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Showing posts from August, 2018

Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Apple iPhone X: get ready to spend big!

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Ah, the Xperia XZ3! Sony's new flagship is on course to hit planet Earth this October, and so consumers will need to know whether it's going to be a worthy alternative to Apple's iPhone X! Well, by the time October rolls around, Apple will have brand new models on the shelves, but let's not get that technical, shall we? The iPhone X is what we have now, and we can at least use this opportunity to see how Sony's brand spanking new flagship compares to the market leader. Is good old Sony still in the game, or is it not? Only one of these can ever end up in an art galleryAnd it's not ... #Google #Android #Smartphones #OS #News @ndrdnws #ndrdnws #AndroidNews

ZTE Axon 9 Pro hands-on: A very pleasant surprise

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The other day, ZTE announced its comeback at IFA 2018 in Berlin, announcing that it has fully recovered from the aftereffects imposed by the US ban and is ready to boldly look ahead at the future. To further show that it is ready to evolve as a company and a business entity, ZTE unraveled its brand new flagship device at the major trade show, the ZTE Axon 9 Pro, which feels like a step in the right direction, a device that ZTE really needed to add to its portfolio at this exact moment. We had the pleasure of toying with the Axon 9 ... #Google #Android #Smartphones #OS #News @ndrdnws #ndrdnws #AndroidNews

Huawei Mate 20 lite hands-on preview: class, style and fun, but a few compromises too

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The Huawei Mate 20 is not even here yet, but we already have the Huawei Mate 20 lite, a brand new device that shows Huawei can make some incredibly good looking devices to heat up competition in the mid-range phone segment. The Mate 20 lite is made of glass and feels exquisite. It has a dash of Mate styling with the glass back and the vertical accent around the cameras, and it feels slim, elegant, premium. Apart from the usual Huawei spicing in the interface with the custom EMUI skin, you have some unique features like Huawei's own animoji. Yes, animoji ... #Google #Android #Smartphones #OS #News @ndrdnws #ndrdnws #AndroidNews

Moviepass Executive Resigns Over Corporate Management Issues

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The recent troubles that Moviepass has had are well documents. And that is forcing many people to cancel their Moviepass account, and now it's starting to force some executives to leave the company. Moviepass' parent company, Helios and Matheson Analytics, lost a member of its board of directors – Carl Schramm – who decided to resign citing corporate management issues. Schramm wrote a letter to Ted Farnsworth, who is the CEO of Helios and Matheson Analytics, dated August 25, highlighting his concerns for the company. Noting that "I have objected to the manner in which a number of business decisions have been presented to the Board of Directors by management, without sufficient time for the Board to examine complex documents, to review significant transactions, or to discuss how the proposed actions fit into the Company's strategic plan." Schramm continues to write that management has made plenty of "important corporate decisions and executed significant tr...

Qualcomm announces new aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec

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Qualcomm's Bluetooth codecs are quite impressive. Whether they're better than the competition is another story, but they're the most popular and well supported. Currently there are two: aptX HD and aptX Low Latency. One is for quality while the other prevents the delay that plagues Bluetooth. Today Qualcomm has announced a new codec that combines the two. aptX Adaptive can do both: you can get "better than CD" quality or lower latency depending on what you require and how good your connection is. When you're listening to music, you'll get the best quality possible. When watching a movie, latency will be prioritized. The max bitrate is lower than aptX HD but Qualcomm claims that the quality is just as good thanks to improvements in compression. The codec will make this determination during use to guarantee the best possible experience. Current devices that support aptX HD should be able to take advantage of aptX Adaptive if they're on Android Pie , ...

Google app 8.19 resumes work on customizable Search bar, links to podcast RSS feed [APK Insight]

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The Google app this week began rolling out bilingual support for Assistant  and Routines to more countries , while the last beta revealed a redesign of Assistant settings . Version 8.19 today features new work on the customizable Search bar spotted last year, as well as two shortcuts in Google Podcasts. Nintendo Switch About APK Insight : In this 'APK Insight' post, we've decompiled the latest version of an application that Google uploaded to the Play Store. When we decompile these files (called APKs, in the case of Android apps), we're able to see various lines of code within that hint at possible future features. Keep in mind that Google may or may not ever ship these features, and our interpretation of what they are may be imperfect. We'll try to enable those that are closer to being finished, however, to show you how they'll look in the case that they do ship. With that in mind, read on. Google Podcasts: "Visit website...

Find your perfect match-ress. Take the Helix Sleep quiz and save up to $150 off this Labor Day

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Find your perfect match-ress. Take the Helix Sleep quiz and save up to $150 off this Labor Day Match up with a mattress that was designed specifically for your sleeping preferences In a perpetually stimulating world full of smartphones, computer screens, and now VR, people are turning to caffeinated beverages, nootropics, and meditation sessions to recharge their energy reserves.  But there is simply no replacement for a good old fashioned night's sleep – and a high quality mattress is the foundation to achieve that healthy lifestyle. That's the core concept behind Helix Sleep , a rising star and unique player in the mattress startup community. Helix matches each type of sleeper to his or her ideal mattress to provide the most comfortable bed possible. Prefer your mattress soft or firm? Sleep on you side, back or stomach? Helix has a mattress designed for every individual. This Labor Day weekend, Helix is offering a rare and hefty $100-$150 off ...

Get a fresh look with a new band for you Samsung Gear S2

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Give your Samsung Gear S2 a fresh look with a new wristband! The Samsung Gear S2 is over two years old now, but it's still a great smartwatch for. You may be thinking it's time to upgrade to the new Galaxy Watch or an Wear OS option but if you're really still loving the Gear S2 — or don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an upgrade — you can make your watch feel brand new without breaking the bank. The price of replacement bands has dropped so low that you can completely revamp the look of your Gear S2 for as low as $10. Let's dive in on the best replacement bands for the Gear S2! V_moro Getwow Moretek MoKo FanTEK V_moro watch bands $9 at Amazon If you're a fan of giving your technology a bit of personal flair, then the V_moro watch bands should certainly pique your interest. There are over a dozen different silicone bands available in different solid colors, as well as a four-pack of floral and vintage designs. The ind...

LG Bringing webOS To Vehicles, Robots, Smart Home Gadgets – IFA 2018

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LG Electronics is looking to expand its webOS beyond smart television sets and bring it to more platforms, including other automated consumer electronics, as well as robots and vehicles. The company announced its latest project on Friday as part of its IFA 2018 appearance, having confirmed it partnered with Luxoft Holding on the endeavor. The specifics of Luxoft's role in the effort are yet to be disclosed, though the company boasts of a lengthy track record of custom software deployment, with that expertise presumably being one of the main reasons why the South Korean firm decided to enlist its help. To date, LG pre-installed webOS on over 60 million of its own smart television sets and digital signage, with the latter product category being a diversification avenue that the manufacturer is adamant to continue exploring moving forward. Whether Luxoft ends up assisting it with TV and signage display deployment remains to be seen but such a collaboration hasn't been mentione...

Google & Mastercard’s Secret Partnership Shares Credit Card Data

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Google and Mastercard reportedly struck a secret deal, that allows Mastercard to share credit card data with Google. The reason for this is for Google to help advertisers figure out how many sales actually came from the ads they have run on Google. While Google can already show them conversion rates – how many clicked on the ad, versus how many saw the ad – this credit card data deal allows the advertisers to get even more information. This partnership is probably not surprising to many people, and Mastercard is not sharing people's personal information, just their purchases. But the fact that this deal was never publicly announced, is going to raise some red flags on privacy concerns. Google already collects so much data from everyone on the internet and now it's getting your purchases – both online and in retail stores – that it can share with its Adwords users. This deal, apparently, had been in the works for nearly four years before it ultimately was set up last year – ...

Harman Kardon unveils more Google Assistant speakers, plus new soundbars with Chromecast built in

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August 30, 2018 Introducing the Citation Series: Beautifully Designed, Smart, Configurable Home Audio Speaker System from Harman Kardon Citation speakers combine superior sound performance and breathtaking design with state-of-the-art control and streaming services IFA 2018, BERLIN – August 30, 2018 – Today's discerning audio consumer is seeking sophisticated design and innovative technology that seamlessly blends with their daily lives. When it comes to a multi-room speaker system that means: ease of use, designs that fit every room in the home, superior sound, and access to the latest technologies and streaming services. For more than 65 years, Harman Kardon has been the leading audio engineering and design expert, captivating ears and hearts throughout generations, and the Harman Kardon Citation Series represents its latest feat. Combining an innovative acoustic design delivering remarkable audio quality with cutting-edge technologies - including the Google Assista...

U.S. jury finds Huawei infringed on 4G LTE patents; company fined $10.5 million

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According to a publication focused on intellectual property, Huawei has been ordered to pay $10.5 million by a U.S. jury for infringing on 4G LTE patents. The damages will be paid to PanOptis, the company that took Huawei to court for illegally using five standard-essential patents without licensing them. Such patents are those that cover inventions that are essential to a particular product, in this case, 4G LTE handsets. As a result, these patents are supposed to be offered on terms that are fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND). According to court filings, ... #Google #Android #Smartphones #OS #News @ndrdnws #ndrdnws #AndroidNews

Huawei gives P20 Pro four new colors, including two leather options

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It has been a few months since Huawei introduced the P20 Pro with its eye-catching color options, and now the company is back with four new hues. Huawei has officially introduced four new color options for the P20 Pro, giving it a nice boost just before it officially announces its newest flagship smartphone  in October . With the P20 Pro, Huawei introduced a pair of color gradient schemes, Twilight and Pink Gold. They made the smartphone standout in a sea of standard colors. Now Huawei is welcoming two new gradient color options. The first is the most striking to date, called Morpho Aurora. Huawei says this is named after the morpho butterfly, and it has striking colors to match. Depending on the angle you're looking at the phone, it will look like a black, albeit shiny, handset. However, get it in the right light and the colors will explode across the surface. You can see the same purple and blue shade that's present in the Twilight variant of the P20 Pro, but there ...

Huawei Mate 20 Lite announced with 6.3-inch display for £379

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Huawei has had a busy day at IFA. First, the company announced its newest high-end mobile processor, the Kirin 980, and confirmed it would be packed into the future flagship smartphone, the Mate 20. After that, it unveiled its first smart speaker, the AI Cube (which is not actually a cube at all). And it also managed to find time to actually announce a smartphone, too. This is where the Mate 20 Lite comes in, featuring a mid-range design and spec sheet that aims to keep the price tag down. The Mate 20 Lite arrives in the United Kingdom beginning on September 15, and the SIM-free model is priced at £379. The Mate 20 Lite features a 6.3-inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 1080×2340. There is Huawei's Kirin 710 processor inside, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage. The microSD card slot can support expandable storage up to 256GB if you need the extra space. There is a 3750mAh battery inside, and the Mate 20 Lite is running Android 8.1 Oreo under Huawei...

The Huawei AI Cube features Amazon Alexa and a 4G router

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Smart speakers are starting to become a safe bet for companies, even if Google and Amazon are well ahead of the pack and don't seem to be slipping back anytime soon. Of course, it helps when Amazon and Google can get their digital assistants on a variety of different devices, even smart speakers they don't make themselves. Take, for example, Huawei 's AI Cube, which features Amazon Alexa on board. The first thing you'll probably notice is that it looks like a Google Home, if a Home were to get elongated into a cone. You will probably also notice that the AI Cube is not actually a cube. This will probably lead to some fun interactions in people's homes when they say, "Yeah, this is the AI Cube. I know. It isn't a cube." But maybe that's Huawei's plan. As far as features and specs go, Huawei managed to add at least one surprise in here. The AI Cube does feature Amazon Alexa, so that digital assistant will handle the voice-operated com...

Deal: Get a new Samsung DeX Pad for only $38 shipped

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The Samsung DeX Pad may seem like a silly thing or the coolest thing ever, depending on what you do with your phone. If you think it's a cool gadget, well today you're in luck: we have a Samsung DeX Pad deal that gets you a brand new unit shipped directly from Samsung for only $38 . The Samsung DeX Pad deal likely won't last long, so if you're at all interested in this we suggest you head there now ! For those of you who don't know what a DeX Pad is, we'll fill you in. When you hook up your compatible Samsung smartphone to the DeX Pad it enables you to have a desktop experience using your smartphone as a kind of PC. The DeX Pad has ports that enable you to attach monitors, a mouse, a keyboard, etc., and the Samsung DeX experience gives you a very familiar PC-like workstation. Editor's Pick Using Samsung DeX as a PC for a week – can you really leave your computer behind? Maybe I'm a tech masochist with a passion for frustration...

Forget GoPro, the XtremePro Sports Cam is only $44.99

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If you are looking to buy a GoPro , the cheapest 4K camera is a whopping $300, or $400 for the latest model. Even if that's within your budget, do you want to carry something so valuable on your all-action adventures? That also assumes that you accept it's good value for money . You might not think so when you learn the XtremePro Sports Cam is currently on offer for only $44.99 . Whether you're hurtling down a mountain, swimming with sharks, or throwing yourself off a cliff in the name of recreation, this sports camera will record it all in crystal clear 4K Ultra HD quality . The XtremePro Sports Cam comes with so many mounts that you can attach it to virtually anything . That includes your car, your bike, your helmet, or various parts of your anatomy. You can make sure all your Facebook friends are in no doubt about how much fun you're having , using this camera. The built-in Wi-Fi ensures that you can live-stream all the action to your smartphone or ...

Huawei fined $10.5 million in America for 4G LTE patent infringement

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A Texas jury just found Huawei guilty of infringing on LTE technology patents with some smartphones. The jury found that Huawei should pay Texas company PanOptis — the owner of the patents — $10.5 million. Huawei has yet to respond to the ruling, but will likely appeal. Although Huawei smartphones barely have a presence at all in America, that didn't stop a Texas jury from finding the Chinese company guilty of patent infringement related to 4G LTE technology, via World IP Review . PanOptis — the Texas company that owns the LTE patents in question — claims that it tried unsuccessfully nearly a dozen times over two years to strike an agreement with Huawei over the infringements. The jury agreed that Huawei should pay $10.5 million to PanOptis for the violations. Huawei has yet to respond to the ruling, although it's likely that the company will appeal. Editor's Pick Still doubt Huawei? Well, it just became the second biggest smartphone...

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 16GB tablet has dropped to just $130 today

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Hook yourself up. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A eight-inch 16GB tablet is down to $129.99 on Amazon. This is a price match of Best Buy so you can find it there as well. The tablet normally sells for around $179, so this is a nice chunk off the price. The Galaxy Tab A has an eight-inch display with 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. It includes a 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, 16GB flash storage, and the Android 5.0 operating system. It has a 4200mAh battery with features like Ultra Power Saving mode to shut down non-essential apps and save some juice when you need it most. Invest in an inexpensive microSD card if you want to increase your storage. See on Amazon #Google #Android #Smartphones #OS #News @ndrdnws #ndrdnws #AndroidNews

Sony Xperia XZ3 officially unveiled at IFA 2018

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Sony has taken the wraps off their latest entry into the high-end flagship level smartphone market with the launch of the Sony Xperia XZ3 . From a hardware standpoint the Xperia XZ3 is competitive with other flagship phones on the market and depending on what one thinks of Sony specific technology, like their OLED screens, may even give the device a slight edge. One potential downside though for buyers may be the fact that Sony has fallen behind current design trends that minimize bezels, although they have made some good strides compared to previous models. As far as the primary hardware, the headline surely has to be the 6-inch HDR OLED display that uses Sony's Bravia technology. This is the first phone that uses Bravia – the same tech used in Sony TVs – and should yield a wonderful display experience. Although small bezels are present at top and bottom, the side edges now get a bit of a curve effect to help stretch the 18:9 screen out some. Since top an...