Asus reveals unlocked 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 Laser; prices start at $200
Asus on Monday introduced its next Android smartphone, the ZenFone 2 Laser. Available immediately, the handset is unlocked and can worth with a variety of US-based LTE bands.
Although the ZenFone 2 Laser looks quite similar to the ZenFone 2, it is improved across a number of fronts. For starters, the processor has been bumped up to an octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor with 3GB RAM. Storage comes in 16GB and 32GB options, however the microSD card slot allows for up to 128GB additional space.
The Asus ZenFone 2 Laser comes with a 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080p resolution display which is protected by Gorilla Glass 4. In other words, it’s a full HD screen with some of the best protection in the industry.
The rear of the phone houses a 13-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0 , dual LED flash, and laser-assisted focus. The front-facing camera has a 5-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture and wide 85-degree field of view. These specs should lead to more group shots for selfies with a generally better final result.
Other specs include a 3000mAh removable battery, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity. The ZenFone 2 Laser runs Android 5.0 Lollipop with a custom ZenUI 2.0 software experience.
The 16GB model runs $200 while the 32GB version commands a slightly higher $250 price tag. The ZenFone 2 Laser is available in silver from Newegg and Asus.
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The first Blackberry device to run Android be available at AT&T Nov. 6th
One of the more intriguing phones of 2015 was recently announced just over a week ago, the Android powered Blackberry device called the PRIV. AT&T is the first U.S. carrier to pick up the PRIV and will make it available nationwide starting Nov. 6. The current pricing options are for AT&T’s Next financing program, which allows you to pay for your device in installments, as well as a Two-Year Commitment plan. The total installment price works out to be $740 which is $40 more than buying the phone direct from Blackberry at $699.99.
|
Next 24 |
Next 18
(24 months) |
Next 12 (20 months) |
Two-Year Commitment |
| $24.67 | $30.84 | $37 |
$249.99 |
Or if you prefer the two-year contract method, you can get the phone for $249.99 up-front, but there are different costs associated with that plan. If you get a device on the Next plan, you will qualify for a monthly $25 dollar discount which works out to be $600 over the course of two years. If you consider the Two-Year Commitment price at $249.99, plus $600 in extra fees, the Next plan may be a better fit for you as it should save you over $100.
The PRIV is the first Android powered Blackberry and it comes with a curved 5.4″ display, 3410 mAh battery, 18MP camera, 32GB of memory expandable up to 2TB, a full sliding QWERTY keyboard, and extra security from Blackberry.
You can finally have everything you loved about BlackBerry with the capabilities of Android OS. This smartphone is a powerhouse with sleek design, seamless productivity, and advanced security features on the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network – Jeff Bradley, Senior VP Device Marketing and Developer Services AT&T Mobility
If you want to learn more head on over to AT&T.com.
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BlackBerry Priv goes on sale November 6 at AT&T for $249
BlackBerry’s Android-powered Priv smartphone has been a long time coming, and we’re finally getting a good idea as to how much the device will cost and when it will be available to the public. AT&T has just announced that it will be the first U.S. mobile carrier to sell the BlackBerry Priv, with sales starting on Friday, November 6th. The device will be sold with a two-year contract for $249. Well-qualified buyers can also make monthly payments on the device for $0 down and $24.67 per month for 30 months, $30.84 per month for 24 months or for $37 per month for 20 months.
If you need a refresher, the BlackBerry Priv is the company’s first ever handset running Android. It will come with a 5.4-inch Quad HD curved AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage and a non-removable 3410mAh battery. It will also run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and feature a slide-out keyboard for a faster, more accurate typing experience. If you’d like the full list of official Priv specifications, those can be found here.
See also: BlackBerry Priv pre-order opens in US, UK and Canada; ships Nov 6
Are you planning on ordering the BlackBerry Priv when it becomes available? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere, says Google
The marriage between Chrome OS and Android has been rumored for years, with recent reports stating that the two operating systems could combine by the year 2017. Although the plan seems feasible, Google claims it’s not happening anytime soon.
There’s still much more to do
In a recent post on the official Google Chrome Blog, SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast Hiroshi Lockheimer says that while the company has been working on ways to bring together the best of the two operating systems, Google has “no plans to phase out Chrome OS.”
Lockheimer says there’s still more to do with Chrome OS. Google has plans to release more features to the OS such as a new media player, a Material Design visual refresh, improved performance and more security features. “With our regular six-week software cycle and guaranteed auto-updates for five years, Chromebooks keep getting better over time,” says Lockheimer.
Related: Android + Chrome OS: four big questions
Even though Google may not have immediate plans to fold Chrome OS into Android, we’ll definitely continue to see more and more features of Android make their way to Chrome OS, and vice versa. Recently, Google brought Android applications to Chrome OS via the ARC Welder tool. The company even recently launched a new tablet/laptop hybrid called the Pixel C, which is the first Pixel device to run Android.
So, you heard the man, Chrome OS isn’t going anywhere. At least not anytime soon. Google has made it clear that features in Chrome OS and Android will continue to bleed into one another, which is what’s been happening for a few years now.
T-Mobile now pushing out Virtual Reality update for the Galaxy Note 5
T-Mobile has just started rolling out its first software update for the Galaxy Note 5. This upgrade transports support for Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, as well as a plethora of much-needed bug fixes and stability improvements.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
- Compatibility for VR.
- Battery usage optimization.
- The security of your device has been improved.
- Bug fixes.
As is the norm, the update is being rolled out in stages. To see if it’s ready for your device head into Settings, scroll to the bottom and tap on “About Device”, hit “System Updates”, then select “Check for updates”. Alternatively, you can wait until you receive a push notification prompting you to install the upgrade.
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Samsung announces Soundcamp for creating your musical masterpiece on your phone
Samsung has announced a new application for their devices called Soundcamp that offers an open platform for recording, playing, and mixing music. It’s mostly for electronic music, since it’s technically a DAW and MIDI sequencer, but it’s very open and works with third-party apps, which should keep the door open for tons of new ideas in the future.
The app has a straightforward interface for mixing and viewing up to eight different tracks, and while that isn’t going to compete with some really high-end workstations that famous musicians use, it’s pretty great for a smartphone.
Soundcamp also has some standout features, like the ability to create endless loops from your recorded tracks, and the option to pair things up with a Gear S2 smartwatch to control parts of the interface right from your wrist. Soundcamp also supports a sampling function and is getting tons of third-party support.
Soundcamp may not be for everyone, especially if you’re not musically inclined, but it’s completely free for Samsung’s newer devices in the Play Store. Might as well give it a try.
source: Samsung Tomorrow
Come comment on this article: Samsung announces Soundcamp for creating your musical masterpiece on your phone
Google announces the best four apps currently made for Project Tango
Project Tango still isn’t a readily available consumer product, but that hasn’t stopped Google and other developers from continuing to push the platform forward. Google recently ran a contest to pick out the best available apps on Project Tango from each of four categories: best game, best augmented or virtual reality app, best utility, and an overall winner. Today Google has announced which apps have won those awards.
The overall winner was given to WeR Cubed, which utilizes Project Tango’s spatial recognition abilities in a puzzle game. The game is relatively simple where you only have to flip blocks around to make the top colors of each of the blocks match, but a user can walk around the room they’re in with Tango to view different sides of the blocks. Pretty interesting stuff.
Ghostly Mansion scored the best game award, putting the player in a haunted mansion as a ghost searching for clues to their own death. The player has to use Tango to walk around and search the house for those clues in a creepy environment.
InnAR Wars won best augmented reality app, and it also happens to be a game. It turns an room into a simulated outer space environment where two players walk around trying to claim more territory than the other players.
The only non-game winner was for the utility app, which was won by Phi.3D. The app lets you walk around a room so Tango can map out the environment, after which it will create a full 3D model of the room you’re in.
While none of these are market-altering uses of Project Tango’s abilities, it definitely puts the project on the right path towards being an extremely innovative piece of equipment in the future.
source: The Verge
Come comment on this article: Google announces the best four apps currently made for Project Tango
Apple Campus 2 ‘Spaceship’ Taking Shape as Construction Continues
Heading into November, construction on Apple’s second campus is progressing nicely, with Apple’s construction crews making a lot of headway on the ring-shaped main building. A new aerial video captured by drone pilot Duncan Sinfield and shared with MacRumors gives a close-up view at the current state of the building.
Four internal levels of the primary building have now been completed, and the concept Steve Jobs envisioned for the campus is starting to take shape. When completed, the interior area of the building will feature hundreds of trees and lots of greenery, with outdoor eating and viewing areas for Apple employees.
Two nearby parking structures are now close to being completed, and there’s also been some progress made on the underground auditorium, where Apple will hold major press events. There have been a lot of changes since we last shared an aerial video in September.
When fully complete, the second Apple campus will feature the 2.8 million square foot ring-shaped main building, several parking structures, a 100,000 square foot fitness center, a 120,000 square foot auditorium for hosting events, and a dedicated visitor’s center complete with an observation deck, cafe, and Apple Store. Apple is on track to finish construction at the end of next year.
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Apple Planning International Expansion of ‘Personal Pickup’ Service
Apple is training retail employees in Australia, France, United Kingdom and other countries for the international launch of Personal Pickup, a service that enables customers to place an order on the Apple Online Store or Apple Store app and pick it up at any Apple Retail Store within an hour, according to sources.
Apple is planning to roll out Personal Pickup internationally as early as November, possibly alongside the launch of the iPad Pro, but could push back the plans until later this year or beyond, according to sources. Apple did not immediately respond when reached for comment.
Personal Pickup, which launched exclusively in the U.S. in 2011, is available for a wide range of products including Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs and the Apple Watch. Apple notifies customers via email or text message when their order is available for in-store pickup, at which point they can pick it up with a valid photo ID.
The global expansion of Personal Pickup is likely another move orchestrated by Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts, as she continues to bridge the gap between Apple’s online and retail store shopping experiences. Apple has opened over 460 retail stores in 18 countries since May 2001, with nearly 200 located outside the U.S.
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Best Buy hopes same-day delivery will fend off Amazon
Online retailers like Amazon are putting the pressure on brick-and-mortar retail spaces by offering cheap and speedy delivery of goods, with same-day — and in some cases one-hour — deliveries to metro areas around the country. In a bid to keep up with the competition, Best Buy is testing a same-day delivery service with the help of delivery service Deliv. Currently being tested in San Francisco, same-day delivery will cost Best Buy customers the same amount as one-day business express shipping. The company is marketing the service to online shoppers as an alternative to its in-store pickup option. It will be interesting to see whether people in San Fransico will continue to collect their goods from a physical store when they can now opt to get it delivered to them — probably as they stream Amazon Prime Video from the comfort of their sofa.
Source: Re/code
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