Purported Schematics and Details on iWatch Show Rectangular Body, Round Sensor Plate
With just one day to go until Apple’s media event where it is expected to show off not only the iPhone 6 but also its much-rumored “iWatch” wearable device, last-minute leaks and rumors are continuing to roll in. The latest involves schematics and details on the iWatch, and while it is difficult to assess the validity of the claims and images (which have been reposted to Imgur) given that they come from an anonymous Reddit post, the slide images are detailed enough that they are worth highlighting as a possibility.
The poster claims the iWatch will include a microphone, speaker, and support for Siri, and be waterproof to 20 meters with battery life of over a day. The device will reportedly come in eight different varieties as four “colors” in two sizes each.
Purported schematics are labeled as coming from Quanta, which has been reported to be Apple’s manufacturing partner for the device. The majority of the slides appear to show comparisons of how various parts have evolved between an earlier prototype stage (P2B) and the engineering validation test stage (EVT).
As shown in one poor-quality and obviously manipulated picture of what is said to be the device’s housing, the body would be somewhat rectangular in shape, with a large circular region centered in the bottom where the device’s health and fitness sensors are to be located to contact the skin.
While an assortment of iWatch rumors have pointed to displays of around 1.5 inches or as high as 2.5 inches, there have yet to be any leaks of claimed physical parts for the device, making it difficult to assess schematics such as these. At any rate, their validity will apparently become clear tomorrow as Apple officially takes the wraps off of the iWatch.
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Apple Now Sending Alert Emails When iCloud Accounts Accessed via Web [Mac Blog]
In an interview last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple would be beefing up iCloud security measures in response to the recent disclosure of compromised celebrity accounts. Among the additional security features said to be rolling out over the following two weeks were new email alerts whenever there is an attempted password change, a device restore from the account, or a login from a new device. Password change and login alerts had previously only been sent when the event took place on an unknown Apple device.
As noted by Letem světem Applem and confirmed by MacRumors, Apple has already begun sending out alert emails when iCloud accounts are accessed via web browsers. The alerts are being sent out even if the specific browser has been used previously to access iCloud, but this is presumably a one-time measure that will not be repeated for future logins with that combination of browser and machine.
With Apple rumored to be announcing a mobile payments service at tomorrow’s event, it is clear the company needs to reassure users that the company is taking security seriously. While the compromised celebrity accounts were targeted attacks rather than a wholesale breach of Apple’s iCloud systems, the company’s move to enhance security and keep users informed is an important one.
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Older iPhone 5 and iPad 2 Models Still Lead Apple’s iOS Device Lineups in Usage [iOS Blog]
As Apple prepares to launch its new iPhone 6, the iPhone 5 remains the company’s most popular model in use, claims Localytics in a report that examines both mobile and web app analytics data from over 100 million iOS devices for the month of August 2014. According to the report, the iPhone 5 has 27 percent market share, edging out the year-old iPhone 5s, which has 25 percent. The now free on contract iPhone 4S rounds out the top three with 21 percent of the iPhone market.
With a new iPhone 6 on the horizon, these iPhone numbers will undoubtedly shift as owners upgrade their phones. The biggest change will likely be in the iPhone 5, which will lose market share as customers take advantage of upgrade offers.
The iPhone 5, launched in 2012, is Apple’s most popular phone with a 27% share, but only leads its successor, the 5s, by a small (2%) margin. This is likely because most iPhones come with a cheaper price if the consumer locks into a two-year contract, putting the average consumer on a two-year upgrade cycle. With the new iPhones expected to be available for purchase later this month, the iPhone 6 will likely eat into the iPhone 5’s market share.
While consumers tend to upgrade their iPhone on a regular basis, the latest Localytics data suggests the iPad has a longer lifespan. Though it is more than three years old, the iPad 2 remains the most popular iPad model in the company’s lineup with 29 percent market share. Though it is heavily advertised and has received rave reviews, the current iPad Air occupies fifth place with 13 percent market share, beating only the original iPad.
In the past couple of years, Apple has launched the iPhone in September and the iPad in October, but one recent rumor claimed the company may unveil both devices during its press event tomorrow. But while numerous have pointed toward introduction for both the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6, along with the iWatch, new iPads are less certain.
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My First Hour Playing: This War of Mine Preview
Often, I know exactly how I’m going to feel about a game after just watching a trailer – some set my pulse racing, others make me feel like they just revealed their whole hand in a high stakes Poker match, and others make me feel such intrigue that I get extremely excited about it. The last emotion is exactly how I felt after watching the trailer for 11 bit studios‘ newest game, This War of Mine. If 11 bit studios sounds familiar, that’s because they are the studio behind the award winning Anomaly strategy game series, and This War of Mine is a foray away from that frenetic gameplay with something a little deeper, and boy, have they nailed it. I was fortunate enough to get to try a preview build of This War of Mine, and I’ll be sharing my thoughts about it below. Keep in mind though that this is just a preview and the final game may differ from what I express here.
The premise of This War of Mine is war. Except, unlike most other war time games, you aren’t actively fighting in the war. Often what is overlooked in war time are the people affected, the people in the crossfire, or – for lack of a more humane term – the collateral. These are the people that you will be playing and the outlook is bleak. This much is clear even from just the title menu – while I’m sure the final game will have more game options, the only selectable option here is “Survive”.
If you want to find out more about This War of Mine, head over to TheSavvyTechs to read the full review. Note that the This War of Mine preview was for the PC version, but it is expected for release sometime in the remainder of 2014 for PC and mobile devices.
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The post My First Hour Playing: This War of Mine Preview appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
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AndroidGuys 2014-09-08 13:00:02
There is a large array of bluetooth speakers and speakerphones out there on the market. Some are better than others with each one trying to get the upper hand on their competitors. Trying to stand out in a crowded field is not always that easy. Lofree has come out with a truly uniquely designed bluetooth speaker that really breaks the mold on how these speakers should be built.
The device itself is different. The form concept of this device is something that I find intriguing and when it comes right down to it, looks awesome. Unlike your normal shaped bluetooth speaker device, not matter what the shape be it typically does not have light bursting through it. That’s right, this bluetooth speaker has an effect to where it has slices in the casing of the device causing it to look like light is literally busting through the device. Taking full advantage of this led lighting ability, Lofree has also allowed the device to act as a night light too.
The packaging for the device was impressive and stylish. Coming in a padded white box, it was almost like opening up a Christmas present. It comes with an audio cable and a usb charging cable, both which are white and stylishly flat. The packaging and the device accessories set the correct tone for the device itself.
The build quality and design of this device is incredible. The Lofree Edge has some weight to it. Normally weight for accessories is bad, you want them to be as light as possible, for this specific device though, the weight was welcomed. It made me feel like it was a quality device using strong materials and not using cheaper plastics.
Another neat feature on this device is how they hide the buttons in order to keep with the visual design flow of the device. The buttons are on the bottom of the device staying hidden and easy controlled by pressing down on the corners.
The device is a bluetooth speakerphone toting a built-in microphone and a high quality audio decoder chip that allows the users to experience crisp, crystal clear sound. I am a picky speakerphone user. I need something that has good volume and that is clear to hear. I’ve been to one to many Aerosmith concerts and my hearing is picky. I need a speakerphone that is loud and clear and my experience with the Edge is that it more than outperformed my picky expectations.
This speaker is also a great bluetooth speaker for playing back your media files as well. The sound quality for music was loud with a nice, deep rich sound and the quality of the sound was very much in par for a device in this product range.
The Lofree Edge has decent battery life claiming to get about 5 hours. My experience was closer to about 4 hours 30 minutes at full volume with a few speakerphone calls mixed in. Recharge time was about 3 hours. With a device of this size, I would have liked to seen a little longer play time but I guess that is the trade off for having the lights on the speaker.
After a week playing with the device I have to say I love it. I’ve tested out a couple bluetooth speakers now for AndroidGuys and I have to say that this one so far has been my favorite. It not only has awesome build quality but is also stylish and unique. Looks aren’t everything though and this device holds its own by rocking out with both volume and sound quality.
You can pick up this uniquely lit up bluetooth speaker and speakerphone device from Amazon for the price of $49.99.
The post appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Google: The upcoming Android Wear update will come to all Android Wear devices
There’s been some talk lately about the upcoming Android Wear update (though it might come as two separate updates) and the array of devices Google will push it to. Google officially stated that all Android Wear-powered devices will receive that update, which is a great thing of course. What features are on the way to… Read more »
The post Google: The upcoming Android Wear update will come to all Android Wear devices appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at SmarterWatching.com!
The post Google: The upcoming Android Wear update will come to all Android Wear devices appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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LG: The G Watch R will go on sale in October
As you all know, LG already has an Android Wear-powered smartwatch out on the market, the LG G Watch. LG did however announced their own circular Moto 360-like smartwatch which will feature a sporty look, the watch is called LG G Watch R. I guess the “R” stands for “Round”, though that’s besides the point…. Read more »
The post LG: The G Watch R will go on sale in October appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at SmarterWatching.com!
The post LG: The G Watch R will go on sale in October appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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BlackBerry’s upcoming ‘Classic’ smartphone looks like this
BlackBerry had no part in the torrent of mobile news that erupted at last week’s IFA tradeshow, but new leaked images remind us the company’s got a fresh batch of smartphones in its pipeline, too. Originating from the Weibo account of a reseller who occasionally gets hold of prototype devices, the pictures reportedly show the upcoming BlackBerry Classic (aka Q20), due to launch sometime in November. Announced at Mobile World Congress earlier this year but kept away from the cameras, the Classic appears to be significantly bigger and squarer than its predecessor, and brings back the physical navigation keys and trackpad of handsets past.
From a hardware perspective, the images show stereo speakers and external nano-SIM/microSD card drawers, in addition to the overall design. The leaker also reports the Classic’s camera has more realistic color reproduction than the Q10, it’s thinner than the old-school Bold 9900, and that their handset is running the unreleased 10.3 OS update (build 10.3.1.209, to be exact). Apparently, the keyboard also feels a little better to use than those of the Q10 or Bold 9900, which should please BlackBerry loyalists if true. It certainly looks like it’ll offer a better typing experience than the strange BlackBerry Passport recent leaks suggest will also arrive before year’s end, anyway.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Via: SlashGear, CrackBerry
Source: Weibo
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Tivo proves that ‘size matters’ with absurd 26,000 hour DVR
TiVo has taken the TV-watching to a new, insane dimension with the Mega, a rack-mountable, 24TB DVR that will cost around $5,000. That trumps its current flagship Roamio Pro‘s 4TB storage by sixfold and makes it look quaint in comparison. Like that box, the Mega supports six channels of simultaneous recording, built-in transcoding, multi-room capability and live internet streaming to smartphones or tablets. In addition, it uses RAID 5 and hot-swappable drives, so that you won’t lose your Shark Week marathon in case of a hard disk failure.
While the Mega seems like overkill in nearly every way, TiVo explained that “size matters — people hate being forced to delete cool stuff from their DVR.” That shouldn’t be a problem, since the new system brings 4,000 hours of HD recording, or nearly 26,000 hours at regular SD resolution. However, with the five grand price tag, you’ll need to both be rich and have a lot of time to watch TV, a market segment we doubt is all that large. However, with a full keyboard, ethernet and a recording scheduler, it could also appeal to video producers or broadcasters who need to track and store a lot of content. TiVo said the Mega will arrive early next year along with final pricing, but if you’re interested, beware — it’s not likely to fit under your TV stand.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage
Via: The Verge
Source: TiVo
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ASUS’ latest low-cost Windows tablet ditches the pen
If you’ve wanted an affordable 8-inch Windows tablet from ASUS, your only recent option has been the VivoTab Note 8. While that’s no doubt a fine machine, you might not want to pay extra for pen input if you don’t need it. Thankfully, you don’t have to any more; ASUS has quietly launched the VivoTab 8, a close cousin to the Note 8 that drops the stylus and digitizer. In many ways, it’s now a MeMO Pad 8 running Microsoft’s software instead of Google’s. You’ll still find a 1.33GHz Atom processor, a 1,280 x 800 display and a 2-megapixel front camera, but a few things have switched up to accommodate Windows while keeping the price in check. The newer slate has a larger 32GB of expandable storage and ships with 2GB of RAM in some regions instead of 1GB, but it drops back to a 2-megapixel rear cam — sorry, you won’t be capturing any photographic masterpieces here. ASUS hasn’t revealed any launch plans yet. However, it’s safe to presume that the VivoTab 8 will save you at least some cash versus the Note 8’s original $330 sticker.
Via: Liliputing
Source: ASUS
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AIVAnet 