Samsung Leak Reveals ‘Smart Glow’ Rear-Side Notification System for Phones
An interesting leak has emerged online this morning that suggests Samsung is about to bring a new type of light notification technology to the rear case of its smartphones.
Android phones often come with a separate notification LED on the front of the handset that alerts users to missed messages and calls. Otherwise, notifications are usually assumed to relate to the display of a mobile device.
However, leaked specs and images that appeared on Dutch mobile tech site Galaxy Club show a new type of notification system for the back of a phone that Samsung is calling ‘Smart Glow’.
Smart Glow system expected to appear in the Samsung Galaxy J2 (Image: Galaxy Club)
The system features a luminous ring that runs around the handset’s rear camera lens and which lights up to alert users, glowing different colors depending on the function in use.
For example, the ring of light will glow to indicate that the rear camera has detected a face, allowing the user to take a selfie with the superior-quality rear lens.
The Smart Glow technology may also be used to communicate alerts when the handset has been placed face down on a surface, allowing users to choose specific colors to indicate particular notification types. Colors will also show when the battery is running low or when it has reached a full charge.
The website suggests that the notification system will appear in the Samsung Galaxy J2, due to launch in India later this year. The feature has yet to be officially announced by Samsung, so the likelihood of its appearance in the company’s flagship phones like the Galaxy Note 7 remains unknown.
The idea that Apple might one day try something similar with a future iPhone is not impossible. The most obvious candidate for the implementation of a rear notification system is the iconic Apple logo that appears on the rear of every iPhone.
The same logo on a MacBook lid glows whenever the laptop is opened, and speculation that Apple planned to use a lighted logo on its phones has existed ever since iPhone 6 leaks began appearing showing a chassis cut-out and the use of an embedded logo.
Those rumors were never realized, although third-party hacks do exist that allow iPhone 6 owners to make the logo on their handsets light up using LEDs.
Early rumors for next year’s so-called “iPhone 8” suggest the Cupertino company won’t debut a spec-bumped, internally upgraded “iPhone 7s”, but a completely overhauled handset with major design changes and new, next-generation features, like wireless charging, a Touch ID-equipped OLED display, and no home button.
At its Worldwide Developer Conference earlier this week, Apple announced a raft of updates to notifications and the way that developers are able to present them to users in iOS 10. No hardware announcements accompanied the conference, however.
Update: One of our forum members has noted that a setting in iOS 9’s Accessibility options enables visual notifications on an iPhone using the rear LED flash. To use the setting, open the Settings app, tap General -> Accessibility, and Toggle LED Flash for Alerts to ON.
Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: Samsung
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Facebook Includes Secret Soccer Game in Latest ‘Messenger’ App Update
Facebook has included a secret soccer game in the latest update to its Messenger app to celebrate Euro 2016 and Copa America.
To play the game, called “Keepy Up”, update the iOS Messenger app and send a friend a soccer ball emoji, then tap the emoji in the chat thread to launch the game, the aim of which is to keep the ball in the air.
The game can be started again using the same emoji in the same thread, and high scores are posted in the chat window.
Facebook’s previous secret game was basketball-themed to celebrated March Madness and the new NBA season. The game proved a bit hit with users, having since been played over 1 billion times, according to the company.
Earlier this month, Facebook also added 1,500 new emojis to Messenger in order to cater for the diversity of its user base.
Facebook Messenger is a free download for iPhone and iPad on the App Store. [Direct link]
Tag: Facebook Messenger
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Latest iPhone 7 Concept Imagines New Handset Running iOS 10
Case designs, drawings, and renders for the “iPhone 7” and “iPhone 7 Plus” have been propagating online for several months now, with most agreeing that the 2016 smartphone will adopt the same design language of the iPhone 6s. Apple is still expected to introduce a few new exclusive features on this year’s iPhone, possibly including a Smart Connector, dual-lens camera, redesigned antennae bands, and no 3.5mm headphone jack.
Some of these additions — mainly the dual-lens camera — are rumored to be solely found on the iPhone 7 Plus, while the existence of others are still debated as we move closer to September and the expected reveal of each handset. Today, designer Mathijs Schrauwen (via iPhoned) [Google Translate] has imagined these rumors into an iPhone 7 rendering, alongside the newest information coming out of WWDC regarding the feature-packed additions of iOS 10.
Schrauwen’s designs show off the expected dual-lens camera system of the new iPhone, housed inside a small pill-shaped enclosure along with a horizontally aligned flash. The back also honors the rumor that Apple will realign the antennae bands from the current design, which cut across the back of the iPhone. The designer went for a Space Gray look, contrasting recent, questionable rumors that Apple might ditch the color in favor of a kind of “Deep Blue.”
Thanks to iOS 10’s nixing of the “Slide to Unlock” feature, placing more emphasis on Touch ID than ever before, Schrauwen also includes a touch-sensitive Home Button in his renderings. This falls in line with recent sketchy reports that the iPhone 7 could possibly be the first iPhone model without a physical Home Button.
The back of the new design renders double down on the Smart Connector rumor that is one of the more contested reports for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, with the earliest rumors saying it was coming in 2016, and newer ones contradicting that news. iPhoned also alleges that Schrauwen’s designs remove the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is one of the more widely believed rumors, but none clearly show the bottom of the device.
Besides the hardware specifics, the renders are interesting insights into what a new generation iPhone might possibly look like running iOS 10. Schrauwen depicts screens running apps like Watch and Messages, and performing basic duties in the new widgets view. Instead of a downward swipe to access widgets in Notification Center, iOS 10 places them on the left-most screen of both the Lock screen and Home screen.
There’s been a lot of news surrounding iOS 10 and all of its new features coming out of WWDC this week, with new details on apps like Messages, Photos, and the nuances of the redesigned Lock screen getting heavy attention. You can catch up with all the news you may have missed in the MacRumors iOS 10 tidbits post, and check out our most recent video, centering around the robust additions to Messages.
Related Roundup: iOS 10
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Hardware-Free WWDC Sets Stage for Busy Second Half of 2016
In the weeks leading up to WWDC 2016, multiple reliable sources indicated the opening keynote would be a no-hardware affair. And as it turned out, the focus of the event was unsurprisingly on software, including iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3. So, when can we expect new Apple hardware?
Many products were at some point rumored to have a possible connection with WWDC 2016, including the next-generation Apple Watch, MacBook Pro, and Thunderbolt Display. Those that have been following rumors consistently, however, will know that the most of the products are actually expected in the second half of 2016.
The following roundup serves as a refresher of rumors we have heard up until this point.
Macs
Apple last updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro in March 2015, followed by the 15-inch model in May 2015, with Force Touch trackpads, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and improved graphics. As our Mac Buyer’s Guide indicates, that was around 400 days ago, leading many to believe that a refresh is overdue.
Prospective buyers were hopeful that Apple would surprise with a new MacBook Pro at WWDC 2016, despite the keynote being billed as a no-hardware affair, but the comapny delivered upon expectations and focused on software announcements only. So, when will the 2016 MacBook Pro be released?
Most rumors point towards a launch in the second half of 2016. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple will launch three new MacBook models by year’s end: a thin and light 13-inch MacBook in the June-September quarter, and two thinner and lighter 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models in the September-December quarter.
Kuo said the 2016 MacBook Pro will feature a thinner and lighter form factor, Touch ID, and a new OLED touch bar positioned above the keyboard. Leaked photos of what appears to be the notebook’s unibody revealed space for the OLED touch panel and four USB-C ports. The new MacBook Pro is also expected to adopt metal injection mold-made hinges, which are reportedly already shipping.
The new MacBook Pro lineup is also expected to feature faster Intel Skylake processors, USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3, and possibly AMD’s new 400-series Polaris graphics chips for the top-of-the-line model.
Concept: MacBook Pro with touch panel by visual designer Martin Hajek
Japanese website Mac Otakara recently threw a curveball into the rumors, however, as it reported that Apple will announce new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models at some point this month. It said the new MacBook Air will arrive at retailers in August, but did not specify a release date for the new MacBook Pro.
At least two other supply chain reports have claimed that new 13-inch and 15-inch Mac notebooks of some kind will be unveiled around June, or shortly after, but it is difficult to tell if the websites are referring to the MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro. Moreover, a thinner MacBook Pro could be confused with either the MacBook or MacBook Air lineups in the manufacturing stage.
The opportunity to announce new MacBooks at WWDC 2016 has also passed, further adding to the confusion. Apple could still make a non-WWDC announcement in June by way of press release, as was the case with the new 12-inch MacBook in April, but that would historically indicate only minor updates. The 2016 MacBook Pro, by contrast, is expected to be the biggest update to Apple’s pro-level notebook since thinner Retina display models launched in 2012.
A recent report said Apple is planning changes of some kind to its MacBook lineup that could debut “over the coming weeks,” but it is unclear if the plans involve new hardware, a spec bump, or simply price adjustments.
The fact that multiple launch dates have been rumored could imply that Apple is planning a staggered launch of its 2016 Macs. The 13-inch MacBook Pro could debut first, given that metal injection mold-made hinges are allegedly shipping for that model, followed by the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple’s desktop Macs are also candidates for updates in the second half of 2016. The Mac mini, which has not been updated since October 2014, typically uses the same CPUs as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, so Apple could feasibly release a Skylake-based model that includes USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3.
Meanwhile, the Mac Pro is long overdue for an update, having been last refreshed with its current trash can design in December 2013. Possible updates could include Intel Skylake processors, AMD Polaris graphics, and USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3. Similar updates could also come to the iMac lineup, but Apple may wait until Intel Kaby Lake processors launch in late 2016.
iPhone and Apple Watch
The original Apple Watch launched in the U.S. and other first wave launch countries on April 24, 2015, or nearly fourteen months ago.
Given that the iPhone is typically refreshed each September, or every twelve months, some expected that the Apple Watch would have been updated by WWDC 2016 at the latest.
At least some of that hope was driven by infamous Apple analyst Brian White, who made the rather outlandish prediction that a 20% to 40% thinner Apple Watch 2 could debut at WWDC 2016. That obviously did not happen, which is unsurprising given that multiple reliable sources have pointed towards a launch in the second half of 2016.
More reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a research note in April that said the Apple Watch 2 will enter mass production in the third quarter of 2016, in line with a fall launch alongside the iPhone 7. He said the Apple Watch 2 will mainly feature spec improvements, akin to an “S” model iPhone, with larger changes to the form factor design not occurring until 2017.
That launch timeframe was recently corroborated by a supply chain report that said the Apple Watch 2 will debut later in 2016, with Apple already increasing chip and component orders for the device. Last year, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri also said a thinner Apple Watch 2 will launch in mid- to late-2016.
The new Apple Watch could feature a FaceTime video camera, expanded Wi-Fi capabilities, and cellular connectivity, while new models and bands are always a possibility. The device will reportedly be assembled by Quanta Computer, and possibly either Inventec, Wistron, or Foxconn. Internal components will allegedly be sourced from TSMC, Samsung, and others.
Apple has been pushing iPhone and Apple Watch sales together, so updated models of each device launching in tandem would be appropriate. Last October, Apple even offered a rare in-store promotion that offered customers $50 off select Apple Watch models with the purchase of any new iPhone. The promotion was oddly limited to select Apple retail stores in California and Massachusetts.
Apple is widely expected to announce the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in September. The smartphones are expected to retain an iPhone 6s-like design, sans a 3.5mm headphone jack. This year’s new features could include a faster Apple A10 processor, waterproofing, repositioned antenna bands, and faster LTE and Wi-Fi. A dual-lens camera and 3GB of RAM may also be exclusive to the iPhone 7 Plus.
The addition of a Smart Connector, stereo speakers, a touch-sensitive Home button, and a new Deep Blue color option have also been rumored, but it is not entirely clear which features are destined for the iPhone 7 series, no longer planned, or reserved for the alleged OLED-based iPhone with glass casing in 2017.
In terms of the Apple Watch, it is worth considering that it has still been available for less than one year in all but nine countries, with the staggered rollout concluding in February 2016. That is typical, but the Apple Watch took much longer to expand worldwide compared to recent iPhones. For that reason, and to avoid upgrade exhaustion, Apple may be opting for an elongated product cycle.
Apple Watch Release Dates
• April 24: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, U.K., U.S.
• June 26: Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Taiwan
• July 17: The Netherlands, Sweden, and Thailand
• July 31: New Zealand, Russia, and Turkey
• September 25: Austria, Denmark, and Ireland
• October 9: Belgium, Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Poland
• October 16: Brazil and Colombia
• October 22: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
• October 23: Chile, Philippines, and South Africa
• November 6: India
• January 5: Malaysia
• January 29: Czech Republic, Hungary, and Portugal
• February 11: Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar
• February 12: Greece
iPads
Apple released a 9.7-inch iPad Pro in March 2016 as the successor to the iPad Air 2, while the 12.9-inch model likely remains in the middle of its product cycle, so updates to either tablet are unlikely in the foreseeable future.
The wild card is the iPad mini, which was last updated in September 2015 with an iPad Air 2-style redesign and could be updated again in the fall, if not discontinued entirely. Apple sometimes debuts new iPads in October.
Thunderbolt Display
Thunderbolt Display rumors regained momentum when in-store availability of the display became depleted at several Apple Stores in the U.S., U.K., and Canada just over two weeks ago. The in-store stock shortage naturally stirred speculation that Apple could possibly announce an updated Thunderbolt Display at WWDC 2016, but no product refresh was announced on stage.
Nevertheless, the Thunderbolt Display is overdue for an update. The standalone display has not been updated since it began shipping in September 2011, even though Apple could have released a new model with USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 2, and a tapered iMac-style design as early as 2013. Nowadays, the 27″ Retina 5K iMac could be the basis for a corresponding 5K Thunderbolt Display.
A 5K Thunderbolt Display could feature a high resolution of 5,120×2,880 pixels, USB-C ports for connecting Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, and possibly an ultra-thin design resembling the latest iMacs. Apple could also release a 4K Thunderbolt Display, but supply chain considerations make that less likely.
Just hours before the WWDC 2016 keynote, Apple removed Personal Pickup, a web-based tool for checking in-store availability of Apple products, from the Thunderbolt Display product page in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore, and other countries. The tool still remains unavailable, but there is currently no other evidence to suggest a Thunderbolt Display refresh is incoming.
Other Products
There is also an outside chance of a next-generation Apple TV with a faster CPU and heat-dissipation solution. The updated model could be positioned as an Amazon Echo and Google Home competitor with upgraded Siri capabilities.
AirPort Extremes and AirPort Time Capsules were also recently out of stock at Apple retail stores in the U.S., with Personal Pickup temporarily removed, prompting speculation that new models could be incoming. Availability has since returned to normal, but the Wi-Fi base stations have not been updated since 2012-13.
Related Roundups: Thunderbolt Display, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch, watchOS 2, watchOS 3, WWDC 2016
Buyer’s Guide: Displays (Don’t Buy), Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy), Apple Watch (Caution)
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Play the hidden football game in Facebook Messenger: Here’s how to find and share
Facebook Messenger is at it again, hiding another addictive game in its depths but this time it’s football. Last time it was basketball but now, just in time for Euro 2016, footy has arrived.
The game, once found, lets you try to do kick-ups in order to keep the ball in the air by tapping it on the screen. Sounds easy, right? It’s not. It’s tough. But it’s also addictive – a dangerous combination. Don’t tell us you weren’t warned.
If you still want to unlock this black hole of time check out the instructions below.
Much like the basketball hidden game before this uses emoji to unlock the game.
Here’s how to get it installed and share it with others.
Make sure you’re updated and running the latest version of the app
Once that’s confirmed, go into a contact as if you were going to have a conversation
Send the football emoji on its own
Now that the emoji is in the conversation window you can tap it to start playing, it’s that simple. That also allows the person you sent it at to do the same
Keep tapping until the ball drops then your score is shown so you can compare and compete with your friend.
Be warned, if you tap slightly to one side though, the ball bounces off the walls and speeds up, making it tougher.
Enjoy and let us know your high score below. Also use the comment section to alert us and others to any devices that are having issues with the game.
READ: Play the hidden basketball game in Facebook Messenger: Here’s how to find and share
Is it time to upgrade your phone?
We live in a world that is rapidly changing when it comes to technology. No sooner have you bought the latest smartphone, a newer, shinier and more advanced device has superseded it.
It’s pretty annoying. One minute you have the best phone out there with the latest and greatest tech, and the next minute you have a device that’s only 12 months old but it might as well be a decade.
That’s easily rectified though. MusicMagpie is an online recycling service and store that buys and sells used gadgets, which means you could sell your old smartphone and use the cash to put towards a newer model. It’s super easy to do and musicMagpie operates an Electronic Price Promise that means whatever it quotes you for your old device, you’ll get that full amount or your electronics will be sent back to you for free.
To sell your old smartphone, you’ll need to head to the musicMagpie site and click on the Sell Electronics section. You’ll then need to type in the device you want to sell into the search box and pick the correct model from the drop down list. Following this, you’ll need to select one of the three conditions available, after which you’ll be given an instant offer price.
If you’re happy with the quote, add the device to your basket, accept the terms and conditions, choose how you want to be paid and decide how you want to send the device to musicMagpie – both options are free. Bank transfers are paid on the same day musicMagpie receives your device so you’ll be able to put it towards buying a new smartphone the next day.
If you want to find out roughly how much your old device could be worth, head to the gallery where you will find six smartphones that have all been superseded by new models.
Want to sell your old phone? Check out Pocket-lint’s preferred recycling partner musicMagpie.co.uk / declutter.com to find out how much money you can get for it.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 selfies to be ridiculously easy and high quality using Smart Glow
Samsung is working on a new type of light notification technology that could appear in the Galaxy Note 7 to let the phone communicate with you, even when facing its rear. Selfies, taken on the superior rear camera, may become smarter than ever.
Leaked specs and images for a new technology that Samsung is apparently calling Smart Glow appeared on the Galaxy Club site. The system features a ring of light that runs around the camera lens on the rear of the handset. This, the site’s source says, will be able to light up and glow in order to communicate notifications and more.
In the instance of selfies taken with the superior rear camera, a user will be notified by the Smart Glow when the phone has detected a face in shot and is about to take the photo. That should allow for more comfortable holding positions to line up shots better, while the phone does the rest.
The Smart Glow system will also allegedly be used for notifications when the phone’s face is down – similar to how the LED notifications on most phone’s fronts currently work.
The leak has said that the Smart Glow system will first appear in the Samsung Galaxy J2 (2016), scheduled for release in India. Then, it stipulates, Smart Glow could make its way to high-end devices like the Galaxy Note 7. If accurate, expect to see this tech appear very soon.
GalaxyClub
READ: Samsung Galaxy Note 6 / Note 7: What’s the story so far?
‘Spam King’ is sentenced to 2.5 years in prison
Sanford Wallace, the self-proclaimed “Spam King” who was responsible for a ton of spam messages on Facebook a few years ago, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. From 2008 to 2009, Wallace blasted people with a link to an external website that stole their log-in credentials and downloaded their friends’ lists. He then spammed those users steal their log-ins in order to spam their friends, and so on and so forth. Wallace accessed Facebook’s computer network several times during that period to execute his scheme. In all, he was responsible for 27 million* spam messages on the social network. If you received any shady PM within that timeframe, it was probably from him.
Wallace pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and related activity in connection with electronic mail and one count of criminal contempt in August 2015. According to Ars Technica, prosecutors asked the court for a 36-month sentence. “The defendant’s history demonstrates that he has yet to suffer a consequence — other than a default judgment that cannot be collected — for his spamming activities,” they wrote. “A sentence of 36 months’ imprisonment will impress upon the defendant the seriousness of his actions and deter him from engaging in similar conduct again.”
By “default judgment,” they meant the $1 billion worth of fines he was hit with back in 2009, which they couldn’t collect. This time, the court ordered him to pay $310,629 in restitution. And by “history,” they meant Wallace’s decades-long love affair with spam. He started by inundating people with junk faxes way back in 1991. Since then, he’s faced numerous lawsuits filed by Facebook and other entities, including MySpace and AOL.
Disclosure: As you know, AOL is Engadget’s parent company.
*Update: Wallace sent out 27 million messages, not 27 billion like what our article said earlier. He’s just a spam king, not a spam god.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: DOJ
Samsung’s ‘Smart Glow’ reinvents the notification LED
One of the perks of owning an Android phone is that manufacturers often include a notification LED that tells you when you have missed calls, tweets or text messages that need a response. Samsung has installed them in its mobile devices from time to time, but it may soon ditch them altogether in favor of something it calls “Smart Glow.” SamMobile reports that the Smart Glow feature consists of a colored luminous ring that surrounds a device’s rear camera and notifies users of calls and texts, but also when the battery is low or has reached full charge.
The feature’s main purpose is to provide at-a-glance notifications, but it will also help with selfies. If a user attempts to take a photo using the more powerful rear camera on a Samsung device, Smart Glow’s “Selfie Assist” option will kick in and light up when it detects their face, automatically snapping a photo a few seconds later.
Reports suggest Smart Glow will head to the upcoming Galaxy J2, which is destined for India. Samsung has yet to publicize the feature, so there’s no official word on whether it will make it to flagship phones like the Galaxy Note 7 or future Galaxy S handsets.
Via: SamMobile
Source: Galaxy Club (Dutch)
Apple Invites Retail Employees to Test Pre-Release Versions of macOS Sierra
Apple has begun inviting its retail store employees to try pre-release versions of macOS Sierra, the latest version of its Mac software platform and renamed successor to OS X El Capitan.
Staff who sign up to the voluntary AppleSeed program are set to receive pre-release versions of macOS Sierra to install on their personal computers for use on their own time.
Apple is hoping that staff who get involved will help the company assess how the OS stands up in typical everyday usage scenarios, as outlined in its AppleSeed participation guidelines:
We ask that you use seeded software in your day-to-day activities, which is an environment that cannot be replicated at Apple. We will provide you with a variety of tools that will allow you to give us detailed information about your experience, should you decide to provide feedback to us.
As usual, the AppleSeed program is subject to a strict confidentiality agreement that prevents employees from publicly discussing their involvement in testing the seed.
Apple has invited retail employees to try pre-release software for the past few years, such as the company’s Photos app, which replaced iPhoto and was released last year for OS X.
macOS Sierra was announced on Monday at WWDC 2016, and became available to developers for testing immediately after the company’s keynote. Apple says a public beta will be launched in July, while the final public release is coming in the fall.
macOS Sierra includes a number of new capabilities, including Siri desktop integration, an automatic unlocking feature, universal Clipboard support, new iCloud integration, Apple Pay for the web, and more. The new Mac OS also features an entirely new file system, dedicated RAID Support, and an intelligent Optimized Storage function.
The macOS name, which does away with Apple’s long-standing OS X naming scheme, also brings the name of the Mac operating system in line with iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
Tag: Apple retail
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