ZTE announces global availability of the ZTE AXON mini
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
The ZTE AXON mini has technically been official since July this year, but ZTE has taken the opportunity at an event earlier today to announce that the AXON mini is going to be available globally “in the coming months” – specifically in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, Japan, India, Australia, France, Germany, Turkey, Spain and Italy. Prices will start at $379 USD in the Asia-Pacific countries and €329 in Europe, and will be available in three colours in all regions – Ion Gold, Chromium Silver and Rose Gold.
The AXON mini is a very interesting mid-range device, even if it is a little dear – the first to support a pressure-sensitive touch display (that’s right, Apple wasn’t first), the AXON mini boasts a premium exterior made from aircraft-grade aluminium-titanium alloy. The internals include a Snapdragon 616 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 5.2-inch 1080p display and 2,800mAh battery. Also, as is apparently fashionable to do, the AXON mini also has multiple methods of security access, including fingerprint, voice and eye authentication to unlock your device. On a side note, ZTE is also making available a NBA version of its AXON mini, but this will only be available in China and lets you put the logo of your favourite team on the back of your device.
What do you think about the ZTE AXON mini? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Business Wire
The post ZTE announces global availability of the ZTE AXON mini appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Photos of a HTC One A9 dummy unit leak out, still looks like an iPhone
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
We’re trying to give HTC the benefit of the doubt with their latest phone, but they aren’t making it easy. Photos of HTC’s “hero” phone, the HTC One A9, have been leaking out in earnest for the last few months – the last time we spotted it, we found out all the colours that it would be available in. The latest leak of the One A9 comes in the form of photos of a dummy unit which appears to give a 1:1 representation of what the smartphone is going to turn out looking like – and yes, it definitely looks like an iPhone. Sure, the camera module is in the middle and there’s a HTC logo at the bottom of the device, but the Average Joe could definitely mistake it for an iPhone in passing.
These photos come to us courtesy of leaker @OnLeaks which shows us the dummy unit, presumably from an AT&T store, from every angle that matters – note that the background has been removed for confidentiality. Apart from the likeness to the iPhone, the other glaring design faux pas appears on the bottom of the One A9 where the microUSB port appears off-centre – there appears to be enough space at the bottom of the device (after all the iPhone fit everything in) so we’ll have to wait and see about the reasoning of that. The One A9 is due to be announced on October 20th.
What do you think about the HTC One A9? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Photos of a HTC One A9 dummy unit leak out, still looks like an iPhone appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Vudu finally delivers 1080p HDX movies on Android devices
One of the best features of Vudu’s movie service has always been its high quality video, and now you can view it on mobile devices. The latest version of Vudu for Android brings a native interface for the first time that’s far easier to use and looks better on screens of all sizes, as well as the ability to play HD (720p) and HDX (1080p) quality streams or downloads. That’s a feature that’s still not available on iPhones and iPads, but it should work on “select” Jellybean or higher devices (read: capable of high-res video and the accompanying DRM).
Vudu already supported HDX via Chromecast and on PCs, but so far it looks like this app isn’t set for Android TV devices, just phones and tablets. The full changelog also reveals it finally has an easier-to-use portrait mode for phones, and auto filling search suggestions. We tried it out and the new HD videos worked fine on a Galaxy Note 4, but not a (rooted) OnePlus One — we didn’t spot a compatibility list so you’ll have to try it out yourself to know for sure which devices work.
It’s time for an upgrade… Check out the new VUDU app for Android smartphones and tablets! http://t.co/VYFVeGiwAb pic.twitter.com/ueZwDtVKyE
— VUDU – Movies & TV (@vudufans) October 9, 2015
Source: Vudu (Google Play)
China’s ridesharing services will require special licenses
Ridesharing services are big in China, but they’ve run into many of the same regulatory concerns you see everywhere else — officials are worried about holding drivers accountable for their behavior. Accordingly, the country’s Ministry of Transport has posted draft rules that toughen the requirements for these app-based transportation outfits. Companies will need special licenses to operate, and drivers will will need a certain level of experience to qualify. Also, vehicles will have to seat seven people or less. Sorry, folks, you won’t be hailing a party bus or stretch limo. The rules could change (they’re open to public feedback), but it won’t be surprising if these core principles remain in the final document.
There isn’t likely to be a fierce legal battle: Uber already says that it’s planning to apply for a license. Didi Kuaidi (China’s biggest ridesharing firm) has been securing city-specific licenses as well. However, the rules are a sharp contrast to what you see in countries like the US, where the requirements (when they exist) tend to vary from place to place. China may inadvertently serve as the biggest-ever testing ground for national, ridesharing-specific regulation. If the concept succeeds there, you could see similar policies implemented elsewhere in the world.
[Image credit: Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images]
Via: Reuters
Nexus 5X International Giveaway!
Welcome to the Sunday Giveaway, the place where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday.
A big congratulations to last week’s winners of the Note 5/OnePlus 2/Moto X pure giveaway: Saffya. (UK), Courtney H. (USA), Varun M. (India).
This week we are giving away the soon to be launched Nexus 5X
Starting at $379, the Nexus 5X is currently on pre-order, with an expected shipping date around mid-October. LG’s third Nexus device, the 5X offers solid specs, a promising camera, and the Nexus Imprint fingerprint sensor, combined with pure Android and a fast updates guarantee. For more info, check out our Nexus 5X hands-on, our comparison with the Nexus 6P and the competition, as well as our complete Nexus 5X coverage.
jQuery.ajax(
url: “//player.ooyala.com/v3/456099a54cc04bafb07a186890fa7e7e?namespace=OoyalaPlayer8821&platform=html5-fallback”,
dataType: “script”,
success: function() [];
OoyalaPlayer8821.ready(function() ooyalaplayers.push(OoyalaPlayer8821.Player.create.apply(this, [“ooyalaplayer-8821″,”hnNDd1dzp398ndVLaEyPt1SktNjpzNts”,”auto”:true,”showadmarquee”:false]) ); );
);
Join Now!
Nexus 5X International Giveaway!
https://js.gleam.io/e.js
More Giveaways:
Winners Gallery
Winners Gallery on Google+
Terms & Conditions
- The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
- If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
- We are not responsible for lost shipments.
- You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
- We are not responsible for any duties, import taxes that you may incur.
- Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
- We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
- This giveaway is operated by Android Authority.
- The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
New console game for the Shield TV hits the Play Store
Contrast is an all-new adventure game for your Shield TV. Contrast lets users experience adventures in 3D and offers a wide range of challenges along the way. It’s available in the Play Store now.
If you have a Shield TV console, you might want to consider downloading the new game Contrast. Even though the game is a bit pricey at $14, it offers a gaming experience with high quality graphics and has included a long story line. The user is prompted to complete short puzzles and solve mysteries along their journey into the mysterious shadowy universe. The game is great for middle-aged teens but adults may find it intriguing as well. The app received a recent update further ensuring top-notch performance and the greatest experience for users.
Contrast comes in at a size of 1.8GB of storage space, so make sure you have enough available space prior to downloading. It’s also recommended to connect to a Wi-Fi network when the download is in tow in order to avoid data overages. The game already has 10-50 installs and has received a majority of high reviews. It requires Android 4.4 and up and a Shield Android TV console for the full experience in addition to a game controller. You can download it at the link below.
Come comment on this article: New console game for the Shield TV hits the Play Store
Cortana is available on Xbox One, if you know the right tricks
Microsoft won’t officially bring its Cortana voice assistant to the Xbox One until 2016, and it’s not even supposed to be available if you’re using the console’s interface preview. However, that isn’t stopping you from trying it ahead of schedule. Gamers have discovered that you can access Cortana in the latest preview simply by visiting the settings menu, going up and mashing the A button multiple times. It doesn’t offer the full range of Xbox commands just yet, but you can access any information that’s already available in Cortana on other platforms, like your calendar. Think of this as a cheat code for the operating system — you’re getting a peek at something that most preview users won’t see for weeks.
Cortana on Xbox One pic.twitter.com/ZtHinjHxEF
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) October 9, 2015
Source: The Verge
Google CEO Sundar Pichai assigns Hiroshi Lockheimer as head of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast
Google’s new business model was sure to result in plenty of changes around the company’s headquarters. While plenty of Google subsidiaries are breaking up to become their own projects (Alphabet), Google will continue thriving under the leadership of new CEO Sundar Pichai. The dust is starting to settle and it’s time to assign chores around the house, and that is exactly what Pichai has done.
The Search Giant’s Chief Executive Officer has promoted a few of vice presidents to higher roles. Neal Mohan is now Senior Vice President of Display and Video Advertising. Phillip Schindler is also taking on a new role as SVP of Global Sales and Operations.
More importantly (to us, at least) is the new position Hiroshi Lockheimer is taking on. He was just assigned to look over our favorite mobile OS, as well as a couple other projects. Surely, jotting down “SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast” on a resume is no small feat. And it just so happens to be a position Sundar Pichai is very close to, as he used to be SVP of Android, Chrome and Apps.
Moving forward, we are all but guaranteed to be hearing a lot from Hiroshi, a person most of you probably don’t know much about just yet. He is no small timer at Google, though. Lockheimer has been int he company since 2006, and has been acting as VP of Android until this promotion. Lockheimer is a key player in dealing with falling profits and expanding onto new platforms (automotive, wearables, IoT, etc.).
Some new faces are about to start showing up at announcements, guys! It’s pretty exciting, but more exciting is thinking about the changes this new leadership can bring. We are sure Sundar made smart choices here, so we are excited to see what comes out of this, as well as Alphabet.
Kanye West hates in-app purchases in kids games as much as you do
In-app purchases are every parent’s nightmare. You don’t want to hand a smartphone or tablet to your kids and later find out the little monsters made a hellish amount of unwanted acquisitions. Google has actually gotten in trouble for this in the past, which is likely why they are so much about allowing users to authenticate all purchases.
Things get even more frustrating when you realize some games made for kids have in-app purchases! Why would any developer do that, right? Who is to be held accountable is a debate for another day, but the idea of an app which was designed for minors having in-app purchases makes any parent cringe.
Kanye West happens to feel your pain, and he is very vocal about it!
Fuck any game company that puts in-app purchases on kids games!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
That makes no sense!!! We give the iPad to our child and every 5 minutes there’s a new purchase!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
If a game is made for a 2 year old, just allow them to have fun and give the parents a break for Christ sake. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
Now, we have to assume Kanye is using an iPad, as he mentions the specific device in one of his tweets. There are certainly ways to block in-app purchases on iOS devices, but of course, we won’t talk about that here. Instead, we will tell Kanye and every parent out there what to do to make sure kids don’t make unwanted purchases on Android! You know, just in case our fellow Android enthusiasts need some help with this!
By the way, Mr. West, you may want to consider switching to Android! Not only is it super easy to control in-app purchases, but each and every single app designed for kids 12 and under requires authentication with all in-app purchases.
Also read:
How to turn on authentication on your Android smartphone or tablet!
This process is as simple as pie. Just head over to the Google Play Store and pull out the hamburger (three lines) menu. Tap on Settings and select “Require authentication for purchases”. You will be presented with 3 options: the first requires authentication for all purchases, the second requests it after 30 minutes of inactivity and the third option turns off authentication for purchases.
Conclusion
That was easy, right? It sure would be simpler if kids games didn’t have in-app purchases, but the sad part is that these are going nowhere, as we told you some years ago. At least Google allows us to keep control over purchases, though (not that that would stop all kids). http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Windows 10 didn’t stop PC sales from dropping this summer
Windows 10 may have breathed new life into your PC, but it didn’t do anything to juice PC sales this summer. Both Gartner and IDC estimate that computer sales dropped several points year-over-year (between 7.7 and 10.8 percent) in the third quarter, right when the new Windows arrived. That’s one of the steeper drops in recent memory, in fact. Not that it comes as a complete surprise. As the analyst firms explain, Microsoft’s fast-tracked release left many PC makers shipping existing systems with Windows 10, which weren’t going to drive demand as much as brand new models. You’re not going to buy a months-old laptop just because it’s running new software, are you? The big question is whether or not the wave of new Windows 10 PCs launching this fall will make a difference — if there’s still a sharp decline, the industry is really in trouble.
The new platform wasn’t the only factor at work, of course. The researchers blame the downturn on a combination of a stronger US dollar (which hiked PC prices in many other countries) and a transition away from old Windows 8 PCs. Some vendors fared better than others, though. As a rule, big-name brands like Apple, Dell, HP and Lenovo (the market leader) have emerged relatively unscathed — it’s the smaller, more vulnerable companies that are shedding legions of customers. Even Acer and ASUS saw sales plunge by over 10 percent. It’s too soon to say if Windows 10 will stop the bleeding, but the days of booming computer businesses appear to be long gone.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]
AIVAnet 