The first devices are expected later this year
By Shawn Knight,
Why it matters: Paired with Google's reworked Wear OS, Android
smartwatches powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon Wear 3100 have their
best opportunity to date to gain meaningful market share.
Qualcomm earlier this summer announced the Snapdragon Wear 2500, a
mid-range SoC designed specifically for smartwatches for kids. Now, the
company’s primary wearable platform, the Snapdragon Wear 2100, is
getting a much-needed refresh.
Originally launched in early 2016, the Snapdragon Wear 2100 has since
been upstaged by offerings from Apple and Samsung. Qualcomm levels the
playing field today with the introduction of the Snapdragon Wear 3100.
The company’s latest packs four A7 cores, a digital signal processor and
an ultra-low-power co-processor in a configuration Qualcomm calls
big-small-tiny. The A7 cores handle intensive tasks like app switching
while the two smaller chips tackle background chores, monitor sensors
and so on.
By allocating jobs to the best hardware for the task, Qualcomm says
smartwatches based on the Snapdragon Wear 3100 will exhibit much better
battery life. Real-world results will vary based on device and usage but
on average, users can expect anywhere between four to 12 hours of
additional runtime compared to Wear 2100-equipped devices.
Qualcomm also worked with Google to develop three new operating modes to
promote better battery life. Enhanced ambient mode shows a basic watch
face UI with a moving second hand, improved brightness and live
complications (any function beyond telling time). Traditional watch
mode, meanwhile, foregoes those bells and whistles in favor of simply
telling the time while a dedicated sports mode – set to arrive
post-launch with a “sports customer” – will enable up to 15 hours of GPS
and heart-rate tracking.
Qualcomm’s first Snapdragon Wear 3100 customers include Fossil Group,
Louis Vuitton and Montblanc. The first devices powered by the new
platform are expected in Q4 2018.
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/38722
Apple’s ‘Gather Round’ event is coming up this week, in which we’re
expecting to see what the company has in store for its products this
fall. Among the reveals we’re expecting to see are three new iPhones: an
updated version of the iPhone X, a larger version, and a cheaper,
6.1-inch LCD version, which a new leak suggests will be called the
iPhone XC.
As this week’s event has come ever closer, we’ve seen reports that
suggested that the successor to the iPhone X would be called the iPhone
XS, while the larger iPhone X model will be called the unwieldy iPhone
XS Max,
A slide purported to be from a Chinese carrier’s marketing presentation
has been circulating on the Chinese social media site Weibo (via
Macotakara and 9to5Mac), suggests that the lineup will be the iPhone XS,
the iPhone XS Plus, and the iPhone XC, which feels a bit more in line
with Apple’s traditional naming conventions. The slide also lists the
Chinese prices for the phones, which 9to5Mac extrapolates to $699 for
the iPhone XC, $900 for the iPhone XS, and $1000 for the iPhone XS Plus.
Another leak showed off potential colors for the iPhone XC. Ben Geskin
posted a series of pictures of prototypes to Twitter that purport to
show off the XC in red, white, and blue colors.
As always, it’s possible that these reports could be inaccurate or
doctored, but we’ll find out for sure on September 12th during Apple’s
event.
Xiaomi has been a vendor we’ve been working with for a few years now,
but never got to the point where we really wrote an in-depth article on.
Today as the company is eyeing on going public with an IPO in Hong Kong
and an ever increasing advance on European markets, it’s the best time
to actually shine a light on one of the company’s latest flagships – the
Mi MIX 2S.
The Mi MIX 2S is actually a successor to last year’s Mi MIX 2, which in
turn was a successor to the original Mi MIX which was a pioneer design
in terms of bezel-less smartphones and ahead of the curve in terms of
screen-to-body ratio metrics. The original Mi MIX was meant to show off
the company’s design prowess – but it actually evolved into a mass
product with the MIX 2S. This year’s new Mi MIX 2S iterates on the
design and updates the internals to the latest hardware.
Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
4x Kryo 385 Gold @ up to 2.80 GHz
4x Kryo 385 Silver @ up to 1.77 GHz
Adreno 630 @ up to 710 MHz
Display 5.99-inch 2160x1080 (18:9)
IPS LCD
Dimensions 150.9 x 74.9 x 8.1 mm
191 grams
RAM 6GB / 8GB LPDDR4x
NAND 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Battery 3400 mAh
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0
Qi Wireless Charging
Front Camera 5MP, 1.12µm pixels, f/2.0
Primary Rear Camera 12MP, 1.4µm pixels, f/1.8
Sony IMX363
Secondary Rear Camera 12MP, 1.0µm pixels, f/2.4 2x Zoom
Samsung S5K3M3
SIM Size 2x NanoSIM
Connectivity 43 global bands (8GB+256GB model only),
4x4 MIMO, 2.4/5G WiFi,
WiFi Direct, WiFi Display,
NFC
Interfaces USB 2.0 Type-C; no 3.5mm
Launch OS Android O (8.0) with MIUI 9
MSRP
Launch Price 6GB/64GB: ¥3299 / $449 / €423
6GB/128GB: ¥3599 / $490 / €462
8GB/256GB: ¥3999 / $544 / €513
Digging into the hardware, that’s where we see the biggest changes
compared to the Mi MIX 2. The 2S sports a latest generation Snapdragon
845 SoC with 4x Kryo385 Gold/A75 at 2.8GHz paired with 4x Kryo385
Silver/A55 at 1.77GHz. I was impressed with the overall performance of
the S845 in our Galaxy S9 review so I’m expecting the MIX 2S to perform
no worse.
The phone comes in 64, 128 and 256GB NAND storage variants, with 8GB RAM
configuration reserved for the 256GB SKU, while the smaller ones come
with 6GB standard.
The Mi MIX 2S sports a 3400mAh battery which is covered by a ceramic
back on which we find the fingerprint sensor as well as a very iPhone X
inspired camera housing – one of the major design changes compared to
the MIX 2.
Obviously the display is the defining feature of the MIX series and here
we see a 5.99”, 18:9 aspect ratio IPS LCD screen with a resolution of
2160x1080. Xiaomi was indeed one of the pioneers in bringing out this
type of small bezel designs out to market. Way the company achieved this
is by shifting all front sensors and camera to the bottom of the phone.
The top of the phone hides a very narrow speaker grill for the
ear-piece. It’s not the greatest earpiece but it does serve its purpose
well, and actually acts as a second stereo speaker alongside the bottom
main unit. For this review I’m trying to reintroduce audio quality
evaluation, starting with speaker measurements in a section later in the
article.
While the front camera positioning is generally functional, it has the
large drawback that front-camera operation becomes quite cumbersome in
portrait mode as most of the time it’s looking “up” to you and for
right-handed people taking a selfie means sometimes covering up the
camera with your thumb, an issue that can be solved by alternatively
using the fingerprint sensor as the shutter button. In landscape mode
(with the camera on the upper right side) this is less of an issue. In
general as I think there’s vastly more right-handed people and most
front-camera operation happens in portrait mode, the camera should have
been put in the left corner of the bottom of the phone.
On the right side of the phone we find the volume rocker and the power button underneath.
As we mentioned earlier, one of the larger design changes compared to
the Mi MIX 2 is the camera setup. The 12MP f/2.0 shooter has been
replaced with a newer sensor from Sony; the IMX363 increases the pixel
pitch from 1.25µm to 1.4µm and the lens also has a larger aperture at
f/1.8. In addition to the main sensor we see a new secondary module with
a 12MP Samsung S5K3M3 sensor with 1µm pixel pitches and an f/2.4
aperture lens with a 2x optical zoom.
At the bottom of the phone we find the USB-C port alongside a microphone
and the main speaker grill. The main speaker seems to be very much
downward firing, but otherwise performs adequately. There’s no headphone
jack here, which is a great disappointment and what I think is a
misstep for the industry as a trend.
In power-deterministic mode, the CPU runs as fast as possible within a given TDP. There will be some performance variation from CPU to CPU, but overall this mode maximizes performance within a given power envelope. In performance deterministic mode, performance is identical across all servers, but TDP may vary from server to server based on the specific manufacturing quirks of the CPU in question.
Overall, these two modes allow Epyc customers to choose whether they wish to emphasize constant performance and variable TDP, or to hold TDP constant and allow performance to vary. The specifics of which option is “better” depends on the workload in question.
As far Epyc’s overall performance in the market and Intel’s responses to it, there’s not a ton of data out there that we haven’t previously covered. AMD continues to win back some server customers and market share, but it’s not clear if the company will revamp its Epyc product families before the launch of 7nm chips next year. The company has done an excellent job building servers to field against Intel, but the natural conservatism of the server market and Intel’s determination to hold the space are likely to be challenges going forward. Still, Epyc is building momentum and winning customers — and it wasn’t even 18 months ago that this was far from a sure thing.
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/27730
Oppo is a massive smartphone maker in Europe, but its presence in Europe and North America has been extremely limited. That’s changing with the flashy new Oppo Find X. This phone (apparently named after a math problem) will be the first Oppo phone to launch internationally since the ill-fated N1. It has an edge-to-edge screen with no notch thanks to its bizarre pop-up camera module. This funky design won’t come cheap, though. Oppo is looking to sell the device internationally for €999. That works out to around $1,155.
Phones like the LG G7 ThinQ, OnePlus 6, Lenovo Z5, and Huawei P20 Pro have all embraced the notch design popularized by the iPhone X. By clipping out a little screen at the top, designers can push the panel all the way to the edge and still fit the front-facing camera. However, many smartphone buyers have objected to the aesthetics of notches.
The Oppo Find X is an attempt to offer a full-screen phone without the notch. Instead of having the front-facing camera on the front of the phone, it’s hidden on a tray that tucks into the top of the phone. When the camera activates, this section of phone pops-up to give the phone a “temporary bezel.” It’s not just the front-facing camera. The two rear cameras are also on the sliding motorized tray.
Durability is a potential concern here. If that camera tray fails, you might not be able to take photos with the Find X anymore. The tray is going to get a lot of use, too. This phone doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor anyplace — the only biometric option is face unlock with the front-facing camera. Thus, you need to open the camera tray every time you wake up the phone if you want to use face unlock. Otherwise, it’s traditional PIN and password unlocks.
Oppo is not a well-known name in Europe and North America, so it’s surprising it would come out of the gate with such an expensive phone. This is a high-end phone with a Snapdragon 845, 8GB of RAM, a 6.4-inch curved OLED, and up to 256GB of storage. It runs Android 8.1 with Oppo’s Color OS skin. The $1,000+ price tag isn’t far off from phones like the Galaxy S9+ that have similar specs, but the brand recognition isn’t there.
The Oppo Find X will start shipping outside of Asia in August. It’s an unlocked phone, so it should work on any major GMS/LTE network like T-Mobile or AT&T. it is unlikely there will be payment plans like you can get from established smartphone sellers in North America and from carriers.
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/27731
It's a hard phone to rate on first impressions – HTC has put
all the right bits in here, but I felt the same way with the One M9.
However, the brand seems to have addressed the foibles and appears
genuinely excited by the new 10.
For
Amazing audio
Great design
Battery improved
Against
Camera not impressive
Boomsound not great
Slight bugs still in system
If there's one thing you can say about HTC, it's that it's been a victim of its own success.
The One M8
was one of the greatest phones ever made, one that I'll still dust off
from time to time now just to get a feel for it once more. It was design
perfection, filled with genuine innovation and offered a great identity
too, standing out well from the Android crowd.
The trouble was, that phone was already building on the
great HTC One, which started the 'amazing design' trajectory in flagship
smartphones that HTC is now famed for. So where did HTC go next? What
was the next big innovation, the next great thing that this underdog in
the smartphone world was going to bring?
Well, it didn't happen on the One M9,
that's for sure. The brand panicked, stuffed the best components into
an all-too-familiar shell and hoped the big numbers would make it a
success. It wasn't.
With the iPhone 6S
Apple delivered its best handset yet, but aside from sporting some
fancy new 3D Touch technology, it was also very similar to the iPhone 6.
That was to be expected – after all, Apple typically only
overhauls its handsets once every two years, but that overhaul is due
with the iPhone 7, so we're expecting and hoping for big changes: think a
whole new design, piles of power and a bunch of new features.
The leaks, rumors and reports are already ramping up, although the
iPhone 7 probably won't arrive until late 2016. We've collected all the
latest from around the web and beyond for you below, to give you the
clearest picture possible of what you can expect from the new iPhone.
Fancy Android? Here's everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S7
In a rush? Get the latest iPhone 7 news in our video roundup below:
Cut to the chase
What is it? Apple's next all-new iPhone
When is it out? Likely September 2016
What will it cost? Probably the same as the iPhone 6S
iPhone 7 release date
If we were betting people we'd say the iPhone 7 will
probably arrive in September 2016. Apple tends to stick to a schedule,
and the last few iPhones have all been launched in the month of
September.
But according to a 'reliable source'
Apple might actually bring it to market earlier. Sadly, how much
earlier is unclear, but it will take a while to even finish development
and manufacture of the phone, so we wouldn't expect to see it before the
summer. September is still the best bet for now.
iPhone 7 design
Hottest leaks:
A super slim build
Water resistance
No more antenna lines
The iPhone 6S looked a lot like the iPhone 6, but it's
likely to be all-change with the iPhone 7. Exactly what form that change
will take remains to be seen, but there are some rumors.
For one thing, it could be even slimmer than the 7.1mm-thick iPhone 6S; Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities
reckons it'll be dropping to between 6mm and 6.5mm thick. That sounds
unnecessarily slim to us, especially as it could cause the battery life
to take a hit, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 is only marginally thicker at 6.8mm, so it's possible.
If TSMC makes the chips, as has been rumored,
then some space could be saved, which might help Apple slim it down
without making sacrifices in other areas, while another report claims
Apple will use fan-out technology to save space and reduce the thickness of the iPhone 7.
Another rumor suggests the iPhone 7
will have an all-metal design with a bezel-less display. It would be a
big change for the iPhone design, but bringing in a new kind of screen
technology would be a sensible move for Apple.
The iPhone 7 could be built to last too, as according to Mac Otakara
there are a number of iPhone prototypes with "ruggedized" features,
which could mean a water and dust-resistant phone is on the way.
In fact, that's exactly what we'll get according to a supply chain source.
Yet another suggestion of a waterproof iPhone 7 comes from the Apple
supplier Japan Display. The supplier has come up with a new technology
called "Pixel Eyes", that is now in its second generation and makes it
easier to use the screen while you have wet fingers.
That's always an issue with waterproof phones such as the
Sony Xperia Z line, so the fact Apple's main supplier is looking to stop
the problem may be a big hint at what the iPhone 7 will do.
However another report has suggested Apple will opt for a slimmer phone rather than a waterproof iPhone 7. Apple will likely get a new LCD display technology as well, which could allow the iPhone 7 to be 1mm thinner than before.
We could also be in store for the thinnest iPhone ever, as rumors suggesting Apple will ditch the bulky 3.5mm headphone jack
grow. That could lead to a great dependence on Bluetooth headphones,
but a new leak also heavily suggests there will also be a pair of
special Apple earbuds included in the iPhone 7 box.
A new design tweak rumor which will likely please many is that Apple will ditch the camera bump
which has been present since the iPhone 6/6Plus - with the firm going
for a sleeker finish on the iPhone 7. As well as being totally flat the
back could also be uninterrupted, as the same report points towards the
removal of the antenna bands.
That tallies with an image leak picked up by Nowhereelse.fr, which claims its snapshot shows the iPhone 7 to have no antenna bands and a larger camera. No antenna bands and a bigger camera? (credit: Nowhereelse.fr)
A few days after that,
a leak of the iPhone 7 chassis design showed the new design for the
antennas. So it increasingly seems Apple may sort out one of the more
controversial elements of the design of the iPhone 6S.
iPhone 7 screen
Hottest leaks:
A sharper screen
An edge-to-edge display
The iPhone 7 could be in for a big resolution jump
if a DigiTimes source is to be believed, as Apple is apparently likely
to move to glass-on-glass screens, which in turn opens up the
possibility of a QHD or even a 4K display.
A lot of Android phones already have QHD screens, and the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
is 4K, so it's possible that Apple will pump up the resolution of its
next flagship, but given that the iPhone 6S isn't even 1080p we're
sceptical that it'll get anywhere near 4K.
If the iPhone 7 does get higher resolution it might get
bigger too, especially as rival phones are growing in size all the time.
We're not convinced though – we'd still bet on seeing 4.7-inch and
5.5-inch models.
Then there's the first image of the LCD backlight on the iPhone 7. It comes from trusted French blog NoWhereElse and shows the panel from the iPhone 7 up against the iPhone 6S.
All the connectors are in different locations around the phone suggesting there will be a few design changes on the next iPhone.
A jump in resolution might not be the only way the iPhone 7 imitates Android though, as there's also talk that it could switch from an LCD display to an OLED one, much like Samsung uses on most of its phones.
One new rumor
suggests the iPhone 7S will be the first Apple phone to feature an OLED
display. The rumor comes from Apple telling supply chain sources that
it will be switching from LCD panels to OLED panels in the next couple
of years.
Sadly it doesn't seem like the technology will be here in
time for the iPhone 7 and we'll have to wait for the iPhone 7S. That
said, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has dismissed the rumor, arguing that Apple won't likely switch to AMOLED before 2019.
On the other hand it's now been reported by the Chinese Wall Street Journal
that Apple has ordered 100 million 5.5-inch AMOLED panels for a 2017
iPhone. So all we can say with any certainty right now is that we won't
see an AMOLED iPhone this year.
There's also talk of Apple taking a leaf out of Samsung's book and opting for a 5.8-inch curved AMOLED display on a future iPhone, although this could be something for the iPhone 8 rather than the iPhone 7.
Hopes of an edge-to-edge display on the iPhone 7 have been
raised slightly after an image appeared online claiming to show just
that - although having seen hundreds of iPhone leaks over the years we
think this offering looks rather fake.
Will the iPhone 7 get an edge-to-edge display? (credit: Weibo)
The iPhone 7 screen could be hard to smash, as an Apple patent has been unearthed
showing bumpers which burst out from the edges of the screen to ensure
it doesn't touch the floor when dropped. Patents often don't turn into
products, but you never know – and it would certainly be nice to see a
stronger screen.
3D Touch is bound to make a return, though it's likely to be
improved in some way, perhaps by enabling you to scroll through the
previews of content you 'peek' into, rather than just having static
previews.
iPhone 7 rivals
The iPhone 7 is likely a way off yet, but many of its main
rivals have already launched. The biggest ones are the Samsung Galaxy S7
and Galaxy S7 Edge. Both of these phones have received five star
reviews on techradar - which we hadn't previously given out to a phone
for two years - so Apple has some serious work to do.
The HTC 10 looks to be a worthy alternative to Apple's
handset too. Coming from HTC it's as stylish as you'd hope and the audio
quality is a cut above.
There's also the 4-inch iPhone SE
which has arrived with a palm friendly size, 6S specs and an affordable
price tag. For those looking for a phone which is manageable in one
hand, this is the one you want.
Apple overhauled its camera tech for the iPhone 6S,
replacing its old 8MP snapper with a shiny new 12MP one and boosting the
front-facing camera up to 5MP.
Given that Apple tends to stick with camera components for a
long time we wouldn't expect to see a change in megapixels for the
iPhone 7, but there's a good chance it will have performance tweaks and
additional features to help set it apart. Optical image stabilization
perhaps?
A shot of the rear of the iPhone 7 from Nowhereelse.fr
suggests the camera lens will be bigger. It doesn't seem to be a
dual-camera lens, but it looks much larger so may mean some big
improvements on the camera tech.
As for the iPhone 7 Plus,
trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo at KGI Securities in South Korea believes
the larger phone may go for a dual-camera set up. It would allow for
optical zoom and give a wider field of view in shots - but it's not
exactly certain why this feature would only be on the phablet version of
the iPhone 7.
The analyst also said he believes there may be two versions
of the iPhone 7 Plus, one with this camera set up and another without.
It's all just speculation right now, but there may be something in.
Especially as an unearthed Apple patent also points to a dual-lens camera.
Not only does it suggest that, but also a smaller lens,
which could remove the camera bump while still packing in plenty of
tech.
As for the battery, it was one of the greatest failings of
the iPhone 6S, so we're really hoping for some improvements here. Sadly,
though, if the phone does slim down further as is being rumored there's
not much hope of a big juice pack - or is there?
A recent leak suggests that Apple will increase the battery size in the iPhone 7 while reducing the handset's thickness. If that's true, then great, but we're not holding out much hope.
iPhone 7 OS and power
Hottest leaks:
A hexa-core processor
iOS 10
The iPhone 7 could be in for a huge performance boost, with whispers on Weibo
that the phone will pack a hexa-core A10 chip, up from just a dual-core
processor in the iPhone 6S. We're sceptical that Apple would go for
that much of a jump, but it's an exciting thought.
We're not likely to see any more RAM in the iPhone 7, as
Apple only just pushed the iPhone 6S up to 2GB, so it will likely stick
with that for a while yet.
As for the OS, we'd expect to see the iPhone 7 land with iOS 10, since we're up to iOS 9 on the iPhone 6S. But rumors of what we'll see in iOS 10 are thin on the ground.
iPhone 7 other features
Hottest leaks:
A pressure-sensitive home button
Wireless charging
A smaller headphone jack
We could be in for a redesigned home button, as according to one source
it won't be a button so much as a sensor that you just have to place
your finger on. The same source reckons that it might also be
pressure-sensitive, so presumably if you press harder something
different will happen, such as it taking you to a different screen.
A whole slew of possible features are apparently in testing
for the iPhone 7, with five different prototypes being used to test
multi-Force Touch tech, a dual camera, wireless charging, a fingerprint
scanner in the screen and a USB Type-C connector that's compatible with
headsets.
That all comes from a post on Chinese social networking site
Weibo, but even if it's true given that there are apparently five
different prototypes much of this may not make it into the final phone.
In other rumors, the iPhone 7 could have a smaller headphone
jack than the iPhone 6S. We're hesitant to call this a feature, as it's
more a likely annoyance which could be necessary in order to further
slim the phone down.
There's an Apple patent
which points to a 2mm connector, down from the standard 3.5mm headphone
jack found on most phones. That would certainly help Apple slim the
device down, but would also mean you'd either need special headphones or
an adapter.
iPhone 7 cost
There aren't any price rumors yet, but in all likelihood the
iPhone 7 will cost roughly what the iPhone 6S currently retails for.
That would make it $649/£539/AU$1,079 upwards.
Though if Apple finally ditches the 16GB model the starting price might be even higher.
Samsung is developing a standalone VR headset, the company revealed today.
"We are working on wireless and dedicated VR devices, not necessarily
working with our mobile phone," Samsung head of R&D Injon Rhee said
Wednesday, as reported by Variety. Rhee was speaking at Samsung's developers conference.
The device Samsung is tinkering with on apparently does utilize a phone, according to VR Focus, noting the Galaxy S7 maker is working to make the headset an all-in-one machine.
Though details are foggy, the headset essentially sounds like the next version of Gear VR.
In addition to being tetherless, the viewer will use positional tracking, much like we already see in the more capable HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
Gear VR lacks such tracking, though it is untethered free from a PC, allowing for freer movement.
Samsung isn't stopping there, however: it also wants to
incorporate hand and gesture tracking into the tech, further bringing it
in line with VR's top dogs. However, touch controls may not be
available in the near future.
Keyword: holodeck
Clearly paying attention to VR buzzwords, Samsung also wants
to create a holodeck experience with its new VR viewer, another sign
that this will be a step above the current-gen Gear VR.
Notably, Rhee said "wireless and dedicated VR devices,"
so perhaps Samsung has more than one standalone viewer in the works,
though that's doubtful. He was likely referring to the various VR
technologies Samsung is developing to bolster its new headset.
There's no timeframe for when the device will release, and
Samsung isn't backing away from the current Gear VR - not by a long
shot.
It's releasing its 360-degree camera this week, and plans to make it easier to upload content to its Milk VR platform.
Interestingly, Samsung built Gear VR in partnership with
Oculus. Naturally, this sets up a potential shift in their relationship
if Sammy goes through with what will essentially be an Oculus Rift
rival.
Samsung first revealed its 360-degree video camera at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year and now, the company is finally ready to release it on April 29th.
The Samsung Gear 360 features two cameras crammed into a sphere,
which looks strikingly similar to Portal 2's Wheatley. It even comes
with a tripod that makes the whole package given off an adorable robot
vibe. Aww.
In more serious news, each camera is capable of capturing video at
3,840 x 1,920 resolution at 30 frames per second. Video is stitched
together seamlessly into near-4k resolution, and can be viewed on your phone by swiping around. You can also use it to capture 30 megapixel still images.
You'll need a lot of space to store all those videos and photos, so
Samsung is allowing users to bring up to 128GB of storage via microSD
card. This equates to about 140 minutes of video recording, or
approximately 0.89 Justin Bieber concerts filmed start-to-finish.
The camera is also IP53 certified, which means it's dust and splash
proof. Don't expect to take the camera underwater like you can with
other action cameras - it's a little disappointing that Samsung didn't
make the Gear 360 waterproof like its Galaxy S7 smartphone.
Samsung's VR vision
Samsung is building out its virtual reality ecosystem with its Gear 360 camera to help users create content for its Gear VR
headset. Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge users can preview a live feed from the
camera and download footage to their phones. This means you can cut and
upload 360-degree video from your phone directly to support sites like
YouTube and Facebook.
Although the camera is launching in two days, Samsung still hasn't
announced pricing for it in the US. In Europe, the camera will cost 350
euros, which is roughly $400 USD. This puts it squarely up against the Kodak SP360 4K,
which retails for $449 per camera. But unlike the Gear 360, the Kodak
requires two cameras to create true 360-degree video, making the Gear
360 a bargain if it can hit a $400 price point.
LG is also releasing its own 360 camera and VR headset, and we'll have to wait to see how they compare.
Update: The official Google IO 2016 dates have been announced to be May 18 - May 20. Tickets go on sale March 8 - March 10 on the Google IO website,
though registering for a ticket doesn't mean you've successfully
purchased one. Developers will have to submit an application, then
Google will randomly select qualified attendees. Here's everything we've
been hearing about Google IO 2016 so far.
It's been a big 12 months for Google: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
released, it made developments in self-driving car tech, and, perhaps
most significant of all, it shuffled its corporate structure so it's now
owned by a company called Alphabet.
That doesn't mean, however, that Google will sit back and
relax in 2016. Google IO 2016 will likely be a huge event with lots of
news, just like Google IO 2015 and 2014 before it. In fact, the pressure
of Microsoft's recent push of great new products and Apple's
ever-growing popularity are likely to cause Google to go even further
than it has in the past and come up with better products that can appeal
to a wider range of people.
We have high hopes for Google IO 2016. Here are some of our
predictions for every major product category at next year's conference.
Android N
The Google IO 2016 product most users will be chomping at the bit to see will be the next version of Android, currently dubbed Android N.
While we don't yet know what the official name of the software will end
up being (Android Nutella? Android Nougat?), it's likely that Android N
will be a major update, especially considering that Android
Marshmallow, the most recent version of Google's mobile OS, was
relatively small.
Features that are expected of Android N include a more
feature-rich power menu and the ability to uninstall non-essential stock
apps. It's also likely we'll also see a number of performance upgrades
and battery-saving features, too.
By the time Android N is released, many users will still be
waiting for Android Marshmallow to make it to their devices, but that
certainly won't slow Google from releasing its newest version of
Android.
Android Wear
Android for smartphone won't be the only branch of Android
to see an update at Google IO 2016. A number of updates have been
released to Android Wear over the past year, not least of which was iOS compatibility.
It's certainly possible that Android Wear will also be made compatible
with Windows Phone, which would be a great announcement for Google to
make at its developer conference.
Other updates that we'd like to see from the wearable operating system include better voice control, more standalone features and perhaps even gesture-controls.
Android Auto
Google is likely to make a number of car-related announcements, including at least one related to Android Auto. Since Google IO 2015, a number of automakers have jumped onboard
with Android Auto, either offering the infotainment system in current
models or planning to include it in future vehicles. We wouldn't be
surprised if major car makers who haven't announced Android Auto
compatibility use Google IO 2016 to do so.
Google will also likely announce more third-party apps that
will make it to the platform, as well as similar voice control updates
as we will (probably) see with Android Wear.
We knew it was coming, but today ANZ has officially switched on Apple Pay to its 5 million customers around the country.
That means that owners of either an ANZ Visa debit or credit
card or an ANZ American Express credit card will be able to leave the
credit card at home and pay for their goods across Australia's
comprehensive network of PayPass and PayWave terminals.
According to the ANZ announcement more than 60% of all card
transactions in Australia are now contactless and accepted across in
excess of 70% contactless merchant payment terminals, meaning that
today's announcement should see a pretty rapid uptake across iPhone
owning ANZ customers.
At this point, no announcements have been made about the incoming Android Pay support that was promised across a number of Australian banks in the first half of this year.
Update: The best wireless headphones are always in flux. Check out our updated list below.
Wireless headphones are all about empowerment. After all,
you've now graduated from the wire, the training wheels of electronics.
But be aware: with the power you get from clipping the cable, wireless
can be unwieldy.
Thankfully, our choices for best wireless headphones have
very few issues (if any) and are the best that we've had a chance to
try.
1. Sennheiser Momentum Wireless
Incredible audio fidelity backed by a serious price
These no-holds-barred wireless headphones are oozing with
positive qualities, but for many, they're almost prohibitively
expensive. However, if you're an audio lover that can spare the expense,
do not hesitate on this comfortable, hard-working set of headphones
that will likely last for years.
The Jabra Move Wireless are one of the best values around
for Bluetooth headphones. Not only does the minimalistic design -
infused with the energetic Cobalt blue styling - impress off the bat, it
keeps on delivering the goods with a surprising amount of function and
performance.
You'll find deeper lows and mids and highs with an extra
level of crisp when you drop a couple more big bills, but for the money,
the Jabra Move Wireless offer a big, full sound.
In the battle of the brands, it can be hard to trust an
outsider. You probably know and trust companies like Sennheiser, Sony,
Bose and Beats. And nothing against the tried and true headphone
manufacturers, but a lot of what you're paying for is the name.
The Skullcandy Grind Wireless is a black sheep, it breaks
convention left and right and yet delivers in all the major areas. It's
far from perfect (see: battery life and accessories), but, for its $89
(£69, about AU$116) price tag, you're getting a great-sounding,
well-constructed pair of cans that know how to rumble with bass notes
and rock with mids and highs.
While not the fanciest option available, those only looking for the
must-have features will find that there's a lot to like here. The build
quality and materials are top-notch for the price. The sound quality
won't blow your mind, but it's totally serviceable for listeners looking
for a full sound. Its most treasured feature is the battery life, which
lasts for 17 hours. Personally, I was able to squeeze 20 hours out of
them. Read the full review: Sony MDR-ZX770BT
5. Koss BT540i
High-performance Bluetooth headphones for music lovers
If value is your main concern when looking for a set of headphones,
you'll be pleased with the Koss BT540i. The Milwaukee, Wisc.-based Koss
is known for providing a good bang-for-your-buck experience and these
are no exception.
While these lack premium features like touch controls on the earcups
or active noise cancellation, you'll hardly notice, what with the
spectacular sound quality and comfy ear cushions. Read the full review: Koss BT540i
6. Optoma NuForce BE6
Wireless in-ear headphones with (almost) no compromise
If you find yourself wanting to explore the world of wireless
headphones, this is a nearly perfect place to get started. Although
Optoma is more known for its projectors, the BE6 prove that the company
is to be taken seriously in the headphone department, too.
These $129 earphones offer a slick, compact design and sound just as
good, if not better, than a trusty set of wired headphones. The six hour
battery is a little disappointing, but as the only flaw in this
package, it's easy to overlook. Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE6
7. Beats Solo 2 Wireless
Proof that Beats is quickly closing the gap between style and sound
There are certain qualities we all like in a set of headphones and
these have 'em: sleek design, great sound and long-lasting comfort.
However, the signature feature in Beats headphones is one that some
people may not be so fond of, namely, their heavy lean on bass.
Thankfully, Beats is moving on from their bass-heavy past and moving
to a more balanced sound. This is evident as ever in the Beats Solo 2
Wireless and it's about time. Read the full review: Beats Solo 2 Wireless
2016 has already revealed a plethora of new top of the range
phones, and we've selected some of the best flagships money can buy to
find out who's fast, and who's last.
It may not be the most scientific of tests, but we carefully
put each handset through their paces to find out which was best at
booting up, loading apps and holding them in the background.
*Spoilers* - the iPhone
6S came out on top this time (if you hadn't guessed that from the
headline then shame on you), but you'll have to watch the video below to
find out where the other five placed.
Be sure to check back later in the week for the rest of our
flagship phone tests - as we put all six through our battery and camera
tests, and show you which one is the perfect choice for you right now.
Apple is expected to report its first year-over-year decline since 2003.
Andrew Cunnigham
iPhone sales account for a huge chunk of Apple's revenue, so slower iPhone sales means a lot less revenue.
Andrew Cunningham
Apple will report its earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2016
at 5pm EDT/2pm PDT/10pm UK, and as usual Senior Technology Editor Lee
Hutchinson and I will be following along with the call and providing
charts and commentary. Apple is expected to report its first
year-over-year revenue decline since 2003, mainly due to lower iPhone
sales.
Apple's own forecasts predict revenue between $50 billion and $53 billion, well short of the $58 billion it earned in Q2 of 2015 though
still higher than the $45.6 billion in revenue it earned in Q2 of 2014.
The outsized success of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus last year set a tough
benchmark for the company, and pent-up demand for the larger phones left
over from Q1 of 2015 also made Q2 sales higher than they may otherwise
have been. A slowing economy in China, Apple's fastest-growing market,
could also affect growth this quarter, while increased pressure from the Chinese government could impact future growth.
Apple introduced a handful of new products in the second quarter,
which runs from the beginning of January to the end of March, but they
were all introduced late enough in the quarter that we won't know how
much of a difference they made until next quarter. New devices include
the iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro,
though price drops for the iPad Air 2 and a new capacity for the
12.9-inch iPad Pro could conceivably shore up the perennially
backsliding iPad sales.
The first devices are expected later this year
Xiaomi has been a vendor we’ve been working with for a few years now,
but never got to the point where we really wrote an in-depth article on.
Today as the company is eyeing on going public with an IPO in Hong Kong
and an ever increasing advance on European markets, it’s the best time
to actually shine a light on one of the company’s latest flagships – the
Mi MIX 2S.
In power-deterministic mode, the CPU runs as fast as possible within a given TDP. There will be some performance variation from CPU to CPU, but overall this mode maximizes performance within a given power envelope. In performance deterministic mode, performance is identical across all servers, but TDP may vary from server to server based on the specific manufacturing quirks of the CPU in question.
Oppo is a massive smartphone maker in Europe, but its presence in Europe and North America has been extremely limited. That’s changing with the flashy new Oppo Find X. This phone (apparently named after a math problem) will be the first Oppo phone to launch internationally since the ill-fated N1. It has an edge-to-edge screen with no notch thanks to its bizarre pop-up camera module. This funky design won’t come cheap, though. Oppo is looking to sell the device internationally for €999. That works out to around $1,155.
