IFA doesn't officially start for another couple of days, but that hasn't stopped several companies from announcing new devices today.
Acer today took the wraps off of three new Android phones at IFA 2016. They are the Iconia Talk S, Liquid Z6, and Liquid Z6 Plus. Here's what makes each of these new phones tick:
Acer is a well-known brand in the PC world, this China-based company manufactures various tech gadgets, from PC monitors to laptops. Now, Acer is also a smartphone and tablet manufacturer, even though this company is not at the very top of the food chain as far as smartphone market share and sales are concerned, they still tend to release compelling handsets from time to time, especially in the entry-level and mid-range segments. That being said, Acer has just introduced two such smartphones during their IFA 2016 press conference in Berlin, let's see what the company has to offer, shall we.
The company has introduced the Liquid Z6 and Liquid Z6 Plus smartphones during the event. The Liquid Z6 is a bare-bones, entry-level smartphone, while the 'Plus' variant belongs in the mid-range segment, at least based on its specifications. These two smartphones are very similar in terms of the design, but they're made using different materials, and the Liquid Z6 Plus comes with a fingerprint scanner below the display. Unlike the Liquid Z6, the Liquid Z6 Plus comes with a unibody metal build, which makes it both look and feel more premium. The two devices are also quite different when it comes to specs, as they belong in different market segments. The Liquid Z6 sports a 5-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, along with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of native storage. This smartphone is fueled by MediaTek's MT6737 64-bit quad-core processor, and it weighs 126 grams. The device features an 8-megapixel camera on the back, and a 2-megapixel snapper can be found on its front side. This phone measures 145.5 x 72.5 x 8.5mm, in case you were wondering.
The Liquid Z6 Plus comes with a fingerprint scanner below the display, as already mentioned, and offers a more premium feel, for sure. This device features a 5.5-inch fullHD panel, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of native storage. The Liquid Z6 Plus is fueled by MediaTek's MT6753 64-bit octa-core processor, and a 4,080mAh battery is also a part of this package. The phone sports 13-megapixel shooter on the back, and a 5-megapixel snapper up front. The Liquid Z6 Plus measures 153.6 x 75.4 x 8.5mm, while it weighs 168 grams. It is also worth mentioning that both of these phones come with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. Now, the Liquid Z6 will be available in the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) region in November, starting at €119. The Liquid Z6 Plus, on the other hand, will go on sale in December in EMEA region as well, and will cost €249.
However, it may take some time before the newly-launched mobile OS finally lands to Samsung devices. The older versions of Google Nexus such as the Google Nexus 7 of 2013 and Google Nexus 5 are reportedly not going to receive the new Android 7.0 Nougat.
Samsung is believed to limit the release of the Android 7.0 Nougat update as well to their smartphones. Samsung reportedly plans to release the new Android Nougat 7.0 for its flagship devices on the last quarter of the year.
This could be an indication that the mobile operating system will be arriving to the Samsung phones between October and December, according to Sam Mobile. Only selected Samsung devices will be getting the OS update.
Among these devices are Samsung S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Edge Plus, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S7, and Samsung Galaxy S7 Active, Samsung Galaxy Note 5, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Samsung Galaxy J3.
The new Android 7.0 Nougat upgrade is likewise expected to arrive to Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The latest device is going to be the first Samsung smartphone to carry the new mobile OS. The news that Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will receive the update is what Samsung users have been waiting for, since the device is claimed as the best smartphone of the company.
It will happen during the two months following the formal launch of the Android 7.0 Nougat, Engadget reported. Although there are still plenty of smartphones that operate on Android operating system that are yet to get the new Android 7.0 Nougat, the mobile OS update is still being expected to come in the following months.
The smartphone manufacturers, however, have not made any announcement yet regarding a particular date on the possible release of the new update. Watch Android 7.0 Nougat best features here. Source: yibada
Reports say the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will have some extremely desirable configurations and will also boast a remarkable exterior design. It will also come decked with a 6GB RAM and will run on Android 7.0 Nougat. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer may also give it the dual-curved-edge display.
If the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 does come with a 6GB RAM it will acquire a place beside the OnePlus 3 smartphone, the only phone currently with that much RAM power. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is also expected to be powered b a 6GB RAM.
Leaked images apparently showed the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 to be using MIUI 8.6.8.26. Its Snapdragon 820 processor will reportedly clock at 2.15 GHz. Previous reports has pointed at a Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 chipset that is a bit over-clocked compared to its predecessor.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is expected to have an internal capacity of 64GB but the company may also surprise everybody with a titanic 128GB storage for the high-end variant. Buyers of the 64GB phone will be able to use 52.28GB.
Phone Radar reports the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will have a screen size between 5.5 and 5.7 inches and may also have a stunning 2K display. Other reports have also hinted at an Android 7.0 Nougat Xiaomi Mi Note 2 smartphone. LG V20 and Google Nexus 2016 will also be running the same.
Xiaomi has struggles recently with its sales in its own Chinese market, slipping behind Huawei, OPPO and Vivo. It is now eyeing the US market for a swift turnaround and is also heavily banking on its upcoming releases including Xiaomi Mi Note 2.
No official confirmation has come from the company yet regarding the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 release date. However, rumor has it that the smartphone may be introduced at the IFA 2016 event in Berlin, Germany, between Sept. 2 and Sept. 7, reports The Bitbag.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is double the price of the latest Chinese-branded offerings, but after 10 days of owning one I think it's worth every penny.
The Note 5 was the best smartphone last year and now we see an improved curved glass design, water resistance, microSD expansion card, and usability improvements such as a blue light filter, accessible settings, and edge panels.
CNET posted its full review of the Note 7 and awarded it a high 9/10 rating.
SpecificationsAs you can see, there is nothing missing from the Galaxy Note 7. The only spec that might have been higher is the processor, but we have yet to see any phone launch with the newer Snapdragon processor.
Samsung leads with the fastest available RAM, fastest internal storage, fast wireless charging technology (we haven't seen any other manufacturer implement this yet), and magnetic secure transmission (MST) wireless payment technology. It has also included iris scanner technology, which Microsoft included in the Lumia 950.
No other company has the advanced stylus functionality of the Note line and in the Note 7 Samsung increased the pressure sensitivity up to 4,096 levels.
Hardware Top ZDNET ReviewsI was blown away last year by Samsung's new glass and metal designs with curved edges and since then Samsung has continued to improve on this core design. The Galaxy Note 7 is the ultimate Samsung device and while it is hard to describe in words there is something about the flat front and back combined with the new edge design that makes me want to keep the Note 7 in my hand and never put it down.
The Note 7 is symmetrical top to bottom, side to side, and front to back. This balanced design looks great and functions well. There are no side bezels and the screen goes around and over each side. The top and bottom bezels are minimal, making just enough room for the fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, front facing camera, and LED light. The design of the Galaxy Note 7 makes Apple's iPhones with large bezels and wasted space appear outdated.
You can purchase the Galaxy Note 7 in black onyx, blue coral, gold platinum, and silver titanium. I tried the silver color on my S7 Edge, but when I saw that the black model also had black metal around the edges I was sold. It look fabulous and I couldn't be happier. The blue coral one looks interesting and I am a fan of blue, but I figured it would get old after a month so I went with the more conservative black color.
The front and back are Gorilla Glass 5 with a metal edge frame around the entire phone. The front and rear glass transitions nicely into the metal frame. While I loved the Galaxy S7 Edge I did suffer from intermittent screen presses because of the edge design. After about 10 days, I have yet to inadvertently press the display and find the Note 7 much better to hold and use for hours on end.
There have been reports of people experiencing scratches on their Note 7 glass. I baby my phones and only carry them individually, without keys or anything, in my pockets. Thus, I was surprised to find about four small scratches on the lower back of my Note 7. The front remains flawless. I understand Gorilla Glass 5 is designed to provide improved drop protection, but am not convinced it's as scratch resistant as previous versions.
To protect the back, which is also a major fingerprint magnet, I installed a Stormtrooper SlickWraps cover. I don't like screen protectors and with the dual edges I am not sure I would like adding a layer to the Note 7.
The 3.5mm headset jack, USB Type-C port, speaker, and S Pen silo are all found along the bottom. I'm glad that the 3.5mm headset jack remains since I have Bose noise-canceling earbuds and have yet to find any Bluetooth headphones that can rival the quality of a wired headset.
Most Android manufacturers are moving to USB Type-C and the Note 7 is the first Galaxy to launch with this port. I prefer it as you can insert the cable in any direction and it seems to hold more firmly in place.
In order to remove the S Pen, you simply press down on the S Pen top and then pull it out. You could put the Note 5 S Pen in backwards and mess up your device, but Samsung redesigned the S Pen and silo on the Note 7 so you can't put it in backwards. I'm particularly impressed by the fact that Samsung was able to make the phone water resistant with the S Pen silo. You can even write on the display with the S Pen under water.
The new S Pen tip is 0.7 mm, compared to 1.6 mm on the previous model. It also has 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, double what was found in the Note 5. The S Pen is long and feels good in the hand with two flat sides and curved edges, similar to the form of the phone itself.
Hardware home buttons help me improve my efficiency and the one on the Note 7 is perfect. The fingerprint scanner performs flawlessly, even better for me than the iPhone 6s Plus. I've been using the double press to launch the camera and am no longer ever missing a shot. This shortcut alone is a major selling point for me.
Samsung added an iris scanner to the Note 7 in order to provide another security option for customers. You are directed to setup the iris scanner without your glasses or contacts, but since I wear contacts 90 percent of the time I set it up with my contacts in and recognition has been fine. It's slower to unlock your phone with the iris scanner than the fingerprint scanner since you have to swipe the screen and then hold the iris scanner up in front of your face so your eyes can be scanned.
You never have to use the iris scanner, but I'm fine with Samsung adding it as an option for enterprise customers. As I understand it, an iris scanner is more secure something like a fingerprint could be lifted from physical things you touch. No one can duplicate your iris and its uniqueness makes it a great security option for your device.
Speaking of the camera, Samsung brings the same fantastic camera hardware as the S7 and S7 Edge with updated software. The camera software is easier to use than before with modes accessible by swiping in from left to right and then choosing a mode which is laid over the top of the viewfinder. You can swipe in from right to left to choose a filter for your image. A swipe up or down on the display switches between the rear and front facing cameras.
The flash next to the camera continues to serve as the heart rate monitor while the S Health software also helps you capture SpO2 and stress.
SoftwareThe Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launches with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, not the latest new Android 7.0 Nougat just released last week. Hopefully, we see this update in the next couple of months, but honestly many of the functions seen in Nougat are already present on the Note 7. These include the ability to use two apps on the screen at once, ability to customize your quick controls, blue light display mode, clear all option in the task switcher, direct reply notifications, and more. The lack of Nougat is not a reason to skip the Note 7.
The settings area has been revamped and is more user friendly while still having a massive amount of customization options to make the Note 7 work how you want it to function.
The T-Mobile Galaxy Note 7 has very few pieces of additional software and T-Mobile even gives you the ability to uninstall the two video apps. You can disable others and a couple others are actually helpful for T-Mobile customers. It helps that Samsung includes 64GB of internal storage as a minimum too.
One major difference from past Note devices is that the Note 7 only comes in an edge version. As a Note 7 Edge user, I'm pleased to see the edge functionality on the device. You can customize the edge panels and the Samsung store has more options that you can purchase and install. I like using the contacts, shortcuts, and Yahoo! Sports edge panels.
The S Pen works similar to how it did on the Note 5, but one function missing is Action Memo. New Note 7 owners quickly noticed this oversight and called out Samsung on it. Samsung recently stated it will add back the Action Memo option in an update that may come later in September.
Screen-off Memo is one of my favorite parts of the S Pen since I tend to have random thoughts and ideas as I am commuting, watching videos, or hanging out. Simply pop out the S Pen and write down your note on the black display.
You can create a Samsung Note with text, handwriting, photos, and voice notes. Parts of the screen can be selected and you can even create GIFs from video content. While capturing content with screen write, you can choose scroll capture when content extends down multiple pages. Display elements can be magnified, you can quickly switch between two apps, and even use the S Pen to translate text from and into multiple languages.
One criticism people had of the always-on display of the S7 and S7 Edge was the limited notification options. Samsung has expanded these to include support for all app notifications, with the control you need to toggle these notifications on and off.
Samsung continues to make serious efforts to offer a secure Android platform for the enterprise. A secure folder option is present on the Note 7 so that you can store documents, photos, videos, and apps in the secure folder to keep things locked behind Samsung Knox.
Samsung Pay is the most widely supported smartphone payment system available and continues to improve with new banks added every month. My bank, USAA, stated it will finally support Samsung Pay in the next month or two and when that happens the Note 7 will be an even more essential tool for my daily needs.
Pricing and competitionThe 64GB iPhone 6s Plus is $849 and the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is priced the exact same. Samsung also offers a 256GB microSD card or Samsung Gear Fit 2 to make the deal even sweeter. You cannot expand the storage of your iPhone, but you can easily add a microSD card for serious storage capacity at a lower price.
There is no other competition when it comes to a true phablet that integrates the use of a stylus. Primary large screen flagship competitors include the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, LG G5, HTC 10, Apple iPhone 6s, and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. The Note 7 has more to offer than all of these.
There are plenty of excellent Chinese-branded smartphones available now in the $400 range, such as the OnePlus 3, Honor 8, Nexus 6P, Axon 7, and more. These $400 phones provide much of the same functionality as the Note 7 and most people probably will be satisfied with one of these. However, I want the best and there really is nothing that beats the Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Daily usage experiences and conclusionThe Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is not an inexpensive phone, but it's priced the same as a 64GB Apple iPhone 6s Plus with the option to add a lot more storage via an inexpensive microSD card. The Galaxy Note 7 offers more innovation and advanced technology than the iPhone while the masses don't seem to mind paying the high price for Apple's smartphone. I have seen many more Samsung Galaxy phones in the hands of family and friends over the past year and all of these people have told me they love their Samsung phone.
You may have read my Galaxy Note 7 performance post last week where many Note 7 owners, including me, were suffering from some lag and performance issues. I performed a hard reset and chose not to restore settings from Google, apps from other phones, or data from Samsung Cloud and since then have had a flawless experience with the Note 7. If you are seeing performance issues after your initial setup, I highly recommend trying a full hard reset before you return the phone. I'm keeping mine and am very pleased to have finally found a single phone that does it ALL!
In the past, I used the S Pen for a few weeks after purchase, but then would keep it in the silo most of the time. However, I think I'll use the Note 7 S Pen more than ever before because of the improved functionality and a better understanding of what it can do. In addition to all of the S Pen quick actions, the S Pen is a fantastic mouse alternative and I've been using it extensively since I purchased my Note 7.
While many people use their phones for email, texting, and social networking, these are still phones first where communications are important. The Galaxy Note 7 call quality has been outstanding with HD voice support, excellent favorites page, informative contact status pages, and easy one button (or no button if you have raise to call setup) calling from within the text message application.
The display is very important to the smartphone experience and an independent third party, DisplayMate, has awarded the Galaxy Note 7 the best smartphone display ever. It's stunning to watch video content, play games, and enjoy VR content on the new Gear VR.
Adding water resistance to the Note 7, in addition to the return of the microSD card, are important upgrades to me. I use my phone everywhere and am often in wet environments where water resistance is essential. The Note 7 gives me absolutely everything I want in a smartphone and sets the bar for all others once again.
At times, hints that smartphone manufacturers are working on new devices come when said upcoming phones get certified either at the FCC or Bluetooth SIG, or even in benchmarking tests, which usually come earlier. This seems to be the case with an unidentified Lenovo smartphone that recently received Bluetooth certification.
It seems that Lenovo is working on an upcoming smartphone, codenamed P2a42. The device was recently certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), but it seems there aren't any hints on the smartphones name, only its code number P2a42.
The listing reveals some specs of the upcoming device, namely that it runs Snapdragon 625 SoC and comes with a 5.5-inch display. Rear camera capacity on the device could be 13MP with a 5MP camera on the front.
Reports have shown that the smartphone was also spotted on Postel, which is the Indonesian equivalent of the FCC. This would mean that Lenovo intends to launch the upcoming phone in Asian markets and it's quite unknown if the company will make it available in other countries as well.
Lenovo P2a42 could be a variant of Vibe P2The name of the smartphone is unknown at this point, nor is the line in which it belongs. Some say that the device could be a variant of the upcoming Lenovo Vibe P2, but that has yet to be determined. The Vibe P2 recently leaked in images with some specs being also detailed.
The Vibe P2 seems to come with a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 1080p resolution. Aside from this, it could have a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button and a 5,000mAh battery. The smartphone could also be 8.5mm thin and come with Snapdragon 625 SoC, as well as 4GB of RAM.
The Vibe P2 could also come with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. There's no information on when Lenovo will actually release the Vibe P2 and the fact that the P2a42 is a variant of the Vibe P2 is just speculation at this point.
Eyes at least 25 per cent of new business revenues from digital channel by 2020
New Delhi, August 28:
Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance (CHOICE) is betting big on digital and expects this channel to account for at least 25 per cent of its new business premium (retail individuals) by 2020, a top official said.
Digital channel accounted for a "minuscule" share of its new business premium of ₹450 crore recorded in 2015-16.
"Digital-channel contribution will be minuscule this year, too. Next year, we expect it to be 10 per cent, and 25 per cent by 2020. Thanks to digital, life insurance will become a pull product. We are now banking big on digital, especially smartphones," Anuj Mathur, Chief Executive Officer, CHOICE, told BusinessLine in an interview.
The life insurer, which started its journey in 2008, is also hopeful of breaking into the top eight of the industry listing in the next two years on the back of growth in digital channel and expansion of bancassurance.
For its next wave of growth, CHOICE is positioning itself to leverage the expected exponential growth in smartphones in the country, Mathur said.
A BCG-Google report in July projected that $500 billion will flow through digital payments in India by 2020.
Currently, 24 crore consumers use smartphones in India. This base is projected to increase to 52 crore by 2020, according to this report. Mathur said CHOICE will expand focus on Tier III and IV cities this fiscal. "The next wave of growth for smartphones will come from Tier III and IV cities."
Currently, the total number of branches forming part of the three banks — Canara Bank, OBC and HSBC — stands at 8,300. "Our total activation level is 90 per cent. We are actively selling our products in 3,400 branches. This will go up as we scale up our focus on Tier III and IV cities," Mathur added.
Capital raisingMathur made it clear that CHOICE is not looking to raise any capital for the next two years. "We have not called for capital in the last four years. For the growth plans we have, funding will be out of internal accruals. We don't need fresh capital."
In the quarter ended June, CHOICE recorded new business premium (retail) growth of 25 per cent on a year-on-year basis, as against industry growth of 14 per cent. Bottom-line grew 10 per cent for the June quarter.
For the entire 2016-17, CHOICE is eyeing a new business premium of ₹600 crore, a 33 per cent increase over ₹450 crore recorded in 2015-16. In one year, Mathur sees proportion between traditional and ULIPs (Unit Linked Insurance Plans) coming to 50:50 level. Currently, the mix is 35 per cent traditional and 65 per cent ULIPs. "We go by customer needs. The customer needs are tilting demand towards traditional."
Since April, CHOICE has launched five products; the sixth product (Child Plan) will be launched on September 5. Four of these six products are traditional ones.
(This article was published on August 28, 2016)
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#GalaxyS8 #Smartphone – Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs: chipset rumored to be faster than Apple's A10 processor; device coming in 2017? : Samsung Galaxy S8 specs and rumors keep popping up recently. The South Korean technology giant has just released their phablet Note 7, but it seems that the next flagship smartphone is also getting some attention.
The next device in the Galaxy S series is set to come out with impressive new features. Samsung may not have confirmed details or the existence of the device, but there are already reports detailing what the Galaxy S8 might bring to the table.
Earlier reports mentioned that the Galaxy S8 will follow in the footsteps of the Note 7 in terms of design. The Note 7 only has a curved display, as opposed to having two variants. According to a report from Korea Herald earlier this month, Samsung mobile head Koh Dong-jin hinted that the Galaxy S8 could come in a curved-screen model.
"Samsung has considered that it would make the edge display as the identity of the Galaxy S smartphone lineup if the company can provide consumers differentiated user experience through software and user-friendly functions (for the curved screen)," Dong-jin said.
As for the internals, speculations are rife that the Galaxy S8 will carry either Exynos 8895 or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor, both of which have yet to be released. The Exynos 8895 has a reported speed of 4 GHz while the Snapdragon 830 is said to have a speed of 3 GHz.
If Samsung uses either of these processors, it will surely be an impressively fast device that could outshine Apple's unreleased A10 chipset with a rumored speed of 2.6 GHz, Christian Daily noted.
As for the release date, several media outlets speculate that the Galaxy S8 will be out between February and March next year, particularly during the Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona, Spain.
Samsung has been known to showcase new flagships at the said event. Samsung has yet to address all the rumors surrounding this upcoming smartphone. Source: ecumenicalnews
Since the Harlem-born music icon was gunned down after a boxing match in Las Vegas in 1996, huge numbers of his fans have been convinced he did not really die and has been living a secret life.
Many who believe in the conspiracies say Tupac has been living in Cuba after faking his own death and grainy photos have previously been published on various websites claiming to show the rapper still live.
But now a video has appeared on YouTube featuring a clear photograph of a man in a red bandana and a blue jacket who bears a striking resemblance to the supposedly deceased musician.
The video asks: "Did you saw this? It is Tupac, guys, 100 per cent – same eyebrows and lips."
Captions on the video, which has been viewed more than 1.3 million times, claim the selfie was taken in 2015 on a smartphone made in 2015 – 11 years after Tupac"s apparent death.
The coat the alleged Tupac is wearing in the photo has apparently only been available since 2014, the film"s maker claims.
Viewers then hear a tune by raper Kasinova Tha Don, who conspiracy theorists have repeatedly claimed is Tupac Shakur in disguise.
Tupac was shot in a driveway, aged 25, on September 7 1996 after watching Mike Tyson beat Bruce Seldon.
He died six days later.
Many dismissed the video as more conspiracy with one woman saying: "This look like any regular old fool with a nose ring trying to pass himself off as Tupac."
But some appeared to believe it, with one commenter exclaiming: "He"s alive! My dad is going to be so happy!"
Earlier this year, a separate video appeared online claiming that not only was Tupac alive and living a secret life in Cuba but he was planning to make a comeback in 2016.
Kasinova Tha Don has already refuted claims he is Tupac although he has posted several cryptic messages on social media leading some to believe he is the iconic rapper, including writing: "2 Souls, One Body" on his Facebook page.
Express.co.uk has previously reported how a grainy black and white photograph emerged appearing to show Tupac with chart topper Rihanna. The singer was eight years old when Tupac died.
An article on American celebrity website Thereporterz.com said: "Tupac Shakur, who was supposedly killed at the age of 25, is now admitting he has been hiding this whole time."
The author said the revelation explained why no funeral or memorial service was ever held for Tupac although he or she admitted: "It is unclear why he has been in hiding."
Other questionable photos and videos have appeared online over the years since Tupac"s death claiming to show him alive and well but fans are still waiting for the big comeback.
#AppleWatch2 #Wearable – Apple Watch 2 release date, price, specs, features, leaks, rumors : Alongside the inevitable iPhone update, Apple is expected to release the second iteration of its smartwatch, the Apple Watch 2, in the coming weeks. The Apple Watch 2 will be tasked with building on the progress made by the original device in this product range, which has undoubtedly become the definitive smartwatch.
Conversely, Apple was looking for a greater buzz around the original Apple Watch, and undoubtedly has some cracks to paper over if the corporation is to convince consumers that this is an essential purchase.
Apple Watch 2 – Design
Firstly, the Apple Watch 2 customer should not necessarily expect a massive redesign of the external features of the smartwatch. Apple will probably be relatively conservative in this department, and deliver an Apple Watch 2 which builds solidly on the already recognizable visage of the original. The possibility of an Apple Watch 2 featuring a circular face seems to be receding.
Barometer
One of the new features included in the Apple Watch 2 will be a barometer sensor; common functionality in smartphones including the iPhone. This would enable the Apple Watch 2 to measure altitude, and would be primarily utilized in health-tracking functionality. This could be key for Apple, with the company expected to place a greater emphasis on this feature set in the second-generation smartwatch.
Several health-related aspects of the original Apple Watch were abandoned due to technical reasons, and it is expected that at least some of these will be implemented in the Apple Watch 2. This will be particularly important for Apple, as the Californian company featured health-tracking heavily in its original marketing push for the Apple Watch.
GPS
Paired with the barometer will be a GPS system, enabling the Apple Watch 2 to gain access to location data. Again, this will have strong benefits in the health-tracking field, but will also open up the Apple Watch 2 to other features as well. The original Apple Watch was reliant on an attendant iPhone in order to access such data, and thus implementing GPS would be a massive advantage for the second-generation smartwatch.
#GalaxyNote7 #Smartphone – Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review: An almost flawless smartphone, almost : It's no secret that Samsung has launched the Galaxy Note 7, a new smartphone for 2016 aiming to be one of the best Android phones you can buy.
Instead of waiting until IFA in Berlin, Samsung has announced the Note 7 at various locations around the globe. Here's our Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review. Before we dive into the review, you might be wondering what happened to the Galaxy Note 6 – considering the Note5 didn't even get a proper UK launch.
Well Samsung wants to keep the Note range in-line with the Galaxy S range. Afterall, it does make sense if all the phones launched in the same year have the same model number.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review: Price UK
The Galaxy Note7 release date in the UK is 2 Septmber with the option to pre-order from 16 August. The Note7 price, via MobileFun, is £749 SIM-free which is rather expensive. Carphone Warehouse has it SIM-free for a slightly more reasonable price of £699.
If you pre-order then you'll get the phone three days early and Samsung will also throw in a free GearVR when you buy from selected retailers so look out for the deal.
Although the price is pretty high, when you consider that the iPhone 6S Plus with 64GB of storage is also £699, the Note 7 doesn't seem so bad. After all, the iPhone doesn't have features such as the S Pen, expandable storage, waterproofing and more.
If the price is a bit high for you (still talking SIM-free) then bear in mind that the S7 edge is pretty similar and can be bought for under £600. MobileFun has the gold model for £579, for example.
Galaxy Note 7: Podcast discussion
Earlier this year in April, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan launched the ambitious payments architecture for instant online bank payments. Called Unified Payment Interface (UPI), it has been developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The new payments interface aims to make it easier for users to send and receive money using a single password and identification. After pilot testing since April, NPCI has now given a go ahead to banks for publishing their UPI-enabled apps on Google Play Store.
During the testing phase, NPCI had chosen banks with 1,000 pilot customers for making 5,000 transactions. With a threshold of 80 percent for success rate, banks were allowed to refine their systems and procedure to ensure smooth experience for immediate 'Pay' and 'Collect' with a Virtual Payment Address (VPA). Out of the total 29 participating banks, 21 banks have got approval to release their apps in the next two to three days. "This is a success of enormous significance. Real-time sending and receiving money through a mobile application at such a scale on interoperable basis had not been attempted anywhere else in the world. Now the UPI App will be made available on Google Play Store by banks," said Mr. A. P. Hota, MD and CEO, NPCI.
List of banks going live with UPICustomers of the following banks will soon be able to send and receive money using the new unified payments interface. These banks include – ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, YES Bank, UCO Bank, Canara Bank, Federal Bank, DCB Bank, Union Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, South Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Andhra Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Vijaya Bank, Karnataka Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Bhartiya Mahila Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank and TJSB Sahakari Bank.
IDBI Bank and RBL Bank are also a part of the list, but they have been on-boarded as issuers. Customers of these banks will be able to download any UPI enabled app and link their accounts. It is also surprising to see that some of the big names such as HDFC Bank, CitiBank and the State Bank of India are not a part of this list. ALSO READ: RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan backs UPI for transfer of funds between bank accounts
What all you need to use the UPI app?In today's fast paced world, smartphones and mobile internet has become a commonplace. The UPI app is built to leverage technology and provide the next generation of simple and secured solution to move India towards a cashless economy. To be able to use UPI you need three things – a bank account, a smartphone and internet connectivity. ALSO READ: United payments system to make mobile wallets redundant: Report
How does UPI app work?For those wondering how the unified payments interface will work, it's simple. A unique ID using your phone number will be created, which will also be linked to your bank account. Similar to your email ID, the UPI ID could be something like 9820098200@icici, where ICICI is your bank and 9820098200 could be your phone number. You can also have different addresses for accounts in different banks. So for a YES Bank account, your UPI ID could be something like 9820098200@yesbank.
How to send money using the UPI appIn order to send money, one needs to open the banking app on the smartphone, head over to 'send money' section and enter the recipient details. For security purpose, two-factor authentication is in place, and once the payment is approved by the sender, money will instantly get transferred in the recipients bank account. ALSO READ: Unified Payment Interface: Here's how RBI's UPI will turn your smartphone into a bank
What makes UPI a better alternative?Today, when you have to transfer money to someone via internet banking (NEFT or IMPS), you need to know a few details. These include – the given name, bank name and account number, IFSC code and branch. However, UPI eliminates all these and you just need to know the recipient's ID. This also makes it better from security point of view as details like your name, bank account and more aren't exposed, and so chances of being misused are also less. UPI can also be termed as an advanced version of IMPS, which lets you transfer funds 24×7. So whether it's a bank holiday or midnight, you will be able to instantly transfer funds whenever required.
Where all can you pay using UPI appSimilar to internet banking and mobile wallet service providers, UPI app lets you pay for products your purchase from online shopping websites, pay utility bills such as landline and electricity bills, pay over the counter at shopping malls, fast food places and more. With UPI, you will also be able to make donations, pay school fees, transfer funds to your friends, recharge your DTH or mobile and more. As UPI app will also work when you go out shopping, you don't need to carry cash or credit cards.
What about the transaction limits?Another benefit of UPI app is the transaction limit – which goes from as low as Rs 50 all the way up to Rs 1 lakh. There are times when we go out with friends for dinner or on a trip, and almost every time after having food or drinks, we start calculating the individual amount of the bill. Now, instead of taking out cash, everyone can instantly transfer money to one person, and that person can pay the bill. This makes the entire process easier as you won't need to keep the cash all the time, or visit the ATM to withdraw cash.
UPI does look promising and as more people start using it, we're sure to move towards a cashless economy.
Earlier this year in April, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan launched the ambitious payments architecture for instant online bank payments. Called Unified Payment Interface (UPI), it has been developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The new payments interface aims to make it easier for users to send and receive money using a single password and identification. After pilot testing since April, NPCI has now given a go ahead to banks for publishing their UPI-enabled apps on Google Play Store.
During the testing phase, NPCI had chosen banks with 1,000 pilot customers for making 5,000 transactions. With a threshold of 80 percent for success rate, banks were allowed to refine their systems and procedure to ensure smooth experience for immediate 'Pay' and 'Collect' with a Virtual Payment Address (VPA). Out of the total 29 participating banks, 21 banks have got approval to release their apps in the next two to three days. "This is a success of enormous significance. Real-time sending and receiving money through a mobile application at such a scale on interoperable basis had not been attempted anywhere else in the world. Now the UPI App will be made available on Google Play Store by banks," said Mr. A. P. Hota, MD and CEO, NPCI.
List of banks going live with UPICustomers of the following banks will soon be able to send and receive money using the new unified payments interface. These banks include – ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, YES Bank, UCO Bank, Canara Bank, Federal Bank, DCB Bank, Union Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, South Indian Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Andhra Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Vijaya Bank, Karnataka Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Bhartiya Mahila Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank and TJSB Sahakari Bank.
IDBI Bank and RBL Bank are also a part of the list, but they have been on-boarded as issuers. Customers of these banks will be able to download any UPI enabled app and link their accounts. It is also surprising to see that some of the big names such as HDFC Bank, CitiBank and the State Bank of India are not a part of this list. ALSO READ: RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan backs UPI for transfer of funds between bank accounts
What all you need to use the UPI app?In today's fast paced world, smartphones and mobile internet has become a commonplace. The UPI app is built to leverage technology and provide the next generation of simple and secured solution to move India towards a cashless economy. To be able to use UPI you need three things – a bank account, a smartphone and internet connectivity. ALSO READ: United payments system to make mobile wallets redundant: Report
How does UPI app work?For those wondering how the unified payments interface will work, it's simple. A unique ID using your phone number will be created, which will also be linked to your bank account. Similar to your email ID, the UPI ID could be something like 9820098200@icici, where ICICI is your bank and 9820098200 could be your phone number. You can also have different addresses for accounts in different banks. So for a YES Bank account, your UPI ID could be something like 9820098200@yesbank.
How to send money using the UPI appIn order to send money, one needs to open the banking app on the smartphone, head over to 'send money' section and enter the recipient details. For security purpose, two-factor authentication is in place, and once the payment is approved by the sender, money will instantly get transferred in the recipients bank account. ALSO READ: Unified Payment Interface: Here's how RBI's UPI will turn your smartphone into a bank
What makes UPI a better alternative?Today, when you have to transfer money to someone via internet banking (NEFT or IMPS), you need to know a few details. These include – the given name, bank name and account number, IFSC code and branch. However, UPI eliminates all these and you just need to know the recipient's ID. This also makes it better from security point of view as details like your name, bank account and more aren't exposed, and so chances of being misused are also less. UPI can also be termed as an advanced version of IMPS, which lets you transfer funds 24×7. So whether it's a bank holiday or midnight, you will be able to instantly transfer funds whenever required.
Where all can you pay using UPI appSimilar to internet banking and mobile wallet service providers, UPI app lets you pay for products your purchase from online shopping websites, pay utility bills such as landline and electricity bills, pay over the counter at shopping malls, fast food places and more. With UPI, you will also be able to make donations, pay school fees, transfer funds to your friends, recharge your DTH or mobile and more. As UPI app will also work when you go out shopping, you don't need to carry cash or credit cards.
What about the transaction limits?Another benefit of UPI app is the transaction limit – which goes from as low as Rs 50 all the way up to Rs 1 lakh. There are times when we go out with friends for dinner or on a trip, and almost every time after having food or drinks, we start calculating the individual amount of the bill. Now, instead of taking out cash, everyone can instantly transfer money to one person, and that person can pay the bill. This makes the entire process easier as you won't need to keep the cash all the time, or visit the ATM to withdraw cash.
UPI does look promising and as more people start using it, we're sure to move towards a cashless economy.
Gadgets API returns Empty Value
WhatsApp announces plans to share user data with Facebook 
India all set to permit in-flight Wi-Fi on all civilian flights 
Garmin's new track-everything smartwatch is great if you're rich 
Against all odds, PCs seem to be selling well in India 
Indian government could soon allow use of Wi-Fi, mobile phones on flights 
WhatsApp will now share your information with Facebook, here's how you can opt out 
New LeEco Le 2s leaked images reveal metal body, absence of iPhone 7-inspired antenna design 
Groklstyle app developed to make furnishings purchase easier 
RCOM and Global Cloud Xchange launches 'Make in India' Cloud X Wan 
Unified Payment Interface: Here's how RBI's UPI will turn your smartphone into a bankUnited payments system to make mobile wallets redundant: Report
BlackBerry ties up with Digitsecure to launch money transfer service via BBM in India
NPCI's new payment solution to allow users access multiple bank accounts in single app'MobileWallet' enters digital payment segment
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#SurfacePhone #IFA2016 – Microsoft Surface Phone release date at IFA 2016; available in October? : There will a number of significant contenders this year in the battle that will be waged in the highly competitive smartphone market.
Samsung has already unleashed their beast of a phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, while Apple is also raring to release its highly anticipated new iPhone, the Apple iPhone 7, this coming September. Now, reports are pointing to another heavyweight contender in the form of Microsoft's comeback device, the Microsoft Surface Phone.
Several reports had previously pegged the release of the rumored new smartphone from Microsoft to be sometime next year. The majority of the reports claimed that Microsoft probably need some time for them to incorporate the latest tech that is currently available into its latest generation handset.
However, new reports are now claiming that Microsoft may be launching its device a bit early at the upcoming 2016 IFA Trade Show, which is slated to happen next month. If this turns out to be the case, then consumers will likely be seeing the release of the device a month after.
The release the new Surface Phone in October would make a lot of sense as it will allow consumers a third option that will offer them a completely different experience altogether. The Surface Phone is rumored to run the latest Windows Mobile operating system (OS) that allows it to essentially become a mobile computer through the OS' Continuum support.
As for the rumored specs for the device, reports have claimed that it will be coming in three distinct variants with the high-end version sporting 8 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM) and 512 GB of internal storage.
There are also reports that claim that the device would likely be coming with either Qualcomm's latest 830 processor or Intel's latest Atom processor. Other rumored specs include USB Type-C ports, a 21-megapixel Carl Zeiss PureView camera, and a 5.7-inch AMOLED HD display. Source: mnrdaily
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Following a successful launch last month of the Libby and Classic wallet made for iPhones, Edward Field (http://edward-field.com/), today launched two new styles for Samsung phones and their users worldwide. Edward Field's wallet for Samsung phones are compatible with the new Galaxy Note 7, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S7 Edge, and the Galaxy S6 Edge +. In keeping with their direct-to-consumer model, people can purchase the Samsung line today on edward-field.com in all colors and both styles, the Classic for $109, and the Libby for $115 USD.
All Edward Field wallets come with micro-suction technology which bonds mobile phones and non-textured phone cases with a simple press-on with your hands. People find this integrated approach of phone and wallet very useful and handy, especially for those times you need to carry your coffee, your phone and your wallet.
"Samsung shipped over 80 million phones in 2015, so it was a no-brainer for us to design a wallet to fit their many styles," said Teddy Winthrop, founder and chief executive officer of Edward Field. "Our customers and fans were asking, so we listened. Being a quick and nimble start-up, we are able to meet the demand of the market at a fast pace and we are excited to release our newest designs to Samsung users everywhere."
What's Different About Edward Field?Edward Field's American made wallets bring together style with function, and add a new twist by helping people to carry their smartphones together with their essentials: cash, credit cards, receipts and business cards.
All wallets are designed in San Francisco, and handmade just down the road in Burlingame, CA. With its American manufacturing, Edward Field keeps a close eye on quality craftsmanship and costs low for consumers. The company looks forward to continuing to build timeless essentials made for the modern world.
LG is also set to launch LG V20, the first smartphone to run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. However, the company is yet to release its list of the smartphones that will get the update. Other companies like HTC, Samsung, and Motorola haven't released any confirmation.
Which Sony devices are getting Android Nougat update?Today, on its blog, Sony released its list of Android 7.0 Nougat supported devices that'll get an official Android Nougat Update.
The company hasn't provided any fixed date or month telling when these phones will get Android Nougat update. Sony writes on its blog that the timing and availability of the software update depend on the service operator and it varies in different markets.
Taking a look at the history, Sony took around 5 months to push Android 6.0 Marshmallow update. This suggests that Sony users might have to wait a little longer.
Interestingly, popular Sony Xperia Z3 didn't make it to the final list. The users were expecting to see this smartphone's name because it was a part of Android N developer program.
Sony is also expected to release Android Nougat-powered Xperia XR during the IFA 2016.
Did you find this article helpful? Don't forget to drop your feedback in the comments section below.
Also Read: Android O Name Predictions — Best Sweet Nicknames For Next Android Version
Beyond the upcoming iPhone 7 due to be unveiled soon, Apple is said to be planning three new smartphones for next year, including a premium device with a bold new design feature.
The tech company will make a radical overhaul of the iPhone design with a curved screen on one of the models due in 2017, the year that the iPhone celebrates its tenth anniversary, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.
Read more: Did Barbra Streisand just let slip Apple's iOS 10 release date?
A source told the newspaper: "There will be a 4.7 inch model, another that will be 5.5 inches and a premium handset that will be either 5.5 inches or larger equipped with a screen bent on the two sides."
A curved iPhone screen would be a first for the company, which has this year been hit by a slowdown in sales after nearly a decade of non-stop growth. Rival Samsung is currently the only smartphone maker to have launched a curve-screened smartphone with last year's Galaxy 6 Edge and Note Edge and this year's Galaxy 7 Edge.
Read more: Apple's iPhone sales fall as Chinese brands gain ground
Sales of smartphones declined for the first time this year as established markets reached saturation point and manufacturers find it increasingly difficult to innovate with wow-factor new features as they have in previous years.
Apple earlier this year launched a lower-end device, the SE, a pocket-size phone after finally jumping on the larger screen bandwagon last year and is due to launch the iPhone 7 this autumn.
ZTE's recent efforts have been to strengthen the audio on its smartphones and the ZTE Axon 7 made sure that the company's flagship device featured top-notch audio support. For some, audio is just another feature in a smartphone, but for others, it is one of the most used as well as important features on their phone.
ZTE has now confirmed that we will meet another audio-centric smartphone at the famous IFA Berlin in 2016. The event will be held on September 1, the same day that Huawei unveils its brand new device. From the press release sent to us, it is confirmed that the phone will be a premium device, coming with superior audio quality.
"We're delighted to be debuting our latest products to the world in Berlin," says Adam Zeng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices. "Our fan community played a huge role in the development of our new smartphones, delivering valuable input that helped inspire and motivate our team. The result is a suite of devices that pack cutting-edge, innovative features and the latest technology."
The company claims that audio has been a shortcoming on many of the flagship smartphones in recent times and with their advanced research and development, ZTE's recent phones like the Axon 7 aims to fill these special needs of customers.
Hopefully, we will get to hear more about this audio-centric ZTE smartphone in the coming days.
Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch a refurbished smartphone program, selling used versions of its high-end flagships at a lower price point.
Top-notch flagships come with impressive specs and features all around, but they also come with a price to match. Advanced technology doesn't come cheap and Samsung Galaxy flagships can cost a small fortune, but the purported refurbished program could make the devices more accessible.
The news comes from Reuters, which cites an unnamed source "with direct knowledge of the matter."
When customers who signed up for one-year upgrade programs in markets such as the United States and South Korea return their smartphones, Samsung will reportedly refurbish and re-sell them. The used handsets should be considerably cheaper than brand-new flagships, but there's no word yet on just how big the discount will be.
As Reuters points out, this move will follow Samsung's efforts to restructure its product portfolio, as the company is looking for new ways to sustain its earnings momentum although the global smartphone market is plateauing. According to the report, Samsung is looking to keep its operating margins beyond 10 percent and maximize cost efficiency through this upcoming refurbished smartphone program.
It remains to be seen which countries will benefit from this scheme, but Samsung could see notable success with a refurbished smartphone program in emerging markets such as India, where most customers can't afford top flagships that cost roughly $800. Having cheaper, refurbished flagships on sale could substantially boost Samsung's sales in such markets and worldwide, for that matter.
Apple, for instance, has already been selling refurbished iPhones for a good while now in various markets including the United States, albeit it never disclosed just how successful its program is in terms of sales.
Samsung has yet to comment on the matter or issue an official announcement, so it's tough to tell at this point just what this refurbishing will entail. Overall, refurbished devices are given new batteries or casings, so that will likely apply in Samsung's case as well.
With no official word from the company, it's all still in the rumor stage at this point, but a refurbished Samsung Galaxy smartphone program does make sense and it could significantly boost the company's success. As always, we'll keep you in the loop as soon as more details hit the surface, but it's best to take all rumors and reports with a grain of salt for now.
Would you be interested in a refurbished Samsung Galaxy flagship? Drop by our comment section below and share your thoughts on the matter.
© 2016 Tech Times, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
We might finally see Xiaomi take a legitimate stab at the US market, according to Hugo Barra. He's talked about the US smartphone market before, citing that subsidized flagship phones make it very difficult for a mid-range brand like Xiaomi to compete. It's a sensible reason, but with the rise of device payment plans and the death of two-year contracts, things might have shifted in Xiaomi's favor.
Barra says the company wants to enter the US "in the near future," although there are no specific dates for that to happen. International expansion is inevitable if Xiaomi wants to keep growing, and the US is one of the most lucrative markets in the world. Microsoft also recently sold 1500 technology patents to Xiaomi, which might have been one of the last things they needed before proceeding into a new market. We all know how some of the bigger companies tend to get lawsuit happy in the US, and Xiaomi likely wouldn't have the ability to fight off an Apple or Samsung.
While Xiaomi does get much of their popularity from their wallet-friendly smartphones, keep in mind that they do make other devices ranging from televisions to rice cookers. There's a very good chance that the first device they actually release in the US is something that's not even phone related as a way to test the waters and start building out a social media following, which is where most of the company's advertising and success comes from.
The expansion is happening, we just don't know when. But I'm sure we're all going to be excited when it's easier to buy a Xiaomi smartphone anywhere in the world.
source: Bloomberg
Born in southern Alabama, Jared spends his working time selling phones and his spare time writing about them. The Android enthusiasm started with the original Motorola Droid and an unhealthy obsession with fixing things that aren't broken. This accidentally led to being the go-to guy for anything more complicated than a toaster, which he considers more of a curse than a blessing. Jared is enrolled in online classes at the University of Phoenix, and spends his spare time on video games and listening to music.
The S6s will feature 'a front-facing LED flash'.
Chinese tech-virtuoso, Gionee, will be releasing a selfie specialised S6s smartphone in India.
Local media have report they have received invitation to an event in New Delhi on August 22, 2016.
Many speculate this will be when Gionee officially unveils the 'selfie smartphone'.
Android Authority confirms that the S6s will feature 'a front-facing LED flash'.
It also anticipates similar specifications with the S6 Pro, which boasts 'a mid-range MediaTek Helio P10 chipset, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of expandable storage'.
Gionee reveals it will have a '2.5D water drop HD IPS Display' that offers a wide angle view of 178°.
So how much can consumers expect to pay for this smartphone?
OPPO F1s, described as the ideal phone for 'selfie experts', launches in early August 2016 and sells for Rs 17,990 (£204).
It seems like Gionee S6s will also be at similar prices to edge out their fellow Chinese phone maker.
Whether it's Akshay Kumar's pout in Dishoom or the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil cast posing, we just can't avoid them!
But that's not all!
Hindustan Times reports in June 2016 that five girls in Hyderabad want to create a selfie app, inspired by their favourite actress, Kareena Kapoor Khan.
As a source reveals: "These girls build mobile applications. They are designing a selfie-clicking app, which will be based on [Kareena]."
Allegedly, the application will be called 'Pout Like Bebo', where users can learn how to do so whilst taking a selfie.
Interesting, right?
Founded in September 2002 by Liu Rong, Gionee mainly focuses on 'R&D, production and sale of cellular mobile devices'.
It has been gaining more and more popularity in India with their stylish budget phones.
Thus, with a new selfie-focused smartphone on the horizon, Gionee is set to make even bigger waves in the lucrative market.
Anuj is a full-time journalism student. His passion is in Film, Television, dancing, acting and presenting. His ambition is to become a movie critic and host his own talk show. His motto: "Believe you can and you're halfway there."
#Nexus #Smartphone – Google Nexus 2016 Release Date, Specs, Price Update: Launch To Happen In November Not August? : While, Google has remained tight lipped about the release date, specs or price of the highly anticipated Nexus 2016 flagships codenamed HTC "Marlin" and HTC "Sailfish," a new report suggests the launch is likely to happen sometime in November.
According to PCTablet, the upcoming Nexus 2016 smartphones launch will happen by the end of November 2016 alongside Google Nexus 7 2016 tablet.
The much rumored Nexus 7 tablet is expected to feature Snapdragon 820 processor, Android 7.0 Nougat, 4GB RAM, and an expandable internal storage. The new 7-inch tablet will be manufactured by Huawei.
Talking about specs of the upcoming Google Nexus 2016 handsets, both the devices were recently spotted on AnTuTu benchmark site. As per the benchmark listing.
Which surfaced on Weibo, the HTC Nexus 2016 "Marlin" M1 will feature a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a 1440 x 2560 resolution and run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, with a recorded clock speed of 1.59GHz.
Among other specs, the handset will feature 4 GB of random access memory (RAM), 32 GB of native storage space, Android 7.0 Nougat right out of the box, a 13-megapixel main camera enabled with LED flash, an 8-megapixel front facing camera and a 3,450 mAh battery, reported TechTimes.
As far as specs of the HTC Nexus "Sailfish" S1 is concerned, the smartphone is rumored to feature a 5-inch display with a full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels), Qualcomm's current-generation Snapdragon 820 chipset coupled with Adreno 530 graphics processing unit (GPU), 4GB RAM, 32 GB of built-in storage capacity, Android 7.0 Nougat right out of the box, a 13-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front camera and a 2,770mAh battery, reported GSMArena.
Recently, BGR reported that Google accidentally revealed one of its upcoming new Nexus phones in a video promoting the Google Photos app for iOS and Android on its official Instagram account. It remains to be seen whether or not the smartphone which appears in the video is one of Google nExus 2016 smartphones. Source: Scienceworldreport
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#iPhone7 #iOS10 – iPhone 7 Release Soon As Apple Rolls Out iOS 10 Beta 7 : The iPhone 7 release is something which many tech fans have been looking forward to. The upcoming flagship smartphone from Apple has long been rumored but so far no confirmed date for its release has been given by the company. If recent rumors are to be believed though, the iPhone 7 release could happen soon as the company has just rolled out iOS 10 Beta 7.
Apple usually makes use of September as the month they would release their next flagship smartphone. That may again be the case this year as the timeline of the iPhone 7 release somewhat coincides to the upcoming public release of the iOS 10.
According to TechCrunch, Apple has just released the iOS 10 Beta 7 for the use of developers and public testers. The latest release of the iOS 10 beta could signal the sign that Apple is almost ready to launch the final mobile operating to the public very soon.
With the impending launch of the iOS 10, many people are speculating that it is possible that the iPhone 7 could likewise be released very soon. The iPhone 7 is expected to come with the iOS 10 right out of the box so the two could be forthcoming in the weeks to come.
There has been no official word yet from Apple as to when they plan to launch the final version of the iOS 10. If the trend continues, tech junkies may see it happen sometime in the early weeks of September.
It is worth noting that Evan Blass aka @evleaks on Twitter has leaked that the iPhone 7 could become available to consumers on September 16. Blass has been a well-known leaker over the past couple of years with his recent leaks revealing details about smartphones such as the HTC 10, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge as well as the Galaxy Note 7.
That means that the recent iPhone 7 release date leak that he gave deserves a lot of weight. If that indeed holds true, the iOS 10 could launch shorty before the iPhone 7.
So, are you excited about the iPhone 7 already? Be sure to check back here soon to find out more about the release of the iOS 10 and the iPhone 7 which could be happening early next month. Source: Thebitbag
"Demand for premium smartphones slowed in the second quarter of 2016 as consumers wait for new hardware launches in the second half of the year," said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner, in a statement. In addition, the decline in sales of "feature phones" (down 14 percent) bolstered the decline in overall sales of mobile phones in the second quarter of 2016 (see Table 1).
All mature markets except Japan saw slowing demand for smartphones leading to a decline in sales of 4.9 percent. In contrast, all emerging regions except Latin America saw growth, which led to smartphone sales growing by 9.9 percent.
Table 1: Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 2Q16 (Thousands of Units)
Gartner: Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Vendor in 2Q16 (Thousands of Units)
Source: Gartner (August 2016)Apple continued its downward trend with a decline of 7.7 percent in the second quarter of 2016. Apple sales declined in North America (its biggest market) as well as in Western Europe. However, it witnessed its worst sales decline in Greater China and mature Asia/Pacific regions, where sales declined 26 percent. Apple had its best performance in Eurasia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe regions in the second quarter of 2016, where iPhone sales grew more than 95 percent year on year.
In the second quarter of 2016, Samsung saw sales of its Galaxy A and Galaxy J series smartphones compete strongly with Chinese manufacturers. Its new portfolio also helped Samsung win back share it recently lost in emerging markets.
Among the top five smartphone vendors, Oppo exhibited the highest growth in the second quarter of 2016 at 129 percent. This is due to strong sales of its R9 handset in China and overseas. "Features such as an anti-shake camera optimized for selfies, and rapid charge technology, helped Oppo carve a niche market for itself and boost sales in a highly competitive and commoditized smartphone market," said Mr. Gupta.
In terms of the smartphone operating system (OS) market, Android regained share over iOS to achieve an 86 percent share (see Table 2) in the second quarter of 2016. Android's performance continued to come from demand for mid- to lower-end smartphones from emerging markets, but also from premium smartphones, which recorded a 6.5 percent increase in the second quarter of 2016.
A number of key Android players, such as Samsung with the Galaxy S7, introduced their new high-end devices, but Chinese brands like Huawei and Oppo are also pushing their premium smartphone ranges with more affordable devices.
"Google is evolving the Android platform fast, which allows Android players to remain at the cutting edge of smartphone technology," said Roberta Cozza, research director at Gartner, in a statement. "Facing a highly commoditized smartphone market, Google's focus is to further expand and diversify the Android platform with additional functionalities, like virtual reality, enabling more-intelligent experiences and reach into wearables, connected home devices, in-car entertainment and TV."
Table 2: Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Operating System in 2Q16 (Thousands of Units)
Gartner: Worldwide Smartphone Sales to End Users by Operating System in 2Q16 (Thousands of Units)
Source: Gartner (August 2016)"The top five smartphone manufacturers together continued to gain market share in the second quarter of 2016 — up from 51.5 percent to 54 percent year on year, led by Oppo, Samsung and Huawei," said Mr. Gupta.
Source: Gartner, Inc.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple takes the cream of the crop, Google gets virtually all the rest, and Microsoft needs to hold another funeral.
Beleaguered Microsoft's iPhone Funeral September 2010
SEE ALSO:Apple's iPhone can soon reap 100 percent of world's smartphone profits – November 17, 2015Apple's iPhone owns 94% of smartphone industry's profits – November 16, 2015Apple iPhone owns over 90% of smartphone profits, so why do others even bother fighting over Apple's scraps? – October 8, 2015Beleaguered Samsung's future depends more on components than on copying Apple – October 7, 2015Beleaguered Samsung finding it tough to compete Apple's revolutionary iPhone – October 6, 2015Apple's iPhone juggernaut continues with record-breaking sales while Android peddlers fight over scraps – September 28, 2015Apple's iPhone owns 92% of smartphone industry's profits – July 13, 2015Poor man's iPhone: Android on the decline – February 26, 2015Study: iPhone users are smarter and richer than those who settle for Android phones – January 22, 2015Why Android users can't have the nicest things – January 5, 2015iPhone users earn significantly more t han those who settle for Android phones – October 8, 2014Yet more proof that Android is for poor people – June 27, 2014More proof that Android is for poor people – May 13, 2014Android users poorer, shorter, unhealthier, less educated, far less charitable than Apple iPhone users – November 13, 2013IDC data shows two thirds of Android's 81% smartphone share are cheap junk phones – November 13, 2013CIRP: Apple iPhone users are younger, richer, and better educated than those who settle for Samsung knockoff phones – August 19, 2013
Tweet Share Share on Facebook Tweet Share Pin Share Frank Ocean's new visual album, Endless, is an Apple Music exclusive, but its songs seem to love all smartphone manufacturers equally. The last track featured on the 45-minute video, called "Device Control," makes explicit reference to Apple, Sony, and Samsung smartphones, a robotic male voice promising that you can "livestream your life in 4K video" using the manufacturers' devices.
"With this Apple appliance, you can capture live video, still motion pictures shot at high frequency," the voice sings, sounding like a metal Christoph Waltz reading out advertising copy over a Talking Heads track. According to Endless' credits, the person behind the voice is Wolfgang Tillmans, who promises that the Apple device lets you "blur the border between still and motion picture." But Tillmans also presents other options. Sony's phones can also blur that border, he says, and have the benefit of ultra high-def video. "With this Sony telephone, 4K video is in your palm," he sings.
Apple and Sony get namechecks, but Samsung is the only manufacturer to have named devices featured in the track. "The new Samsung Galaxy allows you to live stream your life," he sings, doing Samsung's PR for the company. "Livestream your life," he adds again, suggesting listeners can once again "blur the border between still and motion picture." This preoccupation with live-streaming makes sense for Ocean, who's spent the last month broadcasting black-and-white woodworking sessions in a nondescript warehouse, but Apple might not be pleased to have its major rivals referenced in one of its biggest releases of the year.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
