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24
Aug

Wearable device shipments have soared in the past year


Samsung Gear Live

In case you had any doubts that wearable devices were catching on, Canalys just delivered some tangible proof. The analyst group estimates that the tech industry shipped roughly 4.5 million smartwatches and fitness trackers in the first half of 2014, or nearly 700 percent more than it managed a year earlier. Not surprisingly, most of the watches were Samsung devices — the Korean company’s rapid-fire Gear watch releases made it almost ubiquitous. Pebble and Sony also did well in this fledgling space. Fitbit and Jawbone, meanwhile, moved many of the simpler wristbands.

Having said this, wearables are still far from hitting the mainstream. Mobile device makers shipped over 300 million smartphones in the second quarter of the year alone; smart wristwear ultimately represents a drop in the bucket. And that’s also assuming that it’s selling well. Samsung’s quick reinvention of the Gear line was an admission that it didn’t have many fans early on. Shipments may be up across the board, but it’s possible that some of the companies involved are struggling. All the same, interest isn’t likely to cool down any time soon — between the arrival of Android Wear and rumors of watches from Apple and Microsoft, the category may just be getting started.

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Source: Canalys

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24
Aug

4.7-Inch and 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 to Carry 2x and 3x Retina Displays, Suggests Apple Journalist John Gruber


Throughout the past few months, a number of rumors have suggested many different resolutions for both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6, giving a variety of reasons as to how Apple will best optimize a larger screen size for both users and developers.

Prominent Apple journalist John Gruber has now given his in-depth take on the subject, stating that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will feature a resolution of 1334 x 750 with 326 pixels per inch, while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will have a resolution of 2208 x 1242 with 461 pixels per per inch.

iphone_5s_6_grass 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 mockups compared to iPhone 5s
Gruber notes that keeping the current “2x” Retina resolution at 326 ppi on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 would be consistent with Apple’s previous patterns on iOS devices:

At 4.7 inches, 1334 × 750 works perfectly as a new iPhone display, addressing problem #1, showing more content. With point dimensions of 667 × 375, this display would show 1.38 times more points than the iPhone 5. At 326 pixels-per-inch, everything on screen would remain exactly the same physical size. There would just be 38 percent more room for content.

Gruber also adds that moving to a “3x” Retina resolution at 461 ppi for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would display an even greater amount of content while being able to render the same Retina pixels on a larger scale:

Everything works at these dimensions for a 5.5-inch display. With an increase in area of 68 percent and a scaling factor of 1.06, this display would address both reasons why someone might want a very large iPhone: it would show a lot more content, and it would render everything on screen, point-for-point, a little bit bigger. And at 461 pixels-per-inch, everything would be amazingly sharp.

In both of those examples, existing apps would still be able to run at such resolutions, as optimizing current apps would be made easier considering the scaled nature of the displays.

The given 1334 x 750 resolution of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 contrasts information and photos shared by luxury modified iPhone vendor Feld & Volk earlier this week, which showed the display of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 under a microscope that was said to carry a resolution of 1704 x 960. That resolution has also been cited in previous rumors, but Gruber claims in his post that an iPhone 6 with a resolution of 1704 x 960 would only work well for 4.0-inch displays, as it would not show any additional content compared to the iPhone 5 when measured in touch points.

Gruber also comments on the possibility of both a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 with a resolution of 1472 x 828. The claim states that such a resolution on the 4.7-inch device would render UI elements and text about 10 percent smaller, while such a resolution on the 5.5-inch device would equal out to be 307 pixels per inch, or only marginally better than Apple’s original definition of the Retina display as being at least 300 PPI.

The iPhone 6 is expected to be unveiled on Tuesday, September 9 at a media event. It is likely that the 4.7-inch version will go on sale about a week after the announcement, as the 5.5-inch may be held back due to production issues. In addition to a larger display, the iPhone 6 will likely feature a thinner design, a faster A8 processor, an improved camera, a more durable Touch ID sensor, and more.




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24
Aug

Feedback Loop: obscure TV channels, what’s in your bag and more!


Happy Saturday! Welcome to another edition of Feedback Loop! This week we’re exploring obscure TV channels, the gadgets you travel with and just how much space is too much on your phone. So sit back, get comfy and get ready to talk with fellow readers.

Do you need 128GB in a phone?

With rumors circulating that the iPhone 6 will come in a 128GB model, Dave is wondering if we really need that much storage. He’s currently using around 40GB in his 64GB iPhone, but still wants more room for his apps and music. Would you want a phone with this much capacity or is it kind of unnecessary?

What are your favorite weird or obscure TV channels?

Our very own Zach Honig explores the odd collection of channels bundled into your cable TV subscription; turns out we’re paying for a lot useless and redundant crap. However, Kris enjoys some of the more obscure networks she receives — in particular the rerun-heavy Cozi and the diverse action of ONE World Sports. If you have a cable plan, what obscure channels are you tuning into?

What do you keep in your bag?

Whenever I head to the office or get ready to fly, I always feel like I overpack my bag. I stuff it with what seem like essential items, but maybe some of you have ideas for how to lighten my load. Whether you travel light or like to pack your bag full of gear, head on over to share what you’re rocking while on the go.

OnePlus One vs. Oppo Find 7

After being lucky enough to acquire a OnePlus One, as well as grabbing an Oppo Find 7, awsom is looking for help in figuring out which one is superior. Brad and Chris reviewed both phones already, but we’re curious to know what you think. If you have either device, give awsom a hand in determining which one is the best.

Other discussions you may also like:

That’s all this week! Want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion!

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24
Aug

Google’s modular phone gets cheaper thanks to a new processor


Project Ara prototype

One of the biggest challenges behind Google’s modular Project Ara phone platform has been getting processors to play nicely with the technology. How do you let someone swap out the very heart of their device as easily as they would a memory card? By creating a CPU for that very purpose, that’s how. Rockchip has started work on a system-on-chip with modular tech built-in; your phone won’t need any bridge chips or other special tricks to let you switch processors on a whim. You won’t see the hardware in action until a Rockchip-based Ara prototype arrives in early 2015. However, the plans show that Google’s vision of a completely upgradable handset is both feasible and potentially inexpensive. Don’t be surprised if some of the earliest Ara phones (or rather, their parts) easily fit within your budget.

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Source: Google ATAP (Google+)

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24
Aug

Image of Redesigned Apple USB Power Adapter Surfaces


A new image said to be of a redesigned Apple USB power adapter has been shared by a user on Weibo (Google Translate, via Gizmobic), hinting that Apple’s supposed new Lightning cable may be released alongside a new charger. The power adapter appears to be more rounded compared to Apple’s current offering, and also includes grooves on each side to improve comfort while holding and inserting the accessory.

new_usb_charger
While it is possible that the product in the image could be of a fake, the charger does have the signature “Designed by Apple in California” text along with other applicable information and logos. The user also shows another image of the new Lightning cable with its reversible USB connector, which has been spotted in a number of other photos and even a video throughout the past few weeks.

If both new products turn out to be real, it is possible that Apple could ship a new Lightning cable and new USB power adapter alongside this fall’s expected lineup of new iOS devices, possibly starting with the iPhone 6 next month.




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24
Aug

HTC’s first tablet in years pops up in a trade group filing


HTC One M8 in gold

HTC hinted that it would get back into tablets this year, and there have been detailed rumors covering the effort. However, tangible evidence of that hardware has been hard to come by — until now, that is. The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified the “Flounder,” a tablet that would run Google’s upcoming Android L. While the listing doesn’t say much by itself, the model numbers match those in an @upleaks post mentioning that there would be a WiFi-only model as well as LTE variants for both the world at large and American CDMA carriers (think Sprint or Verizon). These tidbits don’t confirm many of the other rumored aspects of the slate, such as the 8.9-inch display, Tegra K1 processor or Nexus badging. However, they at least suggest that HTC is close to releasing its first tablet since 2011′s Flyer — if you’ve spent years hoping for a follow-up device, you may well get your wish.

HTC's first tablet in years pops up ina

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Via: Talk Android, Phone Arena

Source: Wi-Fi Alliance (PDF), @upleaks (Twitter)

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