Reporting potholes to the city with your smartphone will require new app

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The city of Grand Rapids will be replacing a smartphone app that allows users to report potholes and other issues with a newer version. 

That means current users of the 311 mobile app will need to delete it off of their phones or tablets and download a new one. 

The old app is called "Grand Rapids 311" and was made by the City of Grand Rapids. The old app is no longer transmitting data to the city and is no longer available for download.

A total of 1,019 users had downloaded the old app, and the city notified all of them with an email that they would need to download the new app.

The new app can be found in the Apple Store or in the Google Play Store by searching "grcity 311." It was made by PublicStuff LLC and Accela Inc. 

With the new app, the city is expanding the types of issues that can be reported. 

Under the old version, users could report potholes, graffiti, street lights and then had to enter anything else in a category marked "other." 

The new grcity 311 app will allow users to report the following issues:

Abandoned vehicle on the street

Dead animal in the street

Graffiti on a street sign or public property

Missing or damaged street sign

Broken playground equipment in a City park

Maintenance in a City park

Full trash bin or litter in a City park

Pothole repair

Blinking or out streetlight

Trash in the street or an alley

Also new to the system is the ability for users to directly report those issues through an online portal without using an app. 

Access the grcity 311 online portal here 

By this fall, the new app will also allow users to report code compliance issues. The app is named after the city's customer service line, 311. By dialing 311 within the city limits, callers can directly reach operators at a call center in city hall that is staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Find the grcity 311 app in the Apple Store 

Find the grcity 311 app in the Google Play Store

Source: Reporting potholes to the city with your smartphone will require new app

Report: More Chinese OEMs To Release 18:9 Phones In 2017

More smartphones with screens featuring a tall aspect ratio of 18:9 (2:1) will be released by the end of the year in China, industry sources close to the Taiwanese component suppliers said on Monday. A number of display panel manufacturers like Innolux and AUO are reportedly ramping up production of such modules in an effort to meet the demand for taller screens that's been steadily increasing in recent months. The leaked image below is thought to depict the overall design of some plates featured on those Chinese phones, though the source of the report didn't elaborate on the sketch.

While none of the five largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the Far Eastern country have yet announced new 18:9 devices that will be released this year, one industry insider claims that Huawei, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Gionee have all already ordered bezel-less display modules from local suppliers. It's understood that not all of those modules are equipped with 18:9 screens, but a number of them certainly are, the source said. All of the newly ordered components will be used for smartphones that are set to compete in the entry level and lower mid-range segment of the handset market, the insider believes, adding that none of them will retail for more than 1,599 yuan, which amounts to a little over $237 by today's exchange rates. Chinese consumer electronics manufacturers are reportedly optimistic about the appeal of such devices and have already ordered large quantities of bezel-free display modules, expecting significant demand for their new products later this ye ar. Xiaomi itself is apparently set to launch three full-screen smartphones in the second half of 2017, with one of them being the highly anticipated Mi MIX 2. The other two handsets may be aimed at different price segments, insiders speculate.

Tall mobile image formats weren't pioneered by LG Electronics but the South Korean company played a significant role in popularizing them earlier this year after it announced the LG G6 with a Full Vision display panel featuring an 18:9 aspect ratio. This design language already started trickling down to LG's more affordable devices, having recently appeared on the newly announced LG Q series of mid-rangers. LG's rival Samsung gave an even larger contribution to bringing this design practice into the mainstream spotlight with the extremely popular Galaxy S8 lineup and its 18.5:9 Infinity Display that's also expected to be featured on the upcoming Galaxy Note 8.

Source: Report: More Chinese OEMs To Release 18:9 Phones In 2017

Galaxy Note 8 v iPhone 8 - Release date, price and which smartphone will be the best

There's a busy few months ahead for technology fans as Samsung and Apple both look set to announce fresh new smartphones.

The Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 are expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks and are likely to feature a swathe of new updates and bonus features.

So, if you are in the market for a smartphone upgrade here is Express.co.uk's guide to when and what to expect from these latest devices

RELEASE DATE

Galaxy Note 8

Samsung has already sent out invites to major event in New York later next month which included an image of device with stylus.

This is certain to be an announcement for the new Note 8 and will take place on August 23.

It's currently unclear when the Note 8 will go on sale but Samsung's official website for Australia recently published a document which seemed to suggest the Galaxy Note 8 will be available for pre-order on August 25.

Although pre-orders could give live next month, expect to see this phablet hit shops in early September.

PH

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 v iPhone 8 Wed, April 26, 2017 THE Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is scheduled to launch this summer, with an Infinity Design similar to the Galaxy S8 – albeit with a larger display and advanced productivity features with the S Pen stylus.

KEVINNGUYEN

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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 high-resolution render based on the latest leaks

iPhone 8

Apple never reveals its release date until a few weeks before the main event.

However, using previous years, Express.co.uk is predicting a launch on either September 6 or September 13.

Although the iPhone 8 is likely to be shown to world in early September, rumours are rife that fans of the iPhone 8 might have a wait a while to get hold of one.

It's thought the new technology inside the phone is causing some delays to production and, with it expected to be in high demand, stock levels could run low very quickly.

Some experts have even predicted that many avid iPhone users may have to wait until 2018 before they'll be able to buy one.

PH

PRICE

Galaxy Note 8

One big rumour about the Note 8 is that it's expected to hugely expensive.

Some experts are predicting that this new smartphone will break the $1,000 barrier with one Samsung official saying: "I know that it is about $1,000 to $1,100 depending on the country of origin."

Contract prices could also be sky-high and don't expect to be paying anything less £40 per month to own one.

iPhone 8

Apple users shouldn't be too smug about Samsung's extortionate prices as the iPhone 8 is also expected to be one of the most expensive devices the US technology firm has ever created.

Although nobody actually knows the true cost of the iPhone 8, it's thought Apple's new smartphone will also break the $1,000 mark.

And a fully loaded iPhone 8 in UK could cost over £1,000 - the current top of the range iPhone 7 Plus currently costs £919.

Sun, January 1, 2017 iPhone 8 is shaping up to be one of the most impressive Apple smartphones to date, with glass panels on the front and rear of the device, a curved borderless OLED display and no Home Button

CARVED BLOG

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An iPhone 8 sandwiched between an iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 Plus

SPECS

Galaxy Note 8

Although there's no official news from Samsung about its new Note 8 device there are plenty of rumours and leaks which gives us a good idea of what's to come.

It's though that this latest smartphone will feature a giant edge-to-edge curved Infinity display which will cover almost the entire front of the device.

A new dual-lens camera also looks likely to feature along with a refreshed S Pen which will bring an improved experience when scribbling on the screen.

Wireless charging, improved battery life and faster processor are all expected as well as iris and facial recognition for improved security.

Sadly, it does seem Samsung has still been unable to crack the technology which would allow them to place the fingerprint scanner under the display.

This means fans will have to put up with a rear-mounted sensor.

iPhone 8

The iPhone turned 10 this year and this milestone in its history means Apple is pulling out all the stops for its next generation smartphone.

It's thought the iPhone 8 will be packed with new features and upgrades which will make it the best smartphone the US technology firm has ever created.

Rumours are rife that the all-new iPhone will include a giant AMOLED display which will cover the entire front of the device.

This big screen should create a bigger viewing experience in a device that's physically smaller that its predecessors.

Along with this new display it's also thought that Apple is upgrading its dual-lens camera system with this snapper able to bring an improved augmented reality experience to users.

Much faster A11 processor and improved battery life are also expected and a recent leak may also prove that Apple is including wireless charging.

Facial recognition and iris scanning have also been rumoured.

SAMSUNG

Samsung recently sent out invites for its Note 8 launch

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?

From all of the rumours and leaks it seems both of these smartphones are going to offer a superior experience.

However, if you are thinking of buying either the Note 8 or iPhone 8 it will be worth waiting for both to be released before making any decision.

Expect full reviews of both devices to be out by the middle of September and then we'll know who has really won the battle of the 2017 smartphones.

Related articles
Source: Galaxy Note 8 v iPhone 8 - Release date, price and which smartphone will be the best

Best new and upcoming smartphones (July 2017)

Did you know in a good year, more than a 1000 smartphones are launched in India? This makes our job much more difficult as we have to look at this large set of devices and select a few to tell you which are worth your money and attention. In the last two months, there were more than two dozens major smartphone launches and almost as many leaks about upcoming devices. Hence, via this list we have tried to make things easier. Given below is a relatively small list of new and upcoming smartphones which we think might be good for you. These are the best new and upcoming smartphones for the month of July 2017.

Let us start with the current crop of smartphones in the market which we think are worth revisiting. Moto E4, E4 PlusFor people who are frustrated waiting for the Xiaomi Redmi phones to come back into stock, the two new Moto phones seem like a good option. By the looks of it, both should have a decent performance, which is complimented by a big battery. Read more about the phone here.

Moto E4 PlusWhere to buy 9999 specs:Display: 5.5-inch, 720pSoC: MediaTek MT6737RAM: 3GBStorage: 32GBCamera: 13MP, 5MPBattery: 5000mAhOS: Android 7.1.1

The Moto E4 shares the same looks and SoC as the E4 PlusWhere to buy 9999 in a smaller 5-inch footprint.

Honor 8 ProHonor has been putting out new phones every few months and the latest Honor 8 Pro is a fierce competitor to the OnePlus 5Where to buy 32999 37999. Here's our review of the Honor 8.

Honor 8 pro specs:Display: 5.7-inch, 1440pSoC: HiSilicon Kirin 960RAM: 6GBStorage: 128GBCamera: Dual 12MP, 8MPBattery: 4000mAhOS: Android 7.0

Asus Zenfone ARThe Asus Zenfone AR is the world's first phone which combines Google's Tango AR and Daydream VR technologies. It is a large phone and has quite the resume. Read our first impressions for Asus Zenfone AR. Read more about the phone here.

Asus Zenfone AR specs:Display: 5.7-inch, 1440pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821RAM: 8GBStorage: 128GBCamera: 23MP, 8MPBattery: 3300mAhOS: Android 7.0

Xiaomi Mi Max 2Where to buy 16999 16999The Mi Max 2 is one of the biggest phones we have encountered this year. Still, the phablet manages to stay relatively phone-like, even with that large 6.44-inch display. Read our Mi Max 2 review here. 

Xiaomi Mi Max 2Where to buy 16999 16999 specs:Display: 6.44-inch, 1080pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625RAM: 4GBStorage: 64GBCamera: 12MP, 5MPBattery: 5300mAhOS: Android 7.0

Zopo Speed XDual cameras is one of the most prominent trends this year in the smartphone world and the Zopo Speed X is the latest smartphone to sport the technology. However, what you need to know is, it is the cheapest dual camera smartphone you can buy today. Read more about the phone here.

Zopo Speed X specs:Display: 5-inch, 1080pSoC: MediaTek MT6753RAM: 3GBStorage: 32GBCamera: Dual 13MP, 13MPBattery: 2680mAhOS: Android 7.0

OnePlus 5Where to buy 32999 37999Talking of dual cameras, OnePlus took a swing at the category with its latest OnePlus 5 smartphone. The OnePlus 5 offers top of the line specifications and 8GB of RAM on the device is just insane. Here's our OnePlus 5 review.

OnePlus 5Where to buy 32999 37999 specs:Display: 5.5-inch, 1080pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835RAM: 6/8GBStorage: 64/128GBCamera: Dual (16MP + 20MP), 16MPBattery: 3300mAhOS: Android 7.1.1

HTC U11HTC's flagship this year was an odd mix of hardware and looks, which performed well and looked rather distinct. The main feature however was the squeeze functionality, where you squeeze the sides of the device to trigger certain functions. Here's how the HTC U11 fared in our review.

HTC U11 specs:Display: 5.5-inch, 1440pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835RAM: 6GBStorage: 64GBCamera: 12MP, 16MPBattery: 3000mAhOS: Android 7.1

Nokia 6Finally, Nokia is back with all new smartphones. While the Nokia 3 and 5 seem decent, the Nokia 6 is the phone we think might put up some competition. Read more about the phone here.

Nokia 6 specs:Display: 5.5-inch, 1080pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430RAM: 3GBStorage: 32GBCamera: 16MP, 8MPBattery: 3000mAhOS: Android 7.1.1

So those were some of the noteworthy smartphones available in the market right now. Let's shift focus to some exciting upcoming devices.

JioPhoneBy now, everyone might know something about the JioPhone and the features it offers. It is quite simply the next step in offering 4G data connections through a smart feature phone platform. Read more about the JioPhone here.

Moto Z2 ForceThe Z2 Force is the new flagship from the company, offering top shelf specifications and a shatter proof display on a super slim smartphone. The Z2 Force may not make it to India, but we think Moto will announce a standalone Moto Z2 for the Indian market. Read more about the phone here.

Moto Z2 Force specs:Display: 5.5-inch, 1440pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835RAM: 4GBStorage: 64GBCamera: Dual 12MP, 5MPBattery: 2730mAhOS: Android 7.1.1

Xiaomi Mi 5XThe latest Xiaomi Mi 5X is the most likely contender from Xiaomi to be launched in India later in the year. The Mi 5X comes with MIUI 9 out-of-the-box and has been announced only in China. Read more about the phone here.

Xiaomi Mi 5X specs:Display: 5.5-inch, 1080pSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625RAM: 4GBStorage: 64GBCamera: Dual 12MP, 5MPBattery: 3080mAhOS: Android 7.1.1

Hereon, we are moving into the unknown or rumored territory. The phones listed below flagship class devices that are very eagerly awaited right now.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is supposed to be the next flagship from the Korean tech giant, but it comes with its own baggage. Read more about the phone here.

Rumored specs:Display: 6.3-inch, QHD+SoC: Exynos 8895RAM: 8GBStorage: 64GBCamera: Dual 12MPBattery: 3300mAhOS: Android 7.1

Apple iPhone 8This list won't be complete without the mention of the Apple iPhone 8, which is likely to launch within the next two months. Will it live up to the hype?. Read more about the phone here.

Rumored specs:Display: NASoC: Apple A11RAM: 3GBStorage: 256GBCamera: Dual 12MPBattery: N/AOS: iOS 11

Google Pixel 2The Google Pixel 2 is another smartphone which has Android fans on the edge of their seats. It is rumored that Google will also offer a dual camera setup on the phone this year, however renders show the opposite.. Read more about the phone here.

Rumored specs:Display: 5-inch, 2KSoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 836RAM: 4/6GBStorage: 32GB minimumCamera: NABattery: N/AOS: latest Android

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2Finally, the long awaited second iteration of the stunning Mi Mix may make its debut this year and if rumors are true, it might make its way into India. Read more about the phone here.

Rumored specs:Display: N/ASoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835RAM: N/AStorage: N/ACamera: N/ABattery: N/AOS: Android Nougat

Hardik Singh  hardik.singh@digit.in

Light at the top, this odd looking creature lives under the heavy medication of video games.

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Source: Best new and upcoming smartphones (July 2017)

Samsung will release another powerful smartphone-clamshell

Chinese insiders say that South Korean electronics maker Samsung plans to release a new smartphone-clamshell called W2018. This device will be an improved, even more powerful version of the previous model W2017 The site of the regulator lists the main technical characteristics of the Samsung SM-W2018. It promises to be very powerful. These are two 4.2-inch Super AMOLED displays, each with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (Full HD), 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory, and two cameras: 12-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front. The smartphone is based on the quad-core chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, and it runs under the mobile operating system Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The new product, like its predecessor, will be powered by a 2300 mAh battery. The Samsung SM-W2018 is housed in a 15.9 mm thick case. Together with the entire filling, it weighs 234 g. About design of the novelty has not yet been reported.

Concept Samsung Galaxy S9New phone technologyDesign and techWireless technology

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Source: Samsung will release another powerful smartphone-clamshell

New Sony Xperia Phones 2017: Release date and all you need to know

Sony Mobile is tipped to be readying a fresh batch of Sony Xperia 2017 smartphones. Here's what you need to know about the new Sony Xperia phones, including release date, specs, price, news and rumours.

Each year, Sony floods the market with innumerable smartphones in hopes that one will catch your attention and woo you away from rival brands. Despite curious handset branding and some dodgy entries, Sony Mobile has still managed to turn out a few solid smartphones and build a loyal fanbase in the process.

But what's next for Sony Mobile? We weren't overly impressed with the company's roster of phones from Barcelona's MWC 2017 earlier this year, so there's plenty to improve on next time around. We've rounded up key details about the new Sony Xperia phone(s), to give you a better idea of what to expect.

If you don't want heaps of detail then here's a quick-fire breakdown of our predictions for Sony's next flagship smartphone:

Sony Xperia XZ2 / XZ Premium 2 Release Date: August 31 launch

Sony Xperia XZ2 / XZ Premium 2 Features: New bezel-free design

Sony Xperia XZ2 / XZ Premium 2 Price: £629 – £699

Alternatively, read on for a more detailed run-through of what to expect from Sony Mobile for the remainder of 2017.

Related: Samsung Galaxy Note 8

New Sony Xperia Phones: Release date in late 2017?

It's easy enough to guess when new Sony Xperia phones will launch, because they stick to a fairly consistent release cycle, as you'll see below:

Sony Xperia Z1 – September 4, 2013 (reveal) | September 20, 2013 (release)

Sony Xperia Z2 – February 24, 2014 (reveal) | March 24, 2014 (release)

Sony Xperia Z3 – September 4, 2014 (reveal) | September 26, 2014 (release)

Sony Xperia Z3+  – April 20, 2015 (reveal) | May 26, 2015 (release)

Sony Xperia Z5 – September 2, 2015 (reveal) | October 1, 2015 (release)

Sony Xperia X Performance – February 22, 2016 (reveal) | 15 June, 2016 (release)

Sony Xperia XZ – September 1, 2016 (reveal) | October 6, 2016 (release)

Sony Xperia XZ Premium – February 27, 2017 (reveal) | June 2, 2017 (release)

As is evident, Sony operates on a six-monthly release cycle for flagship phones and doesn't have a strict naming convention, which must be seriously confusing for consumers. However, the good news is that this means there's always a new Sony phone just around the corner.

Looking at the history of Sony phone launches, we'd expect the next flagship Sony Xperia handset to launch at the beginning of September as usual. It's almost guaranteed that Sony will continue to utilise Berlin's annual tech tradeshow – IFA 2017 – to showcase the new device.

In fact, Sony has already scheduled a press conference to take place just one day before the show begins. The event will be held on Thursday, August 31 at 13:00 local Berlin time – or 12:00 here in the UK. We'd be very surprised if a new Sony phone (or phones, more likely) wasn't announced during the press conference.

Next Sony Xperia 2017: Design, specs and features

So what are we expecting to see? Well, it's likely we'll see more than one Sony Xperia smartphone unveiled at IFA 2017.

The most likely scenario is that we see a successor to the Sony Xperia XZ Premium, which was released earlier this year. Unfortunately, we've got no idea what it'll be called, given Sony's wacky naming conventions.

Earlier this year, Sony also confirmed that it would no longer be releasing "Premium Standard" handsets. Those are phones like the Xperia X and Xperia X Compact, which are mid-to-upper range devices that don't quite cut it as flagships.

This means if we are going to see other devices at IFA 2017, they'll probably come in the form of mid-range sequels to the Xperia XA1 and/or XA1 Ultra.

Most of the hype will surrounded the Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2 however, but what do we actually now?

Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2 news and rumours

The bad news is that we haven't seen much in the way of rumours about the new flagship Sony Xperia phone for late-2017.

Power: It's almost certain that the handset will carry Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 chip however, given that its predecessor – the Xperia XZ Premium – was one of the first to use that chip. This means it will also have access to Qualcomm's rapid Snapdragon X16 modem and the latest Quick Charge tech.

Given that the Xperia XZ Premium had 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, we'd expect the XZ Premium 2 to boast at least as much. The OnePlus 5 recently launched with 6GB and 8GB RAM variants, so there's definitely room for Sony to push on-board memory a little higher. Also, last year's iPhone 7 was available with a 256GB storage variant, so Sony could also make some movements in that department too.

Display and Design: Sony fitted its most recent flagship handset with a 4K HDR IPS LCD screen, so another Ultra HD panel wouldn't be surprising for the next one.

However, it's rumoured that the display size will increase from 5.46 inches to 6 inches, putting it more in line with rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S8 (5.8 inches).

It's not clear if this screen size increase would mean a significantly larger handset, or if Sony would adopt the same low-bezel design approach seen used with the Galaxy S8 and LG G6 – and supposedly the iPhone 8, tipped for later this year.

It's not an entirely kooky prospect, either; a leak on Chinese social media site Weibo earlier this year suggested how a joint venture between display-maker JDI and Sony would result in the production of a 'Full Active QHD display' that would occupy the entire front of a phone.

The report went on to suggest that Sony planned to release this phone at IFA 2017, which means a bezel-free Sony phone may be nearly upon us.

So what else? Well we've heard no other rumours about the new phone, which means we're still largely in the dark when it comes to camera performance, battery life, and software – although we'd expect that Android 7.1 Nougat will almost certainly feature on the new device.

We'll update this article with more news and rumours as they surface.

New Sony Xperia 2017 phone price

Smartphones are getting increasingly expensive, especially in the UK where we're also suffering from currency-related price hikes.

In the absence of Sony Xperia rumours however, we can only guess at what the next phone might cost at retail.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium priced in at a hefty £649 at launch, which was still £40 cheaper than the £689 Galaxy S8. It's £50 more expensive than the £599 iPhone 7 however, and matches the £649 LG G6.

For the next phone, we'd expect fairly similar pricing, with the handset probably falling somewhere in the region of £629 and £699. However, until Sony makes an official announcement, we'll have to take all rumour-mongering and guesswork with a pinch of salt.

Related: Best Android phones

What would you like to see from the next batch of Sony Xperia smartphones? Let us know in the comments.

Source: New Sony Xperia Phones 2017: Release date and all you need to know

HTC Vive standalone VR headset rumours: UK release date, design and specs

HTC is developing a standalone VR headset with Google, as announced at Google I/O in May 2017 - here's everything we know so far. HTC is developing a standalone VR headset with Google - here's everything we know so far.

By Lewis Painter | 27 Jul 2017

Google announced at Google I/O in May 2017 that it was developing a standalone VR headset with HTC, negating the need for a smartphone, PC and even wires to enjoy virtual reality. Fast forward to July 2017 and HTC has announced a standalone VR headset in China, suggesting that the standalone HTC Vive VR headset will be making its debut in the UK sooner rather than later.

Here, we discuss all the latest standalone HTC Vive VR headset release date rumours, along with the latest design and feature news.  

If you're looking for more information on the second-generation Vive headset for PC, take a look at the latest HTC Vive 2 rumours. 

When will the standalone HTC Vive headset be released in the UK?

While we're still eagerly awaiting for the UK variant of HTC's standalone VR headset to be announced, the company has announced a standalone HTC Vive VR headset in China.

While it's clear that it's marketed only at the Chinese market and won't be coming to the UK anytime soon, it signals that progress is being made in that department. No word on a Chinese release date just yet, but developers interested can apply to find out more.

With the announcement of the headset in China, we can't imagine the variant being developed with Google being very different and as such, we suspect it'll be announced before the end of 2017 with a possible release in 2018.

New to the world of VR? Take a look at our complete guide to virtual reality.

What does the standalone HTC Vive headset look like?

Despite being announced in China, the overall design of the headset is largely unknown. What we do know is that it'll be completely wireless and won't require any kind of base stations like the PC-powered HTC Vive, meaning it should be fairly simplistic in design.

From the silhouetted image shared at the Chinese launch, we can see big differences in the design of the headset when compared to the first-generation HTC Vive. It looks much sturdier with a head-strap akin to that used by the PlayStation VR headset, the VR headset with, in our opinion, the most comfortable fit of all VR headsets currently on the market.

We'll be sure to update this section with more information about the design and build of the HTC Vive standalone VR headset as we receive it, so make sure you check back soon.

What does the standalone HTC Vive headset feature?

The biggest feature of HTC's upcoming standalone VR headset is that it doesn't require a PC or a smartphone to work. The Chinese variant of the standalone headset is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor which is more than capable enough of powering decent VR experiences as we found out when we went hands-on with Qualcomm's standalone VR headset in 2016.

Interestingly, rather than integrate one of the existing mobile platforms into the headset (like Google Daydream), HTC chose to offer its own Viveport store content in China.

We're not quite sure how we feel about this as even though the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is an impressive processor, it can't provide the same kind of quality as a VR-ready gaming PC – and that's what all HTC Vive content thus far has been designed to run on.

It'll be interesting to see how HTC overcomes this hurdle in the coming months, or whether it'll change its mind and integrate Daydream support for the Western variant co-developed by Google.

It's worth noting that there will be differences between the Chinese standalone HTC Vive headset and the one being developed with Google for release in the UK, but we think it's safe to assume that the two will share similarities – it doesn't seem logical to design one headset for one market and then start all over again for another market when both want the same thing, after all.

Either way, we'll update this section whenever we receive new information so make sure you check back soon.

Interested in the HTC Vive? Here's a list of the best HTC Vive games available in 2017. 

Source: HTC Vive standalone VR headset rumours: UK release date, design and specs

Meizu’s latest flagship smartphone comes with an extra screen at the rear

Meizu has taken the covers off its latest flagship smartphone. Instead of making the display taller like Samsung and LG, the Chinese smartphone brand is trying to stand out by fitting a secondary display at the back.

This might remind you of YotaPhone but Meizu is taking a step further by fitting a colour AMOLED display that's also touch enabled.

The latest Meizu flagship comes in two sizes – a 5.2″ Pro 7 with a full HD display and a larger 5.7″ Pro 7 Plus variant that does Quad HD resolution. The smaller Pro 7 is powered by a mid-range MediaTek Helio P25 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage but there's also a higher-spec version that comes with a more capable Helio X30 processor plus 128GB of storage.

For those seeking the best performance, the Pro 7 Plus gets a MediaTek Helio X30 that's mated to 6GB of RAM. It comes with a choice of either 64GB or 128GB of storage.

In the imaging department, the Meizu Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus gets a dual 12MP setup at the rear with dedicated colour and monochrome sensors. Over at the front, it sports a 16MP selfie camear. Since there's a secondary screen at the rear, you can also use the main cameras to take a selfie. Apart from taking photos, the extra Super AMOLED display can also be used for music controls, notifications or as an always-on display to show your current time and weather.

To charge up both flagship phones quickly, there's also 5V 5A mCharge 4.0 featuer which can replenish the Meizu Pro 7 Plus from 0-60% in just 30 minutes. The smaller Pro 7 gets a 3,000mAh battery while the Pro 7 Plus comes with 3,500mAh capacity.

Being a Meizu device, it runs on their heavily skinned Flyme 6 OS that's still based on Android. It also comes with a dedicated Hi-Fi chip plus a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Both devices are expected to go on sale in China beginning 5 August with price starting from 2880 CNY (about RM1,829) for the Meizu Pro 7 and 3580 CNY (about RM2,273) for the Pro 7 Plus. For more info, you can check out the Meizu Pro 7 product page.

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Huawei sees annual smartphone shipment growth slowing amid focus on profit

Technology

China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, one of the world's largest telecom equipment makers, posted on Thursday a 15 percent rise in half-year revenue, the slowest growth for that period in four years.

27 Jul 2017 05:20PM(Updated: 27 Jul 2017 11:35PM)

HONG KONG: China's Huawei Technologies forecast smartphone shipments of 140 million-150 million this year, a sharp slowdown in annual growth as the world's third-largest smartphone maker chases profits instead of volumes by selling more high-end phones.

Shenzhen-based Huawei's profit growth has been under pressure with its low margin smartphone business facing strong competition at home and abroad, forcing Huawei earlier this year to de-emphasize revenue growth.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, said on Thursday the company expected to ship 140 million-150 million smartphones for the full year compared to 73 million achieved in the first half.

The full-year forecast would compare to the 139 million smartphones Huawei shipped last year, which was up 29 percent compared to the year before.

And though its smartphone shipments surged by more than a fifth in the first half, Yu emphasised that Huawei was not aiming for volumes.

"We want to focus on the high-end and mid-range market. We give up the ultra low-end," he said, adding the average selling price of Huawei phones rose 28 percent in the first half.

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Yu acknowledged intensifying competition at the high-end of smartphones from Apple Inc's planned release of the iPhone 8 but said Huawei was well equipped to hold its ground.

"We have the Mate 10 series that can compete head to head against the iPhone 8," Yu told reporters, referring to Huawei's next premium flagship that is expected to be released in the fall. According to Yu, it will be superior to Apple's anticipated smash-hit product with "much longer" battery life, "much faster" charging speed and better camera and photo-shooting algorithm.

Huawei plans to unveil this autumn an "AI processor" as it seeks to move from making smartphones to "intelligent phones", Yu said.

"Huawei will launch our own AI processor. We could be the first phone maker in the world to introduce AI processor for our products," he said, but declined to give more details or comment on whether that will be used for the Mate 10.

The company, which is also one of the world's largest telecom equipment makers, posted on Thursday a 15 percent rise in first-half group revenue to 283.1 billion yuan (US$42.03 billion), compared with a 40 percent rise last year. That represented the slowest first-half revenue growth for Huawei since 2013.

Its operating margin fell to 11 percent from 12 percent a year ago. Huawei does not release half-year profits.

Yu forecast the consumer business group's full-year revenue at over US$33 billion, compared to about US$26.7 billion last year.

(US$1 = 6.7380 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Source: Huawei sees annual smartphone shipment growth slowing amid focus on profit

Global Smartphone sales reach new record

Global Smartphone sales had achieved a new record in the second quarter of the year, German Market Research Institute GfK said on Monday.

A total of 346.9 million Smart phones had been sold worldwide between April and June, representing a year-on-year increase of four per cent, the report shows.

Asia led the demand growth with a year-on-year rise of 13 per cent, followed by Central and Eastern Europe at 11 per cent and Latin America at 10 per cent.

Some 110.1 million smart phones had been sold in the Chinese market in the second quarter of the year, slightly more than the same period in 2016.

"The record demand for smart phones in the second quarter this year is high.

"In spite the saturation in some markets, the desire to own a smart phone is a worldwide phenomenon," Arndt Polifke, GfK Global Director of Telecom Research said.

Yotaro Noguchi, Product Lead in GfK's Trends and Forecasting Division said that consumers were willing to pay more for their smart phones as they seek a better user experience.

He said that GfK forecasts Smartphone demand would continue to see year-on-year growth in 2018. (Xinhua/NAN)

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Source: Global Smartphone sales reach new record