Samsung ordered to X-ray every Galaxy Note 7 battery as replacements continue

Samsung has been ordered by a regulator in its homeland to perform X-ray scans of every battery in every Samsung Galaxy Note 7 before they can be sold or used in a replacement.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards told the company and its battery suppliers that they must perform X-ray scans to ensure batteries are safe.

It is presumed that the scans will ensure batteries do not suffer from the found manufacturing flaws Samsung submitted to the regulator.

Irregularities in manufacturing could put pressure on isolation plates inside some of the batteries, which in turn could bring the negative and positive poles to come together, resulting in thermal runaway.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall: How to exchange or return your phone
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7: How to determine if your new phone is safe
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 going back on sale from 28 September
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review: Take note, this is the big-screen phone to beat

X-ray scans seem be the best way to ensure batteries do not have the potentially troublesome flaws.

Samsung has also extended its refund period in South Korea by an extra week as customers have not been as active in asking for their money back or replacing their phones as those in other countries. The number of Galaxy Note 7 owners seeking a refund was very low.

Those replacing their phones can choose another Note 7 or another Samsung smartphone, such as the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge.

These are the new Roku boxes with 4K HDR, specs and pics revealed

At the end of August, we revealed that Roku will be replacing its entire streaming box line-up with as many as five new devices. We believe they will be launched in the next few weeks, in the States at least, and will add 4K HDR streaming to at least a couple of the new boxes.

Now a few press shots have leaked online and, if genuine, not only do they confirm the names we’ve already been hearing, but they show a new design aesthetic for the entry-level models.

• Roku overhaul will see five new streaming boxes released, include 4K and HDR

Roku Express and Roku Express Plus

The Roku Express and Express Plus effectively replace the Roku 2. They are thought to be HD streamers and, at present, it’s not clear what the differences between the two will be. Maybe it’s the inclusion of a more advanced remote with a headphones socket with the Plus model.

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Roku Premiere and Roku Premiere Plus

The Roku Premiere and Premiere Plus are to replace the Roku 3, it is thought. They will have 4K video streaming capabilities, however, which the 3 did not. Again, the Plus could come with an improved remote.

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Roku Ultra

Finally, the Roku Ultra will replace the Roku 4 – which never made it to the UK. It is suggested that it will add high dynamic range tech to the mix, so will offer 4K HDR video streaming for sets that are capable of displaying it.

Zatz Not Funny

Prices and exact release dates are yet to be revealed, but considering the picture leaks we suspect that could be sooner rather than later.

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review: Carting the kids around couldn’t be more cool

With SUVs flying off forecourts and onto driveways at a pace that doesn’t match their often-sluggish performance, the MPV class is seen as the wallowing hinterland of modern cars. 

It’s where you end up when you’ve expanded your family beyond an estate car, and you’re trying to pretend you’re still driving a car, rather than a bus.

Well that might be the common perception from the outside looking in, but once you slip into the expansive interior of the Grand C4 Picasso, pack the kids into the seven seats it offers, your view might be quite different. 

MPVs may not be sexy, but there’s a certain je ne sais quoi about this bigger C4 Picasso.

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review: Design

In 2016, the Grand C4 Picasso has had a mid-life refit. The difference between the “grand” and the “regular” C4 Picasso is size. Where the regular model is designed to sit five bottoms, the Grand will allow two additional derrières on the third row of seats in the rear. 

The Grand C4 pulls off a feat that’s difficult at this size: making the design interesting. That was true of the 2013 version of the body shape, but with Citroen being a little bolder with its designs than many, the results are pretty good. Sit the Grand C4 Picasso alongside the new VW Touran or Ford S-Max, and this people mover is certainly the more interesting to look at, adding more than a little oh là là.

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There are family design elements on the exterior, like those sweeping blades that run over the roofline, now in silver on the Grand, giving a lift to an area that can quickly become rather boxy. A narrow rear pillar emphasises the windows, while the Picasso’s windscreen is expansive.

Citroen has long been drawing the windscreen up and over the head of the front seats, giving great visibility and a feeling of spaciousness, something that even Tesla’s Model X now wants to ape. Combined with the panoramic sunroof, there’s certainly no lack of light, even with the healthy darkening for privacy on our review model. 

The 2016 facelift sees a change in the rear lights to a 3D effect on all C4 Picasso models and a slight reconfiguration of the front light arrangement too, for a slightly wider-mouth look. That’s topped off with new badging on the rear for a more modern look. 

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review: Interior expansiveness

The danger in any larger car is how you treat those big surfaces. In an MPV, the dash becomes a huge thing, moreso given the rake of the C4’s widescreen. But sensitive styling and a mixed use of soft touch surfaces gives a result that’s rather nice, with a selection of interior choices, rather than swathes of black plastic.

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There’s a pairing of displays in the centre, leaving the view for the driver rather empty: it’s just glass and road. There’s something liberating about that, although we’re not huge fans of the US-style steering-column mounted drive selector on this automatic model, but that might just be us. 

Placing the displays in the centre of the car lend of one of the other feelings that the Grand C4 Picasso exhibits: it’s not a driver’s car (to use that cliché), it’s a passenger’s car, because those in the back have a much better view of what’s going on in the front. 

That sees good provision in the rear seats for more entertainment. Rear tray tables, like in an aircraft, with individual reading lights and side air vents for the second and third row of passengers (on top trim levels) means that kids can be entertained and engaged, rather than just stuffed into a claustrophobic back seat and ignored. 

The third row (seats six and seven) fold flat into the boot floor if wanted. This isn’t an uncommon approach these days and, yes, there isn’t huge space for legs in the rear – so this is really the place to put little ones, rather than a convenient seat for grandma. That said, seats can be moved forward to create space, as well as reclining for more comfort. There’s also a powered hands-free tailgate now on Flair models.

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For the driver, there’s the addition of a second rearview mirror, so you can see why the kids have started punching each other; for the passengers there are sun-blinds built into the doors on this top-spec Flair model. It’s all about comfort, convenience and having a car that’s full of people.

Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review: The drive

Car reviewers talk about dynamics and handling, they discuss the immediacy of the brakes, responsiveness of the throttle and how it grips through the corners. In an MPV, none of that really feels important. Sure, you don’t want to feel like you’re driving a van and importantly the Grand C4 Picasso doesn’t. 

With a 2-litre diesel under the bonnet, offering a satisfying 150bhp, this top-level Grand C4 Picasso drives rather well. There’s ample power for hauling it up hills and it’s pacey enough to exit roundabouts and join motorways without feeling like you’re holding up proceedings.

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Citroen’s focus in the C4 Picasso is comfort and that’s entirely right. That means you’re given a suspension setup that soothes away rough roads and there’s enough noise deadening to avoid the sort of engine roaring that would detract from the zen interior. It’s no Rolls-Royce, but it’s a nice place to be when driving. 

The 6-speed gearbox perhaps isn’t the most sophisticated and those looking for a more efficient drive might be drawn to the 6-speed manual, but we found the auto to be responsive enough, smoothly skipping up and down gears without the sort of lag that has plagued some autoboxes in the past. It also offers paddle shifters if you want to grab control yourself.

The 150bhp automatic in Flair trim is the most expensive Grand C4 Picasso that Citroen offers, reporting 115g/km CO2 and a reasonable 0-62mph time of 10.1 seconds. Alternatively, there are 100bhp and 120bhp diesel options and a 130bhp petrol. The 150 automatic claims a 64mpg combined cycle, according to Citroen’s figures.

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Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review: Technology treats

Apple CarPlay support on the 7-inch touchscreen, as well as Mirrorlink for Android, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for connecting your other devices, is a good starting point for a wide-range of tech treats. 

We also like the fact that you can customise the colourways used on the displays. Don’t like that orange? Why not have blue instead? This is a car that’s all about those inside, remember. 

Aside from those sorts of entertainment treats, there are a lot of smart options for driver assistance. There are options for radar-guided cruise control and the convenient placement of all the cruise control functions on the steering wheel means you can very easily manage these with your fingertips.

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Then there’s lane detection, with an active system that will help pull the car back into a lane if you’re drifting out of it – just the sort of thing that’s handy for those long drives on family holidays. Pair that with speed limit recognition, intelligent beam headlights and you’re getting on your way to a fairly autonomous vehicle.

There’s also a coffee break alert and a massage option for when you’re getting a bit stiff behind the wheel. We can completely picture ourselves cruising toward the Med, kids sleeping in the back, being gently massaged as we eat hundreds of miles of French autoroute… and a brie-laden baguette. 

The parking cameras are useful on a car of this size, but with the addition of automatic parking, the Grand C4 Picasso ends up being just as sophisticated as any other car on the road. 

Verdict

What you want from an MPV is something that makes your life easier. Something to put the family in without dreading it. And that’s what you’re getting from the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso: capacity, comfort, connectivity and a wide range of options that don’t feel like a compromise. 

Perhaps more importantly, you’re getting an MPV that’s interesting – which is a rare thing. Citroen peppers the Grand C4 Picasso with verve and flair that you don’t always find in this class, both in terms of the exterior design, but also those interior details. 

For anyone with a family, the fashionable choice has been to default to those big SUVs. But before you follow the herd, just pause for a moment and look at how much car you get from the Grand Citroen C4 Picasso. MPVs might not be sexy, but the Grand offers rare charm.

Apple Partners With E-Commerce Site Flipkart to Sell iPhone 7 in India

Apple has partnered with e-commerce giant Flipkart to sell the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus in India, where the phones are expected to launch on October 7 (via Mashable).

The online retail partnership means Flipkart will source iPhones directly from Apple instead of from third-party suppliers, which it has relied on in the past. The deal will ensure Flipkart earns a higher margin on every sale, but likely fewer discounts for customers.

Apple has also struck a deal with Indian e-commerce company Infibeam to directly sell its iPhones, but the partnership with Flipkart includes plans to sell iPads and Macs as well.

Apple does not yet have a license to sell products directly to consumers in India, which has led to buyers going through third-party retail stores to get hold of the company’s flagship phones. Traditionally, Flipkart has also used third parties to sell Apple products through its online marketplace, often with heavy discounts in order to compete with offerings from rival e-commerce giants like Amazon India and Paytm.

Despite the potential loss of some customers looking for discounted smartphones, the new partnership guarantees Flipkart a robust supply chain and better marketing support from Apple. It should also help Apple retain more control over pricing, thereby avoiding a price war in India similar to the one that took place in 2015.

Last year, Amazon India, Paytm, Flipkart, and Snapdeal offered heavily discounted iPhones to buyers, with the iPhone 6s base model, which is officially priced at Rs 63,000 ($945), being sold for as low as Rs 45,000 ($675) shortly after release.

The iPhone 7 will retail at Rs 60,000 ($900), with the base iPhone 7 Plus model costing Rs 72,000 ($1,080).

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Half of all recalled U.S. Galaxy Note 7s have been returned to Samsung

Samsung has hit a big milestone in its U.S. recall of the Galaxy Note 7, but the next group will be tougher.

Now one full week removed from the official CPSC recall of the Note 7 in the U.S., Samsung claimed in a statement sent to Android Central that “about half” of the 1 million recalled phones have been returned. That’s a large uptick from the numbers of just a week ago, which had shown that fewer than 20% of Note 7s had been returned despite warnings from Samsung, carriers and retailers.

Another little statistic dropped by Samsung was quite interesting: according to Samsung’s numbers, 90% of phones returned in the past two days have simply been swapped out for a new Galaxy Note 7. That contradicts the common refrain that owners of recalled Note 7s were simply taking refunds and buying different phones. Parsing the exact statement does matter, though, as Samsung is only making this 90% claim based on returns after the new stock of 500,000 phones arrived in the U.S. on September 20. We’re obviously unsure of what the refund/exchange rates are for the 200,000 or so phones that were returned prior to that point, but it’s an easy guess that it has been much lower.

Since new stock hit the U.S., 90% of recall returns were swapped for a new Note 7.

Prior to September 21 stock of new safe Note 7s was extremely small and clearly limited Note 7 owners’ options when it came to returning their phones. Reluctance from carriers and retailers in early stages didn’t help, either, as offers to use a low-end loaner phone — or little assistance in the process at all — for weeks while waiting for a new Note 7 certainly wasn’t appealing. With this new infusion of Galaxy Note 7s sitting on shelves there are clearly enough out there to meet demand for replacements, even as some carriers have started selling the Note 7s to new customers.

At this rate, assuming that Samsung can keep up its supplies to inject another 300,000 or so new Note 7s into the U.S. market we could be looking at something like 80 to 90% return rate by this time next week. The final minority of people who simply hold onto their original Note 7 for weeks on end will surely be an issue, and one that isn’t likely to be mitigated by a green battery icon. Samsung will presumably have to take more intense measures to get the final phones replaced.

How Samsung handles the stragglers who just won’t turn in their Note 7 despite having a ready replacement available will be a determining factor in how quickly it can put this whole recall saga into the history books.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

• Galaxy Note 7 recall: Everything you need to know
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
• The latest Galaxy Note 7 news!
• Here are all four Note 7 colors
• Complete Galaxy Note 7 specs
• Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!

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