New leaked renders show Nokia C1 Android phone
At one time, Nokia was regarded as the gold standard for mobile phones. They were incredibly reliable and incredibly durable. Don’t believe me? Just google search Nokia memes.
Now Nokia is known for making mobile devices for the pretty lackluster Windows mobile platform. But fear not, apparently Nokia is getting back in the game. Late last year our own Jalen Benjamin reported on a blurry leaked concept render of an Android phone called the C1.
The Nokia C1 may be Nokia’s next Android smartphone in early 2015.
Nokia was quick to come out and say that it was only a concept. After all, they have a non-compete clause in their partnership with Microsoft after selling them their mobile phone division. That clause expires at the end of the year.
There is also a rumor that they’ll go the route of their Android tablet the N1, which they designed, but had another manufacturer build. Apparently there is a loophole in their contract with Microsoft. They are only forbidden from manufacturing mobile devices.
Yesterday a C1 render was leaked on a Chinese Twitter-like site.
The device appears to be very thin and the body is very reminiscent of the iPhone 6 and 6+. The screen has minimal bezels and appears to be a unibody construction.
If previous rumors are to be believed then it will debut with a 5″ 720p screen, an 8mp rear facing camera, a 5mp front facing camera, 2GB RAM, and an Intel Atom processor. Of course that would put it right smack dab in the lower mid-range budget smartphone market. That is if rumors are to be believed.
There’s not much more to be gleaned at this point, but here’s to hoping that we’ll see another bullet proof Nokia phone, this time running Android.
What do you think? Do you like the render? Would you consider buying this phone? Let us know in the comments below.
The post New leaked renders show Nokia C1 Android phone appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Leatherman’s multi-tool bracelet is 29 kinds of dysfunctional
Hey guys, remember paracord bracelets? Those were cool for a hot second, right? I mean, strapping 20 feet of intricately woven, high-tensile rope to your wrist “just in case” seemed like such a good idea at the time. The trouble is that for an overwhelming majority of their wearers, those “just in case” moments never actually materialized and the bracelets simply became man jewelry for the Eddie Bauer crowd. Leatherman’s new Tread tool-bracelet is just as bad, except instead of a length of rope you’ve convinced yourself you need, it’s a ring of tiny, useless tools.
The Tread attempts to pack the versatility of a 29-tool set into a single $165 stainless steel bracelet ($220 for one with a black finish). Included are eight sizes of screwdriver (both flat and Phillips); six sizes of box wrench (and one oxygen tank wrench because you’re clearly James Bond); eight types of hex drivers; a square driver; a socket driver; and various miscellany like a SIM card pick, cutting hook, carbide glass breaker and, of course, bottle opener. That’s a lot of tools, to be sure, but there’s a pretty severe size limit as to what you can use them on.
Remember that exercise bike desk from a few months back? Not one of the Tread’s hex wrenches was large enough to fit around even the smallest of bolts. Same goes for my road bike: While some of the hex drivers did fit, I spent far more time looking for a properly sized tool than I did actually using it. And don’t think you’re going to be prying old screws and bolts out of anything with it. The design of the Tread relegates it to strictly light duty. The moment you add elbow grease, the bracelet links torque and twist.
The lack of a handle also severely limits the amount of force you can apply. Using the screwdrivers is especially infuriating. You can’t set the head into the screw and simply twist in one direction. No, you’ve got to set the head, twist a half turn, pull away, reset the head, twist again and so on. So a task that takes 10 seconds with a regular screwdriver takes about 45 seconds with the Tread.
As a fashion accessory, the Tread also fell disappointingly short. With all of the tools attached, this thing is gigantic — eight and a half inches around, all told, and weighing nearly six ounces. I found I could easily slide the Tread on and off my wrist without actually unbuckling the clasp. And I do not have small hands by any stretch of the imagination.
And while the Tread is adjustable, allowing the wearer to remove rarely used links and reduce the bracelet’s circumference, you’ll need a separate screwdriver to do so. A separate screwdriver. For your tool bracelet. Which features eight different screwdrivers. It’s also quite jangly; oh man, does it make a lot of noise when worn. Of course, if you’ve just blown all that cash on a wearable toolbox to show off how rugged you are, the racket it makes might actually be more of a selling point.
In the end, you’re left with a gaudy, expensive piece of man jewelry that can barely accomplish its own selling points. After a day of it constantly falling off my wrist, the Tread was relegated to the same backpack pocket where the rest of my tools reside. And if it’s in a pocket instead of on your wrist, it’s about as useful in a pinch as the paracord bracelet you replaced with it.
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Filed under:
Wearables
Tags: engadgetirl, IRL, jewelry, leatherman, leathermantread, tread
The 5 best wearables from IFA 2015
Wearables playing a big role at major trade shows isn’t a surprise, and neither is the fact that most of the ones we’ve seen at IFA 2015 are smartwatches. Samsung, Motorola and TomTom all introduced new timepieces this week, while Huawei finally revealed pricing details for the Watch it announced earlier this year in Barcelona. Aside from TomTom’s Spark and Samsung’s Gear S2, the other smartwatches on this list are powered by Android Wear, with prices ranging from $299 to $799 — although Motorola and Samsung have kept some info to themselves. Either way, join us as we recap the wearables that stood out here in Berlin, Germany.Slideshow-317285
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub.
Filed under:
Misc, Peripherals, Wearables, Samsung
Tags: hands-on, IFA, IFA2015, samsung, smartwatch, smartwatches, wearables
Lenovo PHAB Plus Hands on First Look
Smartphones are getting bigger and while phone with 5.5-inches were once known as phablets, the size has quickly become the norm. With this in mind, Lenovo is aiming to reinvent the phablet with the PHAB Plus but does it succeed? Let’s find out.
The key standout feature on the Lenovo PHAB Plus is the incredibly large 6.8-inch Full HD display that offers a modest 324 pixels per inch density. At 229 grams, it’s certainly not the lightest smartphone in the world but the weight distribution makes the PHAB Plus feel considerably lighter than it actually is.
Lenovo claims that the handset design is “optimized for one handed use” which is certainly a bold claim given the size and, for the most part, this is definitely a phone you’ll use with two hands. However, it does have a cool software trick that lets you shrink the display to a much more manageable smaller display that is comfortable to use with one hand.
Measuring just 7.6mm thin, the metal unibody design of the PHAB Plus feels premium and for the most part, the experience delivers. The handset is powered by an octa-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage that can be expanded using a microSD card slot.
On the back the Lenovo PHAB Plus has a 13MP rear camera with dual LED true-tone flash, while the front 5MP snapper should be good for selfies. The whole package is powered by a modest 3500 mAh battery that Lenovo claim should last an entire day and with dual SIM support, you’re able to use two SIM cards on LTE at the same time.
The PHAB Plus runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop and, just like you’ll find with its other recent devices, Lenovo has decided to keep the software experience as close to vanilla Android as possible. As a result, the performance is certainly slick and there should be no performance concerns with the PHAB Plus.
The term phablet was first coined to describe the large screen devices but as 5.5-inches has become the norm in the industry, the term phablet has ceased to become relevant. When planning the PHAB Plus, Lenovo said to us that they wanted to create an experience that served the middle ground between 6-inch smartphones that are very expensive and underpowered 7-inch tablets that are very cheap.
At a cost of $299, the company has certainly delivered on this claim and while many may think that the 6.8-inch display is too big for day-to-day use and phone calls, it’s worth remembering that the way we use our phones is changing. As Lenovo put it to us:
Smartphones are rarely used for phone calls so why does it need to be small so it’s comfortable to hold against your face?
And there you have it for our first quick look at the massive Lenovo PHAB Plus. What do you think of Lenovo’s new phablet-sized monster? Let us know your views in the comments below guys and don’t forget to check out all our great IFA 2015 coverage.
Recommended Reading: The story behind Google’s new logo
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you’ll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read.
Evolving the Google Identity
by Alex Cook, Jonathan Jarvis and Jonathan Lee
Google Design
Google grabbed the internet’s attention earlier this week with a brand-new logo. With a design that’s quite a departure from the previous mark, the company has its eye on the future in more ways than one. Here’s a look behind the scenes at the finer details of the new logotype.
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Stephen Colbert, the Late Night Hope This piece offers a look at the pre-show prep as Colbert makes the transition from Comedy Central to the Late Show this month. |
Nextbit Robin: The Design Story The Verge catches up with former HTC design chief Scott Croyle to discuss his latest effort, a “cloud-first, design-first smartphone.” |
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GameStop’s Precipitous New Software Decline Betting on GameStop’s eventual demise? You might be waiting for a while. The company has continued to tread water despite declining software sales. |
Coke Tales: A ‘Narcos’ Reading List for When Your Netflix Supply Finally Runs Out This reading list ought to occupy your time between the first and second seasons of Netflix’s Narcos. |
[Image credit: Carl Court/Getty Images]
Tags: design, gamestop, google, logo, narcos, nextbit, recommendedreading, recreading, stephencolbert
Alcatel OneTouch unveils another 2 phones, a tablet and WiFi connected devices (IFA 2015)
No way is Alcatel done unveiling devices. Last Thursday they showed us a bunch of new mobile products and today they are back with another two handsets, a tablet and a couple of new WiFi boxes. The company’s popularity is growing fast, and so is their portfolio. Want to learn all about these new products? Let’s jump into all the details.
Alcatel OneTouch Pixi First
Alcatel is not giving us the full set of specs just yet, so we can’t dig too deep into the device, but this is looking to be a pretty good affordable handset. This specific device is aimed towards emerging markets, so let’s not get too picky with it and see it for what it is.
With that said, this happens to not such a bad option for casual users. It comes with a “powerful” 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and 3G+ speeds. And this handset won’t leave you hanging mid-day, as it sports a battery that can offer 300 hours of standby time and 7 hours of talk time.
On the front side of the smartphone we have a 4-inch display and a 2 MP camera. Turn the smartphone around and you will find its modest 5 MP shooter, along with the handy LED flash. The design is pretty basic, mostly consisting of plastic and glass, but the phone does tout a 9.7 mm profile, which is something Alcatel claims to be among the thinnest in this size range.
Alcatel OneTouch Pixi 3 (10-inch)
Not liking the smaller Pixi 3 tablets? Alcatel OneTouch has decided to bring forth a larger one, measuring in at 10 inches. This new pad is available in both 3G or WiFi options. In addition, it runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. There’s no details on the rest of the specs, but we can expect these to go right in line with its smaller 7-inch and 8-inch brothers, which both carry mid-end components.
Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3C
The Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 has been a hit in the USA, thanks to its great value and fair specs. But what about those of you who like the phone but still want something a bit more affordable? In comes the Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3C.
This gadget features a 5.5-inch display and a very similar design when compared o the Idol 3, except for an obvious change in materials and colors. The Idol 3C is available in white, red, green, pink and yellow, so there’s something for everyone here.
In addition, users can enjoy the 13 MP main camera, 8 MP front shooter, JBL-powered dual front-facing speakers and an octa-core processor (likely the same Snapdragon 615 chip found on the Idol 3) that should take care of all your needs.
4G Car WiFi and WiFi Music Box
How about some connected devices? Smartphones and tablets are fun, but they are not everything. These cool accessories complete the equation perfectly. Today Alcatel OneTouch is announcing a couple of products that will keep your vehicle online and your home more musical.
The first one is the 4G Car WiFi. This is a simple dongle that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and connects up to 15 devices at once (if you can fit that many users in your vehicle). It even has a connector for charging devices via USB.
Meanwhile, the WiFi Music Box is a neat accessory that plugs into any speakers in your home. After setting up, users can play DJ from any smartphone or tablet. The system allows for playing music in multiple rooms, or setting different moods in each one of them.
Availability
We are told USA pricing and availability will be announced later in Q4. Us Americans will be out of luck with the Alcatel OneTouch Pixi First, though. That phone is only headed to an exclusive list of emerging markets. Bummer. As for the boxes, the 4G Car WiFi will be available this October in Europe, while the WiFi Music Box will launch globally during the same month.
Are you guys thinking of getting any of these, though? I am personally considering the WiFi Music Box!
Sony reminds us how fast 0.03 seconds really is
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Sony announced its latest flagship smartphone, the Sony Xperia Z5, this week at IFA 2015 and the primary focus of the device (no pun intended) was its new camera – specifically the 23 MP Exmor RS camera which features a new hybrid autofocus that Sony calls the fastest autofocus on any smartphone right now. If we quantify it, the autofocus takes only 0.03 seconds to focus on something, but of course, it’s quite hard to visualize exactly how fast that is – don’t worry though, because thanks to their latest infographic, Sony reminds us how fast 0.03 seconds really is.
In a number of examples which include how fast light travels, how many times a bee’s wings flap, or even how photos of a blink you can take, the infographic tries to give some examples of just how fast the autofocus is – check out the infographic below:
If that image is a bit too small, you can get to the original Sony blog post here. We’ll have to wait and see just how good the camera is when the phone starts reaching people’s hands, but whether the Xperia Z5 is going to be the one to turn around the situation at Sony remains to be seen.
What do you think about the Sony Xperia Z5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Sony Mobile
The post Sony reminds us how fast 0.03 seconds really is appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
ICYMI: Coral protector bot, non-ugly wearable glasses & more
Today on In Case You Missed It: The nation’s largest vision insurance company, VSP, is beta-testing wearable health-tracking glasses and somehow they don’t even look ridiculous. An autonomous robot submarine is patrolling coral reefs and killing the starfish that normally eat coral, to preserve the reef. (So many conflicting feelings, amirite?) And MIT researchers are back with another 3D printer to blow your mind. This one is machine-vision enabled, meaning it can scan as it prints and correct itself.
We’re also covering some of the biggest stories of the week but if you only have time for one, read up on how easy baby monitors are to hack.
If you come across any interesting videos, we’d love to see them. Just tweet us with the #ICYMI hashtag @engadget or @mskerryd.
Filed under:
Misc, Meta, Robots, Transportation, Wearables, Science, Internet, Software, Facebook
Tags: 3Dprint, 3Dprinter, AIrobot, Coral, coralreef, coralreefrobot, engadget, engadgetdaily, engadgetdailyshow, engadgetvideo, facebook, icymi, InCaseYouMissedIt, MIT, ProjectGenesis, robotsubmarine, video, VSPglasses, wearableglasses
IFA Day 3: TVs, TVs and more TVs
Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub!
Filed under:
Home Entertainment, Samsung, Sony, LG
Tags: IFA, IFA2015, lg, samsung, sony, video
Uber pulls down ‘share your ETA’ links that went public
Uber has pulled down the searchable database people found at “trip.uber.com,” which contained details of trips people unknowingly made public by using the “Share your ETA” feature. That’s one of the app’s functions that sends a link with all pertinent details to chosen contacts. Since it could very useful, especially for those who need to travel alone through shady locations or at night, the company isn’t yanking it from the app. Instead, Uber has decided to tweak the system so that all links get expired after 48 hours.
ZDNet recently discovered the “Share your ETA” flaw, which exposed users from various countries due to trips they’ve taken from as far back as 2013. That’s why the searchable database included the passengers’ names and exact work/home addresses, as well as the driver’s name and other data. Credit card numbers were thankfully not found in the mix, but it was still a privacy issue all the same. Uber’s solution, however, isn’t bulletproof — anybody with a link can still access it within two days, after all — so make sure you only choose contacts you trust implicitly.
Riders can continue to share their trip links publicly, but now they expire after 48 hours. h/t @mikko
— four (@four) September 4, 2015
Filed under:
Transportation
Source:
Business Insider
Tags: eta, ridesharing, uber
AIVAnet 