BlackBerry KeyOne durability test reveals one particular weakness

Why it matters to you

The KeyOne is clearly a durable device, but potential buyers might still want to know about its apparent weak spot.

There’s a group of tech fans out there who enjoy nothing more than scratching, dropping, drowning, bending, burning, and sitting on new gadgets within days of them hitting the market.

While such behavior may for some be driven by innate destructive tendencies, the majority tend to see it as a public service duty, allowing potential buyers of the device to learn more about how it might handle a box cutter accidentally scraping across the screen, or a cigarette lighter burning away up close, or a fall from 1,000 feet in case you drop it from a hot air balloon or a cliff top or something.

The latest gadget to be put through its paces in the most horrendous ways possible is BlackBerry’s KeyOne, the company’s latest flagship handset that launched at the end of May.

One of the first to get their hands on the 4.5-inch Android phone was YouTube’s JerryRigEverything, who immediately set about being as nasty as possible to it so you don’t have to. Kicking off with a determined effort to wreck the phone’s Gorilla Glass 4 display with some severe scratching, we see it stand up pretty darn well. The phone’s physical keyboard, however, doesn’t look too good following a prolonged encounter with a box cutter, though this was more to test the keyboard’s scrolling function, which continued to work perfectly when the tester ran his finger over it. Even the fingerprint scanner at the bottom of the KeyOne carried on working after it was pretty much ripped to shreds in a way that’s just not going to happen during everyday use.

Following more brutal scratching and scraping, which, incidentally, showed the phone to be one robust product, the tester took a lighter to the display. Holding a naked flame to the screen for around 15 seconds, a black mark appeared, though it disappeared once the flame was removed and left BlackBerry’s newest phone with no obvious damage.

But it was the dreaded bend test where the KeyOne appeared to show some weakness. Using his hands only, the tester gently applied pressure, causing the display to pop out of its frame fairly quickly. Unlike many of its competitors, the KeyOne seems to have no adhesive holding the display in place, increasing the chances of it coming out in this way. When the tester then bent the phone the other way, the display stopped functioning thanks to a torn ribbon cable inside the device at the bottom of the display.

As he points out, BlackBerry could secure the display relatively easily, and it may find itself having to tweak the manufacturing process if users complain about the issue in any great number in the coming weeks and months.

Digital Trends’ in-depth review of the KeyOne praised it for its great battery life, impressive keyboard customization options, capable camera, and reliable security. Downsides were listed as occasional performance stutters, subpar navigation icons, and a bulky design. Check out the full review of the $550 phone here

Logitech G hits E3 with new wireless charging tech, two compatible gaming mice

Why it matters to you

PowerPlay technology will keep your wireless mouse fully charged during all those lengthy gaming sessions.

During the E3 2017 gaming convention in Los Angeles, Logitech introduced three new PC gaming peripherals under its Logitech G brand. Two are high-quality wireless mice for PC gaming while the third product is a wireless charging system to keep those mice fully juiced. This station is based on what Logitech calls PowerPlay technology, and includes the company’s custom 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, aka Lightspeed, providing two solutions in one unique kit.

Logitech PowerPlay Wireless Charging System

Let us start with Logitech’s PowerPlay technology. This proprietary solution is based on electromagnetic resonance technology and does not rely on smartphone-based Qi wireless charging. It creates an electromagnetic field across a 10.82-by-12.59-inch surface measuring just 0.0787 inches thick (2mm). This energy is picked up by a “Powercore” module magnetically plugged into the bottom of a compatible Logitech mouse and converted into an electrical charge to keep the mouse battery fully juiced. Logitech says that the mouse will essentially receive more power than it will ever use.

“[PowerPlay] delivers this power without interfering with the precise measurement and data transmission of a high-performance gaming mouse,” Logitech says.

Obviously, Logitech will not go into details about its proprietary PowerPlay technology, but the company indicated to Digital Trends prior to the announcement that the system was a difficult feat to accomplish, requiring years of research, testing, and refinement. Keep in mind that this system will continually charge the mouse’s internal battery, whether it is at rest or furiously moving across the PowerPlay surface during heated gameplay, as long as the charging pad is connected to a power source.

Logitech G’s PowerPlay system consists of the rectangular charging slate combined with a USB-based control module that plugs into a desktop or laptop, powering the surface while also providing wireless one-millisecond 2.4GHz connectivity (aka Lightspeed) to the mouse. The USB cable is braided and customers have two mousepad options to place on the charging pad: Soft or hard. Right now, this kit only works with the two mice announced during E3 2017 (see below), with additional compatibility with other Logitech mice arriving soon.

Unfortunately, the two compatible mice will arrive before the PowerPlay system hits the market. The G903 and G703 will go on sale in June while the PowerPlay system will not appear until August.

Length:
10.82 inches
Width:
12.59 inches
Control module height:
0.39 inches
Charging surface thickness:
0.0787 inches (2mm)
Cloth mouse pad thickness:
0.0787 inches (2mm)
Hard mouse pad thickness:
0.118 inches (3mm)
Cable length:
6 feet
Availability:
August
Price:
$100

You can now buy the Daydream View VR headset in India for ₹6,499

Google’s mobile VR headset is now available in India exclusively on Flipkart.

Google has launched the Daydream View VR headset in India. The headset is available exclusively on Flipkart for ₹6,499 ($100), and comes with a one-year warranty. Currently, the Daydream View is compatible with the Pixel and Pixel XL as well as the Moto Z, with Google stating that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will pick up support shortly.

The headset is made out of soft fabric and is designed to fit over glasses. The main draw with the Daydream View is the bundled controller, which gives you an easy way to interact with objects in virtual reality. After you’re done using the headset, you can slot the controller into the provided slot.

More: Daydream View review

As for what you can do with Daydream View, the headset allows you to view 360-degree Street View tours of famous landmarks around the world, including the pyramids of Giza, the Taj Mahal, and more. You can also view artwork from leading museums around the world, see your favorite movies and TV shows through Netflix VR, and browse your 360-degree photos. There are over 150 apps and games tailored for the platform, and Google is adding more content regularly.

Google is incentivizing the launch of Daydream View in the country by giving away a free Chromecast — valued at ₹3,000 — to the first 30 customers picking up the headset. First 50 customers will receive Play Store credit worth ₹500. Interested in what’s on offer? Head to Flipkart from the link below to get your hands on the Daydream View.

See at Flipkart

Essential Phone will be carrier-exclusive to Sprint in the U.S.

The Essential Phone will be prominently showcased at thousands of Sprint stores across the country.

Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone will be available to buy unlocked direct from the company’s website, but if you’re looking to go the carrier route in the U.S., then your only option is Sprint. The phone itself supports all four major carriers in the U.S., but when it comes to picking up the device from a retail store, Essential is going with the “network of the future.”

Essential president Niccolo de Masi revealed to USA Today the reasoning behind choosing Sprint as its exclusive carrier partner in the U.S.:

We like to bet with where we think the market is going as opposed to where the market was. I feel like we are a new brand and a new consumer electronics company and we are partnering with the network of the future.

It’s certainly conscious for us to work with partners that can make an investment in supporting our brand ambitions…(and) it’s an approach that obviously Andy Rubin has been very successful with in the past as well as a lot of our management team.

Andy Rubin is a close friend of SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and with the Japanese telecommunications giant owning 83% of Sprint, it’s not hard to see why the two companies decided to team up. Rubin is also an advisor to the SoftBank Vision Fund — a $100 billion technology fund with investments in AI, IoT, telecom, mobile apps, and much more.

For its part, Sprint is saying that the Essential Phone will be prominently displayed in its retail stores, with the carrier offering “premium space” for the device. The phone won’t carry any Sprint branding as well. Although Sprint lags behind Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, the deal gives Essential the ability to showcase its phone at thousands of retail stores across the country.

As of now, there’s no mention of when customers will be able to pick up the device from Sprint’s retail stores. The Essential Phone costs $699 unlocked, and Rubin mentioned that it will start shipping out to customers by the end of this month. We should hopefully have more details soon.

What do you guys think of Essential’s decision to team up with Sprint?

Google Pixel 2: What’s the story so far?

With a new year on us, we’re about to head into a cycle where all the phones of the year get updated – Samsung, LG, Sony and Huawei all launched new devices at Mobile World Congress. Nokia also rejoined this list and HTC has revealed its latest.

Heading toward the end of 2017 we’ll see the update to the iPhone 8 and Google’s new phone, which we’ll call the Pixel 2. 

Rumours have already suggested that the Pixel 2 codenames might be Muskie, Walleye and Taimen. We’ve seen Google using fish names in the past, so that’s something worth keeping an eye on.

Google Pixel 2: Design

• Could be HTC manufacture
• Waterproofing likely to be included

Design is the thing that has probably divided people the most when it comes to the Pixel. Although the body is a high quality design, the top glass section has drawn a lot of criticism. It makes the phone a little different, making it distinctive so it sits apart from the iPhone and all of Android’s metal phones.

Pocket-lint

This seems to be an industry problem however, where many devices look the same because, ultimately, how many ways can you design a slab which is all display on the front? The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is perhaps the design success of 2016, being the most distinctive and unique device, but we suspect the curved display is going to become more common. 

Prior to the launch of the Pixel, it was rumoured that HTC had signed up to manufacture multiple devices across the next 3 years, so they might be the hardware partner once again, and devices like the U Ultra or the future HTC Ocean flagship might be a hint at future Pixel design too.

We suspect there will be a move to reduce the bezels to increase the screen to body ratio to keep the phone competitive.

But the fundamental failing of the Pixel is the lack of waterproofing: with many competitors offering protection, for the price that Google is asking the Pixel 2 needs to step up with a solid IP rating. That’s apparently something that was attempted for the Pixel, but eventually dropped, but there’s an unconfirmed rumour that’s been mentioned to 9to5Google, shared via Twitter.

Little tidbit we were told in October last year that I forgot about: “Waterproofing definitely coming with next Pixel device.”

— Stephen Hall (@hallstephenj) January 25, 2017

• HTC Ocean: What’s the story on HTC’s next flagship?

It’s also been confirmed by Rick Osterloh, senior vice president of hardware at Google, that the Pixel 2 will still be a premium offering in 2017.

Google Pixel 2: Display

• Potential shift to 18:9 display

With two Pixel models on offer giving you the choice of 5.0 or 5.5-inches, we’re not really looking for a huge change. We also wouldn’t expect a shift in resolution. The 2560 x 1440 pixels offered gives you the detail when magnified in a Daydream headset, it’s crisp and sharp in all things.

There are rumours of changing the display aspect, however, very much in the style of LG and Samsung’s 2017 flagships. The information is limited with a reported benchmark result suggesting a 5.6-inch screen with a 2560 x 1312 pixel resolution. That is a shift in aspect, closer to 18:9. While we can’t be certain that this is a legitimate result from the device that will eventually launch, it’s certainly something to consider. For us, that resolution sounds a little low, so we expect to see a lot more discussion around display.

Google Pixel 2: Specs and hardware

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 suggested

When it comes to power, the current Pixel devices opted for a new chip – Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 – a step-up over most of 2016’s flagship phones. Qualcomm doesn’t stand still and the Snapdragon 835 is now ready to roll out.

We’d expect the Snapdragon 835 to feature in the Pixel 2, supported by at least 4GB of RAM. With some companies pushing to 6GB, that may be a suggestion, although we’re yet to see any real demand for that sort of increase. That said, there has been talk of Google testing a couple of different chipsets from Qualcomm, Intel and even a custom chip. Rumour has it there may also be a Pixel 2B handset, which will apparently be cheaper with less powerful hardware.

We’d expect storage options to start at 32GB as they currently do and as Google has avoided microSD card support, we don’t think there will be any luck there.

We’d expect USB Type-C as the standard moving forward, as well as a fingerprint scanner, likely on the rear, unless there are serious moves to embrace a scanner under the glass on the front. This is a technology that’s already been demonstrated by Qualcomm, so it’s not impossible.

There’s no telling what the battery capacity might be, but with 3500mAh offering the performance many want, we’d expect that sort of battery size to be crammed into the frame.

Google Pixel 2: Audio and speakers

The Pixel has been flagged up recently as having some problems with its speakers (although we’ve not suffered anything ourselves). We wouldn’t expect a huge change in the speaker arrangements, we’re also not convinced that Google would drop the 3.5mm headphone socket. Hopefully, that will continue to be the convention for Pixel phones.

Pocket-lint

Google Pixel 2: Cameras

Perhaps the biggest movement in cameras at the moment is dual-lens cameras. While LG, Huawei and Apple have all embraced this trend in 2016, we’re yet to see if the likes of Samsung will adopt the format too. From a competitive point of view, Google may choose to use a dual-lens camera to add customer appeal.

It has been claimed the Pixel 2 will have a much improved camera, though it apparently won’t be all about megapixels and more about extra features instead. The Pixel is coming from a strong place for photography, unlike the previous Nexus handsets, so we hope that continues.

• Dual lens smartphone cameras: The history running up to iPhone 7 Plus

Google Pixel 2: Software

The Pixel launched with Android 7 Nougat and a selection of exclusive features, like Google Assistant, Pixel Launcher and the Pixel camera. That unique software position is being chipped away as features appear elsewhere, but we’d expect the Pixel 2 to debut Google’s new software version with a few unique features again.

Android O is currently in development, it was launched as a dev beta, showcasing a number of new features. There’s rumours that the current Pixel handsets will have Android O in August, suggesting that it’s further ahead in development than in previous years. Android O looks to boost a lot in the background, increasing speed and security and add features like picture-in-picture.

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

Google Pixel 2: Release date

Google launches its phones towards the end of the year, so we wouldn’t expect to see a new device from Google until around October 2017.

It has been claimed the Pixel 2 will see a price increase of $50 and be aimed at a different market to the cheaper Pixel 2B that is also being talked about. One thing is clear: Google has failed to meet demand with the Pixel, so needs to think bigger with the Pixel 2.

Rick Osterloh, SVP of hardware at Google also confirmed in an interview that “there is an annual rhythm in the industry. So, you can count on us to follow it”, suggesting that Pixel 2 will follow a similar cycle to the first device.

Currently there aren’t many other rumours about what to expect, but that will change soon enough and we’ll keep you fully updated when they do.

EA and FIFA plan their most ambitious eSports competition yet

FIFA’s Interactive World Cup has been been growing in stature over the years, and its next eSports competition promises to be the most ambitious yet: the organization and EA have unveiled plans for the “largest ever” FIFA competition (using FIFA 18, naturally) this fall. The Interactive World Cup is still the star of the show and will revolve around players signed to clubs, but it’s only one part of a larger picture. Players worldwide will have a shot at representing real-world teams in official competitions, and Ultimate Team Championships Cups will let virtually anyone qualify for a chance at glory in winter and spring events.

You won’t hear much more about the competition until the summer, but EA is promising that “top-tier” eSports outfits will provide more opportunities to play in the big leagues. The whole competition will last for a year, so there won’t be a shortage of events to watch.

It could be a while before we know if the competition comes anywhere close to matching the initial hype. However, FIFA tourneys have the potential to be large simply due to the nature of soccer (aka football). It’s a sport defined by its international appeal, and FIFA is one of the few video game franchises where you’ll see conventional teams offering support. There’s a lot of money on the table compared to some eSports leagues — it only makes sense for EA and FIFA to do whatever they can to help their competitions grow.

Source: EA

Comcast might have to pay TiVo after losing a patent dispute

Comcast may be feeling a twinge of regret for hyping its X1 set-top boxes to the Moon and back. TiVo has won an International Trade Commission dispute accusing Comcast and its hardware partners (Arris and Technicolor) of violating patents through the X1 platform’s approach to DVR recording and search. The case had originally covered six patents, but this still means Comcast could be on the hook for licensing fees if it wants to avoid a sales ban.

It won’t be surprising if Comcast does what it can to contest the ITC ruling, and to some extent it already has: it counter-sued TiVo in 2016, accusing the company of breaching its contract by filing a matching civil lawsuit in Texas (a state that’s often friendly to patent cases) instead of New York.

The verdict may seem speedy given that the dispute began in spring 2016 (shortly before Rovi bought TiVo), but the outcome isn’t totally surprising. Neither Rovi nor TiVo were strangers to patent fights before they tied the knot, and both of them know that the ITC tends to produce results far sooner than conventional courtroom battles. If anything, the surprise is simply that it isn’t a clean-cut victory. TiVo was no doubt hoping that all its patent challenges would have survived scrutiny, giving it more leverage over Comcast when pushing for a settlement.

Via: FierceCable

Source: Law 360 (subscription required)

Egypt asked for Uber’s help tracking passengers

Were you uncomfortable about Uber’s ability to track rides? Be glad if you don’t live in Egypt — in that country, the power could easily fall into the wrong hands. The New York Times understands that the Egyptian government asked Uber to give it access to Heaven, its tool for live ride tracking data. Uber thankfully said no, but the offer may have been tempting. Reportedly, military intelligence officials were willing to give “preferential treatment” to Careem, Uber’s Middle Eastern arch-rival, if it had given into those demands. It also shot down the idea. However, there’s a real chance that these companies might not have much say in the matter before long.

A bill coming up for a vote in the Egyptian Parliament would mandate that ridesharing companies not only host relevant servers inside the country, but connect their data to “relevant” government bodies. If the bill becomes law, it would be all too easy for Egypt to scoop up ride data for the political opposition (say, where activist leaders are meeting) or block the service to thwart protests. There’s certainly reason to be worried: the government blocked both Signal’s secure chat app and numerous websites in a bid to stifle dissent.

Uber and Careem are both pushing for amendments that would soften the bill. However, they may be reluctant to quit the Egyptian market even if the measure goes through as-is. The country is practically tailor-made for ridesharing between its large population, low car ownership and dirt-cheap operating costs (even a long Uber ride across Cairo costs less than $1). If a ridesharing service withdraws, it’s giving up many customers.

Source: New York Times

Watch Bethesda’s E3 2017 event live right here at midnight ET

When it comes to E3 press conferences, Bethesda is kind of a wild card. The company is the steward to iconic franchises like The Elder Scrolls, Dishonored and Doom, but it’s press conference is often something of a surprise. The company has a habit or reviving old franchises unexpectedly, or releasing games just months after their public announcement. It’s almost best to avoid predicting what the company is going to announce and just sit back and enjoy the show. So, where we are — welcome to the Bethesda E3 press conference! You’ll find the company’s livestream embedded right here on this post, as well as on YouTube and Twitch.

Excited for the show? Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments below.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Step inside the Commonwealth in ‘Fallout 4’ on HTC Vive this October

VR is all the rage these days and Bethesda is offering more immersive views of two of its popular games in 2017. One of those is Fallout 4, and the title is making the leap to HTC Vive this fall. At E3 last year, Bethesda revealed that both Fallout and Doom would soon be available in virtual reality and now we know when to expect at least one of them.

Details are still scarce for now, but what we do know is Fallout 4 VR is set to hit that virtual reality headset in October. We’ll add more details here as they’re announced, so stay tuned. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a chance to play the new version at E3 2017 later this week. For now, watch the Fallout 4 VR trailer down below.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!