iPhone 6 Reportedly Entering Final Quality Control Stage Ahead of Mass Production
New reports from Chinese media sources (Google Translate, via G for Games) claim that the iPhone 6 has entered a final product validation testing stage ahead of mass production before its launch this fall. Apple is reportedly working with Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory to produce a small number of units to ensure quality control standards have been implemented, as the device will then be mass produced at Apple’s various supply partners.
Previously, a report last month claimed that Apple had already begun mass production for the iPhone 6, however it is possible that reported production issues may have led to delayed testing and output. It is also unknown whether this final testing stage is for both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6, as Apple has reportedly had issues in producing the latter’s sapphire display and battery life.
Apple’s iPhone 6 is expected to be announced at a launch event on Tuesday, September 9. In addition to a larger screen, the device will likely incorporate a thinner, rounded form factor and feature a faster and more efficient A8 chip, as well as an improved camera with stabilization.
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Amazon Launches iOS Compatible ‘Amazon Local Register’ Card Reader [iOS Blog]
Amazon today launched the Amazon Local Register, a new iOS compatible card reader made to compete with Square’s Square Reader and Paypal’s Here card reader. Feautring an anti-swivel design and integration with Amazon payments, the Local Register accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover as Amazon is offering a special flat rate of just 1.75% per swipe until January 2016.
Amazon Local Register’s companion app for iOS offers a number of features to manage payments, allowing users to add items and discounts as well as the ability to track cash transactions, add staff accounts, change tax rates, and more. The app and the card reader can also connect with a number of cases, stands, receipt printers, cash drawers, and more.
The Amazon Local Register Secure Card Reader is avaliable now for $10 through Amazon’s website. The card reader’s companion app can be downloaded through the App Store today. [Direct Link]
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Shift’s debit card lets you pay with both real and virtual money
Part of the challenge of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies has simply been the need to juggle different apps and cards to use every payment option at your disposal. Wouldn’t it be nice if one card could handle everything? You might just get your wish. Shift Payments is testing a new debit card that can switch between real and virtual money on the spot, such as through an app; you could pay for morning coffee with Bitcoin and after-work groceries using real cash. Loyalty card support is in the works, too.
Whether or not you’ll get to use the card’s full potential is another matter. As Shift’s Meg Nakamura tells our colleagues at TechCrunch, American banks are jittery about backing the project; until (and unless) there’s a clear legal structure, you may be limited to handling digital cash. The team is willing to be patient, though, and it believes that loyalty points by themselves could be a big deal. If you’re willing to jump in early, you can sign up at Shift’s site to get an alert when testing opens up.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Shift Payments
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‘Shadow Realms’ is the next original game from the creators of ‘Mass Effect’
EA subsidiary studio BioWare has made some pretty popular games, and is known most recently for its Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises. Today at Gamescom, the developer gave us an insight into its first original title in some time — Shadow Realms. The “online action RPG” pits a team of four “Heroes” against the ghouls and demons of the “Shadow Legions,” including one player-controlled “Shadowlord.” The evil, lone player is able to manipulate the environment, place traps and control ghastly minions in an effort to thwart the Heroes’ progress.
The RPG will also be released in episodes, with different scenarios moving the story along as you customize your character to suit your particular play style. Shadow Realms is due out on PC next year, and the official site is now live if you want to learn more about the game or the new world BioWare has created. There’s also the option to register your interest in the alpha, which will begin testing for a lucky few next month.
Source: BioWare (Shadow Realms)
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Amazon undercuts Square and PayPal with its own mobile card reader
Square’s grand plan to democratize credit card payments has inspired a clutch of imitators, the latest of which is Amazon. The company has just announced Amazon Local Register, a credit card reader and app combination that’ll enable small businesses to take payments they wouldn’t otherwise get, as long as they have a smartphone or tablet lying around. The retailer is savagely undercutting both Square and PayPal Here, offering a flat charge of 1.75 percent per payment until the start of 2016, a full percent lower than the 2.75 and 2.7 percent asked by the other two. On January 2nd, however, the fee rises to 2.5 percent, a smaller yet still significant cut compared to Amazon’s rivals in the space. The gear’s available for Android, iOS and the company’s own Fire devices, priced at $10, and there’s even a business bundle for $380 that’ll include a Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 — which we figure is a whole lot cheaper than trying to install a cash register in your taco truck.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Amazon
Source: Amazon Local Register, (2), (3)
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Samsung’s premium Galaxy Alpha packs a metal frame and octa-core chip
Samsung’s finally launched the much-leaked Galaxy Alpha, a fancier-looking but stripped-down version of the Galaxy S5. As expected, it sports a substantially different, less rounded design than the GS5, with metal sides that gives it a glancing resemblance to an iPhone 5s. The phone is also much lighter and thinner than the flagship at a mere 7mm. However, Samsung has also slimmed the specs a notch: The screen is 720p compared to full HD (or quad HD), while the CPU is an octa core model (quad 1.8GHz + quad 1.3GHz), rather than the flagship’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 801. It also has a rather lackluster-sounding 1,860mAh battery, nearly 1,000mAh less than the GS5 — meaning you might really need the ultra-power saving mode. Other features include 4K video capture, S Health a fingerprint scanner, Gear wearable connectivity, and the usual array of Google apps. There’s no pricing yet, but it’ll arrive in September in black, white, gold, silver and blue colors, depending on the market.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung
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HTC is releasing its proprietary apps for non-HTC phones, starting with HTC Zoe
HTC has previously promised that it would release its proprietary apps for non-HTC phones in the near future, and it appears that time is almost upon us. Later this week, a beta of the HTC Zoe app is going to be released. Debuted on the HTC One M7, HTC Zoe is a photo/video capture app that allows 3 second clips to be taken and when viewed as a gallery create a unique visual experience. It’s definitely a brave move for HTC to launch such an app among all its countless other competitors, but this is presumably just the start of an exodus for all HTC apps.
HTC executive, Drew Bamford, is leading the effort comprised of a 260-strong team, so it’s definitely an effort that HTC isn’t shying away from, and one that it looks committed to following through with given its devotion of resources. Other HTC apps are sure to follow, including BlinkFeed. It’s good to see a manufacturer branch out and bring its proprietary apps to the Google Play Store for all the try; it’s definitely something that might even sway potential buyers towards their own devices.
What do you think about HTC releasing its proprietary apps for non-HTC phones? Let us know your thoughts.
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Opera’s web compression app can now save you some Vietnamese dong
After eight months of beta testing, the Opera Max web compression app is finally getting a launch partner, and it happens to be in Vietnam. Opera’s joining forces with local carrier Mobiistar to have the app preloaded on select Android devices (Lai504m, Bean414 and Prime508). By way of multimedia content plus text compression, the service claims to save up to 50 percent of data bandwidth — it’s all visualized in the app for your viewing pleasure. For those outside of Vietnam, you can still install the beta app and try it out in the US, Europe, Brazil and Russia; or try the customized version of Opera Max if you’re in China.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
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KitKat is now running on more than 20 percent of Android devices
In case there was any doubt that KitKat now has a solid foothold in the Android world, Google just offered some proof. Its usage data for early August shows that KitKat is on more than a fifth of active Android devices, at 20.9 percent. That’s a healthy improvement over July (17.9 percent), and a big leap over the 14.9 percent we saw in June. The folks in Mountain View aren’t explaining the steady growth, but it’s easy to figure out what’s going on — big-name devices like the LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S are bringing this latest OS flavor to a wider audience, and many older gadgets are still getting upgrades.
To no one’s surprise, that surge is coming at the expense of older releases. Every pre-KitKat version has declined, and Ice Cream Sandwich is only just floating above the 10 percent mark; at its current rate, it’s going to (finally) reach the single digits very soon. Whether or not KitKat ever reaches the majority is another matter. Android L is just a few months away, and it’s a big enough update that its predecessor might not grow quickly for much longer.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Via: Droid-Life
Source: Android Developers
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OnePlus One Wants your Lady! KitKat Reaches 20%! – ManDroid Daily
The ManDroid Daily is here for your Tuesday. I’m on a roll. Two in a row! Let’s hope I can keep it up. I am sure most of you have seen the debacle that is the OnePlus One marketing. They are trying way too hard, and should just sell the phone already. KitKat has reached more devices in the past month, which is always good to hear. Enjoy the video!
Android News
OnePLus One Ladies First contest gets taken down
KitKat reaches 20%
HTC One M8 Prime will be the HTC One M8 Max
Smasung’s VR Headset
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