Verizon announces HTC Desire 612 for tomorrow, October 9
Verizon on Tuesday announced its next Android smartphone, the HTC Desire 612, will arrive tomorrow, October 9. Sold free with a two-year service agreement, the phone is an entry-level and plastic take on HTC’s One M8 experience.
Sold as the Desire 610 by other wireless providers, the handset features a 4.7-inch display, 1.2GHz quad-core processor, 8-megapixel rear camera, and support for Verizon’s XLTE network. The Desire 612 runs Android 4.4KitKat and offers some of HTC’s special touches such as BlinkFeed and Zoe. Like the One M8, this one has dual front-facing speakers.
Verizon plans to offer the Desire 612 on its Edge equipment installation plan however they stopped short of breaking down payments.
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iPad Air 2 Dummy Model Again Showcases Touch ID, Thin Profile Ahead of Expected October Unveiling
Well-known Vietnamese blog Tinhte.vn today published images that reportedly show the design of Apple’s next generation iPad Air 2. The pictured device has the same general form factor as the existing iPad Air, but includes a thinner 7 mm profile that measures roughly the same as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and thinner than the current 7.5 mm iPad Air. In line with previous rumors, the iPad Air 2 model also includes a home button with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
Claimed iPad Air 2 mockup from Tinhte.vn
While this latest report includes detailed photographs and a video, they only give us a hint at Apple’s next-generation iPad as the device in the photos is described as a dummy model used by accessory manufacturers to test out and showcase their designs and not an actual iPad Air 2 unit leaked from a Foxconn assembly line. Similar to previous leaks, the iPad model has the same external design features seen in earlier leaks and in MacRumors‘ own dummy unit on hand since June.
Tinhte dummy unit (left) vs. MacRumors dummy unit (right)
Of perhaps most note, the Tinhte.vn and other dummy models include two distinctive small holes in the area of the rear camera — one on the back and one of the side of the casing. The hole closest to the camera is undoubtedly for a microphone, while the other hole likely marks the presumed location of the mute/rotation switch, which is not depicted ini full on the models. Today’s report and an earlier one have suggested this hole is for a microphone rather than simply marking the mute/rotation switch location, but we believe this interpretation is likely incorrect.
Apple is expected to unveil its iPad Air 2 and possibly a new Retina iPad mini at a press event to be held on October 16. The next-generation iPad Air is rumored to included a faster A8 processor, anti-reflective display, Touch ID, and a gold color option.
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We just had an out-of-body experience with this robot-Oculus project
It’s an unusual experience for a weekday afternoon: I stare up to see myself, staring up. I’m strapped into an Oculus Rift VR headset, which is both controlling (and streaming from) cameras atop a 1.5ft robot roaming around my feet. This robot on wheels is composed of segments that hold a stereo camera, storage, the ‘brains’ and importantly a wireless internet connection to stream dual camera feeds to a nearby PC — and reversely, receive movement instructions. The effect, courtesy of high-latency motion feedback from the Rift, is that when I turn to the right, or look upwards, the robot does exactly the same thing, with a motorized joint connected to the camera module matching my gaze.
Better still, I could could control it with a games controller: one analog stick commanded front and back, while a second turned the little stack of electronics around. This adds an unusual in-game effect to the process, although if you’re simply streaming a view from your immediate vicinity. It’s a surprisingly cool effect, but it’s easy to imagine this kind of setup used for remote monitoring, or even a damn fancy telepresence call. Imagine combining this Oculus Rift view with something like Softbank’s Pepper robot and well, things could get a little weird.
At CEATEC 2014 in Japan, the robot (which didn’t have a name when I visited), is hidden away from the imposing booths of Fujitsu and Toyota. It’s part of a stand showcasing entries for a Japan-based engineering and design prize, Gugen 2014. (In fact, last year’s Gugen winner was the low-cost prosthetic, Handie, which you can hear more about here.)
Filed under: Robots, Wearables
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Asda and Sainsbury’s to launch mobile payments in 2015
Mobile payments might be the next big thing for retailers, but we’ve still not reached the point where we can go out shopping and leave the wallet at home. Apple Pay may one day solve that problem, but it’s not yet launched in the US and there’s no UK release date in sight. Zapp, however, has quietly been working on its own platform, and it could change the way millions of Brits pay for their shopping. Today, the company announced that it’s teamed up with some of the UK’s biggest retailers, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Littlewoods, House of Fraser, Thomas Cook and Clarks, to let customers whip out their phones and pay for groceries, clothing and even holidays via its app.
The app connects itself to your account, instead of requiring you to top up, acting as the go-between your bank and the retailer. Stores can then embed payment buttons on their websites, get you to scan a QR code on a bill, or even use NFC to pay for items. Because it’s contactless, you may even be able to tap your phone to complete payment (if the purchase falls under £20). Zapp is currently piloting its mobile payment tech, but already has agreements with major banks to support the platform. Retailers are set to spend “tens of millions of pounds” promoting mobile payments ahead of its launch, which is expected early next year.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: Marketing
Source: Zapp (PDF)
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Square now tells your barista when to start brewing
Square isn’t just in the business of selling things — it wants to help you buy stuff too. And now, it’s taking the latter a step further by simplifying your daily quest for a piping-hot cup o’ joe. After today’s update, you can use the Square Order app to purchase coffee from a nearby Square-friendly cafe. So? Here’s the cool part: By using your phone’s location data, Order alerts the barista to start brewing the drink once you’re within a certain distance from the shop.
Once you arrive, the pickup is a cinch: Just grab it, walk out and your payment will be processed automatically — no lines, no interaction. That means whether you order the night before or while en route, you, the happy customer, is (almost) guaranteed a freshly made cup of java. And, if you have a regular routine, your daily orders customizations will be saved within the app for future use. Want to try it out? Blue Bottle coffee houses will support the feature as early as today, but you can bet your bottom dollar that it won’t be the only business to jump on the bandwagon.
Filed under: Software
Source: Square
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Apple TV update displays smart device info through HomeKit
Apple TV may soon be the defacto HomeKit smart home hub, judging release notes for the latest beta spotted by AppleInsider. The Software beta 2 release can now be “used for testing AirPlay and HomeKit with your iOS apps,” letting you set the devices as a remote HomeKit peer by connecting to iCloud. After that, info from smart devices like bulbs and thermostats will be automatically synced to Apple TV. Apple announced 18 partners at HomeKit’s launch, including Philips and Honeywell (but not Google-owned Nest) and has added several more recently. Though functionality seems limited for now, it looks like Cupertino is thinking ahead to the day when Apple TV could serve as a HomeKit mission control center. The set-top device is long overdue for a software overhall, so hopefully it’s the start of Tim Cook’s “grand vision” for Apple TV. If you’d like to try, you’ll need access to the developer portal and a dose of gumption.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Apple
Source: AppleInsider
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Google offers three months free Now TV streaming to UK Chromecast owners
Every now and again, Google likes to give something back to Chromecast owners. In July, it celebrated the streaming dongle’s first birthday by offering a free 90-day subscription to Google Play Music All Access, but now it’s now decided to provide UK streamers with more of a visual treat. If you head on over to Google’s Chromecast Offers site right now, you’ll be offered a free three month Entertainment Pass for Now TV, allowing you to stream all 13 of Sky’s pay TV channels live or on-demand. Sky’s streaming service hasn’t been available on the Chromecast all that long, so now might be the time to see what it’s all about.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Google
Source: Google Chromecast Offers
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Accessory of the Day: Samsung OEM MicroUSB travel charger $9.99
I’m of the belief that you can never have too many chargers. Between my frequent flights and jobs on the road, I often lose mine and I’m sure some of you are in the same boat. For less than 10 bucks, you can add an original equipment manufacturer charger for Galaxy/Note/MicroUSB devices straight from Samsung. Keep a spare in the house or throw one in your travel bag. 4-star reviews and a price of just $9.99 (Prime eligible) make this deal one well worth snatching.
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Google mobile app gets updated again
It wasn’t so long ago we all downloaded the Google Search app on our phones and were excited to have a dedicated search app from our favorite search engine. But, as Google kept growing, the Google Search app grew too, in fact, it grew right out of its name. With the addition of Google Now, and the expanded role the search app was taking on our phone the Google Search name became less and less relevant.
A few weeks ago Google quietly updated the Google Search app and gave it a much more appropriate name, Google. And, just yesterday, the Google mobile app was updated again with a handy new function.
From Google,
When you can’t remember whether you’ve paid your bills—or you simply can’t remember how much money you need to pay—you can now just ask Google. Tap the mic on the Google app (g.co/googleapp) and say, “Show me my bills” or “My bills due this week.” If you have the payment due date and amount in your Gmail, you’ll see a quick summary of upcoming and past bills.
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Tesco opens Hudl2 pre-orders
Suitably impressed by last week’s Hudl2 launch? Tesco is now ready to take your money. The supermarket giant has opened orders on its Direct store, allowing you to put aside one (or more) of its eight vividly coloured tablets for pick up tomorrow. For £129, you’ll enjoy an 8.3-inch Full HD display, 1.83GHz Intel Atom quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, stock Android 4.4.2 KitKat, 5-megapixel and 1.2-megapixel rear and front-facing cameras, Dolby-optimised rear-facing speakers, HDMI-out, dual-band Wi-Fi, 16GB of internal storage (with support for 32GB microSD) and upto 8 hours on a full battery charge. Tesco is currently offering 33 percent off Hudl2 cases if you redeem the relevant eCoupon, but make sure you cash in those Clubcard points to bring the total cost down even further.
Filed under: Tablets
Source: Tesco Direct
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