Moto Z2 Play pictures and further specs revealed, Snapdragon 626 and 3,000mAh battery confirmed

Earlier this week, pictures and some specifications of the forthcoming Moto Z2 Play smartphone were found on the website of the TENAA, China’s mobile certification agency.

Now further alleged specs have been revealed, thanks to a posting on GeekBench.

It is said that the handset was tested by an unknown individual using GeekBench benchmarking software and the results were subsequently posted online. If true (and not from a prototype or dummy), it seems the Moto Z2 Play will come with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor, running at 2.21GHz. It will also have 4GB of RAM.

GeekBench

The previous TENAA posting revealed the front, sides and rear of the forthcoming device and the page listed specifications not on GeekBench.

According to the communications regulator, the phone will measure 156.2 x 76.2 x 5.99mm and weigh 145g. It will also come in either black or white, which sort-of matches the previous picture leak (which showed a white-fronted handset with a gold rear casing).

Lenovo / TENAA

It will have a 5.49-inch (5.5-inch, basically) OLED screen with a Full HD, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution.

Android 7.1.1 will be installed from the off, and the storage space on the device will be 64GB.

The listing also suggests that the rear camera will sport a 12-megapixel sensor.

One bone of contention is the battery size. The TENAA lists it as 2,820mAh, as rated by the agency. However, as with the previous leak, Lenovo has confirmed that it’s actually, fractionally larger than that.

An official tweet from manufacturer Lenovo, posted on Friday 20 May, states that the battery size will be 3,000mAh, as previously thought.

@AnbhuleAnant Hi Anant. Moto Z2 Play has Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery. Auxen_Lenovo

— Lenovo (@lenovo) May 20, 2017

That’s still smaller than the phone’s predecessor, which had a 3,150mAh battery, but maybe there’s more cunning battery saving techniques at play (no pun intended).

We expect to find out more soon, with the Moto Z2 Play tipped for release in the coming weeks.

What is Pokemon Magikarp Jump and how do you play it?

There’s a new Pokemon game out on Android and iOS, bringing another little fix of Pokemon fun for you. This one, as the name suggests, is all about magikarp.

Considered to be the weakest and potentially least exciting Pokemon character of them all, the game focuses on bringing a little more excitement to the world of magikarp, so that critter you basically ignored in Pokemon Go, gets the chance to have some love.

Fortunately it’s all wrapped in Pokemon charm, with crazy music and plenty to do. Here’s everything you need to know about Magikarp Jump.

What’s the point of Magikarp Jump?

Like other Pokemon games, Magikarp Jump is about catching, training and competing. Note we don’t say battling, because the competition is based around seeing how high you can get your magikarp to jump.

The aim, therefore, is to look after your magikarp: catch a good ‘karp, feed it, train it and finally compete with it, until it’s time to retire it and start again.

The competition itself is simple and involves very little actual skill, you just press the jump button and your Magikarp jumps, aiming to jump higher than your competitor. If you jump higher you win, you progress up the ladder, gain XP as a trainer and collect bonus coins.

Simple huh? It’s not quite as simple as that.

Understanding your magikarp’s stats

There are two elements to your magikarp, there’s JP – jump power – and there’s the character level. The character level defines the size of your Pokemon, growing as you continue to eat.

Magikarp level

When you catch a new magikarp it will have a particular level and JP. The level that you can power your magikarp up to will be defined by the XP of your trainer: the more you battle, the higher the maximum level your magikarp can be and the bigger it will grow.

As your magikarp gets bigger, other things happen, like any patterning will become clearer. There aren’t just orange Pokemon, there’s a wide range of different patterns. You’ll be rewarded for this growth with additional diamonds or coins, which you can spend in town to buy other elements in town – for example buying decorations or friendship items which can aid in training or growth.

Jump power

Jump power (JP) is really what it’s all about, because when you go head-to-head with an opponent, you need to make sure you can out-jump them.

Jump power is slowly raised by getting your magikarp to eat the various berries that appear in its pond, through training, as well as through the help of friends. You can, for example, have Pikachu on your team, adding jump bonuses to help you along. But there’s a lot to training and growing your JP, which is what the game is really all about.

How to train a winning magikarp and raise JP

Training makes the biggest difference to the jump power of your magikarp so you’ll need to put that fish on a good regime to raise the JP at a rapid pace.

You can only train when you have Training Points, which gives the game a time element – you can’t just slam a load of training, you’ll have to wait for TP to be restored before you can train again, to keep you coming back.

Training exercises are randomly picked and you don’t actually have to do anything, you go to the training and get your bonus once it is complete, however, you can improve the performance of your training:

• Coins can be used to upgrade the training effect and increase your JP faster
• Coins can be used to upgrade the food in the pond to raise your JP faster
• As your trainer XP level raises, you get access to more types of training
• Diamonds can be used to buy training or performance aids and power ups
• Retired magikarp in your pond can provide a boost to JP

Time is a big factor in Magikarp Jump. We’ve mentioned that training is limited by those points, but if you don’t win in competitions, you’ll find you can’t compete either. You can buy LP Restore or Training Soda from Town using diamonds, which helps understand the economics of the game: the more coins and diamonds you have, the more you can boost training effects by upgrading everything.

Is Magikarp Jump free?

The game itself is free, but it uses what’s called the freemium model, offering in-app payments to give you benefits that would take you a long time to earn in the game.

You can play Magikarp Jump free without having to part with any real money and this is what you should aim to do. That means playing more, collecting the coins and diamonds you earn along the way and exchanging them for the bonuses in Town.

If you really can’t wait, there are in-app purchase options for more coins and diamonds, as well as an exchange system so you can trade one thing for the other. The purchasing options work just as they do in other games: if you want to spend a load of real cash you can, but you really don’t need to – just play the game and the rewards will come.

What about random encounters?

This is actually the part of Magikarp Jump that’s the most interesting. There are a wide range of random encounters that happen and bring some variety or a little boost. You might lose a jump and someone will come and restore a TP with a little praise, so you can train and get back out there.

In your pond you might find other interlopers that deposit a load of food for you, so you can munch up everything. Other times you’ll just be given stuff that you can sell or use to give you boosts in other areas.

It’s this random element that brings interest, because it takes some time playing the game before you really get to see what it’s all about.

Is Magikarp Jump as good as Pokemon Go?

We’d say no. While both lean heavily on the world of Pokemon, Pokemon Go’s magic really lies in the magic of discovery and that real-world exploration and gathering element. Magikarp Jump takes a pretty tame Pokemon character and builds an interesting world around them.

But Magikarp Jump is addictive, because there’s so much to collect and so much progress to be made, unlocking things along the way. It’s the sort of game you and dip in and out of constantly so it’s sure to be a surefire hit with kids. The simplicity also means it’s great for younger players.

Once you get to the end and complete a competition, your ‘karp then retires to your pond and the process repeats, with your trainer and benefits slowly increasing.

Magikarp Jump is available for Android and iOS right now.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 front panel leaked in video, confirms Infinity Display.

Following the dummy version of the Galaxy Note 8 that leaked earlier this week, a video claiming to show the front panel of Samsung’s upcoming phablet has been posted to YouTube, courtesy of Slashleaks.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What’s the story so far?

The panel shows what was already believed to be the case anyway, that the Galaxy Note 8 will have the same Infinity Display as its Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus cousins. That means no physical buttons to be found anywhere on the front, instead just a full screen. It’s claimed the Note 8 will come with a 6.3-inch display, only 0.1-inches bigger than the S8 Plus. As with any leak and rumour, this one should also be taken with a pinch of salt, as the only thing that suggests it’s the panel from the Note 8 is some writing on a note on the table. Not exactly what you could call ‘official’, then.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is expected to be the first Samsung phone to adopt a dual-lens camera on the back. This is something that has only been suggested by usually reliable leakster Ming-Chi Kuo, but is further backed up with the dummy model that was recently outed. The model is thought to be one sent to a case manufacturer and clearly shows a vertically-arranged, dual-lens camera on the rear.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is expected to be the first Samsung phone to adopt a dual-lens camera on the back. This is something that has only been suggested by usually reliable leakster Ming-Chi Kuo, but is further backed up with the dummy model that was recently outed. The model is thought to be one sent to a case manufacturer and clearly shows a vertically-arranged, dual-lens camera on the rear.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 dummy show vertical dual-lens camera
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 to be the first Samsung phone with a dual camera
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 said to have 6.3-inch 18.5:9 screen

As you’ll be all too familiar with by now, the Galaxy Note 8 has a lot of pressure on its shoulders, as it needs to recover from the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7. All eyes will be on the phablet when it’s released, most likely in September, so Samsung needs to pull out all the stops.

Volvo V90 review: An effortlessly modern and elegant estate car

Unless you’re a fully paid-up Volvo hater (and we’ve found a few), then it’s hard not to admire what the Swedish company is doing at the moment. The “human-made” advertising campaign cuts to the heart of the brand’s Scandinavian design appeal and marks a point of change in the brand’s portfolio.

For years there’s been a genuine lack of alternatives in the premium car space, with the “default” BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6 being the obvious go-to choices. But Volvo has recently and rather suddenly got its act together in a way which just might upset that German applecart. For the new V90 is a great car (as is its saloon sister, the S90).

The aforementioned Beemer and Merc have each just been refreshed and are truly astounding products — sophisticated and dripping with tech — so to see the Volvo D5 Powerpulse AWD Inscription model (as tested here) compete in a different way, shows that Volvo is on top form.

Volvo V90 review: The antithesis of the turbo brick

Of course, Volvo estates have always been different. Their unapologetically square aesthetic — complete with upright tailgate — always gave them a unique appeal throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s models. It made Volvo estates beloved of antique dealers and upper-middle class families. Because of the engine hanging out front, these cars were known as the “turbo brick”.

Pocket-lint

Then Volvo stagnated, BMW and Audi took over the mantle of being the preferred transport of upwardly mobile European families. Their angled rear-screens meant the 5-Series Touring and A6 Avant were less commodious in the boot than a V70 or V90, but few cared — factors such as image, performance and technology made the German cars more appealing.

The V90 is Volvo’s newest riposte. While it may ditch that upright screen and not even have the biggest boot in its class, objectively it represents a far more appealing proposition than Volvos of old.

The form is much easier to love, and by a turning of the tables, the V90 manages to be a far better resolved piece of estate car design than either the new 5-Series or E-class with their fussy detailing and occasionally afterthought estate attributes.

Pocket-lint

Simply put: the Volvo estate now isn’t a square turbo brick. It’s effortlessly modern, elegant, impeccably resolved.

Volvo V90 review: No apologies needed

Up front, the Thor’s hammer headlamps which debuted on XC90 make a second appearance — presenting a face for which apologies are no longer needed. It’s distinct and commanding, so the V90 will clear a fast lane as well as any Audi. But it doesn’t resort to the naked aggression of the German cars.

Pocket-lint

Step inside the V90 and the difference becomes even more marked. Instead of the stark, black-plus-black business suit of a traditional executive car, you can go down the spec route of our test car — high quality blonde leather, fine crystal-cut aluminium bezel details and modern, open-grain wood.

One benefit of Volvo’s touch-based Sensus in-car technology system is that it cleans up the cabin environment, presenting a space that isn’t bewilderingly full of buttons.

Dropping down into the leather chairs, the V90’s environment seems to have borrowed from the historic approach of ones of its core rivals. Mercedes-Benz used to say of its car interiors, that they should lower your heart rate by 10 beats per minute. The clam, warm, reassuring qualities of the new Volvo’s interiors do just that too.

Pocket-lint

We can’t think of a car interior the small side of £100k that has the ability to make you feel as good as when sat in the V90.

Volvo V90 review: Design front and centre

So Volvo has succeeded in generating a very appealing car, before you even turn the wheel.

But this is supposed to be the part where we tell you the Volvo is terrible to drive and actually you should just buy a German car anyway, right? Well, when you do drive the Volvo in anger, it remains consistent in its design approach, by prioritising calm, refined progress over dynamic excellence.

Pocket-lint

Many who are stepping out of the more powerful versions of 5-Series, E-Class and A6 are likely to feel that the Volvo is a step backwards in the driving experience it offers. With their adaptive suspension set-ups, the German cars certain ride and steer with greater panache. The V90 uses a very unusual rear spring set-up and is sometimes caught out by road conditions, yet most of the time comfort is the standout quality of the drive. So long as you don’t start trying to drive it on its door handles it remains composed.

The greatest issue for those switching from German brands is likely to be the engine. The D5 Powerpulse (so named because the engine features a novel anti-turbo lag design), produces 235bhp — which is not unimpressive from its 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre capacity. In general, it’s refined and fast enough — 0-60mph takes 6.9 seconds, which isn’t too shabby. Compared to a BMW straight six-diesel however, the Volvo’s diesel engine lacks culture, lacks firepower and isn’t as economical (it returned 45mpg in our hands, but that included 300 miles of motorway). We await with keen interest the arrival of the T8 plug-in hybrid petrol version.

Pocket-lint

Nonetheless, four-wheel drive on this model makes for easy, unflappable progress in all-weather conditions and the Volvo has appealing big-car stability.

Volvo V90 review: An assault on the Sensus

Using the 9-inch centre portrait touchscreen and 12-inch TFT driver display in-car entertainment system, the V90’s experience is little changed from the XC90 that we drove in 2015.

That means that the V90 is an interesting, but ultimately mixed-bag from an on-board technology point of view. Most things you might want, in spec-terms, you get as standard. The large touchscreen has multi-touch capabilities (pinch-to-zoom and so forth), but because it’s actually an infra-red screen tech, you can use it with gloves on.

Pocket-lint

A head-up display (HUD) is an option (but wasn’t fitted to this review car), as is Apple CarPlay (£300) and Volvo’s Pilot Assist technology (featured as standard) will do the driving for you in certain circumstances.

Because the V90’s hardware is relatively new and clearly backed by decent-spec processors and memory, it all works and responds quickly. The way things are set out means it’s quite easy to use even for a first timer. The lack of physical buttons means you’re relatively limited in the choice of things to adjust unless you want to go delving into sub-menus (which is a good thing), and you do still get some physical touchpoints such as a volume knob (again, a good thing).

On-screen buttons are big, the graphic aesthetic is clean and congruent with the rest of the interior. Spend some miles behind the wheel actually using it and you’ll discover quirks that sometimes become irks. The UI design is very wireframe-like, which means it lacks much in the way of finesse or colour/grading to help you out when using it at a glance on the move. Notably, it looks like in the next update of this system will address this (which will debut on the XC60).

Layout and logic are other bug-bears: the screen layout hops about from menu-to-menu page, so it’s hard to learn consistently where on-screen buttons are likely to be, particularly once you get past the initial pages.

Pocket-lint

Despite online connectivity, programming the satellite navigation system can be a frustratingly time-consuming faff — with the Volvo system insisting you enter things in a set order which it prescribes. Despite online connectivity and search options, it repeatedly failed to find some very obvious, well known landmarks. Happily, getting your phone running through the system is easy and the large, 9-inch screen means the V90 allows you to run Apple CarPlay in one segment of the window, while having other car-native apps visible in the other sections of the screen.

We’d like to see the option of a little more variation in the cluster arrangement (for instance, to reduce content to just display speed, much in the same way that Peugeot now offers). Also the sat nav map and turns integration in the cluster is graphically woefully compared to what Audi offers.

Volvo V90 review: A premium price tag

Volvo’s ascension to the premium big league is confirmed by the V90’s price. Rather than undercutting an Audi A6, BMW 5-Series or Mercedes E-Class, the V90 goes toe-to-toes with them.

Pocket-lint

Assuming you can get over any brand snobbery this seems entirely reasonable, and the standard equipment list is generous: that 9-inch Sensus system, sat nav, connected services, 8-speed auto box, LED lights, leather upholstery, pilot assist, adaptive cruise control, a powered boot, heated seats and of course Volvo’s famed safety qualities are all standard.

But it’s tricky not to review a premium car without referring to the all-important options list. Our test car came with nearly £10,000 of options, but we don’t think they made a great difference to the core experience or verdict. Some £5000-worth were made up of the Xenium pack: £2k for panoramic roof, 360-degree park camera and park pilot; plus £3k for the Bowers and Wilkins sound system.

We’d stick to the Winter Plus pack, for adaptive lights, heated wheel, nozzle jets (£925), CarPlay (£300, a price that feels mean given it’s standard on low-spec Seat and Skoda cars) and the 19-inch alloys (£700), which set the design off nicely.

Pocket-lint

Notably, this D5 Inscription V90 is above the new £40k threshold for an additional £310 per year. And it is unlikely to be the one which makes sense for company car drivers — the combination of the D5 engine and all-wheel drive system tip the CO2 to 129g/km, whereas the front-drive D4 is 119g/km.

For those with more generous budgets or un-encumbered by tax regimes, the D5 is the one to have though — we’ve briefly driven a D4 and the extra 45 horsepower and all-wheel drive (AWD) make the D5 experience preferable on the road.

Verdict

Not only is the V90 a likeable car, it’s a talented car — which is illustrative of Volvo’s new found premium qualities.

Ok, so the Volvo doesn’t outpoint a BMW 5-Series or Mercedes E-Class in many areas, but what makes it likeable is its confidence to tread a different path. While certain recent cars we could mention feel like they have been so closely benchmarked against German opposition that they almost lose their own character (cough, Jaguar and Alfa), the V90 says “here’s a different way”. We like that.

The V90 is spacious, supremely refined and comfortable, and in this D5 AWD guise it’s possible to cover ground very quickly. The luxe interior, with its competitive tech, will make you feel better about life every time you step into it, too, and we happen to think this is the best looking large estate car out there.

By normal automotive journalism standards, the V90 isn’t top of the class. But perhaps it’s time to assess things in a different way. If you’re looking for an antithesis of the go-faster, aggressive, hyper-competitive executive world, it’s well worth trying the Scandanavian option.

Lego Batman Movie is first 4K HDR film to stream on Xbox One S

The Xbox One S has been able to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays since its introduction in August last year, and in HDR to boot. It’s currently the only games console to do so.

You can also stream Netflix and Amazon Video content in Ultra HD with HDR on shows and movies that support it.

And now there’s a third way to watch content in the very best format possible; Microsoft is selling the digital version of The Lego Batman Movie in Ultra HD with HDR on its US online store. It’s the first film to be available on the service in 4K and, hopefully, far from the last.

The movie is only available to buy in the US at present, for $29.99 (around £23). We expect it to also be available in the UK when it is released at the end of May, beginning of June.

• 17 best 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays available to buy now

You might baulk at the hefty price tag for the 4K version, considering the HD digital copy costs $19.99 and standard definition $14.99, but that reflects the current price for 4K Blu-rays. A typical 4K Blu-ray in the UK will set you back between £19.99 and £24.99.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition of The Lego Batman Movie is available on pre-order for $29.27 on Amazon.com, but carries an RRP of a staggering $44.99. It’ll ship on 13 June.

It is also available to pre-order in the UK, for a 19 June release date. It currently costs £22.99 on Amazon.co.uk.

Undoubtedly, as the format becomes more widely used, the prices will drop.

Samsung Galaxy S9: What’s the story so far?

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ have only recently hit shelves but that doesn’t stop speculation for their successor. As is always the way, as soon as one great device appears, there are always those wanting more. 

Here are all the rumours relating to what we assume will be called the Samsung Galaxy S9 when it launches, though is apparently codenamed “Star” for now. We’ve also thrown in a few things we’d like to see too so feel free to do the same in the comments.

Samsung Galaxy S9: Release date

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ were officially announced on 29 March, with general availability starting on 28 April so we aren’t expecting to see the S9 before March or April 2018. 

The South Korean company’s next device is instead rumoured to be the Galaxy Note 8, which is thought to be coming at the end of August, beginning of September.

• Samsung Galaxy Note 8: What’s the story so far?

Samsung Galaxy S9: Design

As we are still hot on the heels of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, rumours are thin on the ground for the Galaxy S9 at the moment. We’d expect that to change once the Note 8 launches though so keep your eyes peeled towards the end of September.

We’re not expecting huge changes in the design from the Galaxy S8 to the S9, with more subtle differences more likely like the company did from the Galaxy S6 to the S7, rather than the S5 to the S6 and the S7 to the S8.

That almost all-screen front will therefore no doubt remain a key design detail, along with the dual edges, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor move elsewhere. The placement of the fingerprint sensor has been the most criticised element of the S8 and S8+ so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Samsung focus on changing its position, perhaps beneath the display?

• Samsung Galaxy S8 review 

Samsung Galaxy S9: Display

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9+, assuming there is one, will no doubt continue the trend of the large display, minimal footprint. The S8 has a 5.8-inch screen, while the S8+ has a 6.2-inch screen, though thanks to their 18.5:9 ratios, their bodies are narrower than other handsets with smaller displays.

Whether the S9 will increase its display size further remains to be seen for now, though Korean site The Bell claims the Infinity Display will remain a key focus for the 2018 flagship. We’d expect the panel to stick with Super AMOLED, given it has offered Samsung so much success in the last few years and we’d also expect to see Mobile HDR on board again. By 2018, this latter feature is likely to be more prominent too as more content becomes available to take advantage of it.

Will Samsung increase the resolution from Quad HD+? Who knows. It wouldn’t be too shocking to see a 4K display, especially since Sony offers one on its Xperia XZ Premium and given the trend for VR, but for now, it’s guesswork.

• Sony Xperia XZ Premium review

Samsung Galaxy S9: Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S devices have offered excellent camera functionality since the Galaxy S6, improving year-on-year, so we’d expect the same from the Galaxy S9.

There aren’t any rumours surrounding megapixels as yet, but expect a great performer, wide aperture and more advanced features, as is normally the way with a new flagship. Iris scanning is present on the Galaxy S8 and S8+ and it works brilliantly so we’d expect to see the technology appear on the S9, probably further improved again.

The Galaxy Note 8 is rumoured to be coming with a dual-rear camera, following the trend set by LG, Huawei and Apple. If this speculation turns out to be accurate, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the S9 follow suit as it normally brings in a few of the standout features from the Note series. We will have to wait a few more months to see if Samsung does hop on the dual-camera bandwagon though so sit tight for now.

• Samsung Galaxy S8+ review

Samsung Galaxy S9: Hardware

Given the Galaxy S9 will be a flagship device, powerful hardware is pretty much a given. We can therefore expect the latest processor from Exynos or Qualcomm under the hood, though which one will probably be region specific as it has been the last couple of years. 

The S8 and S8+ both have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, as well as microSD. Whether we will see any of these numbers increase isn’t currently known but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a jump in RAM to 6GB, especially given some devices like the OnePlus 3T already offer this.

Battery-wise, again it is not clear if we will see an increase in capacity for the S9, but there will no doubt be improvements in performance from the processor and the software, even if the capacity stays the same. USB Type-C is almost a certainty, while the 3.5mm headphone jack will probably remain questionable until launch, as it did with the S8 and S8+. 

Samsung Galaxy S9: Software

The Samsung Galaxy S9 will no doubt launch on Android O, the name of which we don’t know as yet. It will also have Samsung’s TouchWiz software over the top, which has been hugely refined over the last couple of years and will therefore probably offer even further improvements. 

It’s too early to tell what kind of features will be on board as yet, but they will likely incorporate what we’re expecting from Android O, while also offering some Samsung-specific features too. We’re expecting Bixby to be on board like the S8 and S8+, probably with some advancements, as well as Google Assistant.

• Android O: Features, release date and everything you need to know

Samsung Galaxy S9: Conclusion

For now, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is pretty much all guesswork. It will no doubt bring a host of improvements over the Galaxy S8 and S8+, as all succeeding flagships do, but there are several devices in the pipeline set to arrive before it, such as the OnePlus 5, Pixel 2 and the Galaxy Note 8.

We’ll keep this feature updated with any rumours that appear regarding the Galaxy S9. If you’re getting itchy feet and the S8 and S8+ don’t tickle your fancy, it’s worth having a look at our Note 8 feature for now to see if that device might be able to tick your boxes.

The Morning After: Friday, May 26th 2017

Welcome to Friday morning. In the last 24 hours, we gazed at SpaceX’s latest rocket tests and heard about major financial companies involving themselves in bitcoin. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Twitch competitor has (sort of) relaunched with a new name and the ability to broadcast all your buddies playing at once.

We’ll wait.Android co-founder Andy Rubin will reveal ‘something big’ May 30th

With a resume that includes the Android platform and the Sidekick, you can bet we’ll be paying attention to Andy Rubin’s company Essential Products, when it reveals “something big” in a few days. Pics have teased a mobile device, and another image yesterday hinted at a 360-degree camera add-on. Stay tuned.

As Elon Musk says, the launch is ‘guaranteed to be exciting.’
SpaceX begins test-firing parts of its biggest rocket

SpaceX is trying out some of its boosters — and they’re big. After releasing a clip of last week’s test-fire, Elon Musk tweeted that, when the Falcon Heavy eventually launches this summer, it’ll be this powerful, but “times three.”

You can even use it in the cafeteria
Fidelity Investments dives into bitcoin

Starting later this year, Fidelity clients will be able to check their bitcoin balance through the company’s website, as long it’s stored on Coinbase. A vote of confidence from Fidelity’s CEO arrives while the cryptocurrency is trading at an all-time high, and suggests that eight years in, it could be here to stay.

It’s all up to you.T-Mobile’s flexible Digits plans come out of beta on May 31st

The latest UnCarrier wrinkle out of Big Magenta is “Digits,” a service that lets users mix and match numbers and devices as they wish. Similar to Google Voice, it can sync messages and calls across devices, or support multiple numbers that all point to the same handset. All current customers will be upgraded to Digits at the end of this month, and purchasing an additional line will cost $10 per month for most.

Physical shops will borrow tricks from the web to deliver ultimate convenience.

Your mall will basically have to be psychic to survive

For some of us, the rush we get from buying a new dress or gadget can be cathartic. And in the not-too-distant future, real-world shopping will get so seamless that it could feel like the store is actually psychic. But it’s not just about flashy displays of bleeding-edge tech. Instead, expect a subtler approach that focuses on understanding your tastes to find you your next outfit while you’re in the fitting room, all in the right size. Stores will learn to recognize you as you browse and change dynamically to show things that matter more to you. We take a closer look at both the convenience of online shopping, and what happens next.

MixerMicrosoft’s Twitch competitor gets a new name and co-op streaming

Last year Microsoft bought Beam, a Twitch competitor that focused on low-latency streaming. Now it’s announced the company will rebrand under the name Mixer, at the same time it rolls out some new features. Already built into the Xbox platform on consoles and PCs, Mixer will allow up to four players to broadcast on one livestream channel — perfect for co-op streaming. Also, during E3 next month, Mixer will stream Microsoft’s Xbox press conference in 4K — provided you have the right hardware.

Its most expensive original series won’t be extended.
Netflix cans Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Get Down’

Not even millions of dollars can save a series not enough people are watching.

But wait, there’s more…

• Soon, binge-watching will be as easy as breathing
• Listening to starlight: Our ongoing search for alien intelligence
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Kodak’s chunky, retro cameraphone is coming to the US

You might not hear much about Kodak these days, but the brand still exists — it even released a new smartphone with a humongous camera in Europe last year. Now, that same phone named after its Ektra camera from the ’40s has made its way to the US. As a phone, the new Ektra doesn’t really have impressive features with its 5-inch 1080p display, 32GB internal storage, deca-core MediaTek Helio X20 processor and 3GB of RAM. It also ships with Android Marshmallow instead of Nougat. Ektra’s main draw is none other than its 21MP camera (with six-axis image stabilization, no less) that takes up a huge chunk of its leatherette-wrapped back.

The company says the camera, which has optical image stabilization features, has a fully-integrated DSLR dial experience and can shoot 4K videos. Its counterpart front-facing camera is 13 megapixels, and both of them use Snapseed as the default photo-editing app. Seeing as loads of better smartphones have decent camera these days, we’re guessing Ektra will appeal to those who want that old-timey Kodak aesthetic the most. If this is something you’d buy, head over to the company’s website, where’s it’s selling the phone for $400 as an unlocked GSM device.

Via: The Verge

Source: Kodak

TSMC Sources Claim ‘iPhone 8’ Will Have Touch ID Integrated into Display

Apple has successfully finalized a solution to integrate Touch ID fingerprint recognition directly into the display of its upcoming “iPhone 8”, according to a new report on Friday.

Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) said it spoke to sources from Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), who apparently confirmed Apple’s achievement during a technology convention held in Taipei on Thursday.

Among several design changes TSMC reportedly discussed at the TSMC 2017 NA Technology Symposium was the lack of a home button on the redesigned OLED iPhone, owing to Apple’s use of “an optical fingerprint sensor to enable authentication directly on the screen” in the absence of a physical Home button.

In addition to the fingerprint recognition, the sources claimed the new iPhones will also come with “invisible infrared image sensors to enhance the functionality of the high-pixel camera” and to enable augmented reality functions.

If true, news of Apple’s on-screen fingerprint recognition solution will come as a relief to watchers tracking the development of Apple’s “tenth anniversary” edition iPhone. Reports that the company has been researching ways to integrate fingerprint sensors directly into screens go as far back as June 2015, but more recent sources have claimed Apple has struggled to find a solution that overcomes the production challenges involved.

Specifically, Apple was said to be facing low yield issues of its in-house fingerprint sensor solution, which may have been forcing it to consider three possible alternatives: remove Touch ID from the 5.8-inch iPhone entirely and rely on other forms of biometric authentication instead, place the sensor on the back of the device (similar to the one on the Samsung Galaxy S8), or delay production of the phone.

The security of existing face and iris recognition technology has already come into question, while the idea of a rear-mounted Touch ID fingerprint sensor has received a largely negative response from current iPhone users. Suggestions that Apple could announce the OLED iPhone in September alongside typical “S” cycle iPhones but delay its availability have also been met with skepticism.

Additionally, today’s news also lines up with previous rumors claiming Apple has been aiming to finalize its fingerprint sensor specification in May all along, in time for mass production in late July, which would fall in line with the company’s usual annual iPhone production timeframe.

The other design changes mentioned by sources at TSMC suggest additional biometric authentication such as iris/facial recognition could be used to augment Touch ID via a high pixel-density front-facing camera, which is expected to feature next-generation 3D-sensing capabilities powered by PrimeSense technology. The report also claims the screen ratio of the displays on the new iPhones will be adjusted to 18.5:9 instead of the previous 16:9.

The “iPhone 8” is thought to have a redesigned steel and glass chassis, an edge-to-edge OLED display, and could carry a “premium” price, compared to previous models. Apple is expected to debut the new iPhone in the fall alongside updated versions of its current 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch device lineup.

(Via DigiTimes.)

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: TSMC, Touch ID
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Three Fun Ways to Use Your Personal Drone

Were you desperate for your own drone as soon as they became popular on the mainstream market? For many tech enthusiasts, the idea of being able to own and control a drone was too much to resist, and now loads of us are in possession of these awesome flying devices. From drones with fancy night vision cameras through to hydrofoil drones, the number of features you can get on personal drones these days is pretty astounding, and they are becoming cheaper all the time. However, after you have taken out your drone, learned to fly it around and control it decently, and had some fun chasing your pets, what are some fun ways you can employ your drone after that?

Here, we give you three cute ideas for playing with your own drone.

Take More Epic Selfies Than Ever

We all know how lame selfie sticks are. However, quite often, you want to take a picture that includes a bit more than you can get in the frame holding your phone. Well, if you have a camera equipped drone, you can set up some great selfies using it. Want to take a unique picture of all of your friends at a party, wedding, or graduation? A drone selfie can be a great way to do it. Want to take a picture of yourself next to an amazing landmark or piece of scenery? Again, your drone is well equipped to help you.  Drone selfies can be taken almost anywhere it’s safe and legal to fly, and by combining a selfie and a drone view you can create some truly stunning videos to share with your friends.  Naturally, you don’t have to stop at selfies, either, and can also take some impressive video of yourself from perspectives you wouldn’t normally be able to get – great for things like sport.

Cosplay with Your Drone

Whether it’s for Halloween, a fancy dress party, or as part of a more elaborate cosplay for a convention, dressing up your drone and having it as part of your costume can be fun, and look really inventive. People have tried this using costumes for their drones to make them look like dragons (such as Toothless from How To Train Your Dragon or Drogon from Game of Thrones), birds, butterflies, ghosts, and all kinds of other things, and as long as what you use to create the costume is lightweight and doesn’t interfere with the drone’s operation, you can really do whatever you like!

Deliver Gifts to Your Friends

Whether you want to leave mysterious surprises as a way to play a prank on a friend, or you want to cheer them up with a cute gift or note, it can be easy to do with a drone. Using your drone’s camera you can even watch their reaction from where you are hiding and controlling it! How heavy an item your drone can carry will depend on its spec, but just about any drone can carry a note for you.

These are just a few ideas for silly, fun ways to enjoy your drone once you have mastered flying it.