iPhone 6s Plus Has Smaller 2750mAh Battery
Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus includes a 2750 mAh battery, according to images shared by Taiwanese site AppleClub [Google Translate]. That means the battery in the iPhone 6s Plus is smaller than the 2915 mAh battery found in the existing iPhone 6 Plus.
We’ve already learned the iPhone 6s has a smaller 1715 mAh battery because it was spotted in a video Apple created to highlight 3D Touch, but there’s been no visual confirmation on the iPhone 6s Plus battery until now.
Ahead of the debut of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, rumors suggested both devices would have smaller batteries, which turned out to be accurate. It appears Apple may have adopted smaller batteries in the new iPhones in order to make room for new internal parts like a dedicated Taptic Engine that enables haptic feedback whenever 3D Touch is used.
Though the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus have smaller batteries, overall battery life has not been impacted due to optimizations in the A9 processor in the devices and software improvements. Both devices continue to offer the same battery life as the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus.
Apple’s iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will launch this Friday, September 25. Pre-order customers will begin receiving their devices at that time, and Apple retail stores in first wave launch countries will begin selling the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus at that time.
Apple Releases WatchOS 2 With Native App Support, New Watch Faces, Nightstand Mode, and More
Apple today released watchOS 2 to the public, making the first major update to the watchOS software available to all Apple Watch owners. The update requires iOS 9 and can be downloaded over-the-air through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General –> Software Update.
watchOS 2 was originally scheduled to launch on Wednesday, September 16 alongside iOS 9, but Apple delayed the launch in order to address a major bug that was found shortly before the software was set to debut.
As the first significant update to watchOS, watchOS 2 introduces a lot of new features to the Apple Watch, mainly through new developer tools. watchOS 2 brings native apps that run on the watch itself instead of the iPhone, and it lets developers access several sensors and hardware features including the Taptic Engine, heart rate monitor, microphone, and accelerometer.
The new time-lapse watch faces in watchOS 2
Along with these features for developers, which will lead to more complex and full-featured third-party apps that run much more smoothly, watchOS 2 also includes new watch faces (photo album and time-lapse), third-party Complications, a tweak that makes the screen stay on for up to 70 seconds when activated, and Activation Lock.
There’s also a new Time Travel feature for viewing past and upcoming events in a watch face Complication, and a Nightstand mode that’s activated when the watch is charging, displaying the time.
Nightstand mode
More details on what’s new in watchOS 2 can be found in our dedicated watchOS 2 roundup, which includes all of the features the update brings, big and small. Discussion on new features in watchOS 2 is also taking place in our dedicated Apple Watch forum, and we encourage all of our readers to join in with new discoveries and questions about the update.
Apple Files Trademark Application for HomeKit ‘Home’ Icon
There have been rumors Apple has a dedicated HomeKit app in the works that would give users a central location to control all of their HomeKit devices, but thus far, the Cupertino company has kept quiet on whether such an app exists. More evidence pointing towards the existence of a possible HomeKit app surfaced today, however, in the form of a trademark application filed through a known shell company, iGuide Media.
As noted by French site Consomac [Google Translate], iGuide Media filed a priority trademark for an icon that appears to correspond to a HomeKit “Home” app on March 12, 2015 in Jamaica, and has now filed again in the United States on September 14. The trademark applies to a long list of electronics and home products, including thermostats, smoke detectors, window shades, garage door openers, and more.
iGuide Media is a shell company that has filed trademarks on Apple’s behalf in the past, ahead of the 2010 launch of the original iPad.
The icon is depicted in the trademark application as an H with a roof on it to form a house, with the icon placed on an orange background. It is similar in color to the HomeKit icons on Apple’s own website, but the design is decidedly different.
Apple’s release plans for a HomeKit app are unclear. It is not known if the company intends to launch a HomeKit app for public use in the future, or if the icon in today’s trademark filing corresponds to a dedicated app. It could also be an icon simply intended to represent HomeKit going forward, in developer documentation and on product packaging.
[TA Deals] Learn the ins and outs of Amazon Web Services for $19
Amazon Web Services, the company’s cloud computing platform, is being used by people and businesses around the world. There are services and tools within the platform that help develop, manage, and operate applications on a daily basis. Amazon is able to offer cloud computing with little hassle and almost no downtime. So it’s not very surprising that the amount of accounts switching over to Amazon Web Services is growing rapidly. Why not get certified in Amazon Web Services?
Talk Android Deals has a two-course bundle that will get you certified to be an AWS Certified Developer and/or AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
Amazon Web Services Certified Developer – Associate Level:
- Prep for the AWS Certified Developer certification exam w/ over 42 lectures & 9.5 hours of content
- Study the requirements for passing the Certified Developer certification
- Understand basic Python automation on AWS
- Get comfortable w/ AWS SDKs
- Optimize app performance
- Create secure & stable apps
Amazon Web Services Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Level:
- Prepare for the AWS CSA exam w/ over 63 lectures & 13 hours of content
- Understand the AWS global infrastructure
- Learn how to build & host websites on AWS
- Study scalability & elasticity concepts
- Design highly available fault tolerant applications
- Put your knowledge to the test building a WordPress app
This bundle should cost $278 but Talk Android Deals is currently selling it for $19. So you can prepare yourself to be certified in Amazon Web Services at a very accessible price.
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] Learn the ins and outs of Amazon Web Services for $19
BLU Vivo Air LTE review
The BLU Vivo Air was affordable, but offered a stunning construction and pretty capable specs. The second iteration looks to bring a similar ultra thin design, but this time the device is boosted with 2 GB of RAM and 4G LTE speeds. The enticing part is that it still manages to stay half as thick and heavy as the competition.
I have been playing around with the BLU Vivo Air LTE for a while and am ready to tell you all about it. Is this to be your next smartphone? Let’s find out!
Design
Something feels off when you first hold the BLU Vivo Air LTE. It feels amazingly light, so you begin looking for the battery in the box only to find it actually is within the phone. This phone weighs only 98 grams. To put that into perspective, the iPhone 6 (known for its light weight) is 129 grams.
The Vivo Air LTE is also the thinnest smartphone one can buy in the USA at 5.1 mm. This thing is crazy light and thin. So much that you may even forget you have it in your pocket, and holding it for extended periods of time doesn’t do much to tire you.
But those are not the only impressive factors this device construction has to offer. The BLU Vivo Air LTE comes with a couple Gorilla Glass 3 panels, which sandwich an aluminum frame. This makes the phone a seemingly high-end product, but I do have to say I managed to scratch it relatively easily with normal usage. Not to mention, this thing is a fingerprint magnet and has a super slippery surface. Of course, you could always use the included case to avoid such inconveniences.
I do have to say I loved the phone’s smaller form factor, which made it a breeze to use single-handedly. Overall, I do believe you are getting quite a deal at this price point, as the phone is very well built and even has metal as one of its materials. That is hard to find in the lower-end market.
I definitely enjoyed the power and volume buttons, which feel pretty solid and provide good tactile feedback. Oh, and I happen to love when the microUSB and 3.5 mm headset jack are on the bottom of the phone, which is the case here.
The front of the phone sports a 5 MP shooter and an LED notification light. One thing I can complain about is that bezel, though. It’s pretty large, which isn’t an issue when the device has hardware buttons, but the BLU Vivo Air LTE is sticking with software buttons.
Display
As I mention above, this phone is small and easy to hold, and most of that is thanks to the modest 4.8-inch 720p Super AMOLED display. As you would expect from all AMOLED panels, this screen produces vibrant colors, saturated hues and the deepest blacks the mobile industry has to offer.
Sure, the display is nothing to write home about, but I can certainly appreciate the convenience of a smaller phone. Not to mention, it does look pretty good for the price!
Performance
Affordable processors have gotten really good the past couple years and I can say the BLU Vivo Air LTE can handle its own with that Snapdragon 410 SoC it packs. This happens to be a huge jump from the Mediatek MT6592 the phone’s predecessor had. And with 2 GB of RAM and an Adreno 306 GPU backing it up, we really can’t complain too much.
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Just keep in mind you are buying an affordable phone. Don’t expect it to perform too well either! Most processes will do just fine, but you will start seeing some lag once you start getting into the heavier games. Frame drops and slower load times are certainly not uncommon in these situations. Overall, however, the device does offer a fair gaming experience.
Hardware
As it should, the BLU Vivo Air LTE has 802.11 N WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0. Support for some USA 4G LTE networks is also included, with FDD-LTE bands 2,4 and 7 on board. It’s missing bands 5 and 17 for AT&T, as well as band 12 for T-Mobile, but you will still get 4G LTE speeds in some areas. It just depends on where you are.
Camera
Everyone looks to Sony for camera sensors, and this time the IMX219 didn’t quite disappoint. The phone takes pretty fair images for the price. Color reproduction seems to be accurate and I didn’t really come across any blurry photos. In the right lighting conditions, you an definitely take some keepers.
I did come across one issue with the automatic white balance function, which had a hard time deciding between modes. This was mostly an issue when in very bright environments, and setting white balance manually fixed the problem.
The default camera app is simple and offers some basic controls. My specific unit had an annoying problem – it would crash after scrolling through the menu. I am not sure if this is a problem that plagues all users, though. You can easily avoid this by using any other third-party camera app, but that’s still an annoyance.
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Software
This part of the review will be simple. The BLU Vivo Air LTE has pretty awesome software, as it is very near stock Android 5.0.2. There were some slight differences, like those clear buttons in the multi-tasking menu, a different lock screen time widget and a lighter font for the time in the notification panel. The manufacturer also included the TouchPal 2015 keyboard; this is cool if you happen to like it, but I downloaded the Google Keyboard right away.
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The sad part is we likely won’t see much action in the form of updates. BLU is quite infamous for its poor after sales support. They are promising an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but I would rather wait without holding my breath. Back in June they promised Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for the Life One and Life 8 XL ready in July; that hasn’t happened yet. We also have no idea if they are still working on them, as the company hasn’t said a word about the matter.
Battery
There’s always something you sacrifice when making a super thin handset – battery life. You can’t fit that big of a battery in these things, and so BLU decided to stick with a mere 2050 mAh battery. That’s a tiny number for smartphones, nowadays, but I will have to say battery life wasn’t as bad as I expected.
During my tests I found the phone could go for about 16 hours, with almost 3.5 hours of screen on time. The thing is that tests varied too much. Some days I was able to get 14.5 hours with 4 hours of screen on time. The next day I went to 12 hours with 2 hours of screen on time. Go figure!
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By the way, WiFi was off most of the time, and screen brightness was set to 40%.
Gallery
Pricing and availability
The BLU Vivo Air LTE sets itself right next to giants like the ASUS ZenFone 2 and the Moto G at a $199 price point. It’s available in both black and white, and sales start on September 22nd.
Here’s the trick: the Vivo Air LTE offers no storage expansion options, and the phone has only 16 GB of internal memory. Not the best set-up for many of you, that’s for sure.
There’s no doubt the Vivo Air LTE is one BLU’s most compelling offerings to date. It’s also one of the better offerings at this price point, thanks to its amazingly thin and light design, great display and capable camera. Sadly, 4G LTE support is limited, battery life is inconsistent and Android update forecasts are not very exciting.
Though I would recommend devices like the Moto G and the ASUS ZenFone 2 for their superior 4G LTE and support, you also can’t go wrong with the Vivo Air LTE. Those who can deal with the quirks should definitely look at it when choosing their next phone. Are any of you guys buying?
Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) unboxing and initial setup
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Motorola just recently took the wraps off its second-generation Moto 360 at IFA 2015, and we already got the chance to go hands-on with the wearable. Our review unit has landed on our doorstep, and we’re not planning on wasting any time getting this device set up. We’ll of course bring you a full review in relatively short order, but for now, here’s our unboxing of the Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Gen.).
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Don’t miss: Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) officially announced – everything you need to know
Unboxing
Motorola is yet again sticking with the cylindrical packaging for the Moto 360, but this time the device comes in a clear plastic case, giving you a good look at your new wearable. After taking off the tape and removing the top portion of the packaging, the Moto 360 is shown off in all its glory.
It’s easy to see that the second-generation Moto 360 is much more premium than last year’s iteration, thanks to its metallic case and new lugs. The device itself is very easy to remove from the packaging. Underneath the Moto 360 you’ll find some standard documentation, the wireless charging dock and a MicroUSB cable. It should be noted that the charger that came with last year’s Moto 360 isn’t compatible with this year’s device, which is unfortunate. Overall, though, we’re still really happy with the design of the charging cradle. Not only is this the easiest way to charge any smartwatch out there, the charger also allows the Moto 360 to act as a little bedside clock when it charges.
Oddly enough, the MicroUSB cable that comes in the box can’t be removed from the plug adapter, which is definitely an odd move. It could be more cost effective for Motorola to manufacturer the charging docks this way, but we aren’t entirely sure. The wireless charger still uses MicroUSB, though, so you should be able to use any other charging cord that you wish.
Initial setup
The setup process is actually pretty easy. We didn’t really run into many issues when pairing the Moto 360 with our Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It did take a little while to sync applications from the phone to the watch, so you’ll want to be patient when it comes to this step.
After the pairing process was complete, we took a look around the Moto 360’s hardware. The heart rate sensor is still present on this year’s device, and so is the premium-feeling Horween leather watch strap. This time around you can customize the Moto 360 via Moto Maker, which makes it easy to mix and match straps and different colored casings to suit your needs.
Motorola has also made available a 42mm option, which is a bit smaller than our 46mm variant. The 42mm model is better suited for those with smaller wrists, and there’s even a “women’s edition” Moto 360 which also comes in at 42mm. Other than the size difference, the “women’s line” is simply used to designate different styles of watch straps.
All versions of the Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) come with a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of on-board storage. The 46mm variant comes with a 1.56-inch LCD display with 360 x 330 resolution, while the 42mm versions come with a 1.37-inch LCD display with 360 x 325 resolution. Both sizes come with Gorilla Glass 3.
The big differences between the two generations of the Moto 360 come in the form of hardware, with the second-gen model sporting a power button that sits at the 2 o’clock position, rather than the 3 o’clock position. The new Moto 360 also comes with some redesigned lugs which will make changing out watch straps much easier.
Now looking to software, the Moto 360 isn’t much different from any other Android Wear watch on the market. You’ll still need to rely heavily on swiping between cards and menus. There are a good amount of custom watch faces, though, which can be customized through the Motorola Connect app on your phone. With the Connect app, you can change the colors of Motorola’s pre-installed watch faces, and even add/remove the date from each one if you choose.
So, there you have it – our unboxing and first impressions of the Moto 360 (2nd Gen.)! Motorola made some big improvements to the smartwatch this time around, and we’re excited to see how these changes play out as we spend more time with it. We’ll of course bring you a full review in the coming weeks, but for now, feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions and/or thoughts.
Samsung reportedly planning to launch its own phone leasing program
Along with the recent announcement of the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPad Pro, Apple unveiled its own phone leasing program. Dubbed the iPhone Upgrade Program, this is Apple’s way of cutting out the mobile carriers and encouraging customers to purchase devices directly from Apple. In all, the program does offer quite a bit to consumers, as it also includes Apple Care+ and gives folks the freedom to activate their device on any carrier they wish. If you’re thinking you’d like something like that for your next Android phone, you may not have to wait much longer.
According to a new report from Forbes, Samsung is planning to launch a similar phone leasing program for its Galaxy phones for the U.S. market. The program could launch within the next few months, though an exact timeframe was not given. The report unfortunately didn’t offer up any other availability or pricing details.
Related: Would you like to see an Android OEM directly offer its own upgrade program?
As the smartphone market continues to stray away from the standard two-year contract through mobile service providers, it’s no surprise to see other OEMs think about launching services like this. Samsung has already launched its big flagship devices for the year, including the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, Note 5 and S6 Edge+. This could definitely be a good way for the company to sell more devices at a time with no forthcoming product announcements.
Samsung’s newest devices
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It should be noted that part of the draw to Apple’s leasing program is the inclusion of Apple Care+, which offers users expert support for their smartphones for two full years, and also provides some accidental damage coverage. There was no mention of Samsung launching a similar service for its Galaxy phones in the report, though it’s not too farfetched to think that the company could launch something along these lines.
So tell us, if the pricing structure is similar to Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program, would you be more inclined to purchase a Galaxy phone directly from Samsung? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
The best iPhone and iPad accessories
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
A huge ecosystem of accessories surrounds the iPad and iPhone, with options to handle pretty much any need. At The Wirecutter, we spend dozens of hours (at least) on each of our reviews to find the best gear for all parts of your life. Here are some of our favorites for your iOS devices.Slideshow-321013
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter/The Sweethome. To see the current recommendations, please go here.
4chan sells to the founder of the site that inspired it
If you know your internet message board history, you know that Chris Poole’s legendary 4chan was inspired by 2channel, a board dedicated to anime and other aspects of Japanese culture. Well, things are about to come full circle: Poole (aka Moot) just sold 4chan to Hiroyuki Nishimura, 2channel’s founder and the current editor in chief for Variety Japan. The terms of the deal aren’t public, but Poole notes to the New York Times that there’s a “lot of opportunity” to grow his site with the “right resources.” That wouldn’t be hard. Unlike some other community mainstays, such as Reddit, 4chan has never really been run as a full-fledged business.
If you’re a loyal 4chan user, the handover might be worrying. Part of its appeal is that homebrew, almost-anything-goes vibe that has frequently made it both the launching point for internet memes and a bastion of open, anonymous expression. However, Poole believes that he’s putting his creation in good hands. Nishimura is the “only person in the world” with as much experience running a message board like this — if anyone can understand what makes 4chan popular, it’s him.
The real question is whether or not he can (or wants to) make it a profitable venture without compromising its spirit. Reddit has already taken some flak for cleaning up some of its hate communities in its bid for mainstream success. While 4chan already has experience with this kind of backlash (the notorious 8chan board exists partly to house 4chan exiles), it’s still considered more laissez-faire than its commercial cousin. It risks losing that image if it goes too far in sanitizing the experience for the sake of advertisers.
[Image credit: Johannes Simon/Getty Images]
Source: New York Times
Waterfall wallpapers to soothe your mood
Today we have waterfalls for you to add to your wallpaper collection. Everyone can agree waterfalls are soothing and are simply beautiful. I will let the images speak for themselves. Enjoy.
If you see a wallpaper that belongs to you and you would like to receive credit, I would love to give it to you! Just drop a comment in the section provided below with some proof (You know, just so we don’t have people claiming things that are not theirs…) So, please choose those that you like and enjoy!
The post Waterfall wallpapers to soothe your mood appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 