LG takes the wraps off brand new SmartThinQ sensor
With IFA just around the corner, LG has given us an insight to its brand new, state of the art SmartThinQ sensor, which the South Korean company is set to showcase at the event in Berlin on Friday, September 4.
The shiny round device can be connected to many home appliances, such as washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioning units. Once linked to an electrical appliance, it allows users to monitor its performance and even control the piece of equipment via a companion application.
While it’s not exactly clear at this stage how the SmartThinQ will hook up to your appliances, we envisage that it will be a pretty sought-after gadget. Sensing vibration and temperature feedback, the device can provide users with push notifications when their laundry cycle is complete or when a particular food item is set to expire in the refrigerator.
In addition, the sensor will also give users the facility to remotely control their appliances. For example, the unit can be attached to a boiler and by using the mobile application, it can be turned on and off from anywhere in the world, providing there is an active data connection, of course.
Unfortunately, LG has not yet provided us with any pricing or availability information for the SmartThinQ, but we do know that it will be on display at IFA in just four days time.
Come comment on this article: LG takes the wraps off brand new SmartThinQ sensor
Smaller Motorola smartwatch is outed as the Moto 360 Sport, will arrive in November according to leak
The leaks have arrived with increasing frequency, even Motorola tweeted (temporarily) about the 2015 version of the Moto 360, but now it seems like we finding out the details we really want to know. The seemingly back-in-the-game, Evan Blass (@evleaks), leaked an image of the Moto 360 (2015) a little while ago, and not to be outdone, @upleaks has leaked pictures and news about its smaller version. This smaller version is apparently called the Moto 360 Sport and is said to arrive in November.
The deviceseen in the image above is apparently the Moto 360 Sport, showing off information such as heart rate, timer, and distance achieved. Along with the rubber/plastic strap, it isn’t difficult to imagine that the Moto 360 Sport, as the name suggests, will target consumers with an active lifestyle.
If one looks at the bottom of the dial carefully, it would appear that both the Moto 360 (2015) and the Sport model carry on with the flat-tire design first seen on the original Moto 360. It’s a feature that you either don’t mind or hate with extreme prejudice.
One detail to ponder about is how to change the strap on the Moto 360 Sport, because the device in the image doesn’t have the usual 22mm pin as can be seen on the standard Moto 360 (2015). Could the Moto 360 Sport employ a similar solution to Sony’s SmartWatch 3 where the entire housing has to be changed when swapping straps because it’s a one-piece item?
The Moto 360 (2015) is said to be ‘coming in September’ while the Sport model could arrive in November. I’m sure we will see more leaks and details about the Moto 360 (2015) and Sport smartwatches in the coming days as we get closer to when IFA 2015 opens its doors in Berlin later this week.
Source: @upleaks 1, 2 (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: Smaller Motorola smartwatch is outed as the Moto 360 Sport, will arrive in November according to leak
Google Play Services updated with support for Android Pay
Earlier today, Google started pushing out an over-the-air update for its Play Services application via the Play Store. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade bumps the version number up to 8.1 and shows initial signs of support for Android Pay.
A new option can be seen in Play Services called “Tap & Pay”, which is the subject for the screenshot on the right. This will allow users to 
select between Android Pay when it launches and the already accessible Google Wallet, thereby giving users the choice of payment platform which best suits their needs.
However, since Android Pay isn’t available just yet, users won’t be able to input and save their card details, but they can still register their Google account to work with the service and choose their preferred payment method.
It’s also worth noting that Android Pay won’t be compatible with all devices as the service requires NFC to function. If you’re unaware of how the payment platform works, you simply open up the Android Pay app on your handset and tap it against a supporting terminal to make a payment.
In order to protect its customers bank accounts from malicious hackers, Android Pay gives users a virtual account number thus keeping safe their actual one from being used and falling into the wrong hands.
Google claims that the service will work with over 700,000 retailers in USA conflict free with existing debit and credit cards — so, upon release, you should just have to enter your card details, and you’ll be good to go.
Are you excited for the release of Android Pay? I know I certainly am. Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Come comment on this article: Google Play Services updated with support for Android Pay
LG dresses its luxury smartwatch in a gold suit
LG’s Watch Urbane was a pretty watch, but it was hardly going to impress the super-rich with its sub-$300 price tag. That’s why the Korean company has teamed up with Reeds Jewelers to craft the LG Watch Urbane Luxe, a shinier version of the hardware for the most conspicuous of capitalists. The insides haven’t changed, but the outside has been dipped in 23 karat gold, while the strap is now made of gen-u-ine alligator leather. In addition, the timepiece comes in a piano gloss lacquer case and will be produced in a limited run of 500. As the company’s Chris Yie says, “Wearable devices shouldn’t be thought of as an extension of one’s smartphone, but as an extension of oneself.” Presumably the part of yourself that really likes spending $1,200 on a $300 smartwatch.
Source:
Reeds
Tags: IFA2015, lg, LGWatchUrbaneLuxe, Luxe, Urbane, Watch
Sony spokesman says the Xperia Z5 ‘Premium’ has a 4K screen
Sony’s incoming Xperia Z5 flagship will be the first smartphone with a 4K screen, according to a leaked video from Clubic.com. In it, Sony’s marketing director says the company will release both a 5.2-inch Z5 and 5.5-inch Z5 ‘Premium,’ and the video (below) is focused on the larger model. On top of the 4K screen (which yields over 800 pixels per inch), the device also packs a 23-megapixel camera with a 0.03 second autofocus and 5X digital zoom, confirming a previous leak. The new flagship will be just as waterproof and dustproof as the Xperia Z3+ model, but with an interesting twist — the micro-USB connector is waterproof, even without a cover.
The all-metal phone retains Sony’s boxy design language to a ‘T,’ though it now has the Xperia logo engraved into the side for a more premium look. The Z5 will also be Sony’s first phone with a fingerprint sensor, which is mounted in an unusual spot: the tiny side power button. As for the rest of the specs, previous rumors had both of the new Z5s equipped with Snapdragon 810 SoCs, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory. (Unlike it’s bigger brother, the 5.2-inch Z5 is said to have a 1080p screen.) Given the nature of the video, we wouldn’t treat this info as gospel just yet. However, Sony will reveal all at IFA in Berlin later this week.
[Thanks, Max!]
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
Tags: 4K, 4KDisplay, leak, mobilepostcross, rumor, sony, video, XperiaZ5, XperiaZ5Premium
OPPO’s major role in the competitive mid-range market
Over the past few years, the mid-range smartphone market has changed dramatically all over the world. With the specification wars raging on in full force, major handset manufacturers are constantly competing with each other for the top spot in the premium market segment. This comes at a price, though. Certain devices from major OEMs can cost upwards of $900 unlocked, but recently, it seems as though consumers aren’t willing to pay as much as they used to.
For those of us who aren’t willing to pay almost $1,000 for a smartphone, what are our options? The mid-range market has been growing over the years, sure, though it’s been proven quite difficult to penetrate. Unlike Motorola’s Moto G, which has arguably found the winning formula for great performance in the low-end market, mid-range devices haven’t quite hit their stride yet. It seems like many OEMs have been trying to find the correct balance between high-end specs and a low price point, but none have really produced too many memorable options that check all of the boxes.
Of course, this is just now beginning to change, as we’re now seeing a handful of notable smartphone makers approach the winning recipe for success in the mid-range market. One OEM that’s a good example of this is OPPO, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer. Build quality and features aside, OPPO’s most recent mid-range offerings seem to check most of the boxes many consumers look for when seeking out a capable mid-ranger. Today we’re going to take a look at the OPPO R7 and R7 Plus, two handsets that were announced last May, and how exactly these smartphones are providing a good example for the rest of the mid-range market to follow.
Don’t miss: Oppo R7 Plus hands-on and first look
The OPPO R7 Series and the current mid-range market
OPPO announced its R7 and R7 Plus handsets back in May, and we’ve already posted our full review of the smaller handset. Suffice it to say, we’ve really enjoyed our time with the R7, and that’s no accident. The R7 features a 5.0-inch Super AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 1.5 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of on-board storage and microSD expansion up to 128GB. Not only that, it comes with a non-removable 2,320mAh battery, a 13MP rear-facing camera with f/2.2 aperture and an 8MP front-facing camera. This device’s bigger brother, the R7 Plus, features mostly the same specs, but also boasts a 6.0-inch Full HD display, 32GB of base on-board storage and a much larger 4,100mAh battery.
These devices are being offered starting at just $400 unlocked, which is a steal. However, that’s not really the most important thing, here. Sure, the mid-range market is arguably defined by the prices at which smartphones are sold, but there’s more to it than that. When you’re not trying to create a phone that’s the most low-cost or highly-spec’d device out there, you need to focus on the overall user experience to bring the ultimate value to users, which is what OPPO aimed to do with the R7 and R7 Plus.
When talking about specific features, both of these devices provide many enhancements that you normally would only see in high-end devices. The Color OS software overlay is highly customizable, and there are even a few nifty gestures built in to the device that allow you to launch specific applications or turn on the device more easily. There’s even an “eye protection display” mode that places a warm hue over everything when triggered, which is perfect for users with sensitive eyes. OPPO believes these are features most users will enjoy, but don’t readily have access to given the high price of other flagships on the market.
Consumers aren’t the only people who are excited about the R7 series. According to Sino-Market Research, the R7’s launch in May bumped OPPO’s marketshare up in China’s offline markets, with the company managing to surpass Samsung the following month and today only trailing Apple. Not only do the specs and build quality help out with the R7’s successful sales, the naming scheme also has something to do with it, too. Customers will remember a product much easier if the device names aren’t all over the place. For instance, Motorola’s Moto X, G and E lines employ a similar strategy, in turn making it much easier for consumers to remember which products fit in where.
Where is the mid-range market headed?
In a global smartphone market that’s slowly adopting off-contract pricing and getting rid of carrier subsidies, the mid-range market might see the most change out of all of the smartphone tiers. It used to be extremely difficult to afford an unlocked smartphone without a carrier’s help, but that’s changing now. Two or three years from now, if all carriers get rid of subsidies, nobody is going to want to pay almost $1,000 on a smartphone, especially if there’s something comparable out there for less than half of the price.
With manufacturers like OPPO putting more and more focus on user experience as opposed to checking off boxes on the spec sheet, consumers are now starting to realize a great smartphone doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Because of this, the mid-range market will only grow from here.
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T-Mobile to tackle customers who abuse unlimited data
T-Mobile’s John Legere has published an open letter to its consumers, informing them about upcoming action to be taken against individuals who have been “stealing data from T-Mobile”. While that might sound a little odd, the company is actually planning to target customers who have been abusing its unlimited data plans, by consuming as much as 2 terabytes of tethered data each month.
According to Legere, only a small fraction of consumers are abusing the rules. They have apparently been doing so by concealing tethered connections in an attempt to use high-speed LTE data as an alternative to a traditional broadband. Mobile bandwidth is a more limited resource, so these high consumption users are hogging resources that should be spread across a wider selection of T-Mobile customers.
“These aren’t naive amateurs; they are clever hackers who are willfully stealing for their own selfish gain. It’s a small group – 1/100 of a percent of our 59 million customers – but some of them are using as much as 2 terabytes (2,000GB!) of data in a month.”
To combat the issue, T-Mobile has apparently developed technology that is able to detect when customers are trying to hide their tethering activity. The company will be warning suspected customers about their activity before moving them over to a limited 4G LTE data plan, where it can more effectively cap their usage. T-Mobile has already identified 3,000 users who will begin hearing from the company this week.
“We’re warning these customers that they are violating our terms and conditions. If they continue to break the rules at any time, they’ll lose access to our Unlimited 4G LTE smartphone data plan and we’ll move them to a limited 4G LTE plan.”
The carrier is keen to point out that this decision is not about throttling the data of the vast majority of users who make sensible and fair use of their data plans. The company actually has a 7GB tethering limit on its unlimited data plan, after which speeds are already throttled down. T-Mobile is only after those customers which are deliberately trying to circumvent the contract rules regarding tethering.
Legere states that he “won’t let a few thieves ruin things for anyone else”, but do you feel that T-Mobile is treating its customers fairly?
Tesco wants you to buy vinyl records with your milk
Music headlines are often dominated by which albums are (or aren’t) on popular streaming services, but an older music format is quietly making a comeback: vinyl. After the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announced that annual UK album record sales passed the one-million mark last year, Tesco has confirmed that it will back the format when Iron Maiden’s The Book Of Souls goes on sale next week. In doing so, it will become the first UK supermarket to enter the vinyl market.
According to Tesco music buyer Michael Mulligan, it was an easy decision for the company: “In the last year we began selling record decks in our largest stores and initial sales are very encouraging so giving our customers some new vinyl to play on those decks seems like the logical next step.” If the trial is a success, more vinyl albums could make their way onto store shelves by the end of the year, helping to round out the two new vinyl-specific UK top 40 charts.
Speaking of stores, Tesco says that The Book Of Souls LP will cost £24 and go on sale in 55 of its biggest Tesco Extra locations. If vinyl isn’t your thing, but Iron Maiden certainly is, the CD will also be sold in 850 stores as well as online. Tesco may have exited digital music when it sold off its Blinkbox service at the end of the last year, but it still caters for fans of physical formats inside its stores. We won’t be holding our breath for a cassette revival, though.
[Image credit: Nick Harris, Flickr]
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Household, HD
Source:
Tesco
Tags: hdpostcross, iron maiden, record, tesco, vinyl
It’s happening: Xperia Z5 Premium with 4K screen demoed on video
A series of hands-on images and specs about Sony’s upcoming trio of smartphones – Xperia Z5, Z5 Compact, and Z5 Premium – leaked yesterday, and now what appears to be the original source of the info has surfaced.
A video from French website Clubic shows a hands-on demo of the Xperia Z5 Premium and Xperia Z5, conducted by a marketing executive of Sony France. It appears that the video of the pre-briefing was published accidentally ahead of the expected launch of the devices on Wednesday – the version embedded above was somehow bootlegged and reuploaded on YouTube.
The most interesting aspect of the French-language video is the apparent confirmation of the 4K display for the Xperia Z5 Premium. Despite our strong reservations, it appears that Sony is indeed pushing the envelope of display technology with a 4K resolution on a 5.5-inch LCD panel. The Sony representative leaves no room for interpretation, calling the device “world’s first 4K smartphone.” That confirms the faint rumblings we’ve been hearing over the past weeks about a 4K version of the Xperia Z5 coming along the regular 5.2-inch Full HD model.
Other specs of the three Sony devices that the video confirms are a Snapdragon 810 processor, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, battery life of up to two days, water and dust resistance (no flap for USB port), and a 23MP camera with 0.03-second autofocus. It looks like these specs will be shared across the range. The Xperia Z5 Compact is expected to feature a 4.6-inch HD display.
See also: Road to 4K: Do we need it? And who will be first?
This video seems very solid, as leaks go, but we’ll still urge you to wait for the official announcement before reacting, one way or another. That said – 4K on a phone, how crazy is that?
Galaxy Note 4 updated to 5.1.1 Lollipop in Europe
It has been almost two months since Samsung first began rolling out an Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update for its Galaxy Note 4 smartphone in Russia, but today a similar update is now rolling out across all of Europe.
The build, version number N910FXXU1COH4, originally hit handsets in Sweden, Austria and Italy via over-the-air updates last weekend, but the firmware has since made its way to Samsung’s KIES software tool for other customers to download. We could also see OTA updates appear in more countries across the continent in the next few days, if you don’t fancy messing around with Samsung’s application.
As well as bringing the handset up to the latest Android 5.1.1 version, and the small tweaks that entails, the update is also said to improve the performance and stability of software on the Note 4.
The same Android Lollipop update for the handset has also previously landed in the US through carrier Sprint. If you haven’t spotted the update OTA or through KIES, you can also download it from SamMobile’s firmware section.
Has the update landed in your country yet? Let us know in the comments below.
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