IBM reports that a 7 nanometer chip has successfully been created
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The technology of microchip manufacturing moves at a breakneck speed compared to almost everything else – just when the latest and greatest technology reaches our hands, the next best thing is already starting to come to life. This is exactly what has happened today with IBM announcing that a 7 nanometer chip has successfully been created (albeit in a test setting). If you’re not wowed by that statement alone, know that this has been a $3 billion effort by various companies including Global Foundries, Samsung and the SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering to further microchip technology. IBM says that these 7nm chips could be 50% better at power conservation and general performance which is obviously a big deal for the future of mobile devices.
Some consider 7nm to be the limit of silicon based chips so it’s going to be a period of exciting technological progress the next few years – you’ll probably start hearing about new materials being used in microchips including, for example, graphene and carbon nanotubes. Of course, while this is a huge deal in the chip manufacturing industry, we’re probably still several months, perhaps even years, away from seeing these chips in mobile devices we can hold and touch, but it really puts into perspective just how quickly technology moves while we’re going about our lives.
What do you think about the creation of a 7 nanometer chip? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post IBM reports that a 7 nanometer chip has successfully been created appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
TWC robo-calls customer 153 times, now owes her $229,500
Reuters reports that Time Warner Cable has been slapped with a hefty ($229,500) fine after hammering one of its own customers, Araceli King of Irving, Texas, with robo-calls. The cable company reportedly autodialed her 153 times in less than a year. The kicker: they weren’t even looking for her — TWC was actually looking for the guy that originally owned the phone number. But even after repeatedly pleading with the company and a seven minute discussion with a TWC rep in which she made it clear that she wasn’t Luiz Perez (the number’s original owner), she kept receiving calls. The harassment was so consistent and extensive that the company continued calling her — an astounding 74 times — after she instigated her lawsuit in March 2014.
U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein was clearly not impressed by TWC’s defense. The defense argued that TWC somehow wasn’t liable under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, a law specifically designed to curb robo-call harassment like this. Judge Hellerstein stated that “a responsible business” would have bothered to actually track down Perez rather than keep calling the same number over and over. As such, he fined Time Warner Cable $1,500 per call for a total of $229,500. “Defendant harassed plaintiff with robo-calls until she had to resort to a lawsuit to make the calls stop, and even then TWC could not be bothered to update the information in its IVR system,” Hellerstein wrote. There’s no word yet on whether TWC will appeal the ruling.
[Image Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet
Source: Reuters
Samsung trademarks Galaxy Tab S Pro moniker
Samsung is getting ready to announce some amazing devices during the second half of 2015. Among them are the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus (or whatever name they choose for it), and now we are getting proof that there may also be a high-end tablet in the works.
Samsung trademarked the moniker “Samsung Galaxy Tab S Pro” on July 3rd. Sadly, we know nothing of this mysterious tablet yet, as it’s the very first time we hear of it. We are also not sure whether it will ever be announced or not; manufacturers often file for trademarks and end up not launching the product. It’s more of a precautionary chore, in some cases. What we do know is a good Samsung tablet is definitely due by now.
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We haven’t seen an update to the Galaxy Tab S series for more than a year. This means a successor is likely coming. We have been hearing rumors of a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 for some time now, including specs, benchmarks, materials and even a supposed June announcement. June came and went with no good news, though. Is it because Samsung is changing its strategy and waiting on this Galaxy Tab S Pro? Are they the same one?
That is also unknown, but the Tab S2 has some pretty good specs, including an Exynos 7420 chip, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage and 3580-5870 mAh batteries (depending on the size). I say that hardware is worthy of a “pro” label – right?
They may be completely different devices, though. We won’t find out until Samsung takes the stage, which we have no idea when they will, now that they have missed the June window.
Sony devices will malfunction if users enable My Xperia app
We continue to fight the war against phone theft with kill switches, but companies like Sony have been providing theft protection for years. Sony’s My Xperia app can locate, lock, factory reset or even send a sound alert to your phone. That’s not all it does, though – if you have an unlocked bootloader, it may go as far as making your device malfunction.
Those with the My Xperia Theft Protection service on their more recent high-end Sony Xperia smartphones may have noticed that using this service will get rid of the ability to unlock your bootloader. This makes sense, as tinkering with your smartphone can remove certain DRM security keys that are necessary for certain functions to operate. For example, this action can affect camera quality and other features.
The bad news is not exactly that one can’t unlock the bootloader after this app has been in use. It’s what happens if you activate My Xperia Theft Protection after the bootloader has been unlocked that has us worrying. Here’s Sony’s disclaimer:
“After unlocking your device, you should not enable My Xperia (found in the settings menu under security on some devices running Android 5.0) as this might cause the device to malfunction.”
Not a fun scenario, so please make sure you don’t go near this app if you ever want to unlock your bootloader, or if you already have. It’s uncertain what kind of “malfunctioning” Sony is referring to in this statement. It could be something minor… or it could brick your smartphone, turning it into the fanciest paperweight you have ever owned.
Have any of you encountered any issues with the My Xperia Theft Protection service on devices with unlocked bootloaders? Please sound off in the comments and share your experiences. We sure wouldn’t want unfortunate events happening to more people.
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LG G Pad F™ 8.0 is now available from U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular announced today that it will carry the LG G Pad F™ 8.0. It will be available in the color of your choice, as long as that choice is black.
LG G Pad F™ 8.0 specs
- 8-inch HD + IPS display
- 5 MP rear-facing camera
- 2 MP front-facing camera
- HD camcorder
- Full-sized USB port so you can store and transfer content directly to the device
- Q Pair™, that you can sync the G Pad to your Android™ smartphone (Android 4.1 or higher) to answer calls and messages right from your tablet
- Stylus pen for a more precise touch, and it is loaded with Android 5.0 (Lollipop).
With U.S. Cellular’s $0 down installment pricing, qualified customers purchasing the LG G Pad F 8.0 make 24 monthly payments that are conveniently added to their bill. Customers can upgrade this device in as little as 12 months if they trade it in for any new device with installment pricing. They can choose to pay off the full balance of their device anytime they want. It is also available for $129.99 with a two-year agreement.
Is this device on your radar? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
The post LG G Pad F™ 8.0 is now available from U.S. Cellular appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google introduces all new Chromecast Ethernet adapter
Google’s Chromecast is a great device for streaming your favorite media to your HDMI equipped TV. The inherent weakness of the device is its reliance on a wireless network in order to operate. Sometimes you just don’t have the coverage to reliably reach the area where your Chromecast connected TV is situated. The new Chromecast Ethernet adapter, announced today, allows your Chromecast to be used with wired connections or even a powerline adapter.
Easy to install Chromecast Ethernet
Connect the included USB cable to the Chromecast, run an Ethernet cable from the router to the power supply, and plug in.
Google quickly sold out of their available stock and is now back ordered 2-3 weeks.
What do you think? Will you be ordering one? Let us know in the comments.
The post Google introduces all new Chromecast Ethernet adapter appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Chilean telecom leaks Moto X Sport and 3rd gen Moto G
Chilean tech blog Pisapapeles recently obtained information from a reliable source within Chilean telecom Entel, that leaks a new variant of the Moto X and the next generation Moto G.
The new variant of the Moto X is called the Moto X Sport and boasts the following specs.
- 5.2″ Screen (current generation: 5.2″)
- 1.5 GHz quad-core processor (current generation: 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor)
- 16MP rear facing camera (current generation: 13MP)
- 5MP front facing camera (current generation: 2MP)
Moto G spec leaks
- 5″ Screen (current generation: 5″)
- 1.4 GHz quad-core processor (current generation: 1.2 GHz Snapdragon quad-core processor)
- 13MP rear facing camera (current generation: 8MP)
- 5MP front facing camera (current generation: 2MP)
While the Moto G’s specs seem like a natural evolution, it’s unclear why the Moto X Sport would change to a slower processor. It could be a misprint, carrier speculation, or just wrong information. What do you think? Is this legit? Sound off in the comments.
The post Chilean telecom leaks Moto X Sport and 3rd gen Moto G appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Facebook reportedly has a music streaming service in the works, too
If you think the playing field for music streaming services is already quite crowded, we may need to make room for one more. Music Ally reports that Facebook is working on a subscription service of its own, after recent reports tied the social network to record labels through ad-supported music videos. While that video-driven project may resemble something more akin to Vevo, the report says that Facebook is in fact eying audio streaming, joining the likes of Apple, Rdio, Spotify and others. The folks in Menlo Park are said to be focused on getting the video platform off the ground first — in the coming months, apparently — but an all-audio version is in the plans for the future. Facebook could go the route it did with Instagram or WhatsApp, opting to purchase an established service rather than build its own. A smaller subscription-based company could potentially be nabbed for less than Zuckerberg & Co. spent on the photo or chat software. Apple certainly thought that was a solid approach.
[Image credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet, Facebook
Via: Business Insider
Source: Music Ally
Samsung may be #1 in the USA, but they are still losing!
Despite Samsung’s recent onslaught of bad fortune, the latest smartphone data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech puts the popular phone maker back in the #1 spot in the USA. This is good news for Sammy, as they have finally taken back the crown they once held so dearly. The sad news is that chances are no one is celebrating in Samsung’s Korean head quarters. Even though Samsung is winning, they are still losing!
The report states the Android operating system continues to grow its market share when taking a look at the three months of the year ending in May 2015. Android now holds 64.9% of the US smartphone market, showing a 2.8% increase over last year. The real question is whether this is, in large, thanks to Samsung or not.
The Galaxy phone maker is reported to have regained the market lead in the US with an increase from 52% (3 months ending in April) to 55% (three months ending in May). This means they were able to retake 3% of the market in just one month, mostly thanks to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. The Galaxy S6 went on to become one of the best-selling smartphones in the US after the iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S5.
How is Samsung losing?
Here’s where things get interesting: Samsung also improved their year-over-year statistics, with market share only down by 0.5%, as opposed to 2014’s 1.6% during the same period of time. According to these numbers, Samsung is still losing sales… they are just losing them slower.
Regardless, these changes don’t seem significant enough to place Samsung in a victorious state. A big factor is that Apple is beginning to lose sales as the iPhone 6 hype starts to die down. Meanwhile, Samsung’s flagship device is brand new and should probably be doing much better. The real numbers will come once we compare both devices’ statistics on equal terms. Keep in mind the Galaxy S6 is still the third most sold smartphone in the USA, not the first.
It could be argued that Apple numbers are going down thanks to Samsung’s awesome smartphones, which offer an improved build quality, stunning design, an insane camera and top-notch performance. The phone is a beast, but we can’t give Samsung all the credit for taking down Apple; LG has managed to nearly double its market share year-over-year, which is helping the cause. Now that is an impressive statistic!
Not to mention, Samsung continues to report more quarterly profit drops, with Q2 2015 expected to be the 7th in a row (wow!) Not even their best smartphone ever was able to take them out of this whole they are digging themselves into.
Why is this? These matters are complex and no one can give you a straight explanation as to why Samsung keeps spiraling down. Some say it has to do with Samsung’s supply not being able to meet customer demand. That may be a factor, but we also have to consider Samsung’s phones haven’t exactly been meeting consumer expectations either.
Previous Galaxy smartphones performed great, but the build quality was horrendous. Samsung went back to the drawing board after realizing a change was due. They wanted to improve their strategy and create a Galaxy S6 worthy of consumer envy. This thing had to be powerful and well-built, and they sure accomplished it. The Samsung Galaxy S6 really is amazing in many ways, but it’s still not the hero Samsung was looking for, nor the one we deserved.
I believe Samsung is still trying way too hard to compete with Apple, as opposed to placing more attention on what their customers want. One of the main reasons why Samsung critics stuck to Galaxy phones was that these devices continued to support expandable storage and removable batteries. It was what differentiated them, yet the Samsung Galaxy S6 got rid of both features. And chances are the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will do the same.
There are good arguments to the exclusion of these, something we make sure to mention in our opinion piece regarding the Note 5’s lack of microSD support. My gripe with this whole issue is more about the lack of a removable battery. Have you used a Samsung Galaxy S6? Its battery life is disgusting! The thing seriously won’t last me half a day. And now I can’t even swap batteries when one dies? One day I said “forget this” and just stopped using it.
If Samsung was going to improve the build quality by sacrificing battery life (or the removable battery), we would have liked it to be a sizable battery, at least. This is why so many are finding refuge in LG’s latest smartphone, the G4. It offers a huge removable battery, great performance and a design that is also amazing. In a different way, but it’s amazing.
The real question is whether the Galaxy S6 will continue to sell as well as it has. And if all my beliefs on Samsung’s decline are right, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 won’t really help much, as the latest rumors suggest the it will pretty much be a larger Galaxy S6 with a stylus.
Like I said above… Samsung may be #1, but they are still losing. Their numbers are still going down, their new devices have flaws they don’t plan on changing and the awesome improvements pale against the sacrifices Samsung had to take. But tell us, guys. Would you agree with me that Samsung made some bad decisions? What factors would you credit their decline to? Sound off in the comments and let us know whether you agree or disagree with me.
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Self-driving taxis may be the key to cutting greenhouse gases
You may think that self-driving cars are mostly useful for reducing accident rates and freeing your time, but they might just help save the environment, too. Berkeley Lab researchers have published a study determining that switching the transportation grid to autonomous electric taxis would cut greenhouse gas emissions as much as 90 percent by 2030. While the clean EV powerplants would play a large part, the switch away from privately-owned cars that would make nearly as much of a difference. A big key would be “right-sizing” trips — since you’d usually just need a tiny car to get around, you could avoid getting into a big vehicle until it’s necessary. The base data doesn’t even include some of the efficiencies that are inherent to robotic cars, like optimized routes and closely-packed traffic that cuts wind resistance.
Of course, this assumes ideal conditions. It’d require a wholesale infrastructure switch in just 15 years, which isn’t terribly likely when both EV and autonomous technologies are just getting started. This also assumes that everyone cooperates — even if you don’t mind giving up control, there would be plenty of professional drivers losing their jobs. However, scientists are quick to add that even a modest switch could have a tangible impact. If self-driving taxis made up 5 percent of 2030’s estimated car sales (about 800,000 machines), they’d cut carbon dioxide missions by up to 2.4 million tons per year. In other words, every little bit could help.
Filed under: Transportation, Science
Via: EurekAlert, Good
Source: Berkeley Lab, Nature
AIVAnet 