Samsung starts rolling out the Android 5.1.1 OTA for the International variant of the Galaxy Note 4
Samsung has now starting rolling out the long-awaited Android 5.1.1 update to all International variants of the Galaxy Note 4. The upgrade was initially detected in Poland and bundles all the performance and security improvements you’d expect to find in Lollipop, alongside a patch for the open-source operating system’s Stagefright vulnerability.
Unfortunately, we don’t have a complete changelog for this update just yet, but we do know that the majority of changes are aimed at performance, battery life and overall user experience. Although, some users have encountered a severe lag issue when multitasking after upgrading to the new version.
As is the norm, the update is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your device to hit your unit, you could always search for the upgrade manually. To do so, open the Settings app, scroll to the bottom and tap on “About Device”, hit “System Updates”, then select “Check for updates”.
Alternatively, you can download the update via Samsung Kies. If you’re not entirely sure how to do that, check out our comprehensive guide.
Come comment on this article: Samsung starts rolling out the Android 5.1.1 OTA for the International variant of the Galaxy Note 4
Former Apple CEO’s company, Obi Worldphone, makes smartphones with priority on design
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
There was a time when Steve Jobs wasn’t the CEO of Apple – John Sculley was. Nowadays, Sculley has started a new company to make smartphones called Obi Worldphone, which he says is a “design-led company”. Their mission statement: to make beautiful, unique mid-range smartphones that won’t break the bank. Their latest smartphones, SF1 and SJ1.5, appear to tick all the boxes – the internals include parts that are familiar to everyone yet the SF1 comes out at $199 USD for a 2GB version, or $249 USD for the 3GB verison and the SJ1.5 comes even cheaper at $129 USD.
The SF1 will feature a Snapdragon 615 and flash for its front and rear cameras. What’s most interesting about the SF1 isn’t even its reinforced fibreglass body, but its slightly raised 5-inch display. The SJ1.5 on the other hand has a MediaTek processor and will come with 16GB storage. Both devices will come with a version of Android that is heavily customized to Obi’s liking.
With the rise of OnePlus in recent years, we like the idea of these smaller ’boutique’ companies trying their hand at making a smartphone because it seems like you need to be free of corporate strictures to really innovate or make things cheaply these days. Looking forward to seeing if Obi Worldphone can make it big.
What do you think about Obi Worldphone’s devices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Obi Worldphone via engadget
The post Former Apple CEO’s company, Obi Worldphone, makes smartphones with priority on design appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Microsoft renders for flagship Lumia phones leaked online
If you’ve been wanting to see the two high-end Windows phones Microsoft has been developing, then you don’t have to wait until the official launch. Evleaks has posted the renders for both devices on Twitter: the larger, cyan one with a 5.7-inch screen is known as codename Cityman, while the black phone with a 5.2-inch screen is Talkman. They’re expected to have Quad HD displays, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and 5-megapixel front shooters. Cityman might be powered by an eight-core ship, while its smaller sibling might be equipped with a six-core processor.
According to The Verge, they might also support USB Type-C as well as Qi wireless charging. Evleaks tweeted out the renders as a response to another image showing a Cityman connected to a peripheral that will allow it to support Microsoft’s new Continuum feature. Based on what we’ve seen earlier this year, Continuum can turn phones into teensy Windows computers. These devices could be launched at an upcoming Microsoft event this October — we’ll keep you updated with all the pertinent info, especially when you’ll be able to buy them.
.@bdsams I see your Cityman, and raise you a Talkman (top to bottom) pic.twitter.com/u9rACR4CeX
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 27, 2015
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft
Source:
evleaks (Twitter)
Tags: cityman, lumia, microsoft, mobilepostcross, nokia, talkman
LG Rolly wireless keyboard folds into a stick you can fit in any pocket
The mobile accessory market is booming and LG sure doesn’t want to stay at the bench. The Korean manufacturer has been hard at work and today they are announcing one of the most interesting wireless keyboards we have seen in a while. The LG Rolly is a pretty awesome contraption with a mechanism that allows it to be… well, rolled into what looks like a long stick (or thin burrito).
The benefit of such an accessory is that it fits in any pocket and can be easily carried anywhere. To make matters even more convenient, a stand for mobile devices also folds out of it, making it easy to prop up any tablet and start typing away.
OK, so those aspects of the device are pretty awesome, but we know what most of you are thinking: that thing looks tiny! And it is, but LG promises a reasonably good typing experience. They claim its comfort is hard to beat, as “its 17 mm key pitch is nearly as generous as the 18 mm key pitch found on most desktop keyboards”. The arms are said to be “sturdy” and the keyboard feedback is unlike those cheap silicone keyboards. And while the product looks rather flimsy, LG claims the Rolly will handle a drop or two thanks to the durable polycarbonate and ABS plastic it touts.
Don’t let the keyboard’s basic look fool you, either; this thing is pretty feature-full. It can connect to two devices at once, and you can switch between them with a simple key press. As you can see in the video (embedded below), the LG Rolly can also auto-connect to any device, and it turns off when not in use, so as to save battery. And while we are on the topic, let us remind you battery life shouldn’t really be a problem. The LG Rolly runs off a single AAA battery, which lasts up to 3 months with normal usage.
Interested? I sure am. Sadly, we have no idea about pricing just yet. What we do know is that it launches in the US this September. Other key markets in Latin America, Europe and Asia will follow “in the fourth quarter”. The LG Rolly will be showcased at IFA, so we’ll try to give you a quick look at it from the show floor! Who is buying?
‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’ hits PCs on November 19th
If you’re determined to play Assassin’s Creed Syndicate on your sweet PC gaming rig, you’re going to have to wait a while longer than everyone else. Ubisoft has announced that the Windows version of its Victorian stealth action game will arrive on November 19th, or nearly a month after the console edition’s October 23rd debut. This is to make sure PC players get a “stable, optimized” version of Syndicate right from the start, the developer says — clearly, Ubisoft is still feeling the sting of Unity‘s botched launch.
The move isn’t all that alarming if you know Ubisoft well. You see, the company has a history of delaying PC versions, whether it’s due to copy protection or just the added complexity of testing a wider range of hardware. While this isn’t technically a delay (the company had warned that the Windows copy would come later), it’s clear that the creators were anticipating some snags. Still, we’ll take a later release if it avoids the high-profile fiascoes that often come with rushing out PC games at the same time as their console counterparts.
Filed under:
Gaming
Source:
Ubiblog
Tags: assassinscreed, assassinscreedsyndicate, gaming, pc, ubisoft, windows
TuneIn Premium introduced: sports, music and audio books for only $7.99 a month!
Are you a TuneIn user? The service just got better for those of you willing to spend $7.99 a month for a Premium subscription. The streaming service has just announced the new TuneIn Premium, which goes beyond your basic radio stations and podcasts.
The new TuneIn Premium grants access to live play-by-play events from every MLB and BPL game. In addition, TuneIn Premium offers over 40,000 audio books and 600+ commercial-free music stations (we suppose this is aside from the 100,000 radio stations TuneIn usually brags about). Those pesky banner ads will also disappear from your sight! Oh, and there are language learning courses, too!
Of course, you can get your 30-day free trial, just in case you are not sure about making a bigger investment into the service. I happen to like the fact that TuneIn Premium seems to offer multiple types of content, not just music. It has a little bit from multiple audio entertainment types.
You can get the app straight from the Google Play Store. By the way, it happens to have a 4.3/5 star rating, so you know you are getting something worth your time and cash. Have any of you been using TuneIn? How do you like the app. Are you signing up for the Premium plan? Hit the comments to share your thoughts and experiences!
‘Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest’ game coming to mobile
Are you a fan of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game? I still remember collecting those cards and battling it out with my friends during lunch. Those who were (or are) also part of the Magic club will love to hear today’s news. Wizards of the Coast has partnered with D3 Go! to release a new game. The moniker is a bit confusing, but here it goes. The new app will go by the name of “Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest”.
Well, those are a bunch of symbols, aren’t they? As you should have guessed, this will be part of the Puzzle Quest franchise, so it won’t be as complex as the actual Magic: The Gathering game. All you have to do is keep matching three identical symbols and get as many points as possible. Users can complete quests, daily events and even join tournaments. And though the game is not exactly the same as Magic: The Gathering, it does have some card elements, including the ability to collect creatures, spells and artifacts, which can later be used in battles.
“Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest is the ideal marriage of the deep lore and strategic elements of Wizards of the Coasts’ iconic series, along with the gripping match-three gameplay of one of the most popular puzzle game series in history. From the competitive tournaments to the intense in-game battles, Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest perfectly encapsulates the strongest elements of both franchises to create something compellingly new, yet perfectly intuitive to Magic fans and puzzle gamers alike.” -Peter Andrew, vice president of publishing at D3 Go!
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 33%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
‘Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest’ (seriously, what’s with the name?!) will be available for both iOS and Android. As it goes with most recent mobile games, this one will be free to download, but there will be in-app purchases for those who want to advance quicker.
We are not sure about the actual launch date, but it’s said the game will be showcased at PAX Prime 2015, which takes off this Friday. Are any of you looking to play this game? I haven’t touched anything related to Magic: The Gathering in a long time! I will definitely give it a shot.
Sketchy Photo of Claimed ‘iPhone 6s Plus’ Box Surfaces Alongside Rumor of Smaller Battery
A new photo obtained by cnBeta [Google Translate] (via Macotakara [Google Translate]) allegedly shows off what appears to be the packaging of the upcoming iPhone 6s Plus. The photo depicts a standard white iPhone box, similar to what Apple has used as packaging for previous phones.
The box is unfolded and has what appears to be a gold iPhone 6s Plus on the front, a gold Apple logo on the bottom and “iPhone 6s Plus” written on the side. The “S” is within a small square, as is standard on iPhone “S” packaging. The box also shows off what looks to be a brand new wallpaper featuring a black and gold fish.
Additionally, cnBeta says that the iPhone 6s’ battery capacity will be down to 1715 mAh from the iPhone 6’s 1800 mAh, while the iPhone 6s Plus will be down to 2750 mAh from the iPhone 6 Plus’ 2910 mAh. Macotakara says they’ve also heard the battery capacity for both models will be lower, lining up with earlier rumors that the battery capacity in the phones would be smaller. If true, it likely indicates Apple has increased the battery efficiency of both “S” phone models in order to make up for the smaller battery capacity.
However, it’s unclear how authentic the photos of the iPhone 6s Plus packaging are. The material of the box appears to be a thinner material than current iPhone packaging and displays an unfamiliar wallpaper that has not appeared in any iOS 9 betas thus far.
Apple is expected to announce both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus at a September 9 event. The Cupertino company is also expected to finally unveil its new Apple TV with a new touch-based remote and full App Store. New rumors indicate the event could be held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
Canon’s EOS M3 mirrorless camera is coming to the US
Canon is bringing its latest mirrorless camera, the EOS M3, to the US after all. The Japan-based manufacturer announced this compact shooter back in February, but now people in the States will have a chance to get their hands on it. A follow-up to the M2 from 2013, the M3 features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, Hybrid AF III focusing system and Digic 6 image processor– all specs found on the Rebel T6s and T6i DSLRs. Just as well, Canon’s new mirrorless comes with the same battery type (LP-E17), focus peaking and dynamic stabilization as its bigger siblings, so you can expect similar performance from a camera that’s wrapped in a much smaller package. What’s more, you’ll get NFC, WiFi and 1080p recording at 24, 25 and 30 fps, while the max ISO range is set at 6,400 and 12,800 for video and pictures, respectively.Slideshow-315559
We’ve only spent a couple of days with the EOS M3, but it’s been impressive so far — especially when compared to both of its predecessors. The autofocus is accurate and fast; it’s comfortable to hold; and the addition of an articulating screen gives you more flexibility when you’re shooting. We’ll make a final judgment on the camera later on. But for now, if you’re into it, you can prepare your wallet for when the M3 goes on sale in “early” October. It’ll be available in black and white for $680 (body-only), or $800 for the kit that includes an 18-55mm lens.Slideshow-315502
Filed under:
Cameras
Tags: Canon, CanonEOSM, CanonEOSM3, CanonM3, EOSM, EOSM3, hands-on, M3, MirrorlessCamera
North Dakota cops will be first in nation to use weaponized drones
North Dakota’s Bill 1328 was supposed to be cut and dry. “In my opinion there should be a nice, red line: drones should not be weaponized. Period,” Rep. Rick Becker (R-Bismarck), the bill’s original sponsor, told a committee hearing back in March, per The Daily Beast. That was going to happen too, at least until an industry lobbying firm got involved. Now, law enforcement agencies in North Dakota are legally allowed to arm their UAVs with any manner of weapons, so long as they aren’t “lethal“.
The bill was, in fact, originally designed to strictly limit law enforcement’s ability to weaponize drones. It also demanded that police obtain a search warrant from a judge before employing drones in an investigation. However, a rep from the North Dakota Peace Officer’s Association then amended the bill — at the behest of the state house committee, no less — to limit only “lethal weapons.” Anything classified as “less than lethal” is now allowed. That means cops can outfit their UAVs with everything from rubber bullets, pepper spray and Tasers to tear gas and sound cannons. And, as The Guardian points out, “less than lethal” police Tasers have already killed 39 Americans this year alone.
‘When you’re not on the ground, and you’re making decisions, you’re sort of separate,” bemoaned Becker back in March. “Depersonalized.” Given that law enforcement officials have already killed some 774 Americans this year, a future Good Kill-like scenario featuring your neighborhood police feels all too real.
Atlanta police officers with an unarmed UAV during last year’s Ferguson protests – Image Credit: Associated Press
Not so, Grand Forks County Sheriff Bob Rost told The Daily Beast. “It was a bad bill to start with,” Rost said. “We just thought the whole thing was ridiculous.” He also took umbrage with the fact that he’d need a search warrant to use his county’s drone when searching for evidence, clearly misunderstanding the core concept behind how search warrants work.
And it wasn’t just law enforcement that had a hand in castrating this bill. North Dakota’s Department of Commerce, the director of the University of North Dakota’s drone major program and various economic groups that would benefit from lax regulation testified against it. The reason for this, according Keith Lund of the Grand Forks Regional Economic Development Corporation, is simple.
“It’s really all about the commercial development, which is where all of this is heading,” Lund said during the hearing in March. “If [a law] is somehow limiting commercial, law enforcement development… that is a negative in terms of companies looking and investing in opportunities in the state of North Dakota.” Because who needs civil liberties when there’s money to be made by the UAV industry?
[Image Credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under:
Wireless
Source:
Daily Beast
Tags: Atlanta Police Department, drones, guns, lawenforcement, lobbyists, North Dakota, northdakota, UAV, University of North Dakota, weapons
AIVAnet 