Lenovo launches affordable Zuk Z2 smartphone in China for Rs 18400

Chinese electronics giant Lenovo's sub-brand ZUK on Tuesday launched a new smartphone in the market - Z2 smartphone.

The latest figures from consulting company International Data Corporation show Lenovo shipped 74 million smartphones in 2015, which gave it a 5.2 percent market share globally, ranked it in fourth place.

According to the specifications that we know so far, ZUK Z2 is going to be a smaller variant of the mighty ZUK Z2 Pro, which happens to feature 6GB of RAM.

Chen Xudong, senior vice-president in charge of Lenovo's mobile business group, said: "We will release another generation of ZUK, and an epoch-making Moto smartphone that target high-end users, in the second half of this year". Now, the much more affordable ZUK Z2 might feature 4GB RAM and a 5-inch display with a 1080p resolution, but the price tag is something that will get the consumers talking. The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 820 64-bit quad-core processor, along with the Adreno 530 GPU for graphics. As seen with the earlier ZUK devices, the ZUK Z2 also comes with a fingerprint sensor integrated into the physical home button on the front. The non-removable 3,500mAh battery is also a part of this package, and so is Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 tech, which means you'll be able to charge this phone's battery rather quickly. It measures 141.65 x 68.88 x 8.45 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 149.00 grams. Priced at CNY 1,799 (approximately Rs 18,400), the phone is now on ly available in China. Now, it is also worth mentioning that the company introduced a USB Type-C wireless charger for this smartphone, and it can be used with a charging cover. The device will go on sale from 7 June in China and registrations for the same begin today.

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01 June 2016

01 June 2016

England's Anderson replaces Broad as top-ranked test bowler He scored 562 runs in 4 Tests, guiding England to an elusive series win, which is a rarity for the most hardworking teams. He is strong off the pads and on the leg side, merciless against the short ball and a decent player on the off side.

01 June 2016

Djokovic's French Open match resumes after rain The tournament has been blighted by poor weather this year but there have been enough dry spells to keep things broadly on schedule.

01 June 2016

Raptors need answers in a hurry The defence always expects him to shoot and guard him heavily, and that makes his passing game nearly as important as shooting. He passed Jason Kidd (1,263 playoff assists ) for third in National Basketball Association history in postseason assists .

01 June 2016

Phillies fall to Cubs 4-1 as Hendricks pitches 5-hitter The 25-year-old threw seven scoreless innings in a shutout of the Atlanta Braves on Sunday to snap a six-start winless streak. Kris Bryant's three-run homer in the sixth inning proved to be the decisive hit as the Cubs outscored the Cardinals in St.

01 June 2016

01 June 2016

Giants raise Cain, beat Cubs When it's not your day, it's not your day, and every team's going to have games like this, even good teams like the Cubs. The Giants won for the 11th time in 12 games and took two of three from a Cubs team with the best record in baseball. Trudeau says 'I am human' after fracas, cites job pressures That same day, Speaker Geoff Regan announced that the incident at Parliament will be examined by an all-party committee.

01 June 2016

01 June 2016

01 June 2016

Kidnapped soccer star turns tables on captor He used to play for fellow Greek side Levadiakos and, before that, spent five years at Tigres UANL in his home country. His abduction brought back memories of the kidnapping of Argentine manager Ruben Omar Romano in Mexico City in 2005.

Source: Lenovo launches affordable Zuk Z2 smartphone in China for Rs 18400

How to get one of the most exclusive smartphones BEFORE its UK release date

ONEPLUS • TWITTER • EVLEAKS

COMING SOON: OnePlus is preparing to launch its next flagship smartphone, OnePlus 3

OnePlus is trying something completely different in the run-up to its next flagship smartphone launch, OnePlus 3.

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer is offering its legion of fans a rare opportunity: the chance to co-operate and provide feedback on its next smartphone – ahead of its launch.

The upcoming OnePlus 3 flagship will be included in a new peer review initiative called The Lab.

And it is open to anyone, the hugely-successful Chinese startup has confirmed.

The company posted online: "To launch The Lab with a bang, we're enlisting the help of the community to provide fair, honest, crowd-sourced feedback on the OnePlus 3.

"You will put our new flagship to the test in a momentous effort to create a comprehensive community review."

OnePlus fans can apply to be part of the Lab program. Those who are successful will have an early copy of the phone sent directly to them for review.

Users who want to apply will have to provide a name, phone number, email and shipping address, as well as a short essay – no more than 500 words – telling OnePlus why you should be selected over other applicants.

Only thirty lucky people will be selected to test the upcoming OnePlus 3 ahead of its UK release date.

Those are selected "will take an in-depth look at the many features that make up the OnePlus 3 and submit a comprehensive review" over the course of "several days", according to OnePlus.

More than 8,500 people have already applied for the OnePlus 3 peer review.

Source: How to get one of the most exclusive smartphones BEFORE its UK release date

YU launches its new smartphone YUNICORN @ Rs. 12,999

YU has launched its new smartphone – YUNICORN at Rs. 12, 999/-. YUNICORN will be exclusively available on Flipkart, the first sale for which is scheduled on 7th June- 2 PM onwards.

On the hardware front, the YUNICORN is packed with the might of a 5.5 inch Full HD display, a Mediatek Helio P10 processor, 4GB RAM, a fingerprint scanner (at the front), 4000 mAh battery, 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera and a lot more to target the consumers who are looking for a seamless smartphone experience backed with an impeccable design language.

A true performance powerhouse, YUNICORN will have the upgraded version of AROUND YU, which is integrated platform to provide basic services with just a right swipe on the device. With Around, users will not have to juggle between multiple apps and can directly access services such as food, travel (Flights, Buses, Trains and Hotels), Shopping, cabs, cricket, News and Weather. The ease will get enhanced as the service comes integrated with a native wallet-UDIO for the first time.

Although the internal memory is 32 GB, but in order to give more storage, YU has partnered with MiMedia to give unlimited storage through its social Cloud. It will power the smartphone's native phone gallery and provide users new and unique features.

A stunning device in metal, the YUNICORN is a head turner which represents style and premium looks. It follows the YU's design philosophy that exhibits a seamlessly blended body design, embodying strength, with an all metal back giving the device stunning looks through meticulous craftsmanship. The build gets enhanced with special Rose Gold edition giving the device the most iconic look ever. Infused with magnesium, the metallic back looks better with use and will not fade away like other devices.

With YUNICORN consumers can avail host of free offers for upgraded services experience:

10% cash back for the SBI card users for the first flash sale

UDIO wallet will be loaded with INR 100 after the first transaction, INR 100 in the second month and INR 100 in the third month

YUNICORN will have 6 months free access to premium Gaana+ services that gives them access to unlimited song downloads

Free first consultation from Lybrate, 30% off on two subsequent consultations and free answers to the common health queries anytime, anywhere.

@Technuter.com News Service

Source: YU launches its new smartphone YUNICORN @ Rs. 12,999

Mobilink partners with QMobile to launch two Jazz X 3G smartphones

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Mobilink and QMobile have entered into a mega partnership, which will see them release two new Jazz X Smartphones – JS-1 and JS-7.

Under this agreement, QMobile will not only manufacture more Jazz X handsets for Mobilink, but also become the brand's official distributor across Pakistan.

The partnership is in line with Mobilink's strategy of introducing affordable 3G Smartphones in the market to speed-up the uptake of high-speed mobile internet in a bid to reach its goal of a digitally enabled Pakistan.

Speaking about the need to partner with QMobile, Aamir Ibrahim, Deputy CEO & CCO – Mobilink, commented, "This partnership allows us to provide our customers with a streamlined set of solutions in order to facilitate their communication needs. QMobile's expertise allows us to create a leading range of affordable smartphones, which meet market expectations."

Muhammad Ali Khan, Head of Devices & Data – Mobilink, commented, "The common understanding is that with the availability of affordable smartphones offering better functionality, smartphone adoption and internet penetration will rise exponentially in the near future. This is the reason we decided to partner with QMobile, as we believe their understanding of the needs of today's price sensitive consumer coupled with technical expertise can assist us in reaching our vision of a digital Pakistan."

"Mobilink's superior 3G services coupled with our 3G Smartphone manufacturing expertise provides us with a product range capable of disrupting the current affordable market trends. And the power of a brand like Jazz X allows us to venture in to those areas of the local market which have not experienced the benefits of a 3G Smartphone before," added Zeeshan Akhter, CEO – QMobile.

"Jazz, as a brand, has a very rich history. Its re—launch gives Mobilink the edge in terms of recognition in low penetration areas, and the trust of consumers. Together with QMobile, Pakistan's top selling mobile brand, it shall be able to enlarge its reach in the local mobile market, and look to bring online a significant proportion of the offline population," stated Zeeshan Yousuf, Director – QMobile, on the power of the two brands.

These two Jazz X 3G Smartphones look to cater to different target markets through separate specifications. The Jazz X JS-1 comes with a dual SIM and is equipped with 1.0GHz MTK Quad-Core processor along with 8GB ROM/512MB RAM, which provides efficient processing without a lag. The smartphone also includes Android Lollipop 5.1, GPS support and 1400 mAh battery whereby one can enjoy seamless Android experience. Display wise, the device has 4 inches capacitive touch screen which provides for quality images. It also carries a 2 MP rear and Smart front camera to allow for the capture of priceless moments.

Jazz X JS-7 is packed with features to target young consumers who are more prone to entertainment. Display wise one can watch movies or videos in distant clarity on a 5 inches IPS Gorilla Glass screen on the go. It also allows for seamless multitasking along with the power to run most graphics enhanced games with a 1.0 GHz MTK Quad-Core processor along with 8GB ROM/1 GB RAM. The JS-7 also supports a 5 MP rear camera with autofocus plus LED flash and 2 MP front-facing camera for selfie lovers. Moreover, the handset is packed with GPS support, 2000 mAh battery and ample space to download videos, apps and audio files as the model allows for an expandable memory of up to 32 GB.

The devices will soon be available at all Jazz Experience Points, Franchises and QMobile retail outlets across Pakistan in Black, Silver and Navy Blue color variants. Customers buying these two Jazz X devices will also receive PKR 300 balance, 300MBs of data and unlimited Facebook & Whatsapp for up to 3 months (balance and MBs will be posted in three equal installments).

Source: Mobilink partners with QMobile to launch two Jazz X 3G smartphones

Sony Launches Xperia X, XA Smartphones in India

New Delhi: Sony India on Monday unveiled its all-new smartphones - the Xperia X and Xperia XA - under the X series. The Xperia X is priced at Rs 48,990 and will be available in the country from June 7. The Xperia XA, on the other hand, carries a price tag of Rs 20,990 and will go on sale from the third week of June. Talking about the specs, the Sony Xperia X has a 5-inch full HD display, 13 megapixel front camera, 23 megapixel rear camera, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 650 hexa-core processor paired with 3 GB of RAM. The phone has an internal storage of 32 GB and supports a microSD card of up to 200 GB. The Xperia XA, on the other hand, features a 5-inch 720p display, 8 megapixel front camera, 13 megapixel rear camera, 64-bit MediaTel helio P10 octa-core processor couple with 2 GB of RAM. The phone has 16 GB of onbaord storage, with an option to expand the memory up to 200 GB. Both the phones will be available in four colour options - White, Graphite Black, Lime Gold and Rose Gold. T hey have have dual SIM capabilities and are capable to support 4G network. Buyers can pre-book the Xperia X at all authorised Sony mobile dealers and online exclusively on Amazon from 4 pm onwards starting May 30. Both the Xperia X and XA will be available in all Sony Centre, Xperia flagship stores, leading mobile and electronic stores, and online through Amazon.

Source: Sony Launches Xperia X, XA Smartphones in India

Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Batman Injustice Edition release date price

Younghee Lee, Samsung's Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, IT & Mobile, said in an official press release that the Korean tech giant is excited about its latest collaboration with Warner Bros.

The smartphone has been launched in celebration of the third anniversary of "Injustice: Gods Among Us". It features display of 5.5-inch QHD Super Amoled and the Samsung's octa-core Exynos 8890 SoC. The Galaxy S7 Edge housed Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset globally.

While Samsung previously teamed up with Marvel to release the Iron Man phone, it looks like it has no favourites with this DC partnership.

Perhaps the coolest accessory for true Batman fans, however, is the gold-plated Batarang that ships with the device. The company hasn't revealed the pricing of the special edition smartphone. While the new phones are already on sale in China, we don't know much about the availability of the new smartphones in other regions. Slap a bat logo on it, add a touch of gold, and the allure of a semi-exclusive release, and boy, you've got yourself a glorious piece of kit.

What do you think of Samsung's newest Android devices?

Earlier today, Samsung unveiled a brand new Galaxy S7 edge smartphone, the kind of device that Gotham probably deserves but doesn't really need at all. The report from Korea also mentioned that Samsung will come up with only one model of the upcoming Galaxy Note series.

In select markets, this special edition phone will come with in-game credit for "Injustice" and vouchers for Oculus VR content.

This Galaxy S7 limited edition comes in deep black with a blend of gold on the outlines.

Samsung has partnered with Warner Bros. However, Samsung makes it clear that products in the package may differ by markets and mobile operators.

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Batman Injustice Edition release date price

Connected cars now responsible for more new wireless accounts than smartphones

Smartphone growth in the US has more or less reached a point of saturation yet wireless carriers continue to see a steady stream of new account activations. As Chetan Sharma Consulting highlights, there's a perfectly good reason for this.

The industry consultant found that in the first quarter of 2016, 32 percent of new accounts were connected cars. Incredibly enough, these smart autos outpaced new smartphone connections which represented just 31 percent of the pie. AT&T led the pack as it relates to new connected car additions, outpacing all other competitors combined.

The firm also found that 23 percent of new accounts were opened for tablets, far more than I would have guessed. The remaining 14 percent was captured by machine-to-machine devices, more commonly referred to as Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

It's important to clarify the fact that this report is looking only at new accounts, not devices sold. I'd venture a guess that more smartphones were sold than all other categories combined but the overwhelming majority of those devices were added to existing accounts and thus, weren't included in this specific report.

Looking at the market at a whole, Chetan Sharma's findings largely reflect what we already know. Mobile data revenues, for example, shot up 17 percent year-over-year, now contributing 73 percent of overall service revenues. The report also highlights the fact that consumers are upgrading their mobile devices at a slower pace than before, largely because new device launches haven't really been all that innovative.

Lead image courtesy HPE Matter

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Source: Connected cars now responsible for more new wireless accounts than smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Batman Themed Smartphone, Related to Release Date of ‘Injustice 2’?

It is pretty obvious that Batman is one of the most popular superheroes ever, so it really just makes sense that Samsung is putting out a version of the Galaxy S7 Edge that has a Batman theme.  As it turns out, the release of the Samsung S7 Edge smartphone is tied into the release, or rather the anniversary of, Injustice: God's Among Us.  If you aren't familiar with Injustice: God's Among Us, think of it as a Mortal Kombat style of fighting game that pits DC heroes and villains, and sometimes heroes versus heroes.  Injustice: Gods Among Us was considered a big hit due to its superhero fighting moves and intriguing story, and the release of this new Batman could reveal that Injustice 2 could be on the way. 

According to Ubergizmo, Samsung released a press release about the Batman-themed phone was designed together with Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.  In case you think that this phone is somehow tied into Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it is a little too late, think again.  Yes, this phone is not just three months late after that DC movie premiere, but it is, in fact, three years too late. 

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You see, the purpose of the Batman S7 Edge phone (should I call it a batphone?) is to commemorate the third anniversary of the popular mobile game Injustice: God Among Us.  The press release says that "the companies came together to bring Samsung's technology and one of the game's central characters, Batman, in a sleek, high-performance smartphone." 

This bundle will come with "a Gear VR in select territories along with Injustice game credit and Oculus VR content vouchers", but this will vary from market to market.  The Samsung S7 Edge with a Batman theme is expected to be released in early June for markets like China, Singapore, Korea, Latin America, and Russia. 

So, with the release of a Samsung S7 Edge with a Batman theme, perhaps it is also made to go along with a soon to be released game of Injustice 2.  It certainly looks that way, as Jobs N Hire states that Samsung Mobile recently posted a teaser which appears to be connected with the highly-anticipated video game.  The specific words on the official Facebook page of Samsung Mobile state "Injustice is about to be served." 

For those that are into video games, all eyes will be on the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 14-16.  This is the location of E3 2016, an annual video game convention that takes place annually, and it is expected that NetherRealm Studios, co-developer of the first Injustice game (and Mortal Kombat X), will reveal the next Injustice game.    

Perhaps what will be unveiled is the story for Injustice: God's Among Us.  The first game took place in an alternate universe where Superman and the Justice League had become the leaders of the world, and the real Justice League had to stop them.  What will be the next conflict that will get the heroes and villains fighting, possibly with other heroes fighting other heroes? 

We'll see after E3 2016 ends, and then we can find a release date for Injustice 2.  

 

 

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Batman Themed Smartphone, Related to Release Date of 'Injustice 2'?

Samsung’s new phones could rival Apple’s iPhone 6 with similar features at almost half the price

Samsung's 2016 flagship beats the iPhone and Android rivals in camera, display, mobile payments and water resistance. WSJ's Geoffrey A. Fowler takes it on a San Francisco safari. Photo/Video: Emily Prapuolenis

SAMSUNG released a new smartphone in China which could rival Apple's iPhone 6 and 6S.

However, we might have to wait a little longer before they reach Australia.

The appearance of Galaxy's C5 and pricier model C7 closely mirrors Apple's slim design and boasts several similar features.

Both the C5 and C7 include a fingerprint sensor, a metal shell with antenna bands and a camera module centrally located.

And if this wasn't similar enough, the company has also unveiled colour finishes that were previously popular with Apple's products, including gold and rose.

But the deal-breaker is the price as Samsung's models are almost half the price of their Apple equivalent.

The Galaxy C5 is on sale at close to $A500, including 64 GB storage, while the iPhone 6 is priced at around $A1079 for the same amount.

Meanwhile the Galaxy C7 will set customers back around $A590, compared to almost double for the iPhone 6S which costs close to $A1229.

Both models would also include 64 GB storage, according toBusiness Insider UK.

Samsung's C5 and C7 are currently only available in China but it is thought the company is planning to launch the product to wider markets.

The United States FCC recently certified the Galaxy C5 so it could hit US stores soon.

Mobile phone companies such as Xiaomi, Huawei and Apple currently dominate the Chinese market — but this could be about to change.

Source: Samsung's new phones could rival Apple's iPhone 6 with similar features at almost half the price

Lyf Flame 4 launches new smartphone at just Rs 3999

In a move to capture the smartphone market in India, Reliance Retail has launched another affordable device, named the Lyf Flame 4, at just Rs 3,999. The new smartphone is listed on the company website. The new device will be available in Black colour variant.

The new smartphone supports two sim cards and runs on Android 5.1 Lollipop. Both slots are 4G enabled, only one card slot supports 4G at a time, with the second slot only supporting 2G.

It bears a 4-inch display with Asahi Dragontrail Glass and powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core SoC coupled with a Mali 400 MP2 GPU, and 512MB of RAM.

The new affordable smartphone bears a 2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and a VGA (0.3-megapixel) front facing camera. It bears 8GB of built-in storage, which is expandable via microSD card up to 32GB. It is powered by a 1400mAh battery that's rated to deliver up to 4.5 hours of talk time, and 150 hours of standby time. 

Source: Lyf Flame 4 launches new smartphone at just Rs 3999

Samsung To Release Batman-Themed Smartphone

SamsungSamsung Galaxy C5Samsung's latest smartphones, which launched in China on Thursday, look a lot like Apple's iPhone 6 and 6S. The same can be said of the rest of their themed smartphone lineup, but it looks like that's going to change with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Injustice Edition.

The design, itself, sports a black and gold colorway inspired by Batman. For example could you really tell the difference between a QHD and a 4K smartphone display? If Samsung moves ahead with this plan, it will be a continuation from it left off last year with the Galaxy S6 Active in a similar fashion as it did with the Galaxy S7 with respect to last year's Galaxy S6. Interactive Entertainment and offer a special edition of Galaxy S7 edge for fans of Injustice: "Gods Among Us". They have indicated that in certain countries, people buying the phone will also receive a Gear VR headset, and credits that can be used for the Injustice game and Oculus VR "content vouchers".

The smartphone, which has been launched in collaboration with Warner Bros. comes with a gold-plated "batrang" and a Gear VR. With the High Definition resolution of the Samsung Galaxy J series, users can now enjoy crystal clear images. And while a Galaxy Note 6 release is likely still a bit away, we have a good idea of when it's coming. All other specs remain the same. As if to drive that point home, Samsung has recently shown off a 5.5-inch display that has a 4K resolution.

The New Samsung Galaxy C7 smartphone will come in two Storage variants - one with 32GB internal storage that cost 2599 yuan (roughly Rs. 26,527 INR) and other comes with 64GB internal storage with a price tag of 2799 yuan (roughly Rs. 28,563 INR).

Created in collaboration with Warner Bros., the handset commemorates the third anniversary of the mobile video game Injustice: Gods Among Us.

Source: Samsung To Release Batman-Themed Smartphone

Cancer Linked To Cellphones? New Government Study Yields Disturbing Results

A large government study intended to help decide whether cell phones cause cancer has yielded some pretty disturbing results and also has reignited debate about whether cell phones cause adverse health effects in humans, the Wall Street Journal reports. The report on the study, which was conducted on rats and mice, has not been completed yet, but partial findings were released Friday.

The findings have been reviewed in depth by the U.S. government and represent a significant advance in the long controversy over how cell phones affect the health of users. Researchers at the National Toxicology Program (NTP) exposed male rats to two type of frequencies emitted by mobile phones. After this RF radiation exposure, they found the rats were significantly more likely than unexposed rats to develop a type of brain cancer called a glioma, and also had a higher chance of developing the rare, malignant form of tumor known as a schwannoma of the heart. The effect was not seen in females, Mother Jones reports. The study was conducted with more than 2,500 rats who were exposed to radiation for two years.

According to Scientific American, the rodents were placed in specially built chambers that dosed their whole bodies with varying amounts and types of this radiation for approximately nine hours per day throughout their short life spans.

"This is by far—far and away—the most carefully done cell phone bioassay, a biological assessment. This is a classic study that is done for trying to understand cancers in humans," says Christopher Portier, a retired associate director of the NTP who helped launch and commissioned the study. "There will have to be a lot of work after this to assess if it causes problems in humans, but the fact that you can do it in rats will be a big issue. It actually has me concerned, and I'm an expert."

In the controversy over cellphones and #cancer, the jury is still out on the science https://t.co/q63i0LgRbY via @YahooHealth

— Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) February 1, 2016

The study is one of the largest conducted analysis on the relationship between mobile phones and cancer, in which the U.S. government has invested $25 million. According to Time magazine, the study was reviewed by experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the authors say more research on the link will emerge in the next couple years. As Time notes, a study in rats is never directly translational to humans. It does, however, give researchers evidence that can lead to further research on the impact cell-phone radiation has on people.

Ron Melnick, a former researcher at the National Toxicology Program which reviewed the results, told the Wall Street Journal that he thinks people will now stop saying that there is no risk of getting cancer via cellphone.

"Where people were saying there's no risk, I think this ends that kind of statement," he was quoted as saying.

The scientific community has been divided on this issue since it was raised for the first time in the early 1990s. Many previous studies had suggested a link between cancer and mobile phone use, but were criticized for the methodology or having small sample sizes that were not allowed to be extrapolated.

The results from the recent study suggest that significant exposure of certain types of radiation from mobile phones to male rats give them a higher risk of developing brain and heart cancer. What the study does not show is whether humans are at risk for developing cancer from using cell phones, or whether using a headset or keeping the device away from the head and body could make a difference.

The Associated Press wrote that some of the analysts themselves in the study had trouble accepting the results because of the odd factors, such as rats in the group that weren't exposed didn't contract what would be the normal number of brain tumors for that population.

"I am unable to accept the authors' conclusions," said Dr. Michael Lauer, deputy director of NIH's office of extramural research. "I suspect that this experiment is substantially underpowered and that the few positive results found reflect false positive findings."

Should cellphones have warning labels? Dr. Larry Junck says not worth it: https://t.co/rwyvEMU6t0 via @WSJ

— U-M Cancer Center (@UMCancerCenter) May 23, 2016

[Image via Shutterstock]

Source: Cancer Linked To Cellphones? New Government Study Yields Disturbing Results

Acer Releases Liquid Zest Plus Smartphone

Acer has announced that its Liquid Zest Plus smartphone, which was made official last month, will go on sale in the month of July. The device's memory stands at 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage that is expandable, and it is powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow right out of the box. Sure, it's got a unusual, soapy name, but its also got a whopping 5,000mAh battery pack inside of its body.

You can choose from either the Andes White or Moroccan Blue version of the phone when it becomes available this coming July for only $199 or €199 in the EMEA region. Acer is expected to showcase the phone at Computex Taipei 2016 from May 31 to June 4.

The device is powered by the MediaTek MT6735 chipset, with a quad-core 1.3GHz Cortex A53 CPU and the Mali T720 GPU. It comes with a 13MP camera with tri-focusing system for fast capturing speed, and a 5MP front camera with 85-degree wide angle lense for selfies.

The massive 5,000 mAh battery of the Liquid Zest Plus will allow the smartphone to last more than three days on a single charge, with the device able to be charged up to half of its capacity in less than one hour.

Acer recently launch a new smartphone that promises the user more power to explore. And after being announced in April, Acer today revealed when its battery-packed Android phone will launch. Audio quality is great, thanks to the DTS-HD Premium Sound, 3D audio, and deep bass.

The smartphone also comes with USB OTG (On-The-Go), which lets you charge other devices with the smartphone.

It's worth mentioning that when the device was unveiled, it's price for the United States market was announced to be $250.

Source: Acer Releases Liquid Zest Plus Smartphone

Acer Liquid Zest Plus smartphone with 5000 mAh battery launched in China

Acer Liquid Zest Plus Lands In the US In July

Last month in New York, Acer announced a new Android smartphone called the Liquid Zest Plus.

The smartphone should also be available in EMEA markets in July with a price starting at $222 (€199). RAM is 2GB, while internal storage is 16GB. One of the main highlights of the phone is its gargantuan battery, a 5,000mAh unit that should easily last throughout the day even with intense data consumption.

The Liquid Zest Plus will be available in Moroccan Blue and Andes White in North America in July starting at $199.

Acer says the Liquid Zest Plus should get up to three days of battery life and that you can charge the phone to 50 percent in under an hour to get a day's worth of run time. Acer will be showing off the smartphone at the Computex Taiwan next week. The Liquid Zest Plus is an amped up version of the entry-level Liquid Zest and it now comes equipped with an advanced camera that boasts of a hybrid tri-focusing system that's super fast and smart as it can focus on different scenes within 0.03 seconds. The smartphone also makes use of its large battery through USB On-The-Go technology, which will allow it to charge up another device. Acer recently expanded its Liquid series with the launch of Acer Liquid M330, priced at $99.99.

Acer Liquid Zest Plus will be available in July in the USA, but the company didn't mention when the smartphone will be available on other markets. Other specs include Android 6.0 Marshmallow, an LTE Cat 4 modem, and DTS sound.

When Acer first unveiled the Liquid Zest Plus, it was said to have a price tag of $250 in the United States.

Source: Acer Liquid Zest Plus smartphone with 5000 mAh battery launched in China

Microsoft Surface Phone rumors roundup: release date update

Microsoft Surface Phone rumors roundup: release date update

Microsoft Surface Phone rumors roundup: release date update

Is Microsoft really coming out with new line of smartphones? While earlier there was confusion in this regard, now it is more than clear that it is no longer merely baseless rumor. Now almost every news source is sure that Microsoft is set to release the new line of smartphones sooner than later.

Mashable in a very detailed article has reasoned that Microsoft is betting big on the new line of smartphone. The report also said that the Redmond based Microsoft will be showcasing the Surface Phone as the highest point of Windows 10 Mobile that will be a complete laptop in itself.

There is no denying that the Surface Phone would be the third device in the Surface series from the Redmond-based firm, alongside the Surface Pro tablets and the recently introduced Surface Book laptops. It is to be noted that Microsoft's mobile phone business is not working out well but the Surface division has done amazing business so far. Analysts maintain that the Surface Phone may change the way people look at the Windows 10 Mobile OS and Windows Phone devices.

Microsoft seems to have bigger plans for Surface Phone. It may release into the markets in three variants – with 4GB of RAM along with 64GB of storage space, the advanced version which features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space, and the Pro Variant, with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space. Earlier it was reported that the device would release in the October of 2016, however, it has now been anticipated to come out in the March of 2017. For its part, Microsoft is yet to make any official announcement with regard to this device.

The forthcoming device(s) will be great attraction for enterprises. A Mashable report says "With a Surface phone, Microsoft's enterprise pitch is that much stronger. Microsoft isn't offering businesses so much individual devices as a complete device solution. A Surface phone completes that offering: a set of adaptable, convertible high-end devices with native Microsoft software (which the businesses are running anyway) — not to mention Continuum, which means the Surface phone can effectively be your PC (albeit without the same power)".

Source: Microsoft Surface Phone rumors roundup: release date update

Microsoft's cuts to smartphone division underscore new mobile imperative

Microsoft ran out of luck with its ill-fated smartphone venture.

We learned this week that Microsoft is dialing back its struggling smartphone division even further by cutting 1,850 jobs -- most of them in Finland -- and taking a $950 million loss in the process. The job cuts come a week after Microsoft abandoned the low-end smartphone market when it sold its feature phone business to manufacturing giant Foxconn's FIH subsidiary.

"Since 2011 or 2012, Windows' market share, as a portion of total smartphones sold, has hovered at around 2%," said Tuong Nguyen, principal research analyst at Gartner Inc. A Gartner report published this month showed Windows phones now account for only 0.7% of market shares. "Maybe they finally realized … that it's going to be nearly impossible to get a substantial foothold -- at least in the phone market -- with their operating system," he said.

Microsoft's decision was inevitable, according to Nguyen, but it nevertheless speaks to the current digital landscape and emphasizes a shift in the industry's overall approach to mobile.

"It's no longer about the hardware -- at least in the smartphone world," Nguyen said. "It's very commoditized. Everyone has to move toward services and applications."

Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates, agrees.

"Where [Microsoft is] still in it, and should play, is services that empower the Android and iOS ecosystems," Gold told Computerworld. "It should not have ever been in the cut-throat hardware business."

Microsoft found out the hard way that hardware is a tough business to crack into, but it's not alone -- it's the latest in a string of high-profile smartphone flops. Facebook partnered with HTC in 2013 on the HTC First phone featuring the custom Android interface Facebook Home, and it tanked. Amazon's recent foray into smartphones ended just as badly.

None of those companies -- Microsoft included -- has given up their mobile ambitions; they've just refocused them.

"These are all experiments with people trying to figure out what sticks," said Paul Heckel, director of digital strategy at mobile consulting firm Solstice Mobile. "It amounts to trying to be good at too many different things instead of sticking to core capabilities and core competencies."

By phasing out its smartphone division, analysts said that Microsoft can focus its energies on its popular apps for iOS and Android and its virtual assistant Cortana, as well as its much-touted Continuum feature that allows cross-device integration. 

The company said it would continue to develop the Windows 10 mobile operating system and support its Lumia smartphones, and hinted in a company-wide email that it will still sell phones to corporate customers.

What's the next mobile imperative for Microsoft and other tech companies? Heckel gives his take:

"It's around conversational user experiences driven by digital assistants and artificial intelligence," he said. "The next thing we need to be looking at very closely is who is going to create that intelligent interaction layer on top of existing applications and platforms."

He thinks Microsoft has an important role to play in this intelligent mobile future, thanks in large part to its cognitive services like Cortana that centralize mobile engagement and interaction. Microsoft is already trying to push Cortana to as many endpoints as possible -- everything from Android and iOS apps to the Skype messaging platform and Xbox.

What Microsoft got wrong

Windows phones suffered from an app problem. "It's not necessarily about the number of apps -- but in a way it kind of is," Nguyen said.

He puts it this way: Microsoft needed more users to convince app developers to come to the operating system, but it was hard to get users to come when developers weren't developing apps for it. 

But Microsoft's mobile strategies have been playing catch-up ball from the beginning, Nguyen said. He traces the company's misplaced efforts all the way back to its Pocket PC in the early 2000s, which basically featured the desktop version of its operating system on a small screen. The company pushed that device for years until Apple's introduction of the iPhone showed what an OS should look like on that medium. 

Microsoft is trying to stay relevant in mobile, which is the biggest and most relevant computing platform in the world. Paul Heckeldirector of digital strategy, Solstice Mobile

More recently, Windows smartphones aimed for the higher end of the market, which didn't do it any favors, Nguyen said. The tech giant may have squandered its phones' mass market and emerging market potential by focusing on flagship phones.

Heckel thinks that Microsoft started looking to invest their mobile efforts elsewhere even before announcing their smartphone division rollbacks. He cited key moments that are indicative of Microsoft actually hedging against its own mobile investments. One is its $70 million investment in 2015 in Cyanogen, known for its third-party, non-Google Android OS. Microsoft hoped to embed its products into Cyanogen's version of Android. The other piece of evidence: Microsoft's acquisition and open sourcing of the Xamarin development platform, which enables developers to write code and deploy to Windows, Android and iOS.

"Microsoft is trying to stay relevant in mobile, which is the biggest and most relevant computing platform in the world," said Heckel.

CIO news roundup for week of May 23

The fall of Microsoft's smartphone division wasn't the only big news this week. Here are other tech headlines that made news:

Do cellphones cause cancer? A new study released by federal scientists has found evidence that exposure to cellphone radiation can increase the risk of certain cancers in rats, reigniting safety concerns. The study is still ongoing and experts' early reactions suggest that citizens should not ditch their smartphones just yet.

Facebook and Microsoft are bridging the great divide -- the Atlantic Ocean, that is. The tech giants are partnering to lay a massive underwater cable across the Atlantic from Virginia to Spain. The cable will shuttle data at a bandwidth rate of 160 terabits per second and will allow the companies to become more efficient at moving vast amounts of information to and from data centers and network hubs. Google already has projects in the works to connect several locations around the world through underwater cables.

Remember Paypal co-founder and early Facebook backer Peter Thiel's run-in with Gawker over the media outlet's "outing" of him as gay? Thiel certainly hasn't forgotten, and he has taken his personal vendetta against Gawker to new heights by secretly funding Hulk Hogan's well-known lawsuit against the controversial media outlet -- and likely other cases. Outside funding on lawsuits isn't illegal, but it has raised some questions. The Silicon Valley billionaire said he considered his financial backing of the cases against Gawker to be "one of my greater philanthropic things that I've done." Anti-1%-ers think differently.

Google is betting big on modular phones with its Project Ara. Next year, the company will start selling a smartphone that lets you swap in interchangeable parts to get different abilities like extra battery and a better camera or a speaker. The goal is to create a truly customizable phone, but it's too early to tell whether consumers will latch on to the idea. Recent smartphone flops -- ahem, Windows phones -- underscore the difficulty of getting it right and appealing to the mass market.

Check out our previous Searchlight roundups on the theme of "coopetition" at MIT CIO and Viv, the new virtual AI assistant.

Source: Microsoft's cuts to smartphone division underscore new mobile imperative

Microsoft cuts 1850 jobs in its smartphone unit

The experience might not be flawless, but it does provide a way to use one device as both a smartphone and a desktop, complete with support for Microsoft Office, among other things.

The news is the latest in a long line of setbacks to emerge from Microsoft's doomed $8 billion Nokia acquisition.

Microsoft acquired Nokia for $7.2 billion in 2014.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2016 and will include the transfer of as many as 4,500 employees to both companies, the announcement said.

CEO, Satya Nadella said in a statement regarding the steps taken by the company to lay-off its Nokia contingent that Microsoft will continue to focus on differentiation and in areas where the brand is strong like Security and Continuum.

He said: "We will continue to innovate across devices and on our cloud services across all mobile platforms".

According to a company media release, this will result in the organisation registering an impairment and restructuring charge of around $950 million, of which around $200 million will be linked to severance payments.

The software developer announced roughly a week earlier that it will offload its feature phone business to FIH, a subsidiary of Foxconn, and HMD Global, a private venture based in Helsinki, for 350 million dollars. Other than this, it is worth noticing, that with this layoff, the company will be writing off $950 million from the business.

Translation: Microsoft may not be able to make smartphones that sell, but it can still have a presence on the iPhone and Android-based phones.

Microsoft killed the last remaining holdings of Nokia.

But Android and iOS continue to dominate the smartphone market and Gartner estimates that Windows had a market share of just about 1 percent previous year.

Two years ago, Microsoft Corp had bought handset maker Nokia in an attempt to go against market leaders like Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. However, Microsoft could be going back to the drawing board to develop a totally redesigned Surface Phone.

"We are now in development of our next generation products and I wanted to reconfirm our commitment to Windows 10 Mobile".

Source: Microsoft cuts 1850 jobs in its smartphone unit

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active leaked (rugged smartphone)

Today, new information about the phone is throwing all that out the window, with the Galaxy S7 Active reportedly launching with a massive 4,000mAh battery - a significant boost over the 3,500mAh battery in last year's model. The site reports that the Galaxy S7 Active model will be an AT&T exclusive.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is the ruggedised version of the normal Galaxy S7 and comes with the usual water resistance, dust resistance with nearly the same specifications like the Galaxy S7. The handset, like the S6 Active, will be an AT&T release.

Despite the increase in the handset's overall size and weight, it will retain the same 5.1-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1440x2560.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active has been in the list of those who are anticipating for its release. Samsung's Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones have been selling well since they debuted in March, but a ruggedized version of them, which had been part of the previous Galaxy S6 series, has never shown up.

Besides the addition of a microSD slot, most of the S7 Active's changes occur under the hood.

The S7 Active is also rumored to weigh 30 more grams than the regular S7 alongside be 2mm thicker.

It will feature a 12MP camera, down from the 16MP rear camera found on the Galaxy S6 Active.

However, as highlighted by the publication, the extra thickness can be because of the battery as it has the capacity of 4000mAh. Included here are the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip with 4GB of RAM and the 12MP/5MP camera setup.

The smartphone will be powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor accompanied by a enormous 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. It comes with the latest version of Android Marshmallow, 6.0 on board. This goes beyond the capabilities of Galaxy Note 5, which features an aperture of F/1.9, showcasing that Galaxy S7 will perform very well in low-light conditions.

Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Active leaked (rugged smartphone)

ForcePhone Software Makes Any Smartphone Pressure Sensitive

This change in frequency is converted into commands for the software.

"You don't need a special screen or built-in sensors to do this".

Since Apple introduced 3D Touch with the iPhone, Android manufacturers have been working to produce credible alternatives on the side of the green bot. Emitted through the phone's speakers, the tone gets tiny shifts in its frequency as force is applied to the touchscreen or phone itself. The neat thing about ForcePhone is that it could virtually work on any mobile device that has a microphone and speaker, which most smartphones do.

But now a way to bring similar technology to any smartphone has been found. Researchers at the University of MI have found a way to add pressure-sensitivity functionality using ultrasonic waves. It requires special hardware to pull off, so it couldn't be enabled on all phones with a simple software update-or so we thought. However, it's not too high for the phone's microphone to detect. The pitch changes when the user presses their finger against the screen and the microphone will be able to detect changes in the buzz and translate them to commands for the software.

Yu-Chih Tung, a doctoral student in the U-M Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, said that he was inspired by the 2008 Batman movie "The Dark Knight" in which the Caped Crusader locates the Joker by turning all the smartphones in Gotham City into a sonar system as high-frequency audio signals bounce off buildings across town.

Calling ForcePhone "the next step forward from a basic touch interface", Tung said the low-priced technology could complement other gestured communication channels, as well as voice commands. He further added, "Our Sound-based solution can fill this gap, providing the functionality without making any hardware modification".

However, you'll still have to wait a bit until ForcePhone becomes available on phones everywhere.

"Everything is just software", he added. ForcePhone will be presented in Singapore at MobiSys 2016 between June 27-29 but details regarding a commercial release are missing.

Source: ForcePhone Software Makes Any Smartphone Pressure Sensitive

Microsoft culls what little is left of its smartphone business

Microsoft's mobile phone woes follow its $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia, which Microsoft previously declared was a failure.

Microsoft will continue to support its Lumia smartphones and the development of Windows 10 Mobile, but its unclear whether it will develop new phones.

Yet our phone success has been limited to companies valuing our commitment to security, manageability, and Continuum, and with consumers who value the same. Mr. Nadella also said that the spirit of innovation across all mobile and cloud platforms will not dry out with this step.

But Microsoft's phone business has struggled to eat into the market share of the major players Google and Apple, and Microsoft has since moved away from the Nokia brand, selling off its featurephone business earlier this month. Employees of the company's sales subsidiary, Microsoft Oy, will not be affected by these job cuts.

The company will record an impairment and restructuring charge of approximately $950 million.

Donald Trump hits delegate landmark for Republican president nomineeSome protesters seemed genuinely disappointed when they heard that media and rallygoers were entering Trump's event through different doors.

As a effect of the latest lay-off plans, Microsoft will set aside $200 million for severance fees and write down the value of its More Personal Computing business, resulting in a total charge of around $950 million, it said. He doesn't, however, suggest that the future involves any Microsoft-made smartphones.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2016 and will include the transfer of as many as 4,500 employees to both companies, the announcement said. The Xbox and the Surface tablets are great examples.

"The loss of 1,850 jobs is no small matter, and it is a sad denouement for the story of the Finnish mobile phone powerhouse that was a groundbreaking and innovative player in its prime". In the past two years, the company has laid off a massive number of employees, most of whom were related to its phone business and Nokia specifically.

In a memo to staff obtained by Recode, Windows and Devices head Terry Myerson called today's changes "incredibly hard".

Source: Microsoft culls what little is left of its smartphone business

Microsoft to cut 1850 jobs worldwide with streamlining of smartphone hardware business

One area he did mention was Microsoft's Continuum feature for Windows 10 Mobile, which allows a smartphone to connect to a monitor and essentially act as a PC.

But Microsoft's phone business has struggled to eat into the market share of the major players Google and Apple, and Microsoft has since moved away from the Nokia brand, selling off its featurephone business earlier this month.

In summer 2015, Microsoft wrote down $7.6 billion related to its mobile-phone business and cut 7,800 jobs from those operations.

The new sackings will mostly affect Nokia's home turf: 1,350 of the redundancies will be made at Microsoft Mobile Oy, headquartered in Finland.

The hammer has fallen on Microsoft's smartphone division.

But CEO Satya Nadella says the company isn't completely abandoning the phone business. Ballmer had faced significant resistance internally for his plan to acquire Nokia, and Nadella was initially against the move into smartphones.

It's no secret that Microsoft's mobile business has been adrift for years; buying Nokia Devices and Services business in 2014 didn't help matters.

Microsoft confirmed today that Microsoft's mobile division in Finland will be hit with 1,350 job losses, while another 500 jobs will be cut from various other offices globally. Microsoft has been promising developers a single Windows platform, the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), that spans phones, tablets, PCs, Xboxes, HoloLenses, and anything and everything else that someone might want to run software on.

According to a company media release, this will result in the organisation registering an impairment and restructuring charge of around $950 million, of which around $200 million will be linked to severance payments. More information about the head count cuts and smartphone business changes will be unveiled in Microsoft's fourth-quarter earnings announcement on July 19, the company said.

If you've been a Windows Phone user or Microsoft watcher for the past couple of years, you've seen a decrease in the sales of Windows Phone 8.1 and the new Windows 10 Mobile phones.

Source: Microsoft to cut 1850 jobs worldwide with streamlining of smartphone hardware business

ZTE launches VR headset for its new Axon 7 smartphone

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It is a law that in 2016 you cannot release a phone without also releasing a complementary VR headset, and ZTE isn't about to break any rules. Alongside the announcement of its new Axon 7 smartphone today, ZTE also unveiled the creatively named ZTE VR. It's basically ZTE's version of the Gear VR: it's a mostly empty headset that you slide the Axon 7 into.

There are very few details so far on the new headset, despite ZTE's announcement. An image shows that it'll have a few buttons and seemingly a control pad that can be swiped, like on the Gear VR. There's a 9-axis gyroscope built in to enhance motion tracking, but that's about it on details. More than likely, most tech will be left to the phone. ZTE didn't announce a release date or pricing.

ZTE also notes that the Axon 7 will support Android's Daydream VR. It's not clear if the ZTE VR is a Daydream-compatible headset or if ZTE simply means that its phone will be capable of using Daydream — my reading is the latter. But either way, buyers will have to wait until Daydream rolls out as part of Android N, likely sometime this fall.

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Discuss at Verge Video See more videos [%= data.comments.length %] COMMENT[%= data.comments.length > 1 ? "S" : "" %] [% var len = Math.min(data.comments.length, data.settings.autoUpdateAlertMaxShown) %] [% for (var i = 0; i [%= comment.user.display_name %] [% if (comment.parent) { %] replied to [%= comment.parent.user.display_name %] [% } else { %] posted a new comment [% } %] [% } %]
Source: ZTE launches VR headset for its new Axon 7 smartphone

ZTE launches VR headset for its new Axon 7 smartphone

(ZTE) Tweet Share Share on Facebook Tweet Share Pin Share

It is a law that in 2016 you cannot release a phone without also releasing a complementary VR headset, and ZTE isn't about to break any rules. Alongside the announcement of its new Axon 7 smartphone today, ZTE also unveiled the creatively named ZTE VR. It's basically ZTE's version of the Gear VR: it's a mostly empty headset that you slide the Axon 7 into.

There are very few details so far on the new headset, despite ZTE's announcement. An image shows that it'll have a few buttons and seemingly a control pad that can be swiped, like on the Gear VR. There's a 9-axis gyroscope built in to enhance motion tracking, but that's about it on details. More than likely, most tech will be left to the phone. ZTE didn't announce a release date or pricing.

ZTE also notes that the Axon 7 will support Android's Daydream VR. It's not clear if the ZTE VR is a Daydream-compatible headset or if ZTE simply means that its phone will be capable of using Daydream — my reading is the latter. But either way, buyers will have to wait until Daydream rolls out as part of Android N, likely sometime this fall.

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Source: ZTE launches VR headset for its new Axon 7 smartphone

Microsoft giving up smartphone manufacturing — union

A Nokia phone showcases its Windows operating system. Windows maker Microsoft has announced that it would be letting go of up to 1,850 employees, which a union in Finland described as the end of the tech giant's smartphone manufacturing venture, which it took over from Nokia. INQUIRER WIRES

HELSINKI, Finland — Microsoft announced Wednesday it would let go up to 1,850 employees and a Finnish union called it the end of the company's smartphone manufacturing business, bought from Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia.

"Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday announced plans to streamline the company's smartphone hardware business, which will impact up to 1,850 jobs," it said in a statement, adding 1,350 of those jobs would be eliminated in Finland where its smartphones have been designed.

The other 500 jobs will be cut "globally", it added.

Microsoft's chief shop steward in Finland, Kalle Kiili, told AFP the decision means Microsoft will no longer design or manufacture phones.

Microsoft "will not be manufacturing (phone) devices, at least for the time being. It will do software, however," Kiili said.

Microsoft said the move would result in "an impairment and restructuring charge of approximately $950 million" (852.6 million euros) for the company.

The decision means that Microsoft is scrapping what was left in Finland of Nokia's former glory as the world's former top mobile phone maker.

Nokia was the world's leading mobile phone maker from 1998 until 2011 when it bet on Microsoft's Windows mobile platform which proved to be a flop.

The Finnish company sold its unprofitable handset unit in 2014 for some $7.2 billion to Microsoft, which is closing the entire unit.

When asked to confirm whether Microsoft was fully halting its smartphone production, a spokesperson for the tech giant in the US told AFP: "We will continue to develop new devices and adapt Windows 10 for small screens, support Lumia Phones such as the Lumia 650, Lumia 950 and Lumia 950XL, and phones from our OEM hardware partners like Acer, Alcatel, HP, Trinity and Vaio".

But the spokesperson added: "We have nothing to share about our future product roadmap."

Employees surprised

Nearly 2.4 million Windows Phones were sold in the latest quarter, around 0.7 percent market share overall. That's a decrease from the 2.5 percent market share of Windows Phone during the first quarter of 2015, according to the US-based analyst group, Gartner Inc.

A week ago Microsoft announced the sale of its feature phone business for $350 million (310.5 million euros) to a new Finnish company HMD Global and its Taiwanese partner, FIH Mobile of FoxConn Technology Group, which will jointly begin manufacturing handsets and tablets under the Nokia brand again.

Microsoft had called up all its employees in Finland to hear the news which Kiili said left the crowd "silent".

"We had rumors that something would happen but not that everything would go," he described.

Employees at Microsoft Oy, a separate Microsoft sales subsidiary based in Espoo, Finland, would not be affected by the job cuts.

Source: Microsoft giving up smartphone manufacturing — union

Bendable smartphones coming this year, Chinese start-up says

What Moxi's device may look like when rolled up and when flattened. The version the company plans to release this year will feature a black and white e-ink screen rather than than the full colour seen here. Photo: Moxi Group

A little-known start-up in China is gunning to be the first to sell bendable smartphones this year, seeking to upstage Samsung, which has started to dabble in flexible-screen technology.

Moxi Group, based in Chongqing, says it will ship 100,000 of the devices in 2016. They are, at the very least, unique. The phones, which will sell for about 5000 yuan ($1062) apiece, are designed to be rolled into a bracelet and worn on the wrist. The touchscreens work when curled up, or can be unfurled into rectangles to use just like any other smartphone.

For now, the gadgets will only feature black and white displays, with a colour version to follow later. Still, that gives Moxi enough bragging rights to beat out other smartphone makers in being first to release bendable products.

The original Pebble also used a black and white e-paper screen, technology that's generally too slow for precise touchscreens.

"Black and white phones are much easier to make," said Chongsheng Yu, Moxi's executive vice president. "The colour model power usage is also much higher than that of the black and white unit. We'll sell in China and if there's demand overseas, we'll look into it."

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The wobbly screens are based on graphene technology, where carbon atoms are arranged in a specific pattern to make them more conductive and resilient. Instead of putting all the smartphone's parts behind the flexible screen, Moxi crammed the battery, processor and the other components into one end of the gadget. That enables the display to almost bend into a full circle. A key question is how good the screen will be.

"If they're using flexible e-ink then it's a real loser," said Roel Vertegaal, director of the Human Media Lab at Queen's University in Canada, which showed off its own prototype of a bendable phone using the technology five years ago. "It was the only flexible technology we could get, but the colours are poor, the contrasts are poor and you can't play videos on it."

Yu said the bendable phone is based on e-ink, which is also used in Amazon's Kindle devices, but it's superior to what's been seen before because it uses better touchscreen capabilities.

Still, the desire to find a new hit product is fuelling efforts to introduce bendable phones. Moxi, whose official corporate name is Chongqing Graphene Tech Co., is seeking to make the most of a technology that could eventually help to boost sales in a market that's starting to decelerate.

"If you make a working, bendable phone then it's a massive market," said Aravind Vijayaraghavan, a graphene researcher at Manchester University. "If they're going to release it commercially this year I'd be thoroughly impressed. If you have a low-resolution black and white screen that is not terribly reliable, then that's not a commercial prospect."

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Source: Bendable smartphones coming this year, Chinese start-up says

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active leaked (rugged smartphone)

"As reported by IDC in its report "Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker" dated 27 April 2016, Samsung remained the leader in the worldwide smartphone market with the new Galaxy S7 flagship model which sold vigorously in the month of March", the statement reads.

What we find especially interesting is that while the S7 is not a drastic revamp over the its predecessor, all the refinements that Samsung has put into it has transformed it into a killer phone.

Here's the link to Best Buy's deal page. The latest to roll out an Android 6.0.1 update is Samsung, for its recently released mid-ranger, the Galaxy A9.

Best Buy's deal has debuted on May 22 and until June 4, you'll have the possibility to buy Samsung's latest Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge with a two-year contract, Sprint Lease or EIP and you'll get a 32-inch smart HDTV Television for free.

Its camera system is composed of a 16MP back camera with dual LED flash and an 8MP front-facing snapper.

"I think they will try to imbue the Note (phone) with a more transformative change under the new leadership", said Kim Hyun-su at IBK Investment & Securities. The main shot is the clearest and, true to its function, the Galaxy S7 Active looks a lot like a Galaxy S7 inside a protective case - although obviously in this case that's just the bodyshell. So, if you like smaller phones with smaller displays, there's no shame in that.

Samsung has learned from its past mistakes. To manually check if the update to Android Marshmallow is already available on your Galaxy Note Edge, navigate to Settings About Device Software Update Check for Updates.

There are speculations all over the Internet suggesting that the new smartphone model will come with 4K AMOLED display feature and 6 GB RAM.

However, it has been suggested that the rugged exterior will be prominent, with a very different design from the Galaxy S7 flagship and military grade durability certification and waterproofing at a much higher level MIL-STD-810G. So yes, you can take it with you to the loo. We expect to see an announcement during the middle of July when we'll probably hear about many other smartphones as well. With this in mind, Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro packs a massive 5000mAh battery unit that promises longer battery life than what you get with most phablets.

Read on for the verdict... ...
Source: Samsung Galaxy S7 Active leaked (rugged smartphone)

Is Microsoft finished making Windows phones?

Microsoft is radically changing its mobile strategy, and not in a very positive way. The company has said it's making 1,850 smartphone-related jobs redundant, "scaling back" its involvement in mobile hardware, and according to one rumor ceasing to design and manufacture mobile phones entirely.

The 1,850 job cuts are coming soon, and 1,350 of them will be in Finland at Microsoft Mobile. This will result in an impairment charge of $950 million, including $200 million in severance pay. In an email to employees sent early Wednesday morning, Microsoft's VP of Windows and Devices, Terry Myerson, talks about "streamlining the smartphone hardware business," and "scaling back," but adds that the company isn't out of the phone business — it's just adopting a more pragmatic approach.

Related: Why you absolutely shouldn't even consider buying a Windows Phone

"I used the words 'be more focused' above. This in fact describes what we are doing (we're scaling back, but we're not out!), but at the same time I don't love it because it lacks the emotional impact of this decision. When I look back on our journey in mobility, we've done hard work and had great ideas, but have not always had the alignment needed across the company to make an impact," he wrote.

Being more pragmatic and focused means concentrating on universal apps for Windows, and building apps for other mobile platforms, all based around Microsoft's own tools. "Regardless of a person's phone choice, we want everyone to be able to experience what Microsoft has to offer them," Myerson said. He also promises to support current Lumia smartphones, and to release updates, plus to "develop great new devices."

The wording on hardware is noncommittal. Is Microsoft in or out? According to an unnamed source speaking to the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper, and initially reported by Reuters, Microsoft will stop designing and manufacturing smartphones completely. The news was apparently shared during a special Microsoft-organized meeting in Espoo, Finland with local developers. Reuters has since amended its report with a comment from a Finnish union representative, saying the job cuts "essentially put an end to Microsoft's development of new phones."

Recent actions also point to Microsoft being finished with smartphones, at least for consumers. The latest cuts come less than a year after Microsoft slashed 7,800 jobs, most of which were related to phones, and initiated a restructuring of the mobile division to concentrate mostly on business customers. This month it sold off Nokia's feature phone business, which it obtained with the original Nokia deal in 2014, for $350 million to HMD Group. Mobile hardware was barely mentioned during its Build developer conference in April, and according to the most recent analyst data, Windows Phone's global market share dropped below 1 percent at the beginning of 2016.

While Windows Phones such as the Lumia 950 and 950XL are still on sale, it looks like they may be the last consumer-focused devices of their type we'll see from Microsoft for now. What does this mean for the long-rumored Surface Phone? Like Microsoft's phone strategy in general, its future — if it even has one — is very uncertain.

Source: Is Microsoft finished making Windows phones?

Precise Biometrics Reaches Smartphone Milestone

Precise Biometrics has reached a major milestone in its smartphone biometric line of business. The company has announced that its Precise BioMatch Mobile algorithm software has now been integrated into more than a hundred smartphones, from over 30 different vendors.

In a statement announcing the watermark, Precise Biometrics CEO Håkan Persson said the achievement is a testament to the company's technology. "This proves that our software provides the best user experience and security for products with small fingerprint sensors," he said.

It's an assertion the company will be keen to emphasize going forward as its longtime partner FPC, which has facilitated many of its smartphone integrations through its smartphone sensors, moves ahead with its own proprietary algorithm software. But Precise Biometrics has also been forging new partnerships with sensor makers, and its leadership sees plenty of room for competition in the growing mobile biometrics market.

Moreover, the company is also exploring other applications for its biometric algorithm technology, such as smart cards and a number of potential Internet of Things applications, many of which could come about through FPC's new all-in-one fingerprint module, which uses Precise Biometrics software.

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(Originally posted on Mobile ID World)

Source: Precise Biometrics Reaches Smartphone Milestone