Tag - Smartphone
Google reportedly gearing up to produce own smartphone this year
Google is allegedly working on producing a new smartphone it will produce itself, according to a report, with the first release potentially arriving at the end of this year. Rather than relying on a third-party manufacturer to actually produce the devices, a report claims Google is intending to go into hardware production itself, giving it increased control over the overall experience consumers will get to have with the mobile device, instead of just the software that the existing Nexus device range uses.
Crowdfunding Critic: Driwe - Expandable Memory for iPhone
If you're anything like I am, your iPhone becomes a catch-all for your busy life. It hoards music, pictures, apps you'll never use but don't want to delete because you paid for them. The issue is that iPhones, or at least mine, don't boast infinite storage. That's where this next startup has decided to help, with a device designed to help you manage the storage on your smartphone or tablet. Today, Crowdfunding Critic takes aim at Driwe.
Microsoft moves to exit consumer smartphone business
Following the recent sale of the Nokia name and feature phone business to manufacturing partner Foxconn, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has announced the layoffs of 1,850 employees -- mostly former Nokia workers in Finland -- and the "streamlining" of the company's smartphone business, which will involve "focusing our efforts where we have differentiation -- with enterprises that value security, manageability, and our Continuum capability," according to a release.
Hands On: Pasonomi VR Headset
Not everyone can afford an expensive, immersive VR headset like the HTC Vive, but most of us have smartphones at this point, and there are more and more smartphone-compatible headsets being added to the market every day. If you've been curious about experimenting with VR, you can get a taste of what it's like by trying out the iPhone and Android compatible Pasonomi VR Headset, designed to work with the influx of VR apps available on the App Store.
Analysts note reduced growth in Chinese iPhone sales before February
The rate of growth of iOS usage in China seemingly slowed at the start of the year, according to an analyst group, though it is suggested this may be more from consumer shopping habits than device popularity. KantarWorldPanel claims growth in a three-month period ending in January of this year reduced down to a rate slower than observed in the market during late 2014, though it still remains the most popular brand in China, holding on to a 25 percent share of total smartphone sales in the region during the quarter.
Briefly: Microsoft 'Surface' phone confirmed, Samsung Galaxy S7 leaks
Microsoft is working on the smartphone equivalent of its Surface tablet range, according to comments made by chief marketing officer Chris Capossela. Speaking in an interview, Capossela confirmed the company is trying to create a "breakthrough" smartphone, one that is the "spiritual equivalent" of the Surface product line, and one that could potentially increase the use of Windows on mobile devices.
Hands On: iHome iBT29 Bluetooth Color-Changing Alarm Clock
While most of us have eschewed alarm clocks in favor of our smartphones, there's still a lot of reasons to keep an alarm clock in your room. For one thing, it's a lot harder to check your Facebook profile at 3:23AM on an alarm clock, which might be reason enough to leave your iPhone out of the bedroom all together. If you're in the market for an alarm clock, we found one that we think is pretty cool: the iHome iBT29, a Bluetooth color-changing alarm clock.
Samsung tries tempting iPhone owners with Galaxy smartphone trial
Samsung is offering a trial of its smartphones to owners of the iPhone, in an attempt to acquire more sales by convincing iOS users to switch. Open to only iPhone owners in the United States, the "Ultimate Test Drive" promotion provides access to the user's choice of either a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or a Galaxy S6 Edge+ smartphone for a 30-day period, with Samsung claiming there to be "no obligation" to acquire the borrowed device after the trial.
Hands On: Griffin LightRunner Illuminated Universal Armband
If you're like us, you might remember the all-too-real struggles of trying to wear a Walkman or, God forbid, a Discman while working out. There was never a moment where you didn't feel the bulky weight of now-antiquated technology bouncing at your waistband, threatening to crash to the ground and put you out a cool $40, to say nothing of interrupted music with a too-heavy step. The threat in the smartphone era is that if our MP3 player or Smartphone goes crashing to the ground, you run the risk of being out somewhere far closer to a cool $400, rather than $40. That's why we're here to show you the Griffin LightRunner, an armband designed to keep both you and your electronics safe.
Meizu MX4 running Ubuntu launching in Europe tomorrow for €300
A smartphone running Ubuntu is being made available to potential users in Europe, on an invitation-only basis. The Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition, a repackaged version of the existing Meizu MX4 running the titular operating system, is a device with a 5.36-inch, 1920x1152-resolution, Gorilla Glass 3-protected display, backed by a customized octa-core Mediatek processor with PowerVR G6200 GPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.
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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
