Doogee to release a curved smartphone

LG and Samsung both tried something new a few years ago: they released smartphones with curved displays. Samsung released the Galaxy Round, a device that had a screen curved along its vertical axis, sort of like a taco shell. Meanwhile, LG released two generations of its LG G Flex – a smartphone that was curved along its horizontal axis. When placed in a pocket, it was flexible enough to go flat and then return to its curve.

The latest report comes from Evan Blass (A.K.A. @Evleaks) in the form of a tweet with a couple of photos. The tweet references the aforementioned smartphone before saying that Doogee might very well be trying to make a curved-screen device.

The display would feature an 18.5:9 aspect ratio with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The two images attached to the tweet show a flexible display, with Doogee's branding on it. Likely from some kind of prototype display.

Doogee came out of the shadows with a near-bezel-less smartphone – the Doogee Mix. Should it happen, the compant might bring the curved-display form factor back into relevancy. Do you believe that curved-display smartphones like the LG G Flex should make a return or is this still more of a niche form factor?

Source: Doogee to release a curved smartphone

Leak Suggests Apple Will Release 3 New iPhone Models in 2018

[UPDATE: November 14, 2017 10:30am EST] According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is aiming to create a rear-facing 3D sensor for the 2019 edition of its iPhone. The company is apparently going all-in on augmented reality and hopes a rear-facing 3D sensor can improve its flagship smartphone's augmented reality apps and services.

Apple's iPhone X has barely begun arriving after the shipping delays that were experienced when the smartphone was available for pre-order last month, yet we're already hearing word that not one, not two, but three new iPhones will arrive in 2018 – and all with end-to-end displays.

According to a note, obtained by MacRumors, from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to release what will be its flagship iPhone with a massive 6.5-inch display. The iPhone X has a 5.8-inch screen and the 8 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen, making the rumored new iPhone the largest ever.

MacRumors is reporting that the 6.5-inch iPhone (basically the plus version of the iPhone X) will release alongside a new 5.8-inch model and both will use OLED screen technology that's similar to the X.

Due to OLED displays driving up the prices of iPhones, Kuo claims Apple will release a 6.1-inch model with an LCD display.

"We believe the major hardware difference in the two new OLED models is size, in a bid to satisfy various needs of the high-end market," Kuo said before adding that end-to-end displays and Face ID will completely replace the home button in 2018.

With iPhone X experiencing problems such as a crackling sound and Face ID allegedly being hacked maybe the new iPhones can't come soon enough.

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Source: MacRumors

Main & Featured Images: Apple

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Source: Leak Suggests Apple Will Release 3 New iPhone Models in 2018

Apple is expected to release 3 new iPhones next year — including a supersized iPhone X

A mockup of what next year's iPhone lineup could look like, according to KGI Securities. KGI Securities

Apple will launch three new iPhone models in 2018, a reliable Apple analyst says.

One of the phones could feature an edge-to-edge LCD screen and TrueDepth facial recognition that costs between $649 and $749.

Apple is also said to be working on a 6.5-inch iPhone with a design like the iPhone X but with a bigger OLED screen.

Apple will also launch a successor to the iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED screen, the analyst says.

Apple will release three new iPhone models in 2018, the KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in a note distributed to clients on Monday and seen by Business Insider.

Kuo and his research team are well-known for accurately predicting details about upcoming Apple products, thanks to his connections in the Asian manufacturing industry.

"We predict Apple (US) will launch three new iPhone models in 2H18: 6.5-inch and 5.8-inch OLED models and a 6.1-inch TFT-LCD model, all equipped with a full-screen design and TrueDepth Camera (front 3D sensing), as with iPhone X," Kuo wrote in Monday's note.

Apple is preparing two iPhones targeting the "high-end market," Kuo says. The third model will be aimed at the middle and low-end markets, and Kuo predicts a price tag of between $649 and $749.

The high-end iPhones will include one phone with the same screen size and technology as the iPhone X and a supersized iPhone X model with a 6.5-inch screen. The iPhone X starts at $999.

The high-end phones are expected to have edge-to-edge screens and Apple's facial-recognition camera, Face ID, like the iPhone X. The low-end iPhone could feature facial recognition instead of a fingerprint sensor and sport a 6.1-inch LCD screen at a lower resolution than the high-end OLED phones, among other differences in hardware and design specs.

A 'real super-cycle'

Apple CEO Tim Cook. Apple

The three models will drive a "real super-cycle in terms of iPhone replacement demand," the analyst wrote, predicting 100 million to 120 million iPhones assembled in the second half of 2018.

Kuo now pegs next year as the supercycle because he expects Apple to release its new phones on time, as well as because of a larger range of price options with Face ID and a strong demand for the iPhone X through 2018.

He also expects Apple will ship 25 million to 27 million iPhone X units this quarter and increase by 35-45% in the first quarter of 2018.

Analysts previously predicted that this year's high-end iPhone X would drive a "supercycle" of sales, but a seemingly short supply has caused some researchers to delay their supercycle forecasts to 2018 or later.

Kuo says he views Apple's shares and its key suppliers positively in 2018.

Apple usually launches new iPhones in September, so lots of things could change before then. However, Apple executives have said they lock down new iPhone hardware designs in November.

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Source: Apple is expected to release 3 new iPhones next year — including a supersized iPhone X

Razer Introduces Android Phone for Gamers

While Razer is primarily known for its work in the gaming field, the 12-year-old company is also planning to get into the smartphone market. Taking to an event in London earlier today, Razer has introduced the fittingly-titled Razer Phone. Billed as a phone for gamers, the Razer Phone is powered by Android and comes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835, 64GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, a dual 12-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel front camera and more. Regarding the physical details, Razer's new creation has a 5.74 inch, 120hz display; as The Verge notes, this might be the first time a smartphone has come out with a 120hz display. Consumers can also expect the Razer Phone to use Android Nougat 7.1.1. when it arrives, while Android Oreo 8.0 is expected to be added in the beginning of next year.

You can take a look at The Verge's visual breakdown of the new Razer Phone above, and expect the phone to retail for $699 USD; pre-orders will launch soon, and begin hitting North American and European locations on November 17.

While Razer's announcement is pretty significant, all eyes are still on the Apple iPhone X and its imminent arrival.

Source: Razer Introduces Android Phone for Gamers

Protesters flood Barcelona demanding release of separatist leaders

By Sam Edwards

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Catalan independence supporters clogged one of Barcelona's main avenues on Saturday to demand the release of separatist leaders held in prison for their roles in the region's banned drive to split from Spain.

Wearing yellow ribbons on their lapels to signify support, they filled the length of the Avenue Marina that runs from the beach to Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia church, while the jailed leaders' families made speeches.

Catalonia's two main grassroots independence groups called the march, under the slogan "Freedom for the political prisoners," after their leaders were remanded in custody on charges of sedition last month.

The protest is seen as a test of how the independence movement's support has fared since the Catalan government declared independence on Oct. 27, prompting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to fire its members, dissolve the regional parliament and call new elections for December.

An opinion poll this week showed that pro-independence parties would win the largest share of the vote, though a majority was not assured and question marks remain over ousted regional head Carles Puigdemont's leadership of the separatist cause.

"Look at all the people here," said 63-year-old Pep Morales. "The independence movement is still going strong."

Barcelona police said about 750,000 people had attended, many from across Catalonia. The protesters carried photos with the faces of those in prison, waved the red-and-yellow striped Catalan independence flag and shone lights from their phones.

The Spanish High Court has jailed eight former Catalan government members, along with the leaders of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Omnium Cultural, while investigations continue.

The High Court last week issued arrest warrants on charges of rebellion and sedition for Puigdemont, who flew to Brussels after being deposed, and four other former government members who went with him.

"Your light reaches us in Brussels and illuminates the path we must keep following," Puigdemont tweeted during the protest.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled to release on bail the Catalan parliament's speaker Carme Forcadell and four other lawmakers, who enabled the declaration of independence by overseeing a parliamentary vote. Another lawmaker was released without bail.

Forcadell left jail on Friday after agreeing to renounce any political activity that went against the Spanish constitution, in effect banning her from campaigning for independence in the December election.

Those terms threaten to undermine the independence movement just as cracks are starting to appear and tensions rise between the grassroots and their leaders.

Puigdemont's PDeCAT party has failed to agree on a united ticket to contest the election with another secessionist party, the ERC, denting the pro-independence camp's hopes of pressing ahead after the election.

On Saturday, the ERC said its leader, jailed former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, would be its candidate in December and he would campaign from behind bars.

Pepita Sole, a 61-year-old pensioner in the crowd on Saturday, said she understood the Oct. 27 declaration was symbolic but now wanted the real thing.

"They better understand that we're not faking."

(Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by Richard Balmforth)

Source: Protesters flood Barcelona demanding release of separatist leaders

Pixel 2 Driving Do Not Disturb API coming to developers in 2018

Helping to silence notifications while on the road.

It can sometimes be quite easy to get lost in our phones, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with this, there are times and places where our devices need to put away. Picking up your phone to check notifications or browse through Twitter while driving can be awfully tempting at times, and Google is rolling out a new API next year to help cut back on these potential distractions.

One of the new features of the Pixel 2/2 XL is Driving Do Not Disturb. This is a setting that allows you to automatically turn on Do Not Disturb when your Pixel 2 detects that you're behind the wheel, and the phone does this through the use of low power signals, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connections.

The feature is currently limited to Do Not Disturb settings for the Pixel 2, but beginning in early 2018, Google says that it'll be releasing the API for this tech so that developers can integrate it into their own applications.

Google is calling it the Activity Recognition Transition API, and we'll likely see it adopted into navigation and safe driving apps that are meant to safely be used when on the road. A more specific ETA for the API's release has yet to be announced, but we can probably expect to see apps add the tech within Q1 of 2018.

Google Pixel 2 will automatically enable Do Not Disturb if you're driving

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Source: Pixel 2 Driving Do Not Disturb API coming to developers in 2018

First Time More Americans Will Holiday Shop Online via Smartphones Than Any Other Device, Says CTA

For the first time ever, more consumers say they'll use smartphones (61 percent) to do their online holiday shopping compared to any other device, including laptops (54 percent) and desktop computers (46 percent), during the month of November, according to new research released today by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). CTA's 2017 Pre-Black Friday Survey also finds that one in five online U.S. adult shoppers (19 percent) plans to use voice-activated smart speakers such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home to shop online during November.

    "November 2017 marks a seismic shift in when and how American adults are shopping for holiday gifts," said Steve Koenig, senior director of market research, CTA. "Not only will the use of smartphones eclipse laptops and desktops for online holiday shopping for the first time, but this year also marks the introduction of what we consider to be a new sales channel. Voice-activated smart speakers will be a popular gift to give this year and play a much larger role in the shopping process. This season, voice shopping joins the channel mix - along with in-store, online and mobile - that shoppers will use to learn about deals and buy their favorite gifts."

    Additionally, CTA research shows that 2017 will be the first year more Americans will shop on Cyber Monday - across all channels - than Black Friday. Among those planning to shop during November, the most popular timeframes include:

remaining days in November after Cyber Monday (57 percent)

Cyber Monday (51 percent)

early to mid-November, before Thanksgiving week (44 percent)

Black Friday (38 percent)

    Tech will be the second most frequently purchased type of gift (56 percent) - closely following clothing and accessories (63 percent) while surpassing toys (43 percent). Additionally, almost two-thirds (60 percent) of the holiday gift budget during the Black Friday shopping week (Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday) will go towards tech products.

Top Tech ProductsAmong U.S. adults intending to purchase tech products during November, including Black Friday Week, the top five tech products shoppers plan to buy are:

 Videogame consoles

Smartphones

TVs

Laptops

Tablets

   "Once again, perennial tech favorites including videogame consoles, smartphones and TVs will perform well during the Black Friday shopping week - with, on average, 33 percent of consumers holding off on these types of big-ticket tech purchases until that timeframe," said Koenig. "However, expect to see wearables and smart home products, in particular, go on sale and also fly off the shelves in the coming weeks."

    Over the course of the extended holiday shopping season, which lasts the entire fourth quarter of the year (from October through December), CTA projects strong U.S. sales for:

Smart speakers such as Amazon's Echo and Google Home, which will sell 4.4 million units (up 22 percent over 2016)

Drones are projected to sell 1.6 million units this holiday season (up 31 percent)

VR headsets which CTA projects U.S. sales of 2.7 million units (up 283 percent)

   CTA's 2017 Pre-Black Friday Survey was designed and formulated by the Consumer Technology Association. It represents the findings of the study conducted Nov. 2-5, 2017, using a combined landline and mobile telephone sample consisting of 1,006 U.S. adults. Please cite any information to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™. For CTA's Pre-Black Friday Survey and full holiday outlook, visit CTA.tech/holiday

Source: First Time More Americans Will Holiday Shop Online via Smartphones Than Any Other Device, Says CTA