Gear A with Samsung Pay capabilities to come alongside Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
The Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus may not be the only new devices debuting on August 13. According to a new report, Samsung is preparing to launch ‘Orbis’, the device that will be marketed as the Gear A smartwatch. The report states the new smartwatch will make a great addition to the official launch of Samsung Pay, which is also likely to make its debut at the upcoming event.
Samsung’s Gear A will reportedly come with Samsung Pay functions built directly into its sensors. The smartwatch will be operated by Tizen and likely feature a round display and cellular connectivity.
The new payment system has been undergoing testing in South Korea on a trial program for some time now, and looks like it’s ready to go full-time. Although the payment system launched with the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, we are expecting the new flagship’s to come with this compatibility as well.
Samsung lost smartwatch market share in recent quarters to Apple when the Apple Watch launched, and the company is looking to get back on top.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Via: Ubergizmo
Come comment on this article: Gear A with Samsung Pay capabilities to come alongside Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus
OnePlus 2 vs Moto X Pure Edition, which OEM did it better?
We’ve been bombarded with back-to-back flagship announcements in the past 24 hours. But now that the dust has settled, we can start asking ourselves, which OEM is offering a better deal?
Although the OnePlus 2 is dubbed as a “Flagship Killer”, the true sense of it is value. Motorola went with a similar ideal on their next Moto X. The retail price of the Moto X (Pure Edition) was reduced from $500 last year to $400, all whilst making significant improvements. Therefore, in my head this makes for a good dogfight.
Storage
If you do fine on 16GB of storage, then the OP2 will win out here. It is priced at $330, compared to Motorola’s starting price of $400 for the 16GB Moto X.
But if you care about ample storage space, the two phones close in on each other. This is because the Moto X has microSD card expansion, while the OP2 does not. The top-tier, 64GB OP2 is $390. Considering a 16GB Moto X with microSD card, the price difference isn’t too far apart. Plus, the Moto X is expandable by up to a 128GB card.
Design/Build
While design is subjective, these phones include their own customization methods. The OP2 has several backings to chose from (wood, sandstone finish, kevlar).
Motorola have used Moto Maker to bring phone customization to a level not seen before. It has been evolved it to allow for even more choices. Back cover materials include leather, wood, and textured plastic. You also are able to alter the frame color and accents around the phone.
Both devices sport a metal frame, for that premium feel. Although the back of the OP2 is removable, it is specifically for the switching cover, as the battery is non-removable. The Moto X’s back cover is not removable.
Chipset
It’s a toss-up on which chipset to prefer. The OP2 uses the unpopular Snapdragon 810, tuned to avoid overheating concerns. The Moto X uses the Snapdragon 808, a slight step down to a hexa-core CPU (also used in the LG G4). Both phones should be blazing fast.
The 64GB verison of the OP2 has 4GB of RAM, while the Moto X makes do with 3GB.
I’ll make the point here that the OP2 does not have Qualcomm’s quick charging on-board, while the Moto X does. This is a huge blow IMO. Quick charging has spoiled those of us who’ve had the pleasure. The omission of quick charging on the OP2 is due to the USB Type-C port, because of incompatibility. While I want the latest tech as much as the next guy, not sure this gamble was the smartest.
Display
The displays on these two phones are fairly close on paper. OnePlus maintained a screen size of 5.5″ on the OP2, while Moto bumped up the Moto X to 5.7″. Very small difference. However, the Moto X makes it a point to keep bezel down, with a screen-to-body ratio of 76%. The OP2 has a body-to-screen ratio of 73.3%.
The OP2 sticks with a 1080P res, while the Moto X moves up to QHD. Which approach is better is arguable. Some say that QHD does indeed look better, while others say that the gain isn’t worth the battery life loss. Both phones use an LCD. But the OP2 uses more current IPS technology, while the Moto X uses TFT. We have to reserve our opinions until we can see both displays.
Camera
Again, this is another feature that needs some real-world testing. Spec-wise, the Moto X’s camera bests the OP2 by 8 megapixels. And the Moto X camera was ranked 2nd best to the Galaxy S6 by DxOMark.
But the OP2 camera specs are nothing to scoff at. OnePlus has added a laser super fast auto-focusing. They have also made a point to counter low-light situations, by using a sensor with 1.3 micro pixels. And the OP2’s camera has something important that the Moto X is missing, optical image stabilization.
Both phones use a f/2.0 aperture on the rear lens, have dual-LED flash, and wide-angle, 5 MP front facing cameras.
Other Important Factors
- The OP2 has a fingerprint scanner. The Moto X does not.
- The OP2 let’s you chose between capacitive or on-screen buttons. The Moto X has on-screens buttons.
- The OP2 has a larger 3,300 mAh battery vs. the 3,000 mAh battery on the Moto X.
- The OP2 uses the latest connection standard, USB Type-C. The Moto X uses the old microUSB.
- The Moto X has a water repellent nano-coating. The OP2 is not water resistant.
- The Moto X is compatible with all U.S. carriers. The OP2 only works with GSM carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile).
- The Moto X has dual, front-facing speakers, while the OP2 has a mono, bottom speaker.
- The Moto X runs nearly stock Android with minimal additions, while the OP2 uses OxygenOS 2.0
- Neither phones have wireless charging.
- And last but not least, the OP2 does not have NFC, which the Moto X does have.
Considering the overall package, it is my opinion that Motorola’s offering edges OnePlus slightly. I think microSD expansion, quick charging, NFC, QHD, dual-front speakers, win over a fingerprint scanner, 3,000 mAh more battery, OIS, an extra Gig of RAM, and USB Type-C.
Also, we can’t ignore the fact that you need to obtain an invite before you can purchase a OP2. The Moto X will be available for all through Motorola, Amazon, and Best Buy. And for Verizon and Sprint customers, the OP2 isn’t even an option.
Do you agree that Moto takes the cake, or are these two actually more neck-and-neck? Let us know in the Comments!
Moto X Pure Edition Product Page
The post OnePlus 2 vs Moto X Pure Edition, which OEM did it better? appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Pentagon shuts down Joint Chiefs’ email network
The Department of Defense reportedly shut down an unclassified email system on Tuesday after detecting “suspicious activity” over the weekend, according to CNN. The network served General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as a number of civilian contractors. The Pentagon refused to release many details about the attack, even what the “suspicious activity” was; instead downplaying the hack as a run-of-the-mill cyber attack that caused minimal damage.
The DoD is on the receiving end of hundreds of cyberattacks everyday and, as such, “We obviously have redundant systems in place,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates said during a press conference for an eerily similar attack back in 2007. However, while that earlier attack only resulted in “administrative disruptions and personal inconveniences,” we could see more extensive fallout from this weekend’s event just as we did when the White House, Office of Personnel Management and IRS were attacked earlier this year.
[Image Credit: Digital Vision]
Filed under: Internet
Netflix schedules loads of new shows, says why ‘Lilyhammer’ died
You won’t have to wonder about when Netflix will start streaming much of its its exclusive and original programming — the company has provided scheduling for seemingly all of it in one shot. To begin with, it’s renewing the weird-yet-familiar cartoon BoJack Horseman for a third, 12-episode season that will arrive in 2016. Can’t wait that long? Longmire, the rescued A&E crime series, will make its Netflix debut on September 10th of this year, while a documentary about Keith Richards, Under the Influence, is due on September 18th. There are a slew of comedy specials arriving between August 14th (Demetri Martin) and December 18th (Mike Epps). Aziz Ansari’s comedy series Master of None will show up on November 6th, and Chelsea Handler is hosting a four-movie documentary series that’s “coming soon.”
Not all is sunshine and roses in Netflix land, however. The service has confirmed that it will axe Lilyhammer, its first original (or rather, pseudo-original) show, after its third season. Chief content officer Ted Sarandos claims that Netflix is a fan of the mobster-in-Norway series, but that it has turned into an “economically challenged deal” due to the partnership with Norwegian broadcaster NRK1. While Netflix wanted to maintain tight control over Lilyhammer and its distribution, that just wasn’t possible under the agreement. Whatever the reasons, it’s a sad day… Netflix’s early experiment with producing content has come to a close.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Via: Deadline Hollywood, Hollywood Reporter
Source: Netflix (1), (2)
Qualcomm’s new WiPower technology brings wireless charging to devices with metal backs
Qualcomm announced today that it has created a new technology that will allow smartphones with metal backs to charge wirelessly, without the need of an additional case. The new technology called WiPower will be compatible with the Rezence wireless charging standard, and smartphone manufacturers will soon be able to include the technology in their new devices.
Wireless-charging technology previously required smartphones to either have a plastic or glass back, however, Qualcomm has managed to bring wireless charging to devices with metal unibodies, as WiPower works at a frequency that is more tolerant of metal objects that are in contact with the charge field. This is great news for manufacturers as smartphones with metal unibodies are growing in popularity which would allow to push the entire wireless charging industry forward as more devices will feature the technology. In addition, the technology enables simultaneous charging of multiple devices on the same charging pad. Qualcomm has made available the required designs and technique for the technology to its partners today, so we should hopefully see metal smartphones with wireless charging technology fairly soon.
Check out Qualcomm’s new promo video showcasing the new WiPower technology;
Click here to view the embedded video.
Source: Qualcomm
Come comment on this article: Qualcomm’s new WiPower technology brings wireless charging to devices with metal backs
Moto G (3rd Gen) hands-on and first impressions
If you’ve looked for a budget-friendly Android smartphone over the past two years or so, odds are you’ve stumbled across Motorola’s Moto G. Offering perfectly capable specifications, solid build quality and a great software experience at an affordable price point, the Moto G quickly became a force to be reckoned with.
Today, alongside the new Moto X Style and Moto X Play, Motorola unveiled the brand new Moto G (3rd Gen). We were lucky enough to score some hands-on time with the new handset, so let’s take a quick look at just what Motorola has to off to the low-cost crowd.
Design
At first glance, the new Moto G has a lot in common with the design of its predecessors. The shape is virtually unchanged and the handset still features the two speaker grills on the front. There’s a familiar 3.5mm headphone jack on the top of the smartphone, and the volume rocker and power/standby keys remain on the right-hand side of the display.
However, the back of the smartphone features a slightly different design, with a strip of plastic coming down from the camera lens to a dimple in the phone’s back. Motorola has also upped its game when it comes to build quality and it feels steadier in the hand as a result. The Moto G is now IPX7 rated for water resistance, which means that it can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes.
Motorola has also brought Moto Maker support to the G line this time around, which means, along with swappable back plates, users can now bring customization to the next level. Through Motorola’s website, you’ll be able to choose your front, back and accent colors, as well as personal engravings on the phone’s backside. This is a feature many users have been suggesting the company add for some time, and thankfully, it’s finally here.
Display
The Moto G (3rd gen) retains the same form factor from last year’s model and it has also kept its 5-inch display size. The display resolution remains unchanged at 720p (1280×720), but this is an acceptable compromise given the handset’s low price point. The display might not compete with Full HD and Quad HD smartphone of this size, but 720p still provide a reasonably sharp experience.
Hardware
Powering the Moto G (3rd Gen.) is a Snapdragon 410 processor, which is a bigger upgrade to the Snapdragon 400 that powered the last generation Moto G than the name might suggest. The low power quad-core Cortex-A7 design has been replaced with four 64-bit Cortex-A53 CPU cores and the clock speed has been bumped up from 1.2GHz to 1.4GHz. The GPU has also been switched out for an Adreno 306, which should provide a minor boost to gaming performance.
Other hardware components include an ever so slightly larger non-removable 2,470mAh battery and there’s still dual-SIM compatibility with support for 4G download speeds up to 150Mbps (Category 4 LTE). In terms of storage, the Moto G will be available with either 8GB or 16GB of flash memory, which also determines the amount of RAM that comes with the phone. The Moto G still features a single GB of RAM in the 8GB model, but this is bumped up to 2GB if you opt for 16GB of internal storage. While 2GB across the board may have been preferable, the choice should allow Motorola to keep the price of its handset low.
Camera
Camera technology has seen an improvement this time around. The smartphone now boasts a 13 megapixel rear with an f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash, alongside a 5 megapixel front-facing camera, which provides a significant resolution improvement for main and selfie shots compared with the 8MP and 2MP sensors from the last generation. The sensor is the same one that Motorola used in the Nexus 6 and it features an HDR mode and is capable of shooting 1080p video.
We really liked the camera that came with the Nexus 6, so we’re excited to see just how this camera performs in our full review.
Software
The Moto G (3rd Gen.) doesn’t stray to far from other Motorola handsets when it comes to software. Featuring a near-stock Android experience with a handful of excellent Motorola features thrown in, the device’s software remains light and speedy, which should make many users happy. Fortunately, in our quick hands-on time, we didn’t notice any stuttering through the mostly stock Android 5.1.1 based user interface and the Moto G (2015) should prove to be a suitable performer for all of your day to day tasks.
Specs
| Display | 5-inch 720p display |
| Processor | 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor Adreno 306 GPU |
| RAM | 1GB / 2GB RAM |
| Storage | 8GB / 16GB storage Expandable via microSD |
| Camera | 13MP rear camera with dual LED flash 5MP front facing camera |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Software | Android 5.1.1 Lollipop |
| Battery | 2,470mAh battery |
| Waterproofing | IPX7 rating |
| Colors | Moto Maker Replaceable Color shells Replaceable Flip shells |
Gallery
Pricing and availability
The new Moto G is already available for purchase from Motorola’s website starting at just $179 for the 8GB option and $219 for the 16GB model. You can customize the device through Moto Maker, giving you the ability to choose from a multitude of different back plates, accent colors and more. Amazon and Best Buy are also selling the new model, though you can only choose between White and Black color options if you purchase from these retailers. If you’re interested in picking one up for yourself, head to any of the links below to start shopping.
All in all, this is shaping up to be one heck of a budget-friendly device. Sure, we need to put it through the full review treatment, but there’s no doubt that this will be one attractive option for the low-cost market. What are your thoughts so far? Did Motorola offer enough upgrades this time around, or did the company leave out a few important features? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Samsung unveils the new Android-powered Galaxy Folder flip phone for Korea
Samsung first unveiled the Galaxy Folder clamshell smartphone back in 2013, which aimed to give users all of the benefits of an Android-powered device with the nostalgic feeling of a flip phone. Now that it’s been awhile since we’ve seen the first iteration of this device, the South Korea-based company has decided to launch an updated model for its home region.
The new Galaxy Folder offers up a 3.8-inch touchscreen display, 8GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB, LTE connectivity, an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. It also packs an 1800mAh removable battery.
This new flip phone will be available in South Korea beginning next month in both Black and White color options for around $250. While this isn’t being marketed as a South Korea-exclusive device, we’re not sure if we’ll ever see it become available outside of the country.
This news comes just one day after LG released its Android Lollipop-powered Gentle flip phone in Korea. This device comes with slightly lower end specifications, but also offers a more affordable price point.
PSA: The Moto X Pure Edition is only for the US, Moto X Style and Moto X Play are international versions
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Briefly: Motorola has its highly anticipated announcement event this morning, which announced two new Moto X devices, the Moto X Style and Moto X Play. There is, however, the mention of a third Moto X device around the internet called the Moto X Pure Edition, and we wanted to just clear up any confusion: the Moto X Pure Edition is only for the US.
After the cameras turned off at the announcement event, Motorola quietly announced the Moto X Pure Edition to a small audience of media and press. However, for all intents and purposes, the Moto X Pure Edition is the exact same device as the Moto X Style, just that the name for the latter will be used internationally, whereas the Pure Edition will only be for the US – the only difference are available LTE bands, for obvious reasons. For full specs of the Moto X Style/Moto X Pure Edition, make sure to check out our announcement post from earlier today. Note that there won’t be a US version of the Moto X Play – or at least, not yet.
What do you think about the Moto X Pure Edition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Droid-life
The post PSA: The Moto X Pure Edition is only for the US, Moto X Style and Moto X Play are international versions appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Cult film ‘Hawk the Slayer’ gets a sequel with help from Rebellion
When Hawk the Slayer came out in 1980, Jason Kingsley became an instant fan. The film features magic swords, elven mindstones, giants, dwarves, sorcerers and a massive battle between pure evil and noble good. Think Dungeons & Dragons in real life, on the big screen. For weeks after Hawk the Slayer‘s release, Kingsley would borrow his dad’s wind-up 8mm cine camera and attempt to recreate the movie in the woods of his hometown. Now, as CEO of UK video game company Rebellion, Kingsley has the opportunity to produce Hawk the Hunter, the official sequel to Slayer. If the movie’s Kickstarter succeeds, Kingsley will be working with original director Terry Marcel and actor Ray Charleson (above). It’s a fantasy come true.
Kingsley got involved with the sequel through a series of happy coincidences. A while back, he was in the middle of a move and already thinking about old franchises that might be ripe for renewal within Abaddon Books, one of Rebellion’s book imprints. As Kingsley was rifling through a box of “those things you keep but only ever look at when you’re moving,” he ran across his copy of Hawk the Slayer on VHS.
“That’s probably where the spark of the idea to get in contact with Terry Marcel came from,” he says. “These things seem to pop up out of nothing sometimes.”
Kingsley tracked down Marcel via Google voodoo, reached out with a call and an email, and things progressed fairly quickly from there. It probably helps that Kingsley is a tried-and-true fan of the original film. Hawk the Slayer was a catalyst of the fantasy boom in the 1980s, paving the way for successes like Conan the Barbarian and Willow, and its sincere dedication to a magical universe has kept the film alive for decades. Rifftrax, the people behind Mystery Science Theater 3000, riffed on Hawk the Slayer this past October.
“It’s a classic in my opinion because the pure spirit of sword and sorcery rises above its limited budget to build something wonderful and uplifting — somehow greater than anyone expected,” he says. “Sure, you can watch it a bit cynically and laugh at the low budget effects and cheesy arch dialogue, but my lasting memories come from a purer place of high adventure.”
Kingsley and Rebellion (co-founded by Jason and his brother in 1992) are helping to produce Hawk the Hunter, much like they did with 2012’s Dredd. Rebellion will also do some CGI work for the film, and Kingsley is mulling over plans for a game and novels in the Hawk universe.
“I might even persuade Terry to let me be in the movie itself, maybe on my horse, Warlord — you never know,” he says.
All of this is in early stages of planning and a lot of it hinges on Hawk the Hunter‘s Kickstarter campaign, which launches on August 30th. The film’s budget is $5 million, and Marcel, Kingsley and company need to raise the final 20 percent, Marcel told The Guardian earlier this month. For now, Kingsley can dream big and hope for the best.
“Ideally, I’d like to inspire someone young to go into the woods with their video phone and try to make their own version again, completing the circle of inspiration,” he says.
CBS plans to livestream Super Bowl commercials for the first time
If you’ve been livestreaming the Super Bowl and missing out on all of those commercials, that’s about to change. Variety reports CBS will stream all of the ads during the game in February, so those watching via the internet will be privy to the same quality entertainment each time there’s a break in the action. In the past, advertisers have had to choose a streaming option on top of the regular broadcast slots. If you streamed this past February’s game, you likely noticed the same handful of commercials on repeat. That’s why. This time around, though, CBS is said to be treating all of the ad spots equally and advertisers will have to consider delivering content in both places. The report also indicates that CBS plans to charge a record price for each 30-second spot — likely more than the $4.5 million NBC commanded this year. What’s more, the network won’t let companies “opt out” of the livestream either. In recent months, NFL content has made a big splash online with clips on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube alongside Yahoo’s plans to stream a regular season game from London.
[Image credit: Focus on Sport/Getty Images]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Source: Variety
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