Precise Biometrics, FPC integrate fingerprint technology in two Chinese smartphones

By Justin Lee Tweet

June 30, 2015 - 

Precise Biometrics announced that it has partnered with Fingerprint Cards (FPC) to integrate Precise BioMatch Mobile in two new smartphones from Chinese manufacturers.

The integrations will generate license revenues starting from the third quarter, with the value of license revenue to be determined by the number of sensors FPC delivers to the mobile phone manufacturers.

"We are happy to see two additional smartphones from Chinese manufacturers utilizing Precise BioMatch Mobile," said Håkan Persson, CEO of Precise Biometrics. "Biometric performance and user experience is dependent on high performance algorithm software. We are confident that they with Precise BioMatch Mobile have found an excellent solution for their new smartphone models."

Precise BioMatch Mobile enables device manufacturers to easily integrate fingerprint matching functionality for smartphones and tablets.

Using a unique patented hybrid algorithm, Precise BioMatch Mobile is optimized for small touch sensors in mobile environments.

The software offers fast, accurate, and secure verification of the user's identity, enabling a seamless user experience for consumers when unlocking their mobile device or authenticating to services, while improving their overall security.

Previously reported, Precise Biometrics COO Patrik Lindeberg delivered a presentation at the Global Smart Touch Industry Summit in Shenzhen, China on June 25, in which he shared key advice on how to achieve fingerprint authentication success.

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Source: Precise Biometrics, FPC integrate fingerprint technology in two Chinese smartphones

Huawei's Honor smartphone brand strives to become global

From CIO: 8 Free Online Courses to Grow Your Tech Skills
Source: Huawei's Honor smartphone brand strives to become global

New LG smartphone redefines style, performance

In line with its brand promise of making available cutting-edge products that meets the needs of mobile phone users, LG Electronics, a global leader in mobile communications and consumer electronics has introduced its eagerly anticipated new flagship smartphone, the G4 into the Nigerian market. Aimed at making the most up to date technologies available to mobile phone users, the event which held in Lagos enabled users interface with the forward-looking features and specs of the G4, the successor to the company's well-received LG G3. With the G4, LG focused on delivering comfortable elegance, a great visual experience and a human-centric user experience. The G4 camera features a rare-in-smartphones F1.8 aperture lens which allows 80 percent more light to hit the image sensor than in the LG G3. The innovative camera module is paired with the new IPS Quantum Display that is better in every way than the innovative Quad HD display introduced to the world in the LG G3.

The LG G4 embodies human sensibility that is clearly visible in its Slim Arc exterior design and graphical user interface. "We are living up to our promise of Innovation for a Better Life with a fashionable, premium smartphone that is more focused on delivering a balanced user experience that can compete with the best of the best," said Steve Seungeui Lee, general manager, mobile communications division, LG Electronics West Africa operations. "We wanted to give consumers a truly human-centric device that combined the analog sensibilities with technologies that delivered real world performance. From the design to the camera to the display to the UX (User Experience), this is the most ambitious phone we've ever created." LG paid special attention to the materials utilized in its newest flagship. The LG G4 however is available in handcrafted, genuine full grain leather in six beautiful colors.

The vegetable tanning process employed is an age old tradition that requires skilled craftsmen to produce and dye the leather. Most importantly, vegetable tanned leather is environmentally friendly and can be recycled easily, since no harsh chemicals are used. Other material options for the G4 rear cover include pure Ceramic White with 3D patterns, artisan-forged Metallic Gray as well lustrous, Shiny Gold. The fashionable elegance of the LG G4 is a refreshing change from the uniformly flat, full metal designs that have been become standard across the industry. The LG G4's design is defined by the Slim Arc, which runs along its entire body, highlighted by a display with a subtle curvature. More than just a design accent, Slim Arc offers 20 percent better durability than a flat smartphone in face-down drops and gives the smartphone a more comfortable and secure feel in the hand.

LG designed the 16MP camera in the LG G4 to capture beautiful images, even under less than ideal lighting conditions. The camera module features a wide F1.8 aperture lens that allows 80 percent more light to reach the sensor. LG improved low-light performance even further with OIS 2.0, which doubles the performance of the improved OIS+ by expanding the range of image stabilization from one degree to two degrees on the X- and Y-axis and adding a third axis for the first time. New for G4, Manual Mode allows experienced photographers the ability to exercise more artistic expression by letting them directly control the focus, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation and white balance for every shot. Advanced photographers can save their photos in RAW format, in addition to JPEG, for more precise editing with no loss of details.For selfies good enough to frame, LG included an industry-leading 8MP front-facing camera for sharp, detailed portraits and group shots.

Ben Uzor

Source: New LG smartphone redefines style, performance

Samsung sells 1M Z1 Tizen phones in just 6 months and has plans for more devices

Samsung may not have gotten quite the enthusiastic response it wanted when it released the Tizen-powered Z1 phone, but the Economic Times  reports that the company did sell 1 million of the devices. Apparently, sales have done well enough that Samsung looks to release more Tizen phones into the world, according to Reuters.

A "person with knowledge of the matter" revealed to Reuters that Samsung will launch more Tizen handsets later this year. The source stated that these smartphones will vary in cost, lending credence to the belief that there could be a high-end Tizen smartphone or two in the mix. In addition, a gold-colored version of the Z1 handset, as well as free games and messaging apps will launch soon.

Related: Tizen OS takes shape in Samsung smart TVs – hands-on

For Samsung to consider bringing more Tizen handsets to the market, however, it had to sell a respectable number of Z1 handsets. The figure of 1 million sold within 6 months is certainly impressive for the Z1, considering the relative infancy of the Tizen operating system, as well as the initially cold response to the device.

Whether the masses will truly embrace Tizen will likely depend on how well Samsung sells the idea. Samsung aims to create its own ecosystem by putting Tizen in everything from its smartwatches and its TVs, to its Z1 and other upcoming smartphones. Initially pricing the Z1 at just under $100 when it first launched in January certainly helped Samsung's cause, but the company still has work to do to convince people that they should choose Tizen over Android.

Samsung knows this, which is why the company will host a Developer Conference in Shenzhen, China this September, as well as have its Tizen Developer Summit India 2015 in Bangalore, India next month. The South Korean tech giant hopes to attract more developers to its Linux-based operating system, which will bring more users to the platform in turn.

Source: Samsung sells 1M Z1 Tizen phones in just 6 months and has plans for more devices

Apple Suppliers Start Making New IPhone With Force Touch

Apple Inc.'s suppliers have started initial production of new iPhone models with a feature called Force Touch, which senses how hard users are pressing down on a screen, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Its newest iPhones, in the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch sizes as the current iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus devices, will have a similar exterior design, the people said. Volume manufacturing is scheduled to ramp up as soon as next month, they said.

Apple is bringing Force Touch, first unveiled for the Apple Watch and the newest MacBook model, to the iPhone at least two years after it started working with suppliers to perfect the pressure-sensitive displays. The feature, which lets users adjust the strength of their screen taps to bring up different functions, is Apple's latest move to stay ahead of rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co., which this year released its latest Galaxy smartphone with a screen that can be viewed from the side.

Suppliers such as Foxconn Technology Group also rely on the iPhone to maintain growth amid slowing PC sales. Apple last year accounted for 50.3 percent of sales at Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the largest member of the Foxconn group, according to its annual report and Bloomberg supply chain data.

Terry Gou, Foxconn's chairman and founder, last week said he'll deliver at least 10 percent revenue growth this year despite missing the same target last year.

Apple's release of iPhones last year with bigger displays brought it in line with comparable offerings from Samsung and HTC Corp., helping meet rising demand in China and other Asian countries, where consumers prefer more screen real estate.

IPhone unit sales climbed 40 percent in the March quarter to 61.2 million, topping estimates for 58.1 million. The device helped Apple end Samsung's three-year reign at the top of the global smartphone market. IPhone sales in China also outpaced the U.S. for the first time in the three months through March.

While final assembly is expected to be smooth because the design of the new iPhones is similar to the current model, the timing and production volume of Force Touch-enabled phones could be impacted by the supply and yield of the displays, said one of the people.

Bloomberg reported in 2013 that Apple was planning to add pressure-sensitive displays to the iPhone.

Source: Apple Suppliers Start Making New IPhone With Force Touch

Oukitel Device To Sport 10,000 mAh Battery

Battery life has long been one of the biggest gripes that users have experienced with smartphones. A fair complaint, as it doesn't matter what your latest flagship can do if it can only do so for a couple of hours before you are rushing trying to find an outlet. Oukitel seems to understand this issue as is proven by a leaked prototype of a 10,000 mAh battery equipped smartphone. That's a considerable amount of battery.

Chinese manufacturers have gained in popularity in recent years due to their focus on new, innovative features. Take for example Oppo or ZTE, both of these OEM's have plans to release new smartphones that take a different approach to design, in that they will have almost no bezel on the screen. Interesting, innovative, and something that you will not find on the latest Samsung or HTC smartphone. While they may not have the latest specs as their better-known rivals, at some point the user won't be able to tell the difference between running a Snapdragon 808 processor or an 805.

One spec that does make a noticeable difference when it's upgraded is the battery, and the device from Oukitel has more than enough. A more mainstream device on the market that comes close to this behemoth of a battery is the Droid Turbo, which comes with a 3900 mAh battery and is supposed to have a battery life of 48 hours. Using that as a benchmark, it is safe to assume that the Oukitel device will easily last a week before needing to be plugged in. Though that does not take into account the other specs on the phone, that can at times make battery life worse no matter how big the battery is.

The only other information that we know about the Oukitel device is that it is bulky, though not as big as a 10,000 mAh battery might make it seem. It also has many industrial, black design elements that seem to fit well with the device. Oukitel has not released any official information regarding the smartphone, so it might still be a while before the device hits shelves. In the meantime, maybe other smartphone OEM's will take note and make improvements to the battery on their latest flagships.

Juan VegaIntern Writer

Android and I go as far back as 2009 when I received my first smartphone, the Droid Eris. Ever since then I have been an avid Android enthusiast with now signs of slowing down. My current device is a Droid Turbo, which replaced my ageing HTC One M8.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Oukitel Device To Sport 10,000 mAh Battery

Source: Oukitel Device To Sport 10,000 mAh Battery

New smartphone technology help blind to 'see'

The team will then develop the best interface to relay that to users - whether that is vibrations, sounds or the spoken word.

Scientists are developing new adaptive mobile technology that could enable visually-impaired people to 'see' through their smartphone or tablet.   Specialists in computer vision and machine learning based at the University of Lincoln, UK, funded by a Google FacultyResearch Award, are aiming to embed a smart vision system in mobile devices to help people with sight problems navigateunfamiliar indoor environments.   Based on preliminary work on assistive technologies done by the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems, the team plansto use colour and depth sensor technology inside new smartphones and tablets to enable 3D mapping and localisation,navigation and object recognition.   The team will then develop the best interface to relay that to users - whether that is vibrations, sounds or the spoken word.   "This project will build on our previous research to create an interface that can be used to help people with visual impairments," said Project lead Dr Nicola Bellotto, an expert on machine perception and human-centred robotics from Lincoln's School of Computer Science.   "There are many visual aids already available, from guide dogs to cameras and wearable sensors. Typical problems withthe latter are usability and acceptability.   "If people were able to use technology embedded in devices such as smartphones, it would not require them to wearextra equipment which could make them feel self-conscious.   "There are also existing smartphone apps that are able to, for example, recognise an object or speak text to describeplaces. But the sensors embedded in the device are still not fully exploited.   "We aim to create a system with 'human-in-the-loop' that provides good localisation relevant to visually impaired usersand, most importantly, that understands how people observe and recognise particular features of their environment," saidBellotto.   The research team, which includes Dr Oscar Martinez Mozos, a specialist in machine learning and quality of life technologies, and Dr Grzegorz Cielniak, who works in mobile robotics and machine perception, aim to develop a system that will recognise visual clues in the environment.   This data would be detected through the device camera and used to identify the type of room as the user moves around thespace.   A key aspect of the system will be its capacity to adapt to individual users' experiences, modifying the guidance it provides as the machine 'learns' from its landscape and from the human interaction.   So, as the user becomes more accustomed to the technology, the quicker and easier it would be to identify the environment.

Source: New smartphone technology help blind to 'see'

ZTE Axon set to shake things up in the US July 14

Earlier in the week, a mysterious new handset started making the rounds called the Axon. Turns out it's actually going to be produced by ZTE, and the Axon smartphone is going to make a big splash in the states next month.

If you live in the US, your mobile choices are somewhat limited compared to other parts of the globe. ZTE has dropped some mid-range handsets in the states, but the Axon is shaping up to be a flagship in the truest sense of the word. It also appears to be a sub-brand from the company as witnessed by the missing ZTE logo.

As far as the Axon smartphone specs are concerned things are still a bit vague. The device will have 4GB of RAM, so it's safe to assume it's going to have a speedy chip humming alongside it. You can also clearly see a dual camera setup on the backside, so we expect some tech tricks in that area as well. It also appears to have a nice speaker setup on the front as well, but we've been fooled by that before from other manufacturers.

ZTE has a big event set for July 14 in New York where we will learn more about the Axon smartphone including its release date. The Axon price is said to fall in the $450 range, which would put it in a great position against the likes of Sammy, Sony and HTC in the US.

via – Android Central,  PC Mag

Read more about: Mobile Phones   ZTE  

Source: ZTE Axon set to shake things up in the US July 14

LG Band Play is Android 5.1 Lollipop-based smartphone that sports 5-inch HD

NEW DELHI: LG on June 24 launched the LG Band Play the smartphone will be available in the region later this week at Rs. 22,700 in Black and White colour variants. The handset's availability details for other regions are not available for now.

The LG Band Play is an Android 5.1 Lollipop-based smartphone that sports 5-inch HD (720×1280 pixels) resolution IPS display with a pixel density calculated at roughly 293ppi. It is powered by a 64-bit 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor clubbed with 2GB LPDDR3 RAM and Adreno 306 GPU for handling graphics.

Like its several other high-end models, the LG Band Play's 13-megapixel rear camera brings laser autofocus tech with dual-LED flash. The smartphone also features a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats. The Smartphone's 16GB eMMC inbuilt storage can also be expanded via a microSD card (up to 32GB).

The Band Play comes with usual set of connectivity options including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, USB 2.0, and NFC 2.0 and is backed by a 2300mAh removable battery. The handset measures 139.7×71.9×8.3mm and weighs 126 grams.

It is worth mentioning that the Band Play equips a 1-watt speaker and comes bundled with LG QuadBeat 3 earphones. The earphones were previously announced as official accessories for the flagship LG G4.

LG last week launched its G4 smartphone in India priced at Rs. 51,000. The smartphone launched in India features dual-SIM and dual LTE support, previously announced in select markets as the LG G4 Dual SIM (Dual LTE) variant of the flagship with model number H818N.

Source: LG Band Play is Android 5.1 Lollipop-based smartphone that sports 5-inch HD

ZTE to Release High-End Smartphone Axon in the US in July

By Liezl Dunuan , Christian Post Contributor

June 26, 2015|6:01 pm

Axon

A screengrab from the Axon website.

There is a new high-end smartphone coming to U.S. markets in July and its name is Axon. Tech journalists were invited to a press event for the phone's launching in July. The invitation however did not indicate which company was behind the new phone.

The PC Mag report was the first to reveal, after some digging, that the phone is in fact manufactured by the fourth largest seller of smartphones in the US, the Chinese company ZTE. One evidence of this is the presence of "/zte/" in the website's source code.

According to another report in Tech Times, part of ZTE's marketing strategy to build hype for the new phone is a contest it launched called "Axon You Wish," which has $10,000 cash prize and of course, a new Axon smartphone. The contest runs from June 15 to July 14.

The phone will be launched with a special event in New York City on July 14.

One of the unique features of the new phone is its dual-lens rear-facing camera, which is equipped with auto-focus and is also capable of recording 4K high-definition videos.

Apart from its 4 GB of RAM, no other information about its processor and battery capacity was given by ZTE. What they indicated in the phone's site is that the phone "will have a fast processor and large battery for all-around performance." The Android phone is said to come with "a customized super-simplified Android interface." Audio playback will also in Hi-Fi and its twin microphones will be capable of Hi-Fi recording.

Its body will have a smooth metallic finish, and will be available in Ion Gold, Chromium Silver and Phthalo Blue.

ZTE is known for selling its phone direct to consumers, unlocked, like what it did with its Nubia 5S Mini LTE. The report however says that it may consider launching this new phone in partnership with some U.S. carriers.

Interested buyers may check out the phone's site at axonphone.com. Those who wish to join the contest may do so by submitting a picture or video "about a futuristic smartphone feature with the most creative and most popular caption." Although ZTE has not officially announced the phone's price, the contest rules hinted that it may be priced at $450.

Source: ZTE to Release High-End Smartphone Axon in the US in July

T-Mobile's new 'Jump' plan: Great deal for impatient

Jeff Gelles, Inquirer Business Columnist Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2015, 6:03 PM

When T-Mobile launched its "Uncarrier" campaign more than two years ago, CEO John Legere's main target was "pain points" in the wireless industry - which was known for them. Large carriers like Verizon and AT&T set the pattern, with contract terms that heedlessly caused pain to customers via overage charges, international roaming fees, early-termination fees, and data-roaming charges. Some were so outrageous - hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars in extra charges on a monthly statement - that they prompted an FCC campaign focused on "wireless bill shock."

T-Mobile and the famously profane Legere made those tricks and traps vanish for the Uncarrier's subscribers, and sometimes pushed the competition. But its series of "Uncarrier" announcements (such as here and here) was a tough act to follow, which is probably why today's announcement - a new "Jump on Demand" feature that lowers the cost of continually wanting the latest and greatest smartphone - seems to pale by comparison.

"What we're doing is giving people more freedom and flexibility than they've ever had," area vice president Terry Hayes told me. The average American upgrades a cellphone every 20 months, and customers subscribed to T-Mobile's previous Jump plan swapped phones every 14 months, Hayes says. With Jump on Demand, cellphone ownership turns into something more like "an amped-up lease," he says. Sign up, and you can repeatedly replace your phone - up to three swaps a year - at no added cost.

T-Mobile describes the details this way:

Both new and existing T-Mobile postpaid customers can get a new smartphone with JUMP! On Demand.

Customers with qualifying credit can get a new phone with JUMP! On Demand for zero upfront cost, zero at upgrade, zero fees and zero wait whenever they want to upgrade to a new smartphone.

Customers without qualifying credit can get a new phone with JUMP! On Demand with an upfront payment similar to our EIP [Equipment Installment Plan] regular financing, zero program fees and zero wait when they want to upgrade.

How JUMP! On Demand Works

Get a new smartphone with JUMP! On Demand for zero upfront out-of-pocket cost. (Starting June 28, 2015)

Whenever you want to upgrade, simply bring in the last phone you got with JUMP! On Demand for a quick three-point check-up to ensure it's in working order and swap it out for a different superphone.

Rinse and repeat anytime − tomorrow, next week or next month − up to three times a year.

Is this "revolutionary," as T-Mobile hypes it, or "evolutionary," as Hayes told me? I'd vote for the latter.  Sure, there are people who want the latest and greatest phones, and don't want to wait a few extra months. And it will particularly please a niche in the market: people who want to try different platforms, or think they want to, without the risk of being stuck with a new phone they don't much like.

"Say you use this to get an iPhone 6. Now you can come back and say, 'You know, I''m really not an iPhone guy. Android's more for me,' and we'll give you a Galaxy 6," Hayes says, describing the plan as "like a lease without a buyout."

What makes T-Mobile's new plan most interesting right now are the numbers in its Jump on Demand promotional offering for an iPhone 6: With a smartphone trade-in, you can get that iPhone with 16 gigabytes of memory for $15 a month, well below the $27 a month the company has been charging under its previous zero-down, no-interest payment plan.

Things get a little tricky under T-Mobile's promotion - shame on you John Legere, but tricky pricing seems to be an occupational hazard in this industry even for those who forswear it. The $15-a-month deal ends at 18 months.  If you haven't upgraded by then and just want to keep the iPhone 6, you'll have to pay a "residual value" that T-Mobile sets at about $163 - or $27 times six months - to keep the phone outright. But you'd own a $650 phone for about $433.

Hayes says T-Mobile is subsdizing the purchase at about $216 per customer - covering the $12 monthly difference toward the pay-down of your phone, as if you were paying the $27 a month for those 18 months. (Note that the Jump on Demand price is phone-specific, and that other phones don't appear to be similarly discounted.  For example, you'll pay $31.24 a month for an iPhone 6 Plus with 16 gigs - about $750, based on a 24-month payback - or $28.33 for a 32-gig Galaxy S6.)

Of course, T-Mobile is betting you'll want to keep paying whatever your Jump on Demand phone costs, just for the privilege of ditching it, and then ditching its replacement, and on and on.  We Americans are an impatient people, so the company is probably right.

One thing that makes the promotion work for T-Mobile is the impressive resale value of all those secondhand phones - about $125 recently for a used iPhone 5s, Hayes says. He makes no promises on how long the iPhone 6 promotional offer will last. See T-Mobile's video press release here. 

And make no mistake: Whatever this offer's limitations, and whatever else T-Mobile announces in the next few days, T-Mobile deserves credit for what Legere claims: seriously disrupting America's cellphone market. 

Source: T-Mobile's new 'Jump' plan: Great deal for impatient

FLIR Systems Announces Availability of Second Generation FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Accessory for Smartphones and Tablets

FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced that the next generation FLIR ONE™ thermal imager is now available for purchase worldwide. With versions for both iOS and Android device platforms, the versatile and pocket-sized FLIR ONE transforms a mobile device into a powerful thermal imager that sees heat and accurately measures temperature. Providing users with the incredible ability to see temperature variations smaller than a tenth of a degree, the technology enables a host of practical applications, from identifying energy inefficiencies and water leaks in a home, to enabling safe and enjoyable outdoor exploration.

The new FLIR ONE utilizes either a micro-USB connector for Android devices or a Lightening connector for iOS devices to offer a compact accessory that easily connects to a smartphone or tablet. The FLIR ONE is powered by an internal battery and utilizes FLIR's latest generation Lepton thermal camera core, which features four times the resolution of the previous version. Images are further enhanced with FLIR's patented multi-spectral dynamic imaging (MSX®) technology, which embosses the edge details from FLIR ONE's visible camera onto the thermal image producing high fidelity images.

FLIR also announced that it will release an updated iOS software development kit (SDK) and a new Android SDK to enable developers to build and launch creative apps for both mobile device platforms. Two new programs will support the app developer community and end users of the FLIR ONE products:

"Last year, we successfully introduced the world to the FLIR ONE, the world's first thermal imaging accessory for a smartphone. This next generation FLIR ONE builds on this success by offering higher performance, broader compatibility, and a compelling value proposition," said Andy Teich, President and CEO of FLIR Systems. "And with the launch of our new application developer support programs, we expect to see new applications and use cases emerge for this new FLIR ONE platform."

FLIR ONE, with an MSRP of $249.99, is available worldwide beginning today for iOS devices on FLIR.com/FLIRONE, with the Android-compatible version available in July. Roll-out at worldwide e-tailers and retailers will begin in July and continue throughout the second half of 2015. The first generation FLIR ONE for Apple's iPhone 5/5s platform is now available for $149.99.

To learn more about FLIR ONE, visit www.flir.com/FLIRONE. For more information about the FLIR developer program, visit http://flir.com/flirone/developer.

* Apple and iOS are trademarks of Apple, Inc.; Google and Android are trademarks of Google, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries

About FLIR Systems FLIR Systems, Inc. is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of sensor systems that enhance perception and awareness. FLIR's advanced systems and components are used for a wide variety of thermal imaging, situational awareness, and security applications, including airborne and ground-based surveillance, condition monitoring, navigation, recreation, research and development, manufacturing process control, search and rescue, drug interdiction, transportation safety, border and maritime patrol, environmental monitoring, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) threat detection. For more information, visit FLIR's web site at www.FLIR.com.

Forward-Looking Statements The statements in this release by Andy Teich and the other statements in this release about the product described above are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about FLIR's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the following: the ability to manufacture and deliver the systems referenced in this release, changes in pricing of FLIR's products, changing demand for FLIR's products, product mix, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacit y, the ability of FLIR to manufacture and ship products in a timely manner, FLIR's continuing compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, and other risks discussed from time to time in FLIR's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and FLIR does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet service providers.

 

Source: FLIR Systems Announces Availability of Second Generation FLIR ONE Thermal Imaging Accessory for Smartphones and Tablets

Smartphone war: Samsung to launch 10 devices in the next quarter in Rs 9,000-18,000 segment

KOLKATA: Samsung Electronics Company, the world's biggest seller of smartphones, is planning its biggest blitzkrieg of launches in India in the next quarter in a bid to fend off local and Chinese rivals in the mid-segment category.

The South Korean company will introduce 10 smartphones in the July-September quarter in theRs 9,000 to Rs 18,000 segment, where it is embroiled in a fierce battle for market share with Micromax Informatics, Lenovo-Motorola and Xiaomi. According to some research companies, the rivalry led to a drop in Samsung's market share in the high-stakes mid-segment in 2014.

Over the past few quarters, Samsung has launched mostly variants of older models such as Galaxy Grand and Galaxy Core in this segment, which have failed to stand up to competition. The new strategy is championed by Samsung India president HyunChil Hong, who took over in December. Smartphones account for 70% of the company's revenue in India.

This will be Samsung's largest rollout of u nique models in India, according to three senior trade executives, who have been informed about the latest move by company officials and distributors.

"We do not comment on market speculation," a Samsung India spokesperson said in response to an email sent by ET. "However, Samsung is committed to the Indian market and will continue to cater to the needs of consumers with innovative products and technology."

Most of the new models will be introduced under a sub-brand called the J series and the 4G-compliant handsets will be made in India. Two models, Galaxy J7 and J5, are expected to be the first to hit store shelves early next month.

"After beating Apple in the premium smartphone segment last qua rter, Samsung is now looking at extending its lead in the overall market by filling the gap with a new line-up in the Rs 9,000-18,000 segment and would spend hugely on promotions," the CEO of a leading electronics retail chain said, asking not to be identified.

The Korean giant will also launch its next flagship model, the Galaxy Note 5, in India in September, ahead of Apple's traditional iPhone launch and in time for the festive season.

The mid-segment accounts for 30% of smartphone sales by volume in India and is second only to the entry-level category, which has 35% of sales, according to Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Technology Market Research. TheRs 9,000-18,000 segment is the fastest growing and expected to become the largest in the next two quarters.

Samsung has strongly contested data by market trackers Canalys, based in the UK, and CMR India, which show that the Korean company lost ground in this category to Gurgaon-based Micromax.

Samsung's share in the Indian smartphone market fell from 43.2% to 23.7% in 2014 as Micromax, Karbonn and Intex gained, according to CMR India data. However, in the January-March quarter, Samsung bounced back with a 27.9% share after boosting its presence in the entry and premium segments, while Micromax was second with 16.2%, CMR India said. Analysts and retailers said the two smartphone makers are in close competition with each other and Chinese brands.

Samsung positions its smartphones more on overall experience, while its Indian and Chinese rivals highlight features such as 4G connectivity, battery capacity and screen resolution to grab the attention of consumers, according to Tarun Pathak, a senior analyst at Counterpoint. "Chinese and Indian brands have a faster time to market than Samsung, which allows them to adapt faster.

However, Samsung still has one of the most robust distribution reaches in India compared to any other vendor, but it needs to have a faster time to market along with aggressive presence in online channels, which it seems to be doing now," Pathak said.

Source: Smartphone war: Samsung to launch 10 devices in the next quarter in Rs 9,000-18,000 segment

Samsung Galaxy S7 Release Date Not In 2015; Here’s 5 Reasons Why

Farfetched rumors are common in the mobile space, and Samsung quickly stepped in to debunk one that suggested the Samsung Galaxy S7 flagship smartphone would release during the second half of 2015.  "The company remains committed to launching products in pre-determined launch windows, which includes the S series," a Samsung marketing spokesperson told tech website, Mobile Burn.

The blog DigiTimes recently reported that the Galaxy S7 could hit markets before the end of the year to compete with Apple's upcoming iPhone 6s. However, pundits were skeptical about this news as DigiTimes doesn't have the best track record. Many rumors have surrounded Samsung's launch schedule lately, including reports the manufacturer might release a phablet with no S-Pen and may also forgo an Edge model as it announces the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in September.

But reports that a second Galaxy S device could launch in 2015 were just too unlikely for anyone to believe. Outside of Samsung's confirmation, here are some reasons why the Samsung Galaxy S7 wouldn't release this year.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is coming 

Phablet fans are anticipating the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, which may hit markets between September and October, if previous launches are any indication. Reports say Samsung will announce the device at the upcoming IFA Expo in early September and the rumor mill is full of details about the second Galaxy flagship. The Galaxy Note 5 is expected to feature a 2K resolution display, a new high-powered processor by Samsung, a USB Type-C drive and updated rear and front cameras.   

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus is coming (Possibly)

There are also reports about Samsung releasing a Galaxy S6 phablet called the Samsung Galaxy S6 Plus. Rumors began in May, suggesting that Samsung might release a "Project Zero 2," which was a Galaxy Note device without an S-Pen. By early June the name Galaxy S6 Plus began circulating.

The device is expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, a 16 megapixel rear camera, and 5 megapixel-front camera and no S-Pen stylus.

There are also rumors that a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus might release. Tech informant @OnLeaks recently shared a render he claims is the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. But Samsung hasn't confirmed or denied any reports on these devices.

This rumor pops up every year

Rumors about the new Galaxy S flagship launching early is a tale as old as time. It has happened with the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S6; reports often suggest that Samsung will release its latest device early in response to poor sales of the previous flagship, or to compete with Apple's coming device. But it is the Galaxy Note smartphones that directly compete with new iPhones. Samsung keeps its Galaxy S launches separate from iPhone launches for the best chance at high sales.

Samsung promised to stop saturating the market

Many years of releasing a countless smartphones with similar designs and low quality specifications finally caught up to Samsung in 2014, when the company suffered significant sales drops. This downfall was the catalyst to Samsung introducing a completely new design on the Galaxy S6.  The company also claimed it would cut its product portfolio by 30 percent to help its bottom line.

Samsung recently launched its Samsung Galaxy S6 Active smartphone and there are rumors for several new devices, including the Galaxy S6 Mini, Galaxy S6 Plus and Galaxy J7, but there do seem to be a lot fewer Samsung devices slated for release.

Releasing the Galaxy S7 at this time would be a bad idea, largely because there seems to be a lot of other Samsung devices set to release in the near future. Samsung usually separates its Galaxy S launches, not only from Apple launches, but from its other launches to give the device best possible exposure. If the Galaxy S7 went on the market now, it would easily get lost between the Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5 and many other Samsung phones as well as other rival devices.

It would be too costly for Samsung 

The Samsung Galaxy S7 will likely include many high tech specifications when it releases, which would not only be costly for consumers but also for Samsung to produce. We already know the Galaxy S6 Edge is the costliest smartphone in Samsung's history, costing Samsung $290 to construct each unit. Releasing a third smartphone on the high-end level would not be wise for Samsung. Such a move could easily bleed money from the company, when it is currently trying to rebuild itself from past mistakes.

When will the Samsung Galaxy S7 release?

Samsung noted that its products have "pre-determined launch windows," which means we can likely expect the Samsung Galaxy S7 to release in the spring. The manufacturer traditionally announces Galaxy S devices in March and releases them in April. There is no indication that the Galaxy S7 launch would be any different. 

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Release Date Not In 2015; Here's 5 Reasons Why

Four new Sony smartphones imported in India for testing

> In reply to kenboi @ 2015-06-23 23:28 from q9yh - click to readGlad you had a good experience unlike me. I don't know maybe all the D6616 were sent to the same repair facility because the last 4 had similar defects in the same spot... They could not even give me a new "factory sealed" one as they only had refurbished ones in circulation as T-Mobile pulled the device from sale due to many people like me. I think the international model D6603 did not face that, which I assume you had. Then again the first 4 were brand new factory sealed with issues as well. If they are to recover from the red they really need to up the quality control as the phones are good no doubt but cosmetic/gap issues/light leaking from frame/glass are a big issue.

Reply

2015-06-24 00:53

q3kL

I have owned a few Sony smartphones and never had a single issue. The quality of the Sony phones are top notch.

Reply

2015-06-23 23:28

q9yh

> In reply to avtella @ 2015-06-23 21:01 from q3kL - click to readLast year I finally bought a Sony Xperia Z3 hoping Sony may have improved. I love the phone but the quality control of Sony's factories/suppliers factories and repair centers is atrocious. The are good in on thing that the r following their wearanty my mobile screen damaged but they gave me new fone, know same problem m facing, warrant period has finish, in.this type what can I do

Reply

2015-06-23 22:42

uM6T

When I was in college in India in 2007 most of my friends had Sony phones and all had issues within 1-2 years. Their repair centers were not that great either. All of them eventually switched to other brands.

Last year I finally bought a Sony Xperia Z3 hoping Sony may have improved. I love the phone but the quality control of Sony's factories/suppliers factories and repair centers is atrocious.

My Game of Z3 Phones:#1 Severe lightbleed between Glass/Frame - Compromised waterproofing#2 Even worse light bleed, entire left side seemed to be having glue only in intervals and also compromised waterproofing#3 Pink Camera - severe------------------------#4 Worked well was perfect for 7 months - T-Mobile themselves opened checked 4-5 boxes before giving me this non defective unit. Recently developed screeching/vibrating top speaker-------------------------#5 Replacement unit came Severe light bleed between Glass/Frame - Compromised waterproofing. Also had a patch of paint missing on lower bezel right of the speaker with light coming through like an extra LED lol.#6 Exact same as #5.#7 Streak of dead pixels and and dust under LCD--------------------------#8 Finally a good one, only very little light leak. Keeping this one.

Thank god T-Mobile replaced my phones immediately and did 1 day shipping for the last for exchanges. It was much better than dealing with Sony whose rep said 2-3 weeks turn around time at minimum and asked if I could reinstall OS to see if the light leak between frame and glass could be fixed lol. I face palmed and told him its a hardware issue probably due to missing glue and I went to T-Mobile instead to get my exchange...

T-mobile told me if it happens again they would refund my remaining $425 and taxes and I could get a new model.

T-Mobile also removed the Z3 from sale due to numerous returns from defects. Sad to see a great device ruined by bad quality control.

Reply

2015-06-23 21:01

q3kL

I really hope Sony improved the quality control of their factories and suppliers for these new phones... I am on my 8th Z3 due to defects... After owning phones from every major brand this is a first for me.

Reply

2015-06-23 20:56

q3kL

When I was in college in India in 2007 most of my friends had Sony phones and all had issues within 1-2 years. Their repair centers were not that great either. All of the eventually switched to other brands.

Last year I finally bought a Sony Xperia Z3 from T-Mobile hoping Sony may have improved. I love the phone but the quality control of Sony's factories/suppliers factories and repair centers is atrocious.My Game of Z3 Phones:#1 Severe lightbleed between Glass/Frame - Compromised waterproofing#2 Even worse light bleed, entire left side seemed to be having glue only in intervals and also compromised waterproofing#3 Pink Camera - severe------------------------#4 Worked well was perfect for 7 months - T-Mobile themselves opened checked 4-5 boxes before giving me this non defective unit. Recently developed screeching/vibrating top speaker-------------------------#5 Replacement unit came Severe light bleed between Glass/Frame - Compromised waterproofing. Also had a patch of paint missing on lower bezel right of the speaker with light coming through like an extra LED lol.#6 Exact same as #5.#7 Streak of dead pixels and and dust under LCD--------------------------#8 Finally a good one, only very little light leak. Keeping this one.

Thank god T-Mobile replaced my phones immediately and did 1 day shipping for the last for exchanges. It was much better than dealing with Sony whose rep said 2-3 weeks turn around time at minimum and asked if I could reinstall OS to see if the light leak between frame and glass could be fixed lol. I face palmed and told him its a hardware issue probably due to missing glue and I went to T-Mobile instead to get me exchange...

T_mobile told me if it happens again they would refund my remaining $425 and taxes and I could get a new model.

Reply

2015-06-23 20:47

q3kL

Lol...guys price is 39k so it's not gonna be a z4 ultra or z5...I think sony is planning anything different. ..like new smartphone range or may be its downgraded version of z3+

Reply

2015-06-23 15:22

7tLt

can anyone explain it to me why those new branded phone always goes to india first???

Reply

2015-06-23 14:08

2Aui

Xperia p2 please

Reply

2015-06-23 12:34

pqZ}

Two of the phone is pretty much likely to be the Xperia e5 with lollipop 5.0.2 and others are the xperia T Series T4 or T3 ultra or T4 ultra that runs lollipop 5.1 out of the box.

Reply

2015-06-23 11:59

y{4x

Xperia P2 please

Reply

2015-06-23 11:05

Pve2

Xperia p2 please

Reply

2015-06-23 10:43

Pve2

GSM -DIGITAL airways - all systems go -india -worlds biggest market now - 4g 4.5g take offs- most india by dec 2015 ..

Reply

2015-06-23 09:25

3JeW

I think it's going to be from the Z4 series as this would be too early for any of the Z5 series to appear. Hoping at least it will be the Z4 Ultra and compact together with probably the Z4 Tablet Compact and one other. Still going to be waiting for the Z5 series.

Reply

2015-06-23 07:58

MJSt

Source: Four new Sony smartphones imported in India for testing

AT&T Launching Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Smartphone on June 26

The Lumia 640 XL, which has a 5.7-inch display and retails for about $250, will be offered exclusively through AT&T, according to the carrier.

Microsoft's Lumia 640 XL smartphone will go on sale in AT&T stores and at ATT.com starting June 26 after debuting at Mobile World Congress in March. The smartphone, which will be available in matte black or matte white, will be offered exclusively by AT&T in the United States.The Lumia 640 XL features a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board storage that is expandable to 128GB with a microSD card and 30GB of free Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage. The smartphone runs on the Windows Phone 8.1 operating system, including the Lumia Denim update, which offers useful features, such as Live Folders, a one-swipe Action Center and fast texting with Word Flow.The Lumia 640 XL incorporates a 5.7-inch HD display that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a 13-megapixel rear camera with Zeiss optics and LED flash, and a 5MP wide-angle front camera. The handset is powered by a 3,000mAh battery.AT&T will offer the Lumia 640 XL to its customers for no money down and $8.34 per month for 30 months on an AT&T Next 24 payment plan (total $250.20) or for $10.42 per month on a 24-month Next 18 plan  ($250.08 total). The smartphone can also be purchased for $12.50 per month on a 20-month Next 12 plan ($250.00 total). In addition, the Lumia 640 XL includes a built-in Microsoft Office subscription so users can read their emails, edit documents, update spreadsheets or review presentations anywhere they are located. Also included is Microsoft's Cortana personal assistant application that can automatically remind users of appointments, events and more. The phone will be upgradeable to Windows 10 after its release later this year.When Microsoft unveiled the new device at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, it also introduced its slightly smaller partner, the Lumia 640, which features a 5-inch display.The Lumia 640 handsets come in two sizes and models, just like Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models and Samsung's latest Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge devices. It appears to be an ongoing market trend to sell standard and phablet-sized versions of key handsets to offer more consumer choice while reusing many key components in both models.Both the 640 and 640 XL will be available in various configurations for users around the world, including in 4G LTE or 3G versions as well as with single- or dual-SIM card slots to allow connectivity in almost any country.In May, Cricket Wireless, which is a subsidiary of AT&T, announced that it was offering the Lumia 640 in cyan blue, according to an earlier eWEEK report. Cricket sells t he Lumia 640 for $129.99. The smaller Lumia 640 has a 5-inch Clearblack HD display for improved visibility in sunlight; a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 cover for extra durability; a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor; 1GB of RAM; 8GB of on-board storage that is expandable to 128GB with a microSD card; a 2,500mAh battery; and an 8MP rear camera with flash and HD video recording capabilities.
Source: AT&T Launching Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Smartphone on June 26

Utahns' smartphone raises over $1M with new features

Utahns' smartphone raises over $1M with new features

By Natalie Crofts

June 22nd, 2015 @ 5:44pm

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SOUTH JORDAN — A second wave of pre-sells has brought in over $1 million so far for a highly praised smartphone designed in Utah.

The Saygus V�, created by Utahns Chad Sayers and Tim Riker, received rave reviews from outlets like CNET at the beginning of 2015. Last week, the company launched an IndieGoGo campaign to continue spreading the word while letting more people pre-order the phone.

"We're just a bunch of Utah guys who love this stuff," Sayers said. "We're promoting Utah like crazy. We put the arches on the phone."

Sayers said IndieGoGo approached Saygus at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, but he wasn't interested at first because the phone was already near production and they didn't need more funding. However, he changed his mind a few months later after learning Fortune 500 companies also use the site.

"When we realized it didn't have to be about raising money, that's when we got excited," he said. "We want to make sure the whole world knows about our project."

Saygus had to push back the original shipping date for phones pre-ordered through the company website earlier this year due to manufacturer delays, but Sayers said that delay provided the opportunity to add three more features to the phone. They upgraded the Android operating system to 5.1 Lollipop and added a USB type-C port, in addition to a second SIM card slot.

Courtesy of Saygus

The second SIM card slot is especially beneficial for people living in third world countries who use multiple carriers to avoid huge roaming fees, according to Sayers. He said his team encountered the problem firsthand when they racked up a $9,000 bill in two weeks while working abroad. With a second slot, it is possible to have both a regular-use SIM card and a local SIM card in the phone at the same time.

"You can use the same phone with all of the same numbers, you just decide which SIM card you're going to use when you make those calls," he said. "It's a very simple software thing. The advantages are huge and it really lends us to a lot more sales around the rest of the world."

Other highly anticipated features on the phone include technology that allows users to wirelessly transmit HD video to nearby screens, optical image stabilization on its rear 21-megapixel and front 13-megapixel cameras and the potential for 464 GB of storage, plus a waterproof design.

"That's what we wanted to build — the phone that it doesn't matter if you're a housewife or a college student or a businessman or retired person. You could be a sailor or an engineer and you're going to love this phone," Sayres said. "It has features that are available out there, but for some reason other carriers aren't providing."

Saygus is aiming to ship the V� to IndieGoGo supporters this fall. People who preordered the phone through the Saygus website will receive the phone first, with all of the the additional features.

"It's a harder project than anyone has done before for a smartphone, there is no question it is, but it's going to be worth it when it's finished here shortly," he said. "We're so stoked about it. We've got them in our pockets now and we keep looking at it, going, 'I can't believe it. This is so cool.'"

The phones can be pre-ordered through IndieGoGo for $650.

Source: Utahns' smartphone raises over $1M with new features

Sony offers up Android M developer preview for a dozen phones

A developer preview version of Android M is now available for select Sony devices. James Martin/CNET Sony kicked off the week by announcing a developer preview version of Android M for its Xperia devices. Designed to help developers prepare apps and games for the next generation of Android, it's also a taste of things to come later this year.

With this move Sony beats Samsung, HTC and other players to the punch. Even Motorola, which is typically quick to release Android updates, hasn't made any noise on this front. Indeed, these are the first non-Nexus models to get the treatment.

It's possible, of course, that most phone makers simply don't want to bother with a developer preview release. Given there are other Android M builds expected before the final consumer-ready version it may not be worth the hassle to try to keep up with Google and its Nexus devices.

If anything, this announcement is a good indicator as to which models Sony plans to support with the next official release of Android. And, based on the list, it appears Sony m ay support a few generations' worth of devices.

There are one dozen phones and tablets able to take advantage of the Android M build: Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z2 Tablet, Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z Ultra, Xperia E3, Xperia M2, Xperia T2 Ultra, and Xperia T3.

Android M is expected to pick up a formal name later this fall; potential candidates include Marmalade, Muffin and Marshmallow. Aside from the developer-centric details, average users can look for features such as Google Now on Tap, USB Type-C support and Android Pay.

If you're a developer looking to test apps and the latest from Google, head to Sony's website for documentation and files. As for Sony phone and tablet owners, sit back and relax a few months until Android M is ready to come out of the oven.

Source: Sony offers up Android M developer preview for a dozen phones

5 Factors To Consider Before Buying A Budget Smartphone

Are you planning to buy a new budget smartphone? Here are few things that you should keep in mind!

The budget smartphone segment has grown rapidly in last few years. You no longer need to burn a hole in your pocket to buy a smartphone. You can get a great smartphone without shelling much money. Android One brought smartphone revolution in the country. New manufacturers like Micromax and Xiaomi are launching high-end spec smartphones at low prices. However, there are few things that you should keep mind before choosing a budget smartphone for yourself.

1. Expectations: 

Most buyers think that low-cost smartphones are slightly less performer as compared to high-end flagship devices. This increases the expectations of the buyer and leads to disappointment. Some smartphones like Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G and Micromax Yu Yureka have bridged this performance gap and come close to high-end smartphones. However, buyers must remember why these phones are called budget smartphones. You will have to compromise on display resolution, build quality, processor speed, RAM, battery and camera quality. Even if the lens of camera is of 13MP, it may not have give that high output quality.

2. Cutting Corners: 

Smartphone manufacturers cut down some features to bring down the cost of phone. Like, a budget smartphone may sport 4GB internal storage but out of which, you will get only 2GB for your use. The large screen sounds like a good idea but it may have low resolution or may be even same resolution as small-screen phones. You may not get some cutting edge connectivity options like WiFi Direct, NFC and new Bluetooth 4.0.

3. Hardware: 

You must check hardware specifications while buying a new smartphone. Some budget phones are running on entry-level hardware. You must check the processor, RAM and user available storage. Some other specifications such as display size, resolution, connectivity and battery must be checked and compared with other budget smartphones. You should demo the budget smartphone of your choice before making final purchase.

4. Software Interface: 

There is wide availability of Android, Windows Phones and even some old Blackberry smartphones in budget segment. You must check the OS version before choosing the budget phone. Budget phones do not get every minor software update. In case of Windows Phone, always look for a device that runs Windows Phone v8 or later. Some OEMs build OS with their own custom UI. You should experience the software interface before making final purchase.

5. Support: 

Most smartphones have one-year warranty. Some of them have extended warranty option as well. But what's the use of warranty if there is no service center near by. Check out the company's official website to look for service centers. You can refer some user forums to check the after sales support quality of the particular company. Some companies suffer from lack of availability for spare parts.

EFY Times

Source: 5 Factors To Consider Before Buying A Budget Smartphone

iPhone 7 rumor rollup: Heavy metal! Fingerprints! A kinda-sorta-maybe release date!

Would you believe there are people so interested in Apple and all of its works that they want to know what's going on with the next generation of the iPhone before it even comes out? My editors assure me that this is the case. So, despite the obvious lunacy of the idea – I mean, surely it's enough to know that there will probably be another one coming out at some point, right? – I am stepping in to provide you with the latest scuttlebutt on what may or may not be the iPhone 7.

+ ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD: Review: The best password managers for PCs, Macs, and mobile devices + FBI investigates St Louis Cardinals over Houston Astros hacking +

Probably the biggest news comes, as it frequently seems to, from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, whose latest research note indicates that the next generation iPhone will be made of the same 7000-series aluminum used in advanced devices like the Apple Watch and the F-22 Raptor. (H/T: Macotakara)

The 7000 series of aluminum alloys is characterized by the presence of zinc, and they are the most commonly chosen alloys for high-strength-to-weight-ratio applications, like military aircraft and consumer electronic devices owned by clumsy people. Such alloys are also likely to be more expensive, but how much that will affect the unit costs of the iPhone 7 remains to be seen.

The analyst's note also predicted the availability of a rose-gold model of the phone, and a minor increase in the size of the device to accommodate the haptic force-sensing "Force Touch" display rumored for it.

Ming-Chi Kuo is the iNostradamus of the Apple world – Cult of Mac called him "the most accurate Apple seer around," but also pointed out that he's far from infallible, so make of this what you will. Still, military-grade, ultra-premium construction materials? Rose-gold finishes? Sure sounds like Apple.

A release date? A sick camera? A-hunka-hunka-burnin love?

Tech blog Geeksnack reports that the iPhone 7 will be released in March 2016, along with the second generation of Apple Watch, while the iPhone 6S will come out in October of this year, citing anonymous sources within the company.

The iPhone 7 will have "DSLR-level photography" capabilities, incorporate the TouchID fingerprint sensor into the main screen – doing away with the home button – and "adopt a slightly different design language," according to Geeksnack's sources.

Obviously, it's not clear what "a slightly different design language" could look like, though it's worth noting that Apple isn't exactly given to making big, seismic changes in product design. Something will be squared-off that was rounded before, or something will have its edges beveled differently, and presto – "a slightly different design language."

More from the illustrious Ming-Chi Kuo

The eminent reader of Apple's tea leaves, earlier in the month, also stated that the next iPhone – likely the iPhone 6S, not the iPhone 7 – will pack 2GB of LPDDR4 RAM. That's the same type of RAM used by the Samsung Galaxy S6, and a substantial upgrade over the 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Apple's clearly not indifferent to the growing performance gap between Samsung's latest and greatest and its own flagship designs. (A good illustration is available here, at the always-excellent Tom's Guide site.)

(H/T, again: Macotakara)

(Note: Bob Brown is on vacation.)

Source: iPhone 7 rumor rollup: Heavy metal! Fingerprints! A kinda-sorta-maybe release date!

Android Circuit: Samsung's Security Nightmare, Google Attacks Amazon, Nokia's New Smartphone

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (image: Ewan Spence)

Taking a look back at seven days of news across the Android world, this week's Android Circuit includes Samsung's security nightmare over SwiftKey, Nokia's potential Android smartphone announcement, a foldable Samsung Galaxy for 2016, five reasons you'll buy the Sony Xperia Z3+, a review of the Acer Liquid Jade S, Google's bug hunting bounty, new 'Free App Of The Week' offer on the Google Play Store, and James Bond reading you a bedtime story.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can read the weekly Apple news digest here).

Samsung's SwiftKey Security Nightmare

Samsung faces a rather hefty security issue this week, as Forbes' Thomas Brewster-Fox explains the process and impact of a vulnerability that affects over 600 million smartphones from the South Korean manufacturer:

The problem, uncovered by Ryan Welton from mobile security specialists NowSecure, was a blatant one: the SwiftKey keyboard pre-installed on Samsung phones looked for language pack updates over unencrypted lines, in plain text. That meant it was possible for Welton to create a spoof proxy server and send malicious security updates to affected devices, along with some validating data to ensure the bad code remained on the device. This gave him a hook from which to find ways to escalate his attack and exploit the device without the users' knowledge.

The SwiftKey vulnerability is for the keyboard choice built into Samsung's firmware, not the version available through the Google Play Store (or indeed the iOS version).

Samsung is rolling out a fix as quickly as possible through an expedited firmware update that will be made available in the near future, and the company's statement is here. Meanwhile, SwiftKey notes on its blog that Samsung KNOX users can invalidate the vulnerabilities with a new security policy available after a manual update.

If you own a Galaxy device with Samsung KNOX, you will be able to receive an over-the-air update to invalidate any potential vulnerabilities caused by this issue. For this to work, you need to make sure your device automatically receives security policy updates. To do this, go to Settings > Lock Screen and Security > Other Security Settings > Security policy updates, and check that the 'Automatic Updates' option is activated. At the same screen, you can also click 'Check for updates' to manually retrieve any new security policy updates.

Nokia Preparing For Android Smartphone Return

Fans of Finnish smartphone manufacturer Nokia have been excited to read the words of CEO Rajeev Suri on Nokia's plans for smartphone hardware, reported by Reuters:

"We will look for suitable partners," Rajeev Suri said in an interview published on Thursday. "Microsoft makes mobile phones. We would simply design them and then make the brand name available to license."

In principle this means that the path followed by the Android-powered Nokia N1 tablet – designed by Nokia and manufactured by a licence such as Foxconn (in the case of the N1) could easily apply to a new smartphone design. And the little details of licensing the Nokia name to Microsoft in Redmond's purchase of Nokia's devices and services section? The exclusivity period is running out next year:

Microsoft's purchase of the division granted it a number of IP marks (including the Lumia name), and a licence to use the Nokia name on smartphones and features for a number of years. The naming licence included a shorter period of exclusivity use - Nokia smartphones would be exclusively under the Microsoft banner for eighteen months.

That period will be up during 2016, and it sounds like Nokia is not going to waste any time in returning the powerful brand name back to the consumer smartphone market.

I've got some more thoughts on the potential behind a Nokia smartphone in 2016.

Samsung's Next Innovation Could Be A Foldable Screen

What 'gimmick' comes after the 'edge' in the titular Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge? Whatever it is needs to be something that screams innovation, that looks attractive to consumers, and that the marketing department can lean on heavily. How about a smartphone that folds open and reveals a bendable screen?

Thanks to a recent publication from the South Korean patent office, details on a foldable screen integrated into a Samsung smartphone are now available.

Just because a patent has been applied for does not mean that the technology will appear in a final product. There may be issues with production, it may prove impractical for the mass market, or it may simply be a defensive patent to put down a legal marker. So this is one of the weakest indication of what could be coming up in a Samsung smartphone in the future.

On the positive side, reports of Samsung's 'Project Valley' tie in with the technology illustrated in the patent.

Assuming Samsung follow the same strategy as previous years…

Is the Xperia Z3+ Your Next Smartphone?

Jay McGregor certainly thinks so. He's taken a closer look at Sony's latest Xperia flagship (be it the Z4 in Japan and the US, or the Z3+ in Europe) to put together his latest buyer's guide for the smartphone market. The latest Xperia has a lot of potential in it, starting with the design

This is Sony's hallmark, an obsession with high-quality smartphone design. From the very first Xperia model, right through to the Z3+, the overall quality stands out against the competition. Contenders in the form the HTC One M9 and Samsung Galaxy S6 also offer high-end design, but Sony's effort tops the pile.

Why? The front and rear glass panels set a trend that has now been copied by Samsung. On top of that it's IP68 waterproof, which means that it can survive dust and being submerged in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. As an improvement on the Z3, Sony has removed some of the annoying flaps that kept it water-resistant. The USB port no longer needs to be covered by a cap, and the microSD slot and sim-slot have been moved to one area.

All five reasons can be found here.

Acer's Mid-Range Smartphone Is Slim, Smart, But Needs A Better Battery

Earlier this week I reviewed Acer's latest smartphone release in the UK this week. The mid-range Acer Liquid Jade S smartphone certainly looks the part (coming in at a thin 7.9mm and 120g) and supports 4G and dual-SIM, but some rather big concessions have been made to get it into the required price point.

This lack of oomph in the sound department also extends to the Jade S's performance during a phone call. While voices are distinct with no distortion, the earpiece can be very quiet. In a noisy environment it was sometimes a struggle to hold a conversation without resorting to 'can you speak up a bit' and 'I missed that, can you say that again?'

…The thin design of the Jade S may be good for the styling of the device, but it leaves little room for a decent sized battery. Acer has went with a sealed 2300 mAh battery, which may or may not be up to the task of getting you though a full day of work. A lot depends on how you use the Jade S. Sticking with the built-in apps and using the smartphone as a PDA and organiser and you'll likely go the distance of a working day. Start doing any serious web browsing or third-party applications and you'll be lucky to make the afternoon

You can read the full review here.

Bounty For Bugs, Mountain View Style

Google has launched a bounty program for bugs found in Android (reports Ben Lovejoy at 9to5Google and others). Depending on the severity of the bug, Google will reward the first reporter of a bug with up to $8,000. Details can be found on Google's Application Security section of the website

We're launching Android Security Rewards to help reward the contributions of security researchers who invest their time and effort in helping us make Android more secure. Through this program we provide monetary rewards and public recognition for vulnerabilities disclosed to the Android Security Team. The reward level is based on the bug severity and increases for higher quality reports that include reproduction code, test cases, and patches.

Google's lead designer for 'Inbox by Gmail' Jason Cornwell shows the app's functionalities on a nexus 6 android phone during a media preview in New York (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Google's 'Free App Of The Week' Attack

An interesting move from Google this week was to launch a 'Free App Of The Week' program on the Google Play Store. Starting off with a PBS Kids application, not only will the offer help build up a collection of Google apps, it will also bring people back to the Play Store on a weekly basis.

Sounds like Google is challenging one of Amazon's strongest app store features:

the idea that Google might be moving to promote special offers for applications is an enticing one. It would certainly address one of the key selling points of its biggest Android store competitor. That competitor is Amazon, who continues to attract attention with its 'Free App Of The Day' promotions – a promotion that ensures customers interact with Amazon every day once they get into the habit.

More of my thoughts can be found here.

And Finally…

How would you like James Bond to read you a bedtime story? That's the promise of 'GivingTales', a new storytelling app released this week

Today's children are increasingly accustomed to consuming content in one short sitting. While paper books may be giving way to digital versions, classic fairy tales never grow old. There's a big need to adapt traditional stories into shorter, animated versions, so they can captivate and inspire another generation of young readers.

"Taking care not to lose the essence of what makes Hans Christian Andersen's stories so great, GivingTales has condensed the stories down so they can be enjoyed in minutes, not hours. Using the voices of renowned actors gives them new life in a memorable and entertaining way," Jacob Moller, CEO of GivingTales.

The first story ('The Princess And The Pea') is available as a free download, with subsequent stories costing £3.99. I know, this app is targeted at children, but with Sir Roger Moore narrating the first stories, and others voiced by talent such as Ewan McGregor, Stephen Fry, and Dame Joan Collins, it's an enticing night-time read no matter your age.

You can find out more and download the app from GivingTales.com And you'll be supporting UNICEF UK as well, with 30% of GivingTales' revenue being donated to the charity.

'Android Circuit' will round-up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don't forget to follow me so you don't miss any coverage in the future, and of course read the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week's Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you'd like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!

You can find more of my work at ewanspence.co.uk. I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In. You should subscribe to my weekly newsletter of 'Trivial Posts'.

Source: Android Circuit: Samsung's Security Nightmare, Google Attacks Amazon, Nokia's New Smartphone

Not your grandpa’s office: Americans are telecommuting and using their smartphones more in their jobs

Not so long ago, staying at home meant taking a day off from work, relaxing, and, quite literally, disconnecting from the trials and tribulations of the office. But in our increasingly digitized day and age, work-life balance is becoming harder and harder to maintain as the line between the home and the home office is blurred. According to a new set of findings released by Workspot exclusively to Digital Trends, the evolution of the American workplace and workforce shows a growing number of U.S. workers working remotely and using their smartphones or other wireless devices to remain connected to their jobs at all times.

First, there's the movement away from going to the office to do work. According to Workspot's sources, 84 percent of Americans telecommute more than once a month, and nearly one in four do so on a weekly basis. In fact, so prevalent is this trend that over 40 percent of companies have adopted telecommuting policies to better accommodate employees who prefer to complete their tasks from the comfort of their own home. And while sitting in bed while sending work emails may seem like a great idea every once in awhile, some companies may inadvertently weaken their collaborative culture when no one ever sees his or her colleagues.

Still, freelancers, most of whom are telecommuters, are a huge part of the American workforce, contributing more than $715 billion to the American economy. And given that some 53 million Americans consider themselves freelancers, this means that about a third of the workforce is working on their own schedule.

There's also been a distinct shift in the working population, with around 10,000 baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) retiring every single day. And while millenials (those born in the last 20 years of the 20th century) comprise 32 percent of the workforce today, by 2030, it is estimated that three out of every four American workers will have been born between 1980 and 2000. And with this generation being one that grew up practically attached to technology, the implications for how this will affect the workplace are potentially huge.

Related: We like it! This app won't let you check work email when you're off hours

Finally, there's the increased reliance on mobile technology — namely cellphones — in the workplace, with 90 percent of Americans using their personal smartphones for work. It seems difficult to imagine a business that could complete day-to-day operations sans Internet, and according to Workspot, 45 percent of businesses say that wireless is "essential" to their everyday functions. Moreover, 64 percent of companies say that "providing more mobility support for employees" is a huge priority, which sounds a lot like ensuring that their employees are reachable 24/7. And given that about a third of millenials say they use at least three devices at work (a tablet, a computer, and a smartphone), it seems that this mobility is already built into many a company's DNA.

This isn't your grandmother's workplace, kids. And in another few decades, it may not be ours either.

Source: Not your grandpa's office: Americans are telecommuting and using their smartphones more in their jobs

Samsung Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 Selfie-Focused Smartphones Launched

Samsung, a day after launching its two mid-range tablets in India, has now launched two new Galaxy smartphones under its J-series in China - the Galaxy J7 (seen above) and Galaxy J5 (seen below). The smartphones are priced at at CNY 1,798 (roughly Rs. 18,400) and CNY 1,398 (roughly Rs. 14,300) respectively.

The Android 5.1-based handsets for now are limited to China region only with no word on their global launches. The dual-SIM dual standby handsets will be available in Black, White, and Gold colours.

The Samsung Galaxy J5 features a 5-inch TFT display with a HD screen resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The smartphone is backed by 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 SoC coupled with 1.5GB of RAM. There is 16GB of built-in storage, which is further expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB).

It packs a 2600mAh battery, which is rated to deliver standby time of 342 hours. It sports a 13-megapixel rear autofocus camera with f/1.9 aperture and 5-megapixel front camera. Apart from 4G, the handset supports 3G, Bluetooth v4.1, Wi-Fi, NFC, GPS, Glonass and Micro-USB. The Galaxy J5 measures 142x73x8.5mm and weighs 149 grams.

The Samsung Galaxy J7 comes with most of the similar specifications as the Galaxy J5. The only difference in the Galaxy J7 is a larger 5.5-inch TFT display with the same resolution, an octa-core Snapdragon 615 (four 1.4GHz cores + four 1GHz cores), and a 3000mAh battery rated to deliver 354 hours of standby time. The smartphone measures 152.2x79.1x7.9mm and weighs 168 grams.

Samsung on Thursday launched two new mid-range tablets in India, the Galaxy Tab A and Galaxy Tab E, priced at Rs. 20,500 and Rs. 16,900 respectively.

Source: Samsung Galaxy J5 and Galaxy J7 Selfie-Focused Smartphones Launched

Nokia Announces New Smartphone Plans For 2016

Nokia's Android powered tablet, the Nokia N1 (image: Nokia.com)

Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri has announced the Finnish company's intention to return to the smartphone market in 2016. Speaking to Manager Magazin in Germany, the 47-year-old executive noted that Nokia could design the new handsets and then licence the designs and Nokia name to as yet un-named partner. Georgina Prodhan for Reuters:

"We will look for suitable partners," Rajeev Suri said in an interview published on Thursday. "Microsoft makes mobile phones. We would simply design them and then make the brand name available to license."

The timing and the nature of the return of the former number one mobile phone manufacturer (…in the world) should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to the details either the sale of Nokia's devices and services business to Microsoft or the release last year of the Nokia N1 tablet.

Nokia's Android-powered tablet was announced at the Slush conference in November 2014, and demonstrated Nokia's new retail model for hardware. The design was Nokia's own, and while it shipped with Android 5.0 Lollipop and support for Google Play, it was given a Finnish flavor through Nokia's 'Z Launcher' software.  Foxconn obtained the licence for the tablet's manufacturing, selling, shipping, and support.

A leaner Nokia had returned to the hardware market without the tricky issue of rebuilding a support network for the hardware, and Foxconn could make use of its own manufacturing knowledge and networks to ship the N1.

While there are no details on who would be the licence of the next Nokia smartphone (or acknowledgement that Nokia will in fact release such a handset), it makes sense for Suri and Nokia to adopt the same business model for any new handset.

The timing should not be a surprise either.

Microsoft's purchase of the division granted it a number of IP marks (including the Lumia name), and a licence to use the Nokia name on smartphones and features for a number of years. The naming licence included a shorter period of exclusivity use - Nokia smartphones would be exclusively under the Microsoft banner for eighteen months.

That period will be up during 2016, and it sounds like Nokia is not going to waste any time in returning the powerful brand name back to the consumer smartphone market.

Now comes the obvious question of which operating system any new Nokia hardware will use. The phone does need to be a smartphone, the naming rights take care of that, and that leaves very few choices for the handset.

I doubt that Nokia would seriously look at BlackBerry's BB10 OS (and BlackBerry look to be slowly moving away from its own platform) and iOS is not available. Returning with a Windows 10 handset would be akin to Orpheus looking back in haste.

There's an argument that Nokia could take on a long shot with Jolla's Sailfish OS, but I'm not sure the market conditions are right for what would be seen as an experiment. Nokia's return will focus on the consumer experience, and that means an OS that is understandable by the vast majority of the public, with strong support for apps, and the availability of modern online services and social networks.

Nokia's Chief Executive Rajeev Suri addresses a press conference at the Nokia head offices in Espoo, Finland (MARKKU ULANDER/AFP/Getty Images)

It's back to the obvious choice of Android. Nokia has previously worked on its own Android fork, but that code and the hardware that used it (the Nokia X family) was sold to Microsoft. In theory there could be another fork front he Android Open Source Project, but with the N1 using Google's flavor of Android and using the Google Play store, I'm expecting to see the Nokia smartphone using a Google Play compatible version of Android with the Z Launcher software making a prominent appearance.

In the week that saw Microsoft demote its mobile hardware team through an internal reorganisation, the news that Nokia is definitely coming back will be welcomed by many industry watchers. The game of 'what if' over an earlier adoption of Android in 2010 or 2011 will continue. Nevertheless Nokia has adapted itself to the current smartphone climate, has minimised the risk involved in the return, and is far more nimble and agile than it was when it worked alongside Redmond.

Hurry up, 2016, I want to see what the Finns have been working on.

You can find more of my work at ewanspence.co.uk. I'm on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked In. You should subscribe to my weekly newsletter of 'Trivial Posts'.

Source: Nokia Announces New Smartphone Plans For 2016

You Can Blame Your Smartphone for Those ‘Searing’ Headaches

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smartphone-texting-pressure-on-neck

Last November, I half-jokingly said that the iPhone might be killing you softly while talking about two medical studies that detailed smartphone-related conditions. In particular, one of them said that most smartphone users might be hurting their necks by looking down at the device, especially when reading and texting. As it turns out, such heavy smartphone use does have unwanted effects on your body, including "searing headaches," new report claims.

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That's what happened to Gizmodo's Adam Clark Estes, who eventually had to visit a New York University doctor's office to sort out his problem.

"A few months ago I started getting headaches, and they were weird," he describes his problem. "If a bad hangover headache feels splitting, I'd describe these headaches as searing, as if someone had hit me over the head with a red-hot rod of steel sending electric bolts of pain across my skull."

Doctor Myrna Cardiel offered him a diagnosis after a 20-minute long examination: Occipital neuralgia, which appears to be quite common with a certain demographic.

Further advancing with her questionnaire, she asked Estes whether he works on a laptop or desktop a lot and whether he does anything that could strain neck muscles.

"What about smartphone usage?" Estes asked. "I'm constantly craning my neck to look down at my phone. Maybe that has something to do with it."

"You know what," Dr. Cardiel replied. "I've been a practicing neurologist for 10 years, and I've seen cases of this condition skyrocket since smartphones became popular. I should write a paper."

A recent study – the one I mentioned above – says that people who look down at their iPhones or Android smartphones at a 60-degree angle practically add 60 pounds of pressure on their necks (see image above), something that could lead to such a medical condition.

A precise treatment for this medical condition doesn't exist. Smartphone users experiencing similar symptoms should improve their posture when using the smartphone, should consider massage therapy and above all, shoud absolutely see a doctor who can set a definitive diagnosis and offer a symptomatic treatment for relieving pain.

More details about Estes' apparently smartphone-induced occipital neuralgia are available at the source link below.

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Source: You Can Blame Your Smartphone for Those 'Searing' Headaches