YotaPhone 2 scores more than $100,000 in first thirteen hours on Indiegogo
Almost one week after receiving some minor changes, the YotaPhone 2 has gone live on Indiegogo.
The campaign for the dual-screen always-on smartphone launched on Tuesday with a goal of $50,000 to be raised across sixty days. The YotaPhone 2 needed only six hours and one hundred forty-four people to be completely funded.
Thirteen hours later, the campaign on Indiegogo earned the support of nearly two hundred people to raise more than $100,000.
The perks are as follows:
- $50 – Wireless Charger & PowerBank
- $500 – YotaPhone 2 [SOLD OUT]
- $525 – YotaPhone 2
- $550 – YotaPhone 2
- $1,050 – YotaPhone 2 for 2
All perks with an actual YotaPhone 2 unit include the choice of black or white and a bumper case.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Come comment on this article: YotaPhone 2 scores more than $100,000 in first thirteen hours on Indiegogo
Chrome add-on shares your web links through sound bursts
If Google has its way, the days of sharing web links through copying text (or bumping devices) will soon be over. The internet giant has released Google Tone, an “experimental” Chrome extension that shares your browser’s current web address to other computers through specially crafted sound bursts. So long as the recipients are within microphone range and use Tone, they don’t have to lift a finger — their machines will pick up the audio cue and start surfing. There are a lot of variables that could sour your experience (don’t try this in a noisy room, folks), but this could still be ideal if you just have to send cat videos to everyone within earshot.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Google Research Blog, Chrome Web Store
Google plans to play nice with Facebook and Twitter on photos
According to Bloomberg Business, Google could soon be separating its web based photo sharing and storage service from the existing Google+ platform and offering it as a standalone. Bloomberg cites Googlers close to the project who say that the announcement could come during the upcoming Google I/O developers conference later this month. Reportedly photos stored with the new service can be posted to both Twitter and Facebook with a fraction of the hassle it takes to do so currently. These rumors have been a long time coming. Bloomberg reported a similar plan early last year and Google Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai was quoted in March stating that photos and social would be operated separately.
Source: Bloomberg Business
ReVault: World’s first wearable private cloud
It is often said that more memory space on a phone is unnecessary with the advancements in cloud storage. People have gone as far as saying that on-board memory and physical storage devices (like flash drives) are archaic and have no place in the modern world.
While it does seem that cloud storage is the way of the future, there are those who are worried about the security of their data. On top of that, there is also those who are worried about the reliability of that data. What happens if they lose internet connection? Are they stuck in a state of limbo until they are reconnected to internet?
ReVault has started an IndieGogo campaign with a solution.
“ReVault is the world’s first wearable private cloud that allows you to securely access and sync all your files across all your devices without an internet connection. It’s time to reclaim your data!“
Their aim is to provide secure cloud storage that is only accessible by you.For $169, you can order a 32 GB ReVault, or you can spend an extra $100 for a 128 GB version.
With ReVault, you get more a little more than just personal storage, it is also a watch with customization watchfaces for a little extra personalization.
The ReVault is designed to store files locally and securely like a standard USB flash drive, but it also provides automatic backup and file sync along with media streaming, two factor authentication, encryption, notifications and a custom API that can be tapped into.
The device has companion apps for Android, iOS, Mac, Windows and Linux devices. Everything can be accessed through WiFi direct and Bluetooth in order to offer offline access.
It has a unique design that allows it to be worn as a watch, necklace or even pocket accessory. It includes a colored display protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and water resistance.
The post ReVault: World’s first wearable private cloud appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Android Wear 5.1.1 update now beginning to roll out to compatible devices
Google has just taken to its product forums to announce that Android Wear 5.1.1 is just now beginning to roll out to all Android Wear devices. We’ve already seen the 5.1.1 update on the LG Watch Urbane, but up until now, the only other watch that’s received the update is the Asus ZenWatch.
Read more: Android Wear vs Apple Watch software comparison
Announced about a month ago, Android Wear 5.1.1 brings a slew of new handy features to the wearable platform, such as the ability to set always-on applications, new gestures for scrolling through Google Now cards, and a much more refined contacts/app menu. One of the more exciting features present in this update is Wi-Fi support, allowing your Android Wear device to receive notifications, as long as your watch and your phone are both connected to a Wi-Fi network. Google says that Wi-Fi support will only be available on the Motorola Moto 360, Sony Smartwatch 3 and Samsung Gear Live.
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The update will be rolling out over the next few days and weeks, so it may be a little while before it makes its way to your device. Have you received Android Wear 5.1.1 yet? If so, let us know how you like it!
How to Answer and Make Phone Calls on Apple Watch [iOS Blog]
Did you ever think the day would come when we could call someone right from our wrists? It still seems like the stuff that science fiction is made of, but you can, in fact, make and receive phone calls on Apple Watch. On Apple Watch, calls are routed through the iPhone, but you can answer even with your iPhone in another room or tucked away in a pocket, carrying on an entire conversation right from your watch.
Answering a Call
Answering a phone call is self-explanatory. When the call comes in, all you have to do is tap the green answer button. If you don’t want to answer it, you can tap the red decline button and send the call to voicemail instead.
You can also choose to answer the call on your iPhone or send a text message. When the call comes in, turn the Digital Crown or swipe upwards to access these options.
Read more 
Automatic Unveils New App Gallery and Car Adapter With Real-Time Data Support [iOS Blog]
Automatic today announced the release of a second-generation Automatic Adapter, which adds dual Bluetooth data streams, built-in GPS, Made for iPhone (MFi) certfication, and an improved connector to its existing feature set.
Like the original Automatic Adapter, the new version plugs into a car’s OBD-II port to provide information like distance traveled, gas used, time spent in the car, and more. It’s able to provide notifications to advise drivers on when to ease off on the gas and brake pedals to optimize speeds and save gas, and it can deliver information on what’s wrong with a car via check engine alerts.
Data collected is aggregated into a weekly driving score, and via Bluetooth, the accompanying app can let you know where your car is parked. A free crash alert service sends assistance whenever a severe collision is detected.
Along with a new Adapter, Automatic also announced an SDK and an App Gallery, which houses third party apps that are able to take advantage of the data that Automatic supplies. There are more than a dozen apps that already offer Automatic integration, like IFTTT, Nest, Yo, and Pebble.
One of the major features that Automatic’s new app integration brings is the ability to see a car’s raw performance data in real time (with the new Adapter). Automatic now delivers data to DashCommand, Harry’s LapTimer, and OBD Fusion, three apps that can read information from a car’s OBD-II port sent from the Automatic.
With Automatic’s SDK, additional apps may include data from the Automatic Adapter in the future. The SDK offers access to information like mileage, routes, driving events, real-time speed, RPM, and more.
The Automatic Adapter can be purchased from the Automatic website for $99.95.
Google Maps app suddenly shows up on an Android Wear watch
After updating his phone to Google Maps version 9.9, an Android Central writer made a surprising discovery: a near-fully functional Google Maps app had suddenly appeared on his Wear watch as well. The app reportedly works much like the standard mobile phone or tablet version (ie pinch to zoom, swipe to navigate) and even opens with the “Ok Google” voice command. But it’s not perfect however. For example, launching the app on your watch apparently causes it to also launch on the phone. Plus the watch app could only be closed by physically pressing the LG Watch Urbane’s side button. While it’s nice that Android Wear now mirrors the Maps functionality that Apple Watch wearers enjoy, the watch app’s overall bugginess is likely enough to make you just keep fishing out your phone for directions.
Filed under: Wearables, Internet, Apple, Google, LG
Source: AndroidCentral
‘Game of Thrones’ pirated 3.5 million times despite HBO Now
HBO seemed certain that offering customers the option to watch without a cable subscription through its $15/month “HBO Now” app would help curb the rampant piracy afflicting its most popular shows. Nope! Variety reports that the latest episode of HBO’s megahit “Game of Thrones” has been illegally downloaded 3.5 million times, in a single 24-hour period. That’s a new record. Per Danish piracy tracking site Excipio, this season’s episode six edged out last week’s record-setting 3.22 million downloads. And given that Excipio only really covers P2P piracy, not direct download websites, those numbers are probably a little light. This, of course, comes after the first four episodes of the season were leaked online a full day before the HBO premiere in April. It’s enough to make one to just up and start murdering popular lead characters.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Internet
What would make the perfect smartphone?
Buying a new smartphone is tough. There are so many great options out there. How do you prioritize your needs and find the right phone for you? According to the latest research from Kantar Worldpanel, on the last quarter, a third of people did no research at all before buying their new phone. If you’re here, it’s probably safe to assume you’re in the other two-thirds, visiting stores and carriers, reading up, and asking friends and family for advice (or maybe giving it).
How do you decide what’s important? What are the key things driving your purchase decision? What would your perfect smartphone look like, and have you ever found everything you wanted in a single device? Let’s take a look at what might make a great phone, section by section, and you can weigh in on the polls and in the comments.
Design aesthetic
The iPhone always won a lot of fans on this score, but smartphones in general have been getting better looking. When HTC introduced the new One range it was universally praised for being gorgeous. The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge represent new aesthetic heights for Samsung. However, the lukewarm response to the One M9 suggests that it’s not just about beauty, the design also has to feel fresh.
Beauty rarely goes hand-in-hand with durability, but are they truly mutually exclusive, or are the manufacturers just not trying hard enough? Sexy designs also often preclude removable batteries and SD card expansion.
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Screen size
Some people feel that bigger is better, but flagship smartphones are now frequently bumping up against phablet territory. Officially the phablet category starts with a screen size of 5.1 inches and goes up to 7 inches where devices become tablets, but that probably needs to be reassessed. The original Galaxy Note had a 5.3-inch screen, the Galaxy S6 has a 5.1-inch screen. Shrinking bezels allow us to get away with much bigger screen sizes than before without having to have huge devices.
There’s definitely a point at which a big screen makes a phone tougher to handle one-handed, but it depends on the size of your hands.
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Processing power
Are we really taking advantage of the processing power we already have at our fingertips? A lot of people rarely push their processors to the limits. The standard for RAM is fast-becoming 3GB. Taking advantage of what’s already there, without causing overheating problems and draining the battery, is a real challenge. But, some people want as much raw power as they can get.
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Camera
The best camera is always the camera you have with you, and that’s why smartphone cameras are growing more and more important to people. The megapixel war has tapered off a bit. Sheer power wasn’t enough to tempt many people to buy the Lumia 1020. Manufacturers have started to focus on quality and added features, with speed and low light performance growing in importance. LG, Sony, and Samsung are all offering amazing camera experiences on their latest flagships, and the popularity of selfies has led to phones like the HTC Desire Eye, with a 13MP front-facing shooter.
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Connectivity
A lot of people take connectivity for granted, but Kantar’s research found that LTE capability was a key driver for purchases. With a greater range of cheap, Android phones on the market from China, it also pays to check out what bands your phone supports, or you could find yourself stuck on 3G. For a lot of people it probably makes more sense to check out the Wi-Fi performance, but much depends on how you use your phone. For example, Bluetooth and NFC may be vital for one person and meaningless to the next.
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Durability
Back in the day mobile phones were pretty indestructible, and if your dropped your Nokia, you could always buy a new face plate. Nowadays, brushed metal and glass, make for some nasty accidents. Sony pushed waterproofing into the mainstream, but it doesn’t seem to have caught on. Rugged phones are still very much a special category apart, that’s often because they look like rubber bricks.
Without consumer demand there’s not much benefit for manufacturers in making phones tougher and more durable. How important is it anyway?
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Storage
Some people never even fill the internal storage on their smartphones, others carry their entire digital life around with them. Your need for storage probably depends on your camera usage, music collection, movie or TV habits, and how many apps and games you play.
Expandable storage, or the lack of it, is still a real deal-breaker for some people. Others will be content with the ability to expand into the cloud. Which camp do you fall into?
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Extra features
Do you care if your smartphone has a fingerprint sensor, an IR blaster, or the ability to track your heartbeat? Maybe mobile payment support or wireless charging are important to you? A set of loud, clear front-facing speakers could make all the difference. There are a lot of potential extra features that can really help you choose one phone over another. While most of the other categories have an average standard, extra features vary wildly from phone to phone.
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Putting it all together
There are a lot of other things that are probably going to weigh into your decision. Most people have a budget which inevitably limits the options. You’re also going to be swayed by the platform, the manufacturer skin, and maybe the prospect of updates. Some people are in love with a particular brand and they stick with it. Whatever your tastes, it can be very hard to find everything you want in a single smartphone.
What does your perfect smartphone look like? Have you ever bought a phone that was perfect for you at the time?
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