HTC’s Q2 2016 revenue down by 44% YoY, losses at $133 million
HTC posted its Q2 2016 earnings, recording revenue of $598 million (NT$18.9 billion). That’s up 27% from the disastrous first quarter, but a drop of 44% from the same period a year ago.
The Taiwanese vendor recorded a net loss of $133 million (NT$4.2 billion), with the HTC 10 failing to turn things around. Looking ahead to the latter half of 2016, HTC is placing its bets on its flagship device and the Vive VR headset, creating a “robust VR ecosystem through regional and channel expansion and collaboration with developers to create contents in diverse categories and verticals.”
In a statement, CEO and chairwoman Cher Wang said:
In the space of one year, we have reimagined the company, reclaimed our top spot for innovation, and demonstrated solid execution across our major product lines. I believe that HTC has regained its innovative zeal and is looking ahead with confidence and ingenuity.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: What’s the difference?
Bush has announced a budget smartphone that will be available exclusively through Argos for £200, called the E3X.
It’s got some pretty decent specs under its hood for its price tag, but how does it stand up to the kings of the budget smartphone world – the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus?
We have put the Bush E3X up against the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus to see how the three devices compare and which is the budget handset to buy, based on the numbers.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Design
The Bush E3X offers a solid build quality with all metal edges and a chamfered finish. It has a textured non-removable rear plate and looks similar to last year’s OnePlus 2.
The E3X measures 148.5 x 74 x 8.8mm and hits the scales at 186g. There is a fingerprint sensor on the rear, situated beneath the protruding camera lens and above the rather large Bush logo.
The Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus also both feature a good design that is better and bolder than their predecessor. They opt for a metal frame with a removable polycarbonate rear and textured metal buttons on the sides.
Both measure 153 x 76.6mm with a curve from 7.9mm to 9.8mm, meaning they are larger and thicker than the Bush E3X. They are lighter however, weighing 155g, and they also feature a P2i protective coating making them water-repellant enough to stop damage if you drop them down the toilet.
The Moto G4 doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor but the G4 Plus does, situated on the front.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Display
The Bush E3X has a 5.5-inch TFT LED display that offers a resolution of 1920 x 1080 for a pixel density of 401ppi.
The Motorola Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus also both have 5.5-inch displays, again with a Full HD resolution, resulting in the same 401ppi pixel density. Motorola opts for IPS LCD.
Our first impressions of the Bush E3X display was that it look good, although its viewing angles weren’t as good as some other devices we’ve seen.
We didn’t think the G4 and G4 Plus offered the brightest or most dazzling display in terms of colour when we reviewed them but viewing angles were good.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Camera
The Bush E3X has a 21.5-megapixel rear camera, coupled with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Bush hasn’t revealed a great deal of information regarding aperture or features, but we know there is a dual-flash and 0.03-second autofocus.
The Motorola Moto G4 has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera. The rear snapper has an aperture of f/2.0, while the front is slightly narrower at f/2.2. There is a display flash on the front, while the rear has a dual-LED flash.
The Motorola Moto G4 Plus ups its rear camera resolution over the G4 to 16-megapixels. It also brings both phase detection autofocus and laser autofocus too, but the front snapper sticks with 5-megapixels.
It’s worth remembering that it isn’t all about megapixels when it comes to smartphone camera performance. Both the G4 and G4 Plus deliver good results with not much between them.
The Bush E3X may have a higher resolution sensor on both the front and rear, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will produce better results than the Motorola options.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Hardware
The Bush E3X has an octa-core MediaTek processor under its hood, supported by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash memory. There is a microSD slot available for storage expansion, while a 3000mAh battery capacity keeps things running, with fast charging via USB Type-C. There is no NFC however so no Android Pay capability.
Both the Motorola Moto G4 and G4 Plus opt for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, supported by at least 2GB of RAM. The G4 Plus also has an option of 4GB of RAM. The G4 comes in 8GB and 16GB models, while the G4 Plus comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, all of which have microSD.
The two Motorola devices also come with 3000mAh battery capacities like the Bush E3X. Neither have USB Type-C, though they do have Turbo Charge and the G4 Plus comes with the fast charger in the box. Both devices offer good performance and solid battery lives.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Software
The Bush E3X features Android Marshmallow but unlike some other Android handsets, it goes light on software overlay. That means you get a pretty close to vanilla Android experience with the device.
The Motorola Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus also both run on Android Marshmallow and they too over very little software overlay, again meaning a close to pure Android experience. The Moto’s do have a couple of preloaded apps but it’s a minimal disturbance and a couple of them are quite useful.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Price
The Bush E3X is available exclusively from Argos for £199.95, putting it in the middle of the Moto’s.
The Motorola Moto G4 starts at £169, while the Motorola Moto G4 Plus starts at £229.
Bush E3X vs Moto G4 vs Moto G4 Plus: Conclusion
The Bush E3X is not only slimmer and smaller than the Moto G4 and G4 Plus, but it also has a fingerprint sensor, which is something only the more expensive Moto offers.
It also has the same size and resolution display and the same battery capacity as both Moto devices, as well as a higher resolution front and rear camera. You miss out on NFC which is a shame, but USB Type-C is on board, which it isn’t on the Moto devices, and there is also 4GB of RAM as standard.
Based on the numbers, the Bush E3X beats the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus in several areas, though its design isn’t perhaps as charming as the Moto’s, nor can you customise it like you can with Moto Maker. For the price though, the Bush E3X gives the Moto’s a run for their money.
BlackBerry makes its awesome Hub available to download on all Android Marshmallow phones
BlackBerry has released its Hub to the Play Store, bringing arguably its best software feature to any user running Android Marshmallow on their device.
For those unaware, BlackBerry Hub is an awesome unified inbox that brings all of your messages, emails, calendars and the like in to a single list. It integrates services like Instagram, Slack, SMS and WhatsApp, enabling you to respond to and check notifications from multiple sources all without leaving the hub.
BlackBerry Hub arrives on the Google Play Store today as part of a suite of apps that the company is launching for Android. The suite, called BlackBerry Hub+ Services also includes the calendar and Password Keeper apps which come pre-installed on every BlackBerry smartphone.
From today you can download a trial version of Hub+ from Google Play. After using it for 30 days, you can then either use it for free and have an ad-supported version, or you can choose to subscribe to the entire suite of apps. UK pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it will cost 99 cents per month in the US. We’d imagine it will cost 99 pence per month, but have reached out to BlackBerry to confirm this.
The entire suite of apps includes the three aforementioned apps as well as Contacts, Tasks, Device Search and Notes as well as the BlackBerry Launcher. All of which are already installed on devices like the PRIV and the DTEK50 we recently got our hands on.
To download, head to the Google Play Store on your device and search for “BlackBerry Hub+”. Once you’ve done that, you’ll get an app icon on your home screen. Tap on the icon, then hit “Apps by BlackBerry” to install all the applications available in the suite, or just select the ones you want to download. If you don’t see the suite available in the Play Store yet, hang tight, it should be available within the next few hours.
Although it’s only available for devices running Android Marshmallow for now, the company is looking in to expanding it to Android 5.0 Lollipop users and trying figure out a way to bring something of BlackBerry to iOS as well.
Tell ZTE what to build next
Looks like ZTE is getting around to keeping its promises. After teasing us at CES with plans to develop a crowdsourced mobile device, the Chinese electronics maker today opened up its Z-Community forum for feedback and ideas. Called Project CSX for now, the resulting product is slated for a 2017 release. In addition to getting bragging rights for your brilliant suggestions, you’ll also be rewarded with small cash prizes if you send a winning idea or popular submission.
To submit an idea, you’ll first have to register for an account on Z-Community. Your suggestion has to be for a mobile product, use technology that’s realistically possible by 2017 and “the final product must be affordable for the general population,” according to the company. Sadly, this probably means my super-feasible idea for a snack-and-cash-dispensing phone that’s also a teleporter won’t qualify.
Submissions must also be unique, and ZTE said there will be methods to check if your idea has already been turned in.
There are plenty of incentives to take part in this process. Other than contributing to a device that lives up to your (very realistic) dreams, registered participants can get early access to the eventual product. ZTE is also offering up a chance to win a trip to CES in Las Vegas.
Jeff Yee, senior vice president of technology planning and partnerships, said that the company “will see this project through.” Although the initial investment amount for Project CSX was confidential, he said the development of new mobile devices can range between half a million to $5 million or more.
ZTE will own the intellectual property of the final device, which is yet unnamed. The company will also solicit input on a name later on in the process.
While ZTE may be the first phone maker to call for ideas around a product, it’s not the first company to turn to the public for suggestions. Mozilla opened up its logo design process in June to get input on its next look. And although it never actually happened, TCL also announced plans at CES 2015 to crowdsource ideas for a new Palm device.
However, ZTE does appear to be letting its fans get more involved with the entire production process than Mozilla is, and is clearly more committed to developing an actual product than TCL was. In the meantime, those of you with genius ideas for the next big mobile device should probably get cracking on your submissions before someone beats you to it.
ICYMI: Google’s so much closer to delivery by drone
Today on In Case You Missed It: Google’s Project Wing is about to take off now that the US Government signed off on the company testing drone delivery within the country; perfect timing for Google’s commercial launch of the service sometime in 2017. Physicists from the University of New Mexico created a laser that can cool a crystal down to negative 296 degrees Fahrenheit, which could be useful for infrared detectors on satellites or to detect skin cancer.
In case you didn’t see Instagram’s video launching its new story function, you should see it just to sound informed when your friends talk about whether the company blatantly stole from Snapchat. Then wash that all down with YouTuber Eric Mouellic’s video showing how close he came to a huge fin whale. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Hackers steal $63.7 million from Bitcoin exchange
A Hong Kong-based Bitcoin exchange has suspended all transactions after hackers stole a significant sum of the cryptocurrency. Bloomberg is reporting that 119,756 BTC, currently valued at $63.7 million, has been taken from Bitfinex. The news has helped to contribute to a drop in Bitcoin’s value, and over the last two days it has fallen by around 13 percent.
For its part, Bitfinex has already revealed that it is investigating the breach and is working with local law enforcement agencies. While the exchange actually deals in other cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin, the hack itself did not take anything beyond BTC. The company also directly contacted Bloomberg to confirm that deposits made in US dollars were not affected by the breach.
Admittedly, incidents like this won’t irreparably harm Bitcoin, but the regularity of these incidents must be concerning for outside investors. When you look at the controversies that have become associated with the currency over the last few years, it’s hard to see how its reputation could get worse. From a high-profile ponzi scheme, through the FBI and Silk Road cases, all the way through to the fraud at the heart of Mt.Gox’s collapse.
2016 has also seen prominent Bitcoin developer Mike Hearn quit after suggesting that the currency’s structural failings can’t be remedied. In addition, the reward for mining each coin has fallen, and while that’s a well-known feature of the system, has forced a few businesses — like KnCMiner — to shut down. That’s before we get to Craig Wright’s announcement that he was Satoshi Nakamoto, but refusing to provide proof to support his claim.
Source: Bloomberg, Bitfinex
Xbox One S teardown reveals a simpler, speedier design
If you’re a console gamer, you’ve probably been wondering: how did Microsoft manage to shrink the Xbox One S so much compared to its predecessor? And importantly, did it have to make any big sacrifices in the process? iFixit will be more than happy to show you. The DIY repair shop just tore down the Xbox One S, and it’s clear that nothing has been lost in the move to a smaller size… in fact, there are a couple of pleasant surprises.
It’s about as easy to take apart as the larger Xbox, with an even cleaner modular layout. A hard drive replacement remains the only real hassle, iFixit says. And importantly, the faster graphics aren’t the only upgrade. You’ll also get a slightly faster hard drive with a larger cache and an SATA III interface (at least with the 2TB model), and the newly internalized power supply should work “anywhere there’s a plug.” It’s evident that Microsoft saw the S as an opportunity to spruce up its overall Xbox One design, even in subtle ways that wouldn’t be immediately noticeable.
Source: iFixit
Hulu will host all Turner networks on its new live service
Time Warner Inc. just made a big foray into streaming, buying a 10 percent chunk of Hulu for $583 million. With the investment, the media giant has joined rivals and Hulu founders Disney, Comcast and Fox as partners in the service. While it’s just a streaming service right now à la Netflix, Hulu will start offering cord-cutters live TV early in 2017. As part of the announcement, Time Warner revealed that its Turner channels will be part of that service, including TNT, TBS, CNN, the Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Turner Classic Movies.
Hulu’s live TV service will carry content from ESPN, FX, NBC, ABC, the Disney Channel and other properties owned by its investors. It will continue to stream movies and TV series like Homeland, Fear the Walking Dead and its own programs, including The Mindy Project and Difficult People. Time Warner says the new Hulu service will also carry all Turner shows on-demand. According to Recode, though, they still won’t be available on the $12 streaming-only package — unlike content from Disney, Fox and Comcast.
As we pointed out before, the live and on-demand mix will give Hulu a lot more content than rival Sling TV, the cord-cutting venture from Dish. However, the TV service will reportedly cost $40 compared to $20 for Sling TV’s basic package, and it’s unknown if that price includes streaming. Though Viacom is not a Hulu investor, it does have a streaming deal with the service. However, it’s not clear if its stations, which include CBS, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon, will be available live on Hulu in 2017.
Source: Time Warner
Time Warner Buys 10 Percent Stake in Hulu to Help Bolster Live-Streaming Service
Time Warner has officially taken a 10 percent ownership stake in popular streaming service Hulu, joining a list of companies already invested, including Disney, 21st Century Fox and Comcast/NBC Universal. Time Warner is preparing to invest $583 million into Hulu, “implying Hulu is worth nearly $6 billion,” as Variety pointed out.
The split now divides Hulu up by 30 percent shares for each of the previous three owners, leaving 10 percent for Time Warner’s new co-ownership. The new partner won’t directly contribute any of its network shows into Hulu’s current services, but it will help bolster the company’s upcoming live-streaming service with Time Warner’s line up of channels. Specifically, Time Warner owns TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, truTV, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies.
Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins said, “This investment from Time Warner marks a major step for Hulu as we continue to redefine television for both consumers and advertisers. Our two companies have long enjoyed a productive relationship – which includes the availability of past seasons of popular Turner shows on our current SVOD offerings – and we are very proud that Turner’s networks will be included in our planned live streaming service.”
Earlier in May, it was rumored that Apple had considered purchasing Time Warner, to potentially use the company’s assets as a basis for Apple’s own streaming TV service. Yesterday, in an interview with Bloomberg, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes mentioned that this idea — reportedly begun by Apple Executive Eddy Cue — landed more on the side of a mutual partnership rather than an outright merger and acquisition.
That particular one is more about the efforts of the technology companies, Apple included, who we’ve been trying to help because we want this better user interface, and what they should do and how would they get involved. That’s more about that than M&A. I don’t think M&A was serious.
Although many believe that the universal shift to online video-streaming TV bundles is inevitable, Bewkes himself still thinks traditional paid-cable packages will have legs for at least the next decade. The CEO believes that the cable companies will retain their traditional bundle sizes and price points, but that eventually these companies will begin to placate potential cable cutters with “full video on-demand and very good search recommendation and navigation engines.”
Hulu’s upcoming live-streaming service is believed to also offer a cloud-based DVR functionality that will let users record shows and set reminders in an attempt to ease the transition for any user coming from traditional cable boxes. Still, the reportedly $40 per month service “isn’t looking to offer all the hundreds of channels found in the traditional cable bundle,” but merely be an amalgamation of the channels offered by its now-four investors.
Tags: Time Warner, Hulu
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Apple Countersues Caltech and Settles With Dot 23 in Patent Lawsuits
Apple and Broadcom have jointly filed counterclaims against the California Institute of Technology in an ongoing Wi-Fi-related lawsuit, denying any alleged infringement of the technologies and urging the court to invalidate the asserted patents, according to court documents filed electronically this week.
Apple argued that Caltech did not file the lawsuit until May 26, 2016, more than six years after the publication of the 802.11n wireless standard, and thereby the time limit to collect damages has passed under U.S. law. It also argued that Caltech does not make, use, or sell any product that practices any claim of the asserted patents.
Caltech’s patents, granted between 2006 and 2012, are highly technical and relate to IRA codes that utilize simpler encoding and decoding circuitry for improved data transmission rates and performance. The technologies are implemented in both the 802.11n and 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards used by many Apple products.
The asserted patents include U.S. Patent No. 7,116,710, U.S. Patent No. 7,421,032, U.S. Patent No. 7,916,781, and U.S. Patent No. 8,284,833.
In a May 2016 court filing with the U.S. District Court for Central California, Caltech accused Apple of selling various Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models, along with other Wi-Fi products, that incorporate those IRA/LDPC encoders and/or decoders and thereby infringe upon the four asserted patents in question.
Apple provided a series of other defenses, including Caltech’s failure to disclose prior art, which is any information or evidence that might be relevant to a patent’s claims of originality, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In this case, Apple said Repeat-Accumulate codes (“RA codes”) were well known prior to IRA codes.
Apple and Broadcom, one of the company’s main suppliers of Wi-Fi chips for select MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models, have demanded a jury trial in the lawsuit. The case is officially titled “California Institute of Technology v. Broadcom Limited et al” on the docket.
Apple Settles With Dot 23 Technologies
Dot 23 Technologies, LLC has filed a motion to dismiss a patent lawsuit against Apple with the U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas. The two companies have agreed to settle out of court, but the specific terms of their agreement have not been publicized.
Dot 23, a Texas-based entity that generally fits the description of a “patent troll,” filed suit against Apple in January, claiming that Siri on iPhone and iPad violated a trio of its patents related to voice dialing and recognition. The firm was seeking damages of an unspecified amount plus interest and fees in the case.
Tags: lawsuit, patent, Broadcom, Caltech
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