This new self-healing glass could make its way to a smartphone near you

We've all dropped our phones once or twice, and some of us have even shattered our screens in the process. That may soon be a thing of the past if this new technology by Japanese researchers comes to light.

Researchers from the University of Tokyo told Science that they have discovered a type of glass that can heal itself, which could be used in phone screens and other devices. This is all thanks to a new polymer called "polyether-thioureas" that allows the screen to repair cracks when pressed upon.

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Similar self-healing methods have been applied to plastic and rubber, but the researchers say this is the first of its kind since it can be repaired at room temperature. The researchers noted that the glass is "highly robust mechanically yet can readily be repaired by compression at fractured surfaces."

Funnily enough, much like the potato chip or chocolate chip cookies, this too was discovered by accident. A student named Yu Yanagisawa was attempting to use the material as glue when he discovered its healing properties. Believe it or not, the glass can supposedly return to its original strength after just a few hours.

This is not the first proposed solution for broken displays, and it probably won't be the last. Recently, Motorola filed a patent for self-healing display technology that would fix cracks when heat is applied. The LG G Flex 2 also came with a back panel that could repair small scratches by itself. Whenever self-healing displays come to fruition, it will be a welcome improvement in the smartphone world.

Source: This new self-healing glass could make its way to a smartphone near you

The top three smartphone innovations of 2017

2017 wasn't exactly a banner year for smartphone innovation. It felt like the industry took a break from bringing out new features, as most companies simply brought consumers more of what was already out there.

However, three interesting trends either started in or became more pronounced this year, and we hope we will see more of  them in 2018. These three smartphone innovations promise consumers a better overall experience, and we will certainly see them show up in future handsets over the next 12 months.

18:9 display ratio displays

Historically most smartphones featured displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the standard ratio for big screen televisions and feature films in theaters, so it made sense for phones to use that same measurement for playing movies on the small screen. However, in 2017 a number of major smartphones moved to an 18:9 ratio.

It started with the LG G6, which used the 18:9 ratio for its 5.7-inch 2,880 x 1,440 display. As we mentioned in our review of the phone from earlier this year, this design move, which LG termed as FullVision, actually made the G6 a bit smaller than the older LG V20, despite both having 5.7-inch displays.

The 18:9 displays got an even bigger boost just a few weeks after the launch of the LG G6 with the release of both the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Both phones use that aspect ratio (well, technically it's 18.5:9) and Samsung made it a big selling point. The "Infinity Display" allowed the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus to have very little bezel space while increasing screen area. Since the launch of LG and Samsung's phones, we have seen the 18:9 (or 2:1, if you want to go that route) aspect ratio on many other phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, OnePlus 5T, and more.

Even Google has embraced this new format, adopting it for the Pixel 2 XL's 6-inch display. Apple went even further with its almost bezel-free iPhone X. It put in a 5.8-inch display with an even taller 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

18:9 displays still have issues with some movies and TV shows. While content tailored to the new format is starting to come out, the standard aspect ratio is still 16:9. That means lot of content will either have to stretch to fit the screen or use letterboxing to prevent distortion.

It seems to be a minor issue for consumers though, as there is growing acceptance of the 18:9 format in smartphones. We expect that this innovation will continue to pop up in 2018, and likely in more mid-range, and perhaps budget, smartphones. Everyone likes a bigger screen. If it doesn't actually make the phone bigger, even better.

120 Hz smartphone screens – better looking graphics

Another 2017 smartphone innovation centers on the display, but it's been far less common than the 18:9 aspect ratio. The Razer Phone, which launched in early November, is perhaps the most well-known smartphone to support a display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, instead of the normal 60 Hz. A few of Sharp's Aquos branded smartphones (generally only available in Asia) have also added support for 120 Hz refresh rates.

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Why is this a big deal? A screen's refresh rate refers to how fast a it can update a picture every second. In theory, if your display has a higher refresh rate, its image should be smoother and clearer, even while scrolling on your smartphone. Razer promoted the higher rate with another technology it developed called Ultra Motion, which syncs with the phone's GPU to change its refresh rate depending on the needs of what's being run. This maintains an optimal refresh rate when you play games, resulting in much smoother looking graphics with less screen tearing.

As we move into 2018, we will likely see more smartphones with better support for virtual and augmented reality experiences. We will also see more stand alone VR headsets that use smartphone hardware inside, running Android based games. Having a higher refresh rate for these displays will make VR and AR apps look better, with lower latency. The Razer Phone's push to add a higher refresh rate will likely result in more gaming and VR-oriented smartphones launching with similar rates on their displays in the next year.

The eSIM – ditching the old fashioned SIM card

No matter how advanced your smartphone is, you still need a good old-fashioned SIM card inside if you really want to use it as a normal cell phone. If you buy an unlocked phone from Amazon, or give an old one to a family member or friend, that device still needs that tiny card to be installed manually to use it with AT&T, Verizon, and other carriers. In 2017, we saw the first preview of a new way smartphones will finally, hopefully, get rid of this old technology.

The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the first phones released with new eSIM technology. Both devices have an embedded SIM cards designed so they cannot be removed. The advantage of this technology is that you should be able to switch carriers with a software app menu and a few taps on a screen. This kind of technology will not only be helpful for people who buy unlocked phones or give old phones as gifts, but also international travelers, who won't need to get an extra SIM card to make calls and connect with cellular data networks in other countries.

At the moment, the eSIM support is only available for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL owners if they sign up for Google's Project Fi. However, the fact that Google is adding eSIM support for its latest flagship Android smartphones means the company is encouraging both phone manufacturers and wireless carriers to support eSIM in future handsets. 2018 will likely see the release of more phones with both Nano SIM and eSIM support. Hopefully in a few years phone makers will get rid of physical SIM cards entirely.

Conclusion

2017 was not a hugely innovative year, but there progress has been made in making displays larger and better, along with a first effort in getting rid of a legacy smartphone technology. 2018 will hopefully offer at least a few more innovations.

What do you think we will see that's new and cool in next year's phones? Let us know in the comments!

Source: The top three smartphone innovations of 2017

Why smartphone cameras were the most important tech of 2017

Your smartphone camera is about to reshape everything, but it has nothing to do with snapping photos. 

Sure, phone makers are getting really, really good at creating cameras. Between hardware improvements and advancements in computational photography, we've never had better optics in our pockets than we do with the latest generation of flagships.

But that's not why cameras matter more than ever before. It's because cameras are at the heart of a paradigm shift that's transforming the way we interact with the world around us. From augmented reality to camera-based search, cameras are increasingly becoming the interface through which we experience technology and find information.

Cameras take over

Say you're walking down the street, and you pass by a restaurant you want to know more about. Right now, you might whip out your phone and type the name into Google, or Yelp, or some other service. But in the near future, you'll be able to simply point your camera at the restaurant to get the same information.

Right now, we're used to spending hours a day tapping away on our phones' keyboards to access what we need. But much of that tapping would be unnecessary if we could just share visual context about the world around us. Instead of Googling how to fix your toilet, what if you could just hold up your camera to the broken part and get repair instructions?

Though we've been slowly approaching this shift for some time, it's never been more apparent or more dramatic than it was in 2017. Some observers have taken to saying "camera is the new keyboard" as a kind of shorthand for what's happening.

It's already happening

One early sign of this shift is the unlikely comeback of the QR code — a feature once so maligned it inspired a 2013 marketing tome called QR Codes Kill Kittens. 

Yet just four years later, Spotify, Pinterest, Venmo, Snapchat, and Facebook Messenger all have their own versions of the feature. Even Apple added QR code-scanning to the iPhone's camera — itself a tacit admission that QR codes aren't going anywhere.

But for an even better look at where the future is heading, look to camera-based search, which stands to dramatically change how we find information. Google and Pinterest both launched products this year that allow you to conduct specific types of searches just by pointing your camera at objects in your surroundings. 

Google's version of the tool can, for now, recognize text, household objects and landmarks. Pinterest's tool is more about inspiration — point your camera at food to find relevant recipes or at a pair of shoes for style ideas. 

While those tools, both coincidentally called "Lens," are still in the early stages, they paint a pretty clear picture as to where the tech is heading. "Search what you see," Google summed up in a blog post earlier this year.

Microsoft is also experimenting with computer vision in the camera. The company introduced a new app called Seeing AI that's meant to help the visually impaired "see" the world around them The app will narrate what's around you as you point the camera at your surroundings.

Like Google and Pinterest's Lens apps, Seeing AI is still in early days so the app has more than a few kinks. But it's not difficult to imagine how the technology could be transformative to the visually impaired. 

What happens next?

Still, there are potential issues. While it's difficult to deny the efficiency of pointing your camera at something and instantly getting helpful information about that thing, it does raise the question of who gets to decide what information comes up. This is fundamentally different from getting a page of blue links as search results. Sure, those are ranked, but it's still ultimately up to the searcher to choose one. With AR search, you likely won't even know alternative info is there.

Moreover, cameras and computer vision will accelerate the idea that combing through multiple pages of results feel as obsolete as texting with a numeric keypad. The price of that convenience, however, will be granting more power to whomever is deciding what the one "right" answer is any given situation. 

AR changes the privacy equation, too. By opening up these apps to the world around us, we're handing huge amounts of private information over to these services, which will now know even more about what we're doing, feeling, and thinking at any given moment. That's not something that can be easily walked back. 

These are valid concerns — and ones that tech companies should address sooner rather than later as these changes are only going to accelerate. This year more than ever we've seen what happens when tech companies release tools to the public and are slow to adapt to the abuses of those tools that inevitably happen. 

Regardless, the smart camera is rapidly become a reality. Everywhere you look, tech companies are adding layer upon layer of intelligence to their cameras at a surprising rate. And while none of these applications are, on their own, enough to change our lives, put them all together and it adds up to a world where the camera — augmented by powerful chips, precise sensors, and a vast database in the cloud — becomes the most important app on your phone.

Source: Why smartphone cameras were the most important tech of 2017

A practical, stylish and convenient smartphone series with serious attitude

Korea – WEBWIRE – Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Samsung Electronics today announced the latest additions to the Galaxy A series: the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018).

The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) feature a Dual Front Camera, a large Infinity Display and stunning ergonomic design that draws on Samsung's flagship design heritage and experience. With additional everyday features, the Galaxy A series is more stylish, practical and convenient than ever before.

"With the release of the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018), we're bringing our customers' favorite features from our flagship smartphones, such as the Infinity Display and our first Dual Front Camera with Live Focus, to our Galaxy A series, which is already known for its premium design," said Junho Park, Vice President of Global Product Planning, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. "The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) exemplify our continued dedication to meeting the needs of our consumers by providing them with greater choice and convenience."

Snap bright, clear selfies with the 16MP F1.7 rear camera and 16MP+8MP F1.9Dual Front Camera, no matter where you are or what you're doing. The Dual Front Camera is made up of two separate cameras so you can switch between the two to take the type of selfie you want – from close-ups with the background to portrait shots with a clear and crisp background. And with the advanced Live Focus feature, you can easily adjust the bokeh effect before or after you take the picture to create high-quality images.

From day to night, the advanced camera makes sure you capture sharp images, even in low-light conditions. The new devices also allow you to customize your photos with fun options, from adding stickers to your selfie or highlighting a culinary extravaganza with Food Mode.

Shaky video footage will be a thing of the past with video digital image stabilisation (VDis) technology, and with an added hyperlapse feature, you can now create time-lapse videos that let you record, tell and share even longer stories.

When watching movies or playing games, the latest Galaxy A devices set a new standard for uninterrupted, immersive viewing experiences. The Infinity Display goes beyond the bezel with an immersive 18.5:9 display ratio1, so that you can view the whole scene across your screen for the ultimate cinematic experience. The large screen is supported with ergonomic curved glass on the back and front. Its sleek glass and metal frame, smooth curves and comfortable grip make it even easier to watch or interact with content on your phone. The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) are available in four colors including black, orchid grey, gold and blue to suit your personal style2.

Both devices will continually keep you informed with the Always On Display, meaning you can get information at a glance without unlocking your phone. With Samsung Pay3, there's no need to bring your wallet with you every time you go out. Supporting Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) and Near Field Communication (NFC), the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) can be used virtually anywhere you can tap or swipe your card. Every transaction via Samsung Pay is secure, yet very simple. All it takes is one swipe and one fingerprint scan.

Offering IP68 water and dust resistance4, the Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) can withstand the elements, including sweat, rain, sand and dust, making it suitable for nearly any activity or situation. The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) support microSD cards so you can expand your storage capacity by as much as 256GB, and are the first in the A series to support Samsung's Gear VR.

The Galaxy A8(2018) and A8+(2018) will be available in early January 2018.

--------

* Features and functions will vary by market and mobile operator

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document

including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability,

and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

1 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners

2 Color availability may vary by country

3 Availability of service may vary by country

4 Carrying an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Based on test conditions of submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes

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Source: A practical, stylish and convenient smartphone series with serious attitude

A new type of glass that was discovered by accident can fix its own cracks – and it would be perfect for smartphones

Jeff Turner/Flickr (CC)

A new type of glass was developed that can repair itself.

The discovery was made by accident when researchers at the University of Tokyo were researching new adhesives. 

Broken glass can fuse back together with firm pressure.

It's still in its early stages, but it could have huge implications for smartphone displays. 

While researching new kinds of adhesives, researchers at the University of Tokyo stumbled upon a type of glass that can repair its own cracks, according to Japan Today. 

Two broken shards can fuse back together in just a few seconds with firm pressure, and the glass regains its original strength in a couple of hours.

The research is in its early stages, so don't be put off by the glass' brown color or the seam that remains after the glass has fused back together. As Japan Today says, "it's still a step in a hopeful direction."

Self-repairing glass is surely an appealing prospect for a wide range of industries. For the smartphone industry, it could mean self-healing displays and glass backs. 

We've seen self-healing materials on smartphones before, like the LG G Flex and G Flex 2's plastic back that can repair light scratches from objects like keys. It was a great idea that wasn't exactly successful in the long run, as smartphones haven't adopted the self-healing plastic since. Perhaps that's because smartphone makers were veering away from plastic on their premium devices in favor of metal or glass.

The LG G Flex had a self-healing back that could repair light scratches over time. YouTube/MKBHD

But self-healing glass is arguably more appealing. Still, I wouldn't hold onto to my current smartphone until self-healing glass becomes more mainstream, as it can be several years before self-healing glass becomes fully developed and ready for smartphones.

It's simply good to know that self-healing glass has been discovered, and it could become a reality in the near future. 

SEE ALSO: The $500 OnePlus 5T is my favorite Android phone of the year, and it's even better after comparing its camera against the $850 Pixel 2 XL NOW WATCH: 7 iPhone X power user tricks you need to know
Source: A new type of glass that was discovered by accident can fix its own cracks – and it would be perfect for smartphones

Cell Phones and Cancer Risk?

No one wants to get cancer. No one wants to have to go for treatment for cancer and no one wants to be led to believe they are "cancer free" when that's not the case. Cancer is in remission, never cured. I'm not a physician, but a psychologist, and I know that the very word "cancer" strikes fear into everyone's heart, so we have to begin to re-think our use of cell phone based on new information.

Year ago, cigarettes were seen as items that carried a sense of sophistication, helped people relax a bit in social situations and we were assured they were safe. In some cultures, cigarettes were even seen as "healthy." We now know, thanks to vigorous lawsuits and thousands of cigarette-related deaths, that cigarettes are anything but sophisticated or healthy. Plainly speaking, cigarettes kill.

The increasing use of cell phones for everything from everyday conversations to corporate conference calls has made cells an indispensable item in our daily lives. Kids can't seem to do without them, but here we know there's also an element of safety.

Walk down the street in any metropolitan area and you'll see people using their cells addictively. Some people seem incapable of not talking on a cell as they walk along. Psychologists might see this as either a protective device or a sign that the person is incapable of being "alone" in any sense of the word.

Cell phone radiation has been a concern for scientists for many years and now the attention being paid to it is heating up. A court in Italy this year awarded a worker a monthly pension after it was determined, by a physician, that he had developed a brain tumor secondary to cell phone usage. In Israel, another man who developed cancer in his ear was awarded a "humanitarian" claim by his company because they indicated that the World Health Organization had not found a link between cell phone use and cancer.

Literally, billions of hours are spent on cell phones all over the world and we have to wonder if they are safe when some research suggests otherwise. We must ask why there are more reported cases of brain cancer now than ever before.

Of course, any researcher will tell you that it may mean that more people are going for check-ups and the technology has advanced to the point where they are easily revealed. In prior years, people may have died with tumors but the cause of death was listed as something else. Not all tumors are cancerous.

In 2017, a lawsuit was filed by Joel Moskowitz, Director, Center for Family and Community Health at UC Berkeley School of Public Health regarding cell phone risk. No governmental standard for the level of risk associated with cell phone radiation has been established and the danger of bias or inaccuracy of measurement, research design, etc. are always to be carefully considered. Research with rats and other animals may not be sufficient for applying these findings to humans. Often, this can be the case. The question is often how much use and for how long before effects of radiation show up? The length of time may be as long as 20 years.

The moral of this story is: Use a cell phone, but use it wisely and take precautions. You will hear conflicting opinions on this because, as you may know, we are receiving radio waves constantly from our TVs, hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, microwaves and any number of other gadgets we use in our daily lives. But the sum total, while small, may be injurious. Who is to say how much is too much?

Anxiety, for whatever reason, is something all of us want to keep in check. If you are concerned about cell radiation possibilities related to cancer, there are several suggested ways to minimize any risk.

Scientists are suggesting that we:

use headphones, earbuds or the speaker on our phones, for one thing

keep your cell at least at arm's length when you have it lying near you

don't sleep with your cell under your pillow or near your head

don't put your cell into your bra

However the information or research turns out, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, especially when it comes to cancer risk.

Website: www.drfarrell.net

Author's page: http://amzn.to/2rVYB0J

Attribution of this material is appreciated.

Dr. Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D.

Dr. Patricia A. Farrell, Ph.D., LLC

Source: Cell Phones and Cancer Risk?

NEW: Darkened Atlanta airport saw peanut stampede, dead phones, tears

WEST PALM BEACH

Tiffany Hornback of Palm Beach Gardens made the three-hour trek from the University of Alabama to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on Sunday so she could fly home. At 1 p.m., she was next in line to get food. Then the lights went out at one of the world's busiest airports.

Five hours later, Southwest Airlines brought out a cart with peanuts and a stampede of people attacked the cart, her mother, Debra Dominguez, said Monday morning. Hornback, who hadn't eaten since 8 a.m., picked up what was left on the floor.

The corridor eventually became smoky, Dominguez said, and people were evacuated to a different part of the concourse. Hornback was eventually able to get outside, Dominguez said, but it was freezing cold and Hornback's phone had died. She sat on the concrete and cried.

" 'This is what the apocalypse would look like,' " Dominguez quoted her daughter as saying about the snack-cart attack.

But Hornback then spotted a nearby building where she charged her phone and was able to get an Uber and hotel. She is scheduled to return on a 10:30 a.m. flight. Dominguez said Southwest had not figured out where Hornback's luggage is.

Hornback's flight was one of several flights either canceled or delayed Sunday and Monday due to the power outage that shut down the Atlanta airport, a major source of passengers to South Florida airports. Power didn't go back on until nearly midnight.

On Monday morning, flights from PBIA to Atlanta at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. were canceled. Flights to Atlanta departing as early as 11:15 were listed as "on time" on the flight information display system. Flights from Atlanta scheduled to arrive at PBIA at 10:28 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. were on time but a flight scheduled to arrive at 11:44 a.m. was canceled.

There were seven cancellations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: four departures and three arrivals, as well as 14 arrival delays and four departure delays, all from Atlanta, said Greg Meyer, airport spokesman. He added that yesterday there were 17 canceled and 34 delays. He was unable to say when cancelations would end.

Delta Air Lines, whose largest hub is at the Atlanta airport, said at about 7:30 a.m. it already had canceled 300 Monday flights already, on top of nearly 1,000 canceled Sunday.

Delta canceled nine flights in and out of PBIA Sunday and rerouted one, and canceled four PBIA flights Monday morning, airport spokeswoman Lacy Larson said. She said she hadn't yet heard from Southwest. Those two were the only airlines flying between PBIA and Atlanta Sunday and Monday, Larson said.

"Delta is working to reaccommodate customers. Those who need booking assistance are encouraged to go to the Fly Delta app or delta.com to check flight status before leaving for the airport," the airline said in a notice. It also suggested monitoring "@ATLairport" on Twitter.

The airline said people flying to, from or though Atlanta can make a one-time change and that the airline had frozen travel for unaccompanied minors, although those in transit could continue.

Delta tweeted Monday morning that it established a line to assist customers with checked bags that were impacted by the outage and that customers should call (888) 977-1005 to arrange bag delivery.

Southwest Airlines canceled 70 Atlanta departures out of 120 on Sunday and said Monday it was at full schedule. Spokesmen couldn't provide specifics for flights in and out of PBIA Monday morning.

The airline said people who were scheduled to travel through Atlanta on Sunday and Monday and want to change plans can in most cases rebook with no extra fee.

Travelers at Palm Beach international said the cancellations affected their work schedules.

"It doesn't work that they have me travelling all day tomorrow because it means I'm losing two business days," said Krista Lowery, of Jupiter, whose Delta flight had to be rerouted.

Other customers said they were also inconvenienced, but staff was making the experience as pleasant as possible.

"The agent has been wonderful. She made sure we had food vouchers, a place to stay, gave us alternate plans, let us decide which way we wanted to go," said Carol Fosson, who was vacationing at Palm Beach Shores on Singer Island, "It's as pleasurable as this experience could be."

Source: NEW: Darkened Atlanta airport saw peanut stampede, dead phones, tears

In Unusual Move, CA Health Officials Warn About Cell Phones

CALIFORNIA -- In an unusual move, California health officials this week issued guidelines on cell phone exposure. The state Department of Public Health said it was providing the guidance despite the fact that "the scientific community has not reached a consensus on the risks of cell phone use, research suggests long-term, high use may impact human health."

The new guidance includes steps both adults and children could take to reduce exposure to radio frequency energy from cell phones. That includes:

Keeping the phone away from the body

Reducing cell phone use when the signal is weak

Reducing the use of cell phones to stream audio or video, or to download or upload large files

Keeping the phone away from the bed at night

Removing headsets when not on a call

Avoiding products that claim to block radio frequency energy. These products may actually increase your exposure.

"Although the science is still evolving, there are concerns among some public health professionals and members of the public regarding long-term, high use exposure to the energy emitted by cell phones," said Karen Smith, director of the Department of Public Health. "We know that simple steps, such as not keeping your phone in your pocket and moving it away from your bed at night, can help reduce exposure for both children and adults."

Health officials said that cell phone use has increased dramatically in recent years with about 95 percent of Americans owning a cell phone, and 12 percent relying on their smartphones for everyday Internet access.

The average age when children get their first phone is now just 10 years old, and a majority of young people keep their phones on or near them most of the day and while they sleep, the state said.

"Children's brains develop through the teenage years and may be more affected by cell phone use," Smith said. "Parents should consider reducing the time their children use cell phones and encourage them to turn the devices off at night."

--Photo via Pixabay/DariuszSankowski

Source: In Unusual Move, CA Health Officials Warn About Cell Phones

Microsoft Surface Phone CONFIRMED as code hidden in new app hints at FOLDING smartphone

Surface Phone - Leaked photos, concept images, and renders Thu, May 4, 2017

CASMIR VALERI • BEHANCE

1 of 17

Microsoft CEO hinted it could be 'ultimate mobile device'

Surface Phone rumours are back, thanks to a morsel of code buried in the latest version of Microsoft's Whiteboard desktop app.

Whispers of a premium smartphone designed by Panos Panay and the team behind the likes of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop had died down following the demise of Windows 10 Mobile.

Of course, Microsoft never confirmed it was building a flagship Windows 10 smartphone.

However, a number of prominent figures had teased the development of a productivity-focused mobile phone.

CEO Satya Nadella raised hopes amongst Microsoft fans earlier this year when he claimed that a smartphone from the company could be "the ultimate mobile device".

And now, code buried within Microsoft's Whiteboard app hints at a foldable Surface Phone.

RYAN SMALLEY • BEHANCE.NET

Code within the new Microsoft software points to a Surface Phone with folding screens

One of the most persistent rumours about the so-called Surface Phone was that the smartphone would include a hinge, enabling owners to increase the size of the display by folding opening the device and increasing productivity.

Code within the Microsoft software points directly to a device with this design.

According to a reliable Windows tipster, known as WalkingCat online, the Whiteboard app includes references to "Journal; app' left and right page references."

This is a clear hint that Microsoft is working on a device with a separate left and right interface.

The Journal app referred to within the code could be designed for said hardware.

WalkingCat detailed another reference within the Whiteboard app.

"This is the accessibility title for the whiteboard application which is a single large canvas for creation with a chrome toolbar at the bottom," the leakster tweeted.

Earlier this year, a user claiming to be a former employee of a Microsoft contractor posted on Reddit, stating the Surface Phone wouldn't launch for at least another year.

The source – who shared the news under the handle zombieacc – said the device would "probably" be released in late 2018 or 2019.

The source went on to claim that despite this delay, Microsoft is not giving up on the Surface Phone, which is set to be one of the most powerful devices launched by the company.

"Nobody knows what they are working on right now, but they don't seem to be giving up," the user added. 

"Some special phone-PC-like Windows 10 ARM device will probably arrive in late 2018 or 2019. I have no more info on that, but I think Windows 10 ARM is much further away than some of us hope."

Related articles
Source: Microsoft Surface Phone CONFIRMED as code hidden in new app hints at FOLDING smartphone

MediaTek launches new "Sensio" biosensor module with 6-in-1 health monitoring features

The MediaTek Sensio is a 6-in-1 smartphone biosensor module with a health monitoring solution which the company says makes it easier to tracking heart rate information, blood pressure trends, peripheral oxygen saturation levels and more.

MediaTek has unveiled its new biosensor module, the MediaTek Sensio. It's a 6-in-1 smartphone biosensor module with a health monitoring solution which the company says makes it easier to tracking heart rate information, blood pressure trends, peripheral oxygen saturation levels and more. The biosensor enables consumers to check and monitor their health on their smartphones and is available as an embedded module in the same. MediaTek Sensio will be available beginning in early 2018. 

Read the complete press release below

MediaTek Inc. today unveiled MediaTek Sensio, the first 6-in-1 smartphone biosensor module. MediaTek Sensio is a powerful advanced health monitoring solution which makes it easy to track heart rate information, blood pressure trends, peripheral oxygen saturation levels and more. Available as an embedded module in smartphones, MediaTek Sensio makes it possible for consumers to quickly check and monitor physical wellness on a device they use most – their smartphone. 

"Giving people the power to access their health information with a smartphone is a major step in making the world a healthier place," said Dr. Yenchi Lee, Sr. Director of Product Marketing for MediaTek's wireless business. "With our MediaTek Sensio biosensor module and software, developers and device makers have a powerful, embedded health monitoring solution that delivers heart and fitness information in around 60 seconds." 

The MediaTek Sensio MT6381 is a comprehensive software and module solution designed specifically to deliver valuable health data, consisting of optical, electrical and processing components. The customizable, compact solution means device manufacturers have the flexibility to embed the MediaTek Sensio module directly into all types of smartphones, versus using multiple sensors. With MediaTek Sensio, manufacturers are able to develop proprietary applications or leverage third-party applications and developer add-ons. 

The module uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) in conjunction with a light sensitive sensor to measure the absorption of red and infrared light by the user's fingertips. By touching a device's sensors and electrodes with your fingertips, MediaTek Sensio creates a closed loop between your heart and the biosensor to measure ECG and PPG waveforms. 

Sensio delivers these six key health data points in about 60 seconds:  

Heart-rate – MediaTek Sensio measures heart beats per minute.  

Heart-Rate Variability – MediaTek Sensio measures variation in the time between heartbeats. 

Blood Pressure Trends – MediaTek Sensio measures blood pressure trends so users can see a range of data over a period of time.

Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) – MediaTek Sensio measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. 

Electrocardiography (ECG) – MediaTek Sensio measures the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time and displays it in graph form.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) – MediaTek Sensio measures the change in volume of blood.

The first 6-in-1 total hardware and software solution, consisting of optical, electrical and processing components, delivers a package of smart health solutions that will help users to be more informed about their fitness levels.  

MediaTek Sensio MT6381 includes: 

Integrated R and IR LEDs for reflective PPG measurement + 1-channel ECG analog front-end

Compact 6.8 mm x 4.93 mm x 1.2 mm OLGA 22-pin package 

Total External BOM: 4 caps + 2 electrodes 

I2C /SPI digital interface  

MediaTek Sensio will be available beginning in early 2018. 

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Source: MediaTek launches new "Sensio" biosensor module with 6-in-1 health monitoring features

Microsoft Surface Phone CONFIRMED: Code hidden in new app hints at foldable smartphone

Surface Phone - Leaked photos, concept images, and renders Thu, May 4, 2017

CASMIR VALERI • BEHANCE

1 of 17

Microsoft CEO hinted it could be 'ultimate mobile device'

Surface Phone rumours are back, thanks to a morsel of code buried in the latest version of Microsoft's Whiteboard desktop app.

Whispers of a premium smartphone designed by Panos Panay and the team behind the likes of the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop had died down following the demise of Windows 10 Mobile.

Of course, Microsoft never confirmed it was building a flagship Windows 10 smartphone.

However, a number of prominent figures had teased the development of a productivity-focused mobile phone.

CEO Satya Nadella raised hopes amongst Microsoft fans earlier this year when he claimed that a smartphone from the company could be "the ultimate mobile device".

And now, code buried within Microsoft's Whiteboard app hints at a foldable Surface Phone.

RYAN SMALLEY • BEHANCE.NET

Code within the new Microsoft software points to a Surface Phone with folding screens

One of the most persistent rumours about the so-called Surface Phone was that the smartphone would include a hinge, enabling owners to increase the size of the display by folding opening the device and increasing productivity.

Code within the Microsoft software points directly to a device with this design.

According to a reliable Windows tipster, known as WalkingCat online, the Whiteboard app includes references to "Journal; app' left and right page references."

This is a clear hint that Microsoft is working on a device with a separate left and right interface.

The Journal app referred to within the code could be designed for said hardware.

WalkingCat detailed another reference within the Whiteboard app.

"This is the accessibility title for the whiteboard application which is a single large canvas for creation with a chrome toolbar at the bottom," the leakster tweeted.

Earlier this year, a user claiming to be a former employee of a Microsoft contractor posted on Reddit, stating the Surface Phone wouldn't launch for at least another year.

The source – who shared the news under the handle zombieacc – said the device would "probably" be released in late 2018 or 2019.

The source went on to claim that despite this delay, Microsoft is not giving up on the Surface Phone, which is set to be one of the most powerful devices launched by the company.

"Nobody knows what they are working on right now, but they don't seem to be giving up," the user added. 

"Some special phone-PC-like Windows 10 ARM device will probably arrive in late 2018 or 2019. I have no more info on that, but I think Windows 10 ARM is much further away than some of us hope."

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Source: Microsoft Surface Phone CONFIRMED: Code hidden in new app hints at foldable smartphone

New technology lets quadriplegics use smart phones and tablets

The Open Sesame app is one of the latest devices in the growing field of technology targeting those living with paralysis as well as other disabled people.

READ MORE SEE LESS

Source: New technology lets quadriplegics use smart phones and tablets

Galaxy S9 price, release date and specs: Samsung flagship might not arrive on shelves until August

THE GALAXY S8 may have arrived on shelves mere months ago, but reports claim that Samsung has already started production of next year's flagship: the Galaxy S9. 

We've done some digging, and this isn't all we know about the so-called Galaxy S9, so we've rounded up everything we know about the handset so far. 

Specs- 5.8in / 6.2in QHD+ Super AMOLED curved display (570ppi / 529ppi)- Android 8.0 'O'- Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (US) / Samsung Exynos (UK)- Cat 18 LTE support (1.2Gbps download speeds)- Display embedded fingerprint scanner- Dual rear-facing camera- Bixby AI assistant with dedicated button- USB-C

Release dateWith reports claiming that Samsung will start production of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus this year, it's likely that the handsets will debut earlier in the year than the Galaxy S8, and hints that Samsung could be planning a launch at next year's MWC.

This has been further fuelled as the displays look set to arrive in November, which puts the final delivery date, based on previous timings, in January.

PriceThere's no word yet on pricing for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. If anything like the S8, expect handsets to fetch around £689 and £779 SIM-free.

Latest news 15/12/17: The Galaxy S9 will be unveiled at MWC in February but won't be available to buy until August, according to according to Korean news outlet The Bell. The report claims that, as the S8 and S8+ continue to sell well, the only reason to bring the launch forward would be to gain an upper hand on Apple. However, Apple won't unveil the iPhone 11 until September, so Samsung reportedly isn't in a rush to start flogging the S9.

Separately, OnLeaks and MySmartPrice have given us a clearer idea of what the Galaxy S9 Plus will look like. Renders (above) show that while the phone will look near identical to its predecessor from the front, it'll sport an upgrade dual-lens camera round the back, alongside a repositioned fingerprint scanner.

14/12/17: Schematic drawings of the Galaxy S9 (below) have appeared on Chinese social network Weibo and 'confirm' that the upcoming flagship will sport a new-look back panel. The drawings show that the phone will feature a vertically-aligned camera, with what looks like a fingerprint scanner underneath and a heart rate monitor on the right-hand side. Around the front, the Galaxy S9 looks set to sport a slimmed-down bezel that should allow for more screen real estate.  

11/12/17: A purported image of the Galaxy S9 (below), obtained by Android Headlines, shows that the Samsung flagship will likely pack a single lens rear-facing camera, despite earlier speculation of a dual lens upgrade.

However, the report notes that the bigger Galaxy S9 Plus will sport a dual lens set-up, similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 8. The image doesn't give much else away but does appear to confirm that the fingerprint scanner will sit underneath the camera sensor, while a sticker on the rear of the phone points to a variant with 64GB internal storage. 

7/12/17: Qualcomm this week revealed the Snapdragon 845 SoC, which is expected to debut inside the Galaxy S9.

The chipmaker is promising more power than before, with the 845's high-power cores offering a 25-30 per cent boost in performance, while the low power cores offer a 15 per cent improvement. Better battery life is also touted, with the Snapdragon 845 promising 30 per cent better battery efficiency, along with faster LTE speeds with Qualcomm's new X20 LTE modem offer Cat 18 speeds of over 1Gbps. The chip will also support the capture of Ultra HD Premium footage at 60fps, and comes with a new  Secure Processing Unit (SPU) that claims to offer "vault-like security."

6/12/17: Samsung has denied rumours that the Galaxy S9 will launch in January, telling the Korea Herald that it's "unlikely" that its next flagship smartphone will make an appearance at next year's CES. However, the firm's long-rumoured Galaxy X could make its debut at the Las Vegas tech show, the SamMobile reporting that Samsung will be showing off the foldable smartphone behind closed doors. 

5/12/17: Samsung has announced that it's started production of the 'world's first' 512GB embedded Universal Flash Storage (eUFS). The chip, Samsung claims, boasts sequential read speeds of 860 MB/s and sequential writes of 255 MB/s, and the firm says it's intended for "next generation" mobile devices, likely a sign that it'll debut inside next year's Galaxy S9. 

4/12/17: Ever-reliable Samsung blog SamMobile is claiming that the Galaxy S9 will be made available in four different colour options: black, gold, blue and purple. Last year, speculation had claimed that the Galaxy S8 would also launch in a purple variant, but this rumour never came to fruition. 

SamMobile notes, however, that there's a "high chance" this isn't the final list of colours, adding that Orchid Gray and Arctic Silver could also turn out to be a part of the lineup.

1/12/17: The Leaker is reporting that while some models of the Galaxy S9 will pack Qualcomm's 10nm Snapdragon 845 processor, others will feature an Exynos 9th series CPU, which will be "15 per cent more efficient" than the Exynos chip found in the Galaxy S8. This, according to the report, comes as Samsung looks to challenge Apple's A11 Bionic CPU, and could make for "staggering" battery life on next year's flagship.

29/11/17: ET News has debunked rumours that the Galaxy S9 will feature souped-up facial recognition technology similar to the iPhone X's Face ID, and has claimed that, instead, it'll feature the same iris scanning tech as the Galaxy S9. Don't expect an under screen fingerprint sensor, either, as the report notes that the S9 will feature a scanner on its rear.

There's some good news, though. ET News adds weight to rumours that next year's Samsung flagship will launch earlier than usual with its claims that mass production will begin in January. 

27/11/17: According to a report at SamMobile, the Galaxy S9 will boast less bezel than its S8 predecessor. A tipster told the website that there could be a 90 per cent screen-to-body ratio on Samsung's upcoming flagship, up from around 84 per cent on the Galaxy S8. According to the report, this will mean that the bottom bezel is almost non-existent, potentially giving Samsung room to squeeze a large screen into the device.

24/11/17: Accessory maker Ghostek has leaked renders (below) of the Galaxy S9 to BGR, confirming the smartphone's full-screen design, dual cameras and rear-facing fingerprint scanner, However, BGR notes that while the renders are "mostly accurate", another source said that the bezel above the phone's display will be a bit narrower, and the speaker at the top looks a bit different.

23/11/17: The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus will make their first public appearance at next year's CES, according to a report at VentureBeat. The report claims, having spoken to someone 'briefed on the company's plans', that Samsung will give a sneak peak of the devices at the January tech show before a full unveiling takes place in March next year.

The report also claims that the S9 will arrive as an iterative update, featuring a 'near identical' design to the last year's Galaxy S8.  What's more, it's tipped to feature the same 5.8in screen as the S8, while the S9 Plus will sport the same 6.2in Infinity display as its predecessor.

Under the hood, both phones are expected to Qualcomm's upcoming 10nm Snapdragon 845 CPU. The S9+ will reportedly offer more RAM (6GB vs 4GB) and a second rear camera, similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 8. Elsewhere, expect both the S9 and S9 Plus to pack a microSD slot, 3.5mm headphone jack and AKG stereo speakers

20/11/17: Samsung plans to equip the Galaxy S9 with souped-up iris and face recognition tools, according to a report at ET News. The report claims that the firm is "developing software to increase the face recognition rate of the Galaxy S9 front iris recognition sensor." Industry insiders claim that these improvements come as Samsung looks to take on Face ID, which Apple is touting as the most secure face-scanning tech on the market today.

17/11/17: New benchmark results for a Samsung smartphone with the model number SM-G960F - widely expected to the global version of the Galaxy S9 - have appeared on the Geekbench website. The handset, which likely will come powered by Samsung's new Exynos 9 Series 9810 processor, scored 2680 on the single-core Geekbench 4 test and a 7787 on the multi-core test. While impressive, this puts the device far behind the iPhone X, which scored a single-core score of 4197 and multi-core score of 10051.

15/11/17:  Just a day after rumours claimed that Apple was planning to launch three new iPhones in 2018, Ice Universe (via ValueWalk) claims that Samsung is going to beat the firm to it by reviving its 'mini'' line next year. The tipster claims that the so-called Galaxy S9 Mini will launch alongside the S9 and S9+, and will tout a 5in(ish) Infinity display. 

14/11/17: SlashLeaks has posted CAD drawings supposedly belonging to the Galaxy S9, which 'confirms' that the smartphone will be a full-screen device with far slimmer bezels than those seen on the Galaxy S8. The image also confirms that the smartphone will sport Samsung's signature curved edges, while a second CAD render shows a vertically-aligned dual camera setup on its backside and a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. However, we'd advise taking this latest leak with a pinch of salt, as reputable tipster @OnLeaks has tweeted that the images are "very likely fake, or at least inaccurate."

9/11/17: South Korea's The Investor reports that, due to "technical difficulties" in developing an under-screen fingerprint sensor, Samsung will stick the scanner on the back of its Galaxy S9 and S9+ handsets. This rumour comes amid speculation that Samsung could ditch the sensor altogether in favour of Face ID-style face recognition technology, but an industry source debunked this to The Investor, saying: "Samsung won't get rid of fingerprint sensors in its handsets, as there many services and platforms run based on the technology."

3/11/17: Samsung has launched a public beta for Experience 9.0, its take on Android Oreo that will show up on 'the next Galaxy flagship', no doubt the Galaxy S9. As of 2 November, some Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus owners in the UK, US and South Korea will get to try out the next-gen UI, which comes complete with a GIF keyboard, a game mode for DeX and more flexible Samsung Cloud file storage

31/10/17: Face ID-style tech isn't the only feature the Galaxy S9 will borrow from the iPhone, as a new leak suggests that Samsung's upcoming flagship will be the first to ditch the headphone jack. TechDroider has posted sketches (below) of the upcoming smartphone, which as well as reigniting speculation that Samsung is testing an under-screen fingerprint sensor, 'confirms'' that the 3.5mm jack will be ditched.

30/10/17: The Galaxy S9's rear panel will "change a lot", according to Twitter tipster Ice Universe, who failed to elaborate on his claims. However, it's expected that Samsung will ditch the rear-facing fingerprint sensor, and there's also talk that the S9 and S9 Plus will feature a dual camera setup similar to that seen on the Galaxy Note 8. 

27/10/17: We've already heard that the Galaxy S9 likely will follow the iPhone X with baked-in Face ID-style tech, and now new rumours are claiming that the firm will also, like Apple, ditch the fingerprint scanner altogether. Reliable tipster Ice Universe has tweeted that he's "100 per cent sure" that the S9 won't have a fingerprint scanner, despite earlier speculation that the handset would be the first to feature a screen-embedded sensor. 

26/10/17: Samsung will reportedly integrate its own neural engine into the Exynos version of the Galaxy S9. The Korea Herald writes that Samsung has ploughed money into DeePhi Tech, a startup from China that specialises in neural network compression technology. Samsung is said to be interested in using this technology, which allows for instantaneous speech recognition, neural language processing and other recognition tasks on smartphones, into its upcoming flagship in a bid to improve its AI capabilities.

13/10/17: While Samsung's current Galaxy S8 and Note 8 both feature built-in iris scanners, rumours claim that Samsung will adopt iPhone X-style Face ID tech on next year's Galaxy S9. A tweet from Ice Universe, via SamMobile, claims that the firm will equip its upcoming flagship with a 3D image mapping sensor, which will be capable of scanning users' faces from all angle. There's no word yet as to whether the firm will also ditch the fingerprint scanner found on current models. 

10/10/17: Russian tipster Elder Murtazin has 'confirmed' previous rumours that Samsung will have first dibs on Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 845 CPU. He said on Twitter (below, er, in Russian) that the entire first production run of the new chipset will be sold to Samsung, with other OEMs getting access to the 845 at a later date. 

4/10/17: In a hardly surprising development, SamMobile has confirmed that there will be two versions of the Galaxy S9. The site discovered two model numbers for the handset - G960FXXU0AQI5 and G965FXXU0AQI5 - the first of which allegedly belongs to the Galaxy S9, and the latter to the Galaxy S9 Plus. The report doesn't reveal much else about the upcoming flagships, but it does add weight to rumours of an early-2018 launch. 

26/9/17: Samsung is reportedly planning to follow in the footsteps of Huawei by developing a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) chip, which could make its debut inside the Galaxy S9. The Korea Herald reports that "[Samsung] is in the middle of developing several types of chips that will be capable of processing massive data from AI applications on devices, eliminating the need to communicate with cloud servers."

19/9/17: The Galaxy S9 could pack a camera sensor capable of shooting 'super slow motion' footage at 1,000fps, according to ETNews. It reports that the camera sensor will use stacked image sensing tech similar to the Sony Xperia XZ1, with the ability to temporarily store captured images on a DRAM chip in one of the layers. Samsung will start mass producing the '3-layered image sensor' in November, according to the report. 

6/9/17: A patent (below), which has recently been approved by Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service, suggests that the Galaxy S9 could feature a cutout at the top of its display, similar to that expected to feature on the iPhone 8. Alternatively, the firm could be planning to introduce a notched display on a new smartphone altogether. 

18/8/17: Just days before Samsung unveils its next flagship, the Galaxy Note 8, a help load of information about the Galaxy S9 has appeared online. The first rumour comes via well-known tipster Elder Murtazin, who claims that the 2018 flagship could feature a 'MotoMod' style modular design, allowing users attach external modules via magnetic pins on the rear of the phone. Separately, a post over at Weibo claims that Samsung will be 'hoarding' 2018's initial supply of Snapdragon 835 chips for ahead of the Galaxy S9 launch.

31/7/17: Samsung has announced the 'industry's first' Cat 18 LTE modem with 6CA support, and it'll probably make its debut inside the Galaxy S9. The modem, set to go into production earlier this year, can reach download speeds of 1.2Mbps, a 20 per cent increase compared to the 1Gbps modem inside the Galaxy S8.

18/7/17: Korean news outlet The Investor is reporting that the Samsung Galaxy S9 will feature the same 5.8in display as the Galaxy S9, while the bigger S9+ will feature the same 6.2in screen as the current Galaxy S8+. The report notes that Samsung 'is likely to attempt again to feature on-screen fingerprint scanning that is missing from the S8 due to technical immaturity.'

28/6/17: Despite recent chatter that Samsung wouldn't offer a Snapdragon variant, new rumours suggest that the Galaxy S9 will use both its own 8nm Exynos chips and an as-yet-unannounced 7nm processor out of Qualcomm. The same report claims that TSMC will make the upcoming Snapdragon chip, rather than Samsung.

23/6/17: Speculation over at Weibo claims that the Galaxy S9 might not come in a Snapdragon variant, with the smartphone instead shipping only with Samsung's own Exynos 9810 processor, complete with CDMA network support. If this rumour is legit, it would mean that Qualcomm and Samsung have reached an agreement in relation to a CDMA patents issue.

12/6/17: The Galaxy S9 will be the first Samsung smartphone to boast new AMOLED screen tech codenamed 'Sunflower', according to a report at Android Headlines. Tech specs haven't yet been confirmed, but it's likely Samsung is looking to improve the display fidelity.

24/5/17: The Bell reports that production of the Galaxy S9 will likely start as soon as this year, with Samsung having settled on the codenames Star and Star 2 for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones. The report also notes that S9 and S9 Plus will have "similar specs" to the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, and won't feature Samsung's foldable display tech. 

21/4/17: Reports claim that Samsung and Qualcomm have started developing the so-called Snapdragon 845 processor - based on the second-gen 10nm manufacturing process - which is tipped to debut inside the Galaxy S9. 

1/4/17: Korean publication The Bell claims that Samsung has  started work on the display panel for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Pus. It doesn't say much else, but notes that the screen will be similar to that found on the Galaxy S8, and will be made available in the same 5.8in and 6.2in sizes. µ 

Source: Galaxy S9 price, release date and specs: Samsung flagship might not arrive on shelves until August

Santa buying you a new smartphone? Be sure to check your contract plan twice

By David Paddon, The Canadian Press on December 14, 2017.

TORONTO – If a new smartphone is on your holiday shopping list, either as a gift or for yourself, there are a lot of possible choices to make – but some decisions about your contract could cost a lot more than you expect.

"The costs can mount up very quickly," said Howard Maker, a federal ombudsman who heads the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services, also known as CCTS.

Prices for some types of Canadian wireless service plans have fallen, but overall they remain high compared with other countries, according to a report commissioned by the federal government and released this week.

The biggest challenge for consumers, experts agree, is predicting data usage and its impact on service cost.

"In terms of estimating personal data usages, it's very difficult because it's abstract," said University of Ottawa assistant law professor Marina Pavlovic.

For example, it's hard to know how many gigabytes of data will be used to show a single YouTube video – let alone how many videos, photos, text messages, emails and internet searches will accumulate during a billing cycle.

Another difficulty, which may be reduced under recent regulatory changes, has been service contracts that allow data to be shared among multiple devices with different users, such as parents and their children.

Maker said extra fees on shared plans has been one of the most common complaints to the CCTS, which oversees the wireless industry's code of conduct on behalf of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

A revision to the wireless code, announced by the CRTC in June, was to address that problem by requiring service providers to notify account holders of overages from all devices and authorize only them to consent to extra fees.

But two of Canada's largest wireless service providers – Rogers and Telus – were unable to comply with that requirement by the Dec. 1 deadline and asked for several additional months to adjust their billing systems.

Pavlovic – one of the lead authors of a research study presented to the CRTC last year, as it was preparing to update the wireless code – believes it still requires consumers to spend too much time and energy to avoid bill shock.

She had wanted the CRTC, which sets the regulations that the CCTS oversees, to require vendors to provide consumers in advance with a check list of all the critical information they'd require to make an informed purchase.

"They did not go with our suggestion," she said.

But Pavlovic noted there are several general precautions that consumers can take, like watching out for promotional features, such as an extra gigabyte of data, that runs out before the contract. Prospective buyers should also be aware that vendors are required to provide a 15-day money-back guarantee, with certain conditions.

Other tips include checking your device settings right away, and reviewing periodically, to shut off any apps or features that require data. Also monitor usage meticulously, especially when a plan or device is new, and adjust data plan up or down as needed.

If your first bill arrives and it doesn't reflect what you expected, Pavlovic said, complain to the service provide and then be ready to go to the CCTS if necessary.

"CCTS has a lot of power to address individual complaints. The process is relatively simple. It's an online form or people can just call in. It's free for consumers. And very often, that's the only leverage you need."

Gary Rabbior, president of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, added that consumers also need to do their homework before engaging with a sales representative – and be willing to take a break to get more information if necessary.

"If they are equipped, ready and focused – and you are not – you are certainly in a position of imbalance," he said.

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Source: Santa buying you a new smartphone? Be sure to check your contract plan twice

Google 2017 Year in Search: iPhone 8, iPhone X are the most searched smartphones

Google on Wednesday released its annual report on the most trending and searched items across categories.

For consumer tech, Google's Year in Search 2017 revealed that the iPhone 8 and iPhone X were the most searched devices. The two phones had generated a lot of buzz even months before official release. iPhone X marks Apple's 10th anniversary of iPhone.

It is worth noting that Apple iPhone 7 dominated the Google Search last year as well. Though it was followed by the elusive Freedom 251, an entry-level smartphone priced at Rs 251. Google's report for consumer tech in 2016 was dominated by Apple with its iPhone SE, iPhone 6S and iPhone 7 Plus also in the list.

This year, the top 10 is dominated by smartphones and only two gaming devices Nintendo Switch and Xbox one made it to the list.

Apple's iPhone 8 and iPhone X captured the top two slots whereas Nintendo Switch, Samsung Galaxy S8, and Xbox One were at the third, fourth and fifth positions.

The sixth position was taken by Nokia's comeback phone, Nokia 3310. Surprisingly, Razer Phone, first smartphone by the gaming company Razer took the seventh spot. Remaining devices in the list are OPPO F5, OnePlus 5 and Nokia 6.

Here's the complete list of top trending consumer tech devices in 2017

Source: Google 2017 Year in Search: iPhone 8, iPhone X are the most searched smartphones

Flipkart New Pinch Days Sale: Top 15 Smartphone Deals!

After a 3-day Big Shopping Days sale last week, Flipkart is again back with their next big sale, the Flipkart New Pinch Days Sale. The sale starts on 15th December and will go on till 17th December.

Flipkart will offer big discounts and deals across various categories including Fashion, Home and Furniture products, TVs, Large Appliances and more. There will be No-cost EMI options with exchange offers. Electronics and accessories will get up to 80% off as well.

There will be also be discounts on some of the best selling smartphones like Google Pixel 2, Lenovo K8 Plus, Galaxy On5, Galaxy J3 Pro and more.

Let us take a look at some of the best deals available.

In addition to existing deals, you can grab an extra 10% discount with HDFC debit and credit cards.

Google Pixel 2 (64GB) Google Pixel 2 64GB

The 64 GB model of Google Pixel 2 will be available for Rs. 39,999/- with a flat discount of Rs 11,001/-, excluding bank offers. The original price of the base model is Rs. 61,000. You can buy the Pixel 2 64GB here!

Google Pixel 2 XL (64GB) Google Pixel 2 XL 64GB

The 64 GB model of Google Pixel 2 XL will be available at Rs. 59,999/- instead of Rs 73,000/-. Users can also get up to Rs. 18,000/- off on exchange of eligible smartphones. You can buy the Pixel 2 XL 64GB here!

LG V20 LG V20

The flagship device from LG will be available at just Rs. 24,990/- during the sale, instead of original price of Rs. 60,000/-. The V20 comes with a large 5.7-inch Quad HD (2560×1440) display along with Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. You can buy the LG V20 here!

Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro

The J3 Pro with 2GB RAM will be available at Rs. 6,990/- instead of Rs. 8,490/-. Equipped with the S Bike mode, the J3 Pro features a 5 inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1.2 GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor under the hood. You can buy the Galaxy J3 Pro here!

Samsung Galaxy On5 Samsung Galaxy On5

The Samsung Galaxy On5 will be available at Rs. 6,490/- during the sale inated of Rs 6,990/-. The device is powered by an 1.3GHz quad-core Exynos 3475 processor with 1.5GB of RAM. You can buy the Galaxy On5 here!

Samsung Galaxy On Max Samsung Galaxy On Max

The 4GB model of Samsung Galaxy On Max will be available for Rs. 14,900/- during the Flipkart New Pinch Days sale instead of Rs. 16,900/-. Under the hood, the device carries a 1.69GHz octa core MediaTek MTK P25 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM with Android Nougat 7.0 on top. It even supports two SIMs. You can buy the Galaxy On Max here!

Lenovo K8 Plus Lenovo K8 Plus

The newly launched Lenovo K8 Plus will be available with a discount of Rs. 2,000/- at Rs. 8,999/- instead of Rs. 10,999/-. It features a 5.2 inch display with a 2.5GHz octa core MediaTek Helio P25 processor inside with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage backed by a massive 4,000mAh battery. You can buy the Lenovo K8 here!

Oppo F3 Plus Oppo F3 Plus

The 6GB RAM model of Oppo F3 Plus will be available at Rs. 17,990/- instead of its original price of Rs 22,990/-. You can also grab an extra Rs. 5000/- off on exchange. The device is powered by a 1.95GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 chipset coupled with 4GB of RAM, backed by a massive 4,000mAh battery. You can buy the Oppo F3 Plus here!

Honor 9i Honor 9i

The bezel-less display and four cameras of the Honor 9i will be available at Rs. 17,999/- during the New Pinch Days sale with bundled bank offer. The device has two rear cameras and two front cameras. You can buy the Honor 9i here!

Moto X4 (4GB) Moto X4

The 4GB model of Moto X4, with dual rear cameras and Snapdragon 630, will be available at a special price of Rs. 20,999/- during the sale, instead of original price of Rs. 22,999/-. You can buy the Moto X4 here!

Moto Z2 Play (4GB) Moto Z2 Play

The Moto Z2 Play will get a flat discount of Rs. 3000/- and will be available for Rs. 24,999/- during the sale. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 626 chipset and features a 5.5 inch full HD display. You can buy the Moto Z2 Play here!

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

The premium flagship device from Xiaomi, the Mi Mix 2 will be available at special price of Rs. 32,999/- during the sale. The device sports a 5.99 inch bezel less display and is powered by Snapdragon 835 chipset. You can buy the Mi Mix 2 here!

HTC U11 HTC U11

The squeezable smartphone HTC U11 will be available at a special price of Rs. 44,999/- during the New Pinch Days sale, which is originally priced at Rs. 53,990/-. You can buy the HTC U11 here!

LG G6 LG G6

The flagship bezel-less smartphone from LG will be available a a special price of Rs. 31,990/- during the New Pinch Days sale. You can buy the LG G6 here!

Samsung Galaxy S7 Samsung Galaxy S7

The yesteryear flagship Samsung Galaxy S7, which still remains one of the best performing handsets in the premium category, will be available at special price of Rs 24,990/- during the sale. You can buy the Galaxy S7 here!

Source: Flipkart New Pinch Days Sale: Top 15 Smartphone Deals!