Sony FES e-paper watch lands on shelves this month
Sony’s FES Watch is finally scheduled to go on sale later this month. We’re not looking at a major product roll-out here, but the watch will be appearing on a few store shelves exclusively in Japan.
The watch will be stocked at the MoMA Desgin Store on Omotesando, Tokyo starting from this Saturday, while Isetan in Shinjuku will begin sales on December 1st. These two stores are more fashion than gadget oriented, so Sony is clearly after a different type of crowd with the Fes Watch.
This make sense though, as we’re not looking at something as powerful as a smartwatch here. The FES Watch is more like a regular digital watch with a selection of customizable watch faces and strap designs that can be displayed using the e-paper display. The display wraps all around the strap too. The company is also working on e-ink variable design ties, hat accessories, and paper holders.
The FES Watch originally popped up on Japan’s Makuake crowd-funding site more than a year ago and also appeared on Sony’s own First Flight backing website. The watch has been developed by a sub-division over at Sony, tasked with coming up with innovative new product ideas.
Although Sony isn’t planning a wide launch, the FES Watch will apparently be brought to other stores in the future. The watch will retail with a price tag of ¥29,700 (about $242).
Frequent Google Maps contributors can get 1TB of free Drive storage and other perks
Google is offering anyone and everyone a chance to earn 1TB of Drive storage, for free. But that’s not all there that they are offering.
Under the Local Guides program for Google Maps, the Mountain View company is rewarding its users who regularly add new locations, leave reviews for various locations, upload new photographs, update outdated information, or contribute new and useful info in many other ways.
The entire system has been gamified to achieve an increased level of user participation. So, the more a user contributes as a Local Guide, the higher their rewards. Google will filter out poor quality reviews, so people who are thinking of gaming the system to earn 1TB of storage might be in for a surprise.
While Google doesn’t specify it, it looks that the free terabyte of Drive storage is valid for one year. After the free period expires, you will still be able to access all your files, but you won’t be able to add new files until you sign up for a higher tier or remove existing files.
The updated Local Guides platform has 5 different levels of rewards:
- Level 1 (0 – 4 points): Enter exclusive contests (think new Google devices!) in select countries.
- Level 2 (5 – 49 points): Get early access to new Google products and features.
- Level 3 (50 – 199 points): Show up in the Google Maps app with your official Local Guides badge.
- Level 4 (200 – 499 points): Receive a free 1 TB upgrade of your Drive storage, allowing you to keep all the stories, photos, and videos from your travels in one safe place.
- Level 5 (500+ points): The very top Local Guides will become eligible to apply to attend our inaugural summit in 2016, where you’ll be able to meet other top Guides from around the world, explore the Google campus, and get the latest info about Google Maps.
As it turns out, one doesn’t need to achieve Level 5 in order to receive 1 TB of Drive storage (otherwise $9.99/month) for free. For the very best Local Guides who score over 500 points, Google will be hosting an inaugural summit next year. The company has promised to release more information regarding this summit next year.
Can’t wait to get started as a Local Guide? Here’s the sign-up page, which is open to everyone. Once you’re signed up and good to go, make sure to update to the latest version of Google Maps on your Android or iOS device to be able to track your contributions and earned points.
For more details regarding Local Guides, check out the program’s official support page here.
Cyanogen to power $75 devices and a possible flagship in 2016
Cyanogen has unveiled a sampling of their plans for 2016, featuring a few ambitious ideas to gain some footing in the mobile market.
The company behind the uber-popular Android custom software-maker, CyanogenMod, posted a tweet from their presentation at Big Android BBQ Amsterdam, outlining their road map for the new year.
Most prominently, Cyanogen is planning to include their CyanogenOS firmware in a number of entry-level smartphones.
What’s in store in 2016 for @cyngn… Via @cyanogen pic.twitter.com/ajfGoPBGqs
— CyanogenMod (@CyanogenMod) November 12, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Cyanogen promises that, with the support of “multiple OEMs”, these devices will cost around $75, be available in multiple markets and will be backed by constant OS updates and revisions. This could include Micromax, who have already released a low-cost smartphone shipped with CyanogenMod, the Yu Yuphoria.
Also, there are hints that Cyanogen will be releasing a flagship device, which will include their custom firmware.
There is no doubt that Cyanogen is looking to the future with this plan for 2016, especially with the success of the CyanogenMod-powered Yu Yuphoria and the Lenovo-backed ZUK Z1.
Source: PhoneArena/@CyanogenMod
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Verizon rejiggers prepaid rate plans
Verizon prepaid plans received a slight tweak recently, giving smartphone customers more options. On the low end, a $30 rate plan gives subscribers unlimited talk and text. There’s no high speed data included in this plan; however, phones can utilize Wi-Fi for data needs. The $45 option gives users 1GB of 3G/4G data while the $60 plan provides up to 3GB of monthly data.
Devices such as mobile hotspots and tablets now have monthly, bi-monthly, and weekly options to choose from. The $15 choice gives 500MB of data to use over a 7-day period. The $20 monthly plan allows for 1GB of data.
Customers who opt for bi-monthly can get 2GB for $35, 4GB for $60, or 10GB for $100. This trio of rate plans lets subscribers spread out data usage over a two-month period.
All new rate plans are available immediately.
The post Verizon rejiggers prepaid rate plans appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Carphone Warehouse is selling the BlackBerry Priv for £559 SIM-free
BlackBerry is enjoying a sort of renaissance thanks to the positive publicity generated by its first Android-powered smartphone, the Priv. Featuring a physical QWERTY keyboard that slides out, the Priv has seen demand outstrip supply, with direct orders from BlackBerry only shipping from November 30th. In the UK though, it’s possible to order the BlackBerry Priv SIM-free from Carphone Warehouse (CPW) with next-day shipping for £559 ($849).
If you’d rather take the Priv out on a 2-year contract, CPW’s recommended tariff is with Vodafone that involves a £54 upfront charge and £39 monthly, giving you unlimited calls and texts along with 6GB of 4G data. If you’d prefer not to pay any upfront charges, Vodafone is offering the handset free for £49 per month, giving you unlimited texts and calls and 2GB of 4G data. Naturally, the Priv is available on other networks via CPW. If you still aren’t sure about buying the Priv, don’t forget you can download its stock wallpapers from here to make your current handset a little more BlackBerry-like in the meantime.
Source: Carphone Warehouse
Come comment on this article: Carphone Warehouse is selling the BlackBerry Priv for £559 SIM-free
An early build of Marshmallow found on a T-Mobile branded Galaxy Note 5
Right off the heels of a leaked Samsung roadmap for Android 6.0, an XDA user with a Galaxy Note 5 on T-Mobile was found running an early build of Marshmallow for the device. Considering that the Galaxy Note 5 is rumored to get Android 6.0 this December, this early build could have some credibility to it.
The XDA user isn’t exactly sure how he received Marshmallow on his device, noting that it could’ve happened during the time that his IMEI number was lost, thus confusing the OTA system. The build number for the firmware is MRA58K.N920TUVU2DOK, and it seems to have many of the features found in Marshmallow (e.g. the new permissions features), implying this isn’t a hoax.
Being an early build, the phone’s cellular radio doesn’t work, but this does indicate that Marshmallow could be available before the end of this year, as was gathered with the aforementioned leaked software rollout document for many of Samsung’s Galaxy devices.
Keep in mind that nothing’s official until we hear something from Samsung or a carrier, but it’s certainly hard to not get excited of how close this could be to hitting many of Samsung’s latest devices. Anyone excited for Marshmallow?
source: XDA Developers
via: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: An early build of Marshmallow found on a T-Mobile branded Galaxy Note 5
Sony updates the Camera app for the Xperia Z5 range, brings refreshed UI and other improvements
Sony has just begun pushing out an update to the camera app for its Xperia Z5 range of handsets. The updated camera app, or Camera 2.0.0 as it is called, can be found in the pre-installed ‘What’s New’ application. The update applies to the Xperia Z5, Z5 Compact and Z5 Premium handsets, and includes tweaks, bugfixes, as well as some new options.
A new user interface and the ability to change camera modes by swiping on the display, as well as more customization options by way of on-screen sliders are present in the new Camera app.
A common complaint of the Xperia Z5 handset was that the camera app took absolutely ages to open and often, by the time the camera app was finally ready, the moment had disappeared. According to some early updaters on XperiaBlog, this would seem to be much-improved thanks to the Camera 2.0.0 update, who are reporting that the camera’s opening time is greatly reduced.
If the updated Camera app isn’t available in your device’s ‘What’s New’ app just yet, you can always side-load it onto your device by downloading it from here.
Source: Sony
Via: XperiaBlog
Come comment on this article: Sony updates the Camera app for the Xperia Z5 range, brings refreshed UI and other improvements
ASUS publishes plans for Android 6.0 on its smartphones
ASUS has become the latest company to publish its plans for rolling out Android 6.0 to its smartphones. Unfortunately, while ASUS has posted its plans for Marshmallow, there aren’t many handsets on the list.
Here’s the full list that’ll be receiving Android 6.0:
- PadFone S (PF500KL)
- ZenFone 2 (ZE550ML/ZE551ML)
- ZenFone 2 Deluxe / Special Edition (ZE551ML)
- ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE500KG/ZE500KL/ZE550KL/ZE600KL/ZE601KL)
- ZenFone Selfie (ZD551KL)
ASUS hasn’t providing any timing on when these devices will be getting Android 6.0, but hopefully it won’t be long. While ASUS has published Marshmallow plans for its smartphones, the Taiwanese-based company hasn’t mentioned anything about the latest version of Android for its ZenPad tablet lineup.
In related news, a document recently leaked, showing when the ETA is for Android 6.0 on many of Samsung’s popular Galaxy handsets. An early build of Marshmallow was even spotted running on a T-Mobile Galaxy Note 5.
It shouldn’t be long before Android 6.0 hits these ZenFone and PadFone handsets. Most of these devices are bought off-contract and can be updated directly through the manufacturer over going through the traditional politics and hoops of updating via carriers.
source: ASUS
Come comment on this article: ASUS publishes plans for Android 6.0 on its smartphones
Graphene could bring night vision to phones and cars
Thermal imaging devices like night-vision goggles can help police, search-and-rescue teams and soldiers to pick out bad guys or victims through walls or in complete darkness. However, the best devices require cryogenic cooling, making them heavy, expensive and slow. Enter graphene, the semi-conducting material that’s 100 times stronger than steel — researchers from MIT have built a chip out of the material that may solve the problem. The resulting infrared sensors were small enough that they could be “integrated in every cellphone and every laptop,” according to the study’s co-author, Tomas Palacios.
Via: Scientific American
Source: Nano Letters
Scientists want to laser-heat stuff to ten million degrees
Researchers at Imperial College London believe that they’ve created a method that could prove critical in the search for unlimited clean energy. The team has produced a theoretical method that, at least on paper, is capable of super-heating an object to ten million degrees in a fraction of a second. It’s hoped that technology like this, if proven in the real world, will form a key component of a fusion reactor that’ll provide a warm light for all mankind.
Via: Imperial College
Source: Nature
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