HTC is planning their own line of premium tablets to launch in 2015
If it wasn’t clear with the announcement of the Nexus 9, HTC is back in the tablet game, and their Chief Financial Officer Chang Chia-lin had some details to share during the company’s recent earnings conference call. Planning a launch sometime next year, the Taiwanese company may be looking into co-branding to expand HTC’s brand appeal (similar to their former partnership with Beats). HTC North Asia President Jack Tong also revealed that HTC is aiming for the mid and high-tier tablet market, claiming the profit margin in the budget tablet sector is too slim.
While the tablets won’t be cheap, they will likely be premium devices in every aspect, utilizing HTC’s amazing design team. It will be interesting to see what brands HTC partners up with in the future. Anyone out there getting excited at the prospect of an HTC tablet with the manufacturer’s Sense skin and HTC’s design language? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Focus Taiwan
Via: Android Authority
Come comment on this article: HTC is planning their own line of premium tablets to launch in 2015
Accessory of the Day: Pack of 10 microfiber cleaning cloths plus extras, $7.99
Time to wipe away those pesky smudges and oily blotches from your screen? This pack of Microfiber Cleaning Cloths is perfect for your phones, tablets, cameras, and even glasses! Included in the pack are ten 6 x 7″ cleaning cloths and two 5.5 x 3″ cloths. With the 5-star reviews that manufacturers dream of, this bargain is available for only $7.99 (Prime eligible)!
Join Prime and get this deal with FREE two-day shipping!
Also worth checking out:
- Samsung Galaxy SIII [White] (Unlocked) – $157.47
- Motorola Moto G [Black] (Unlocked) – $199.99
- Western Digital 1TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive – $59.99
The post Accessory of the Day: Pack of 10 microfiber cleaning cloths plus extras, $7.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Tesla’s Model S aces European safety tests too
Tesla’s electric vehicles might be known for their impressive range and executive looks, but founder Elon Musk is always keen to emphasize their impressive safety standards too. After picking up an unprecedented 5.4 stars on the US’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) inspection last year, the company’s Model S sedan has received an equally glowing score in Europe. Many cars have got full marks in European safety tests this year, but it’s less common for them to pick up the same score both in Europe and the US, where testing procedures differ.
The Model S’ unique design gives Tesla an advantage. With no engine under the hood, it has a large “crumple zone” at the front and a low center of gravity (thanks to a floor-mounted battery) for avoiding rollovers. But that doesn’t mean Musk and co. will stop there. As part of Tesla’s grand “D” unveiling last month (an all-wheel-drive version of the Model S), the company announced new safety features and “Autopilot” hardware that includes 12 ultrasonic sensors, a forward-looking camera and radar, and digitally-controlled electric brake booster. It also promises to deliver blind spot, forward and side collision warnings, as well as automatic emergency braking as part of a future software update.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Tesla
Source: NCAP
Smart light bulb fools burglars by pretending you’re at home
BeON is crowdfunding the project by offering bundles based on the size of your home. Apartment dwellers can pledge between $199 and $269 to get a three-pack; those with larger abodes can plunk down $395 to $535 for six units, and those with sprawling estates can shell out $595-plus for nine bulbs. So long as everything remains on track, you’ll get your gear between April and August. This isn’t the cheapest smart lighting system you’ll see, but it could make the most sense if you go on enough trips to worry frequently about break-ins.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1939377437/beon-stress-free-home-security/widget/video.html
Filed under: Household
Source: Kickstarter
BFI updates its movie streaming service with more films and a new look
As video streaming increases in popularity, providers need to do all they can to stand out from their rivals. Now just over a year old, the British Film Institute (BFI) has decided to give BFI Player, its own movie offering, a little spring clean. The new version sports a flat, streamlined design with large movie stills across the homepage. The BFI has also added a raft of new movies from Universal Pictures, including E.T and Back to the Future, bringing its total catalog to 1,400 titles (up from just over 1,000 at launch). The on-demand service doesn’t require a monthly subscription, instead offering a mixture of free and paid-for movies with a 30-day viewing window. To help you get more from its growing library, the Institute has introduced curated collections, which currently cover sci-fi and cult cinema hits. You’ll also be able to create your own in the near future, if making lists is your thing.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet
Source: BFI Player
Dell’s new Venue 11 Pro tablet is thin and light enough to take on the Surface Pro 3
Nope, that’s not a Surface Pro up there. But it’s close. Dell just refreshed its 10.8-inch Venue 11 Pro tablet, and, much like Microsoft’s slate, it’s gone on a bit of a diet. Whereas the original Venue 11 Pro ran on a traditional, laptop-grade Core i5 processor, this one uses one of Intel’s new Core M chips, which allows it to be much thinner and lighter — and fanless, too. All told, it now comes in at 1.62 pounds and measures .42 inch thick — not bad for what’s essentially an 11-inch laptop replacement. (It’s even slightly lighter than the Surface Pro 3, though to be fair, Microsoft’s tablet also has a bigger screen.)
As before, it’ll be available with your choice of Core i3- and i5-series processors, a 1080p IPS screen and an optional Synaptics-made digitizer for pressure-sensitive pen input. Given that this is a lower-powered Core M processor, we wouldn’t be surprised if the performance were slightly below last year’s model but even so, battery life is supposed to be longer: up to 10 hours on the tablet, plus another 10 if you add the optional Mobile Keyboard, which has its own 10-hour battery built in. Speaking of the sort, both of last year’s keyboards, including the “Slim” folio, will work with this year’s model as well. Good news for IT departments that already sprang for the accessories, and only want to upgrade the actual tablet. The Venue Pro 11 starts at $699 with the Slim keyboard included. Storage starts at 64GB, but there will also be 128GB and 256GB models available. Look for it this month, and in the meantime, enjoy the hands-on photos.
Audience’s software lets PCs process your voice without special chips
Previously, Audience’s sound processing tricks have required a dedicated chip, limiting where you would see it; you’re more likely to get clever noise cancelling in your phone than in a PC. That’s changing shortly thanks to S1.0, the company’s first software-only approach to voice processing. The code primarily gives x86-based PCs better-than-usual noise reduction; people shouldn’t hear echoes or typing sounds while you’re in the middle of a chat. Audience’s technology also brings 360-degree voice boosting, so you can hold conference calls without making everyone huddle around the computer. There aren’t any confirmed customers for S1.0 just yet, but the company vows that “major PC OEMs” are testing it as you read this.
Don’t worry, phone fans, you’re covered as well. Audience is simultaneously unveiling two mobile audio chips, the eS804 and eS854. Both have improved noise cancelling and VoiceQ listening, so you’re both more likely to get your message across and less likely to accidentally wake up your phone. If your device has the eS854, you’ll also getting a new Smart Audio Codec that should handle all varieties of sound processing, not just speech. Manufacturers will have to wait until the first quarter of 2015 to get sample units, which suggests that you’ll see (or rather, hear) these eS800 chips in phones around the middle of next year.
Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Mobile
Source: Audience
Android Lollipop delayed until November 12 for most Nexus devices
The Nexus 9 and Nexus Player already have Android Lollipop, but when will it drop for other devices like the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7? According to Artem Russakovskii of Android Police, it has been delayed until November 12 because of a few bugs.
I know it’s disappointing, but you would have to agree that it’s better to get rid of the bugs before releasing it to the masses right? I can only assume that the Nexus 9 and Nexus Player willl get a newer update as well.
source: +Artem Russakovskii
Come comment on this article: Android Lollipop delayed until November 12 for most Nexus devices
Google and LG enter long-term patent cross-licensing agreement
In a move that could only be beneficial to both parties, LG and Google have entered into a long-term patent cross-licensing agreement covering a ton of products and innovations as well as patents filed by both parties over the next ten years. An agreement like this could result in some interesting products with the companies being able to use each others advancements and technologies. Let us know in the comments what you’d like to see come out of this partnership.
Source: LG
Come comment on this article: Google and LG enter long-term patent cross-licensing agreement
Nexus Player factory image and binaries now available
I know nobody has a Nexus Player (fugu) yet, but the factory image and binaries are already available for it. If you’re a tinkerer, you just might need them some day to restore your device so make sure to bookmark this page.
I wish we could say the same for the other Nexus devices like the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7, but unfortunately the Lollipop update has been delayed until November 12. I know that’s a complete disaster for many of you, but I think we can just sit back and relax. Before you know it, next Wednesday will be here and the world will be restored again.
sources: Factory Image / Binaries
Come comment on this article: Nexus Player factory image and binaries now available
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