For your eyes only: ZTE Grand S3 can be unlocked with eye-based biometric solution
Today at MWC 2015, we played with the ZTE Grand S3. ZTE’s new flagship device lets users unlock their phones by looking at the front-facing camera. The cutting edge solution, called Eyeprint ID, works by scanning unique vein patterns in the human eye. See how it works in our brief hands-on video.
BlackBerry wants to bring some of its best features to every device
BlackBerry has only been willing to give out tiny pieces of its smartphone experience so far, like BBM and its enterprise servers, but it’s going to be much more liberal in the near future. It’s launching BlackBerry Experience Suite, a collection of apps and services that bring some of its biggest features to Android, iOS and Windows gear in hopes of making them mainstays of the working world. Some of them are more behind-the-scenes features that keep your corporate info both secure and separate from your personal affairs. However, others are very conspicuously borrowed from BlackBerry 10 smartphones. The company is promising the BlackBerry Hub (which unifies BB10’s messaging), universal search and even its own input method — yes, you may get a BlackBerry keyboard on your phone without resorting to a Typo case. The suite won’t be available until later in the year, but it may be just the ticket if you (or your office) wants to try BlackBerry features while keeping the hardware and apps you already use.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Source: BlackBerry (1), (2)
BlackBerry wants to bring some of its best features to every device
BlackBerry has only been willing to give out tiny pieces of its smartphone experience so far, like BBM and its enterprise servers, but it’s going to be much more liberal in the near future. It’s launching BlackBerry Experience Suite, a collection of apps and services that bring some of its biggest features to Android, iOS and Windows gear in hopes of making them mainstays of the working world. Some of them are more behind-the-scenes features that keep your corporate info both secure and separate from your personal affairs. However, others are very conspicuously borrowed from BlackBerry 10 smartphones. The company is promising the BlackBerry Hub (which unifies BB10’s messaging), universal search and even its own input method — yes, you may get a BlackBerry keyboard on your phone without resorting to a Typo case. The suite won’t be available until later in the year, but it may be just the ticket if you (or your office) wants to try BlackBerry features while keeping the hardware and apps you already use.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Source: BlackBerry (1), (2)
Google releases new Android video for the young at heart
With all kinds of new Android powered devices being announced at MWC 2015, like the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge and the HTC One M9, Google has released a new video in their line of be together.not the same. commercials. The new video is titled Android: Young Together and shows how ordinary people of all ages use their devices to stay young at heart.
You can check out the video after the break. Be sure to stick with us at TalkAndroid for more coverage from MWC 2015 to see all the new Android powered devices ready to hit the market.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: Google releases new Android video for the young at heart
Lenovo announces the Tab 2 A10 and Tab 2 A8 tablets at MWC 2015
Lenovo has released a steady stream of Android-powered products over the last year or so. Specifically, the Yoga Tablet 2 (8-inch and 10.1-inch) and Yoga Tablet 2 Pro devices really stuck out to us, offering great build quality at an exceptional price point. Today, Lenovo adds two more tablets to their list: the Tab 2 A10 and Tab 2 A8.
The Tab 2 A10 offers a big 10.1-inch display for an affordable price point. It’s the first 10-inch tablet to offer Dolby ATMOS 3D Cinema Sound technology to enhance sound quality while listening through headphones. The Tab 2 A8 comes with the same Dolby ATMOS audio enhancements as the first device, though the A8 comes with an 8-inch screen and a much lower price. Check out the rest of the post for more details.
Lenovo Tab 2 A10
The Lenovo Tab 2 A10 is one of the first tablets to feature Dolby ATMOS 3D Cinema audio enhancements, which is said to greatly enhance the way you hear audio when listening through headphones. Its big 10.1-inch HD display paired with the MediaTek processor and 7200mAh battery should offer up a great multimedia experience no matter if you’re listening to music or streaming Netflix. Although the tablet is running Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, Lenovo assures us that it will get the update to Android 5.0 Lollipop in June. The A10 is also offered in Wifi or LTE-enabled variants, so you can have data on the go if you’d like.
Lenovo Tab 2 A10 specifications and features
- 10.1-inch Full HD IPS LCD display with 1920×1200 resolution
- Wifi model: 1.5GHz quad core 64-bit MediaTek MT8165 processor, LTE model: 1.5GHz quad core 64-bit MediaTek MT8732 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB of internal storage, MicroSD expansion up to 32GB
- 171 x 247 x 8.9mm, 509g
- 8MP rear-facing camera
- 5MP front-facing camera
- Non-removable 7200mAh battery
- Android 4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming in June)
- Dolby ATMOS 3D Surrond Sound
- Available in Pearl White and Midnight Blue
Pricing and availability
The Tab 2 A10 will be available beginning in April, with Wifi models starting at $199 and LTE models starting at $279.
Lenovo Tab 2 A8
The Lenovo Tab 2 A8 aims to offer a similar multimedia-centric experience to the A10, but in a more affordable, slightly smaller package. The 8-inch screen is not to big, and not too small. And with the Dolby ATMOS Surround Sound enhancements, watching movies will likely be very enjoyable. This tablet is running Android 5.0 Lollipop, so you’ll be able to take advantage of the most recent software improvements Google has to offer. And just like the A10, the A8 tablet is being offered in both Wifi and LTE-enabled variants.
Lenovo Tab 2 A8 specifications and features
- 8-inch IPS LCD display with 1280×800 resolution
- Wifi model: 1.3GHz quad core MediaTek MT8161 processor, LTE model: 1.3GHz quad core MediaTek MT8735 processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of internal storage (Ebony model only), 16GB of internal storage (Midnight Blue, Pearl White and Neon Pink models), both with MicroSD expansion up to 32GB
- 125 x 210 x 8.9mm, 360g
- 5MP rear-facing camera
- 2MP front-facing camera
- Non-removable 4200mAh battery
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
- Dolby ATMOS 3D Surrond Sound
- Available in Pearl White, Ebony, Midnight Blue and Neon Pink
Pricing and availability
The Tab 2 A8 will be available beginning in June, with Wifi models starting at $129 and LTE models starting at $179.
Samsung Galaxy S6 availability – what we know so far
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We’re here at MWC 2015, where Samsung has just taken the wraps off of its new Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge handsets. Samsung has gone back to the drawing board with these two devices in terms of build quality and software. Both devices now feature a glass front and back panel surrounded by a premium-feeling aluminum edge.
Other specifications include a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with an impressive pixel density of 577ppi. It has a Samsung Exynos 7420 processor backed by 3GB of RAM, 32/64/128GB internal storage options and no MicroSD card expansion this time around. It also features a non-removable 2550mAh battery (2600mAh for the S6 Edge), a 16MP rear-facing camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. The Galaxy S6 will be available in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum and a Blue Topaz color, and the S6 Edge will be available in White Pearl, Black Sapphire, and Gold Platinum and Green Emerald. We went hands-on with both devices, and you can head here to see our hands-on with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
So, are you wondering where you can find one of these devices out in the wild? We’ll help you out. The Samsung press release tells us that the device will be available sometime in Spring 2015, though no exact launch date is confirmed quite yet. Here’s what we know so far:
United States availability
A few carriers in the US have announced that they’ll eventually carry both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Specifically, those carriers include AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Cricket Wireless likely sometime between April and June. Specific pricing and availability dates have yet to be unveiled for these carriers, though US Cellular and Sprint have both confirmed the phone will arrive to their networks sometime in April and it’s pretty likely this month target will apply to all US carriers getting the device.
UK availability
UK mobile carrier Vodafone UK and retailer Carphone Warehouse have announced that they will carry the two handsets, though we don’t have any specifics on these carriers, either.
Online availability
The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will also be available at a number of online retailers including Amazon, Best Buy (online and in-store), Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Target.
Know any others?
That’s all the regions and carriers we know so far, but will keep updating as we learn more. Have any carrier ideas specific to your region that we didn’t mention? Please let us know in the comments.
Next-Generation iPhones Said to Feature Force Touch, Lack Dual-Lens Camera System [iOS Blog]
The so-called “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus” will reportedly adopt Force Touch, a feature that debuted on the Apple Watch in September, according to sources for AppleInsider. The next-generation iPhones are expected to retain the same physical design as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, including 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models. The report adds that the return of a 4-inch model appears unlikely for this refresh.
Force Touch uses tiny electrodes to distinguish between a light tap or deep press on the screen, prompting the software to perform a different action depending on how much pressure is exerted on the display. Apple would likely have to use a flexible OLED display on a future iPhone model in order for Force Touch to be possible on the smartphone. Apple calls Force Touch its most significant new sensing capability since Multi-Touch on its Apple Watch microsite.
“In addition to recognizing touch, Apple Watch senses force, adding a new dimension to the user interface. Force Touch uses tiny electrodes around the flexible Retina display to distinguish between a light tap and a deep press, and trigger instant access to a range of contextually specific controls — such as an action menu in Messages, or a mode that allows you to select different watch faces — whenever you want. It’s the most significant new sensing capability since Multi‑Touch.”
Apple reportedly experimented with adding Force Touch to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last year, although calibration issues resulted in removal of the feature prior to the smartphones being released. The issues appear to have been resolved at this point, however, and Force Touch is now on Apple’s upcoming roadmap. The so-called “iPhone 6s” and “iPhone 6s Plus” will presumably be announced next September.
The report also dismisses the rumor about next-generation iPhones gaining a DSLR-like dual-lens camera system, as implementing this feature would require redesigning the iPhone and moving away from the current chassis found on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Last month, it was reported that the iPhone 6s will retain an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera sensor, although that does not limit other improvements from being made.
It was also rumored in January that the iPhone 6s will gain Force Touch.
Speck releases lineup of cases for Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
With the big news about Samsungs new flagship phones you will need a case to protect all that glass. Speck is one of leaders in case making and is often praised for there functional attractive cases while providing the best protection. Today they have released a large portfolio of cases for the soon to be relesed galaxy S6 and S6 edge. These cases will be avalible at launch with seven of their most popular designs.
The launch lineup includes the popular CandyShell, CandyShell + Faceplate, CandyShell Grip, CandyShell Inked, CandyShell Card, MightyShell, and MightyShell + Faceplate all in various colors and designs. Speck has been a leader in case design for years offering some of the most fuctional yet protective cases for the most popular phones on the market. These cases will be availible day one when both the S6 and S6 edge releases. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are expected to be the hottest phones for Samsung and android this year. More information about these cases and reveiws will be avalible as soon as AndroidGuys has them.
The post Speck releases lineup of cases for Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung details new manufacturing process for both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge
The dream Galaxy phone has finally arrived. Samsung showed glimpses of greatness last year with the Alpha, A Series, and Galaxy Note 4, but the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge take things to a whole new level with a brand new manufacturing process.
The Edge version is by far the more intricate device. A new process called 3D Thermoforming involves the insertion of glass between two molds, followed by heating it to 800 degrees Celsius to make it pliable, allowing it to be pressed into a symmetrical shape. This whole process is what gives Samsung the ability to curve the glass at both the right and left sides.
Finally, both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge’s glass is processed with the “highest precision machinery to avoid the slightest errors.” This stage has 15 intricate steps, which include polishing the surface, sides, and the facade of the glass.
The high-gloss color of the rear glass panel is from a nano-thin multi-coating process, which adds nano layers of multiple coatings giving both the front and back of the device a “rich, dynamic color that reflects light as it is viewed from different angles.”
Now what about that metal frame? Samsung says that existing smartphones use 6063 aluminum, but they used 6013 aluminum in both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. You guess it…..that’s a stronger aluminum. You will find this type of aluminum in aircraft fuselages, automobiles, yachts, and mountain bikes. How much stronger is it? It’s 1.5 times stronger and 1.2 times more scratch-resistant than 6063 aluminum.
There are 20 steps in order to produce the frame, which gives it the texture and durability. These steps include machining from extrusion, molding to integrate heterogeneous components, diamond cutting on the metal covers, and anodizing.
Samsung even went so far as welding the antenna to the metal frame with ultrasound on both phones. This not only makes the antenna more stable, but it also frees up space for other internal components.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 appear to be the best Samsung phones ever, at least in terms of design. A lot of this could just be marketing gibberish, but past Samsung phones weren’t even worthy of that.
Be sure to check out our complete coverage of Mobile World Congress 2015.
source: Samsung Tomorrow (cached)
Come comment on this article: Samsung details new manufacturing process for both the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge
Sandisk’s new 200GB microSD card brings massive storage in a tiny size
SanDisk bills their latest microSD card has having the world’s highest capacity, and at 200GB we have little trouble believing them.
The just-revealed 200GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I “Premium Edition” is indeed the most capacious card we’ve seen, topping the 128GB we’ve previously seen from several manufacturers, including SanDisk.
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