LG Bello II arrives in India as the LG Max
Back at the beginning of the week, LG announced its new low-cost Bello II smartphone, the latest entry in its range of affordable smartphones for emerging markets. The smartphone has now made its début in India, but with a new name – the LG Max.
The most compelling aspect of the smartphone is probably its price. The LG Max will retail for just Rs.10,900 ($170) in India, although we don’t have a specific launch date or list of retailers just yet. It’s not the cheapest smartphone on the market, but the Max offers some competitive hardware.
Despite the name change, the smartphone still comes with a 5-inch 854×480 display, 1.3GHz quad-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel rear camera and 5MP front camera. The phone also features 8GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot and a 2,540mAh battery.
High-end LG features:
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However, the smartphone only features 3G connectivity, so may struggle to compete against similarly priced 4G enabled handsets from the likes of MicroMax, Xiaomi, Lenovo or Huawei. However, the LG Max does come with some of LG’s flagship features, include Selfie Flash, Gesture Shot, and Knock Code, which might be enough to win some consumers over.
The Bello II will also be known as the LG Max in Mexico and Russia, and will be called the LG Prime II in Brazil and Chile. A roll-out in Europe is expected in the third quarter of the year.
France gets its own ‘Patriot Act’ in wake of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ attack
Liberté, égalité, fraternité? Maybe strike the first one off that list. While some US lawmakers are trying to pare down the Patriot Act, the French constitutional court has just allowed police to monitor pretty much anyone they want without a warrant. The “Loi Renseignement,” or Surveillance Act was first proposed in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris, and approved by legislators in May. It’s now the law of the land, and Prime Minister Manuel Valls tweeted that “France now has a security framework against terrorism that respects liberties.” However, many folks disagree with that sentiment, and France’s constitutional court itself strongly opposed the lack of oversight.
Dubbed “French Big Brother” by opponents, the law will enable intelligence agencies can record any calls, text messages and internet activity using “black boxes.” They’ll be backed by the Prime Minister’s office and aided by French carriers, who don’t have much say in the matter. Authorities will also be able to execute wireless phone taps, install hidden cameras and more under the new laws. What most offends critics like Amnesty International, however, is the “warrantless” part. Though authorities will need to consult an panel made up of judges, MPs and senators, their recommendations are not binding.
#LoiRenseignement: la France a désormais un cadre sécurisé contre le terrorisme et respectueux des libertés. C’est un progrès décisif! MV
– Manuel Valls (@manuelvalls) July 23, 2015
Over 100,000 people signed a petition against the act, which Amnesty International called “a major blow to human rights in France.” It added that “the surveillance measures authorized by this law are wildly out of proportion.” However, a French advocacy group called La Quadrature du Net told EUobserver that it’s ready to challenge the law in the EU’s Court of Human Rights. “Mass surveillance is part of an intolerable and oppressive machine, which is by nature the seed of totalitarianism.”
Filed under: Wireless
Via: EUobserver
Source: Conseil Constitutionnel
LG launches the ‘Max’ in India for Rs. 10,990
LG is the latest manufacturer to launch a new budget-friendly smartphone in India. This one’s called the Max, it’s priced at Rs. 10,990 ($172) and is available in White, Titan and Gold colorways.
A full spec list for device can be seen below:
- 5-inch display
- 1.3GHz quad-core processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 8GB of expandable storage
- 8-megapixel rear-facing camera
- 5-megapixel front-facing shooter
- 2,540 mAh battery
Unfortunately, the handset is 3G-only as LG believes that the demand for LTE coverage in India isn’t widespread enough at this point.
If you’re based in India and would like to find out more about picking up the LG Max — hit the source link below.
Source: LG
Come comment on this article: LG launches the ‘Max’ in India for Rs. 10,990
Xiaomi slashes the price of the Mi 4 in India for 24-hours
To celebrate its first year of being in India, Xiaomi has for one day slashed the price of the 64GB variant its latest smartphone, the Mi 4, by INR 2,000 ($31) — so residents in the region can currently pick one up for INR 17,999 ($181).
Unfortunately, stock is limited and the deal is only good for 24-hours, so if you’d like to get your hands on the device best act fast as there is just over 17 hours left.
For more details, hit the source link below.
Source: Xiaomi
Come comment on this article: Xiaomi slashes the price of the Mi 4 in India for 24-hours
Forsaken World Mobile will give you that MMORPG hit on the go
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I’m not a big MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) guy, but if I was, I would probably be excited to hear this news. Fedeen Games, the people behind the PC MMORPG Forsaken World, have just released a mobile version of that game, intuitively named Forsaken World Mobile. For many, this will likely be the opportunity to get their Forsaken World hit while on the go – and Fedeen Games says it will be just that because they say Forsaken World Mobile runs on the same graphics engine as the PC version. Check out a few short snippets of the game:
Much like other games in this genre, Forsaken World Mobile is set in a world of magic and monsters, and you assume a class out of a possible five to go out and, well, quest. To the uninitiated eye, like mine, Forsaken World Mobile looks a lot like a mobile version of World of Warcraft, which could be exactly what you are looking for – if that sounds like your ticket, you can download Forsaken World Mobile at the link below:
What do you think about Forsaken World Mobile? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Press Release
Forsaken World Mobile Now Available on iOS and Android Devices From Fedeen Games
An epic MMORPG adventure awaits!
San Francisco – July 23, 2015 – The trumpets of war have sounded! Fedeen Games today announced that Forsaken World Mobile, successor to the acclaimed PC series, is now available for download across 92 countries on iOS and Android devices.
Download Forsaken World Mobile:
Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id985082895
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fedeen.fswd
Once downloaded, players can get in on the action by joining the Deathbane (US), Duskmire (US), or Relinquere (EU) server based on their location.”Fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of Forsaken World Mobile for months now,” said Vincent Li, Operation Director of Fedeen Games. “During that time we have gathered some wonderful feedback from the community and our beta testers, and we are confident that this will be a handheld MMORPG experience unlike any other!”In Forsaken World Mobile, players will be able to interact with the massive open world as one of five dynamic classes. Stand tall and strong, shielding your allies as a Warrior, or strike from the shadows as a stealthy Assassin. Feed on the life force of your enemies as a Kindred, blast your foes with elemental spells as a Mage, or put your healing talents to work for the good of your team as a Cleric.Once you’ve selected your class, you’ll have the entire fully 3D landscape of Forsaken World, built using the same graphics engine as the PC games, literally at your fingertips. Team up with your friends to raid massive dungeons and take on epic bosses for tons of awesome loot, or destroy them in heart-stopping PVP battles! Outfit your character with eye-catching accessories as you traverse the land on your choice of exotic mount!Find Forsaken World Mobile online:Official site: www.fedeen.com/games/forsaken-world/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/forsakenworldmobile
Twitter: www.twitter.com/forsakenmobile
The post Forsaken World Mobile will give you that MMORPG hit on the go appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Worldwide smartphone shipments up 12 percent YoY
It’s that time of the year when analysts parade out market data for the midpoint of the year, so we can assess who the biggest winners and losers have been in the past twelve months. IDC, one of the big names in market data, has just released its comprehensive breakdown of how the smartphone market stands in Q2 2015.
Starting with the big picture, it is good news for the mobile industry as a whole. Worldwide smartphone shipments have leapt by another 11.6 percent compared with the same time last year. Vendors have shipped a total of 337.2 million smartphones in the second quarter of 2015, compared with 302.1 million units in the same period of 2014.
As you may have guessed, it is a combination of both high-end flagships and competitively priced smartphones that are continuing to drive consumer demand.
Turning to the industry leader, Samsung, we actually see a stagnation in shipments from Q2 2014 to Q2 2014, despite apparently strong demand for its new Galaxy S6 smartphones. The issue for Samsung appears to be that it incorrectly estimated demand for its S6 Edge smartphone. Reports from Korea suggest that the company has been trying to fulfil consumer demand but also has a stock of regular Galaxy S6 handset that it can’t sell. Samsung will likely be pinning hope on the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge Plus to drive sales higher later in the year.
Apple, on the other hand, has seen its shipments increase over the past year, after finally launching a smartphone that caters to consumer demand for larger smartphones. Interestingly, IDC suggest that Apple is also seeing big success in China, as higher earners move from local brands to higher-end models.
The rest of the top five global smartphone vendors are now all Chinese manufacturers, according to ICD. TrendForce awards fifth place to LG. Either way, just like TrendForce’s data from earlier in the week, the consensus is that the most notable shipments gains have come from Chinese brands, such as Huawei and Xiaomi.
Xiaomi has achieved a huge 29.7 percent year-over-year growth in terms of shipments, through a combination of continued growth China and expansion into new territories in India, Asia and Brazil. Huawei has focused its attention on Europe this year, which, combined with strong domestic demand, has seen considerable growth as a result, up a huge 48.1 percent.
Low-cost phones from Asia:
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Xiaomi’s low margin business model is also being adopted by other companies in the Chinese and Asians markets, which is pushing prices down for consumers but making profits tougher to come-by. Xiaomi is gradually turning its attention to the US, in a bid to expand out from the ultra-competitive Asian markets.
Lenovo has seen a more modest jump in its shipments, just 400,000, and has seen its share in China squeezed slightly by other low cost manufacturers. However, sales of Motorola devices, especially the entry level Moto E and G smartphones, have sold well across the globe, from India to the US.
In summary, it has been another good year for most of the world’s smartphone vendors. Some are doing better than others and this year’s biggest winners so far appear to be Apple, Huawei and Xiaomi, while Samsung is still struggling after a lacklustre 2014. With each passing year the competitive environments in both the high-end and entry-level markets are becoming increasingly unforgiving.
These days, comparable hardware can be bought at half the price of expensive flagships from Samsung or Apple, and this is one of the leading reasons for the huge growth from the Asian brands. However, there are signs of growth in the high-end Chinese market as well, which Android brands do not seem to be capitalizing on right now.
Following a tough time with its Galaxy S5, a misjudgement seems to have also cost Samsung with the S6. At the other end, low-cost manufacturers are looking expand away from the Chinese market in search of further growth. There are opportunities to boost sales with low-cost devices in Western markets and whoever gets there first might secure themselves a spot in the top 5 for the coming years.
Japan is building a ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ bullet train
Japan is yet to create any towering bio-machines in the style of Neon Genesis Evangelion, but it’s doing the next best thing: decorating a Shinkansen bullet train to look like the iconic purple Unit-01. It’s being put together by Japanese train operator JR West to celebrate the the 20th anniversary of the hit mecha anime, as well as the 40 years that have passed since the completion of the Sanyo Shinkansen line. In addition to its striking paint job, the “500 Type Eva” train will have an Evangelion-themed interior and heaps of special memorabilia for fans to buy. JR West says it’ll launch this autumn and run until March next year, completing two trips between Hakata and Shin-Osaka each day. We’re on board, as long as the train isn’t required to fight any formidable Angels along the way.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Huffington Post
Source: JR West
Samsung quietly unveils the Galaxy Tab A Plus
Samsung has quietly unveiled it’s latest mid-range tablet, the Galaxy Tab A Plus. The slate popped up on the Belgium-France division of the company’s website earlier today, despite not having an official announcement.
What’s surprising about the South Korean manufacturer’s latest mid-range Tab offering is that it ships with the S Pen stylus (usually reserved for high-end products) on board, which leaves me pondering what new features may be included in the upcoming ‘Note’-branded line-up.
In terms of performance, the A Plus packs a 9.7-inch HD display, a 1.2GHz Ziilabs ZMS-08 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 6,000mAh battery.
The Galaxy Tab A Plus is available for €339 ($372) from a selection of online retailers in Sandy White or Sandy Black colorways.
Source: Samsung
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The new YouTube app features a redesigned interface and new editing tools
YouTube is receiving a big update that freshens up the user interface and brings new editing tools, plus the proper display of vertical videos that we covered earlier this week.
Version 10.28.59 of the YouTube for Android app gives up on the familiar hamburger menu in favor of a new tabbed interfaced that makes it easier to reach the key features of YouTube. The three tabs of the new interface are:
- Home – shows you recommendations based on your watch history, as well as videos from your subscribed channels and select music videos.
- Subscriptions – here you can see the latest videos from your subscribed channels, as well as an interface that lets you browse your subscriptions.
- Account – here’s where you can see your watch history, playlists, account info, notification settings and “watch later” videos. You can also upload a video from your device from here.
All of these options and features were previously hidden in the sliding side menu, which has been one of Google’s most loved design elements in the past year. So it’s interesting to see a major Google app return to a tabbed interface, though not that surprising, given Google’s notorious inconsistency when it comes to design.
In addition to the rearrangement of the interface, you can now trim videos more easily, apply filters, and even add music to your homemade videos, right from the app. The interface for trimming is simpler and more intuitive; adding a filter is as simple as tapping on the icon and picking from the handful of options; as for music, you can pick from a selection of suggested tunes grouped by category and genre, or choose music from your own device. It’s a compelling proposition and we can see a lot of videos in the future taking advantage of it.
YouTube for Android v. 10.28.59 is now available in the Play Store. As usual, the update may take a couple of days to reach you, so patience is advised.
Google realized you hate full-page app ads
You know those full-screen ‘interstitial‘ ads that pop-up when you load a mobile site and suggest that you install the app instead? It just dawned on Google that they actually make you rage-quit the entire site and go somewhere else. The search giant decided to take a look at interstitial ads for its own Google+, a site that’s not exactly beloved in the first place. It found that while 9 percent of visitors did press the ‘get app’ button, 69 percent abandoned the page completely.
Isn’t 9 percent decent though? Well, Google then removed the interstitial to see how it would affect G+ usage, replacing it with a banner ad instead. Active users increased by 17 percent, while iOS native app installs were basically unaffected (Google+ is installed by default on Android). Based on that result, Google decided to kill the interstitial ad completely and even got rid of the banner on later versions of iOS. It hopes others will do the same, but we’d say that some are incorrigible — yes, we’re talking to you, crappy game developer.
Filed under: Google
Source: Google
AIVAnet 