Xiaomi Mi 4c flagship to be unveiled on Sep 22
It may have only been a month since Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi announced its new Redmi Note 2, but the company is already gearing up to launch a new flagship. In a post on its official forum, the company has teased that it will unveil a new flagship handset – dubbed the Xiaomi Mi 4c – at a launch event on September 22nd.
Xiaomi in video:
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A key part of the forum post discusses whether the handset will launch in China only or whether it will also come to other countries around the world. Given that the company is teasing a launch with a difference, it’s likely to be the latter and the poll at the bottom of the post has seen over 90% (505 out of 551) members vote to bring the Mi 4c to other countries around the world.
The forum post also reveals that the Xiaomi Mi 4i, which was first launched by Xiaomi in India, is now set to launch internationally in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. You can check out our full review of the Xiaomi 4i here.
A previous leak suggested we may see specs including a Snapdragon 808 SoC, 2GB RAM, USB Type-C and a 5-inch 1080p screen on the Mi 4c, which is likely to be quite similar to the Mi 4i. What features do you think the Xiaomi Mi 4c will bring and what do you want to see Xiaomi include in its next handset? Let us know your views in the comments below guys and check out the teaser poster from Xiaomi below.
AT&T bumps its unlimited data throttling limit up to 22GB
AT&T has today announced a slight revision to the way that it handles data throttling for customers still on one of its unlimited data plans. Don’t plan your switch just yet though, the change is actually really beneficial to customers.
Rather than the old 5GB limit before throttling would take place in congested areas, AT&T has increased the limited to 22GB, giving customers four times the monthly amount of high speed data. This limit applies in each billing period. Should anyone surpass the new 22GB limit, their connection will only be throttled down to lower speeds in congested areas, such as larger cities.
“We recently revised our practices such that Unlimited Data Plan smartphone customers can now use 22GB of high-speed data during a billing period before becoming subject to network management practices that might result in reduced data speeds and increased latency.
We will notify customers during each billing cycle when their data usage reaches 16.5GB (75% of 22GB) so they can adjust their usage to avoid network management practices.”
This is excellent news for those who have been looking to get the most out of their so called unlimited data allowance with AT&T. However, the carrier’s unlimited contracts are no longer available to new customers, so only existing plan holders are affected by today’s change.
In another recent shake-up to unlimited data plans in the US, rival carrier T-Mobile stated that it would be clamping down on customers who abuse its unlimited data package. However, this move is only designed to target those customers who use huge amounts of data via tethering.
Blu Vivo Air LTE quick impressions: so thin, you’ll think it’s a dummy unit
Many manufacturers attempt to make super slim smartphones, but the race to create the world’s thinnest has been won by just a handful. American manufacturer BLU achieved this with the Vivo Air earlier this year and just a few days ago, it followed this up with the Vivo Air LTE.
Ahead of our full review, I took a quick look at the Vivo Air LTE last week at CTIA 2015 – is slim back in again, or have BLU sacrificed reliability and quality to create the world’s thinnest smartphone?
The key specs
Lanh has already extensively reviewed the original Vivo Air and the Vivo Air LTE comes with a couple of small but key changes to improve the overall experience. The biggest additions are an increase in RAM (from 1GB to 2GB) and LTE support, which means you can now use mobile data at superfast speeds.
The changes mean that Blu has had to switch from a MediaTek processor in the original Vivo Air to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset in the Vivo Air LTE. While Bailey will look at this in a lot more detail, I can say that the Vivo Air LTE feels snappy in use and showed no visible signs of lag in the few moments I spent with it.
Other notable specs include a 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED display, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and a respectable 2,050 mAh battery (given the size of the handset). LTE Cat 4 support means the Vivo Air LTE offers download speeds of 150Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps on the go, which is on par with other handsets in this price range.
The design
Having never used the original Vivo Air LTE myself, the design came as a complete surprise and what a surprise it proved to be; simply put, the 5.1 mm thick body and 97 grams’ weight combine to create a smartphone that can only be described as feeling like a dummy handset.
If you go to a small phone store and ask to play with a not-so-popular smartphone, chances are that you will get to play with a dummy smartphone that has all the cosmetics without the heavy internals (such as battery, motherboard etc). The BLU Vivo Air LTE feels just like this, except it’s a fully working (and very capable) smartphone.
Is it too slim? On paper, 5.1 mm might seem like it’s too thin and can’t be that sturdy but in actual use, the Vivo Air LTE feels solid and showed no signs of stress when trying to bend it. It’s ridiculously thin but while it is definitely comfortable to use in the hand, it does feel like it’s been misplaced when you have it in your pocket.
Overall though, I’d definitely say if slim is your thing, then the Vivo Air LTE won’t disappoint and you’ll love the super thin body. It really is unlike anything else on the market (apart from the original Vivo Air).
Is slim in again?
At a cost of $199, the Vivo Air LTE aims to combine a premium experience inside an impossibly thin body and for the most part, it certainly seems to deliver on this. Yes, it’s not flagship specs, which is to be expected from a sub $200 smartphone, but it does feel good in the hand and is the slimmest 4G smartphone to land in the United States.
For more on the BLU Vivo Air LTE, stay tuned for our full review, which will be out very soon. What do you think of the world’s thinnest smartphone and would you buy it? Let us know your views in the comments below guys!
BLU in video:
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GFXBench listing reveals specifications of Amazon’s rumoured $50 tablet
While Amazon recently laid off some of its engineers after the Fire Phone failed to set the world alight, there has been persistent rumours that the global retailer is developing a budget-friendly tablet that could be priced at just $50. Amazon has so far declined to either confirm or deny the existence of such a project, although it has allegedly been spotted being put through its paces on GFXBench under the ‘Amazon KFFOWI’ moniker.
According to the GFXBench listing, the budget tablet will feature a 6.7-inch display with a resolution of just 1024 x 600, a quad-core MediaTek MT8127 processor, Mali-450 MP4 GPU, 1GB of RAM, and just 8GB of internal storage. There’s also a 1.8MP camera on the rear with a 0.3MP VGA camera on the front of the tablet.
While the benchmark states the KFFOWI tablet is running Android 5.1 Lollipop, it’s almost certainly going to Amazon’s forked version of the Android operating system. As you can tell, if the listing is accurate, this budget-friendly tablet is an entry-level device, which is perfectly fine if it comes in at the rumoured $50 price point.
The KFFOWI tablet isn’t a high-performance device, you won’t look at this tablet if you are looking to play resource hungry games, watch Full HD videos or to take high-quality pictures, but what it is, is a way for Amazon to open up its ecosystem to the entry-level market, especially if the tablet sold for just $50, which WSJ believes it will be. It will be interesting to see where and how Amazon market this tablet when it is launched, which is believed to next quarter.
Source: GFXBench
Via: UberGizmo
Come comment on this article: GFXBench listing reveals specifications of Amazon’s rumoured $50 tablet
NASA works with UK government to help manage drone traffic
As more drones take to UK skies, the government has called on the biggest name in aerospace to reduce the number of accidents caused by wayward UAVs. It’s teaming up with NASA to build and test new tracking systems that can manage both public and private flights, ensuring hobbyists and commercial drone operators don’t get in each other’s way. “The Government are in early discussions with NASA about the drone traffic management system,” said Department of Transport Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad at the House of Lords. “It is hoped that those discussions will lead to a UK involvement in the development of that system and the participation of UK industry in future trials to test the robustness of the technology.”
While its cooperation with the UK government is a relatively new development, NASA already has numerous drone partners in the US. The agency has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to draw up regulations for piloting drones, looked into whether Verizon’s massive network of cellphone towers can help keep tabs on UAVs and even let Google come under its wing to conduct test flights. With NASA on board, it’s hoped that Europe will establish similar systems to police drone traffic.
To monitor drones, NASA is considering the use of radars, satellites and mobile signals. The system would likely rely on the cloud to serve weather and traffic information, as well as data on restricted zones. It expects to have a prototype prepared by 2019, but the UK government appears ready to help test some of its systems before then.
Filed under:
Transportation
Via:
The Telegraph
Source:
Parliament.uk
Tags: drone, drones, houseoflords, nasa, uav, uk government
Here are the front and back of the Nexus 5X in mint
New leaked images reveal more details about the mint version of the Nexus 5X.
In our exclusive report on the LG-made Nexus 5X (also known as the Nexus 5 2015), we stated that one of the color options available at launch would be “light blue.” Our source wasn’t sure about the official name of the color version (or the exact hue), but this leak from trusted Korean website UnderKG clarifies it – the color will apparently be “mint.”
Two images are being offered as proof, and they look pretty credible. The first one shows the Nexus 5X’s back, with the LG logo at the bottom and the familiar, vertical Nexus logo. The image quality isn’t that good, so the actual color of the device may differ quite a lot from the washed out blue we can see in the image.
The front of the device contains a little throwback to the design of the original Nexus 5, which – in the white and red versions – had a black front and a circular speaker grille in the color of the back. The Nexus 5X features a similar mint accent, and there’s also a feature of the same color on the left side of the phone, though we can’t really tell what that is. (Older renders of the Nexus 5X show both the volume rocker and the power button on the right side of the phone, like on the Nexus 6.) Just under the speaker, you can notice the front facing camera.
UnderKG’s report says the color can be described as “Tennis Court Mint,” but it’s not clear whether that’s the official name of the version or just a descriptor used by the source.
The Nexus 5X will also be offered in the conventional black and white options, and we expect to see all three variants made official on September 29.
According to other reports, the Nexus 5X will feature a Snapdragon 808 processor, a 5.2-inch Full HD display and a fingerprint sensor on the back. The device is expected to start from $400, and you can read more about it, as well as the larger Huawei Nexus, in our rumor roundup.
Incidentally, another device will launch soon in a mint version – the Nextbit Robin. Check out our hands-on with the device.
Thoughts on these images?
Moto X Style and new Moto 360 up for pre-order in the UK
Motorola’s latest smartphone and smartwatch are now available to pre-order in the UK. The Moto X Style and second generation Moto 360 can be purchased directly through Motorola’s online store and are stated to start shipping out in the next few weeks.
The Moto X Style is Motorola’s latest high-end smartphone, but it comes with a very reasonable price tag. Starting at just £399, the Moto X Style features a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 SoC, 3GB of RAM, a 21 megapixel rear camera and 5 megapixel front camera, 3,000mAh battery, 32GB of internal memory and a microSD card slot. The display is on the large side at 5.7-inches and comes with a crisp QHD (2560×1440) resolution.
There are a range of options to choose from to make the Moto X Style your own. The Moto Maker features a range of colour options, along with a choice of leather or wood backs for an extra £20, and there’s an optional upgrade to 64GB of internal memory for £35 more.
Read more: Moto X Style / Moto X Pure Edition unboxing and first impressions
If you’re after a wearable instead, the new Moto 360 is now also available to pre-order. The software is still Android Wear, but the hardware has been updated with a more powerful Snapdragon 400 processor and a larger 300mAh battery, along with a redesigned chassis.
See also: Moto 360 (2nd Gen) first look
The watch is now available in three different sizes, two male options at 42mm and 46mm, while the women’s version is also 42mm but with a thinner band. All models start with a £229 pre-order price, but the customization options, such as a metal band or Micro Knurl bezel will set you back around £20 to £30 extra. Motorola also has a Sport version of the watch on the way and you can register for updates if you want an email alert when pre-orders begin.
The estimated delivery date for the Moto 360 is September 28th, while the Moto X Style won’t arrive until October 6th. If you can’t wait, you can already grab the new mid-range Moto X Play from just £279.
Deal: Amazon Fire Phone only $119.99 (includes 1 year of Prime)
Amazon is no longer selling the Fire Phone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find it elsewhere. What’s even better, you could probably score a very good deal on the phone now that it’s officially “old”. In fact, we just came across the best discount we have ever seen on this phone.
You can now get the 32 GB version of the Amazon Fire Phone for only $119.99, as well as the 64 GB iteration for $149.99. And yes, this does include a 1-year membership to Amazon Prime, which usually costs $99. This pretty much means that the smartphone is costing you about $21. Yep, you will be hard pressed to find a better deal on a mid-end handset.
In addition, you will be glad to learn you have to deal with no coupon codes, rebates or anything of the sort. Just head over to QualityCellz’ eBay store and grab it! By the way, this seller has over 99% positive reviews (out of over 84,000), so you should have a good purchasing experience.
Need a memory refresher? The Amazon Fire Phone features a 4.7-inch 720p display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 13 MP main camera, a 21 MP front shooter (with other sensors) and a 2400 mAh battery.
Not bad for $120, right? Especially when Amazon is still throwing in that Prime deal! Go get the phone while it’s hot; we don’t expect available units to stick around for long.
Buy the 32 GB Amazon Fire Phone
Buy the 64 GB Amazon Fire Phone
NVIDIA’s GeForce game sharing feature is available in beta
NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience Share has been released in early access beta, giving PC gamers the ability to invite friends to take over a game or play cooperatively. Via an in-game overlay menu, players can use the “Shadowplay” option to continuously capture a stream, then broadcast it to Twitch, other players, or YouTube as an upload. NVIDIA said that the feature can save the last 5 to 20 minutes of game play at up to 4K (3,840 x 2,160) with very little performance hit. Players can also send a live game stream to Twitch via the “broadcast” feature.
The game stream co-op feature, meanwhile, works not unlike Sony’s Share Play. You can invite friends — who presumably need a GeForce Experience-compatible graphics card and Share access as well — then stream it over the internet with low-latency. From there, they can watch you play, take control and show you how it’s done, or join you for co-op play. NVIDIA didn’t say if your graphics would take a hit like they do on Sony’s Share Play, but it likely depends on your hardware and internet speed. If you’re interested, you can now grab the beta from NVIDIA’s GeForce Experience site.
Source:
NVIDIA
Tags: Broadcast, Co-op, GeForceExperience, In-game, InstantReplay, nvidia, Overlay, SharePlay, Streams, video, YouTube
Moto X Style and new Moto 360 up for pre-order in the UK
Motorola’s latest and greatest are now available to pre-order in the UK. Following the Moto X Play, you can now spend your hard-earned cash on the Moto X Style, which currently has an estimated delivery date of October 6th. The bigger and more powerful brother to the X Play, it features a 5.7-inch QHD display, a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor. Slapped on top is a practically stock Android experience — save for a few Moto-exclusive apps and features — and the option to customise your phone through Moto Maker. The phone starts from £399, although you’ll pay an extra £35 for the 64GB model and another £20 if you want a leather or wood back.
If you’re happy with the handset in your pocket, you might want to consider a new timepiece instead. Google has been steadily improving Android Wear, and now you can put all of those updates to good use with the second-generation Moto 360. Unlike last year’s model, it comes in a few different shapes and sizes — 42mm and 46mm models designed for men, and another 42mm model aimed at women. Each can be put through Moto Maker, with a variety of cases, bands and bezel designs to choose from. It starts at £229 for the men’s 42mm, before rising to £259 for the women’s 42mm and finally £269 for the 46mm. Motorola’s estimated delivery time is September 29th, so like the Moto X Style, you’ll be waiting at least a couple of weeks before either order arrives on your doorstep.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Wearables, Lenovo
Source:
Moto X Style, Moto 360
Tags: lenovo, motorola, motox, motoxpure, motoxstyle, preorder
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