[Deal] Get the last cables you’ll ever need from FuseChicken
We’ve all been there at one point in time or another. You unplug your device from its cable, and the end finally breaks. Maybe you’ve had the cable for a few years, or it was just a rotten apple, but regardless, the cable is broken.
You can jump over to Amazon and grab a few replacement cables, or you can check out today’s deal from AndroidGuys and StackCommerce. Some of you in the Android world may not have heard of the folks from FuseChicken, but those familiar with iOS accessories, probably have heard of them.
FuseChicken burst onto the scene awhile ago with the Bobine, which is a flexible dock for your iPhone. What makes the Bobine special is the material that’s used to ensure that it can be used as a dock. The cable is wrapped in an industrial-grade, flexible, steel and the ends are reinforced to make sure they don’t fray or break.
Why would I be telling you more information about a product that was designed for iPhones? Turns out that the folks at FuseChicken have finally released their first products for us Android users. The Titan M, and the Titan Loop M are two options to consider if you need to replace any of the micro-USB cables that are near the end of their lives.
The Titan M is your standard 3 foot cable, while the Titan Loop M is a 9-inch long cable that can be folded up to act as a keychain. The Loop M features an adapter which allows for the charging port to be looped and held in place, so your keys won’t fall off, but you’ll have a charging cable with you at all times, without fail.
So enough of me yammering on about these great products from FuseChicken. Let’s get to the brass tax. The deal we have for you today, is for either of the cables, or you can get both the Loop and the Loop M in a bundled package.
The bundle deal for the Titan M and Titan M Loop, if purchased through FuseChicken directly, will run you about $45. With this deal, you can get both for over 30% off, at only $29.95 with free shipping. If you opt for the Titan M, you will save 20% and only pay $19.95, and if you choose the Titan M Loop, you’ll also save 20% by only paying $15.95.
These are some great cables, that should garnish your attention, even if you aren’t in the market for some new cables. Currently, I own both the Titan and Titan Loop for my iOS devices, and they have completely replaced any other cables that I would need. So for FuseChicken to introduce the Titan M and Titan M Loop, I’ll be jumping onboard for the micro-USB versions as well.
Drop us a line below and let us know what you think about these great products from FuseChicken, and whether you picked up one or both. 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!
AndroidGuys Deal: FuseChicken Titan M Bundle
AndroidGuys Deal: FuseChicken Titan M
AndroidGuys Deal: FuseChicken Titan M Loop
The post [Deal] Get the last cables you’ll ever need from FuseChicken appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Hackers strike UK telecom again, steal sensitive data of 1,827 Vodafone customers
In yet another attack on a British telecom company this week, hackers have stolen account details of as many as 1,827 Vodafone customers. A Vodafone U.K. spokesperson revealed that sensitive data such as victims’ names, email addresses, telephone numbers, bank sort codes as well as the last four digits of their bank account numbers may have been compromised.
“This incident was driven by criminals using email addresses and passwords acquired from an unknown source external to Vodafone,” a Vodafone spokesman said in a statement.
While Vodafone insists that no debit or credit card details have been stolen, the Thursday morning attack definitely leaves thousands of customers vulnerable to fraudulent activity on their Vodafone accounts.
“No credit or debit card numbers or details were obtained. However, this information does leave these 1,827 customers open to fraud and might also leave them open to phishing attempts,” the spokesman said, adding that Vodafone is reaching out to all the concerned victims.
Last week, it was confirmed that hackers had attacked TalkTalk to gain access to names, email addresses and phone numbers of 1.2 customers in addition to stealing thousands of bank account numbers, sort codes and credit and debit card details.
The broadband, telecom and TV service provider had insisted that no transactions could be easily made with the stolen data as the bank details had been partially obscured. The claim left many customers angry who reported that money had been stolen from their accounts.
So far, two teenaged hackers have been detained in this connection.
Via: VentureBeat
Come comment on this article: Hackers strike UK telecom again, steal sensitive data of 1,827 Vodafone customers
OnePlus announces its On-Guard extended warranty for Europe, other markets to be added in the near future
OnePlus took the wraps off its latest handset, the OnePlus X, last week, and now the upstart smartphone manufacturer has announced its extended warranty plan for its European customers. The cover is called On-Guard and is available for the OnePlus 2 as well as the new OnePlus X.
In partnership with SimpleSurance, the on-Guard extended warranty includes the following:
- Cover against accidental damage and liquid damage
- Worry free claim process
- Worldwide claims coverage
- 12 months cover for €39.99/24 months for €64.99 (pricing could differ slightly for the oneplus X)
While the On-Guard cover will launch in Europe first, OnePlus expects to include other markets in the near future. Sadly, the cover is not available for the devices purchased prior to the announcement, whether it was a OnePlus One or OnePlus 2. The On-Guard cover is available to purchase at check-out, basically when you place the order, although it can be bought separately so long as it’s within 15 days of the purchase date. This means there may be a little loophole for current OnePlus 2 owners so long as the purchase was made (from the EU store) within the previous two weeks. It’s a long shot but worth checking out.
Source: OnePlus (Blog)
Come comment on this article: OnePlus announces its On-Guard extended warranty for Europe, other markets to be added in the near future
BlackBerry Priv now up for pre-order at B&H Photo
The latest retailer to list the BlackBerry Priv for pre-order is B&H Photo. The product page says the Priv is expected to be available on November 20, but does not have a time frame for actually shipping the device just yet.
The Priv will cost interested buyers $699, not including shipping and taxes. BlackBerry and a variety of Canadian and UK-based outlets have also listed the Priv, but so far, it looks like buying the device straight from BlackBerry will get you the Priv much faster than other options.
As a quick refresher, here’s what the specifications look like in BlackBerry’s latest:
- 5.4-Inch dual-curved display with 1440 x 2560 resolution
- Slide-out keyboard
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core (2 x cores @ 1.8GHz + 4 x cores @ 1.44GHz)
- Adreno 418 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 32GB Internal storage
- MicroSD card support (up to 2TB)
- DTEK privacy warning system
- 18MP Schneider-Kreuznach rear camera with OIS
- 2MP Front camera
- Battery: 3,410mAh
- Android 5.1.1
The BlackBerry Priv is a hard sell at $699, but the company has high hopes for it. As far as specifications go, the Priv is without a doubt a premium device that can easily compete with other big players in the market. However, $699 is difficult to swallow all at once, especially with no subsidies available. If BlackBerry doesn’t sell enough, its hardware business could be doomed as the company looks to other avenues for revenue.
What’re your thoughts on the Priv?
source: B&H Photo
Come comment on this article: BlackBerry Priv now up for pre-order at B&H Photo
Samsung phone sales are up, but revenue is down
A couple of years ago, Samsung was the undisputed king of the smartphone industry but in 2014, the increased competition in the smartphone industry resulted in it losing its grip on the throne. Impressive flagship devices from its rivals coupled with the Galaxy S5 which tanked resulted in the start of a crisis at the Korean OEM but one year on, the company has somewhat righted the decline.
Samsung devices in video:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
This year saw Samsung release a range of new phones including its Galaxy S6 flagship family and it seems to have worked according to new data from Counterpoint Technology Market Research. In the third quarter of 2015 ending September 31, Samsung reportedly shipped 84 million smartphones, which is a 6.3 percent increase on the same period last year and more than its key rivals – Apple and Huawei in second and third respectively – combined.
However, while the increase is good news, the joy may be short-lived as it’s not the Galaxy S6 family that’s driven the increase, but rather, Samsung’s lower-end phones. Counterpoint said that while 55% of Samsung’s sales in Q3 2014 were priced at $301 or more, this reduced to 40% in Q3 2015. Instead, phones priced at less than $200 were behind the increase and now account for 38% of overall shipments, compared with 30% last year.
A key part of Samsung’s decline last year was high prices for its devices coupled with increased competition from low-cost smartphones from Chinese players such as Xiaomi and Huawei. This year, Samsung’s Galaxy J series – and in particular, the Galaxy J5 – is believed to have been a big factor in increased sales of budget devices and shows that Samsung is willing to price its devices competitively and fight for volume over higher revenues.
Galaxy S6/Note 5 family in video:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
Whether it works for Samsung or not remains to be seen but the volume market may work for the company. In its heyday, Samsung’s profit margins were regularly between 15 and 19 percent but during its big decline last year, they collapsed to 7 percent. Samsung has promised its investors that the margins will rise up above 10 percent and during the third quarter, the company’s margins came at 9 percent.
Selling cheap phones won’t increase Samsung’s margins but it will put more Galaxy devices in more hands and this may lead to an increase in higher end sales, resulting in an increased margin. Either way, Samsung looks set to have a much better year, this year and the decline of last year could yet prove to be nothing more than a temporary blip.
Amazon deal: The Moto X (2014) can be yours for just $199
Amazon is kicking off Black Friday deals early, very early. The retail giant just announced that its promo campaign starts today, and one of the standout deals is the Moto X (2nd generation) for $199.
The 2nd generation Moto X gives you a beautiful Full HD AMOLED display of 5.2 inches, a capable Snapdragon 810 processor with 2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera, and a 2,300 mAh battery.
Everything is packed inside a sleek design with a metallic frame and a choice of black leather, black soft touch plastic, or bamboo. The device runs Android 5.1 right now, but Motorola promised a speedy update to Marshmallow.
The Moto X 2nd generation is a little over one year old, and, at $199, it’s an excellent deal. The device normally goes for $300 on Amazon.
The deal is valid through the next 18 hours, but we imagine that there will be a lot of demand for what likely limited quantities.
This being an unlocked device, it will work with AT&T or T-Mobile (and their respective MVNOs). It’s highly advised to check out the LTE bands in your specific area before you purchase a phone.
For more details on the Moto X 2014, check out our full review. Happy shopping!
Tough Indian market means Xiaomi may miss sales target
Xiaomi has been one of the fastest growing smartphone companies for successive quarters and pitched a lofty sales target of 100 million unit this year back at the start of 2015. However, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is thought likely to miss this target by quite a margin, raising concerns about the company’s future growth prospects.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun already scaled back this target to 80 million phones in March, but even this figure began to look in doubt after the company announced that it had sold 34.7 million smartphones come the first half of 2015.
Xiaomi in video:
.rvs_wrapper
width: 350px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
font-size: 24px !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (min-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
width: 100% !important;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos
width: 100%;
float: none !important;
overflow-x: auto;
overflow-y: hidden;
body #page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
overflow: auto;
max-height: none;
body .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: left !important;
clear: none !important;
The latest estimate from market research firm Trendforce suggests that Xiaomi will sell 70 million phones this year. While still a gain on 2014’s 60 million sales, it’s quite a long way from Xioami’s initial expectation for the year. Canalys research expects that Xiaomi’s Q3 sales in 2015 actually dropped year-on-year, a first for the company.
This news comes despite Xiaomi entering the Indian smartphone market, which was expected to give the company a substantial sales boost. However, saturation in its home territory of China and the nature of the highly competitive Indian market has created a difficult environment for the company. Xiaomi has not had quite the major impact on India that perhaps had been expected, the company is currently sitting with less than the 4 percent of the market that it grabbed when it first entered India. Instead, Chinse rivals such as Lenovo and local Indian manufacturers have secured larger shares of the market.
Xiaomi’s expansion plans could still prove key to the company’s future growth. The company has not yet made a move on many major global markets yet, with Europe and much of Asia still relying on import retailers to try out Xiaomi’s products. Talk is also increasingly turning to the company’s eventual US launch, with a handset also spotted at the FCC recently too. Furthermore, Xiaomi is increasingly moving into new areas of consumer electronics, which could help the company withstand any slowdown on the mobile market.
See also: Redmi 2 Pro passes through the FCC, sparks speculation about Xiaomi’s US launch
Despite a slowdown this year, Xiaomi still has plenty of room left to manoeuvre and the firm is still growing. But even China’s latest mobile darling isn’t immune to the highly competitive nature of the low cost smartphone market.
Hidden ‘Indoor Survey’ App Created by Apple Discovered on App Store
Apple last week quietly launched a new first-party app called Indoor Survey [Direct Link], which allows its users to map out the interior space of a building using their iPhone. Spotted by developer Steve Troughton-Smith yesterday evening, the app specifically uses radio frequency signals in concert with an iPhone’s various sensor data to successfully map an interior location (via AppleInsider).
The app, however, doesn’t appear to be entirely functional as of yet. When prompted with Indoor Survey’s home menu, after entering an Apple ID and password, users will be met with an Authorization Failed message and be barred from further accessing the app’s suggested indoor mapping abilities. The app is also briefly mentioned on a banner within Apple Maps Connect after signing in, asking users to sign up to the indoor mapping initiative if they represent a venue with a handful of attributes Apple is looking for.
“Enable indoor positioning within a venue using the Indoor Survey app. By dropping ‘points’ on a map within the Survey App, you indicate your position within the venue as you walk through. As you do so, the indoor Survey App measures the radio frequency (RF) signal data and combines it with an iPhone’s sensor data. The end result is indoor positioning without the need to install special hardware.”
The new app could be the result of Apple’s purchase of WifiSLAM in 2013. The indoor location company had developed a way for an app to detect someone’s location within a building using Wi-Fi signals, which seems to be on par with Indoor Survey’s abilities today. The technology is slightly similar to the company’s iBeacons software it runs in all of its retail stores, which locates a user’s iPhone when entering an Apple Store and updates them on various promotions, classes, and product information.
Currently, Indoor Survey can’t be found using the search function on the App Store and can only be discovered via iTunes directly. The app was last updated on October 27, so it had been on the App Store for at least a week before anyone discovered it. The app’s description mentions requiring iOS 9 or later with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch compatibility and an 18MB download size.
Discuss this article in our forums
Skype co-founders build delivery bot that rides on sidewalks
While companies like Amazon and Google are betting on airborne drones for the future of delivery, two of the founders of Skype are taking a more pedestrian approach. They’ve created a company called Starship Technologies, and its eponymous robots are autonomous rovers that drive along sidewalks to carry packages at an average speed of 4mph. The aim is to deliver “two grocery bags” worth of goods (weighing up to 20lbs) in 5-30 minutes for “10-15 times less than the cost of current last-mile delivery alternatives.”
Source: Starship Technologies
Apple’s quietly working on a new indoor mapping system
Apple has discreetly released an RF-based interior positioning app called Indoor Survey, as spotted by developer Steve Troughton-Smith. It appeared recently on the App Store, and the description says you can “drop ‘points’ on a map within the Survey App [to] indicate your position within the venue as you walk through. As you do so, the Indoor Survey App measures the radio frequency (RF) signal data and combines it with an iPhone’s sensor data.” That lets you find your position inside a mall, arena or other venue “without the need to install special hardware,” according to Apple.
Via: Apple Insider
Source: iTunes
AIVAnet 