Galaxy S7 photo leaks show refinement to familiar designs
The unveiling of Samsung’s latest Galaxy handsets is fast approaching, but if you’re too antsy to wait, thankfully leakers have our backs. Today, we’ve gotten our best looks yet (allegedly) at the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. We also have some juicy details to round out the leaks.
First up is a rear shot of the Galaxy S7. We’ve previously heard that Samsung was working on slimming that unpopular camera hump from last year’s flagship, so many folks have been itching to get a visual of that effort.
While the camera component doesn’t look completely flush with the chassis, it does seem like a big improvement. If you’ve missed recent murmur about the S7’s camera module, it supposedly uses BRITECELL technology and underwent a reduction in megapixel count, from 16MP in the Galaxy S6 to 12MP (f/1.7 aperture lens).
Another interesting observation on the leaked image is that the back cover appears to be plastic rather than glass. But we shouldn’t jump to conclusions yet. It’s likely that this unit is a prototype. Also, notice that the Note5‘s curved back made a return.
Fortunately, that’s not all we have. Another image, of the alleged Galaxy S7 Edge, also surfaced.
This image doesn’t really show us anything we didn’t already know. We’re familiar with those sexy curved edges. The S7 Edge is supposed to be the larger of the pair (5.5″ vs 5.1″ on the S7), and it does look like it from these pictures.
Samsung is said to have refined the metal frame on the Galaxy S7, replacing it with a stronger magnesium alloy. Water resistance and considerable battery capacities have also been reiterated.
We all know that the chipset will be a beast (they always are). The AnTuTu benchmark score on the S7 Edge image is thought to be achieved with the newest Exynos SoC. But keep in mind that various sources have suggested that some markets will get the Snapdragon 820 (likely the U.S.). Quick charging will also get a significant boost, with a claim of 0 to 80% in just 30 minutes. Lastly, the Galaxy S7 is said to join LG in the high quality audio game, also packing the HiFi ESS Sabre 9018 DAC (digital-to-analog converter).
What do you think about the Galaxy S7 pair so fair? If these details are true, are you sold on one or the other?
Source: SamMobile
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[TA Deals] You need the Luminid Touch Light-Up Cable in your life (52% off)
Have you ever tried to plug your smartphone in after the lights were shut off? If you’ve ever brought your smartphone to bed and ended up surfing the web for another couple hours, it’s likely you know the struggle of getting the charger in the right place in the dark. Fortunately, the Luminid Touch Light-Up Cable over on Talk Android Deals won’t have you guessing in the dark any longer!
- Activate the automated touch light w/ your fingertips
- Use consistently; strong PVC jacket cord & strain relief won’t tear
- Sync & charge your phone simultaneously
- Use safely w/ micro USB compatible devices
- Get the flexibility of 40″ in length
It’s a neat cable, as the lights are operated by touch, letting you quickly and easily find the charging port on your smartphone in the dark. The suggested price of this cable sits at a meager $20, but you can grab the cable for a measly $8 over on Talk Android Deals. That’s maybe two cups of coffee from Starbucks! You’re saving a whopping 54% on this cable, not to even mention the included free shipping.
The cable is available in both micro-USB and Lightning options. Anyone plan on picking one up?
Come comment on this article: [TA Deals] You need the Luminid Touch Light-Up Cable in your life (52% off)
Law Firms Consider ‘Error 53’ Lawsuits Against Apple as Some Stores Authorized for Repairs
Several law firms are considering lawsuits against Apple following news that the company disables iPhone 6 models that use third-party parts for repairs that affect Touch ID, reports The Guardian. The “Error 53” controversy started last week when news circulated about customers who have had their iPhones disabled and rendered unusable by a mysterious “error 53” message.
It turns out Apple disables the iPhones of customers who have had unauthorized repairs on their devices with non-genuine parts. An Apple spokesperson explained that any inauthentic part affecting the Touch ID sensor will trigger the error message in an intentional effort to keep Touch ID and the secure enclave that stores fingerprint information safe. Damaged phones also have the potential to give the error.
“We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor. When iPhone is serviced by an authorised Apple service provider or Apple retail store for changes that affect the touch ID sensor, the pairing is re-validated. This check ensures the device and the iOS features related to touch ID remain secure. Without this unique pairing, a malicious touch ID sensor could be substituted, thereby gaining access to the secure enclave. When iOS detects that the pairing fails, touch ID, including Apple Pay, is disabled so the device remains secure.”
A UK barrister told The Guardian disabling iPhones “could potentially be viewed as an offense” under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, which covers the destruction of property, and a Seattle-based law firm, PVCA said it wants to bring a class action lawsuit against Apple, calling on affected customers to get in contact. PVCA is planning to represent customers for free and has outlined the issue on its website, suggesting Apple is violating consumer laws by forcing customers to use Apple-sanctioned repair services.
We believe that Apple may be intentionally forcing users to use their repair services, which cost much more than most third party repair shops. Where you could get your screen replaced by a neighborhood repair facility for $50-80, Apple charges $129 or more. There is incentive for Apple to keep end users from finding alternative methods to fix their products.
Apple may be planning to proactively head off lawsuits and assuage customer outrage. MacRumors has heard from a retail source that certain Apple Stores have received the go ahead from Apple to replace third-party screens and other third-party components to resolve the error 53 issue. The standard out-of-warranty fee is charged for the repairs and the replacement of non-genuine parts with Apple parts is limited to those affected by the error.
It is not yet clear if all Apple Stores have been authorized to repair error 53 iPhones as Apple’s only official statement is that it’s a security measure required to prevent fraudulent Touch ID sensors from being installed.
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Smart strap brings payments to your Pebble smartwatch
Right now, you have slim pickings if you want to pay for things from your wrist: there’s the Apple Watch, an upcoming Swatch model, eventual Samsung Gear S2 support and… that’s about it. However, Fit Pay might just widen the field a bit. It’s crowdfunding the Pagaré smart strap, which brings NFC-based tap-to-pay support to any Pebble Time smartwatch — yes, including the Round. It should work at most shops that accept Apple Pay or Android Pay (it uses a similar, token-based system), and it shares familiar security measures, such as disabling access when you remove your timepiece. You don’t even need to bring your phone once you’ve set things up.
If you’re interested, you’ll want to get in early. It takes a relatively modest $49 pledge to get a strap if you’re part of the first wave, but that price will go up to $69 if you’re late, or $89 if you wait until the official release. That’s a lot to shell out to add one feature to a smartwatch, especially when you won’t get the Pagaré until July at the earliest. With that said, this could be the ticket if you either have a smartphone that doesn’t do tap-to-pay (hi, OnePlus 2) or simply prefer Pebble’s lower-priced, longer-lasting smartwatches over the alternatives.
Via: The Verge
Source: Kickstarter, Fit Pay
Instagram confirms multiple account support is coming this week
The ability to post from multiple accounts inside the Instagram app is a feature users have begged the company to add for quite some time. After making an appearance in both the Android and iOS apps, the tool will go live this week. In addition to making things official today, Instagram says you’ll soon be able to add up to five accounts to the app. Of course, this means that you can toggle back and forth without having to log out and log back in each time you want to switch. What’s more, you’ll be able to receive notifications from each, so long as you have them turned on. It’s about freakin’ time.
Starting this week, you can switch between multiple accounts! 🎉
Learn more: https://t.co/Clq8JHzwaS pic.twitter.com/r6fb67XTQ8— Instagram (@instagram) February 8, 2016
Source: Instagram
Google brings back Security Checkup reward scheme just in time for Safer Internet Day
In preparation for Safer Internet Day which is will take place tomorrow Tuesday, February 9, Google has brought back its popular free storage reward. If you happened to miss the celebration last year, the search engine giant offered all users 2GB of additional Drive space to participate in a simple security checkup. The same scheme will run this year, but a couple of extra steps have been added in order to make your account more secure than ever before.
The audit itself takes around 2-to-3 minutes and requires you to sift through your account recovery options, trusted devices, permissions and 2-step verification settings. If everything appears to be in order and it doesn’t look like any of your details have been compromised, simply read through the Staying Safe tips, hit the OK button and Google will credit your account with the free storage.
It’s important to note, however, that tons of people all round the world will be partaking in this program, so if you notice that the extra space hasn’t shown up on your account immediately, don’t worry. It can take up to 24-hours for the system to process your request, verify that you have completed the checkup and credit your account.
Source: Google Security Checkup
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Gionee launches its first VoLTE smartphone in India
Chinese mobile manufacturer Gionee has today launched its first VoLTE-enabled smartphone, the S6, in India. The handset is available to purchase off-contract in three colorways — Gold, Silver and Rose Gold — from online independent retailer Flipkart and a handful of leading retail outlets in the region for ₹19,999 ($294).
Due to the inclusion of VoLTE connectivity on the S6, Gionee claims that the device has the correct specifications to offer up to 40% better speech quality than a standard smartphone operating on 4G. This is due to the mobile network technology and the handset’s high-end internals, which include a 5.5-inch HD display, a 1.3GHz octa-core CPU and 3GB of RAM.
The S6 also sports a Mali-T720MP3 GPU, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera complete with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 5-megapixel selfie shooter and a 3,150mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery. It features dual-SIM capabilities, too, which is a huge advantage for those with separate calling and data plans.
The unit ships running the latest build of Gionee’s very own Amigo 3.1 operating system, which is heavily based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The only major changes are user interface enhancements and some backstage code that has been designed to optimise performance and call quality.
For more information on picking up the Gionee S6 in India — hit the source link below.
Source: Flipkart
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Another LG G5 case appears on Amazon
This isn’t the first time case renders have appeared showing off design traits of the soon to be announced LG G5. Spigen, one of the most popular case brands, posted a new case on the Amazon marketplace to fit LG’s next flagship smartphone.
This case leak gives us a clear image at what to expect the front and rear of the G5 to look like. LG is planning to introduce some major design changes with the G5 and the leaked case pretty much confirms it.
The leaked case shows a design right on par with recent leaks and reports. You can bet that LG will include dual-camera lenses on the back with a rear-facing LED flash between the two. Instead of having the power button on the back, a fingerprint scanner will seemingly take its place. The volume controls are also moving. The buttons will now be on the side, rather than the rear. The opposite side will house the power button. Most interestingly, there’s no cutout on the back for a speaker grill, and it doesn’t appear to be on the front either. This suggests that the speaker will be moved to the bottom of the device.
Nothing will be official until LG holds its unveiling. This is set to take place on February 21, just hours prior to Samsung’s Unpacked event. Both devices will be showcased at MWC 2016, which will begin the following day. The Spigen case will be available in mid-March, thus suggesting an early launch for the G5. We’ll see what happens.
Source: Amazon
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Apple Seeds Third Beta of tvOS 9.2 to Developers
Apple today provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming 9.2 update to tvOS, the operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV and powers its built-in App Store. Today’s tvOS 9.2 beta 3 comes two weeks after Apple released the second beta of tvOS 9.2 and two weeks after the release of tvOS 9.1.1, a minor update to tvOS 9.1. tvOS 9.2 has been in testing since January 11.
tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Those who have already installed the second tvOS 9.2 beta will be able to download the third update over the air.
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tvOS 9.2 is a significant update for the tvOS operating system. It brings support for Bluetooth keyboards, allowing a keyboard to be paired to the Apple TV for text entry. Bluetooth keyboard support is a major feature that was missing from previous versions of tvOS and its addition should make it much easier to do tasks like entering passwords on the fourth-generation Apple TV.
Along with Bluetooth keyboard support, the tvOS 9.2 update introduces support for grouping apps into folders on the Home screen like on iOS devices, plus it includes a new look for the App Switcher interface and it brings support for iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos.
tvOS 9.2 also introduces MapKit so developers can incorporate maps into their tvOS apps, and it adds Siri support for US Spanish (in the US only) and French Canadian (in Canada only). UK English, Australian English, and US English are also now available as Siri options in the UK, Australian, and US Storefronts when English is set as the tvOS language.
We’ll update this post with any new features that are discovered in the third beta of tvOS 9.2.
What’s new in tvOS 9.2 beta 3:
Dictation – There’s now support for onscreen text entry via dictation in countries where Siri is available. When updating to tvOS 9.2 beta 3, users will be prompted to enable or disable dictation. With dictation, Apple TV users can dictate text and spell user names and passwords rather than typing them.
With dictation enabled, the tvOS search bar alternates between a blank search field and an option to hold the Siri button to dictate text.
While speaking, a live levels meter is then displayed on the screen.
App Store Siri Search – Siri is now able to search for App Store apps, improving the app discovery process in the App Store. It’s now possible to ask Siri to search for an app or to search for a category of apps, such as games and bring up a listing.
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Apple Seeds Third WatchOS 2.2 Beta to Developers
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the second watchOS 2.2 beta and two months after releasing watchOS 2.1, the first major update to the watchOS 2 operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 2.2 has been in testing since January 11.
The third watchOS 2.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone running the iOS 9.3 beta by going to General –> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, with each watch running watchOS 2.2 and each iPhone running iOS 9.3. watchOS 2.2 also includes a revamped look for the built-in Maps app on the Apple Watch with access to the Nearby feature first introduced with iOS 9 and new buttons for quickly accessing directions to home and work.
There are were no other obvious outward-facing changes introduced in the first two watchOS 2.2 betas aside from the changes to the Maps app, but the update undoubtedly includes under-the-hood performance updates and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1.
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