ZTE launches Axon Max with 6-inch FHD display and USB Type C in China
As the year draws to a close, ZTE is launching its latest Axon flagship device – the Axon Max – in China. ZTE is also launching its Global VIP passport service, which will provide after sales assistance to Chinese globe-trotting Axon users.
The ZTE Axon Max features a 6-inch full-HD AMOLED display, an octa-core Snapdragon 617 SoC with Adreno 405 GPU, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. On the imaging front, the handset is equipped with a 16-megapixel primary camera with phase detection autofocus and an f/1.9 aperture. It also sports a 13-megapixel selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture.
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Last-gen systems aren’t getting new ‘Call of Duty’ maps
If you’re still feeling salty over Activision nixing Call of Duty: Black Ops III‘s campaign mode on last-gen systems the next bit of news won’t do much to make the situation any better. In an announcement about the latest set of downloadable content, the “Awakening” pack which includes a quartet of adversarial multiplayer maps and the first episode of a new “zombies” tale, the company writes that the DLC will launch next February 2nd on PlayStation 4 first with “other next-gen platforms to follow.”
Semantics aside (“next-gen” is a misnomer here as the PS4 and Xbox One just celebrated their second birthdays), what we’ve left is that Activision is leaving folks who haven’t upgraded to new gaming consoles pretty far behind.
To be fair, even the official E3 announcement from Sony that PlayStation would get future map packs first didn’t specify which PlayStation they’d appear on. After Activision and developer Treyarch announced that the last-gen version Black Ops III would ship sans its slightly unorthodox campaign, I guess this isn’t all too surprising but it’s no less disappointing. Especially considering that earlier this year, Activision announced that on a monthly basis nearly 12 million people were still actively playing the three year-old Black Ops II — the game sitting at the top of the heap for Xbox One backwards compatibility requests by fans.
Via: Kotaku
Source: Businesswire
A second Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone could be on the cards in 2016
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If BlackBerry is to survive in the smartphone hardware space, it’s clear some things have to change and the release of the BlackBerry Priv was a good first step. While we still don’t really know how well it’s done for the Canadian manufacturer, BlackBerry CEO John Chen has hinted in an interview with Bloomberg that if the Priv does well, that could mean a second Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone would be released in 2016. This device is said to carry the codename “Vienna”, following the theme set by the Priv which was codenamed “Venice”.
http://www.bloomberg.com/api/embed/iframe?id=IzWxAdmjQxqi~4u~S5uSqQNaturally, Chen is still keeping his cards close to his chest so didn’t give us any more detail. A second Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone does seem pretty likely, however, as the Priv is yet to complete its global release, and presumably this will result in even more sales. Of course, only time will tell whether BlackBerry’s gamble to join the Android mainstream has paid off, especially with its claims of privacy and premium pricing – perhaps a lower cost model would be able to help it break into the other sectors of the market.
What do you think about a second Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Bloomberg via TalkAndroid
The post A second Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone could be on the cards in 2016 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Rogers to distribute Marshmallow update for the LG G4 in late January
Canadian carrier Rogers Wireless has today announced that it will initiate the rollout of the long-awaited Marshmallow update for the LG G4 in late January. In addition to bringing the latest build of the open-source operating system to the handset, the upgrade will also transport Google’s latest security patches which fix any critical issues that may otherwise have put user data at risk.
As always, be sure to keep your browser pointed to Talk Android as we’ll let you know as and when the OTA starts rolling out to the handset, along with any details you may need to be aware of in order to make the updating process as smooth as possible.
Source: Rogers
Come comment on this article: Rogers to distribute Marshmallow update for the LG G4 in late January
Google and Ford rumored to announce partnership at CES; yes, it’s about self-driving cars
Google’s self-driving car systems are said to hit the public relatively soon, but so far the specifics have been vague. Google has said it will partner with other manufacturers, allowing them to use their systems. The Search Giant has also mentioned a taxi-like service that would have you thoughtlessly zipping through the city. What gives? Despite government (and public) concerns, the company has been pushing forward and it seems an important milestone is to be reached at CES 2016, this January.
A trio of anonymous internal sources are claiming Google and Ford have a partnership to announce in Las Vegas, next month. This is said to be a joint venture to work on self-driving cars, and it will come in the form of an independent company.
Google is great at creating smart systems, but people have been worried about the company’s ability to manufacture vehicles. After all, you would be trusting your life to Google every time you hop on one of their automated automobiles. And as cute as their little cars are, we would rather have a renown car maker in the labs.
Related content:
- “Google Auto” is the official name for Google’s self-driving car company
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- Amazing demonstration of Google’s self-driving car
This gives us a certain level of reassurance. In addition, companies like Google, Mercedes Benz and Volvo have promised to take responsibility for accidents caused by their self-driving systems. Google has also pledged to release information on whatever accidents their driver-less cars get into. It’s important to keep people informed, and Google is certainly not falling behind in this sense.
Also, this deal is said to be non-exclusive, which makes us wonder what the plan really is. Other companies will be able to jump in on the deal? Will they have to go through both Google and Ford to join the fun? We are not quite sure, but you can bet we will find out all the details during CES. In the meantime, hit the comments and let us know if you are ready for the driver-less car revolution.
Moto X Pure Edition (2014) now updating to Android 6.0 Marshmallow
As 2015 prepares to finish up and the next new year begin, owners of last year’s Moto X Pure Edition are inevitably wondering if Motorola will release Android 6.0 Marshmallow before January arrives. Whereas last year the company was quick to update the device for the release of Lollipop, things haven’t been going so smoothly this year. Thankfully, reports from users in various countries around the world indicate that the roll-out has begun formally, though some territories were early to the party.
The Android 6.0 update is around 884MB and can be manually checked for those who don’t want to wait for a notification to appear. To do so, hit the Settings menu, scroll to the bottom and find “About Phone” the select “System Updates” and see if the magic of Marshmallow is ready to go.
Please be aware that often times OEMs will issue “staged” roll-outs that see devices gradually having update access over the course of several days or even weeks in an attempt to minimize potential server traffic problems. If the prompt to download the new OS version is not appearing, prepare to wait a bit longer. Also be aware this update is for the 2014 (“2nd Gen”) Pure Edition -unlocked/SIM-free – variant and thus carriers will inevitably be on their own set schedule.
Android 6.0 brings with it Doze, a new feature that optimizes battery life by more aggressively managing the way in which apps behave when a device is in sleep mode and undisturbed. Now on Tap is another key addition: by holding down the “Home” button the OS will take a snapshot of the screen and analyze the content on it to allow direct access or usage of the information such as making an appointment. The last primary new feature is “App permissions” which give users more control over what any given app can do or have access to.
Android 6.0.1 has already been released earlier this month however, which brought with it new Emoji and bug fixes. It is unknown as to when or if Motorola plans to include it at a later date.
Are you the owner of a Moto X Pure Edition (2014)? Have you received the OTA yet? Drop us a line in the comments section and share your thoughts and machinations on the minutia of Marshmallow!
Get a 50% discount on any one album, courtesy of the Google Play Store
Have you been itching for a hot new (or not-so-new) album? Music can be pricey, but the Google Play Store is feeling very generous this holiday season and is giving you until early January to buy any one album for 50% off.
This offer is available from now until January 4th, 2016 at midnight. All you have to do is click through the link button below and the offer should be automatically applied during checkout. In the instance that it isn’t, simply use coupon code “ALBUM2015” (without the quotation marks, of course). And yes, this will work for any album… even the bad ones!
There are some limitations to keep in mind. For starters, only one album per account can be purchased at this promotional price. You must also be at least 13 years old and one of the select markets included in the promotion. This offer is only valid in “AU, BR, CA, DE, FR, GB, JP, MX, RU and US”.
Without further ado – go claim your album for 50% off the original price!
Watch this Lexus NX concept roll out on wheels made of ice
Lexus isn’t a newcomer to the world of bizarre vehicle concepts. Back in October, the company introduced the Origami Car, a working electric IS sedan made out of cardboard. Fast forward to today and Lexus is showing off an NX crossover with ice wheels — yes, ice wheels. This project, aptly called Ice-Tyre Lexus NX, features a set of hand-sculptured tires created from multiple blocks of ice, each one intended to recreate the look of Lexus’ alloy wheel and its companion Yokohama winter tire.
The automaker says it took three months to put everything together, which includes having to freeze the Lexus NX for five days in a sub-22-degree Fahrenheit (30 degrees Centigrade) temperatures. Wild.
Via: The Verge
Source: Lexus
BlackBerry may launch a second Android-powered smartphone in 2016
During a recent interview with Bloomberg, BlackBerry CEO John Chen hinted that the Canadian company may well launch a second Android-powered smartphone in 2016. Like the Priv, the upcoming device, which has been codenamed Vienna, is expected to a be a mid-range to high-end handset featuring the firm’s iconic hardware keyboard.
Unfortunately, Chen didn’t elaborate on a specific time frame for the device. He merely stated that its release will depend on how the Priv performs on the open market in the coming months. At present, the handset is only available in four countries, but will touch down in an additional thirty-one within the next three months.
Source: Bloomberg
Come comment on this article: BlackBerry may launch a second Android-powered smartphone in 2016
Woopower 50W 5-Port High Speed USB Charger (Review)
Design
The Woopower 5-port charger is exactly what it says it is. There is nothing fancy about it – it is a plastic brick with soft rubber feet that help keep it on my desk without sliding around. It has five ports and each USB port has its own LED light indicating the power status. It comes with a four foot power cord so you can set it up on top of a night stand or desk, and then simply connect your USB cables to charge your devices.
Usage
Chargers are about as exciting as watching grass grow. But fortunately the Woopower 5 port charger does have a purpose to serve and it does it well. I’ve charged smartwatches, USB type-C smartphones like the Nexus 5X and 6P, tablets and more. I love that it comes with a four foot cable so I can use my devices at my desk while plugged in to charge.
I really enjoy bringing it along when I travel as it cuts back on how many single port chargers I have to bring with me.
Amazon Description
- Simultaneous multi-port fast charging:50W power output among 5 charging ports,to five devices simultaneously charging can keep up to 2.1A current output for each port to achieve the purpose of high-speed charging
- Suitable to carry out:International universal input voltage (100 ~ 240V) power adapter, compact and lightweight, fit to go out and travel.
- Ensure safety: UL certified design, industrial grade high temperature fireproof material, good protection mechanism (over-current, over-temperature, short circuit protection)
- Offer: Woopower 5 port 50W Charger, 120cm detachable power cord
Summary
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