LG Watch Urbane launches in Korea for slightly more than LG G Watch R
LG is poised to launch the LG Watch Urbane next week in 13 countries through the Google Play Store, but buyers in Korea get a little hometown advantage as LG has started selling the device in that country through the major carriers starting today. One of the big questions about the device is what the selling price would be given that it is a slight step up from the LG G Watch R. In Korea at least, the answer is about $30 more, which is not quite a ten percent increase. When launched, the LG G Watch R sold for $332 in Korea and the new LG Watch Urbane is listing at $365 today.
The big change LG brings to the market compared to their previous smartwatches is the built-in WiFi chip in the Watch Urbane. This means the device can be used, and communicate with its paired smartphone, without a Bluetooth connection being established.
LG also made some improvements to the software on the device so users can use LG Call to view recent calls to their number and LG Pulse to view heart rate monitor data in real time. The Watch Urbane will also be shipping with the latest version of Android Wear already loaded.
source: ETNews
via: G for Games
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Nokia smartphones to rise from the ashes in 2016 with Android
In years past, Nokia was one of the biggest players in the cell phone market. As the world started to move away from regular cell phones to smartphones, Nokia got left behind, but started to claw back with the mobile Windows platform and some dabbling with Android-powered devices. All of that came to a grinding halt though when Microsoft bought out Nokia’s mobile device division. In a speech concerning a new R&D center for Nokia, Nokia China president Mike Wang appears to have confirmed that Nokia will return to the smartphone market in 2016 with Android-powered devices.
Wang was in Sichuan, China for an event announcing a new R&D center that Nokia is building in the country. This new facility will be Nokia’s new global headquarters for their R&D activity. In a surprise twist to his comments, Wang also indicated the Sichuan facility would eventually serve as the production base for new smartphone devices the company plans to release in 2016.
Sources think Nokia’s return is limited by the deal with Microsoft. When Nokia is released from any restrictions that were part of that deal, Wang says the company’s devices will likely be powered by Android. The combination of Android for the operating system and locating facilities in China suggest Nokia may be positioning itself to compete in that market with the likes of Xiaomi, Lenovo, Oppo and ZTE.
source: Sichuan Daily News
via: G for Games
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Apple Outlines Types of Apple Watch Damage Eligible for Warranty Service
MacRumors has obtained official Visual Mechanical Inspection information for the Apple Watch that reveals what type of damage is eligible for warranty service, out-of-warranty service or no service at all. These guidelines are adhered to by Apple authorized service providers and are based upon Apple’s standard 1-year limited hardware warranty for the Apple Watch.
Apple Watch damage that is eligible for warranty service includes user-claimed debris under the display glass or pixel anomaly, a back cover removed with no damage, and any condensation in the heart rate sensor windows. In particular, the document states that a removed back cover is only covered when not accompanied by enclosure damage or evidence of prying.
Apple Watch damage that is eligible for out-of-warranty service includes a cracked, missing, removed or damaged Digital Crown cap, extreme abrasion, puncture holes, missing buttons resulting from a drop, any chips or multiple cracks in the display glass, a removed back cover with evidence of enclosure damage or prying, a bent or split band enclosure, a missing or removed band release button, or cracks in the back cover.
Apple Watch damage considered nonreturnable and ineligible for warranty service includes a disassembled unit or missing parts, catastrophic damage, counterfeit or third-party parts, and unauthorized modifications such as aftermarket displays and other non-Apple installed parts. Catastrophic damage may still be covered under an AppleCare+ Protection Plan on a case-by-case basis.
Apple disclosed earlier this month that it will charge out-of-warranty service fees of $229, $329 and $2,800 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively for repairs not covered by Apple’s limited one-year warranty or AppleCare+ for Apple Watch. Out-of-warranty battery service is also available for $79 plus an applicable $6.95 shipping charge if required for all Apple Watch models.
Apple Watch Battery Designed to Last 1000 Complete Charge Cycles [iOS Blog]
Apple has outlined that the Apple Watch battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles, which gives the watch’s battery a lifespan of about two-and-a-half to three years based on fully charging the wrist-worn device once per day.
Comparatively, the MacBook and iPad can receive up to 1000 complete charge cycles while retaining up to 80% of original battery capacity. iPhones receive up to 500 complete charge cycles, and iPods receive up to 400 complete charge cycles.
A teardown of the Apple Watch earlier today revealed a small 205 mAh battery inside the device, which lasts up to 18 hours based on mixed usage and up to 72 hours in Power Reserve mode. The battery is covered under Apple’s limited 1-year hardware warranty, while out-of-warranty battery service is also available for $79 plus an applicable $6.95 shipping charge if required for the Sport, Watch and Edition models.
Google reveals Nexus program has “seen a decline”
In a time when low-priced handsets were generally equated with less-than-impressive specs, the LG Nexus 4 arrived on scene, shaking up our expectations for ‘budget priced’ offerings. Since then, we’ve seen a number of OEMs undertake a similar quest to offer us excellent Android experiences without paying typical flagship prices.
While the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013) continued Google’s low-price-high-spec mission, their most recent Nexus offerings have gone down a very different path. Instead, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 give us bleeding edge specs with fewer compromises and more upscale aesthetics. Another big difference between the Nexus 6 and its smartphone predecessors is that the former has seen a much bigger carrier push than ever before.
So how’s this new direction treating Google? According to Google CFO Patrick Pichette during the company’s Q1 2015 earnings call, it seems that the Nexus program is seeing some decline in performance.
As a little background, the Nexus sales are part of a category called “other revenues”, alongside other Play Store (Now Google Store) products. The “other revenues” category was up 23 percent year over year, reaching $1.8 billion, but that revenue was down 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. While that might not sound bad for Nexus all, Pichette noted that the year over year increase was driven by
While that might not sound bad for Nexus all, Pichette noted that the year over year increase was driven by growth of the Play Store, “offset by decline in Nexus, and the currency fluctuations. Year over year it hasn’t been as strong given the strength of the Nexus 7 last year.”
Does that mean the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 have been unsuccessful?
It’s easy to take the news of a “declining sales of the Nexus” as a sign that Google shouldn’t have abandoned its low-price-high-spec mission, and while I absolutely loved this direction personally (as a N7 and N5 owner), it’s probably not as simple as that.
First off, we can’t say what’s responsible for this slow down. Pricing seems like an obvious factor, but the reality is that the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9’s form factors were a bit more niche than the 5-inch Nexus phone and 7-inch Nexus tablet released in 2013. The size of the displays could just as easily attributed to the less fervent reception. Personally, I would have paid premium pricing for a 5 to 5.5-inch Nexus, but have yet to make a switch to the Nexus 6 for fear it’s just too big for my own tastes.
It’s also important to remember that Pichette doesn’t mention the Nexus 5, only saying that performance isn’t as good as the Nexus 7 (2013). In a time when tablets were seeing substantial growth, the Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013) were excellent, low-cost options that helped really make the 7-inch category grow in popularity. Since that time, most consumers that want a tablet already have one, or have switched to a large screen (phablet) device as an alternative. Considering the fact tablets are a secondary device, existing tablet owners are less likely to upgrade yearly, and many tablet owners keep these devices for several years.
Bottom-line, even if the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 had continued on with 2014 refreshes, there’s no guarantee that we’d be seeing any different results from the Nexus program. We really don’t have enough data to say if returning to their former direction would be positive, negative, or result in similar numbers now that the tablet market is slowing down a bit.
Nexus videos
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With all that out of the way, I personally believe that pricing did play a big factor, it just may not have been the only factor. What do you think?
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Lenovo K80 offers Intel processor, 4GB RAM, and sub-$300 price tag
The Asus Zenfone 2 may have been the world’s first smartphone to offer 4GB RAM, but it’s far from the only option heading our way. Lenovo has now announced its own 4GB RAM-packing handset, the Lenovo K80.
Like the Zenfone 2, the K80 is powered by a 64-bit Intel Atom processor, with other specs including a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 64GB storage, a 13MP camera with OIS, a 4,000 mAh battery, and Android 5.0 Lollipop running Lenovo’s custom skin. The Lenovo K80 is priced aggressively at 1,799 CNY, or about $290. There will also be a cheaper variant with less storage and just 2GB RAM.
Read also: Asus Zenfone 2 full review
While the Zenfone 2 is slowly making its way to more countries, with a possible US release sometime in the future, the Lenovo K80 is currently only announced for China with a release slated for April 30th. It’s possible that the K80 could reach at least a few other markets, but we can’t say where at this point.
What do you think of Lenovo’s latest, who do you feel it compares to the Zenfone 2, based on specs, pricing, and looks?
Google Easter Egg or hoax? There’s an Android pissing on the Apple logo in Google Maps
Google has been know for some pretty clever Easter Eggs, but if what I am about to tell you is yet another one, Google may have crossed the line. If you open Google Maps and go to an area near Rawalpindi, Pakistan (link below), you will find our lovable bugdroid pissing on the Apple logo.
Would Google do this? I highly doubt it as it’s probably some manipulation using Map Maker. Whomever it is, has to be happy with themselves because they definitely made some noise this morning. Speaking of noise…….Is that Larry Page’s phone ringing? “Hello Larry, this is Tim Cook……” You can finish the rest.
source: Google Maps
via: Team Android
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Google admits that Nexus devices aren’t selling so well, but that’s not what they said 3 months ago
Well how things can change in 3 months time. In an earnings conference call back in January, Google CFO Patrick Pichette stated that they couldn’t keep up with Nexus 6 demand. That implied that the demand was so unbelievably high, but as we have learned with supply and demand, even if demand is low, supply could still be an issue. When I reported that story, I titled the post….They have to be kidding: Google admits they can’t keep up with Nexus 6 demand….because it was obvious that the Nexus 6 couldn’t be selling that well.
Fast forward three months to yesterday and Patrick Pichette is singing a different tune. He is now saying that there has been a “decline in Nexus” year over year. He didn’t call out any specific device so it doesn’t mean the Nexus 6 is the culprit. The Nexus 6 is probably part of the issue becsause I seriously doubt the Nexus 9 is lighting any fires either. The Nexus 6 is priced $300 over ($649 vs $349) what the Nexus 5 went for and the Nexus 9 is a big square 4:3 tablet that is also overpriced. There is also the Nexus Player, but let’s not even talk about that because those sales figures have to represent no more than a pimple on someone’s ass.
Here’s his full statement…
“Other revenues grew 23 percent year over year to $1.8 billion, but were down 2 percent quarter over quarter, driven really by year over year growth in the Play Store, offset by decline in Nexus, and the currency fluctuations. Year over year it hasn’t been as strong given the strength of the Nexus 7 last year.”
I have been saying it for a long time and I know I am in the minority for Android hardcores, but the Nexus line has always been overrated. Everyone goes gaga over stock Android, but it’s just as buggy as anything else. In fact, I don’t think I have ever had a great experience with any Nexus device. They are supposed to be reference devices, but the batteries and cameras generally suck on them as well.
source: 9to5Google
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Google and Facebook come out against government spying
The Department of Homeland Security is setting up shop in Silicon Valley, with secretary of state Jeh Johnson pushing for easier access to our private data. Naturally, both Google and Facebook have started to openly resist this call to create backdoors for state surveillance. At the RSA security conference, Google’s Keith Enright told MIT Technology Review that any attempt to breach his company’s encryption would harm civil liberties.
The search engine’s privacy chief went on to say that if operatives use backdoors to access your data, they’re that much more likely not to bother getting a warrant. Instead, Google has pledged to “drive as much transparency for law enforcement access as possible.”
His words were echoed by Facebook’s Erin Egan, who said that “the trust of the people that use our services is paramount,” and that anything that goes against that “we’re not going to be okay with.” It’s a sentiment shared by Mark Zuckerberg, who has previously gone on the record to criticize the NSA’s PRISM program.
Oh, and here’s something that’s always worth mentioning when an official says that they need backdoor access to encrypted data. When asked, FBI Director James Comey couldn’t cite a single example of how encryption had obstructed an ongoing investigation. So, there’s no actual proof that such access is required, and it’s already been shown that said privilege is routinely abused.
[Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet, Google, Facebook
Source: MIT Technology Review, (2)
Here’s the Apple Watch torn apart for your pleasure
You likely won’t be able to repair the Apple Watch on your own — shocking, we know. The gadget eviscerators over at iFixit put the Apple Watch under the knife today, just as people who’ve preordered the Watch have begun receiving their shipments. After a complete dissection, iFixit ended up giving the Apple Watch a repairability score of five out of 10 — making it something you likely wouldn’t want to mess with. Removing the screen was “difficult, but not impossible,” iFixit said, and once you’ve dealt with that the battery is “quite easy to remove.” But anything beyond the battery, including the Taptic Engine and Apple’s S1 chip, is pretty much out of bounds. Basically, if you’re getting an Apple Watch, consider an Apple Care plan, or be ready to pay hefty fees in case anything goes wrong.
The teardown also makes it clear you won’t be able to easily upgrade the Apple Watch over time. That’s something people who invest in the more expensive Steel and gold Edition models might want to take into account. Then again, if you’ve got enough bank for the Apple Watch edition, you probably won’t care about dropping tens of thousands of dollars for a new model. Our guess? Apple could offer a trade-in program for existing Watch owners which would give them significant discounts on newer units.
iFixit also points out that the Apple Watch’s photoplethysmographic heart rate monitor looks like it might be able to measure your blood oxygen levels, which isn’t something that Apple currently advertises. That could be one of the features Apple reportedly dropped before the Watch’s release due to erratic sensors. There’s some speculation that Apple might be able to turn on the blood oxygen measuring capability eventually, but that’s not likely since it involves measurement using red light — so far we’ve only seen green light and infra-red sensors on the Apple Watch.
AIVAnet 