OnePlus to start building phones in India, open sale tomorrow
OnePlus is preparing the next big step to ramp up its global handset presence. Today, the Chinese smartphone company announced plans to begin manufacturing smartphones in India come the end of 2015.
The production facility is planned at the Foxconn Rising Stars factory in Sri City Integrated Business City in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The 30,000 square feet factory will have a cumulative peak production capacity of 500,000 units per month and will allow the company to pursue a more aggressive marketing and retail campaign in the country.
“Producing smartphones in India is one of the most important decisions that we have made so far at OnePlus, and we are thankful to the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Foxconn for helping us make this happen. India being one of our biggest markets worldwide, we are committed to a long term sustainable growth path. This move will strengthen our presence and help us step up momentum in India.” – OnePlus CEO, Pete Lau
More from OnePlus:
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The goal of opening up production in India is to improve the supply of handsets to the country, allowing for more availability and faster, more frequent sales. The move should also result in some efficiency savings for OnePlus, as it won’t have to ship so many handsets around. The first batch of Indian produced phones should be available by the end of the year.
Following on from the global one hour open sale the other day, OnePlus is also holding another sale tomorrow which is exclusively open to Indian customers. From 8AM on October 13th, customers will be able to buy an OnePlus 2 through Amazon India without the need for an invite, so long as stock levels hold out.
Apple and Chroma Partnering to Test Store-Within-a-Store Locations in India
India-based consumer electronics chain Croma has announced a new partnership with Apple to introduce a few store-within-a-store locations in the country. Croma will host the Cupertino-based company’s products at six of its retail locations as a test for the partnership, with hope to expand in the future (via The Economic Times).
“We are proud to partner Apple to launch the Apple Store in India and extremely bullish about it,” said Avijit Mitra, chief executive officer of Infiniti Retail, which owns Croma. “These stores will be modeled on the global design and will offer the best experience to consumers, showcasing the entire range of Apple products.”
Five of the Croma locations introducing Apple support will be in Malad, Juhu, Oberoi Mall, Phoenix Mall and Ghatkopar, all located in Mumbai. The sixth, in the city of Bangalore, will be found at the Croma location in Jayanagar. All of the locations are expected to open by November 11 and will be between 400 and 500 square feet in size.
Due to India’s strict real estate investment laws for foreign companies, Apple has yet to build one of its own full retail stores in the country, so the Croma partnership gives it a good opportunity to get a foothold in India’s retail space without needing to build an entire location of its own. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently discussed expansion possibilities with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including new manufacturing plants, Apple Pay, and the upcoming release of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in the country, on October 16.
Qualcomm gives up on its augmented reality business
There’s a renewed excitement around Augmented Reality (AR), driven largely by Microsoft’s HoloLens headset. Not everyone is so enthused, though, most notably Qualcomm, which is selling its AR business to the Internet of Things (IoT) company PTC for an undisclosed sum. The unfortunately named Vuforia is a platform and SDK for developers and partners to build AR experiences from. It’s been running for five years and has seen use in projects like a miniaturized TARDIS, a Sesame Street app and, most recently, Mini’s weird and wonderful driving goggles.
It’s not clear if PTC is interested in the underlying technology or keeping Vuforia as-is, but it’s buying the entirety of the business. That includes “the developer ecosystem,” meaning projects currently in development should be able to carry on as normal for now. For Qualcomm’s part, although it’s clearly getting out of the AR world, it says it will “continue to drive computer vision technology that will unlock a wide variety of applications for consumers and businesses around the world.”
iHeartRadio crafts a radio station just for you
When it comes to streaming music, it’s all about personalization these days — so it was only a matter of time until iHeartRadio went down that road. With the service’s new “My Favorites Radio” station, which is launching today, you’ll have a single station built up from all of the tunes you’ve favorite over the years. Much like Spotify’s Discover playlist and Apple Music’s Beats-powered personalization, the new iHeartRadio feature should make it easier to just sit back and enjoy music you already like, as well as explore new musical territory. You’ll be able to fine-tune what the station plays by removing individual tracks, and you can also share it with your friends pretty easily.
For my own personalized station, iHeartRadio successfully combined my love of Janelle Moane, Radiohead, and Arcade Fire, with the occasional bit of Kanye thrown in. What’s particularly interesting about the new feature is that iHeartRadio built it completely in house. Instead of relying on EchoNest, a service that it previously relied on (which was purchased by Spotify last year), the company put together a team of data scientists to make sense of the mountains of listening data its collected over the years.
“We’ve been doing this now for four years, and we have an extraordinary amount of actionable data,” said Owen Grover, iHeartRadio’s senior vice president and general manager. “We felt that the combo of listener’s data and the programming expertise from our leading programmer was really the special sauce for us.”
At this point, My Favorites Radio doesn’t feel much different than other music personalization features, but it’ll be interesting to see where iHeartRadio takes it from here. It’s bringing personalization to an audience that’s likely a bit more mainstream than Spotify and Apple Music’s — iHeartRadio now has over 200 million monthly listeners and 75 million registered users — so it has the potential to change the way plenty of people jam throughout the day.
[Photo credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images]
Source: iHeartRadio
UK police pull Assange embassy guard after wasting millions waiting
For the past three years, London’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has maintained a 24/7 presence outside the Ecuadorean embassy in an attempt to arrest Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange on sexual assault charges. It’s been a costly operation: the force admits it’s already spent more than £9 million (over £10,500 a day) in the hope that the controversial privacy activist will give himself up. Now, it appears, the Met has had enough — it’s removed police guards from the embassy altogether.
In a statement issued today, the Metropolitan Police said that “it is no longer proportionate to commit officers to a permanent presence” outside the embassy. After discussions with the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it will “deploy a number of overt and covert tactics” instead of continuing its very visual approach.
Assange was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) in December 2010. When the Supreme Court issued an extradition order against him in May 2012, he entered the Ecuadorean embassy in London in hopes of gaining asylum. It took three months for Ecuador to grant him his wish and he has remained there ever since.
Last summer, the man himself revealed that he would leave the embassy “soon,” after it was reported he was suffering from health issues. However, there has been no further word on when he is expected to depart.
“A significant amount of time has passed since Julian Assange entered the Embassy, and despite the efforts of many people there is no imminent prospect of a diplomatic or legal resolution to this issue,” says the MPS. “[We have] to balance the interests of justice in this case with the ongoing risks to the safety of Londoners and all those we protect, investigating crime and arresting offenders wanted for serious offences, in deciding what a proportionate response is.”
Obviously, the Met won’t discuss the extent of its covert operation, but insists it will do whatever it can to arrest Assange. One solution could be to conduct additional surveillance, which doesn’t cost as much as physically stationing someone outside of a building. After all, it wants to spend money on other crimes in London. “Like all public services, MPS resources are finite. With so many different criminal, and other, threats to the city it protects, the current deployment of officers is no longer believed proportionate.”
[Image credit: Espen Moe, Flickr]
Source: Metropolitan Police
Check out these 8 great cases for the LG G4
The LG G4 is one of the best phones on the market this year. It’s fast, fluid and has a removable back and battery. Today we’re going to take a look at some cases for the LG G4 that make it look even better or add functionality (Qi Wireless Charging!) without adding a bunch of bulk to the phone. And you won’t have to worry about getting dinged for shipping since everything on our list ships free!
Yootech Quick Circle Case with Qi Wireless Charging
The LG G4 is feature packed, but one of the biggest missing features is wireless charging. As someone who loves Qi Wireless Charging, this was huge for me. At first I tried installing a Qi Antenna into my phone and it worked really well, although installation can be a bit of a pain. But if you’re looking for a folio case anyway, this Yootech case should be at the top of your list. Not only do you get Qi Wireless charging, but you also get the excellent Quick Circle functionality in the G4 that will let you do things like answer calls and look at text messages without opening up the case.
Not only does this case look good, it adds a bunch of functionality too. It protects the body of your phone from drops and falls and the folio cover protects the screen from scratches too. You can pick up this great case in one of three colors for only $13.99 with free Prime Shipping.
Product Link: Yootech Quick Circle Case with Qi Wireless Charging
i-Blason Halo Series
If you’re looking for a minimal case i-Blason has your back. The Halo Series bumper is a barely there case that focuses on protecting that beautiful leather backing or dimpled design battery cover while still showing off their design. There is a raised lip to protect your phone when face down and the anti-scratch material means that the case can take a licking and keep on looking great. The Halo case is slim and has a low profile, but is also incredibly light, coming in at .3 ounces.
You can pick up the i-Blason Halo Series case in one of one of four colors for only $12.99 with free Prime Shipping.
Product Link: i-Blason Halo Series
Diztronic Full Matte Soft Touch Case
Anyone who knows me can tell you how big of a fan I am of matte black. I think it looks fantastic without sticking out in a crowd. The Diztronic Full Matte Soft Touch Case is one of my all time favorite cases for exactly that reason. It comes in a sexy Matte Black but you can also pick it up in Matte Charcoal Gray or Matte Navy Blue. The Navy Blue has a distinct purple tint to it, but don’t let that scare you off guys, it looks great. The Matte covering helps prevent fingerprints from showing up on your case, and the case will fit both leather and ceramic battery covers that come on the LG G4.
The Diztronic Full Matte Soft Touch Case measures in at only 1.6mm which means it is incredibly thin and it’s made out Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) which means it’s flexible but durable at the same time. You can pick up this sexy case in one of three colors for only $9.89 with free Prime Shipping.
Product Link: Diztronic Full Matte Soft Touch Case
Caseology Daybreak Series
Caseology simply makes great phone cases and the Daybreak series for the LG G4 is no exception. If you’re not as big of a matte black fan as I am, but you want a case like the Diztronic Full Matte Soft Touch Case we talked about, this could be the case for you. The Daybreak series is a bit more of a glossy option that is made out of the same TPU material so it’s durable and flexible too. There is a lip over the front of the front of the screen to protect your screen in case of falls and a focus on making sure all ports and buttons are easily accessible.
You can pick up the Caseology Daybreak Series in one of 35(!!) colors and designs for $9.99 with free Prime Shipping.
Product Link: Caseology Daybreak Series
JD Slim Cushion
JD is a new company to our list, but from the looks of it, they know what they’re doing. Their Slim Cushion cases are a very slim TPU rubber skin. This design makes it one of the slimmest options on the list. The Slim Cushion case is more an option for those who want to add grip and protect against scratches and scrapes, rather than a case with lots of protection from falling. Like the Halo Series from i-Blason, the JD Slim Cushion case is only .3 ounces, so this barely there case adds zero bulk to your case while making it easier to hold and more fashionable.
You can pick up the JD Slim Cushion case in one of 4 colors for as low as $7.95 with free Prime Shipping.
Product Link: JD Slim Cushion
CasesByLorraine Wood Print Hard Case
Wood cases are all the rage, but if you don’t feel like shelling out upwards of of $20 for a wood case, you may want to check out this Wood Print Hard Case by CasesByLorraine. I’m not sure who Lorraine is but she sure knows how to make a nice case. The hard shell case is pretty light since it’s actually a hard plastic case that is designed to look like wood. There are 20 different designs to choose from ranging from simple to complicated that will definitely make your phone a conversation piece.
This CasesByLorraien Wood Print Hard Case is only $8.99 and comes with free shipping. If you like the look of this case but want real wood, check out the Natural Bamboo Case by kwmobile.
Product Link: CasesByLorraine Wood Print Hard Case
Verus Layered Dandy Series Wallet Case
Classy, simple, beautiful. These are the three words that immediately come to mind when I see the Verus Layered Dandy Series Wallet Case. This elegantly designed case looks like real leather, but won’t cost you real leather prices. The case is designed to be as snug as possible, so this won’t work with the leather backings that come on some LG G4s. If you want to pick up a replacement back you can check out this one for pretty cheap.
This Wallet Case has one thing that most lack: a magnetic clip. In my opinion, Wallet Cases should stay closed unless you intentionally open them up. What is the point of protecting the screen with one of these cases, if it’s just going to fly open if you drop it? Verus does it right here. You can also slip three cards in the case for going out on the town, or if you feel like going without a wallet for the day. This is one of the best wallet cases out there.
You can pick up the Verus Layered Dandy Series Wallet Case for $20.99 in Coffee Brown, Black or Wine Red. As always, shipping is free.
Product Link: Verus Layered Dandy Series Wallet Case
ULAK Shockproof Rubber Case
ULAK is another newbie on our list, but this case really stands out if you want a combination of protection and a design that will stand out. There are 9 color combinations and designs for the Shockproof Rubber case, but they all have one thing in common: fantastic drop protection. These cases will add a little but of bulk to the G4, but since the phablet is already a two hander, it shouldn’t matter that much. The 3-1 design features a soft inner shell, hard outer case and bumper to make sure your phone never even knows it’s been dropped.
You can pick up the ULAK Shockrpoof Rubber case is one of 9 designs for as low as $8.99 with free Prime Shipping
Product Link: ULAK Shockproof Rubber Case
Other favorites that didn’t make the list: Spigen Neo Hybrid, Caseology Wavelength, Maxboost Vibrance Series, SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle, OEAGO Rugged Case
The post Check out these 8 great cases for the LG G4 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Hulu will launch a Virtual Reality app alongside the $99 Samsung Gear VR
Hulu, the second name you probably think of when you think of streaming media, announced that they will have a Virtual Reality app ready to go when the Samsung Gear VR launches in November. The $99 Virtual Reality device will launch next month ahead of competitors Oculus, HTC and Sony and will hopefully lead the charge of personal virtual reality devices. There is currently a $199 Innovator Edition available, but hopes are high for a lower priced version for the masses. They will already have Netflix, YouTube and Hulu on board for streaming media at launch.
“We’re ready” states Tim Connolly, Hulu’s head of distribution.
Hulu appears to be going in feet first to support VR. There are rumors that the media giant will create a new series that will only be able to be viewed in 3D. Hulu is already producing a short VR film called “The Big One”. The film is being helmed by YouTuber Freddie Wong, made alongside his upcoming original Hulu series.
““We think this is a smart bet that helps position us as an innovator and helps us learn earlier on what could be a substantive storytelling environment,”“
Hulu has been known for its serialized TV shows, but live television isn’t in their immediate plans. Expanding to live TV would give them a boost over competitors Netflix and YouTube, but Connolly states they’re currently in “if” mode right now. Last week, Bloomberg reported that Amazon has been in talks to bring live television to their Prime streaming service and Apple has been securing deals with networks for their streaming service.
A live VR program could score with consumers. Apps like Twitter’s Periscope are gaining in popularity as people can take a peak inside other lives in real time. Being able to do that or watch live breaking news in 3D would be a compelling product.
Source: CNet
The post Hulu will launch a Virtual Reality app alongside the $99 Samsung Gear VR appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Deal Alert: Big Amazon discounts on microSD cards and USB sticks
If you’re in the market for some additional storage space, Amazon is currently running a huge selection of discounts on everything from microSD cards to solid state hard drives.
Today’s Deal of the Day sees more than 65 percent lopped off a selection of Lexar and Crucial memory products. You can grab a high performance 633x 128GB microSD card for $71.99 (55 percent off) or a 64GB model for just $31.99 (66 percent off). Lexar USB 3.0 sticks are also heavily discounted, with a 64GB stick available for just $17.99 (73 percent off).
If you need to upgrade your PC, SATA SSD hard drives range from $63.99 to $269.99 for up to 1TB of storage. Amazon is also selling 8GB of DDR3 RAM for $30.99 and a dual-slot card reader discounted to $19.49 (61 percent off). But that’s not all.
Amazon also has a range of price drops across a selection of other memory products. There is a tiny 64GB Samsung USB 3.0 drive up for grabs for $29.99 or a 32GB version for $15.99. A 32GB or 64GB Kingston Data Traveler Locker with automatic cloud backup is also available for $29.99 or $58.99 respectively.
The Crucial and Lexar deal is only valid for today, October 12th, so hurry on over to grab some extra memory.
Google shows off how you can improve your life with the Google app
Everyone knows how to use Google. But there are a lot of features and add-ons that have been introduced in the last year or so that we aren’t necessarily aware of. To help with that, Google released a few new YouTube videos that go on to explain all the features.
Titled ‘Meet the Google app‘ this is a set of three different videos that cover various facets of your life where Google can come in handy. Each video has a different theme, and each video showcases what Google can do to improve your day-to-day life.
Check out the videos below, and let us know what you think about the progress that Google has made with Google Now since its inception. With the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google has introduced even more features, known as Google Now On Tap, which aims to help you use Google without exiting any app that you’re already in.
Now On Tap is pegged to be a new and innovative wave for Android devices. Even though you can only get these features with Android 6.0, Now On Tap will help you complete tasks without hitting the back or home button once. We’ll dive more in depth into Now On Tap later, but in the meantime, check out these videos from Google and let us know what you think.
Source: Google YouTube Channel
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[Deal] Keep your cables organized with the MOS Cable Organizer
When you have cables on your nightstand or your desk, it can get frustrating when they fall behind something and you have to try and snake it back through. Today’s deal from AndroidGuys and StackCommerce is here to help with those frustrations.
The MOS Cable Organizer is a triangular device that sits on your desk or nightstand, but has a built-in magnet. The purpose of the magnet is for you to lay the ends of your cables on, so they don’t go wild and end up places they aren’t meant to be. Simply place the end of your cable on the MOS Cable Organizer, and the magnet will ensure that your cable stays where you need it to.
- Keep your cables, earbuds, flash drives & other magnetic items in place
- Enjoy an elegant & minimalistic triangular design that complements any decor
- Take advantage of a scratch-resistant finish
- Secure to your desk using a microsuction-padded bottom
- Mount to a wall w/ the mounting circle to hold your cables vertically
- Use the included magnetic cable ties to give stubborn cables an extra stick
- Keep your workspace or living area clear & organized
Available in Black or White, the MOS Cable Organizer is normally priced at $25, but you can head over to the AndroidGuys Deals page and grab this for only $11.99. That’s a savings of over 50%, and something that you should consider if you have a bunch of cables that you want to keep in place.
If you like this deal, and want to see more of these, let us know in the comments below. Until then, head over to the AndroidGuys Deals page, and grab this deal, or another one today. You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals Page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!
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AIVAnet 