Latest leak shows a gold Galaxy Note 5 prototype without auto ejecting S Pen
With just over two weeks to go until the rumoured August 13th announcement of the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ handsets, it’s only fitting that the steady stream of leaks continues. Today’s leak may give us the answer as to whether the Note 5 will sport an auto ejecting S Pen or not.
As you can see from both the images above, the S Pen would appear to be operated the same way it always has been, by inserting one’s fingernail into the lip and pulling the S Pen out of the device. While Samsung may have patented the auto ejecting S Pen, it isn’t present in this batch of leaked pictures.
Our eagle-eyed readers will have no doubt seen the AT&T apps on the Note 5’s home screen, and yes, this means that the device in view is most likely the AT&T variant, as opposed to the Verizon variant that was benchmarked the other day.
That’s the S Pen rumours sorted out (maybe), will we see leaked images giving us the definitive low-down on the MicroSD card issue before the purported August 12/13th announcement? Only time will tell, but we are allegedly getting closer to the business end of things. What other features would you like to see leaked before the official launch?
Source: Nowhereelse.fr
Come comment on this article: Latest leak shows a gold Galaxy Note 5 prototype without auto ejecting S Pen
Leaked Sony Xperia C5 Ultra user manual confirms bezel-free display
We’ve heard a ton of scuttlebutt with Sony’s upcoming bezel-free smartphone, the Xperia C5 Ultra, being the main topic of conversion over the course of the past few weeks, but we haven’t seen any tangible evidence revealing what the device may look like.
Up until now, that is.
Earlier today, a leaked user manual for the handset surfaced online, disclosing not only the design of the device, but what functionality it’s set to have on board too.
The C5 Ultra is posing with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera equipped with an LED flash and dual loudspeakers on its front. A dedicated camera button, microSD card and nano SIM slot can be found on its side and as for the back, all that can be seen is a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera.
Check it out in the images below:
Source: XperiaBlog
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The Galaxy S6 Edge+ might have 4GB of RAM… does it need it?
The Samsung of 2015 is a new Samsung. A different Samsung. A more focused, fine-tuned Samsung… at least this is what the company wants consumers to believe. After 2014 saw a decrease in mobile phone sales and ptofitability, 2015 was meant to be a chance to reduce excess product releases, trim the fat, and promote premium.
While Samsung’s possible reduction from 56 phones to just 26 this year might be deemed “smart”, to some it will still come across as failure to curtail the impressive menagerie of smartphones and tablets it releases. TouchWiz however, has been significantly reduced both in size, scope, and substance. The key elements that users look to the company for are still in tow, but less useful components like the Tool Box or Hovering ability are gone.
The Plus is packing RAM?
Curious then, that a new rumor out of Vietnam is suggesting Samsung may be opting to release the upcoming (and as-of-yet unconfirmed) Galaxy S6 Edge+ with 4GB of RAM when it launches in a few weeks.
While the upcoming Galaxy Note 5 is widely expected to ship with 4GB of RAM, this is seemingly more about day-to-day usage rather than a formality. The Galaxy Note series has always been about productivity, and that entails not only the S-Pen, but also an entire suite of software modifications that imbue the device with such fitness.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is… just an enlarged Galaxy S6 Edge. Seemingly (and literally) nothing more, nothing less. New reports are suggesting the device will even pack the same Exynos 7420 SoC as opposed to a Snapdragon 808. So if the standard S6 Edge was left to fend for itself with 3GB of RAM, why then should the S6 Edge+ require 4GB?
Consideration 1: It has nothing to do with Apple
Despite all the claims that the product exists simply as a way to “combat” the iPhone 6s Plus, we would argue the RAM spec is totally unrelated. Apple has never deemed it worthwhile to bequeath its profit-providing smartphone series with copious amounts of RAM, and thus it would be seemingly of no value for Samsung to bother.
Consideration 2: It has much to do with Chinese OEMs
These days, it’s not so challenging to find a smartphone packing 4GB of RAM. Just one look at the Asus ZenFone 2, a device that is proving to be quite popular due to its price and spec-set, to find a 4GB variant has been released for those opting to spend some extra cash. The ZTE Nubia Z9 is another 4GB monster and one that our team thought quite highly of. Upcoming Chinese phones expected to have the extra RAM include the OnePlus 2, Lenovo K80, the OPPO Find 9, and the Huawei Ascend D8.
These devices all have – or presumably will – the added benefit of costing less than Samsung’s flagship product line. This is even more true of the device being considered within this piece given that based on the pricing of the standard S6 Edge, the cost of the Plus is likely to be even higher.
Samsung is thus forced to compete spec-for-spec in key market share “battleground” countries with products that potentially offer more, and do it for less.
Consideration 3: Including 4GB of RAM is the only clear solution
The overall success of the S6 and S6 Edge have been plagued by a few small problems, one of which is an overly aggressive RAM management profile. TouchWiz will frequently kill off background apps instead of suspending them, ultimately leading to increased latency when “resuming” an app. The problem has seemingly been persisting even with the update to Lollipop 5.1 and thus perhaps the inclusion of 4GB is a consideration for this debacle.
Read And Mull (over)
Ultimately we may never know exactly why Samsung has decided to include 4GB of RAM on the S6 Edge+, assuming it even does in the first place. While the leak itself come from the very country responsible for much of the Korean company’s manufacturing (Vietnam) it is ultimately not official until Samsung says so.
What’s your take on the issue? Should the Galaxy S6 Edge+ come with 4GB of RAM? Should the standard model have as well? What could be Samsung’s motivation? Leave us a comment and let everyone know your thoughts below.
Sydney gets world’s first e-ink traffic signs
Sydney is now using the world’s first outdoor e-ink traffic signs to guide motorists during special events. The city’s Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) agency was apparently fed up with the constant chore of changing signs, and developed the tech with a company called Visionect. Like your Kindle, the signs are easy to read in Sydney’s bright sunshine, and also powered by it via solar panels. The messages can be updated remotely via a cell connection to an “internet of things” network.
Sydney’s tech is pretty basic, but e-ink holds enormous potential for signage. We’ll no doubt see fancier outdoor displays one day, but for now the city’s just hoping to save some money — Los Angeles spends up to $9.5 million putting up temporary parking restriction signs, for instance. The group also developed anti-tampering and location detection tech, because you just know that someone’s going to try to steal or hack them.
Filed under: Displays
Via: The Register
Source: Visionect
Sky will reportedly launch its ‘SkyQ’ 4K box within weeks
Just days after BT began selling its Ultra HD box online, broadcasting rival Sky appears ready to show off its own 4K hardware. The Telegraph reports that the pay TV provider is just weeks away from launching “SkyQ,” an Ultra HD set-top box that will reportedly let subscribers watch or record at least four programmes at once. Like the EE TV box, Sky’s player will also share broadcasts across smartphones and tablets, as families increasingly shift towards smaller screens.
Sky’s 4K player has been a long time coming. Originally known internally as “Project Ethan,” the box will play a major part in its battle against BT, which has already made inroads into its sporting coverage over the past couple of years. While BT’s Ultra HD box relies on YouView, SkyQ will be more customised, which includes Netflix-like navigation that makes it easier to view live TV but also on-demand content.
While Sky may possibly be only a little late to market with its own 4K box, the launch of the device was originally scheduled for next year. However, with the rise of BT and increased competition from other TV providers, the company decided to hasten its release. There’s no word on exactly when we’ll see SkyQ or whether Sky is ready to deliver Ultra HD content, but we’ll likely find out more as the company prepares for the kick-off of the Premier League season.
Filed under: HD
Source: The Telegraph
Samsung’s latest monitors wirelessly charge your phone
It’s not coated in gold, but Samsung’s newest screen — a monitor this time — packs wireless charging for mobile phones (and other Qi-compatible gadgets. (Yes, functionality you’d actually want in your office monitor… if you have a wirelessly charging phone.) The full-HD 24-inch S24E370DL and 27-inch S27E370DS displays come with AMD’s anti-flicker gaming tech as well as 178-degree viewing angles. Samsung’s not offered a date or country for release, but we’d expect it to appear (somewhere!) by the end of the year. Expect a steady trickle of new products from the company: it’s gearing up for Europe’s biggest electronics show, IFA, which kicks off in September. Samsung fridges! Washing machines! Conceptual laptops! And possibly a new Galaxy smartphone. If you’re good.
Filed under: Desktops, Home Entertainment, Samsung
Motorola Moto G (2015) listed accidentally on FlipKart
Over the weekend, packaging for the Moto G (2015) leaked online. And now one retailer has activated its listing for Motorola’s upcoming phone days before launch on July 28.
Indian retailer FlipKart is already mentioning the Moto G (2015) on its site. The specifications confirm that the mid-range handset will come with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (for the base model) and be priced at 11,999 Rs. There is a big chance we will see multiple variants with this year’s Moto G, most likely with different storage capacities.
The handset will be announced simultaneously in New York City, Sao Paulo, and London. The livestream will be accessible to everyone when the global event starts at 9:00AM ET on Tuesday. We could see as many as three new handsets launched at the event, including the Moto X (2015) and a new version of the Moto 360.
Via: TechDroider
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Hands on with Tronsmart’s Quick Charge 2.0 chargers
Just about every flagship device shipping this year has or will have Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology inside. Devices with supported Qualcomm processors can take advantage of Quick Charge 2.0 by receiving an accelerated amount of power in less time than anything else. The chargers included in the box with new devices, however, are typically not the ones compatible with Qualcomm’s innovation. Most companies sell them separately at rather high prices. So looking at third-party manufacturers for Quick Charge 2.0 chargers is the way to go.
Tronsmart is among the companies vying to sell you a product capable of rapidly charging your device. This company actually stands out, though, because of its certification. Tronsmart’s three products that are compatible with Quick Charge 2.0-ready devices have all been certified by Qualcomm. On the company’s site, Tronsmart even shows the documents as proof. This goes for Tronsmart’s two-port wall charger, four-port charging hub, and three-port car charger.
These products show the company’s commitment to speed, simplicity, and safety. All of them monitor device voltage settings and adjust the output accordingly, send an equal amount of power to any port, and prevent anything abnormal from harming a device.
Tronsmart’s VoltIQ technology is what keeps ports normal ports, the ones without Quick Charge 2.0, from receiving an inappropriate amount of power. Regardless of the amount of devices connected or which port they are using, VoltIQ can ensure that the necessary amount of a power is generated.
I tested Tronsmart’s wall charger, charging hub, and car charger with the LG G4 (for the Quick Charge 2.0 ports), Nexus 9, and LG G Watch.
Wall charger
The wall charger offered by Tronsmart trumps the competition in terms of size, amount of ports, and, perhaps most importantly, price. One would think that having three ports makes it impossible to maintain a smaller design. In this case, that assumption is wrong. Tronsmart’s wall charger measures 70.5 x 48.3 x 26.4in and weighs 84.4g. While the weight is higher than plenty of other chargers, Tronsmart made a three-port charger as compact as possible. You should have no problem fitting this charger into outlets with a stacked setup. And the included micro-USB cable stretches nearly 6ft.
Ports are aligned vertically with the first, highlighted in blue, belonging to Qualcomm’s technology and the bottom two being backed by VoltIQ. The total amount of power coming from the this charger is 42W.
Most wall chargers with Quick Charge 2.0 are priced north of $30, but Tronsmart’s is available for $19 through Amazon.
[Amazon]
Charging hub
The desktop charger doesn’t differ too much from Tronsmart’s wall charger. It is essentially the same exact product but with a few additional ports. Measuring 94 x 60 x 25mm, the charging hub weighs 149g. I like to call this a charging hub because it raises the amount of ports to five. At work, it allows you to have multiple devices receiving power without being spread throughout the room. The AC cable for the charging hub makes placement pretty simple and Tronsmart has included its micro-USB cable to get started. That’s right, power for this accessory does not come from a computer. Drawing upon an outlet is what makes it possible to charge five devices simultaneously without sacrificing quality.
I was slightly disappointed to see that Tronsmart did not bring in another Quick Charge 2.0 port with its charging hub, especially with more devices seemingly adopting the technology; however, it does have 54W in total power to share among the five ports.
Priced at $29, Tronsmart’s charging hub is quite the get. It’s versatile with placement, has five ports, and power comes from a solid source. Want to save some money on it? Use coupon code 3AU78ZU4 to take $10 off of the charging hub’s price.
[Amazon]
Car charger
Seeing a car charger with Quick Charge 2.o isn’t very common despite the technology being around for more than a year. Tronsmart’s car charger has three ports in addition to the sole Quick Charge 2.0 port and the total amount of power here, like with the charging hub, is 54W. It’s kind of surprising how much a car charger can do with two ports, let alone four. Staying true to the company’s compact design principles, the car charger measures 92 x 50.6 x 21mm. Some vehicles have interesting spots for their power sources but this car charger is small enough where it should fit anywhere comfortably.
Tronsmart asks that you pay $20 for its car charger, but you can save $5 with coupon code NIPHTT7P.
[Amazon]
With all three products, Tronsmart surprises with compact, appealing design. None of the chargers look or feel cheap while taking up very little space. The prices of each makes them even better. On Amazon, you can purchase them together for less than $75. Above everything else, the chargers performed how they should. Whether it is charging with a Quick Charge 2.0 port or charging multiple devices simultaneously, Tronsmart’s products are reliable to connect and go with confidence.
Come comment on this article: Hands on with Tronsmart’s Quick Charge 2.0 chargers
Welcome (back) to the After Math
Our graphical calculators are back from repair, so it’s time to crunch the numbers once again. It’s a good week for it too: Apple Watch predictions, uneasily fast explanations of the entire universe and cable company that’s doing better in internet than, well, cable.
VKworld officially unveiled its VK560 budget smartphone with a 5.5-inch display
VKworld has launched a new smartphone that aims to be the best of its kind. The phone has a 5.5-inch qHD display and MediaTek MT6735 processor. The new VK560 features 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. It will likely make it through the day due to its fairly large 2850mAh battery. Best of all, it comes with Android 5.1 pre-installed.
VKworld stated that the smartphone is the best of its kind because of great battery life and a large display. VKworld was happy to note that the VK560 will have standby time of up to 180 hours and talk time reaching up to 3 hours.
The VK560 comes with a simplistic bezel-less design, and a 2.5D arc glass panel, therefore making it more premium and durable. The smartphone will come in two color options, black/grey with a textured back cover, or a smooth white/silver variant.
The device is expected to hit shelves in China for $112 later this month.
Via: GizmoChina
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