Firefox Browser gets another big update to v44
Firefox Browser may live permanently in the shadows of Chrome, but the app is surprisingly good and really deserves more recognition than it gets. The Firefox update to v44 adds a bunch of new features, including cloud printing support, a new homepage option, improved “open tabs” screen and search history suggestions.
In combination with Firefox on desktop, Mozilla is putting forward a pretty strong case for checking it out, especially if you haven’t done so for a while. For example, the desktop version of Firefox recently added Web Push, a feature that allows the browser to deliver pop-up notifications just like on Android without needing the tab open.
Back to the Android app, this is the second big update Firefox has received in a month, with the previous bump to v43 updating the Android interface, adding the tab audio indicator, and reading list tweaks. Today’s update to v44 delivers the ability to set a homepage (as opposed to the Top Sites panel), a new tab manager page and support for cloud printing.
See also: 10 best Android browsers of 2016
Firefox will now prompt you before opening Intent URIs in a private tab and will show search history suggestions. The app has also added a web-based Firefox Accounts page and there’s some technical security protocol and certificates changes. If you have the browser installed it will update automatically, and if you don’t you should give it a look, because it’s fast, stable and secure.
LG has confirmed that it will launch two flagship smartphones this year
LG has announced that despite substantial losses in both Q3 and Q4 of 2015, it will be launching not just one, but two flagship smartphones in 2016. The South Korean company also disclosed it will unveil a new “cost-competitive value” range of devices, which it hopes will increase its gross profit, thus putting it back into the green zone.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer didn’t reveal any details regarding the impending flagships, but we presume it’s talking about the upcoming G5, which we believe will be introduced at Mobile World Congress in three weeks time, and potentially a second-generation V10. That said, it’s quite possible that LG is working on a new iteration of its curved self-healing handset, the G Flex.
I, for one, am eager to see what LG has come up with for the G5. If recent leaks and rumors are anything to go by, it certainly looks like it’s set to be a fantastic device with the potential to compete head-to-head with the market’s finest smartphones, which should, in theory, win the company some new customers.
Reports from reliable tipsters suggest that the G5 will pack a 5.6-inch 4K display, a Snapdragon 820 System-on-Chip (SoC), an Adreno 530 GPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of expandable internal storage, dual 20-megapixel rear-facing cameras, an 8-megapixel front-facing shooter and a 3,000mAh removable Li-Ion battery.
Source: LG
Come comment on this article: LG has confirmed that it will launch two flagship smartphones this year
Twitter Close to Hiring Former Apple PR Director Natalie Kerris
Apple’s longtime public relations executive Natalie Kerris, who retired last April after 14 years at the company, is the leading candidate for Twitter’s head of communications, according to Re/code.
Kerris initially sought to succeed longtime Apple PR head Katie Cotton, who retired in 2014, but fellow Apple PR veteran Steve Dowling was named as Cotton’s permanent successor last April.
Kerris previously said that her decision to retire and “enjoy life” came after spending two weeks with her family in Italy, but it appears she may put those plans on hold in joining Twitter.
Instead, she has recently spent a lot of time talking to top Twitter execs and is the leading candidate for the job. If hired, Kerris will report to general counsel Vijaya Gadde and not, interestingly, to newly named CMO Leslie Berland. Gadde conducted the search, which has been taking place for months.
Kerris was Senior Director of Worldwide Corporate Communications at Apple, where she served in public relations and communications roles since 2001. Kerris worked closely with the late Steve Jobs and oversaw the launch of the iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air and, more recently, Apple Pay and Apple Watch.
Kerris would replace Gabriel Stricker, who left Twitter to lead Google Fiber communications.
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Samsung may launch its own phone upgrade program
If Apple and Samsung were humans rather than multi-billion dollar multinational corporations, the best way to describe them would probably be “frenemies.” Time and again one looks to the other for inspiration, money, or as a source of parts, and today’s no different. The latest? Reuters reports (sourcing Korea’s Electronic Times) that the Korean tech giant is going to launch a phone upgrade program like Cupertino did last fall with the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Basically, you’ll be able to upgrade every year so long as you’re on a contract.
The publication says that it could happen as early as March when the Galaxy S7 launches on home soil and could possibly allow folks to upgrade their devices annually in other countries in time. Until then, we’ll just have to pass the days figuring out what other tech companies round out the pack of mean girls here and if butter is in fact a carb or not.
[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Via: Reuters
Steel yarn jackets absorb energy from the sun to keep you warm
ThermalTech’s jackets don’t look too different from a North Face, but the company promises they’re more unique (and less bulky) than the standard fare. See, they sandwich a “smart” fabric layer made of lightweight stainless steel yarn in between the outer layer and the lining. That fabric absorbs UV rays from the sun and converts whatever it collects into heat to keep you warm. The company says the jackets can reach 18 degrees F in just two minutes under the sun even when it’s cold. You don’t have to worry even if a snowstorm’s blocking out the sky either — the jackers can absorb energy from artificial light, as well.
Sadly, you can’t buy one to protect you from the cold right now. ThermalTech has launched an Indiegogo campaign you can back to get one as early as August 2016, though you really shouldn’t treat Indiegogo/other crowdfunding websites as a pre-order platform. If you’d like to take a chance, you can get the “Street” version of the jacket when you pledge $139, which is 50 percent off its expected retail price. To get the more heavy-duty versions, “Explorer” and “Extreme,” you’ll have to pledge $10 and $20 more, respectively.
Source: Thermaltech
LG Display sees Q4 profits tumble, bets big on OLED
LG Display has just announced its fourth quarter and yearly accounting details, revealing a tough fourth quarter but another overall profitable year for the industry leading display manufacturer.
Between October and December 2015, LG Display generated an operating profit of 61 billion won ($50.6 million). This equals a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 82 percent and a year-on-year fall of 90 percent, when the company posted a 626 billion won profit in Q4 2014. However, revenue generated in Q4 2015 was down only 10 percent compared with 2014. Annually, LG Display increased its operating profit by 20 percent, from 1,357 billion won up to 1,626 billion won.
LG suggests that falling global panel prices, particularly as a result of cheaper Chinese competitors, and a generally poor economic outlook had directly impacted on its business. Furthermore, LG Display is in the process of making a number of expensive acquisitions and investments as its moves part of its business into the production of new OLED displays, which the company is anticipating high demand for in the coming years. According to a recent filling, the company is investing a further USD$380 million into a new production facility.
See also: LG announces substantial investment in next gen OLED production
After accounting for all of the company’s expenditure, LG Display posted a net loss of 14 billion won in the quarter, compared with an income of 389 billion won a year earlier. However, annual net income came in at KRW 1,023 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12 percent from KRW 917 billion.
As we know, LG Display provides panels to the company’s smartphone division, therefore one profits directly from the other. LCD mobile panels accounted for 32 percent of sales last year. Although LG did not particularly specify, the lower Display profits in Q3 and Q4 are likely closely linked to the company’s lower smartphone sales in the tail end of the year, when compared with 2014.
Although LG’s smartphone division may have posted a loss for the year, some of this is offset by the revenue that it created for LG Display, so the overall picture still looks quite healthy for LG.
Read more: LG posts narrower loss, sold 60 million handsets last year
Looking ahead, LG Display is not expecting demand to recover quickly in the first quarter of the year, but still plans to press ahead with investments into new OLED production facilities.
LG Display Reports Fourth Quarter 2015 Results
SEOUL, Korea (Jan. 27, 2016) – LG Display reported today unaudited earnings results based on consolidated K-IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) for the three-month period ending December 31, 2015.
Revenue in the fourth quarter of 2015 increased by 5% to KRW 7,496 billion from KRW 7,158 billion in the third quarter of 2015 but decreased by 10% from KRW 8,342 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2015 recorded KRW 61 billion, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 82% from an operating profit of KRW 333 billion in the third quarter of 2015, and a year-on-year decrease of 90% from the operating profit of KRW 626 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2015 was KRW 882 billion, compared with EBITDA of KRW 1,178 billion in the third quarter of 2015 and with EBITDA of KRW 1,532 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2015 amounted to KRW 14 billion, compared with net income of KRW 198 billion in the third quarter of 2015, and with net income of KRW 389 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014.
LG Display announced its fifteenth straight quarterly operating profit at KRW 61 billion, and surpassed an annual operating profit of KRW 1,000 billion for three consecutive years based on its product differentiation and technology leadership amid falling panel prices due to global economic recession and the expanded supply by Chinese panel makers.
The company recorded annual revenue of KRW 28,384 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7% from KRW 26,456 billion in 2014, and annual operating profit of KRW 1,626 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20% from KRW 1,357 billion in 2014. EBITDA for 2015 was KRW 5,001 billion, and annual net income was KRW 1,023 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12% from KRW 917 billion.
Despite the significant panel price decline resulting from global economic recession and the expanded supply by Chinese panel makers, LG Display was able to continue its fifteenth straight quarterly operating profit through expansion of differentiated products such as Ultra HD TV panels, Advanced In-cell Touch (AIT) panels, and In-Plane Switching(IPS) panels.
The Board of Directors meeting decided on a dividend of KRW 500 per common share, in keeping with the previous year’s dividend. The decision is subject to the approval of the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in March.
LG Display will strengthen its market leadership by providing customers differentiated value with continuous investment for OLED market expansion and competitiveness enhancement.
TFT-LCD panels for TVs accounted for 34% of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2015, mobile device panels for 32%, tablet PCs and notebook PCs 19%, and monitors 15%.
With 78% in the liability-to-equity ratio, as of December 31, 2015, and decreased inventory asset to KRW 2,352 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with KRW 2,876 billion in the previous quarter, the financial structure of the company remains stable.
Mr. Don Kim, CFO of LG Display, said “Given the continuing economic uncertainty, we are not in a favorable situation to expect demand to recover in the first quarter of 2016. However, the company aims to sustain market credibility and create value focusing on differentiated technology competitiveness. We will continue preparing for the future of OLED and invest in differentiation including in new OLED facilities.”
About LG Display
LG Display Co., Ltd. [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220] is the world’s leading innovator of display technologies including thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, OLEDs, and flexible displays. The company manufactures and provides TFT-LCD panels in a broad range of sizes and specifications for use in TVs, monitors, notebook PCs, and various other applications including mobile devices and tablets. LG Display also produces OLED light panels in a variety of shapes and sizes. LG Display currently operates fabrication facilities in Korea and China, and back-end assembly facilities in Korea, China and Poland. The company has a total of 50,000 employees operating worldwide. Please visit http://www.lgdisplay.com <http://www.lgdisplay.com> for more information.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Additional information as to factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements can be found in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lenovo Vibe X3 arrives in India with HD Audio and fingerprint scanner
The Lenovo Vibe X3 will go on sale in India on January 28 for Rs. 19,999, following a successful launch in China in November. The device will be available exclusively through Amazon India starting at 2 PM local time, making it the second Lenovo device to be launched in the sub-continent after the Lenovo K4 Note earlier this month.
The Lenovo Vibe X3 specs include a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, hexa-core Snapdragon 808 (with two A57 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz and four A53’s at 1.4 GHz), 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage and microSD expansion up to 128 GB via a multi-purpose dual-SIM slot.
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The Vibe X3 also packs a fingerprint scanner, 21 MP primary camera with a Sony IMX230 sensor, PDAF, LED flash, f/2.0 aperture and support for 4K video. Up front there’s a beefy 8 MP selfie camera and the whole thing is powered by a solid 3,500 mAh battery, making the Vibe X3 a force to be reckoned with.
Running Lenovo’s Vibe UI on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop, the Vibe X3 is jam packed with a lot of the same entertainment features as the K4 Note, including support for VR TheaterMax via the optional AntVR headset, Lenovo Sound via the Dolby Atmos-Equipped dual front-facing speakers, some funky Skull Candy headphones and HD Audio quality through both the speakers and headphones. In case you can’t tell, audio fidelity is one of the main selling points of the Vibe X3.
What do you think of the Vibe X3 for the price? Have you had a Lenovo phone before?
Lenovo will launch the Vibe X3 in India tomorrow for INR 19,999
Following the Vibe X3’s launch in the United States back in December, Lenovo has today announced it will release the mid-range handset in India on Thursday, January 28, at 9:00 AM. The device will be available to purchase exclusively through independent online retailer Amazon India in either Black or White colorways for ₹19,999, which is approximately $295.
Just in case you missed its announcement, the X3 packs a 5.5-inch Full HD display, a Snapdragon 808 hexa-core System-on-Chip (SoC), 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable internal storage, a 21MP rear-facing camera, an 8MP front-facing shooter, a 3,500mAh battery, a couple of front-facing stereo speakers and a snappy biometric scanner.
In terms of connectivity, this Vibe variant is a little different to the one that launched in the US as this model has dual-SIM compatibilities on board. All other networking options remain the same, meaning that it still bundles support for 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, dual-band Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 (LE) and A-GPS.
The handset will ship running the latest version of Lollipop straight out of the box. However, it is expected to receive the recently-announced Marshmallow update before the end of the second-quarter.
To find out more about picking up the Lenovo Vibe X3 in India — hit the source link below.
Source: Amazon India
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Safari Crashing for Both iOS and Mac Users, Fixes Identified
Safari users are today reporting an odd issue causing Apple’s web browser app to crash on both Macs and iOS devices. Several Mac users are also not receiving autocomplete suggestions when entering text into Safari’s address bar, with many pages including sites like Google failing to load completely. For many iPhone and iPad users, simply tapping on the URL bar causes Safari to crash.
URL searches, autocomplete, Top Sites and other Safari features rely on queries being sent to and returned by Apple’s servers, suggesting this is where the problem lies. The issue also seems to depend on what data the browser most recently cached.
The current fix for iOS and Mac involves disabling Safari Suggestions, which stops the app from crashing to the home screen. On your iOS device, go into Settings, tap Safari, and toggle off the “Safari Suggestions” switch. On your Mac, the same setting is found in Safari -> Preferences -> Search.
Alternatively, opening a Private Browsing window also appears to solve the issue.
The problem appears to be affecting users around the world and will likely be resolved when Apple corrects the service on their end.
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Snapchat for Android updated with support for ‘Video Rewind’ filter
Snapchat has begun rolling out a much-requested maintenance update for its Android client through the Play Store. According to the short changelog, the upgrade introduces the sought-after Video Rewind filter, which previously was only available to users of the social networking platform who sent snaps using an iPhone, iPod or iPad.
The filter enables users to record a standard 10-second video using Snapchat, then play it in reverse by applying the Rewind overlay. Using the feature couldn’t be easier. Once you’ve recorded the video, just swipe right until you see three reverse arrows appear on the screen. Then you can watch the clip in reverse.
There are two ways to download the update. You can manually fetch it by grabbing your smartphone or tablet, opening up the Play Store, toggling the hamburger menu by swiping in from the left-hand side of your display, selecting ‘My Apps’, clicking on ‘Snapchat’, then tapping the ‘Update’ button. Alternatively, you can sideload it onto your handset by installing the APK below.
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