Leaked photo of the Nexus 5X emerges, looks pretty in white
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By now, the design of the LG Nexus 5 2015 (or Nexus 5X as the latest rumours have been calling it) should be no surprise to anyone, but just in case, today’s leaked photo should put any doubt to rest. A leaked photo of the Nexus 5X has emerged today, and it shows the back of the device with all the hallmarks we’ve been expecting – the slightly raised rear camera, the fingerprint scanner below it, and the LED flash and laser sensor next to the camera. Note that this is a photo of the actual physical unit – the background was removed by AndroidPit.
We should be seeing the Nexus 5X announced on September 29th alongside a Huawei Nexus smartphone, and as far as we can predict, it should be returning to be one of the best value smartphones on the market. From recent rumours, the Nexus 5X will have a Snapdragon 808 for a processor along with 3GB RAM, 5.2-inch 1080 display, 2,700mAh battery and USB Type-C (we hope). All we have to do now is wait – though we doubt this will be the last time we see the Nexus 5X between now and then.
What do you think about the Nexus 5X? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: AndroidPit via Android Police
The post Leaked photo of the Nexus 5X emerges, looks pretty in white appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Bloomberg reveals that Chinese manufacturer ZTE is number four in the US
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A few years ago, if we had asked you if you had heard of Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE, many of you would have answered “no”. In 2015, you might still not be completely familiar with the name, but you should definitely remember the name going forward as ZTE has started to make a big push in the US. According to Bloomberg, ZTE is number four in the US in terms of shipments, which is pretty incredibly when you consider that the only manufacturers ahead of them are Apple, Samsung and LG, with ZTE taking out 8% of the pie.
While its increase in market share is a sign of good things to come, ZTE has only managed to get here by making some ridiculously cheap devices, like the ZTE Maven which retails for $60 USD. So despite the fact their market share has doubled since the start of 2014, ZTE’s revenue has only increased 4%, a sign that the manufacturer has had to make some serious margin concessions just to get where they are. Whether this is sustainable in the long term remains to be seen, but for the time being, the name ZTE is here to stay. As ZTE senior director, Peter Ruffo, says:
“ZTE is taking the long view. We are very patient.”
What do you think about ZTE making a push in the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Bloomberg via TalkAndroid
The post Bloomberg reveals that Chinese manufacturer ZTE is number four in the US appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
The next iPhone’s Force Touch reportedly trumps that on the Watch
Many expect the upcoming iPhone to include a pressure-sensitive screen, but just what will it entail? Will it be an upsized version of what you saw on the Apple Watch? Not by a long shot, if you ask 9to5Mac. Its sources claim that the future handset is using a next-generation version of Force Touch that recognizes three dimensions of input, not just the existing two. Reportedly nicknamed 3D Touch Display, it’ll respond to multiple levels of pressure (a deeper press will trigger different functions, for instance) and allow app makers a whole new level of functionality. Just what Apple will do with this rumored feature is still up in the air, but you’ll only have to wait a few days to get the full scoop.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Source:
9to5Mac
Tags: 3dtouchdisplay, apple, forcetouch, iphone, iphone6s, iphone6splus, mobilepostcross, pressure, pressuresensitive, smartphone
iClever foldable, portable, and chargeable Bluetooth keyboard (review)
I’ve never used a Bluetooth keyboard until the iClever Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard. Let me tell you that I was impressed. It reminded me allot of typing on my old Asus 10″ Eee PC.
iClever Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard overview
When I first unboxed the iClever keyboard I noticed that the body felt cold. This is because the iClever Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard is encased in aluminum. This gives is a solid quality feel in the hand. Also in the box was a felt carrying bag for the keyboard. It fits the keyboard perfectly. Unfortunately, it fits a little too perfectly. It fits so snug that it can be a pain to put it in and take it out of the bag.
The keyboard opens up in a tri-fold configuration. This makes it extremely portable. In fact, you could fit it in your pants pocket if you wanted to.
When it’s open it rests on the two hinges. This makes it a little unstable sometimes when you put pressure on the outside of the keyboard. I found that as long as I had the keyboard directly in front of me it didn’t wobble unless I pressed too hard on the shift keys.
The keys are spaced a little bit from each other, which makes it feel good to type on. My only gripe on the keys is the location of the backspace button. The placement made it too easy to press the “” instead of the backspace.
iClever Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard setup
Setting up your iClever Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard is as easy as pairing the device. All you need to do to get it into pairing mode is to press the blue Fn key and the Bluetooth icon. From there you search from your device to find the keyboard and viola, you are good to go.
iClever Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard usage
Generally I hate typing anything other than quick messages on my phone. Even with keyboards like Swype and Swift key, I prefer the tactile feedback that you get from a keyboard. In fact I’m writing this review using the iClever keyboard.
Don’t get me wrong, I still prefer a larger full sized keyboard when I write, but this keyboard makes things a lot easier when I’m on the go. When I’m at work I leave it out on my desk to easily type responses to texts and emails.
The keyboard is pretty good at conserving power. I’ve been using it for a week and I’m still going on the charge that was on it when I took it oot of its box. They keyboard will go into a hibernation mode to conserve power when it’s not in use. When you press a key for more than 3 seconds it comes out of hibernation mode and connects back to your device really quickly.
What we liked
- Portability
- Battery life
- Build quality
What could be better
- More stable design
- Better placement of the backspace key
iClever Foldable Bluetooth Keyboard summary
Overall, this is a great Bluetooth keyboard. It’s compact and relatively easy to type on. It has a great build quality to it and the battery life leaves nothing to be desired. If you’re looking for a Bluetooth keyboard, then you could do a lot worse. You can buy the iClever Bluetooth Foldable Keyboard on Amazon for $35 and free shipping for Amazon Prime members.
What do you think? Will you be buying one? Let us know in the comments below.
The post iClever foldable, portable, and chargeable Bluetooth keyboard (review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Moto 360 (2015) vs Huawei Watch: The battle for the most watch-like smartwatch
It’s taken a while until the next wave of smartwatches to emerge. This year’s IFA turned out to be a good point in the year for some of the premier smartwatches to strut their stuff. If we recall what we’ve seen, one battle that is clearly ensuing is between Motorola and Huawei. That is, the Moto 360 (2015) and Huawei Watch, respectively.
These two smartwatches most aim for a traditional watch design, and even the luxurious kind. Both OEM’s have customizations that cover cases and bands that we have seen in normal watches for ages. And both smartwatches run Android Wear, with very similar specs. So which one comes out on top?
Huawei Watch
When Huawei introduced the its Watch earlier this year, you could tell they were hot on Motorola’s heels for a premium smartwatch design. The similarities run from the circular metal case to the variety of band materials and colors.
Only, Huawei is on its first attempt, while Motorola is now on its 2nd iteration. Does that mean that Motorola is ahead? I’m not sure.
First, Huawei is able to utilize the entire circular watch face for the display. Motorola chose not to ditch the small flat tire non-screen portion on the bottom of the display, which houses sensors. Motorola explained that moving it would result in either more bezel or a thicker watch chassis.
So then how do the screen-to-bezel ratios and thicknesses compare? The Moto 360 has a 71.1% screen-to-bezel ratio while the Huawei Watch is at 80%. And the Moto 360 has 11.4mm thickness while the Huawei Watch is a hair thinner at 11.3mm.
Huawei Watch
Moto 360 (2015)It would appear that Huawei has the win here, but we can’t forget that the Moto 360 has wireless charging and an ambient light sensor. The Huawei Watch charges via pin contacts, similar to LG’s approach. It comes down to what the consumer prefers.
The Huawei Watch is powered by a Snapdragon 400 SoC, have 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage. The display is 1.4″ in size (case is 42mm) and uses an AMOLED panel with 400×400 resolution (286 ppi). The band size is 22mm (lug width of 18mm). The screen is protected by Sapphire Crystal glass rather than Gorilla Glass. And the battery capacity is 300mAh.
The watch chassis is stainless steel and comes in silver, black, or gold colors (which can also have a texture on the bezel ring). For bands, we have metal and leather choices. There is a unique metal mesh strap, along with the more common metal link. The bands are easily swappable, via a pin-release switch near the connection of the band to the lugs.
Moto 360 (2015)
Motorola is well known to give consumers choice. With the Moto 360 sequel, we are given size options. There is now a smaller variant, which is 42mm, the same size as the Huawei Watch. Therefore, if you want a larger screen, your only option then becomes the 46mm Moto 360.
The 2015 Moto 360 uses a similar lug system as the Huawei Watch, and the band is easily removable in the same manner.
The larger Moto 360 uses a 22mm band while the smaller variant uses a 20mm band (there is also a “womens” version, which can don a 16mm band).
To keep the thickness the same on the smaller variant (11.4mm), Motorola made a cut on the battery, 300mAh as opposed 400mAh on the larger model. Recall that the Huawei Watch has a 300mAh battery.
Most specs are the same between both Moto 360’s and the Huawei Watch: Snapdragon 400 SoC, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage. The Moto 360 cases are of course stainless steel and also come in silver, black, or gold colors. Bands also come in metal links and leather, in different colors.
However, the displays are quite different. The larger Moto 360 has a 1.56″ screen and 360×330 resolution (233 ppi), while the smaller model has a 1.37″ screen and 360×325 resolution (263 ppi). Huawei has the upper hand in pixel density. Also, Motorola went with IPS screen technology and Gorilla Glass 3 for protection.
Last, but certainly not least, is the price. The Huawei Watch starts at $350 for silver watch case and plain black leather band. Unfortunately, the price steeply increases with the other materials. For instance, a black case finish and black metal link band is $100 more. If you want the gold finish and alligator-textured leather or pink metal link band, it’d be $699 or $799, respectively.
The Moto 360 pricing is more forgiving. The larger variant is $50 more than the smaller one. The metal link bands add $50 (in any color). Only the gold case color is $30 more.
Which smartwatch are you most sold on?
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Google Translate update: convert text across all apps when running Marshmallow
Have you noticed an update to the Google Translate app? You may have realized there is not much of a change. That is, unless you are running Android 6.0 Marshmallow, in which case you definitely have something new to look forward to.
The Google Translate team has been hard at work bringing system-wide translation to our devices, adding the ability to decipher text across all applications. This means users no longer need to go through the hassles of switching to the Translate app, entering a word (or phrase), translating it, copying it, then going back to paste it in the application of choice. Those with the latest Android version can now simply highlight text from any app and translate it instantly. It’s as easy as pie.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 50%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
We know: this is no good for most of us right now, as very few people are using the Android 6.0 Marshmallow preview software. It’s definitely a sign of good things to come, though. This is only a taste of what Marshmallow can do with text. Not only will this feature be available to all users once Android 6.0 starts spreading, but other applications and services may be able to take advantage of these capabilities later on.
Interested? You will have to wait until you get Android 6.0 Marshmallow on your device. On the Google Translate side, the update is already available from the Google Play Store. Have any of you tested this feature yet? Do tell us how it’s treating you!
Georgia Tech’s AI is a choose-your-own adventure author
Turns out it’s not just news writers (gulp) whose jobs are in jeopardy — even fiction authors like RL Stine might have to watch their backs. A group of researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology has designed an AI that can write up interactive fiction (IF), such as choose-your-own adventure stories. You know, those books that ask you to turn to a specific page in the book (or to click a link, if it’s on the computer) based on which action you want to choose from a selection. They named it Scheherazade-IF, obviously after the Arabian queen-slash-storyteller in One Thousand and One Nights.
In order to program the AI, they fed it around 200 stories written by real people on two different scenarios: going to the movies and robbing a bank. It doesn’t actually understand whatever it reads, but it can recognize patterns and keyphrases, which serve as its cues to know what choices to write up next. For instance, it knows that giving the reader the choice to sit down and watch the movie should go after he’s already chosen “buy tickets” from the list. It’s still not capable of spinning overly complicated plots at the moment, but it looks like it has a future in generating fun, non-repetitive text-based games.
[Image credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto]
Filed under:
Misc
Via:
Popular Mechanics, Motherboard
Source:
Georgia Tech
Tags: AI, artificialintelligence, georgiatech
Madfinger’s latest FPS UNKILLED debuts for Android
Madfinger, the studio behind Shadow Gun and the Dead Trigger series, have released a new FPS Zombie shooter, UNKILLED. According to their Google Play description you are Joe, a member of the anti-zombie unit WOLFPACK, a private military organization designed to find, track, and eliminate the zombie menace before it becomes global. The game takes place in New York City at the center of the world’s latest zombie outbreak.
The game seems to focus on a single player experience with over 300 playable missions. There are over 50 weapns to choose from including the LSAT, SAIGA-12K shotgun, and M24 sniper rifle. There are unique enemies and bosses such as Sheriff, Dodger, Minesweeper, Butcher, and more. They also include a friendly NPC to help you survive the onslaught, but the main selling point of the game seems to be the game’s graphics. Here’s an excerpt from their Google Play page.
RIDICULOUSLY, ABSURDLY AWESOME GRAPHICS!
High resolution soft shadows
GPU-simulated particle effects, numbering in the tens of thousands
Textured, reflective surfaces
SpeedTree-powered vegetation rendering
High polygon character models
Post processing effects, for a cinematic “feel”
It currently has a 4 star rating on Google Play with over 10k reviews. What do you think? Will you give it a shot? Let us know in the comments.
The post Madfinger’s latest FPS UNKILLED debuts for Android appeared first on AndroidGuys.
LG Nexus 5X (2015) shown off in the clearest picture yet
The LG-made Nexus 5 2015 model, also known as the Nexus 5X, is no stranger to the camera having been leaked multiple times before, but this time we’re got one of the clearest images we’ve seen so far.
The only detail that seems different about this device is that we have previously seen the LG logo along the bottom of the device below the Nexus logo on the rear of the casing but it would appear that it may have been removed for the final design.
This is by far the clearest shot we’ve seen of the Nexus 5X and shows the pretruding camera (expected to be 12.7-Megapixel), dual LED flash, and fingerprint sensor on the rear of the device.
The Nexus 5X is expected to have a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch 1080p display, a 2,700mAh non-removable battery, and either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage.
Likely to be announced around September 29th, the Nexus 5X could only be a few weeks away. What are your thoughts of the Nexus 5X?
Source: AndroidPIT
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AIVAnet 