Why a “delayed” iWatch destroys all competitors

Apple’s wearable device, still code-named "iWatch" here in the days (or weeks) before its official reveal, has been tipped to be released in the year 2015. If Apple announces an iWatch on September 9th, then doesn’t ship the device until January (or any time after that), they’ll drop a bomb on the rest of the "wearables" industry.

Releasing devices almost immediately after announcing them has become Apple’s tradition. Only a few examples exist where Apple had weeks or months between announcement and release, the most recent being the Mac Pro. Apple’s reveal-and-launch method works great - they’ve got a ravenous fanbase that’ll buy what they deem worthy.

Some rival companies - like Motorola - have had weeks between reveal and release. Not because they want to, but because they don’t have the manufacturing clout to get things done with speed.

For the iWatch, this strategy would be intentional, not forced. Here are the
main reasons why a stringing-out of Apple’s iWatch reveal and release makes a whole lot of sense.

1. From @C_Davies (Chris Davies, SlashGear): "No "current gen" iWatch that people might avoid buying if they know it's coming 2015, only rival brands' wearables." Devices that may suffer:

•  LG G Watch R
•  Motorola Moto 360
•  Samsung Gear S
•  Sony Smartwatch 3
•  ASUS ZenWatch
•  Omate X
•  Meta M1
•  Gilt / HP smartwatch
•  OnePlus OneWatch

2. Chris adds: "announcing the iWatch but shipping in 2015 will probably work out; it’s not like Apple risks existing product cannibalization." Apple cannibalized their own iPad line when they released the iPad mini. Intentionally, but still - there’s no risk here.

3. Time to sort out the bugs. With the iPhone, Apple had to keep testing under wraps. They weren’t going to shock the world by doing beta testing in the public beforehand. With the iWatch, things could be a little different.

Smartwatches already exist. Unless Apple pulls out features we’ve never thought of (crossing our fingers they do), they’ll have a device that simply puts together the key features of all other smartwatches into a single, optimized package.

For that, they could bring on Beta testing like they’ve been doing with OS X Yosemite for the past few months. Why not?

Release those iWatch wallpapers early!

After the iWatch is released, things could change. As Woz suggests, the iWatch could make wearables in general "finally viable." Before then, though - watch out.





Source : slashgear.com

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Another purported 'iPhone 6' leak suggests Apple's 4.7" model will have larger 1810mAh battery

In even more evidence that Apple's next iPhone will sport a larger 1,810mAh battery, a new parts leak shows a series of purported "iPhone 6" batteries in shipping trays, complete with legal text and Apple logo.

Photos of the batteries were highlighted on Saturday by Nowhereelse.fr, showing lithium-ion polymer components with a capacity of 1,810mAh. For comparison, the battery in Apple's current flagship iPhone 5s has a capacity of 1,440mAh.

That Apple's next iPhone would feature a larger battery is unsurprising: It's expected that the so-called "iPhone 6" will feature a new form factor with larger display which would be able to cram in an even bigger internal battery.

Saturday's latest parts leak is claimed to be for the 4.7-inch model. Rumors have also suggested that Apple is planning to release a 5.5-inch version of this year's iPhone, a significant increase from the 4-inch display of the iPhone 5s.

The latest leak is actually the second time that such batteries have been shown with a capacity rating of 1,810mAh. The first sign of those parts came in July.

Markings on the latest batteries suggest they were manufactured in June, while the ones pictured back in July were alleged to have been built that same month.

Potentially confusing matters is a yet-unsupported claim made earlier this month that the batteries leaked thus far have only been used for testing purposes. Analyst Sun Chang Xu claimed that Apple in fact plans to cram a 2,100mAh battery into the final shipping product — but thus far, no such parts have been pictured.

Regardless, a larger iPhone would almost certainly feature a larger battery, allowing Apple to boost its longest uptime for a handset yet.

Apple is expected to host an event on Sept. 9 where it is reportedly planning to show off its next-generation iPhone. If the company follows its usual release pattern, the "iPhone 6" would first begin arriving in customers' hands the following Friday, Sept. 19.




Source : appleinsider.com

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Here’s the hands-on BlackBerry Passport video you’ve been clamoring for [Updated]

So how about it, prospective smartphone buyers? Are you still clamoring for the BlackBerry Passport? If so then you’ll definitely want to check out a new video flagged by CrackBerry that was produced by U.K. retailer Carphone Warehouse that gives us a nice little hands-on demonstration of BlackBerry’s upcoming smartphone that will go head-to-head with the iPhone 6 and Galaxy Note 4 this September.

FROM EARLIER: BlackBerry: Consumers are ‘clamoring’ for our new square smartphone.

In the video, Carphone Warehouse shows off some of the Passport’s outside-the-box features such as the new touch-sensitive physical keyboard that essentially doubles as a giant trackball that will let you scroll up and down on pages just by running your fingers over its keys. Carphone Warehouse also praises the Passport’s wide square display, which it points out is terrific for everyone who loves reading and editing spreadsheets on their smartphones. In other words, it looks like the Passport will be a tool, not a toy, that can be used for real work.
The video also shows off the new BlackBerry Assistant feature, which for the first time gives BlackBerry users the same kind of voice-enabled personal assistant that’s long been enjoyed by iPhone fans with Siri and by Android fans with Google Now.

UPDATE: Well, that’s annoying — the video has now been taken private, likely because it showed off key features on a device that hasn’t officially been released yet. If we find another version of the video saved elsewhere, we’ll be sure to post it below.

UPDATE 2: We knew you wouldn’t let us down, Russian YouTube users! Check out a new copy of the video below:




Source : bgr.com

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Galaxy Note 3 mini (or Neo) brings line back a couple steps

A device with the (code) name Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo has appeared this week with specifications and a look that suggest Samsung is going back to basics. It’s like a combination of the Galaxy Note 3’s pen and back panel and he rest coming from the original Galaxy Note - even the camera and the LED flash are in the same place. Inspect these leaked images while you can.

You’ll find this device appearing through a leaked set of images from SamMobile where they suggest this device may be revealed in full at Mobile World Congress 2014. We’re not even a day out of CES 2014 and it’s time to move on, it would seem.

This device is tipped as working with a 5.55-inch display with Super AMOLED technology and 1280 x 720 pixels across it. That’s 265PPI, if you’re counting, and it’s attached to an 8-megapixel camera as well. Supposing you’ve not already agreed that this machine is made up of the parts of the original Galaxy Note, you’ll love it when it’s revealed that you’ve got a 3100mAh battery and what’s likely to be some sort of Qualcomm Snapdragon processor due to its ability to roll with 4G LTE.

Inside you can work with a microSD for memory expansion, or you can stick with this machine’s 16GB of internal storage right out of the box. It’s got four CPU cores and a couple of GPU cores at least. THere’s NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and an IR-blaster in this machine as well - and USB 3.0 for good measure.

UPDATE: It would now appear that we’re actually working with the Samsung-made Exynos 5260 hexa-core processor in this device. That means “Heterogeneous Multi-Processing”, or HMP, which also means the ability to roll with 6 cores at once. Strange stuff indeed.

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Sony Xperia Z1 Compact hands-on

In the announcement of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, the company made a rather pointed suggestion - our best doesn't have to be our biggest. Working specifications that closely match those of the Sony Xperia Z1, this miniature device works with high-end processing power and a 20+ megapixel camera. Right next to the Xperia Z1, the Xperia Z1 Compact also looks like it's working with a display that's just as brilliant - as you'll see below.

This device has impressed us in a way that's not only based in the device itself, but in the idea that it'll open up a new trend for smaller smartphones through 2014. While users have been asking for smaller devices - like the Galaxy S4 Mini and HTC One Mini - to work with top-level power for some time, Sony delivers. They deliver in a variety of colors to boot!

This machine works with the ability to pair with the Sony Smartwatch 2, it's got a matching set of peripherals if you wish, and it's made with metal and glass. While we're still not too impressed with the fingerprint-magnet this device appears as right out of the box, we still come away impressed with the overall feel of the machine.

Below you'll find a number of example shots from this smartphone's back-facing camera. While you could keep in mind that we might not be working with final software here if you want, the photos already look pretty superior here before release.

When you've got glass and metal making up the vast majority of the build of a smartphone, the smartphone feels expensive. Better than expensive, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact feels like the company that made it took the time to perfect it, sculpting it to their own best-possible look and feel for release later this year. We'll be waiting to trade in our Z and Z1 right out the gate - not because they aren't awesome, but because this size is just about as ideal for our palm as it gets.

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HTC One Max goes gold: 'Amber Gold'

Welcome to the next black-bordered HTC One and HTC One Max, working with what HTC describes as the “Amber Gold” edition of the devices. Here we’ve got a general color-change along the same lines as the last several done over the year, released in a limited edition in the East. These devices seem, for now, to be coming with the same innards as their originals as well.

The HTC One Amber Gold edition and the HTC One Max Amber Gold Edition will not likely be appearing in the United States. In fact it’s more likely that we’d see the HTC One 2, or whatever HTC plans on calling the next generation, before we see gold.

The interesting bit in this color scheme is the fact that it’s got a black border. While the original HTC One, Max, and Mini worked with white borders, each new edition of the machines has worked with black. This includes the black front/back, blue (both Vivid Blue and Electric Blue), and Glamour Red.

There’s also a David Koma special edition unit out there with a couple of odd black-on-silver pushes you can see here. This version works with the white plastic border once again.

A couple of new golds join this bit, one of them being delivered in the “Gold HTC One x MOBO” edition earlier this year. This piece of equipment worked with the 18th anniversary of the MOBO awards and made with 18-carat gold. These machines were given to winders of the “Best Newcomer Award” for the MOBO Awards and were given away as such.

Finally there’s the HTC One Brilliant Gold unit - that’s the one you’re seeing at the head of this article as well. This gold isn’t 18-carat, but it’s certainly gold over the original silver.

If you had the opportunity to get one of these colors in the carrier of your choice, which one would you roll with?




VIA: CTech

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Twitter stock breaks records over 3 days due to mobile ad prospects

Twitter's stock price rose to record levels three times in as many days. It closed today at $69.96, rising 8.4% over yesterday. In turn, the price closed 7.5% higher yesterday than the day before. The social media company's market valuation now stands at nearly $40 billion.

In all, Twitter's stock price has risen by 169% since the company held its initial public offering Nov. 6, when it opened at $26 a share. It immediately rose 73%. The IPO was one of the most closely watched in recent memory, drawing comparisons to Facebook's IPO.

Today's and yesterday's surge are due to investor belief in Twitter's advertising prospects. The company has plenty of room for ad growth, some analysts say. Cross-advertising programs with TV programs and networks are among the more enticing plans.

Not all analysts are on-board with the stock price. Some of them say the kissing-$70 price is bloated. Wunderlich Securities Inc. analyst Blake Harper pegs the real value of a Twitter share at $34. He cites a lack of a first earnings report post-going-public as his reasoning for more caution.




SOURCE: Bloomberg

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AT&T and Nokia release Lumia Black update for Lumia 1020; Lumia 1520 also gets new firmware

This week the most powerful camera phone on the planet - so to speak - has recieved a software update from Microsoft. The Nokia Lumia 1020 with its beastly back-facing camera will be rolling with Lumia Black, the newest in Nokia-based Windows Phone software - as soon as this afternoon for users across the United States. The firmware piece of this equation appears - for now - to be hitting the Lumia 1520.

While we're expecting additional updates to hit soon, for now we're seeing Lumia Black hitting the 1020 and a bit of firmware action for the Lumia 1520. Both of these devices are seeing this update series appearing over-the-air (aka OTA).

The Nokia Lumia 1520 is decidedly less exciting than the 1020 as it just includes "general performance and usability improvements". Users will be able to hit this update with ease by heading to Settings - Phone Update - Check of Updates - and make sure you're working with Wi-fi while you're on it.

As for the 1020 Lumia Black update you'll find a whole batch of upgrades ready for action. These include OS Build 10517 as well as the following bits and pieces:

    - Daily delighters: lock the screen rotation, close apps easily in the app switcher, use custom ringtones for messaging and mail, among other things
    - Update to Nokia Camera that combines Nokia Smart Camera and Nokia Pro Camera. Available from the Store app.
    - Get the latest version of Nokia Glance Screen – see quick status notifications, for example, about calendar and messaging events on the lock screen.
    - Bluetooth 4.0 LE – preserve energy while staying connected via Bluetooth
    - Get enriched camera performance, enhanced battery monitoring, and other stability and usability improvements

Have a peek at our full Nokia Lumia 1020 review and dive down the rabbit hole with our more recent review of the Nokia Lumia 1520. It's time to go big!








VIA: WPCentral

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Inbox Cube for iOS enlivens email with customizability

The team behind Inbox Cube' are not satisfied with the way email looks and functions on mobile devices. They’ve decided to create' their own unique interface, one that centers not just on the user’s ability to customize' the way they recieve emails, but in the way the whole' experience is unleashed. Here the folks at Inbox Cube' aim to help users engage in conversation in a way that’s long since become' entirely rare in the email universe.

There are three different kinds of “cubes” in the Inbox' Cube user interface. The first is an email cube  here you’ve got the basics, including text, images, and the whole lot. There’s another cube called the “attachment cube”. This cube is just the content plain and simple.

Finally there’s the contacts' cube here you’ll have a look that’s rather similar to the other two cubes, but makes your' searches for those you want to speak with a whole lot more engaging. This UI allows for different types of views' one or two columns, for starters – and zooming' is encouraged.

This app works with Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo mail, AOL email, and IMAP accounts. You’ll be able to connect' more than one account to the same Inbox Cube app, and the app is available' on iOS and only iOS for now. Have a peek at this app right' this minute and let us know what you think.




Source : definefreak

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LG Enact Android slider keeps Verizon in the QWERTY business

It’s not as if the LG Enact was the last device on the planet to offer a full physical keyboard with Android software – though the most recent entry with Verizon was the BlackBerry Q10. This LG device brings a sliding front panel that reveals a full QWERTY keyboard much in the same way that the Motorola DROID 4 did back in February of 2012. There’s also a near-identical device by the name of LG Mach that was released earlier this year – not that you’d need to know that if you’re sticking with Verizon.

This device works with many of the LG-made software innovations that’ve appeared on higher-end Android devices from the manufacturer over the past several months. You’ll be working with QSlide 2.0, meaning you can have two apps open at once, and QuickMemo – a note-taking service that also works over screenshots. LG has also added what’s called Q Translator, able to use this device’s camera to scan and translate text in 44 different languages.

On its back, the LG Enact works with a 5 megapixel camera able to record 1080p HD video, while a front-facing VGA camera works with LG’s “Cheese Shutter” – saying, “Cheese” takes a photo. You’ve got other software features for the camera added by LG like HDR, Panorama, VR Panorama, Beauty Shot, and Continuous Shot.

Up front the LG Enact features a 4-inch WVGA display at 800 x 400 pixels with a Corning Gorilla Glass pane to protect it. The slide-out keyboard features 5 rows of keys and dedicated keys for Google Search as well as Write & Share. Inside you’ll find a 2460mAh battery that should easily keep your usage time up to a full day.

This device is launching with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus dual-core processor at 1.2GHz clock speed and you’ll be rolling with 8GB of internal storage. There is a microSD card slot – if you’re worried about the tiny built-in storage – that you can use to expand your space by another 64GB. LG Enact is available starting this week for $19.99 USD on a two-year contract.

VIA: Verizon

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Plantronics RIG headset offers a wired mixer for gaming and mobile blend

Plantronics has unveiled its new RIG line of products, the first of which – the RIG headset - allows gamers to stay connected to their smartphone while playing, offering a wired mixer and the ability to toggle without issue between a video game console and “the real world.” The headset is slated for launch sometime later this fall, though a specific date hasn’t yet been provided, with the price set at $129 USD/EUR.

The Plantronics RIG headset includes 40mm speaker drivers, offering audio quality that the company says is often found only in “professional-grade products.” The mixer is wired and allows users to toggle between a video game console and tablet or smartphone by hitting the paddle – one can receive a call, for example, without having to pause the game they’re on and without having to remove the headset.

There are both boom and inline mics, with the boom microphone being a noise-cancelling bit that can be swapped for the less obvious inline microphone. The inline mic includes controls for muting and calls. Three EQ profiles are available: Pure, Intensify, and Seismic, with users being able to experience “epic bass.” Finally, compatibility includes Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and Mac, and mobile devices.


As far as design goes, Plantronics says they used a street-style industrial design that aims to be as stylish on the street (or anywhere outside the gaming setup) as it does plugged into the console. The ear cushions and headband are designed for long-duration gaming without discomfort on the head or the ears.

Plantronics’ head of gaming Chuck Frizelle said: “The RIG headset marks the start of the next generation of gaming audio solutions, crafted for demanding gamers and their dynamic lifestyle. Building on our expertise in acoustics, industrial design, and communications, RIG delivers unique benefits for gamers. RIG immerses gamers in their virtual world while keeping them seamlessly connected to the real one.”

SOURCE: BusinessWire, Plantronics

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Galaxy Note III ship date tipped to quickly follow September reveal

It’s not often you get as much information on a top-tier release like Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note III well before its official reveal, but what we’ve got in abundance for this device is just that: essentially everything. The Galaxy Note III has been tipped this week by sources speaking with SamMobile for a launch and ship date immediately – or not long after – its reveal. The Samsung September 4th event the same week of IFA 2013 is all but confirmed to be the home of the first information on the device itself.

The Samsung Galaxy Note III has been rumored to carry a set of specifications that place it immediately in line after its predecessor from 2012. This massive device appears to continue getting bigger, working with a 5.7-inch display and 1020 x 1920 pixels across its face. Under the hood it’s been suggested that the Galaxy Note III will work with two different configurations: one for international audiences, the other for inside the USA.

The international version of the Galaxy Note III is said to work with Samsung’s newest Exynos “Octa” processor with two sets of four CPU cores. Meanwhile the USA-based iteration of the device will be launched with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, one that’ll likely make use of Qualcomm’s newest innovations in multi-carrier LTE support.


Inside you’ll also find 3GB of RAM, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, and around the back a 13-megapixel camera the likes of which you may have already experienced on the Samsung Galaxy S 4. It’s also been suggested that there will no longer be a 16GB iteration of the Galaxy Note in this III series, the smallest version coming with 32GB of built-in data storage (and a microSD card slot for 64GB more, of course).

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SanDisk Connect arrives for wireless storage and streaming to mobile devices

Wireless storage and streaming solutions have been around for awhile, and most of the big storage companies have out their own version of wireless storage, mostly in the form of a hard drive that you can connect to wirelessly if you’re short on space on your mobile device. However, SanDisk is implementing a different method that includes nothing but a flash drive.

SanDisk’s new Connect line of devices aims to help you out with transferring files between your computer and mobile device, whether it’d be a smartphone or tablet. There are two products in the Connect line. First, there’s a flash drive that crams in up to 32GB of storage, as well as WiFi and a microSD card slot. Just plug it into your computer and you can transfer files to it. Then, your mobile device can connect directly to the flash drive to obtain the files, or vice versa.

There’s also a larger Roku-sized SanDisk Connect box that comes with a full-size SD card slot and a twice the battery life of the flash drive. However, it only tops out at 32GB, but the added SD card slot can bump that up quite a bit. The box may be a better option for those who want to quickly transfer photos from their camera to their devices quickly and easily.

The only catch is that you’ll have to use SanDisk’s own mobile apps in order to transfer files to and from devices using the flash drive or box. This can either be fine or really bad depending on how easy the app is to use, but seeing as how you’ll be forced to use a specific app, we’re guessing that’s something that users will have to live with.

As for pricing and availability, the flash drive will start at $49 for the 16GB, with the 32GB version costing $59. The larger box will cost $79 and only comes in a 32GB model. The 32GB flash drive seems like the better deal to us, but we’re letting you be the judge of that. SanDisk says that the Connect line will be available sometime next month.








SOURCE: SanDisk

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SIM card hack possible with a couple of text messages

Almost every phone in existence uses a SIM card, especially GSM-based devices. It turns out, that while SIM cards are encrypted, they can easily be breached with just a couple of text messages, and it apparently takes only a couple of minutes. The hack allows someone to listen in on calls and steal mobile data from a phone.

The hack consists of cloaking a text message so that it looks like it was sent from the carrier, and about a quarter of the time, an error message is sent back containing information about the SIM card that can be used to break into it. After that, another text can be sent that officially finishes the job, allowing hackers into your phone.

Security researcher Karsten Nohl of Security Research Labs discovered the exploit and says that up to 750 million handsets could be vulnerable to the hack. However, he notes that only SIM cards using older data encryption methods are at risk, while SIM cards using the newer Triple DES encryption are safe.

Out of all the mobile phones littering the world, about half of them use SIM cards that still use the older DES encryption. However, the exploit probably won’t last for long, since Nohl reported the vulnerability to the GSM Association, and they plan to speak with all carriers about fixing the exploit.

Nohl also plans to reveal his findings during the upcoming Black Hat conference. Don’t worry too much, though, as Nohl believes cyber criminals haven’t figured out the hack, and it would most likely take around six months for someone to figure it out. By then, carriers are hoping to have already patched the vulnerability.






VIA: New York Times

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