Sony closes $155 million purchase of Toshiba’s image sensor business
Sony is the biggest player in the mobile image sensor business and has likely just secured its position. The company has announced that it will purchase Toshiba’s rival imaging business for 19 billion yen ($155 million).
Following a series of rumors, the two companies had originally signalled the closing stages of the deal back in October. Today’s announcement sees the signing of definitive agreements and confirms that Toshiba’s fabrication plant, equipment, and around 1,100 employees mainly located at its Oita Operations facility will be transferred over to Sony, along with the cost of the acquisition. The facility will operate under Sony’s newly formed Semiconductor Corporation, a subsidiary that was formed along with a number of others to give Sony’s various business arms greater autonomy.
Sony is the largest sensor developer in both the smartphone and high-end camera markets. The company’s sensors power a range on flagship smartphone cameras, including the Galaxy S6, LG V10 and the Huawei Mate 8. In the mobile space, Sony has become increasingly dependent on its semiconductor sales in order to offset losses from its struggling handset business. Toshiba had seen more limited success in high-end mobile products, but its T4KA7 sensor was apparently used in the HTC One M9.
The two companies aim to have the asset transfers completed by the financial year ending March 2016.
YouTube Red wants to beat Netflix at its own game with exclusively licenced content
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To compete in the video streaming industry, it’s almost become a requirement that you have your own exclusive, licenced content as Netflix do. The new kid on the block, YouTube Red, is finding its way in the highly competitive market and while it already offers a fairly impressive package – which includes no ads on videos and Google Play Music All Access for $9.99 USD – the missing part of the puzzle is the exclusive content. Naturally, YouTube Red wants to beat Netflix at its own game, and while it doesn’t want to develop the content itself, wants to licence content (TV shows/movies/etc) from its existing community of faithful – its YouTube producers.
It’s going to be interesting to see whether YouTube Red will get to the point where it challenges the likes of Netflix and Hulu, who have significant headstarts in some key areas – on the other hand, YouTube is an existing pool of users that is just waiting to be utilized, so long as Google is able to make them shell out for the monthly subscription.
What do you think about YouTube Red aiming for exclusive content? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Wall Street Journal via Phone Arena
The post YouTube Red wants to beat Netflix at its own game with exclusively licenced content appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google introduces Cardboard Camera app for taking VR images
It seems like Google doesn’t want to limit the Virtual Reality (VR) experience of its Cardboard headsets limited to just entertainment, it wants to bring it in its users lives in a more personalized way. To facilitate this, the search giant has introduced Cardboard Camera app, which is capable of taking panoramic VR images.
Available on Play Store, the Cardboard Camera app requires you to take a 3D photo by moving in a circle just like you do for taking a panorama shot. When you capture the image, the app also records some ambient noise to provides a more immersive experience when you view the VR image on a Google Cardboard headset. While you won’t need a Google Cardboard headset to take a photo through this app (you can take that using any smartphone running Android 4.4 and up), you will need one to view the captured VR image.
“VR photos are three-dimensional panoramas, with slightly different views for each eye, so near things look near and far things look far. You can look around to explore the image in all directions, and even record sound with your photo to hear the moment exactly as it happened.”
-Google Blog
The Cardboard Camera app is quite intuitive and it instructs the user to take a series of pictures and move slowly while capturing a panoramic view for 3D viewing. The only glitch is, you have no way of knowing if the VR images you have clicked on your smartphone are good or not as the dedicated gallery app only provides a glimpse of the shots. It doesn’t play them back like it would appear on Google’s Cardboard VR headset.
Source: Google Blog
The post Google introduces Cardboard Camera app for taking VR images appeared first on AndroidGuys.
T-mobile’s new promotion goes live, offers AT&T customers big discounts
T-Mobile is back again with another promotion designed to steal away customers from the nation’s largest carrier. On Thursday the telecom took the wraps off their plan which offers current AT&T customers steep discounts on accessories like Bluetooth speakers, fitness trackers, headphones, smartwatches and cases. The “Un-Carrier Unwrapped” promotion gives new customers 50% off these accessories, up to $125.
In addition to these offers, eligible new customers will be able to pick up a 128gb iPhone 6S for the price of a 16gb 6S. That’s a saving of $200.
““I can already hear carrier customers asking ‘What’s the catch?’ And I don’t blame them—because, with the carriers, there’s always a catch, but that’s not us. And this is our way of showing long-suffering carrier customers exactly how the Un-carrier gives you more without asking more from you.”“
Customers are still eligible to have their contract buy-outs paid by T-Mobile through the Carrier Freedom program. This offers up to $650 per line when you trade in a phone and buy one from T-Mobile and port your number to T-Mobile. With programs like Carrier Freedom, Binge On, and Music Freedom, it’s getting harder and harder to say no to T-Mobile’s ever expanding network.
The program kicks off today, December 4 and runs through Sunday, December 13. All AT&T and Cricket customers are eligible, including post-paid and GoPhone customers.
Are you going to switch over to T-Mobile because of this promotion? Let us know down in the comments what you think about it and how T-Mobile can get more customers in the door.
Source: T-Mobile via AndroidCentral
The post T-mobile’s new promotion goes live, offers AT&T customers big discounts appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Xiaomi prepares to push out Marshmallow OTA for the Mi 4 and Mi Note
The operations manager at Xiaomi has revealed that the company is now preparing to roll out the long-awaited Marshmallow update for both the Mi 4 and Mi Note. This revelation along with the disclosure that a limited nationwide beta will launch initially, followed closely by a worldwide rollout was posted on Weibo earlier today.
Unfortunately, a specific timeframe for the upgrade wasn’t provided, but we suspect that the first closed beta phase will take place early next week, with the full distribution commencing before the end of December.
Source: Weibo
Come comment on this article: Xiaomi prepares to push out Marshmallow OTA for the Mi 4 and Mi Note
Amazon launches Fire 7 tablet in China
As expected, Amazon has now launched its latest Fire tablet in China. The slate carries a price tag of RMB 499 ($78) and comes with complimentary 3-day shipping included — so if you order today, the device should be with you by Monday, December 7.
Amazon has teamed up with Chinese Internet firm Baidu to give customers access to search, applications and online video streaming. Users will also be able to get their hands on English-learning features, like Word Wise as well as tons of Kindle books.
If you’re based in China, like the sound of the Fire 7 and would like to find out more about picking one up — hit the source link below.
Source: Amazon
Come comment on this article: Amazon launches Fire 7 tablet in China
Jellyfish Aquarium can make it easy to care for pet jellies
Jellyfish are notoriously hard to care for, and even a slight change in temperature can kill them quickly. A startup called Jellyfish Art swears its cylinder tanks can help you keep teensy moon jellies alive for as long as possible, though, which means the animals could live for years instead of six-or-so months like in the wild. According to the cylinder’s Kickstarter campaign, it comes with everything you need, including filters and activated charcoal — all you need to do is add water. It’s even shipped with colorful LED lights to make the display look as interesting as professional tanks found in marine parks.
Via: Oh Gizmo
Source: Kickstarter
UK astronaut Tim Peake will run the London Marathon in space
Running the London Marathon is hard enough. Running it in space? That’s another challenge entirely. British astronaut Tim Peake is headed to the International Space Station (ISS) on December 15th and, next April, will set off at the same time as everyone down on Earth. He won’t be running the actual route though — instead, he’ll be on a treadmill with a harness system that includes a waist-belt and shoulder straps. These will apply some much-needed downforce to counter Peake’s weightlessness in space and recreate some of his natural running style. He’ll also have a video feed of the route which can speed up and slow down to reflect his pace.
Source: Prinicipia
Watch a 4-year-old drive a dump truck by remote control
To prove the toughness of its latest FMX truck, Volvo turned it into an RC racer and handed the “keys” to the luckiest 4-year-old ever. The results were what you’d expect: Pure chaos. To be fair, young Sophie probably guided the vehicle better than we would have at that age (or even now). However, steering a multi-ton rig from afar ain’t easy, so she managed to hit obstacles, roll the vehicle into a pit and (safely) crash through a house, as shown in the video below. At the end of her trip, the vehicle emerged relatively unscathed and was still driveable.
Source: Volve (YouTube)
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 may see a UK release after all
At the Unpacked event back in August, Samsung revealed three things. First, the new Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. Second, the Galaxy Note 5. Third, that the UK (and the rest of Europe) would only be getting the S6 Edge Plus. Now, however, the rumor on the grapevine is that the Note 5 may be heading to the UK after all.
See also: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review
The Note 4 is something of a phablet phan phavorite, so when word got out that its successor wouldn’t be hitting European soils, some reacted with much gnashing of teeth and rending of garments. True, the S6 Edge Plus is a gorgeous device in its own right, but stylus-wielding Note users have gotten used to the Note line’s massive screen and attached pen. Many were puzzled by Samsung’s decision to restrict the Note 5’s launch to the US and Asia. Samsung did release an “explanation,” but nobody was particularly satisfied with it because it was mostly just empty business-speak that left the future of the Note 5 in the UK ambiguous:
“The market availability of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will vary according to consumer needs and the specific market situation. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will be introduced in the US and Asian markets in August and we will look at further opportunities to launch the Galaxy Note 5 in other markets. For our European customers, Samsung’s portfolio will be centred on the Galaxy S6 edge+, so as to better cater to their needs.”
See also: Best Android phones (November 2015)
As we’ve learned in the tech world, “ambiguous” is often synonymous with “never.” However, now we’re hearing some pretty reliable rumors that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will be finally arriving in the UK in January 2016. Gadgette’s Holly Brockwell reports that the Note 5 will grace UK’s shore in “late January 2016,” citing an anonymous “trusted source.” Android Central confirmed the report from their own source.
Still, this by no means, official info, so the best we can do now is cross our fingers and hope it’s true. And we still have no clue if the Note 5 will ever make it to the rest of Europe.
What are your thoughts on Samsung’s counter-intuitive release schedule with the Note 5? Let us know in the comments!
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