Indian startup CREO’s Mark 1 promises to be a new phone every month

With most Indian vendors focusing on making decent hardware available at affordable prices, a startup based out of Bangalore is taking a new route by focusing on the software experience. CREO — the vendor behind the Chromecast alternative Tewee — is all set to launch its first handset, the Mark 1, which will be based on an Android fork that will continually receive new updates every month.

CREO mentions that the Mark 1 will receive one breakthrough feature every month, based on requests from the user community. While regular feature updates are not a new concept — with Xiaomi pioneering the idea — CREO is promising to keep the Mark 1 running like a new phone with every new feature addition. Says CREO:

At CREO, we’re committed to #MakeBetter Android. And because we want to leave no stone unturned, we’re building both, the Operating System and the smartphone. With our OS we’ll send you relevant updates that shall keep your phone running just as new as the first time you held it. And not just that, we’ll also ship a big new feature with every update.

You shall be our companion on this journey to build a smartphone with a smart OS, that you truly deserve.

There’s no indication as to the specs on offer with the Mark 1, but the video showcases a device with a metallic frame and a glass back. The forked version will run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, with the team at CREO focusing on adding features that are not available on any other Android handset.

Sign up at CREO

Thanks Rohit Yadav!

Microsoft Xbox One to run full Windows 10 apps this summer

Last year at Microsoft’s Build developers conference, a company representative told Pocket-lint that the switch to a Windows 10-based dashboard for Xbox One would open up the floodgates to “thousands of apps”.

However, the console was updated to Windows 10 in November and we didn’t get the swarm of applications we expected. Instead, the company concentrated on making the platform stable.

Now it seems Microsoft is ready to make good its promise. It has announced that full Windows 10 apps will be able to run on the Xbox One from this summer.

Microsoft made the announcement at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, according to Business Insider.

The announcement also stated that the Xbox Store and Windows Store for apps and content will be merged into one – something we also reported on last May. This makes sense for easy access to everything from one place. We imagine the Xbox specific apps and games will come under their own tab for continued easy access.

READ: How Xbox One backwards compatibility works: The Xbox 360 games list and more

This announcement also means that Windows 10 app developers have an even more attractive reason to develop apps for the platform. It can now reach more people than ever across its various hardware variants, all after building just one version of the app.

The united app platform is great news for Xbox One as it gives it yet another layer of appeal. It’s likely social media, messaging, music, video and streaming apps will be big on the console. If other apps like Microsoft Word make it is not clear. But this, with the option to use a wireless keyboard and mouse, could essentially turn the console into a PC.

Microsoft will hold this year’s Build developer conference on 30 March where more details on this will likely be revealed.

READ: Windows 10 tips and tricks

HTC Vive will be available to pre-order and try out from these high street retailers

We’ve quite rightly raved about our adventures with the HTC Vive virtual reality headset in the last year or so, but the only way you can discover what the fuss is about is to experience it yourself.

Thankfully, HTC has partnered with a number of stores across the UK to give you the opportunity to do just that. In addition, should you fall head over heels with the device, you can pre-order one while you’re there.

The company has struck deals with Dixons Carphone, Overclockers UK and Scan Computers to offer public HTC Vive demonstrations and pre-order options in some of their high-street shops.

READ: HTC Vive preview: An experience that’s out of this world

Participating stores are Currys PC World retail outlets in Leeds (Birstall), Reading and London’s Tottenham Court Road, Overclockers UK in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, and Scan Computers in Bolton.

They now feature HTC Vive demonstration stations, where you can book a slot to try out the headset for yourself.

The HTC Vive will reach customers “from May 2016” and is priced at £689. For that you get the headset, two sensors, two controllers and a microphone. HTC is also bundling three games and experiences: Tilt Brush, Fantastic Contraption and Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives.

Stats show small drones pose ‘minimal’ risk to planes

Small drones — the common consumer ones weighing under 4.41 pounds — pose very little risk to planes, according to a new study by George Mason University’s Mercatus Center. Since people have only begun buying up UAVs recently, the team took 25 years of bird collision data from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) wildlife strike database. They found that while there are 160,000 recorded bird strikes since 1990, only 14,314 incidents caused any damage to planes. Most of the culprits were bigger birds flying in formation, and only 3 percent of collisions with smaller birds comparable in size to consumer drones ever resulted in damage.

The Mercatus team also took into account that the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) found last year that the FAA recorded even simple drone sightings as a “near miss.” If you’ll recall, the decision to require drone owners to register machines weighing more than 250 grams (.55 pounds) was based on fears that the UAVs could put planes at risk. Apparently, though, out of the 764 reported incidents, only 27 were actual near misses.

Based on all these information, the group concluded that it will take 1.87 million years of flight time for a lone 2kg (4.41 pounds) drone to damage an aircraft. Further, it will take 187 million years of flight time for a UAV to cause injury to a passenger on board. On the other hand, they do acknowledge a lack of data on exactly what kind of damage a UAV can cause, since turbines are only tested to see how they’ll handle bird strikes. We doubt this study will make the FAA reconsider the compulsory registration, but if it does, then raising the size limit required for registration may be a good start.

Via: The Next Web

Source: Mercatus Center

Apple loses video streaming patent case in Germany

OpenTV might not be able to beat Apple in a popularity contest, but it just won a court case against Tim Cook and his crew in Germany. The software maker filed a lawsuit against Apple in 2014, accusing the company of infringing on five patents related to video streaming technologies used by iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TV. Well, Cupertino has recently received some bad news, because the Dusseldorf District Court has ruled in OpenTV’s favor. The court told the tech titan that any product it sells in Germany must not use the technologies that infringe on OpenTV’s patents.

That will obviously be a pain to comply with, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Apple appeals the decision. It’s still unclear what Cupertino plans to do next, though, as it hasn’t released an official statement yet. Note that the tech corporation’s court battle with the digital TV software provider is far from over: they have a similar ongoing patent-related case in the US. OpenTV also sued Netflix for the same reason back in 2012, but the video-on-demand service ended up settling the case almost three years later.

Source: Reuters

First Official Nintendo iOS Game ‘Miitomo’ Hits App Store

Nintendo’s first official iOS game, Miitomo, made its long-awaited debut in the Japanese App Store yesterday.

As promised, the company’s first foray into smartphone apps is a free-to-play social title in which players can create and customise their own avatars, known as Miis, which can communicate with other Miis on the social network.

Apart from the social angle, the main incentive to play is to earn points which can be exchanged for discounts on console and handheld games, console themes and other rewards through the company’s new loyalty program, My Nintendo, which also launched in Japan alongside the game.

MacRumors sister site Touch Arcade has posted its first impressions on Miitomo, which is currently limited to the Japanese App Store but expected to roll out to most countries by the end of the month.

If you simply can’t wait, Toucharcade has also posted a helpful guide explaining how to download games from other regions.

Nintendo has promised more games for smartphones, some of which are expected to be pay-to-download. Registrations have also gone live for Nintendo’s new multiplatform account system, Nintendo Account, which connects PC, Nintendo hardware and smartphone users, and enables the transfer of game data between mobile and console games.

Tag: Nintendo
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LG Display will soon start making flexible OLED light panels

LG Display is investing in an OLED light panel manufacturing facility as the panel maker looks to new revenue sources beyond the television and mobile segments. The plant will mark LG’s foray into the general lighting market, with the vendor looking to focus on flexible OLED light panels.

The initial focus for the factory will be to produce lighting for high-end commercial stores, following which LG will turn its attention toward the consumer market:

The company will firstly focus on task lighting and decorative lighting in high-end retail stores and in luxury hospitality; and expand to the general lighting market going forward. Also, the company will focus on automotive and convergence applications such as OLED light panels merged with furniture, architectural materials, electronic devices and more.

The plant will have an initial monthly capacity of 15,000 sheets, with production set to commence starting early next year. It will be interesting to see the hardware that LG will offer in this space, particularly in the connected home segment.

LG Display to Build World’s First 5th Generation OLED Light Panel Plant

Mass production to start in first half of 2017

Seoul, Korea (Mar 17, 2016) – LG Display announced today that it will invest in a new OLED light panel manufacturing facility. The planned facility will be the first 5th generation (1000 x 1200mm) OLED light panel manufacturing plant in the world. It is to be located in the South Korean city of Gumi, where it will produce a range of OLED light panels.

The initial input capacity at the plant will be 15,000 glass substrates per month. The monthly input capacity could be gradually ramped up depending on the market situation.

LG Display expects the increased production with the new facility to give the company economies-of-scale. This will help the company obtain significant price competitiveness. In addition, the accumulated OLED display technical know-how will allow LG Display to considerably enhance OLED light product quality.

The 5th generation facility will give the company panel size flexibility. With the larger glass substrate, LG Display will be able to produce a wide range of different size light panels, including giant ones. Further, this ability to make giant panels will better enable the company to penetrate the general lighting market.

The investment decision follows the acquisition by LG Display of the OLED light business of its sister company, LG Chem in December, 2015.

The plan for the new facility is in keeping with LG Display’s vision of bringing the exciting new OLED technology to customers around the world in the broadest array of applications. The company will firstly focus on task lighting and decorative lighting in high-end retail stores and in luxury hospitality; and expand to the general lighting market going forward. Also, the company will focus on automotive and convergence applications such as OLED light panels merged with furniture, architectural materials, electronic devices and more.

Mr. Young Kwon Song, Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy & Marketing Group at LG Display, said, “Our OLED light business will further strengthen LG Display’s commitment to nurture OLED as the future growth engine. Based on LG Display’s strong track-record and know-how in OLED display business, we will create synergy with the OLED light business and maintain our strong position in the overall OLED industry going forward.”

LG’s OLED light experience began in 2000 with R&D into OLED materials at the Group’s chemicals affiliate, LG Chem, with production of OLED light panels beginning in 2012. The acquisition last year of the OLED light panel manufacturing business by LG Display has been creating synergies with its production infrastructure and technology in OLED displays. It allows the company to save costs through integrated purchasing and shared investments, increase productivity by drawing on the accumulated knowledge of the display business, and help improve production infrastructure and use of technology patents.

OLED light is made up of layers of organic materials which is self-illuminating and consumes less power and also emits lower heat than conventional lighting. It is environmentally friendly and is closest to natural light. Due to its ability to be thin and flexible, it is suitable for different applications and venues and could create new markets for lighting.

Apple will power part of iCloud with Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Platform has reportedly scored another major client after getting Spotify in February: Apple. Cupertino has struck a multi-million dollar deal with its staunchest rival to move part of iCloud and its other cloud-based offerings to GCP, according to Financial Times and CRN. Sources say the company’s using a combination of Amazon Web Services, Microsoft’s Azure and its own data centers at the moment. Neither corporation has confirmed the info yet, but CRN’s sources told the publication that the deal is worth between $400 and $600 million.

Google has apparently been getting more high-profile customers, because it’s aggressively pursuing them in an effort to catch up to Amazon and Microsoft. The Information’s Amir Efrati tweeted that it will take Apple a year to move to the Big G’s infrastructure, though, and it might not make Google any money.

It’s true, @iCloud to be partially powered by @googlecloud. But will take a year & unlikely to be profitable. @awscloud lost $ from iCloud.

— Amir Efrati (@amir) March 16, 2016

While this is clearly a victory for one of Alphabet’s properties, it might be shortlived. The iPhone-maker has plans to expand its existing data centers and to build new ones, which could eventually power its cloud-based services.

Source: Financial Times, CRN

Do Griffin’s Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge cases provide enough protection? (Review + Giveaway)

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is the coolest new device to hit store shelves. The $800 device is all glass wrapped around a metal frame. With that much breakable material,

Self-lacing Nikes are real, will go on sale later this year

While we’re still waiting for the Back to the Future-styled Nike Mag, the company has unveiled its first “self-lacing” shoe in another silhouette. The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 senses the presence of the wearer’s heel, and tightens its laces accordingly. Senior Innovator Tiffany Beers led the project, and says once the shoe is on, the wearer can adjust the fit with two buttons on the side to get things perfect.

Of course, Nike isn’t stopping there, as famed shoe designer Tinker Hatfield is already looking forward to versions that adjust fit on the fly, as the athlete needs more or less tension. The HyperAdapt 1.0 is set to arrive this holiday season in three colors (including that Nike Mag-like lighting), and will go on sale only to Nike+ members for an unspecified price.

Speaking of Nike+. that app is getting a redesign in June that the company says will make it almost as personal as the fit on those adaptive-laced shoes. One login will tie users to the SNKRS, Run Club and Training Club apps, and provide product recommendations that are individually tailored. Nike is going all out to push purchases with a personal touch, including a “Services” tab that will provide concierge-like access to “Nike+ Experts” to answer all your burning sportswear queries. or book a reservation at a Nike store.

This is all a part of Nike Innovation 2016, and sneakerheads can check out the site for other new products on the way. That includes the Air Vapor Max that ditches its foam midsole entirely, relying only on the company’s vaunted airbag technology for cushioning, the new “engineered down to the pixel” KD9 and other products that are part of what Nike is calling an “era of innovation.” The only problem? None of those innovations can make me shoot like Steph Curry (yet), and he’s signed to Under Armour.

Source: Nike