A disgruntled cafe owner has started billing customers extra if they charge their phones

Why it matters to you

Even when it’s free, you can’t always find an outlet, so you may be better off investing in a portable charger to ensure your device never runs out of juice.

A cafe owner at a famous Vienna landmark has had enough of customers charging their smartphones on the premises.

To try to discourage customers from sticking their chargers in the wall for lengthy periods of time, owner Galina Pokorny is now levying a fee of €1 (about $1.07) for anyone who charges their phone for more than 15 minutes.

Pokorny runs the Terrassen Cafe inside Hundertwasserhaus, a colorful and quirky apartment building in the Austrian capital designed by the late architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

It appears, however, that the fee is less about visitors taking up space for long periods of time without ordering anything, and more about using the cafe’s power supply.

“Tourists — always electricity, electricity, electricity. Sorry but who is going to pay me for it?” Reuters reported the disgruntled owner as saying.

Pokorny said she may be the only cafe in town charging customers for powering up their mobile devices, but insisted she was doing so because “I run a cafe, not an internet cafe.”

She added that the practice appeared to be getting “more and more extreme. People come and think everything is accessible and free.”

The fee has actually been in place for some time, but came to light this week after local media heard about it. The extra expense is reportedly also added to the check of anyone charging a laptop or tablet for a long period of time, and charged on a per-outlet basis.

More: Bystander promises to call ambulance for asthma attack teen, steals phone instead

Despite Pokorny’s complaints about customers using too much electricity, a ZDNet report last year suggested the cost of charging a smartphone once a day for a whole year amounted to a mere $0.84. Yes, $0.84 for the entire year.

On the plus side, Terrassen Cafe’s wi-fi is still free, so anyone heading there for a relaxing coffee and intense smartphone session would be wise to ensure they have a fully powered device and a portable charger. Unless you’re cool with coughing up the extra fee, of course.

Skype is jazzing up its app with four new features that’ll help you ‘express yourself’

Why it matters to you

Competition is rife in the video-chat and messaging space, and Skype hopes its latest rollout of new features will help to keep it relevant.

Once the go-to app for video chats, Skype seemed to go off the boil somewhere along the way and these days faces tough competition from a mountain of messaging apps that now incorporate their own video options.

Still, Microsoft, which acquired Skype in 2011 for more than $8 billion, is far from giving up on the service, and in recent years has been pushing out a slew of updates in a bid to keep it relevant.

The latest one rolled into the room on Thursday, bringing with it four potentially handy features that the company says provide new ways for you to express yourself during video chats and messaging sessions.

So let’s kick off with in-call reactions. Taking a leaf out of live-streaming services like Periscope and Facebook Live, it’s now possible to throw emoticons, live text, and real-time photos into your video calls in just a few taps.

Along the same lines, messaging reactions also makes it possible to quickly add stuff to chats for others to see. Skype suggests using emoticons for “voting, showing excitement, or just for fun,” or basically when you can’t be bothered to tap out a text response and you fancy adding a bit of color to the conversation.

Next up, the integrated camera. Say you’re messaging with a friend and you want to capture something there and then — simply swipe left to access your camera, take a snap, and immediately share it in the chat. You can easily add emoticons, stickers, and annotations before you hit send, too.

Finally, there’s the find panel. This lets you quickly find and share links, news, sports results, restaurants, the weather, videos, and more — without ever leaving the app. Great for you, and great for Skype, too, as it should mean you won’t get distracted by other apps so easily.

“No more switching back and forth between apps; we’re making it easy to bring the content you care about to the conversations that matter,” the Skype team said.

More: They say seeing is believing, so here’s 10 of the best video chat apps available

All of these new additions are currently being tested, but Android users can try them now by downloading the Skype Preview app from Google Play. iOS users who fancy taking the new features for a spin need to be enrolled in the Skype Insider program. Not currently a member? You can sign up here.

‘Really Blue’ Google Pixel now up for pre-order in the UK

Really Blue Pixel is coming to Carphone Warehouse and EE.

Google has announced that it is bringing the Really Blue Google Pixel to the UK via EE and Carphone Warehouse. The phone is now up for pre-order on EE, with in-store availability at Carphone Warehouse kicking off from February 24.

EE’s two-year plans for the standard 5.0-inch Pixel with 32GB of storage start at £45.99 per month, and if you’re opting for the 5.5-inch Pixel XL, you’ll have to shell out £50.99 per month. The plan includes 7GB of 4G data, unlimited calls and texts, free Daydream View VR headset, and 10 BAFTA-winning movies.

Pricing for Carphone Warehouse will be revealed next week. Google mentions that the color option will be sold in limited quantities, so if you’ve been holding out, act now to get your hands on the Really Blue Pixel.

See at EE

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• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: What’s the rumoured difference?

Samsung will launch its next Galaxy S flagship smartphones in the next couple of months, with rumours suggesting a launch date of 29 March. There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the two devices though, known as the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, giving us an idea of what to expect from the new devices.

How will they compare to their current competition? We have put the rumoured specs of the larger S8 Plus up against Google’s larger Pixel device, the Pixel XL, to see how they might differ based on the speculation.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus rumours
• Google Pixel XL review

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: Design

• Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor expected on both
• S8 Plus should be waterproof, Pixel XL isn’t 
• Both should have USB Type-C and 3.5mm audio jack

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will no doubt feature a lovely premium build, which will most likely continue with the glass and metal sandwich design found on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. According to the rumours and leaks though, Samsung will be ditching the physical home button on the front of the device in favour of an almost all-screen finish, repositioning the fingerprint sensor to the rear instead.

Measurements, especially width, are rumoured to be very similar to the S7 edge, which has a footprint of 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm. It is thought USB Type-C will be on board the S8 Plus too, along with the 3.5mm headphone jack which some other manufacturers have been keen to do away with. The S8 Plus is also thought to be retaining the IP68 waterproofing found on its predecessors.

The Google Pixel XL measures 154.7 x 75.7 x 8.5mm, meaning it is a little wider than what is expected for the Galaxy S8 Plus and there is no waterproofing on board Google’s device. It does offer a lovely premium design though, with metal and glass being the primary materials, though designed in a different way to what is expected from Samsung.

The Pixel XL also has USB Type-C and the 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and no physical buttons on the front of the device.

• Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Google Pixel: What’s the rumoured difference?

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: Display

• S8 Plus expected to have curved display
• Bigger display expected on S8 Plus
• Shaper display expected on Pixel XL

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is reported to be coming with a 6.2-inch curved display. As we mentioned though, despite the screen size increase, the S8 Plus is said to be sticking with similar measurements to the S7 edge, suggesting a big improvement in screen-to-body ratio.

There were a couple of rumours to suggest the resolution would see a bump over the S7 edge, but more recent reports have claimed Samsung will be sticking with a Quad HD Super AMOLED screen, but offer improvements for VR. If this is the case, the S8 Plus will have a pixel density of 473ppi.

The Google Pixel XL has a 5.5-inch flat display, which makes it quite a bit smaller than the expected S8 Plus and perhaps not as exciting in terms of design. It too uses AMOLED and it also has a Quad HD resolution however, meaning it will be slightly crisper and sharper on paper than the S8 Plus due to the size difference, with a pixel density of 534ppi.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: Camera

• 12MP rear camera expected on both
• 8MP front camera expected on both
• S8 Plus could have OIS and wider aperture

There have been several rumours relating to the camera on the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus but the most reliable source claims the device will be coming with a 12-megapixel rear snapper and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

It has been claimed the front facing camera will also feature an iris scanner along with auto-focus, while the rear camera is said to be coming with a new visual search feature. Both are reported to have a f/1.7 aperture, which is the same as Samsung offered on the S7 edge.

The Google Pixel XL has a 12.3-megapixel rear camera with 1.55µm pixels and an aperture of f/2.0. It comes with phase detection autofocus and laser detection autofocus but not optical image stabilisation, the latter of which we hope to see on the S8 Plus. In terms of the front camera, the Pixel XL has an 8-megapixel resolution with fixed focus and an f/2.4 aperture.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 edge review

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: Hardware

• Newer, faster hardware expected on S8 Plus
• Larger battery capacity expected on S8 Plus
• S8 Plus should have microSD 

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is rumoured to be coming in two variants – one with the Exynos 8895 chip, the other with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. There have been numerous reports regarding RAM, with some claiming 4GB, while others have suggested both 6GB and 8GB. Internal storage is said to start from 64GB and microSD is claimed to be on board.

The Google Pixel XL runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip, supported by 4GB of RAM. Storage options comprise a 32GB model and a 128GB model, neither of which offer microSD support for storage expansion.

The Galaxy S8 is said to be coming with a 3500mAh battery, while the Pixel XL has a 3450mAh battery, putting them almost on par in terms of capacity but bear in mind the S8 Plus will probably have newer hardware over the Pixel XL, which should hopefully mean improvements in performance.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: Software

• Android Nougat expected on both
• Pixel XL runs vanilla Android
• Pixel XL has Google Assistant, S8 Plus will have Viv

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will probably launch on Android Nougat from the box with Samsung’s TouchWiz software over the top. It will come with the Bixby voice assistant, Viv, and it has been claimed there will be an always-visible status bar, as well as the option to connect the handset to a monitor for a desktop view of Android. 

The Google Pixel XL runs on the purest form of Android Nougat, meaning there is no extra bloatware or duplication, delivering a clean, seamless experience. The Pixel XL and its smaller sibling will also be the first devices to receive any new future Android updates and they also feature Google Assistant built-in.

• What is Bixby? Everything you need to know about Samsung’s assistant

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Google Pixel XL: Conclusion

Based on the rumours, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will feature a more exciting design over Google’s Pixel XL, along with a larger screen within a similar footprint, faster hardware and a bigger battery capacity, which isn’t too surprising given it will be the newer device.

The Pixel XL remains a fantastic device though and chances are the Pixel 2 will give the S8 Plus a run for its money whenever it launches. For now, if all the rumours come true, the Pixel XL will be for those who want a smooth, pure Android experience, while the S8 Plus will be for those after design and the latest hardware.

You never know though, things might sway in the Pixel XL’s favour when the official specs of the S8 Plus are revealed so stay tuned.

• Google Pixel 2: What do we want to see?

See the Nintendo Switch’s alleged operating system in this amazing leaked video

The Nintendo Switch games console isn’t due to be shipped until Friday 17 March, at least for those who managed to get their pre-orders in. However one lucky NeoGAF user, hiphoptherobot, has supposedly got his hands on a console already. Rather than keep it to himself, hiphoptherobot has produced a short video showing the Switch’s operating system.

• Nintendo Switch: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

Nintendo’s previous consoles such as the Wii and Wii U have had heavily animated operating systems and full body avatars. With the Switch however, Nintendo appears to have made the whole user interface a lot cleaner, with a system that looks like it’s been plucked straight from an Android tablet.

The setup instructions are easy and clear to follow and the main home screen is simple. There are boxes that would house quick links to games or downloaded software and underneath those are various options that you have to double click to open.

There’s News, Shop (which may require a software update to access), Album, for capturing screenshots, Controllers, Settings and Sleep. To wake the console up from Sleep you need to press the power button three times, which has probably been done to make sure the console doesn’t power on if it’s in a bag or pocket.

A data management tab in the settings menu shows 25.9GB of free space, which confirms it has 32GB of onboard storage, as some needs to be reserved for the OS itself.

There’s also an icon in the bottom left of the screen that tells you what mode the console is in: either with controllers attached to the screen, or being used separately.

• Nintendo Switch preview: Return of the king?
• Nintendo Switch pre-order stock available again, get one while you can
• All the Nintendo Switch games: Launch titles and every game for 2017 revealed
• This is what FIFA on Nintendo Switch looks like

However, as with all early leaks, they have to be taken with a pinch of salt. While the console may look completely legitimate, we’ll reserve ourselves to receiving our console before confirming exactly what features the Nintendo Switch has.

You can now get the Google Pixel in ‘Really Blue’ colour finish, pre-order yours now

Google has announced the Pixel and Pixel XL will be available in the ‘Really Blue’ colour finish announced last Autumn, exclusively on EE through Carphone Warehouse. It joins the current Quite Black and Very Silver colours options.

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL tips and tricks: Getting to grips with Google’s phone

You can pre-order one now, and it will be in stores from the 24 February. EE has set-up two exclusive pay monthly deals for the phones:

• Pixel 32GB – free @ £45.00/month for unltd mins/ texts, 7GB of data, free Daydream VR headset and 10 BAFTA winning movies from the Google Play Store
• Pixel XL 32GB: free @ 50.99/month for unltd mins/texts, 7GB of data, free Daydream VR headset and 10 BAFTA winning movies from the Google Play Store

Carphone Warehouse has said it will announce its own SIM-free pricing soon, although it’s likely to cost the same as the black and silver options already available: £599 for Pixel and £719 for Pixel XL

• Google Pixel XL vs Pixel: Which should you choose?
• Google Pixel 2 flagship and Pixel 2B budget phone details leak out

Rachael Roberts, Industrial Designer at Google commented: “Launching just in time for London Fashion Week, Pixel “Really Blue” is the bold and youthful sibling to the Quite Black and Very Silver colours. Our goal for Pixel was to create a simple and smart design in a beautifully crafted case and we hope “Really Blue” will appeal to the fun and stylish fashionistas among us.”

VR headset attachment promises to manage stress and sleep

Some VR experiences could be relaxing on their own, but there’s a VR accessory that was designed to make sure you get some well-deserved R&R. That accessory, which attaches to a VR headset’s strap, is called Kortex created by medical device maker Fisher Wallace. The company says it stimulates your brain into producing more endorphins, serotonin for mood balance and melatonin for healthy sleep, while also lowering the stress hormone cortisol.

Kortex works by stimulating your brain using low doses (max of 2mA) of pulsed alternating currents. According to the Indiegogo campaign page Fisher Wallace set up for the product, some people might feel “mild tingling” at the electrode sites, but most don’t.

The accessory works with the Samsung Gear VR, the Google Daydream VR and the ZEISS VR ONE Plus. However, it apparently works on its own, as well. There’s one big plus if you do use it with a VR headset, though: Each Kortex comes with a free copy of ustwo’s (the developer of Monument Valley) first-person game Land’s End.

You can get a unit if you back the campaign and pledge at least $299. Don’t expect it to be shipped overnight, though, since it’s estimated release date isn’t until July 2017.

Source: Indiegogo

Google’s ‘really blue’ Pixel and Pixel XL come to the UK

When Google announced the Pixel and Pixel XL, it showed off three colors: silver, black and “really blue.” Only two of those made it to the UK, however, with the third and whackiest option remaining a US exclusive. Well, not anymore. The blue Pixel is available for pre-order today through EE and Carphone Warehouse “until stocks last.” Yeah, it’s being described as a “limited edition,” so like the regular Pixel we’re not expecting much in the way of stock. It’s available in both the 5-inch X and 5.5-inch XL varieties, although you’re stuck with 32GB of storage (no 128GB option, boo.) Google says the phone will come to stores on February 24th, so even if you miss the pre-order blast, there’s still a chance of picking one up.

Google has had tremendous problems building and shipping its flagship phone. Glance at the company’s online store and you’ll notice that most, if not all configurations are still listed as “out of stock.” That’s a shame, because it’s a stellar phone that Android enthusiasts are clearly clamouring for. At launch, Google tried to sell the idea that now, with the Nexus name on the back burner, it was getting serious about hardware. There would be marketing. Carrier deals. But the big push has floundered on Google’s inability to manufacture handsets. Here’s hoping it can rectify that soon.

We loved the Really Blue Pixel, Phone by Google at its launch in October, and guess what? You can pre-order it now!https://t.co/JSplIwOqxi pic.twitter.com/vFQkUXh1JQ

— EE (@EE) February 17, 2017

Source: EE, Carphone Warehouse

Apple to Start Assembling iPhone SE Handsets in India in the Coming Months

Apple is to set to begin ramping up assembly of the iPhone SE at its Bangalore manufacturing plant in India in the coming months, sources said on Friday (via Reuters).

Last month, Apple agreed a deal with the Indian government to commence manufacturing operations in the Karnataka-based facility, with Taiwanese manufacturing partner Wistron reportedly winning the contract to set up the plant and focus on assembling Apple’s phones.

That groundwork now appears to have paid off, with Wistron almost ready to begin assembling the lower-priced iPhone SE model and kick-start Apple’s local production in India, home to the world’s fastest growing major mobile market.

Recently, Apple has been in talks with the Indian federal government in relation to possible tax concessions if it agreed to manufacture its phones locally. However, industry sources with knowledge of the matter say the initial manufacturing of the iPhone SE is not contingent on any such concessions.

The Economic Times reported on Friday that Apple planned to initially assemble 300,000 to 400,000 iPhone SE handsets in India, but an industry source told Reuters the numbers would be substantially lower to begin with. The source also said it’s too early to say what other iPhone models would be assembled at the Bengalore plant.

The move comes as Apple looks to offset slowing growth in China by boosting its share of the Indian mobile market, which is currently dominated by handsets far cheaper than iPhones. Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and other players command the market there, where most phones are sold priced below 15,000 rupees ($225). The iPhone SE goes for $424 on Amazon.com’s India site, by comparison.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
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Samsung Chief Arrested on Bribery Charges in Corruption Scandal

Samsung chief Jay Y Lee has been arrested over his alleged role in an influence-peddling scandal that reaches to the highest levels of the South Korean government, it was reported on Friday.

Reuters said the 48-year-old vice-chairman and heir-apparent of Samsung was taken into custody at the Seoul Detention Center on Friday morning, after waiting there overnight for the decision.

Image via Reuters
South Korea’s special prosecutor’s office accuses Lee of bribing a close friend of President Park Geun-hye – who is currently facing impeachment over the scandal – in order to win favors related to leadership succession at Samsung Group. Lee now faces charges including bribery, embezzlement, hiding assets overseas, and perjury. Both Geun-hye and Lee have denied wrongdoing in the case.

Prosecutors have up to 10 days to indict Lee, but they can seek an extension. After indictment, a court must then make its first ruling within three months. Currently there’s no word on whether lawyers representing Lee will contest the arrest or seek bail.

Shares in Samsung ended Friday down 0.42 percent, in line with a flat wider market. Ratings agencies say they don’t expect any impact on the company’s credit ratings, claiming Lee’s arrest will accelerate improvements in corporate transparency and governance.

Meanwhile, Lee’s arrest is not expected to hamper day-to-day operations at Samsung’s divisions, which are run by professional managers. That said, the conglomerate is currently going through a restructuring to clear a succession path for Lee to assume control after his father suffered a heart attack in 2014, suggesting strategic decision-making on the issue could be affected.

Lee’s detention comes as Samsung tries to resuscitate its Galaxy brand following last year’s Note7 debacle, in which the handsets were prone to setting on fire whilst charging. The company is hoping that its Galaxy S8, expected to launch in April, will bring the brand back on course in a crucial year when Apple is expected to announce a “tenth anniversary” iPhone 8, for which Samsung will also provide 160 million OLED display panels.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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