NTT DoCoMo unveils smartphone with iris scan security
Move over Knock Codes and fingerprint scanners, Japan’s NTT DoCoMo has unveiled its new Arrows NX F-04G smartphone that uses iris scanning as its security method of choice. The novel smartphone was announced on Wednesday in Tokyo and was developed by Fujitsu.
Not only can the iris scanner be used to unlock the phone, but it is also integrated to authorize mobile payments. The device works with authentication specifications set by the FIDO (Fast IDentity Online) Alliance, which is supported by Microsoft, Google, PayPal and others.
To save their profile or begin a scan, users simply look at two animated circles on the screen. The scan time takes one or two seconds, making it a tad slower than a fingerprint scanner or traditional pin, but not by enough to make it difficult to use. Fujitsu said that the error rate for the bulkier prototype is about one in 100,000, and the actual product should be even better.
The Arrows NX F-04G also comes with some other high-end technologies. It features a 5.2-inch WQHD (2560×1400) display, 21.5 megapixel rear camera, and a 3,120 mAh battery, housed in a modest form factor that weighs just 155 grams. The smartphone will be release in Japan at the end of the month with a price tag around ¥55,000 (US$460), making it the first handset to hit the market with this technology. However, it won’t see the light of day outside of the country.
We may well see more iris scanning technology in future smartphones, as ZTE has already also shown off a similar eye-based unlocking system with its Grand S3 and Samsung filed a patent for its own iris scanning technology last year.
HTC’s Butterfly 3 makes you wonder why the M9 exists
Here’s yet another case of “Japan gets all the nice things.” Earlier today, local carrier au by KDDI announced its smartphone lineup for the summer, and the one that caught our attention was the new HTC J Butterfly (HTV31), which will no doubt be entering other markets as the Butterfly 3. With the centered 13-megapixel selfie camera and subtle front-side BoomSound stereo speakers, this new phone shares a similar face with the Desire Eye and the Desire 826; except its 5.2-inch screen has a much sharper Quad HD resolution. The familiar Duo Camera feature on the back (for bokeh plus filter effects) is here to stay, though for some bizarre reason, the secondary camera is placed below its 20.2-megapixel counterpart instead of above it, meaning you’ll have to be more careful with where you place your index finger while holding the phone.
As a flagship-level device, it’s no surprise to see Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 810 chip with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, microSD expansion, IR blaster, NFC and LTE-Advanced radio (225 Mbps down, 25 Mbps up) here. With this in mind, the Butterfly 3 sits somewhere between the M9 and the M9+ — same chipset as the former, same screen plus main camera as the latter; but all inside a waterproof (IP55 and IP57) plastic body. We don’t mind the lack of fingerprint reader here, but we are a little baffled by the slightly smaller 2,700 mAh battery, as both the M9 and M9+ come with 2,840 mAh.
Other than that minor niggle, we’re liking what HTC’s offering here. Let’s face it, the Butterfly 3 is much prettier than its predecessor and, in some ways, the M9 series; at least there isn’t a sharp ridge running around the phone this time. Folks in Japan can grab one in early June, but if you’d rather have a fingerprint reader and don’t mind missing out on the Duo Camera, then you may want to wait for the mysterious M9e. Until then, feel free to check out some hands-on photos courtesy of our friends over at Engadget Japanese.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC
Via: Engadget Japanese
Walmart is developing a $50 Amazon Prime-like service
Walmart’s apparently gearing up to challenge Amazon on its turf and has conjured up a Prime competitor that will begin testing as soon as this summer. According to sources, the company’s unlimited two-to-three-day shipping service for online purchases will cost $50, almost half of what Prime costs ($99). Amazon’s version comes with add-ons, though, such as free video and music streaming, which Walmart won’t be able to offer for now. However, The Information says Walmart is considering adding features to its codename “Tahoe” service. They may include something that involves Vudu, a video streaming service the company owns, as well as same-day grocery delivery, which it already does in five markets. The chain might also partner with other companies for perks meant to entice customers to sign up.
Walmart is leagues behind Amazon when it comes to online shopping, and up until now, it’s been incapable of fulfilling two-day shipping for orders made via its website. This project requires serious investment and a willingness in the part of the old-school retailer (as The Information calls it) to change its ways and improve its online presence and infrastructures. The service launching this summer is invite-only, and the company will only decide where to go from there based on the testers’ feedback.
Filed under: Misc
Source: The Information, Reuters, AP
The old Raspberry Pi gets an overdue price cut
If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of starting a DIY-computing project, chances are you will have considered (or bought) the Raspberry Pi. You’re not alone: more than five million of the boards have now been sold. It’s prompted companies like Intel and Imagination to try to match their features, while devices like the $9 CHIP are hoping to outdo them on price. With so many competitors snapping at its heels, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has decided to take action. It announced today that it’s cutting the cost of its former flagship board by reducing the Model B+ to $25/£16.
After it was replaced by the Raspberry Pi 2, the B+ hovered around $35, the same price as its successor. It made it feel like a pretty bad deal in comparison. The Foundation says that a “side effect of the production optimizations” for the new flagship has made the older model cheaper to make and we’re now seeing the results. It might take a few days for the changes to be reflected in stores around the world, but if you’ve been putting off building something that doesn’t require quite as much grunt as the Raspberry Pi 2, now might be the time to reconsider.
Filed under: Desktops
Source: MCM Electronics (US), RS Online (UK)
Your Apple Watch’s security can be bypassed pretty easily
Apple’s Activation Lock made the iPhone less desirable to thieves, since they’d also need your Apple password to use it. The Watch is supposed to be similarly unhackable, but the built-in security apparently doesn’t work very well, according to a site called iDownloadBlog. It demonstrated that the passcode protection that’s supposed to kick in when you take the watch off can easily be bypassed by “force touching” the power-off option, as shown in the video below. That will erase everything sans passcode, letting thieves pair your Watch with another iPhone and make it their own. Since the Watch is currently desirable and hard to get, Apple had better jump on the problem, stat.
Via: 9to5 Mac
Source: iDownloadBlog
Press image of the Galaxy S6 Active leaks
Yesterday we got our first look at the Galaxy S6 Active via a leaked photo of the device. Now just in case you’re thinking it was fake, check out this press image that leaked earlier today.
What’s interesting is that both the leaked image and press render are both AT&T devices. Samsung has been making “Active” devices of their Galaxy S phones ever since the Galaxy S4. They are reserved for those that need something a little more durable so you can expect it to be waterproof and dustproof. Unfortunately it won’t be as elegant as the Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy S6 Edge, but that’s the price you pay for that extra durability.
Is the Galaxy S6 Active in your future?
source: @evleaks
Come comment on this article: Press image of the Galaxy S6 Active leaks
Sony TV’s Amazon Instant Video app works flawlessly on other Android TV devices
Many would agree that Amazon’s Instant Video app is clunky on the Android TV. However, since at its core is the Android OS, apps can still be sideloaded. Thanks to XDA user brar.arsh, there is a solution for a quality Instant Video app on Android TV devices.
As it turns out, the Amazon Instant Video APK from Sony TV devices works profoundly well on other Android TV solutions, such as the Nexus Player and ADT-1. There’s no problem with responsiveness, and in testing, it works great with remote controls.
If you want Sony TV’s Amazon Instant Video app on your Android TV over the other version you can download to the Play Store, we have an excellent guide on sideloading the APK on your Nexus Player or ADT-1.
You can grab the APK from a mirror here. There’s also the option of hitting the source link below and grabbing it straight from the XDA thread.
Did you sideload the APK on your Android TV device? Be sure to tell us how it went and how well it works in the comments!
source: XDA
via: Android Police
Come comment on this article: Sony TV’s Amazon Instant Video app works flawlessly on other Android TV devices
Motorola’s Moto E (2nd Gen) now receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop
Motorola has just announced a new software update for the Moto E (2nd gen), which brings the device’s software up to the latest version, Android 5.1 Lollipop.
Users should be able to update the device to the most frequent firmware version today. If you haven’t received a notification to download the new update, head on over to Settings in the app menu. From there, tap About Phone > System Updates, and select “Yes, I’m in.” The update will then begin to download, and from there, just hit “Install now” when it’s finished.
After all is said and done, you should have all the latest and greatest Android 5.1 Lollipop can bring on your Moto E. You can find the full changelog at the source link below.
Did you download the update? It brought with it a lot of bug fixes. If you’ve noticed a difference, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.
source: Motorola
Come comment on this article: Motorola’s Moto E (2nd Gen) now receiving Android 5.1 Lollipop
Samsung bought LoopPay for around $250 million, sources say
Back in February, Samsung acquired LoopPay, a start-up based in Massachusetts, to bolster its presence in the mobile payment game and help it better compete with the likes of Google’s Wallet, PayPal and the relatively new Apple Pay system. At the time, it wasn’t known how much the transaction had cost Samsung, but now various sources suggest that the price tag was approximately $250 million. This number could rise further based on any performance related earnouts, although such terms are unknown.
A Samsung spokeswoman and LoopPay CEO Will Graylin both declined to comment on the figure.
LoopPay’s technology is important for Samsung as it allows its new phones, like the Galaxy S6, to mimic a regular card swipe, meaning that Samsung Pay should work everywhere that currently accepts card payments. This gives it an advantage over Apple Pay or Google Wallet, which requires the retailer to accommodate NFC transactions. Samsung has also said that its payment platform will be compatible with NFC, which is gradually gaining presence in retails stores.
In related news, Samsung has announced that it will be closing down its Samsung Wallet service on June 30th. Tickets and reservations will still be available after this date, but no new transactions will be accepted after the end of June.
LoopPay is an important part of the upcoming Samsung Pay system.
The company didn’t give a reason for the closure, but it’s probably safe to say that the launch build-up to Samsung Pay might have something to do with it. All we know so far is that Samsung is planning to launch its new payment system sometime in H2 2015. September is seen as a likely candidate, given that the IFA trade show and the launch of the Galaxy Note 5 will take place that month.
LoopPay also previously announced they would make mobile payment-enabled cases for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S5 handsets that would release sometime in 2015, which should help Samsung expand its mobile payment ecosystem.
Whether or not LoopPay will help Samsung become the dominant force in mobile payments remains to be seen. But mobile companies seem convinced that their products and systems will replace our debit and credit cards in the not too distant future.
5 tips to improve the Galaxy S6 Edge’s battery life
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One of the biggest changes in the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge is the lack of a removable battery, and this means you’re stuck with the 2600-mAh battery that comes built into the handset. As we covered in our Galaxy S6 Edge battery life review, my usage means that I get on average 14 to 18 hours battery life. However, like with most Android smartphones, there are a few simple tips to make the most of your S6 Edge battery.
Display Brightness
The first tip is about display brightness and this makes a huge difference to your battery life. It’s a common fact that the brighter your display, the worse your battery life gets and this definitely applies to the Galaxy S6 Edge.
For me personally, keeping brightness on auto and between 40 and 60 percent is the perfect balance between battery life and display quality, but this is a personal decision. You can also try reducing screen time-out and changing other display settings by heading over to Settings > Display.
Smart Network Switch
Smart Network Switch is a Samsung feature that’s been present on the past few generations of Galaxy handsets and it is both good and bad. The good is that it monitors your mobile and Wi-Fi networks and uses whichever is strongest when you access data. The downside is the effect on your battery life from all that scanning.
I personally keep this disabled as I mostly use my handset on 4G – EE’s 4G network is often faster than my home Wi-Fi network – but even when it’s turned on, I’ve found it to be more hindrance than help.
To switch this off, head over to Wi-Fi Setting, tap on More and then select Smart Network Switch. From here, you can turn it on or off based on your personal preference.
Android Location
One of the biggest issues with all Android smartphones is the platform’s inability to manage location efficiently without negatively affecting battery life. Thankfully, there’s a plethora of options to help preserve your battery life, so from the notifications menu, press and hold the Location button to bring up location settings.
From here, change the Location Method:
- GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks – this lets Google use any of these to find your location even if Wi-Fi or location is turned off. When this is switched on, you’ll often find Google Play Services is one of the biggest issues.
- Wi-Fi and mobile networks – this disables the GPS chip inside your Galaxy S6 Edge and is probably the least useful of the three options. Relying on just mobile networks and Wi-Fi will allow you to find your location quickly but will then use a lot of data and battery as it relies on your Wi-Fi and mobile networks to keep track of your location.
- GPS only – this is actually the mode I use as it prevents Google scanning in the background (more on that below). It has its pitfalls in that it can take a while to find your location but the battery savings from not having Google scanning are plentiful.
When you attempt to turn on either the first or the second option, you’re greeted with a prompt from Google to “Improve location accuracy”. The option means that anonymous location data can sporadically be sent to Google even when no apps are running, and as a result, this can have a large impact on your battery life, especially when using Google Now or widgets that depend on location.
Google Sync Services
Another of the issues that affects all Android smartphones is Google’s Sync Services; the beauty of Android is that you can add a Google account and it syncs all your services, but the pitfalls come in when you have multiple Google accounts set up.
When you do add a second, third, or more Google account, the handset automatically turns on sync for all of Google’s own apps and services. For me personally, I have one account that has everything syncing and the rest are for email so once I add an account, I go into that account and turn off all the services.
To turn off sync services, head over to Settings and then tap on Accounts. On the next menu select Google and then tap on your Google account. You’ll now be presented with a list of services; to disable any of them, just tap the toggle to the right of the name.
Bloatware
The last tip is an interesting one as the Galaxy S6 Edge is the least bloated Samsung smartphone ever made. Alongside the new build, camera and aesthetics, the Galaxy S6 Edge comes with a redefined TouchWiz interface that includes a handful of preloaded apps and the ability to disable most of these.
I personally disable preloaded apps that I don’t use mainly to prevent it from running in the background and in the case of the Galaxy S6 Edge, the few apps that I have disabled are S Voice (which you should disable on every Samsung smartphone), OneNote and OneDrive.
To disable an app, head over to your App Drawer and then tap on the Edit button in the top right corner. Now the appearance will change and any app that you can disable will have a small line in the top left corner. To disable a preloaded app, find that app in your app drawer and then tap on the line; the next screen will prompt you to disable the app and if the app has been updated, you might also need to uninstall all updates (follow on screen prompts).
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Wrap up
There you have it; five simple tips to getting the most out of your Galaxy S6 Edge battery. Most of the tips apply to any Android smartphone and in the case of location and bloat, these are things I do on every Android phone I use.
These tips won’t add drastic amounts to your battery life but especially in the case of the display brightness, it can mean a few extra hours battery life. If you’re someone who uses your phone a lot – and we mean 5 hours screen on time – chances are you’ll need to charge it more than once a day but actually, this isn’t a problem.
I use Quick Charging all the time as it can add up to 50 percent to the battery with just 30 minutes of charging, which means charging more than once per day really isn’t an issue (at least for me).
I personally think the trade-off between features and battery life is worth it, but what do you think? Have any of these tips helped you or is there something we’ve missed? Let us know your thoughts, guys!
AIVAnet 