HTC angers users with Fantastic Four push notification ad
Users on Reddit are quite upset at HTC for pushing a Fantastic Four movie ad into their notifications. Ads are something everyone hates, but are sometimes required to cut upfront cost. That is why you would never expect to see them in a device you just paid over $500 for.
HTC has not had a good year and is clearly hurting for cash. We have already seen them roll out BlinkFeed ads and now it looks like they may be adding push notification ads as well. Some of you may remember a few years ago apps in the Google Play Store could push ads to your notifications, but they got so annoying Google eventually banned them entirely. Why HTC would think users wouldn’t mind these types of ads is beyond me.
The reports are users with HTC One M7, M8, or M9’s are receiving the ad. Many of the Reddit comments are talking about never buying an HTC device again or getting rid of their current HTC phone because of the recent ad changes.
Now to clear some things up the ad does say “Fantastic Four Theme”, implying HTC is marketing a new theme they have available to download similar to what Samsung did with the Avengers themes. They aren’t directly saying go see the movie and that is all like a regular ad would do.
How ever you feel about the ad it’s easy to turn off. If you have one of the listed HTC devices head to the settings app > sound & notification > app notifications > sense home and turn off notifications. You will no longer be notified for these types of ads ever again.
Source: Reddit
Come comment on this article: HTC angers users with Fantastic Four push notification ad
Portable battery bank market expected to be worth nearly $18 billion by 2020
Portable battery packs are extremely popular accessories, especially as smartphones have brighter, higher resolution screens with smaller batteries. Most phones don’t make it through a full days worth of usage, and not everyone is around a wall plug to keep their device charged up, so that’s where battery banks come in handy.
It’s a growing market, and a new research report thinks that the battery bank market will explode in value up to around $18 billion by 2020. That’s a pretty large leap, but as more and more content is consumed on tablets and smartphones, it makes sense. Unless, of course, manufacturers figure out how to cram giant batteries into credit card thin smartphones. I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one, though.
The report also notes that big battery packs (between 9500 mAh and 12499 mAh) are expected to claim most of the market share over the next few years, simply because consumers want to be able to keep their devices charged for as long as possible.
Battery technology is an extremely important aspect of smart devices, but it hasn’t been growing as quickly as processors, screen resolution, or other features. On the other side of that, however, portable batteries are bigger and cheaper than they’ve ever been, and that trend is likely to continue well into the future.
Do you personally use a portable battery for your smartphone or tablet?
CHICAGO, August 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —
According to the new market research report “Power Bank Market by Capacity Range (500mAh to Above 1500mAh), Number of USB Port, Energy Source, Technology (Lithium-ION and Lithium-Polymer), Application (Smartphones, Tablets, and Portable Media Devices), and by Region – Global Forecast to 2020″, published by MarketsandMarkets, the Power Bank Market is estimated to reach USD 17.8 Billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 23.1% between 2015 and 2020.
Browse 70 market Tables and 68 Figures spread through 150 Pages on “Power Bank Market“
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/power-bank-market-127595596.html
Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.The market for power banks, including portable battery packs and portable batteries, is estimated to grow at a CAGR ~23% between 2015 and 2020. Due to the increase in availability of digital content along with a shift towards 3G and 4G networks, batteries of electronics devices such as smartphones and tablets tend to get discharged at a higher rate, thereby leading to a requirement for a portable source of power. Power banks store energy which can be used to recharge electronic devices.
Ask For PDF Brochure: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=127595596
The Power Bank Market has been segmented based on the capacity range, number of USB port, source of energy, technology, application, and region. The market size of power banks with a capacity range between 500mAh and above 15000mAh has been estimated and included in the report. Power banks with a lower capacity are the least preferred by consumers as they do not meet the higher battery requirement. Power banks with a capacity range between 9500mAh and 12499mAh hold a high market share and are expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This market expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.2% between 2015 and 2020. However due to the increase in processor speed and growing digital content, consumers are looking for power banks with a higher capacity. Therefore, the market for power banks with a capacity of more than 12499 mAh is expected to grow at a high CAGR between 2015 and 2020. Currently, power banks with a higher capacity are available at a higher cost than those with a lower capacity. The huge growth potential of the studied market has encouraged many companies develop power banks. Companies such as Microsoft Co. (U.S.), Xiaomi (China), and Oneplus (China) have recently launched various power banks in the market. Recently, Microsoft launched a power bank with a capacity of 5200mAh, 9000mAh, and 12000mAh at a retail price of USD 35, USD 45, and USD 55 respectively.
This report provides a detailed market overview which includes various factors such as drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges with regards to the power bank market. Some of the drivers for the power bank market include the increase in demand for smart phones, decline in the prices of power banks, and increasing power consumption due to large-scale digitization. Factors which are restraining the growth of the studied market include improvements in terms of batteries, poor quality of power banks, and implementation of wireless charging in smartphones. Introduction of solar and hydrogen cell based power banks is expected to create a huge growth opportunity for the power bank market. The presence of a large number of players and lack of a proper disposal infrastructure is acting as a major challenge for the power bank market.
Asia-Pacific dominates the market for power banks and is expected to maintain its position during the forecast period. The majority of the power bank and battery manufacturers are located in the Asia-Pacific region. Companies involved in the development of power banks include Advantage Computers (I) Pvt. Ltd. (India), Anker. (U.S.), Microsoft corporation (U.S.), Mophie Inc. (U.S.), OnePlus (China), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Sony Corporation (Japan), uNu Electronics INC. (U.S.), and Xiaomi Technology Co., Ltd (China). Companies involved in the development of batteries used in power banks include China BAK Battery, Inc. (China), LG Chem Ltd. (South Korea), and Samsung SDI co. Ltd. (South Korea).
Browse Related Reports
Wearable Electronics and Technology Market by Applications (Consumer, Healthcare, Enterprise), Products (Eyewear, Wristwear, Footwear), Form Factors and Geography – Analysis & Forecast to 2014 – 2020
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/wearable-electronics-market-983.htmlThin Film and Printed Battery Market, Global Forecast & Analysis (2012 – 2017) by Technology (Substrate type, Electrolyte type, Cathode type), Products (Voltage types, Rechargeability, Integration type), & Applications (RFID, Smartcards, Wireless Sensors, Smart Bandages, Cosmetic Patches, Energy Harvesting)
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Come comment on this article: Portable battery bank market expected to be worth nearly $18 billion by 2020
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 leaks yet again, showing off new Air Command menu
Samsung is holding its big Unpacked event next Thursday, August 13th, where the Korean tech company is expected to unveil the new Galaxy Note 5. We’ve already seen a ton of in-hand photos of the new device, along with what’s purported to be official press renders of both the Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. There have also been a few photos showing off a brief glimpse of the new Note’s software, but none that reveal any new features the device might bring to the table. That changes today, as we’re now getting another in-hand look at what’s supposedly the new Galaxy Note 5 and a glimpse of what the redesigned Air Command menu may look like.
As you can see from the images attached above and below, these leaked photos back up pretty much every other Note 5 leak we’ve seen in the past. The device looks to tote a similar design language to that of the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge, featuring aluminum edges and two glass panels on the front and back. Nothing seems too out of the ordinary here – it has the iconic Samsung home button flanked by recent apps and back keys, volume buttons on the left-hand side, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB port (not USB Type-C), speaker grill and S Pen slot on the bottom.
One thing to note, though, is the way the back panel appears to curve up on the left and right sides of the device, likely to make handling the large-screened smartphone much more comfortable.
Looking at the second image, it looks like we’re getting a good look at Samsung’s redesigned Air Command menu that includes shortcuts for Action memo, Smart select, Screen write, S Note, Settings and even an Instagram shortcut. This probably means Samsung may allow users to customize the last shortcut slot, which is a feature most users will welcome to the device. The entire Air Command menu looks much more refined, as well, as the background now appears to blur when Air Command is opened.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 rumor roundup (updated 7/23)
Now that we’ve seen multiple leaks of this new phablet, what are your thoughts? Do you think this will be your next smartphone, or will you pass? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Android One program makes its way to Thailand with the new i-mobile iQ II smartphone
Following the recent announcement of the India-bound Lava Pixel V1 handset, the Android One program has added yet another device to its lineup. Residents in Thailand can now get their hands on the new i-mobile iQ II smartphone for 4,444 THB (~$126 USD) from the manufacturer’s website.
See also: Android One Lava Pixel V1 now official
The i-mobile iQ II comes with a 5.0-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon 410 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 32GB, an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front facer. It also comes with a 2500mAh battery, dual-SIM functionality, and runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. Just like other One handsets, the i-mobile iQ II runs a stock version of Android and will continue to receive timely updates from Google over the next couple of years.
The device available now from i-mobile’s website as well as select retail locations in Thailand. Although it’s not the most high end Android One device we’ve seen, we’re sure users in Thailand will be happy to have yet another affordable smartphone option.
Microsoft’s document sharing service, Docs, is available to everyone
Sure, you can technically use OneDrive and other cloud services to share your Office files, but wouldn’t it be nice if there were a dedicated site for that? Apparently, Microsoft agrees — it quietly launched the public beta for Docs, a dedicated website (this was previously a Facebook-only service) that simplifies sharing your Office files, PDFs and Sway presentations. Think of it as a parallel to offerings like SlideShare or Scribd, where the focus is more on preserving the formatting of your work than anything else. You can comment on and download documents, but you’ll have to turn to other tools to collaborate on that upcoming report. You only need a Microsoft account to give Docs a spin, so it won’t hurt to sign up.
Filed under:
Internet, Microsoft
Via:
Myce, Microsoft-News
Source:
Microsoft Docs
Tags: docs, excel, internet, microsoft, office, powerpoint, sharing, sway, web, word
Toshiba’s new flash chips hold twice the data
Judging by recent announcements, we’re about to enter a golden age of fast, nearly unlimited storage for all the high-res selfies you can shoot. Following an announcement by Intel and Micron last week, Toshiba and partner SanDisk revealed their own 256Gb flash chips. Toshiba already has the smallest flash cells in the world at 15 nanometers, which it stacks in 48 layers to maximize density. The new chips add in 3-bit tech (first used by Samsung) to squeeze even more bytes in, helping it double the storage of chips it announced just a few months ago. The result will be faster and more reliable memory for smartphones, SSDs and other devices.
Intel and Micron announced 256Gb chips using different, 32-layer tech earlier this year, so they may beat Toshiba/SanDisk to the manufacturing punch. Consumers will be the main beneficiaries of the rivalry, in any case. Micron said the tech will eventually yield up to 10TB laptop drives at much lower prices per gigabyte than current models. It’ll also result in cheaper and faster memory chips for smartphones and other mobile devices. Toshiba’s in the process of building its new fab plant in Japan, and said the 256Gb chips will be available sometime in 2016.
Filed under:
Storage
Source:
Toshiba
Tags: 256Gb, BiCS, Flash, memory, NAND, SanDisk, SSD, Toshiba
Behind the wheel of Logitech’s G29 Driving Force controller
While gamers are still waiting for any official word on a PlayStation 4 entry in the venerable Gran Turismo series, there’s still plenty of racing to be done on Sony’s current-gen console. The recent release of Project Cars and the steady maturation of Driveclub (following its botched launch) are just two examples of the PS4’s racing options. Into this growing genre comes Logitech with its $400 G29 Driving Force Racing Wheel — the latest in its long-running G series of steering wheel controllers. While owners of the older (and non-PS4-compatible) G27 wheel may be disappointed that the company has opted to replace it, Logitech’s latest entry (released alongside an Xbox One-focused sibling called the G920) could be worth the sizable asking price.Slideshow-308879
The G29’s exterior doesn’t stray far from the line’s previous designs; the wheel’s housing still resembles the front end of a fifth-gen Ford Mustang, just like the G27 and G25 before it. The biggest visual differences (aside from the blue highlights here and there) are PlayStation-specific controls arranged around the steering column on sharp-angled surfaces — as though Logitech clamped a Batarang onto a G27. As the name suggests, the layout strongly resembles the company’s Driving Force line — a popular option that’s been closely associated with the Gran Turismo series of racing games in the past.
Plastic dominates the casing for both the wheel and three-pedal base, but Logitech went with higher-end materials for where your hands and feet will most often touch the G29. The leather-wrapped steering wheel surrounds aluminum spokes, while stainless steel paddle shifters are within easy reach of your fingers. Down below, stainless steel covers the similarly shaped clutch and brake pedals, as well as the skinnier, taller accelerator. All three have a satisfying range of motion, with the brake offering the stiffest resistance. There’s a wide plastic platform to rest your left foot — or just your heels, if you race with both feet handling the controls. I could do with a little more spacing between the clutch and the brake, but it’s not a dealbreaker by any stretch.
Installation is a breeze thanks to the G29’s integrated table clamp. As shipped, the two nylon claws have a “C” shape to them — handy for attaching to tables or desks with a bit of a lip. For thicker surfaces, though, you can snap off a pair of nubs to change the clamps from a “C” to an “L” shape. In that latter configuration, you get about 2.25 inches of clearance, which was enough for me to easily attach the G29 to my computer desk. Meanwhile, the pedal base has a handy gripper strip: a retractable ribbon of spiky plastic that digs into your carpet to help keep the unit stable while you furiously stomp on it. With the strip in place, the pedals stayed put through the vast majority of my playtime, but keeping a foot or your heels planted on the base definitely provides additional stabilization.
The G29 also plays nice with Fanatec’s Wheel Stand and I was able to clamp the wheel and attach the pedal base in just a few minutes with a single Allen key. As with most racing wheels, all the connections are routed to the wheel housing and a built-in cable spool helps you manage the tangle of wires coming from the pedals, power brick and the hardwired USB cord. While it’s not included in the base setup, there is a spot on the underside to connect an optional six-speed gated shifter. It’s interesting that, despite retailing for $100 more than the G27 (which included a similar attachment in the box), the leather-wrapped shifter here is a $60 extra. For what it’s worth, Logitech says older versions of the shifter module will work on the G29 — so your G27 setup may not be completely obsolete.
In-game, the G29 offers a significant upgrade over the standard DualShock 4 controller. The wheel’s small-ish diameter might not match the dimensions of some real-life performance vehicles, but it has a satisfying thickness and is comfortable to grip from any angle. The feedback and vibration are stout without venturing into break-your-wrist territory. In Project Cars, for example, I was able to feel when I’d driven up on a curb, although I occasionally didn’t feel any feedback when grazing on some flat rumble strips. Crashing into walls was a suitably violent experience.
On both PC and PS4, navigating in-game menus from the wheel itself was a breeze, although you should be prepared for a bit more initial button configuration on the PC side — at least, that was my experience when trying older games such as Grid. I enjoyed controlling PS4 games like Project Cars and Driveclub using the wheel, but the lack of analog joysticks could present problems if you wanted to, say, adjust the camera angle in photo mode. And while the wheel’s LED strip gives you a solid visual indicator of when it’s time to shift gears, I wish it were located at the top of the wheel rim instead of the center column — where it’s harder to see using just my peripheral vision.
Overall, Logitech’s G29 Driving Force successfully blends the robust PlayStation-focused controls of the company’s Driving Force line with the tried-and-true design of its G series. At $400, it may be $100 more than the last-gen G27 — all while ditching the (now-optional) six-speed shifter — but the improved controls are a welcome upgrade. You may have a harder time justifying the price if you own the older model and you were hoping for signs of compatibility with the PS4, but the G29 is a solid replacement and a great, if a bit pricey, choice for racing game fans.
Filed under:
Gaming, Peripherals
Tags: Driveclub, engadgetirl, G27, G29, G29 Driving Force, IRL, Logitech, PlayStation, Project Cars, PS4, Racing
Twitch bans streamer who faked his own swatting
There are a couple things you probably shouldn’t do to celebrate acquiring 800,000 followers on Twitch. Faking your own swatting at the end of a 24-hour live event, as streamer Trick2g recently did, is at the top of the list. Trick2g, who focused primarily on League of Legends during his broadcasts, can be seen casually chatting with viewers when two “police officers” bust in and haul him away.
Trick2g’s manager, Cher Gambino, later confirmed that the scene was faked in a later post on the streamer’s website. “‘Now, I know some of you are saying…’Cher it is not funny to make a joke about being swatted,’” she wrote. “There is always someone that thinks only their sense of humor is what matters and if they don’t think it is funny then it couldn’t possibly be. That is why our Country is in the shape it is now, because we fear making light of anything that might be thought of as controversial.” Remember kids, if you don’t think a fake swatting is funny, that’s your problem. And Twitch, who didn’t think it was all that funny either. The prank went down last Friday. By Monday, Trick2g’s account had been banned. There was also significant blowback on social media.
@ZVFavion @LolStvicious whoever that person is is stupid as fuck, how is it oversensitive when its a traumatizing experience for real swats
— Marcel Feldkamp (@MarcelFeldkamp) August 3, 2015
Gambino, however, remained steadfast in the assertion that the prank really was funny and its critics were simply being wet blankets. She replied to the banning and social fallout of the prank by telling Kotaku:
If you saw the stream, there were theatrics the whole time. We had sailor girls, pirate girls, singing bears, singing pigs, prize wheels. His stream was from 3PM Friday to 3PM Saturday. I can’t imagine a swat team waiting for someone to finish a stream—not to mention the actors were the same people on stream the day before setting up, not to mention they were laughing. I don’t know what to tell you other than: if it offends one person it must be wrong. We have lost the right to comedy. Or we have at least lost the right to comedy if it offends one person, which means Saturday Night Live must really have to watch what they do.
There’s no word on how long Trick2g will remain banned, but given that he’s one of the site’s more popular streamers, it likely won’t be for long. We’ve reached out to Twitch for comment and will update when they reply.
Update: A Twitch representative has replied for our request for comment with, “We don’t comment on terms of service violations.” So, yeah.
[Image Credit: Shutterstock / Martin Spurny]
Via:
Neogaf
Source:
Kotaku
Tags: banned, banning, Cher, CrimeAndPunishment, League of Legends, league-of-legends, LeagueOfLegends, Saturday Night Live, streaming, swat, swatting, trick2g, Twitch
Apple Seeds Fourth OS X El Capitan Beta to Public Beta Testers
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of OS X El Capitan to public beta testers, nearly one week after seeding the third beta and just under a month after providing the first OS X El Capitan beta to the public for testing purposes.
The fourth public beta follows the launch of the sixth OS X El Capitan developer beta, which was seeded to developers yesterday. Aside from new wallpaper, no outward-facing changes were introduced with beta six, suggesting it’s largely an under-the-hood update with bug fixes and performance improvements.
Beta testers who have signed up for Apple’s beta testing program and already have the public beta installed can update through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.
OS X 10.11 El Capitan is expected to be released to the public in the fall after the beta testing process is complete.
Apple Music Ads Going Up Around the World as Apple Music is Added to Billboard Top Charts
Apple has kicked off a worldwide advertising campaign for its new streaming music service, with advertisements showing up in various cities like San Francisco, Tokyo, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Mexico City.
Billboards in San Francisco have been updated with new Apple Music ads, and the Omotesando and Harajuku Metro Stations in Tokyo have been updated with Apple Music banners. Some bus stops in Mexico City are also displaying Apple Music ads, and ads have also been seen on billboards in Los Angeles and Toronto.
Apple Music banners in Omotesando via Instagram
The banners mimic images that have been used to advertise Apple Music on Apple’s website, featuring desaturated pictures of artists overlaid with the Apple Music logo in a variety of different fonts.
Apple Music banner featuring FKA Twigs via Instagram
It is not clear when Apple began its Apple Music advertising push, but the banners and signage appear to have gone up over the last few days. This is the first major advertising campaign for Apple Music since its June 30 launch and the first public ads, aside from videos that debuted at WWDC when the service was introduced.
As Apple begins heavily advertising Apple Music around the world, Billboard has announced that songs streamed from Apple Music will now count towards the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100. Apple was recently added as a streaming provider and Apple Music songs will influence the August charts.
The Billboard 200 lists the 200 most popular albums each week, based on direct sales, digital downloads, and on-demand streaming. The Billboard Hot 100 tracks individual songs or “singles” using the same methodology, ranking popularity on a weekly basis. New charts for both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Hot 100 come out each Tuesday.
Other streaming providers that contribute to the charts include Amazon Prime, Google Play, Medianet, Rdio, Rhapsody, Slacker, Tidal, Spotify, and Groove Music Pass.
AIVAnet 