Apple fines companies $50 million for leaks
For a company that’s obsessed with secrecy, it’s no surprise to see that Apple imposes tight restrictions on what its suppliers can say. If your company leaks a product, or starts boasting about producing components for a future iOS device, then you’ll be asked to pay a fine of no less than $50 million. That’s chump change for a company like Samsung, but a fortune for smaller outfits that may produce only one or two small pieces. Speaking of which, this fact only emerged thanks to GT Advanced Technologies, which has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after deciding to close and sell-off its loss-making sapphire crystal manufacturing facilities.
GT had originally been tipped to produce sapphire crystal displays for the iPhone 6, but when both handsets launched, they were said to use “ion-strengthened glass.” The announcement sent GT’s share price tumbling, and now it needs the court’s help to save it from total collapse, since it owes Apple almost $600 million in advance payments for displays it won’t or couldn’t use. GT, however, has petitioned a New Hampshire district court to help declare Apple’s “oppressive” non-disclosure agreement to be null and void, saving it from the penalty and helping it to convince buyers that it’s worth picking up the valuable sapphire crystal production hardware. Of course, the knock-on effect is that the company will then be able to reveal what Apple was planning to do with the technology, which we imagine won’t sit well with those privacy-focused folks over in Cupertino.
Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile, Apple
Source: The Financial Times, GT Filing (Scribd)
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NI’s latest Traktor DJ controller ditches old-fashioned jog wheels
Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol DJ decks have clung to old-school jog wheels for ages, in part to help you transition from vinyl and turntables to digital mixers. However, you’re probably not a stranger to modern technology these days — and appropriately, NI has a new controller to match. Its Kontrol S8 replaces those wheels with displays and touch-sensitive input that lets you control many aspects of the included Scratch Pro 2 software directly on the mixer, rather than having to switch to your laptop. Aside from embracing the digital era, this also lets you focus more on your performance (and, presumably, the crowd). Just be prepared to play some extra gigs to pay this off. The S8 will go on sale October 30th for $1,299, or about as much as the computer you’ll need to host the companion software.
Filed under: Peripherals
Source: Native Instruments
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Philips’ wearable sensor gives COPD patients constant health tracking
Philips is no stranger to the healthcare industry, and with a new sensor, it’s looking to further dive into medical wearables for real-world use. The company developed a gadget for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) sufferers that’s worn inside a disposable adhesive patch, continuously gathering diagnostic stats like heart rate, respiratory function and physical activity (or inactivity). All of the data is collected on the sensor, transferred to the patient’s mobile device and uploaded to a cloud-based healthcare repository. The tech, which was co-developed with Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands, allows doctors to monitor patients from afar and assess an episode before things get too severe. According to Philips, this is just the first in a line of low-cost sensors in the works to monitor chronic medical conditions in real time.
Filed under: Wearables, Science
Source: USA Today
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OnePlus sends Cyanogen Camera app to the Play Store
Following the lead of other manufacturers that use the Google Play Store to distribute core apps, OnePlus has made the Cyanogen Camera app that is part of CyanogenMod 11S, the special version of the operating system used for the OnePlus One smartphone, available in Google Play. By using the Play Store, manufacturers are able to push out updates more quickly and easily to end users. This eliminates the need for an app to go through a carrier’s review process to be included in an OTA update, which tend to be sporadic in their timing.
For now at least, the Cyanogen Camera app is exclusive to OnePlus devices, so don’t expect to load it on your phone if you visit the Play Store with some other device. If you just want to check out the Play Store listing or you have a device that can use the Cyanogen Camera or needs to be updated, use one of the Google Play download links below.
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AT&T introduces new Passport plans for international travelers
AT&T has announced some new packages intended to help international travelers. The packages are part of a new AT&T Passport line of services with three levels available. The packages or primarily designed for travelers who may not travel frequently or when they do it is for short trips abroad. Each package is good for one to 30 days. AT&T will charge a one-time fee and the Passport package will expire automatically at the end of 30 days, so no need to worry about canceling the service.
The Passport packages come in three levels – Passport, Passport Plus and Passport Pro – for a one-time charge of $30, $60, or $120 respectively. The difference in pricing is primarily based on the amount of cellular data available, with the packages coming with either 120 MB, 300 MB or 800 MB of data. Moving to a higher tier has the benefit of lowering the data overage rate from $0.25 per MB to $0.20 per MB to $0.15 per MB.
In addition to the variance in data prices, the plans come with varying costs for talk minutes, from $1.00 per minute with the Passport plan to $0.50 per minute for Passport Plus or $0.35 per minute for Passport Pro. All three plans come with unlimited messaging and unlimited access to WiFi hotspots in countries where the hotspots are available like the U.K., France, Germany, Japan or Mexico.
The Passport packages can be added to an existing domestic plan for the one-time fee assuming a customer has a compatible smartphone. For more regular travel abroad, AT&T offers AT&T Global packages with the same tiers as Passport, but on a monthly recurring basis. Data-only Passport and Global packages are available as well for tablets, laptops or other data-only devices.
source: AT&T
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ilumini LED Smartbulb: Brighten your life with an intelligent light $79 [Deal of the Day]
Imagine waking up to an array of golden hues cascading across your bed and simulating an invigorating sunrise in the middle of a gloomy winter. With the ilumini LED Smartbulb, a color tunable lighting solution, complete control of the spectrum is in the palm of your hand.
Compatible with Android 4.3 and Bluetooth 4.0, this Smartbulb replaces your current bulbs and deliver a wide variety of features to your home. Schedule a sunrise, shape and craft unique scenes, or even synchronize a strobe effect to your favorite music. These bulbs are energy efficient, lasting up to 20 years, and are 5x “greener” than conventional bulbs. Backed by billionaire Mark Cuban, the ilumini A21 will revolutionize your home and surely impress guests. Regularly priced at $90, AndroidGuys readers now receive 12% off. The world’s smartest light can now be yours for just $79, shipped.
Check this deal out, and many others at deals.androidguys.com!
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OnePlus announce JBL partnership and E1+ Earphones
Just after announcing an update that inludes support for high-resolution audio, OnePlus have announced a partnership with audio pioneers JBL and are launching the E1+ Earphones tailor-made for the young company’s flagship device. The headphones feature 9mm JBL drivers with PureBass technology and a flat, tangle-resistant cable. Also included is an in-line three-button remote which does everything you’d expect it to, but can also take photos.
Click here to view the embedded video.
OnePlus could do worse than JBL in terms of partnerships, and it will be interesting to see what other products the team produces in the future. The E1+ Earphones will be available later this month and will go for $39.99. Sound off in the comments section with your thoughts on the partnership.
Source: OnePlus
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Oppo N3′s camera shown off in teaser
As we roll ever closer to Oppo’s announcement of the N3 flagship, we’re seeing more and more teasers from the company. From specs to an updated cooling system, to a aerospace-grade alloy (and steel), the N3 is shaping up to be an interesting and powerful device. Despite Oppo showing us various camera designs, the whole thing remained a bit of a mystery. Those that remember the N1 know that the camera swiveled, giving people unprecedented selfie power long before selfie phones became a thing. Well Oppo has finally taken a bit of the mystery away after it leaked the above image on Weibo.
We’ll have to wait and see what the front of the handset looks like, but as we can from the back, the rear camera is engrained in a patch of faux leather, much like the entire back of the Note 3/4. From what we can tell in the picture, the camera may be able to swivel like that of the N1. It also appears that the N3 will have a dual-flash setup like the N1′s rotating 13MP Sony Exmor RS camera sensor.
We’re a little over two weeks away from the announcement in Singapore. Is this your next Android device?
source: Weibo
via: Android Authority
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Samsung announces development of commercially-viable 60GHz Wi-Fi technology
Samsung have been winning so much at the Android game that it is easy to forget that the tech giant has their hand in so many other technologies. In a press release today, Samsung announced that they have begun development of 60GHz Wi-Fi technology, allowing for data transmission speeds five-times faster than what is capable with current consumer technology.
Samsung’s advancements removes the barrier between actual and theoretical speeds by eliminating co-channel interference regardless of how many devices are on the same network. In the past there were many challenges in adopting 60GHz Wi-Fi as the signal had weak penetration properties resulting in a weaker and slower signal. Samsung overcame these obstacles by developing a wide-coverage beam forming antenna and the world’s first micro beam-forming control technology, allowing them to achieve the highest-quality commercially capable 60GHz Wi-Fi technology.
Commercialization the 60GHz band is expected as early as next year and Samsung plans to implement the technology into many of their products including telecommunications equipment and medical devices. Sounds promising and will come in handy as many streaming services are slowly rolling out 4K content and streaming video games. Let us know in the comments what you think of Samsung’s exciting new technology!
Source: Samsung
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Xperia Z3 and Peek help doctors diagnose eye conditions around the world
Stewart Jordan, the cofounder of Peek — a portable eye exam kit — was almost diagnosed as being blind and without treatment and contact lenses would most certainly be that way today. As such, Stewart is using Peek, a set of apps loaded onto smartphones and a clip-on adapter, to help ophthalmologists with diagnosing eye conditions around the world. The newest smartphone to be apart of this process is the new Xperia Z3.
Combined with the Z3′s low-light capabilities and 20.7MP camera, Peek can get a good look at patients’ eyes. It’s been introduced in Guatemala and given that the field will be rural in nature, eye doctors will benefit from the water and dust resistance that Sony phones are known for.
“It is difficult for the bulky equipment that you find in a hospital to be transported out there,” says Stewart. “But with Peek and a smartphone we can send just one person almost anywhere and they can perform some high quality eye examinations.”
Besides Guatemala, Peek and Sony will donate over 150 smartphones to places like India, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania. We have the video of Peek in action below. Check it out.
Click here to view the embedded video.
source: Sony
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AIVAnet 