New rumor supports dual camera setup for Samsung Galaxy S7
The rumors continue to flow regarding the Samsung Galaxy S7, the tech giant’s next flagship device to be released if they stick to their normal schedule. The latest source of information claiming some early knowledge of the device appears to have confirmed a conjecture made last spring, that the Galaxy S7 would come equipped with a dual camera setup similar to some attempts HTC made with their devices, like the HTC One M8.
Back in April as part of an earnings report, Samsung shared news that they had a dual-camera prototype in the works that would be ready in the first half of 2016. At the time, many connected the dots and suggested this meant the dual-cameras would go in the Galaxy S7. More recent rumors suggested Samsung was working on an “all lens cover” project that would support the device having more than one camera lens. This latest suggestion that the Galaxy S7 would be equipped with dual-cameras is consistent with the information that has previously surfaced.
Do you think Samsung can successfully equip a smartphone with dual cameras that consumers would be interested in using?
source: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: New rumor supports dual camera setup for Samsung Galaxy S7
Slidescrolling Platform revamped in Nomanis Crew (App Review)
As an 80’s baby, I feel that I was immersed in the glory days of the arcade and the inception of console gaming. During that time, one of the popular gaming genres was side scrolling platformers like the iconic Mario, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sonic and more. Since Google Play has emerged as a legitimate gaming space it has seen its share of side scrolling emulators. To be honest some things should just be left alone and not messed with.
We have another entry into the side scrolling game genre Nomanis Crew now available for download via The Google Playstore for $1.10. Nomanis Crew claims to be a fun challenging Super Mario style side-scroller that merges retro game play with awesome new behaviors. Let’s see if Nomanis Crew can provide some good entertainment, unlike the many others that have tried and failed.
Setup
No setup just download and install
Gameplay
In this sidescrolling platform adventure Nomanis Crew, you play as Nomanis (a game developer from Twitch) who was released from a cage by a lazy guardian angel. He has now been granted the strength and the ability to glide and sets out on his quest traveling the island to unlock his friends the Gorliks.
Initially the first time I played Nomanis Crew I quickly became frustrated with the game because of the game controls. The game says that there is an A and B button although never displayed on the screen. So what I did is I pressed on the left and right side of the screen and observed that the left-hand side of the screen allows you to run side to side (back and forth) pressing the right-hand side of the screen are the invisible A B buttons. The first button on the right-hand side A (ability) allows you to glide or block, and B allows you to jump in the air. It would have been nice if the buttons gave tactical feedback instead of just pressing the screen fumbling for the controls.
After I figured out the button controls I was pleased to see high-quality graphics and an upbeat audio soundtrack playing in the background. As I went through the first few levels I quickly realized that each level was extremely short in distance although it was difficult to complete the levels. I had to think quickly to figure out how to properly use my ability to jump and glide from platform to platform or flee from the enemy. Each level you are challenged to free a caged friend, collect coins, and avoid being killed by creatures. The more levels you complete the more intricate and diverse they became making it more perplexing to complete.
Nomanis Crew took an old dog and taught it one or two new tricks, although those new tricks were packed with quality graphics, cool characters, and an array of foes.
What We Liked
- High-quality visuals
- Upbeat audio soundtrack
- Challenging Game play
What We didn’t like
- Game controls (invisible and lacks tactical feedback)
Who is Nomanis Crew for?
Nomanis Crew is good for those interested in the side-scrolling platform but are uninterested in easy tasks and lackluster graphics. Casual gamers beware you can play Nomanis Crew casually although this is not a game of instant gratification. You will have to take time and think before you make moves and be thankful you have unlimited lives because you will need it.
Nomanis Crew Overview.
Nomanis Crew is a game of high-resolution pure puzzling fun well thought out and brilliantly executed. Nomanis Crew used the blueprint of previous successful side-scrolling platforms gave it a new identity, made it much more challenging and broke the mold of uncreative and unplayable copy cats.
The post Slidescrolling Platform revamped in Nomanis Crew (App Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Sony no longer recommends that you use its phones underwater, Xperia Z5 included
One of the staples found on Sony phones are their waterproofing capabilities. Sony had previously billed their phones as perfect companions for those hoping to use them at the beach, while scuba diving, and the list goes on. Interesting then that Sony now recommends that you don’t take its waterproof phones under the water.
The new policy change from Sony was actually first seen with the Xperia Z3+ and Z4, leading some to believe this change was specific to those models. Now the Sony website has similar wording in reference to the Xperia Z5 series.
The Xperia Z5 is waterproof and protected against dust, so don’t worry if you get caught in the rain or want to wash off dirt under a tap, but remember: all ports and attached covers should be firmly closed. You should not put the device completely underwater or expose it to seawater, salt water, chlorinated water or liquids such as drinks. Abuse and improper use of device will invalidate warranty.
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In the past, the ability to bring your phone into the water was huge part of Sony’s marketing, with promo videos showing its phones in the water, in a dive scene, and so forth. Why the change of heart? Despite still being rated for underwater use, the Xperia Z5 isn’t recommended for use in these scenarios, likely for one reason: as a loophole to prevent tons of warranty claims.
A screenshot from a Z3 underwater unboxing video by Sony.
Sony says that the reason they don’t recommend planned in-water use is that its tests are done in “lab settings”, meaning they used tap water and were relatively gentle with the phone. That said, we imagine folks who bring their phone into the water intentionally aren’t quite as careful. Simply put, the change is to protect Sony from issuing claims to people who are hard on their phones while using them in these types of scenarios.
Simply put, the change is to protect Sony from issuing warranty claims to people who are hard on their phones while using them underwater.
So what does this mean for you? If you planned on getting a Sony Xperia Z5, just remember that, while your phone should be fine underwater as long as you take the necessary precautions and aren’t too rough — if something happens, you are probably out of luck warranty-wise.
While this change will affect Sony’s marketing, we suspect that most Xperia user rarely use the phone underwater intentionally. Instead, they might have it beachside or in the rain, knowing that if they accidentally get it too wet, they will be just fine. And for these types of users, nothing should change really.
What do you think of Sony’s change in policy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Meizu announces new PRO series, PRO 5 to be formally unveiled Sep 25th
Today Meizu formally announced its plans for a new sub-brand, dubbed “PRO”. The new branding joins Maizu and MX, and will be applied to the company’s higher end phones, starting with the Meizu PRO 5. Not a lot is known about the PRO 5 just yet, though Meizu says they will hold a press conference on September 25th to fully detail its plans. All we know for sure is that a Snapdragon 810 won’t be onboard.
According to Meizu VP Li Nan, “Many of the domestic flagship devices are using Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, but the user experience sucks, consumers are often being fooled, sadly, no one in the industry is ready to tell the truth, but Meizu hopes that by publishing this sub-brand ‘PRO’ they change this status”. Further, he says that “A lot of consumer high-end smartphone OEMs are blindly following the trend, rather than to really solve the fundamental problems”.
It remains unseen how the PRO 5 will solve “fundamental problems”, but the rumor mill suggest the phone will have a premium metallic design and either a MediaTek Helio X20 MT6797 deca-core processor or a Samsung Exynos 7420, depending on the market. The latter processor is the same as seen in the Galaxy S6 and Note 5 family. Other rumored specs include a 5.5-inch 1080p display, 3 or 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, a 21MP camera, and a 3000 mAh battery.
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If the rumors are true, it is good news to see at least one more manufacturer embracing a high-end Exynos over the Snapdragon 810. While the 810 is arguably not as bad as some would lead you to believe, there is no denying that the chip has reputation problems at the very least.
Based on the little we know, are you interested in seeing what Meizu delivers with the PRO 5?
Apple Watch heads to more UK retailers by way of Currys & PC World
It seems you’ll soon be able to buy an Apple Watch from Currys and PC World stores across the UK. As 9to5Mac notes, the retailer is now teasing the wearable on its homepage, with the messages “Coming Soon” and “Pre-Register” in tow. If you click the banner, however, you’ll be sent to a page where you can register your interest in all new Apple products — so it’s not clear exactly when the smartwatch will be available.
Regardless, the move represents a significant shift in Apple’s sales strategy. When the Watch first launched, Apple was keen to promote the luxury shop it had set up in London’s Selfridges department store. The company wanted the wearable to feel like a premium timepiece — something on par with a Rolex, Omega or Breitling. You had to create an appointment just to try one on, and in its stores, Apple offered large mats where you could compare different combinations. It was a glamorous departure from the usual Apple Store experience, and set the Watch apart from its Android Wear contemporaries.
Apple still does those things, of course, but it’s relaxing the rules a little bit. For instance, you don’t need an appointment anymore. Soon, you won’t need to be in an Apple Store (physical or online) either. Maybe that’s Apple reacting to sluggish Watch sales, or maybe that was part of its plan all along. I suspect the latter. Apple wants to sell as many Watches as possible, because that’s ultimately how it makes money and attracts developers. Now that it’s established a “premium” image, the company is switching to full-blown sales mode. With that in mind, selling the Watch through Currys and PC World isn’t surprising at all.
Via:
9to5Mac
Tags: Apple, applewatch, currys, pcworld
Don’t use Sony smartphones underwater
If you head on over to Sony’s website today, the company will warn you not to use its Xperia smartphones while underwater. That might come as a surprise, especially as Sony has repeatedly touted the waterproof capabilities of its devices in the past. But really, you shouldn’t be doing it. XperiaBlog points out that the handset maker is now taking additional measures to discourage the practice, and has updated its website to help customers avoid making a costly mistake while at the pool.
In describing what its phones are capable of, Sony says: “Remember not to use the device underwater.” To receive an IP68 rating, a phone must be able to withstand liquid under pressure for “long periods.” It has to remain leak-proof down to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Sony’s phones can do this — they’ve passed the test.
Sony explains: “The IP rating of your device was achieved in laboratory conditions in standby mode, so you should not use the device underwater, such as taking pictures. It also says: “Do not use the device to take photos while performing any type of activity underwater, including diving or snorkeling.”
It’s important to note that Sony issued these warnings for the Xperia Z3+, but they now also cover the company’s latest flagship: the Xperia Z5. Because Sony isn’t required to operate an Xperia handset while it’s being subjected to water and dust tests, the phone maker is reinforcing the fact that its devices were never intended to be subjected to a shallow dive.
What should you do if you own a top-end Xperia? Well, you’re clear to use it in “wet surroundings.” You can probably use it briefly while underwater, but that’s completely on you. Sony is just trying to set expectations and stop you from invalidating your warranty, even if it kind of flies in the face of previous marketing campaigns.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Sony
Via:
XperiaBlog
Source:
Sony
Tags: ip68, mobilepostcross, sony, waterproof, xperia, xperiaz5
The best network-attached storage
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
After three weeks of research, plus hands-on testing of a half-dozen finalists, we found that the QNAP TS-251 is the best network-attached storage device (NAS) for people who need one. It has a faster processor and more memory than most NAS near its price, and it has flexible, powerful software that does everything most NAS users need and more.
Who’s this for?
Left to right: QNAP TS-251, Synology DiskStation DS214, Western Digital MyCloud Mirror, Asustor AS-5002T, Synology BeyondCloud Mirror.
A NAS device is a small computer with an Internet connection, at least one hard drive bay, an operating system that’s optimized for network storage. It’s the best way to add terabytes of storage space to every computing device you own.
A NAS is great for people with large collections of movies, photos, and music: you can store all your media in one place and stream them to computers, speakers, phones and tablets, and your home theatre system. You can also use your NAS to backup your computers, or it can act as your own personal “cloud storage” with remote access and smartphone apps.
Most NAS can even act as email, database or VPN servers; BitTorrent boxes; website hosts; or as DVRs for surveillance cameras, while using about the same amount of energy as a couple of LED bulbs.
How we decided
We tested read and write performance by copying a 1.48GB file between each NAS and a Dell Latitude 3550 laptop, each connected to the same router via Ethernet.
Our ideal NAS has two hard drive bays. Dual-drive NAS devices support drive mirroring—the contents of one drive are copied to the other, so your data is safe even if a hard drive fails. It should also support hot-swapping—changing hard drives without turning off the NAS. It should have several USB ports, for backing up external drives to the NAS (and vice versa) as well as connecting printers or Wi-Fi dongles. Setup should be simple, and it should come with good mobile apps for media streaming and remote access.
We focused on NASes that cost less than $350 (diskless). Cheaper NASes have underpowered hardware, only one drive bay or operating systems that are complicated or half-baked. More expensive NAS are overkill for most home use.
Our pick
The QNAP TS-251 is fast, powerful, and energy-efficient.
The QNAP TS-251 ($319 without hard drives) is fast: it can read and write data over the network at more than 100MB per second. Drive mirroring and hot swap work well, it’s easy to setup and use, and it supports a plethora of third-party apps, like Plex and WordPress. Its operating system, QTS, is novice-friendly but has enough power and detailed configurations for power users.
The TS-251 has a dual-core Intel Celeron processor and 1GB or 4GB of RAM (expandable up to 8GB). It has two USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports, and is one of the few NAS we tested that has an HDMI port, so you can connect it to your home theater system and play movies and media directly to your TV.
We don’t like that the TS-251’s chassis and drive bays are a little cheap-feeling and flimsy; it’s not quite powerful enough for reliable on-the-fly video transcoding through Plex Media Server, the most popular media-streaming app.
You can buy a TS-251 with hard drives included, but it’s usually cheaper to buy drives separately. We like Western Digital Red drives, which are designed for home NAS use. Two 4TB drives will give you 4TB of total storage (because the drives are mirrored) and will cost around $320 on top of the cost of the NAS.
The runner-up
The Synology DS214 without its front cover. Its drive trays are more solid than the QNAP’s, but this NAS has a less powerful CPU and no HDMI port.
If the TS-251 is unavailable, or too expensive, we recommend the $290 Synology DS214. It’s almost as fast as our pick, though it has less RAM and a less powerful CPU. The DS214 lacks expandable memory and doesn’t have an HDMI port. Synology’s operating system is very similar to QNAP’s and has essentially the same features, but QNAP has a bit better value for the price.
The basic, budget-friendly NAS
The Western Digital My Cloud Mirror could be called “a NAS for those who have never used a NAS.”
If you don’t need all the advanced features of a QNAP or Synology NAS, or want to save a few bucks, we recommend the Western Digital My Cloud Mirror. It does all the basic NAS stuff; it just lacks the more esoteric features like an email or web server, and surveillance cam video recording. It’s also somewhat easier to use, and cheaper than either of our main picks: a My Cloud Mirror with two 2TB drives is $285; one with two 4TB drives is $440.
In closing
The QNAP TS-251 is the best home NAS for most people who need one. It’s fast, it has powerful hardware and software, and you can connect it directly to your TV or media center via HDMI for fast media playback. Unlike most NAS, you can add RAM later so it’ll stay speedy for years.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Filed under:
Storage, Networking
Tags: DS214, mycloudmirror, NAS, Network-attachedStorage, NetworkAttachedStorage, partner, qnap, QNAPTS-251, syndicated, Synology, SynologyDS214, thewirecutter, TS-251, wd, westerndigital, wirecutter
Apple Pay Now Supported by Halifax, Lloyds, and Bank of Scotland in the UK [Updated]
A few banks out of the United Kingdom today have announced Apple Pay support for their customers, including Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and Halifax (a division of Bank of Scotland). Lloyds had previously told its customers that Apple Pay support would be coming “very soon” back in August.
The three new banks join a growing list of UK Apple Pay participating issuers including: American Express, MBNA, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Ulster Bank, First Direct, and HSBC.
Still listed on the Coming Soon section of the UK Apple Pay website are M&S Bank and TSB, and although Barclays confirmed “imminent” support of Apple Pay in the UK back in July, it has yet to join in support of the service.
Apple Pay officially launched in the UK on July 13 with more than 250,000 retail locations backing the contactless payments service. In the weeks following its announcement, the service has grown its roster of supporting retail partners and financial institutions, along with expanding the upper limit for transactions on the service to £30 per transaction instead of £20.
Update: M&S Bank has begun a roll-out process of support for Apple Pay, mentioning that some customers will be able to add their M&S Bank-issued credit and debit cards into Apple Pay during the roll-out.
Jony Ive Says Apple Watch Hermès Doesn’t Make Apple ‘Exclusive’
Apple design chief Jony Ive and Hermès artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas recently spoke with The Wall Street Journal about how the Apple Watch Hermès came to be.
Interestingly, the two companies began collaborating on the premium Apple Watch last year, several months before the wrist-worn device was released.
“It’s something highly unusual for Apple to do—to talk about an unannounced project,” said Mr. Ive, 48 years old. They decided to partner over lunch in Paris, where Hermès is based, last October.
Jony Ive believes that, while the Apple Watch Hermès was the most expensive product introduced at Apple’s media event earlier this week, the premium watch does not make Apple an “exclusive” company. He later compared the Apple Watch Hermès to the Apple Watch Sport, stating that the same amount of time and effort went into designing both models.
“We don’t think in those terms,” Mr. Ive said in an interview Wednesday, after the Apple Watch Hermès was unveiled. “I’m not comfortable with words like exclusive.” […]
“Look at this next to one of the sport collection,” he says, referring to the $349 rubber-bracelet version that accounts for the majority of watch sales to date, according to people familiar with the matter. “There’s not one that had more care invested in its designing or making.”
Nevertheless, Apple’s partnership with luxury goods maker Hermès is further evidence the Apple Watch is being positioned to both the high-end technology and fashion industries. The returns could be lucrative, with the Apple Watch Hermès lineup ranging in price from $1,100 to $1,500.
Apple Watch Hermès watches feature leather straps handmade in France, with ten different models to choose from in Single Tour, Double Tour and Cuff designs. The collection will be available for purchase in October at select Apple Store and Hermès locations in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco and Toronto.
EA Removes ‘Bejeweled 2’, ‘Flight Control’ and Other Classic Titles from App Store
It appears that EA has quietly removed a handful of classic iOS titles from the App Store, including games like Bejeweled 2, Flight Control, Real Racing, and more. The official removal of the games actually happened on September 1, but was just discovered overnight by our sister site Touch Arcade. The full list of games removed by EA includes:
- Bejeweled 2
- Burnout™ CRASH!
- Dead Space
- Don’t Fall Off
- Flight Control
- Flight Control Rocket
- Fly With Me
- Lemonade Tycoon
- MASS EFFECT™ INFILTRATOR
- MMA by EA SPORTS™
- Need for Speed Shift
- Real Racing
- Sims Medieval by EA
- Skate It by EA
- Spore™ Creatures
- Spore™ Origins
- SPY Mouse
As the company mentions in the support document posted to its website, the move means that every game on the list won’t be supported or updated moving forward, with the decision to focus its “efforts on developing new and exciting titles, as well as bringing new content and updates to existing popular games.” Fortunately, if players still have the game downloaded to their iPhone, EA mentioned that users should still be able continue their game and play as normal.
…And now they’re gone, along with other fabulous iOS games. They didn’t even get a proper send off, beyond silently announcing they’re being removed on a obscure web page hidden deep inside of EA’s support site on the same day they were removed. I can’t find anyone else reporting on this either, meaning this plan worked surprisingly well, as it’s been ten days before we even figured out that these games were gone.
As Touch Arcade points out, about a year ago EA did the same thing with a slightly larger list of iOS games that included some well-known titles like Zuma’s Revenge and Alice: Madness Returns. Although players with the games still installed don’t have much to worry about, everyone else who may want to revisit any of these titles in the future are now out of luck.
AIVAnet 