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22
Oct

Nextbit Robin cloud-first smartphone now available for pre-order


Nextbit-2

How many Kickstarter campaigns manage to reach over a million dollars in funding? Not many, but Nextbit managed to surpass that number with the Robin smartphone. Did you miss the funding campaign? Don’t worry, you can put your name to a Nextbit Robin today!

Pre-orders have just opened at $399. It’s a hell of a deal considering it is unlocked, off-contract and can be used with any carrier. Not to mention the specs, which compare to those in high-end smartphones. The Nextbit Robin features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 CPU, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear-facing camera, a 5 MP front shooter and a 2670 mAh battery.

Nextbit-18

Where is the Robin making sacrifices to reach this price point? The 5.2-inch screen only has a 1920x1080p resolution, which is below the 2015 QHD standards. There’s not much to complain about, though. The phone even comes with a fingerprint reader, front-facing speakers, NFC and Quick Charge support.

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What does make the Nextbit Robin unique is its cloud features. And we are not talking only about using cloud storage; this smartphone takes cloud-based software to a whole new level. For example, the device can automatically store apps to the cloud when they haven’t been used in a long time. Of course, you also do get 100 GB of online storage included, and the phone will automatically back up images and videos.

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We got to test it at CTIA 2015 and got pretty personal with it, so check out our quick hands-on coverage with it. If you are convinced about it being your next tech acquisition, you can go ahead and pre-order it by clicking on the button below. As already mentioned, the price is set at $399.99 and you can pick between 2 versions: the GSM iteration works with AT&T and T-Mobile, while the CDMA option is made for Verizon.

You must also pay shipping, which is not exactly cheap. Delivery fees range between $14 and $117, depending on your location. By the way, shipments are said to start rolling out come February 2016, so you won’t be seeing this phone under the Christmas tree. Who’s buying?

Pre-order the Nextbit Robin for $399.99!

22
Oct

Jabra Eclipse bluetooth headset now available at Best Buy or T-Mobile for $129.99


JABRA ECLIPSEJabra has a new bluetooth headset called the Eclipse. Unlike some of the cheaper bluetooth headsets, this one features dual-microphone noise cancellation and in-pocket charging.

It comes in black or white and also features bluetooth 4.1, has a 33′ maximum wireless range, NFC pairing, dual-microphone noise cancellation, very light at only 1.43 ounces, and has button-free interaction. Just tap the device on it’s side to initiate a command.

However, the outstanding part about this headset is the portable battery charger it comes with. When you are not using it, just put the device into the case, and it will start charging. It can add up to 7hrs of additional talk time giving it a total of 10hrs of talk time.

The headset is now available at Best Buy or T-Mobile for $129.99. Also, just a sidenote, if you want to laugh, check out T-Mobile’s listing. The have a “compatible devices” section that list basically every single phone or tablet ever made, it’s hilarious.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: Best Buy, T-Mobile

Come comment on this article: Jabra Eclipse bluetooth headset now available at Best Buy or T-Mobile for $129.99

22
Oct

Tapdeck introduces Collections, makes finding relevant content easier


TapDeck CollectionsTapdeck was originally a way to have random backgrounds on your phone, but has recently evolved into a much more feature packed app. They have just brought out a new feature called Collections.

Collections is an easy way to discover new relevant content. Think of Collections like how Flipboard handles magazine subscriptions. The categories you pick will decide what wallpapers are shown. For example, “if you follow the Interior Design collection your wallpaper stream will contain nice designer furnitures”.

Currently, there are 30 different Collections ranging from Fashion to Science and all in-between. Each collection contains hundreds of pictures and will be updated on a daily basis.

However, you can also add your own Collection. If you like movies, you could create a collection of your favorite movies and others who like movies can follow you. Since this feature just launched, you have a big opportunity to gain a large following with you collection.

Source: Tapdeck

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22
Oct

Facebook site helps start your programming career


Education Initiative

Facebook knows that it can’t hire a more diverse workforce unless there’s a broader interest in computer science, and it just launched a website to help that happen. TechPrep provides resources to learners (and parents) who are curious about programming, but might not know where to start. It suggests services and gadgets based on your age, skill, and what you’re looking for. If you’re a teen just starting out, you’ll be pointed toward a simple programming language like Scratch. Come to the site as an adult with a bit of experience, meanwhile, and you may see a link to Arduino boards instead. It’s a small effort, but it could mean a lot if it starts you on a coding career that you wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

[Image credit: AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki]

Source: TechPrep, Facebook Newsroom

22
Oct

Apple Invites Developers to Begin Submitting tvOS Apps for Review


Following today’s slew of software updates, including a golden master of tvOS for developers and a release of Xcode 7.1, Apple is now inviting developers to begin submitting their tvOS apps for App Store review. Apple will begin taking orders for the new Apple TV next Monday with shipping beginning later in the week, allowing a week or so of lead time for Apple to begin reviewing and approving apps for the new platform before customers begin receiving their set-top boxes.

preparing_tvos_apps
Alongside today’s invitation to developers, Apple has also published a new overview giving developers an idea of what steps they need to take to ensure their tvOS apps are ready for submission. The company points developers to Xcode 7.1 and the latest version of the tvOS SDK, and reminds them that apps may be a maximum of 200 MB in the main app bundle with up to 20 GB of content to be downloaded on-demand as users need it.

Apple also includes reference to the company’s Human Interface Guidelines for Apple TV to help developers ensure their designs are optimized for the big screen and that their apps will work with the new Apple TV Remote.

Finally, Apple gives an overview of the requirements for App Store product pages on Apple TV, including tips on app naming, icons, descriptions, keywords, screenshots, and universal purchases to support both iOS and tvOS. Apple notes it will review tvOS apps according to the company’s App Review Guidelines, and app submissions set for automatic release could go live at any time and immediately become available to developers and testers who already have the new Apple TV.


22
Oct

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 is reportedly 50% faster than Samsung’s flagship Exynos CPU


SnapDragon (1)We’re all eagerly awaiting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820, and hoping that it doesn’t have the same heating issues that plagued the Snapdragon 810. A new rumor circulating is adding to the hype train, claiming that the upcoming 820 will be 50% than Samsung’s current flagship Exynos chip.

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 currently uses the Exynos 7420, and it’s nothing short of a powerhouse processor. If Qualcomm manages to make a processor that’s effectively 50% faster than that, they’re going to have an incredibly powerful CPU for 2016.

All things considered, though, it’s important to remember that Samsung will also likely introduce a newer processor to compete with the Snapdragon 820, so the 50% faster metric won’t be totally accurate if we’re comparing apples to apples. However, we haven’t heard anything about Samsung improving performance by 50%, so things are shaping up nicely for Qualcomm next year, which is great news after their rough 2015.

source: Weibo

via: G for Games

Come comment on this article: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 is reportedly 50% faster than Samsung’s flagship Exynos CPU

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22
Oct

Samsung shows off flexible, bendable wire batteries for smartwatches and wearables


samsung wire batterySamsung has shown off some new battery tech that we could start seeing in smartwatches and wearable tech in the next few years. The battery is unique in that it features a wire shape that’s extremely flexible, which should theoretically maximize the amount of juice a device can hold that takes up all of the available space in a watch face or wristband. Samsung claims this could result in up to 50% better battery life.

The company really put the battery technology through its paces by bending it 50,000 times. Even after all of that abuse, they still functioned as batteries, which is extremely impressive. Samsung even had a prototype smartwatch that utilized the wire battery effectively, so this technology isn’t incredibly far off.

With how fast and effective processors are, even in wearable devices like smartwatches, battery technology is the next market that stands to make the biggest impact on mobile devices. After all, nobody likes charging all of their devices every single night.

source: Business Korea

via: SamMobile

Come comment on this article: Samsung shows off flexible, bendable wire batteries for smartwatches and wearables

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22
Oct

Get your followers opinion with Twitter Polls


twitter pollsTwitter has been busy adding new features over the last few months. Just recently, they added the ability to send donations to your favorite presidential candidate and now they are adding polls.

Rolling out over the next few days, you will be able to create a poll to ask your followers virtually anything you like. For example, you could create a poll asking if your followers like pizza or hamburgers? This new feature is coming to iOS, Android, and their website. Right now, at least, it is limited to only two-poll questions. All the polls are secret until the full 24hr wait period is over, then the results are viewable. Twitter will then send you a notification with the results of the polls you participated in.

Source: Twitter

Come comment on this article: Get your followers opinion with Twitter Polls

Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

22
Oct

Even Yahoo Googles stuff


google-search Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock.com

Everyone and their mother Googles stuff. Whether it’s really the best search engine or not depends on preference, but Google has managed to take over the internet with nearly 64% of all USA desktop searches (according to comScore). There’s no denying the Mountain View giant is doing something good, though, as even Yahoo has decided to use Google for some of its search queries.

During Yahoo’s 3rd quarter earnings report, the company mentioned they have reached a 3-year with the Search Giant. This will allow them to display Google’s search results for certain queries. Why Yahoo would do this instead of using its own search technology is anyone’s guess right now, but the company is no stranger to these practices. Yahoo also holds a deal with Microsoft to use Bing in a similar fashion.

yahoo smartphone logo Shutterstock

Yahoo’s deal with Google is non-exclusive, so they will continue working with Microsoft as well. There will simply be a system which allows them to pick and choose when to use a search engine or the other. But again – why would Yahoo do something like this?

In October, the Company reached an agreement with Google that provides Yahoo with additional flexibility to choose among suppliers of search results and ads. Google’s offerings complement the search services provided by Microsoft, which remains a strong partner, as well as Yahoo’s own search technologies and ad products.

As the old saying states: if you can’t beat them, join them. This is exactly what Yahoo seems to be up to. Their search engine isn’t half bad. Regardless, it’s hard (and some would say impossible) to beat Google at this point in time, so they might as well reap from the benefits the Search Giant could bring to the table. Yahoo is not saying much about the reasons behind this choice, though, so don’t quote me on this.

Google Logo Shutterstock

The agreement also involves advertising, which Yahoo can manipulate in its own results, allowing them to maximize their profits. In my mind, it works similar to a deal between a wireless network and an MVNO carrier.

I was honestly more surprised to learn that almost 13% of US online searches are done through Yahoo. And guess what – over 1% of US searchers still use AOL! What is this, 2005? How many of you use something other than Google for your searches, and why?

22
Oct

Airbnb ad campaign in San Francisco riles locals and librarians


There’s bad ads and then there’s this bus advertisement from Airbnb. The tone of it seems, well off and condescending and initially we thought it was a hoax. Turns out, not so much. After contacting the shared-rental service about the ad, Airbnb spokesperson Christopher Nulty sent Engadget the following statement: “The intent was to show the hotel tax contribution from our hosts and guests, which is roughly $1 million per month. It was the wrong tone and we apologize to anyone who was offended. These ads are being taken down immediately.” The photo was posted to Facebook and quickly spread to Twitter where it’s been condemned by librarians and the public at large.

It’s not just the libraries being targeted by the campaign. There was also an ad for the public works department.

Wow.

A photo posted by Eric Eberhardt (@idontlikewords) on Oct 21, 2015 at 1:02pm PDT

San Francisco is in the midst of a debate about how to regulate Airbnb and other rental sites with a proposition on the ballot that’s been the target of of a well funded “No on F” campaign. Some residents are concerned that the service’s hosts are keeping housing units off the market in a city where rents have sky rocketed and availability of rentals has shrunk dramatically in recent years due to the influx of technology workers.

[Image credit: Martha Kenney]

Source: Facebook

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