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Tag: Android

  • CES 2017: LeEco launches Android bike

    LeEco has launched two smart bicycles, the Smart Road Bike and Smart Mountain Bike, ahead of CES 2017 on Tuesday.

    ImageFile: CES 2017: LeEco launches Android bike
    Android Bike powered by BikeOS.

    The bicycles run LeEco’s own Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based ‘BikeOS’ and come with a touchscreen display that provides users with turn-by-turn navigation with the help of integration with Here maps.

    The 4-inch touchscreen display on the two bikes is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor. The bicycles feature a 6000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

    “The system provides turn-by-turn navigation tailored for bicycle riding from Here Maps, online and offline music playback, walkie-talkie communication with other nearby compatible LeEco smart bikes, and ride logging,” the company said in its release.

    Users can review their rides and even share the details with the help of companion app.

    The on-board sensors on the bicycles include “GPS/GLONASS, compass, accelerometer, barometer, light level, wheel speed and crank speed, while also offering compatibility with third-party ANT+ heart rate and power sensors to help meet fitness goals,” LeEco said.

    The electronics on the bike come with water resistance rating of IP54, the company said.

    The features on LeEco Smart Road Bike include Toray T700 carbon fibre frame, fork, seat post, handlebar and wheels. While the Road Bike variant weighs around 18.5 pounds. The LeEco Smart Mountain Bike weighs 26.9 pounds and the features on the bike include Toray T700 carbon fibre frame and handlebar, SR Suntour XCR Air front fork, and the 27.5”/650b diametre wheel-set.

    In terms of safety and security, LeEco’s new smart bicycles come with automatic on-board lighting, horn, and a security alarm. The company says the bikes automatically notify owners when the alarm is activated, and location can be tracked via the mobile app.

    The new smart bicycles from LeEco will be available in North America from second quarter of 2017 and will be available for attendees to see at CES 2017. No pricing has been mentioned for the smart bikes yet.

  • LOOKING AHEAD: Smartphones to launch 2017

    LOOKING AHEAD: Smartphones to launch 2017

    2017 is upon us, bringing with it a flurry of new top-end smartphones to get excited about. The tenth anniversary of the original iPhone means Apple may have something special in store for us this year, while Samsung will probably come out all guns blazing in order to soundly recover from the Galaxy Note 7 debacle. There’s a chance that Google will bring the second-generation of Pixel smartphones, while the likes of OnePlus and Xiaomi will continue to introduce high-quality, affordable flagship smartphones.

    If you are on the lookout for a new smartphone, you might to hold on to your money a little while longer, as the market will soon be filled with a number of great models. Check out our pick of smartphones to look forward to in 2017 for more details.

    1. Apple iPhone 8

    2017 will be the year of the tenth anniversary of the original iPhone, the smartphone that upended and revolutionised the whole mobile phone industry. So it is no surprise that all eyes are on Apple and what it does to commemorate the occasion. And, of course, hopes are high that iPhone 8 will bring a number of changes to the table, enough to make up for the iterative updates we have had over the past two years.

    Leaks point to three different versions of iPhone 8: one featuring all the new features, and the other two being the successors of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, with only a few upgrades. Apple is reportedly developing more than 10 iPhone 8 prototypes, and working on a “radical redesign” of the smartphone. Rumour has it that at least the top-end version of the iPhone 8 will not have the Home button; instead, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the front camera will be integrated into the touchscreen. Apple is also said to be testing flexible OLED panels for the iPhone 8.

    Wireless charging is widely expected to be integrated in iPhone 8, along with iris or facial scanning. iPhone 8 is said to be powered by the A11 chip manufactured on the 10nm process, the glass body will reportedly make a comeback. The top-end iPhone 8 model will reportedly also have optical image stabilisation in both cameras on the back, which may be vertically aligned rather than horizontally.

    The screen size of this new top-end smartphone is not yet known, though the tech grapevine pegs it anywhere between 4.7-inches and 5.8-inches. The wait for iPhone 8 will be long, of course, as the next Apple flagship smartphone is likely to be unveiled only in September next year.

    2. Samsung Galaxy X

    Galaxy X is said to be the foldable smartphone that Samsung is planning to launch in 2017. Not much is known about the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy X so far, except that it may have a 4K screen and be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor (likely to be Snapdragon 835). It is expected to feature a single flexible OLED display and a body that will fold at the middle. A patent filed by Samsung shows that users will be able to fold the smartphone at various angles and that it will feature physical buttons at the bottom.

    A report back in June this year said that Samsung is likely to unveil the foldable Galaxy X smartphone at the Mobile World Congress, but the shift in focus to finding the cause of Galaxy Note 7 explosions may have put in spanner in that, likely delaying the launch by a few months.

    3. Samsung Galaxy S8

    Galaxy S8 will have the burden of expectations as it is Samsung’s first flagship smartphone to be launched after the Galaxy Note 7. Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 will have an Artificial Intelligence-powered virtual assistant, and a great camera. Rumours say Galaxy S8 will not have an earphone jack, or Home button – instead, it is said to come with wireless earphones, and feature optical fingerprint sensor that will be embedded in the touchscreen.

    Reportedly, the Galaxy S8 smartphone will have a 4K display with ultra-thin bezels, dual 13-megapixel and 9-megapixel cameras on the back, fingerprint sensor on the back, USB Type-C port, selfie camera with autofocus and VR support. A recent report suggests that the smartphone may feature a massive 8GB of RAM, along with faster UFS 2.1 storage. Rumours also say that the Samsung Galaxy S8 may not feature any physical keys in the front, and pack two variants of the Exynos 8895 chipset.

    Samsung was earlier rumoured to be planning to launch the Galaxy S8 at the Mobile World Congress in late February, but a new report says that the company has delayed the unveiling till April. Apparently, the South Korean titan will focus on regaining consumer confidence in the time till April. Samsung Galaxy S8 may cost 15-20 percent more than its predecessor. The AI-based virtual assistant will apparently be integrated with apps that come preloaded on the smartphone.

    A ‘Plus’ variant of Samsung Galaxy S8 featuring a 6-inch display, and support for the S-Pen stylus may also be in the works.

    4. Nokia’s Android Phones

    Nokia is rumoured to launch as many as five Android smartphones in the first half of 2017, starting with Mobile World Congress in late February. One of the devices expected at the event is the Nokia D1C, a budget Android 7.0 Nougat smartphone that is said to sport the Snapdragon 430 processor, and come in 2GB and 3GB RAM variants priced at $150 and $200, respectively. The smartphone will also have two options in screen size – 5-inch and 5.5-inch – and come with 16GB internal storage, 13-megapixel or 16-megapixel rear camera, and 8-megapixel front camera.

    A high-end Android 7.0 Nougat smartphone by Nokia is also expected in early 2017, featuring a 5.2-inch or 5.5-inch QHD display, Snapdragon 835 processor, 23-megapixel camera with Zeiss optics, 6GB RAM, metal unibody design, and water-resistant body.

    Along with these, an entry-level Nokia Android phone called Pixel may also be under development. This smartphone is said to run Android 7.0.1 Nougat operating system and may be powered by the 1.19GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor with 1GB RAM. Nokia Pixel Android phone’s battery is said to support Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 fast-charging technology.

    5. OnePlus 4

    OnePlus 4 is another smartphone everyone will be excited about in 2017. The smartphone will reportedly have a ceramic body, come in 6GB RAM and 8GB RAM variants, sport the Snapdragon 835 chipset, dual-camera on the back, and may retain the 3.5mm earphone jack. However, OnePlus 4 may have a 5.3-inch display, smaller than that of the OnePlus One, 2, 3, and 3T, though resolution may increase to 4K.

    6. Moto X 2017

    Leaked photos of a smartphone expected to be the Moto X 2017 have sparked interest in the line, which did not make an appearance this year. The Moto X 2017 will have an all-metal body, images show, with the fingerprint sensor on the back. The smartphone in the leaked images does not have Moto Mod pins on the back, so Lenovo may add some other unique feature in Moto X 2017 to distinguish it from the competition.

    7. Google Pixel 2, Pixel XL 2

    Google Pixel is a flagship smartphone that boasts excellent software but is plagued by niggling hardware issues. We expect Google to iron out the kinks in the second-generation Pixel and Pixel XL models, and give us the smartphone everyone expects from a company of its size and reputation.

    There are no leaks about Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 yet, but if these phones come out in 2017, then we expect big changes in the software department, bringing more features to the Google Assistant. On the hardware front, all the top features and specifications can be expected, such as 6GB RAM, big battery, and fast processor.

    8. HTC 11/ Ocean

    HTC 11, the flagship smartphone being developed under the codename Ocean, is said to have a metal body with chamfered edges. It will reportedly feature dual 12-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras on the back with LED flash, 5.5-inch display with QHD resolution, Snapdragon 835 chipset, 3700mAh battery, and Android 7.0 Nougat.

    9. LG G6

    LG will reportedly not use the modular design with the G6, though the company itself has said that it will not do away with the swappable accessories for now. The rumour mill suggests that the LG G6 will have an aluminium body with water-resistant coating, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type C port, wireless charging, and removable battery. LG was reportedly planning to use curved display on the G6, but that plan has been shelved because of supply-chain constraints.

    10. Microsoft Surface Phone

    Everyone is a little unsure about this one as we have been hearing of the Microsoft Surface Phone for a couple of years now, but Satya Nadella in an interview recently said that the company is working on the “ultimate mobile device,” so there is some hope. Microsoft also owns the surfacephone.com Web domain, suggesting that a smartphone may be on the way. We will have to wait for 2017 for the rest of the details.

    That’s our round-up of the smartphones to look forward to in 2017. Tell us which smartphones you are the most excited about?

  • WhatsApp stops working on older Android, iPhone, Windows Phone 7 models

    WhatsApp stops working on older Android, iPhone, Windows Phone 7 models

    Popular instant messaging app WhatsApp has stopped working in older smartphones. Anyone using a smartphone running Android 2.2 Froyo or older versions of Android, apart from an iPhone 3GS or iOS 6 and lower versions of iOS, will find that WhatsApp has stopped working on their smartphones.ImageFile: WhatsApp stops working on older Android, iPhone, Windows Phone 7 models

    Notably, the market share of these devices is quite low – 0.1 percent for devices running Android 2.2 Froyo, 2.6 percent for devices running iOS 6, and the iPhone 3GS is itself a 7-year-old phone.

    Windows Phone 7 users will also be affected in the same manner.

    The Facebook-owned company has advised that anyone with the above-mentioned older handsets who want to keep chatting with friends via WhatsApp will need to buy a newer phone or upgrade to a newer operating system.

    WhatsApp had initially said that all BlackBerry (those not running Android) models and some Nokia handsets would also find themselves unable to get onto the chat app. But in November last year, it gave these users a reprieve until June 30, 2017.

    “We are extending support for BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40 and Nokia Symbian S60 until June 30, 2017,” the company wrote in an update to its blog.

    The changes are arguably largely to allow WhatsApp to more deeply integrate encryption and other privacy services. Such technology stops messages from being read, and has led to WhatsApp facing criticism from governments who believe that WhatsApp conversations should be made public.

    It’s also likely to allow for more rapid introduction of new features. Rumoured updates scheduled in 2017 include a new feature that would allow people to edit or entirely delete messages after they have been sent.

  • Samsung launches Focus all-in-one app

    Samsung has launched Focus, a utility app that offers a unified experience for mails, contacts and calendars.

    Focus is already available for download on Google Play and it provides a unified view for users’ mails, calendar, and contacts for a more organized user experience.

    ImageFile: Samsung launches Focus all-in-one app1

    Samsung Focus, which comes with multi-account support, enables “Exchange ActiveSync (EAS), IMAP and POP3 users to manage email, calendar, task, memo, and contacts easily in one place,” the app’s description on Google Play reads.

    The list of servers supported by the app include Exchange Server 2003 SP2/SP3 and above, Google, Naver (IMAP/POP3), Office 365, Hotmail, Outlook.com, and other servers that support Exchange ActiveSync.

    The main view of the app presents upcoming appointments, important tasks, and messages just like a Google Now feed. There is a universal search option on the top-right while the tabs for quick access to email, calendar, memo, and contacts are present at the bottom of the screen.

    “Samsung Focus does not operate any cloud servers. It connects only to the actual mail servers. It stores your account’s data on the device, and Samsung Electronics never accesses any user data,” the company clarifies in a note in its Google Play listing.

    However, the app has been made available only for Samsung mobile devices running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow or above.

  • Mobile OS that rocked 2016

    Mobile phone technology is evolving daily, weekly and yearly; while the story of 2016 is not different, the major driving force behind mobile phones are the various mobile operation systems (OS).

    A mobile operating system or just mobile OS, is an operating system for smartphones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or other mobile devices.

    While computers such as typical laptops are mobile, the OS usually used on them are not considered mobile ones as they were originally designed for desktop computers that historically did not have or need specific mobile features.

    While many people have bounteous information about different mobile phones and their parent companies, only few know something about their operating systems.

    Mobile OS milestones mirror the development of mobile phones and smartphones, and 2016 saw the release of different flagship smartphones running on different mobile OS, including the ones that made the ranks in the Google’s Year in Search 2016.

    Between 1973 and 1993, mobile phones use embedded systems to control operation. In 1994 the first smartphone, the IBM Simon, released with a touchscreen, email, and personal digital assistant (PDA) features and in 1996 Palm Pilot 1000 PDA is introduced with the Palm OS mobile OS. Also in 1996, the first Windows CE handheld personal computer (PC) devices are introduced.

    In 1999 Nokia released the Series 40 (S40) platform officially along with the Nokia 7110, and in 2000 Symbian became the first modern mobile OS on a smartphone with the launch of the Ericsson R380.

    2001 saw the Kyocera 6035 launching as the first smartphone running on Palm OS, and in 2002, Microsoft’s first Windows CE (Pocket PC) smartphones were introduced. While BlackBerry released its first smartphone also in 2002, Nokia introduced Maemo OS on the first Internet tablet N770 in 2005.

    While in 2007, Apple iPhone with iOS is introduced as an iPhone, “mobile phone” and “Internet communicator,” Google, HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, LG among others teamed up to form Open Handset Alliance (OHA) the same year. This alliance gave birth to the release of Android 1.0 based on Linux kernel 1.0 with the HTC Dream as the first Android phone in 2008.

    In 2009, Palm introduces webOS with the Palm Pre and Samsung announced the Bada OS with the introduction of the Samsung S8500. 2010 November, Windows OS phones are released and in January 2013, BlackBerry announced the release of BlackBerry 10 OS.

    Of all the mobile OS listed in the foregoing, only a few have survived the test of time of technological advancement. While some mobile OS that were relevant in years past are obsolete today and some are managing to cope with the trend, others are strong and running, even in the years to come.

    Of these, while the Apple iOS and the Android OS are up there in the skies, the BlackBerry OS uncharacteristically committed suicide especially in 2016, with the acclaimed phone maker announcing it will stop making its own phone to start making security platform for enterprises and that China’s TCL will start making and selling its smartphones. It is likely that the new BlackBerry flagships that will launch, will run on Android OS.

    While the Windows Mobile OS is struggling for importance, S40 and Symbian went into extinction, especially after Microsoft acquired the mobile segment of Nokia’s business, producing Windows branded Nokia phones that couldn’t capture the mobile phone market. Although, rumours has it that new Nokia smartphones running on the Android OS are set to be launched in 2017.

    The Mobile OS that will make much impact in mobile phones technology in the year to come will be the ever evolving Apple iOS and the Android OS by Google.

    It remains to be seen if other mobile OS would be able to compete with Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android or if there would be the development of a brand new mobile OS in the year to come to kick out Apple’s iOS and/or Google’s Android.

  • Facebook Messenger adds group video chat

    Facebook Messenger is pushing out whole new features in rapid succession as 2016 comes to a close.

    A week after releasing a new, Snapchat-style camera, the wildly popular messaging app is introducing group video chat, its most requested feature.

    Group video chat on Messenger will be available globally, both on iOS and Android, and will start rolling out Monday.

    Messenger’s impressive run of new feature releases is evidence Facebook is unwilling to simply let it ride the coattails of the 1.79 billion user core app it’s inherently tied to. Instead, as Messenger ships fun new features, Facebook is proving the wisdom of spinning out the app in 2014, a move initially met with user backlash.

    Group video chat on Messenger will support up to six videos at a time, but up to 50 people can watch and, if they so choose, join via voice, stickers and the like.

    A video icon will now appear at the top right of group conversations, and tapping on it will alert group members and give them the choice to join.

  • WhatsApp soon to let you edit or revoke messages after sending them

    WhatsApp is set to let users of the messaging platform to edit or revoke messages after they have been sent.

    The feature, which is available in WhatsApp’s iPhone beta version, WhatsApp said it is disabled by default, meaning users have to turn it on manually.

    Aside the edit option, iPhone users of WhatsApp now have the flexible control to revoke any message that is already sent, meaning the sent message never existed.

    These upcoming features on WhatsApp work by long pressing a sent message. However, the feature to revoke sent message only work if the recipient is yet to see the message from the sender.

    Currently, WhatsApp lets users delete messages on the device level and the deleted messages remain visible to the recipient.

    Unfortunately, there is no word from the messaging platform on when the feature to edit or revoke sent messages will be available for Android beta users.

    Meanwhile, WhatsApp earlier received an update that brought two new features – streaming videos while they download, and animated GIF image support to the Android app earlier this month. Before now, these two features were only available to WhatsApp beta users only.

    With the WhatsApp video streaming, users are able to play videos right away without waiting for it to finish downloading.

    The animated GIF image support means that users can now send GIF via the attach file button which will open the Gallery on the device, and users can find the right GIF image to be shared.

  • Twitter launches ‘Live Video’ with Periscope integration in-app

    Twitter has launched the ability to create live videos via its Android and iOS apps with the help of Periscope. Just like Facebook, Twitter will also allow users to live stream video through the platform via a single tweet.

    The latest updates of Android and iOS bring this feature to Twitter, and it is already accessible in some countries.

    For this to work, the user must have Periscope installed on their smartphone. By clicking on the Tweet button, the user will now see three new options for adding media content via the camera. By pressing the Camera button, you now get the option to add photo, video, and start a live video.

    At this point, if you haven’t downloaded Periscope, Twitter will prompt you to do so. After signing up on Periscope, head back to Twitter to use the ‘Live Video’ feature.

    Once you click on Live Video, you are directed to Periscope to start the live video, but it is also live streamed simultaneously on Twitter as well. The tweet reads by default ‘live on #Periscope’, and all the users on your timeline can watch it.

    You can stop the broadcast and even save the video on to your phone if you prefer.

    “We started Periscope because we wanted to give people the superpower to share live video with an audience. Bringing this capability directly into the Twitter app is an important step because it brings that superpower to the hundreds of millions of people who use Twitter. “Twitter, already the place where people go to see what’s happening, with this update, anyone can now broadcast what’s happening live,” said Kayvon Beykpour, CEO of Periscope in a statement.

    Facebook was the first social giant to introduce the live video feature on its app, and Twitter has followed suit. It remains to be seen whether users will adopt this feature as wholeheartedly as they did on Facebook.

  • Samsung to release software update to end Galaxy Note 7 tale

    Samsung to release software update to end Galaxy Note 7 tale

    Samsung decided at the weekend to render a software update to stop the remaining Galaxy Note 7 phones from working for safety concerns.

    The update will start on Dec. 19 to prevent batteries of Note 7 from charging and actually turn the electronic products into bricks.

    According to Samsung, 93 percent of Note 7 owners have returned their devices in the United States because of fire catching and exploding accidents.

    As the phone was banned globally by many airlines, Samsung even opened stalls at airports for Note 7 owners to return their phones and get refunds before boarding their flights.

    However, the software upgrade will not be compulsory for each device. The phone users can choose not to update.

    “We will not push a software upgrade that will eliminate the ability for the Note 7 to work as a mobile device,” said the company in a statement.

    Also read: Five great Android phones, alternatives to Samsung Galaxy Note 7.

  • Google rolls out ‘wow’ updates on newly launched Android OS

    Google rolls out ‘wow’ updates on newly launched Android OS

    After releasing Android 7.1 Nougat Developer Preview 2 for Nexus and Pixel devices, Google has started rolling out the final Android 7.1.1 Nougat update for compatible devices, with ‘wow’ features, to also include the company’s monthly security update for December.

    The new Android 7.1.1 is being touted as “an update to Nougat” by Google. This Android 7.1.1 update will be available over the next several weeks to the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One) devices. The company says that the Android 7.1.1 update will be rolled out over-the-air (OTA) and the devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive this final version.

    Google has also released Android 7.1.1 factory images and OTA files for compatible devices.

    The Android 7.1.1 Nougat update will add new emojis that will reflect gender equality. Notably, Google had previously announced to add a slew of female emoji characters. With the Android 7.1.1 Nougat update, Google has added gender counterparts for emoji characters that previously only had male or female representation. Additionally, Google’s new set of emojis that launched with the Pixel phones will now be available to all compatible devices running Android Nougat.

    Apart from emojis, Google is also adding support for GIF images directly from keyboard on supported apps. Some of the apps that will support GIF images through Google Allo, Google Messenger, and Hangouts. The Android 7.1.1 Nougat update also brings app shortcuts directly from home screen. Users can launch actions on any apps by simply long pressing the app icon.

    “When we launched Android Nougat, we were excited to deliver even more ways to make Android your own. Today we’re rolling out Android 7.1.1, an update to Nougat that showcases more ways to express yourself, along with a handful of other sweet features and improvements to stability and performance. Android 7.1.1 brings many of the cool features of Pixel to everyone,” wrote Agustin Fonts, Product Manager of Google’s Android in a blog post.

    The company has also bundled its monthly security patch with Android 7.1.1 Nougat – for the month of December – bringing fixes for critical security vulnerabilities in device-specific code that could enable arbitrary code execution within the context of the kernel and can lead to the possibility of a local permanent device compromise.

    Google clarifies, “Supported Google devices will receive a single OTA update with the December 05, 2016 security patch level”.