Galaxy S9. As of 2 November, some Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus owners in the UK, US and South Korea will get to try out the next-gen UI, which comes complete with a GIF keyboard, a game mode for DeX and more flexible Samsung Cloud file storage

31/10/17: Face ID-style tech isn't the only feature the Galaxy S9 will borrow from the iPhone, as a new leak suggests that Samsung's upcoming flagship will be the first to ditch the headphone jack. TechDroider has posted sketches (below) of the upcoming smartphone, which as well as reigniting speculation that Samsung is testing an under-screen fingerprint sensor, 'confirms'' that the 3.5mm jack will be ditched.

30/10/17: The Galaxy S9's rear panel will "change a lot", according to Twitter tipster Ice Universe, who failed to elaborate on his claims. However, it's expected that Samsung will ditch the rear-facing fingerprint sensor, and there's also talk that the S9 and S9 Plus will feature a dual camera setup similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 8. 

27/10/17: We've already heard that the Galaxy S9 likely will follow the iPhone X with baked-in Face ID-style tech, and now new rumours are claiming that the firm will also, like Apple, ditch the fingerprint scanner altogether. Reliable tipster Ice Universe has tweeted that he's "100 per cent sure" that the S9 won't have a fingerprint scanner, despite earlier speculation that the handset would be the first to feature a screen-embedded sensor. 

26/10/17: Samsung will reportedly integrate its own neural engine into the Exynos version of the Galaxy S9. The Korea Herald writes that Samsung has ploughed money into DeePhi Tech, a startup from China that specialises in neural network compression technology. Samsung is said to be interested in using this technology, which allows for instantaneous speech recognition, neural language processing and other recognition tasks on smartphones, into its upcoming flagship in a bid to improve its AI capabilities.

13/10/17: While Samsung's current Galaxy S8 and Note 8 both feature built-in iris scanners, rumours claim that Samsung will adopt iPhone X-style Face ID tech on next year's Galaxy S9. A tweet from Ice Universe, via SamMobile, claims that the firm will equip its upcoming flagship with a 3D image mapping sensor, which will be capable of scanning users' faces from all angle. There's no word yet as to whether the firm will also ditch the fingerprint scanner found on current models. 

10/10/17: Russian tipster Elder Murtazin has 'confirmed' previous rumours that Samsung will have first dibs on Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 845 CPU. He said on Twitter (below, er, in Russian) that the entire first production run of the new chipset will be sold to Samsung, with other OEMs getting access to the 845 at a later date. 

4/10/17: In a hardly surprising development, SamMobile has confirmed that there will be two versions of the Galaxy S9. The site discovered two model numbers for the handset - G960FXXU0AQI5 and G965FXXU0AQI5 - the first of which allegedly belongs to the Galaxy S9, and the latter to the Galaxy S9 Plus. The report doesn't reveal much else about the upcoming flagships, but it does add weight to rumours of an early-2018 launch. 

26/9/17: Samsung is reportedly planning to follow in the footsteps of Huawei by developing a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) chip, which could make its debut inside the Galaxy S9. The Korea Herald reports that "[Samsung] is in the middle of developing several types of chips that will be capable of processing massive data from AI applications on devices, eliminating the need to communicate with cloud servers."

19/9/17: The Galaxy S9 could pack a camera sensor capable of shooting 'super slow motion' footage at 1,000fps, according to ETNews. It reports that the camera sensor will use stacked image sensing tech similar to the Sony Xperia XZ1, with the ability to temporarily store captured images on a DRAM chip in one of the layers. Samsung will start mass producing the '3-layered image sensor' in November, according to the report. 

6/9/17: A patent (below), which has recently been approved by Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service, suggests that the Galaxy S9 could feature a cutout at the top of its display, similar to that expected to feature on the iPhone 8. Alternatively, the firm could be planning to introduce a notched display on a new smartphone altogether. 

18/8/17: Just days before Samsung unveils its next flagship, the Galaxy Note 8, a help load of information about the Galaxy S9 has appeared online. The first rumour comes via well-known tipster Elder Murtazin, who claims that the 2018 flagship could feature a 'MotoMod' style modular design, allowing users attach external modules via magnetic pins on the rear of the phone. Separately, a post over at Weibo claims that Samsung will be 'hoarding' 2018's initial supply of Snapdragon 835 chips for ahead of the Galaxy S9 launch.

31/7/17: Samsung has announced the 'industry's first' Cat 18 LTE modem with 6CA support, and it'll probably make its debut inside the Galaxy S9. The modem, set to go into production earlier this year, can reach download speeds of 1.2Mbps, a 20 per cent increase compared to the 1Gbps modem inside the Galaxy S8.

18/7/17: Korean news outlet The Investor is reporting that the Samsung Galaxy S9 will feature the same 5.8in display as the Galaxy S9, while the bigger S9+ will feature the same 6.2in screen as the current Galaxy S8+. The report notes that Samsung 'is likely to attempt again to feature on-screen fingerprint scanning that is missing from the S8 due to technical immaturity.'

28/6/17: Despite recent chatter that Samsung wouldn't offer a Snapdragon variant, new rumours suggest that the Galaxy S9 will use both its own 8nm Exynos chips and an as-yet-unannounced 7nm processor out of Qualcomm. The same report claims that TSMC will make the upcoming Snapdragon chip, rather than Samsung.

23/6/17: Speculation over at Weibo claims that the Galaxy S9 might not come in a Snapdragon variant, with the smartphone instead shipping only with Samsung's own Exynos 9810 processor, complete with CDMA network support. If this rumour is legit, it would mean that Qualcomm and Samsung have reached an agreement in relation to a CDMA patents issue.

12/6/17: The Galaxy S9 will be the first Samsung smartphone to boast new AMOLED screen tech codenamed 'Sunflower', according to a report at Android Headlines. Tech specs haven't yet been confirmed, but it's likely Samsung is looking to improve the display fidelity.

24/5/17: The Bell reports that production of the Galaxy S9 will likely start as soon as this year, with Samsung having settled on the codenames Star and Star 2 for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones. The report also notes that S9 and S9 Plus will have "similar specs" to the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, and won't feature Samsung's foldable display tech. 

21/4/17: Reports claim that Samsung and Qualcomm have started developing the so-called Snapdragon 845 processor - based on the second-gen 10nm manufacturing process - which is tipped to debut inside the Galaxy S9. 

1/4/17: Korean publication The Bell claims that Samsung has  started work on the display panel for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Pus. It doesn't say much else, but notes that the screen will be similar to that found on the Galaxy S8, and will be made available in the same 5.8in and 6.2in sizes. µ 

Source: Galaxy S9 price, release date and specs: Leaked schematics reveal new-look back panel and slimmed-down bezels

Synaptics announces world's first in-display fingerprint sensor, launching with a 'top 5' smartphone OEM

Bezels are about to get smaller, and buttons are about to start going away.

One of the leading biometrics technology companies, Synaptics, has announced a big breakthrough in phone authentication: in-display fingerprint sensors. The new "Clear ID FS9500" (catchy name) fingerprint sensor is designed for smartphones with near-bezel-free displays, and provides fingerprint authentication on demand completely within the display panel itself.

The Clear ID FS9500 sensor offers the same type of one-touch authentication we know today, but does it underneath the display glass — and it can handle a variety of situations including wet, dry and cold fingers. As you'd expect, it integrates a complete security stack with AES encryption and a variety of authentication features that companies can choose from. Seeing as it otherwise works the same as a dedicated hardware sensor, one of the great features of this in-display solution is that it can be turned on and off at will, meaning that unlike traditional sensors it doesn't occupy any space on the body of the phone when not needed.

We've seen technical demonstrations of this type of technology, but Synaptics is making this announcement because it says that it is already in mass production in partnership with a "top five" smartphone company. That already narrows things down a bit, but Synaptics has a couple other hints that seem too good to be a coincidence. In its press release, the company specifically calls out the demand for "bezel-free OLED infinity displays," which is interestingly the exact type of naming Samsung has applied to its curved displays in the flagship Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note 8.

This in-screen fingerprint sensor technology could certainly end up in all sorts of phones in 2018, but given the hints here we wouldn't be surprised if the Samsung Galaxy S9 was one of the first. Following the relative debacle of the Galaxy S8's rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and promises of upgraded iris scanning on the GS9, we could see the removal of the dedicated physical fingerprint sensor on the new phone.

In any case, we know a big-name manufacturer will have this Synaptics technology integrated into a phone soon. And that looks like it'll be a win for everyone.

Press release:

Synaptics Brings World's First In-Display Fingerprint Sensors for Smartphones to Mass Production with a Top Five OEM

Clear ID Optical Sensors are Faster, More Convenient and Secure than Alternative Biometrics SAN JOSE, Calif. – December 12, 2017 – Synaptics Incorporated (NASDAQ: SYNA), the leading developer of human interface solutions, today announced mass production with a top five OEM of its new Clear ID™ FS9500 family of optical in-display fingerprint sensors. Designed for smartphones with infinity displays, Synaptics' Clear ID in-display fingerprint sensors magically activate in the display only when needed. Clear ID is faster than alternative biometrics such as 3D facial, highly-secure with SentryPoint™ technology, and very convenient with one-touch/one-step biometric authentication directly in the touchscreen display area of smartphones.

The new Synaptics Clear ID optical fingerprint sensors deliver one-touch high-resolution scanning through full cover glass and enable sleek, button-free, bezel-free infinity displays. Synaptics' highperformance Clear ID FS9500 optical solution excels with wet, dry and cold fingers, and since it's protected by glass, is durable, scratchproof and waterproof. In-display fingerprint technology allows users to securely unlock the device in situations including while it's sitting on the table, at any angle, or while in a car mount. Synaptics' Clear ID performance is twice as fast as 3D facial recognition and requires only one touch to access your smartphone.

Serious Security:

Synaptics optical fingerprint sensors are available with SentryPoint™ technology, offering OEMs a widerange of unique and highly secure authentication features including: Quantum Matcher™ for adaptive fingerprint template matching and authentication; PurePrint™ anti-spoof technology to examine fingerprint images using unique artificial intelligence technology to distinguish between spoofs and actual fingers; and SecureLink™ which combines support for TLS protocol with ECC authentication and AES encryption.

"Consumers prefer fingerprint authentication on the front of the phone, and with the industry quickly shifting to bezel-free OLED infinity displays, the natural placement of the fingerprint sensor is in the display itself," said Kevin Barber, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Division, Synaptics. "Synaptics' Clear ID fingerprint sensors are faster, more convenient, and more secure than alternative biometrics, and this optical technology represents a major innovation shift and opportunity for the smartphone market."

Source: Synaptics announces world's first in-display fingerprint sensor, launching with a 'top 5' smartphone OEM

Corella Place: Serious sex offenders have access to phones and internet on day release

SERIOUS sex offenders ordered to reside in a facility because they are deemed an unacceptable risk to the community can access phone and internet services via a loophole, news.com.au can reveal.

Corella Place — also known as "the Village of the Damned" — is home to some of Victoria's most dangerous convicted sex offenders who have been placed on orders to live in the supervised quarters under the state's Serious Sex Offenders Monitoring Act. It's where they're sent once they are released from prison.

While residents are not permitted to use the internet or mobile phones at Corella Place some of them do have unsupervised access to the services offsite.

A Corrections Victoria spokesperson said Corella Place residents were allowed to leave the facility accompanied by staff, subject to court orders and strict conditions. But a loophole means that even residents on the strictest orders can go unmonitored during offsite medical visits, business meetings and other appointments where privacy is cited as a requirement.

"Corella Place is a supervised residential facility, not a prison, and provides protection for the Victorian public as well as providing residents with appropriate access to rehabilitation programs and services," a Corrections Victoria spokesperson told news.com.au.

"Some orders might say the individual can't go within 100m of a school or can't go near a specific person or can't go to parks.

"They have someone to monitor them at all times but not in places like doctors' rooms or office meetings because of privacy reasons — the authority accompanying them would stay in the waiting room."

The Australian Medical Association last week revealed that female doctors in suburban Melbourne were at risk of "dangerous and unacceptable situations" involving a convicted sex predator who reportedly slipped away from supervision for a string of GP visits.

The 40-year-old — who has a history of raping, stalking and assaulting women — was ordered to live under supervision at the sex offender facility yet repeatedly travelled to Melbourne and called clinics requesting female-only doctors between August and December.

AMA Victoria warned members about the man requesting to see only female GPs.

"The male usually rings and says: 'Dr X has seen me in the past and can I make another appointment to see her'," the warning read.

Although orders required the rapist to be accompanied by a supervisor when seeing female doctors, he was alleged to have shown up unaccompanied for at least one ­consultation.

On other occasions, the man allegedly lied about being a regular patient of specific female doctors to avoid being booked to see their male colleagues.

Police and the AMA Victoria again issued warnings for the convicted criminal in early in December after "several" GPs had appointments with the man.

"AMA Victoria has been contacted by some of our GP members who work in Melbourne's northern suburbs. We understand that several female GPs have been exposed to unacceptable behaviours by a particular male patient," president Lorraine Baker said in a statement.

"This person specifically requests to see female GPs. It is alleged that this person has a sexual offence record. The police have been informed, but appear limited in their powers to assist." Dr Baker said GP clinics were usually be considered "very safe places" to work but that there was a danger in one-on-one appointments.

"Corella Place is for serious sex offenders who have completed their jail sentences, but are subject to court ordered treatment and supervision," the Corrections Victoria spokesperson said.

"These are people who would otherwise be living in the community with no supervision at all.

"Corella Place provides protection for the Victorian public as well as providing residents with appropriate access to rehabilitation programs and services."

The spokesperson said several measures including electronic monitoring of residents were in place to protect the community.

"Residents of the facility are members of the community subject to onerous conditions set by the court under the post-sentence scheme," the spokesperson said.

"Electronic monitoring includes alerts that are generated if the devices are tampered with in any way, which authorities respond to immediately," the Corrections Victoria spokesperson said.

"Tampering or removal of a device constitutes a breach of court orders.

"Victoria uses the best technology available, which is also used in other Australian jurisdictions and internationally."

Corrections Victoria staff have legal authority to search Corella Place residents and the facility for contraband items.

"If any items are found that breach court orders, residents can be returned to court and can go back to prison," the spokesperson said.

"Further restrictions, including drug and alcohol testing, may apply depending on individual court orders."

The maximum penalty for breaching a supervision order under the Serious Sex Offenders (Detention and Supervision) Act 2009 is up to five years imprisonment.

A Corrections Victoria spokeswoman said the department closely managed offenders on post-sentence supervision orders, whose conditions are set by the courts.

"This is a civil scheme for individuals who have completed their time in jail and would otherwise be in the community with no supervision at all," she said in a statement.

"The management of serious sex offenders has been strengthened in recent years, with police and Corrections Victoria given stronger powers to manage offenders in the community.

"Work is currently underway to implement reforms to the post-sentence regimen which will provide even greater protection for the community from our most serious offenders."

megan.palin@news.com.au | @Megan_Palin

Source: Corella Place: Serious sex offenders have access to phones and internet on day release

iPhone SE 2: Release date, price, news and rumours about Apple's forthcoming 'budget' smartphone

Apple's got the premium end of the smartphone market covered with the £999 iPhone X - so it's no surprise that the company is turning its attention to the other end of the spectrum.

The company's iPhone SE was billed as a powerful 4-inch option for those wanting a smaller device when it launched in March last year. And rumours are currently circulating that Apple plans to update it in the coming months.

It's also about time that Apple updated the form factor of the device - which is based on the iPhone 5 from 2012 -as well as updating the internal components to keep it competitive in 2018.

Here's everything we know about it so far.

Release date Read More

There's no telling on when Apple may reveal the next version of the iPhone SE but gadget watchers reckon it could be in March 2018, a year after the first phone was launched.

A report on the Focus Taiwan News Channel suggests that it will be launched in the first quarter of 2018. That same date is echoed by Macworld - a much more reliable source of Apple rumours.

Price The original iPhone SE is displayed (Image: Getty) Read More

As well as the smaller screen size, part of the appeal of the iPhone SE 2 will undoubtedly be the price. Apple raised a few eyebrows with the £999 entry-level price tag of the iPhone X but the SE 2 will be considerably cheaper.

The original iPhone SE started out at £379 for 16GB and was then bumped up to £349 when the internal storage was upped to 32GB. Apple discontinued the 16GB model so it's highly likely the new SE 2 will arrive with 32GB or even 64GB as the minimum. Apple is unlikely to drop the price with the new model so expect it to cost a minimum of £350.

Design A picture allegedly showing the back panel of the iPhone SE 2 (Image: Weibo) Read More

There's limited information around about what the iPhone SE 2 might look like but a report from BGR suggests it will have a glass back. This makes sense as all of Apple's recent handsets have a glass back to facilitate wireless charging.

The site also got hold of a picture (above) that had been circulating on Chinese social media allegedly showing the back panel for the new iPhone SE 2.

What we all want to know though is whether or not Apple will decide to keep the headphone jack.

Features The iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 5Se running iOS 10 (Image: Apple) Read More

According to a report from Tekz24.com , Apple will build the iPhone SE 2 at a factory in India.

It will boast an A10 Fusion processor (the same one in the iPhone 7) and will have a 12MP camera on the back with an upgraded 7MP selfie camera on the front.

The internal RAM will remain at 2GB and storage options will be a choice of either 32GB or 128GB.

The site also says the battery will be raised from 1,640mAh to 1,700mAh. Given that it will have a smaller, lower resolution screen than other iPhones, you should expect the battery life to be fairly decent.

Source: iPhone SE 2: Release date, price, news and rumours about Apple's forthcoming 'budget' smartphone

LG to Release Limited Premium Edition of V30 Flagship Smartphone

LG will launch a limited premium edition of its latest flagship smartphone V30 late this month, the company said on Thursday.

With only 300 units available, the "Signature Edition" will cost about W200 million (US$1=W1,095).

Signature is LG's high-end home appliance brand launched early last year.

The edition has a zirconium ceramic coating on the back of the phone, on which its owner's name can be engraved if he or she wants. Zirconium is a lustrous, gray-white transition metal with excellent resistance to scratches commonly used to make luxury watches.

It features a 6-inch wide OLED screen with a minimal bezel and has a memory capacity of 256 GB.

Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com

Source: LG to Release Limited Premium Edition of V30 Flagship Smartphone

Honor Release New Flagship & Mid-Range Smartphones

Honor Release New Flagship & Mid-Range Smartphones - Honor has launched two new products today: Honor View 10 and the Honor 7X.

Posted : 6 Dec 2017 1:21PM by ePHOTOzine 

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Smartphone brand Honor has today released two new camera phones, one which sits at the top of its smartphone line-up and another which will suit those with a mid-range budget. 

The flagship Honor View 10 has several new AI features which include the ability to recognise different scenes when taking photos. The smartphone can also translate different languages in real-time and learn the user's behaviour to optimise its own performance. 

The new Kirin 970 chipset found in the Honor View 10 features an octa-core ARM Cortex CPU and a Mali-G72 12-core GPU. EMUI 8.0 is also built in along with 6GB or 128GB of memory. 

As for the cameras, the Honor View 10 is equipped with a high-definition 16MP + 20MP dual-lens camera with an f/1.8 wide aperture and 2-in-1 PDAF automatic focusing.

Honor says the battery in the Honor View 10 will charge to 50 percent in just 30 minutes while operating at a low temperature and voltage.

Alongside the Honor View 10, Honor has also announced the mid-range Honor 7X with dual-lens 16MP + 2MP rear camera (f/0.95 – f/16) and Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). 

The Honor 7X's 18:9 screen can be split via the One-key Screen Split function when you need to multitask and a single charge of the 3,340 mAh battery gives more than 24 hours of life. 

Inside the smartphone, you'll find an octa-core Kirin 659 and graphics processing unit (GPU).

 

The Honor 7X will be available for purchase from December 5, 2017, for £269.99 while the Honor View 10 will be available from January 8, 2018, priced at £449.99.

Huawei Honor View 10 Photos of Equipment Huawei Honor 7X Photos of Equipment  
Source: Honor Release New Flagship & Mid-Range Smartphones

Huawei to Release 5G Smartphones in 2019

You might have known by now that the World Internet Conference was held today in Wuzhen, China. The conference was an opportunity for the giants in the Chinese tech industry to roll out their plans for the future in terms of research and development (R&D) for the industry. During the conference, Huawei's CEO Yu Chengdong was one of the speakers, sharing the same podium with Xiaomi's CEO, Lei Jun who we reported earlier to have hinted of his firm's plans to venture in AI on its smartphones from next year.

Huawei's CEO on his part hinted that the internet hardware and smartphone giant will launch its 5G smartphone for the market in the second half of 2019. Obviously, by 2019, 5G technology would have been perfected and rolled out by a lot of mobile carriers around the world. Presently, we have only see the technology get tested on prototypes like the ZTE Gigabit phone. Qualcomm, ZTE and China Mobile recently announced the successful test of the world's first 5G New Radio System.

Read Also: Gizmochina Explains: 5G Network Standard

Yu Chengdong also revealed that the past 20 years have been an era of rapid development in the mobile telecommunications industry. He also highlighted the fact that the development of smartphones has brought tremendous changes in people's lives. He also opined that the new ear is that of artificial intelligence technology and 5G. Already, Huawei has started its AI journey with the launch of the Ai-capable Kirin 970 chip. The company is expected to launch its hardware products with 5G connectivity in 2018 while in 2019, Huawei's chipset the tech giant will incorporate support on its chip and subsequently launch 5G smartphones.

(source)

Source: Huawei to Release 5G Smartphones in 2019

Monster Hunter Stories Gets a Smartphone Release in Japan

Monster Hunter Stories is a fun, colorful Pokemon-esque adventure that works very well as a handheld release. Taking it with you and finding and raising new monsters is part of what makes it such a blast, so it makes sense that Japanese gamers ended up getting a release via the App Store on iOS and Android via Google Play.

The smartphone version of the game does not feature micro transactions and costs about 1,900 yen. It's not a dumbed-down version and instead features all the content the normal game on Nintendo 3DS does. It's just recreated to run better on smartphones and honestly, it makes sense. It also features high-resolution graphics, an auto-save feature, and a user interface that works better with smartphones instead of what the 3DS previously used.

Japanese gamers can even try out the game before purchasing with a special demo version that's on both Google Play and the App Store. Monster Hunter Stories came out originally in Japan on Oct. 16 and North America and Europe a year later in Sep. 2017, but there is currently no plans, apparently, for a mobile version for western fans.

CHECK OUT MORE
Source: Monster Hunter Stories Gets a Smartphone Release in Japan

Refurbished Phones: The Replacement of a Cutting Edge Smartphone Shouldn’t Break the Bank

Christmas is a popular time for smartphone sales both as presents for others and owners treating themselves to a replacement – often influenced by deals from network operators and mobile sales companies. Of course, this can add considerably to what is an expensive time of year, but alternatives such as refurbished phones offer a very c ost-effective way of getting your hands on the latest tech.

What is a refurbished phone?

It's basically a used – or pre-owned – handset sold often by specialists who focus on selling cheap refurbished phones and maybe tablets and smartwatches from many or all of the popular makers. The phones may have been returned by customers who didn't get on with it when upgrading or used for a short while before being changed.

Refurbishers clean the phone and wipe it clear of data so it's supplied as it would have been brand new ready for a new user, and attend to any faults the phone may have (if any). The beauty of buying a refurbished smartphone is you can have anything from the latest model (if you wait a little while after its launch) to an older variant at a very attractive price.

There's plenty of peace of mind with a refurbished phone:

Satisfaction guarantee – a refurbisher keen to build trust will offer the option of returning the phone for a refund or exchange if you're not totally happy with your purchase

Warranty – the phone should carry a warranty against faults; durations can vary but look for one year

Fast delivery – refurbishers know you'll want your phone urgently so may offer next working day courier delivery (weekends may be possible, too)

Fully tested – the refurbisher should check the phone isn't stolen and run a comprehensive series of hardware checks such as on the camera, headphone, connection ports, battery, screen and much more

Reviews and testimonials – a refurbisher with a good reputation will be happy to draw attention to their customer's comments such as on feedback sites like Trust Pilot, and may also include testimonials on their own website

What phones can I buy from a refurbisher?

You can likely find models from all the key players such as Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, Google, HTC, and others. Models ranging from the very latest version to something a few generations old can be found.

Being able to select a refurbished phone from all or at least most of the leading manufacturers allows you to choose exactly what make and model would suit.

Buying only the tech you need

Not everyone needs or even wants the very latest tech – at least not if money can be saved on a phone that will meet their immediate needs. For example, the latest Apple iPhone 8 offers more power and both wireless and fast charging compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 7 – but do you really need these features?

Smartphones are very powerful devices and have been for some while; many users don't exploit the performance of even their present phone let alone its likely more powerful successor.

As for the wireless charging of the iPhone 8, it's slower than using a charging cable and adds to the expense in that you'll require a charging tray, and if you want to use fast charging a different charger than the one supplied is required at yet more expense.

You may decide these and other features of the newer iPhone aren't necessary – especially when you can pick up the still powerful and very fine refurbished iPhone 7, enjoy advanced smartphone tech and save significant money.

The same applies to other makes; you may feel, for example, that the Samsung Galaxy 7 provides as much tech as you require without needing to buy the latest model, the Galaxy 8, or to bother waiting for the new Galaxy 9 scheduled for release in the first part of 2018.

The canny buyer

It's long been said buying just behind the newest releases is often where the best in smartphone value for money can be found. Inevitably, as new models hit the streets, the predecessors reduce in price and this has a knock-on effect on resale values.

Bear in mind, too, that manufacturers will nearly always release a new model each year to stimulate the market and keep sales buoyant – not always because there's new tech that simply has to get onto the market. Therefore, it's not always a worthwhile upgrade and buying just 'behind' the new release – especially refurbished – can give you a top class smartphone at a very attractive price.

A post by Kidal Delonix (2467 Posts)

Kidal Delonix is author at LeraBlog. The author's views are entirely his/her own and may not reflect the views and opinions of LeraBlog staff.Chief editor and author at LERAblog, writing useful articles and HOW TOs on various topics. Particularly interested in topics such as Internet, advertising, SEO, web development, and business.

Source: Refurbished Phones: The Replacement of a Cutting Edge Smartphone Shouldn't Break the Bank

LG launches V30 smartphone in Europe

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. said Sunday it will release the V30 smartphone in major European countries throughout this month, seeking to revitalize handset sales through expanding global releases.

The South Korean smartphone maker, which released the smartphone in Italy on Friday through major mobile carriers, said the V30 will be launched in Germany, Spain and Poland by the end of December.

LG said it marks the first time it is releasing a V-series smartphone through European mobile carriers.

The company said the V30 is a smartphone that broke the stereotype that phablets are normally heavy, as the device weighs only 158 grams despite its 6-inch wide display.

The V30 boasts one of most advanced cameras in the smartphone industry, with one of the dual-lens rear cameras adopting an aperture of F1.6, which is the fastest lens setup among handsets currently sold anywhere.

LG Electronics, meanwhile, posted losses in its smartphone business for the 10th consecutive quarter in the third quarter of 2017.

Models pose for a photo with LG Electronics Inc.'s V30 smartphone in Munich, Germany, in this photo released by the company on Dec. 3, 2017. (Yonhap)

colin@yna.co.kr

(END)

Source: LG launches V30 smartphone in Europe

Smartphone ownership keeps growing: report

Viet Nam News

HCM CITY — Smartphone ownership has continued to grow in both urban and rural areas in Việt Nam, according to the 2017 Nielsen Vietnam Smartphone Insights report.

The number of people using smartphones in major cities has surged to 84 per cent out of the 95 per cent of people using mobile phones, an increase of six percentage points from last year.

In secondary cities, 71 per cent use smartphones out of 93 per cent using mobile phones, a year-on-year growth of nine points.

In rural areas, it is 68 per cent out of 89 per cent.

"The rapid uptake of connected devices, especially smartphones and tablets, is inevitable in our country," Đoàn Duy Khoa, director of Nielsen Vietnam's department of consumer insights, said in a release.

"This could correspond to the fact that smartphone brands are offering consumers abundant choices at affordable and reasonable prices.

"Another reason is that consumers are enjoying an improving standard of living and expressing their desire for connectivity anywhere and anytime."

Earlier this year Nielsen had conducted another study in co-operation with Younet Media to shed light on the evolving rural consumer trends.

It found that social media has emerged as a key platform for information, entertainment and keeping in touch with relatives, friends and children, with 22.5 million Facebook users living in rural areas compared with 23.5 million in urban areas.

"This plays an instrumental role in media consumption shifting beyond traditional media formats such as broadcast and cable TV, and also beyond traditional time parts.

"For media owners and advertisers, it is becoming increasingly important to understand both urban and rural consumers' viewing habits in order to deliver the right content at the right time."

The report, using online survey method, polled 1,882 frequent online users in major cities, 1,930 users in secondary cities and 2,027 users in rural areas aged 16 years or above. —VNS

Source: Smartphone ownership keeps growing: report