Samsung Pay now supports HSBC and M&S Bank cards in the UK

In the UK at least, Samsung is awfully late to the mobile payments party. Samsung Pay launched last month well behind Apple Pay and Google’s Android Pay, and almost two years after its debut in South Korea. To make matters worse, it was only available to customers who bank with MBNA, Nationwide and Santander. Today, it’s playing catch-up with support for HSBC, First Direct and M&S Bank cardholders. While welcome, the app is still missing some of the big British money-lenders including Lloyds Bank and Barclays (Android Pay doesn’t have the latter either, mind.)

The service is available on the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the S7 and S7 Edge and the new S8 and S8+. A software update is also rolling out to last year’s A3 and A7, and Samsung is promising support for additional devices “in the coming months.” The big question, however, is why anyone would choose to use this over Android Pay. Samsung’s version does support iris scanning for payment authorisation, which is a neat (and pretty secure) touch. But otherwise, there’s little to separate it from Google’s established service, which comes with handy deals and will follow you regardless of the Android phones you buy in the future.

AR/VR Headset Shipments Forecast to Hit 100 Million Units By 2021, Buoyed By Apple, Microsoft, and Others

Earlier this month at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple revealed its first big push into the augmented reality and virtual reality spaces, with a new ARKit developer framework and high-performance iMacs with native support for VR content creation.

On Monday, research firm IDC published new data forecasting significant growth in both markets, with dedicated AR and VR headset adoption expected to increase from just under 10 million units last year to 100 million units in 2021.

VR headsets account for much of the device volume so far, with VR headsets powered by a smartphone proving the most popular, according to IDC. The second half of 2016 also saw an increase in volume of Sony PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, and Facebook’s Oculus Rift.

“The next six to 18 months will further stimulate the VR market as PC vendors, along with Microsoft, introduce tethered headsets and high-end standalone VR headsets also enter the market,” said Jitesh Ubrani senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers. “With lower hardware requirements on the PC and lower prices on headsets, VR will be more accessible than ever before. And the introduction of additional motion tracking and hand tracking will help further blur the line between digital and physical reality.”

Although IDC believes VR headsets will continue to dominate the market in terms of volume for the foreseeable future, the firm believes AR will have a much bigger impact on the industry as a whole, in part thanks to Apple’s recent entry onto the scene.

In terms of dedicated devices, AR continues to sit slightly in the background of VR. The reason for this is not that AR is less important, but rather it is harder to achieve. IDC believes VR headsets will continue to lead in terms of volume throughout the forecast, but maintains that AR in general will have a much bigger impact overall on the industry. Consumers are very likely to have their first AR experience via a mobile phone or tablet rather than a dedicated headset, and Apple’s recent introduction of ARKit further supports this.

IDC believes AR headsets will become increasingly popular in markets such as healthcare, manufacturing, field service workers, and design, with commercial shipments to account for just over 80 percent of all AR headsets shipped in the next 5 years. “We believe that many industrial jobs will fundamentally change because of AR in the next 5-years,” said Ryan Reith, IDC program vice president. “These are much more opportunistic markets for dedicated AR headsets than the consumer market.”

Mobile app developers have been sharing early creations using Apple’s new ARKit, suggesting huge enthusiasm for the possibilities for AR on iOS devices. As for VR, Apple’s enthusiasm was clear during its WWDC keynote, with the company showing off the power of its new iMacs through a live demo of VR content creation using a HTC Vive, made possible via a new Metal 2 developer kit that has provisions for external GPUs and VR headsets.

Related Roundup: Apple VR Project
Tags: IDC, ARKit
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Swiss Encrypted Email Provider Launches ProtonVPN With Free Subscription Tier

Encrypted email provider ProtonMail today launched its own VPN service called ProtonVPN, which includes a free user tier in its pricing plan.

The Swiss-based company said it had been testing its VPN service for four months with the help of over 10,000 members of the ProtonMail community, and the group was ready to make ProtonVPN available to everyone starting Tuesday.

The Proton group said they were motivated to create ProtonVPN to combat increased threats to online freedom, such as the recent repeal of Obama-era rules designed to protect consumer internet browsing history, calls by British Prime Minister Theresa May for increased online surveillance, and the attempts by the U.S. FCC to dismantle net neutrality.

“In the past year, we have seen more and more challenges against Internet freedom,” said ProtonMail Co-Founder Dr. Andy Yen, “now more than ever, we need robust tools for defending privacy, security, and freedom online.

“The best way to ensure that encryption and privacy rights are not encroached upon is to get the tools into the hands of the public as soon as possible and widely distributing them,” said Yen. “This is why, as with ProtonMail, we’re committed to making a free version of ProtonVPN available to the world.”

The group says it has worked to make the best possible VPN service by addressing many of the common pitfalls with existing VPNs. Features therefore include a Secure Core architecture that routes traffic through multiple encrypted tunnels in multiple countries to better defend against network based attacks, no logs, as well as seamless integration with the Tor anonymity network. Headquartered in Switzerland, the VPN is also outside of E.U. and U.S. jurisdiction and is not a member of the fourteen eyes surveillance network.

The free tier includes servers in three countries and usage on one device, but bandwidth speeds cannot be guaranteed. The Basic tier costs $4 a month (billed as $48 a year) and includes access to all 112 ProtonVPN servers across 14 countries, high speed bandwidth, and usage on up to two devices, while the Plus tier ($8 per month/$96 per year) offers the highest bandwidth, connection on up to 5 devices, Tor servers, and access to Secure Core data networks hosted in Switzerland, Iceland, and Sweden. The Highest tier ($24 a month/$288 a year) includes a ProtonMail Visionary account.

ProtonMail began crowdfunding in May 2014 and launched in March 2016, led by a group of scientists from CERN and MIT who aimed to deliver an easy-to-use end-to-end encrypted email service with freely available open source code. Earlier this year, the team launched a Tor-based site to make ProtonMail available to users in regions under the oppression of strict state online censorship.

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.

Tags: security, privacy, Encryption, VPN
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U.K. Smart Home Firm Hive Announces First Security Camera

Hive, the U.K. smart connected home company backed by British Gas, today announced the Hive Camera, bringing video to its family of smart devices for the first time.

Similar to the Nest Cam, the Hive Camera enables users to monitor their home 24/7 wherever they are, using an accompanying mobile app. The device features motion and audio sensors that can be set to trigger motion and audio alerts, with automatic video recording also included.

The Hive Camera’s zoom function allows users to get a clearer view of what’s happening at home, with the added ability to trigger noises like a barking dog or alarm to discourage intruders.

In addition, a two-way audio feature allows users to communicate with family members through the camera, enabling parents to soothe a baby in distress, for example.

The Hive Camera will be available in the U.K. beginning June 29 for £129, and joins the growing family of Hive smart products, which now includes motion sensors, smart plugs, door sensors, and smart lights.

The company also says it will soon launch a Hive Leak Sensor, which monitors domestic water supply, and the Hive Active Hub, a more advanced version of its existing Hub with an intelligent audio sensor.

Hive smart devices integrate with Amazon’s Echo speakers so users can dictate actions through Alexa, while the company says it’s working on bringing Apple HomeKit support to its products this year. Hive is also in the process of making its smart products available in the U.S. through a partnership with Direct Energy.

Tags: United Kingdom, Hive
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The Galaxy Tab S3 is now available in India for ₹47,990

The Galaxy Tab S3 goes up sale in India for ₹47,990 ($745).

The Galaxy Tab S3 is the best Android tablet currently available, and starting today, Indian customers will be able to get their hands on the tablet.

The metal-and-glass chassis gives the Galaxy Tab S3 a premium look, and the home button up front doubles up as a fingerprint sensor. The tablet is essentially a flattened Galaxy S7.

When it comes to the hardware side of things, the Tab S3 features a 9.7-inch QXA Super AMOLED display with a 2048 x 1536 resolution, 2.15GHz Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM, 32GB storage, 13MP camera, 5MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, LTE, four speakers with audio tuned by AKG, and a 6000mAh battery.

Read: Galaxy Tab S3 review

The HDR-enabled display on the Tab S3 allows you to view a wider gamut of colors on streaming services like Prime Video and Netflix, and it comes with a blue light filter that reduces eye strain when viewing the screen at night. Samsung is touting 12 hours of battery life on a full charge, and there’s fast charging for when you need to top up quickly.

When it comes to productivity, the tablet automatically attaches to Samsung’s keyboard cover through pogo pins located at the bottom of the device. And finally, the Tab S3 comes with its own S Pen, which according to Samsung is the “most advanced digital pen” it created to date. Samsung is going to bundle an S Pen with all Tab S3 orders in India.

The tablet will be going up for sale at thousands of retail stores across the country for ₹47,990. Samsung is offering easy EMI options, and customers ordering the tablet before July 31 get a one-time screen replacement for free. Jio subscribers will also be able to get double data offer.

What do you guys think of the pricing of the Galaxy Tab S3 in India? Any takers?

Nokia introduces new connected health products following Withings takeover

Following the news that Finnish smartphone company Nokia had taken over the health product company Withings at the beginning of 2017, the first new products with Nokia branding have now been released.

• Nokia fitness trackers coming 2017 as Withings brand is replaced

While Nokia has already rebranded the existing portfolio of Withings connected health products, two new ones have now joined the lineup: the Nokia Body, a BMI Wi-Fi connected pair of weighing scales and Nokia BPM+, a blood pressure monitor with flexible cuff.

Nokia Body joins the Body+ and Body Cardio scales, and offers weight management for the whole family. The Body scale can store profiles for up to eight different users, and daily weight records can be synchronised for each individual within the newly redesigned Nokia Health Mate app.

You can monitor your BMI data to stay within your weight goals and even get personalised coaching within the companion app to help you achieve them. Nokia Body is available now for £55.

• See all our Withings reviews

The Nokia BPM+ meanwhile is a compact blood pressure monitor that you wear on your wrist to constantly track your blood pressure while on the move. The BPM+ wearable can monitor systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as your heart rate. It’s available now for £115.

The Nokia Health Mate app for iOS and Android is where all your health data is stored, and has now been redesigned. It’s now easier and quicker to navigate around menus within the app and it now comes with eight-week wellness programs to help each individual user achieve their weight goals and overall well-being.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 rumoured for August launch in New York

According to South Korean news outlet Naver (via Sammobile), Samsung will unveil its next phablet, the Galaxy Note 8, on 26 August at an event in New York.

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

Up until now, we haven’t heard too much with regards to a release date. Initial expectation seemed to suggest it would be unveiled at the IFA trade show in September in Germany, as the company has unveiled phones from the Note series there before.

It’s now claimed by Naver that Samsung has brought the launch of the Note 8 forward because of Apple’s usual launch cycle for the iPhone, which will see the iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus and even iPhone 8 in September.

Samsung was also believed to have been able to mass produce the 6.3-inch Infinity Display on the Note 8 with an embedded fingerprint scanner, but that may now not be the case. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ didn’t come with an embedded sensor, with the South Korean company instead having to put one on the rear of the phone next to the camera.

The embedded fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy Note 8 is thought to be causing uneven brightness across the screen, so Samsung may scrap the idea until it can execute it properly.

If true, it would then leave the door wide open for Apple to embed a Touch ID sensor in the screen of the iPhone 8, something which has been rumoured several times. Apple will allegedly use a new optical fingerprint sensor technology to be able to put a scanner in the bottom portion of the screen.

• Galaxy Note 8 to be the first Samsung phone with a dual camera
• Galaxy Note 8 said to have 6.3-inch 18.5:9 screen
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8 front panel leaked in video

We’ve heard rumours regarding embedded sensors for both the Galaxy Note 8 and iPhone 8 go back and forth for some time, so we’ll take this one with a pinch of salt for now. However the idea of a late-August release date is very exciting indeed.

Hive Camera rivals Nest Cam with audio and motion detection, will also bark like a dog

Hive, the British Gas-backed smart home company has announced the latest addition to its collection of smart home devices called the Hive Camera. 

Following the likes of Nest with the Nest Cam, the Hive Camera will let Hive users monitor their home using their smartphone, meaning 24/7 coverage. Like rival cameras, the Hive Camera can be set to trigger motion or audio alerts, with these triggers recording video that’s stored locally allowing smartphone access, so you can see what’s been happening.

There will also be a two-way audio function, allowing you to monitor your sleeping baby, for example, providing comfort when they are distressed.

The Hive Camera will also allow zooming to get in closer to the action, with the ability to trigger noises to scare off a potential interloper, including a barking dog, police siren or alarm noise.

The new Hive Camera will join in with Hive’s other home devices, meaning that building a smart home is now a little more straightforward. The Hive Camera will be available for £129 as a standalone device, or can be included in the Hive Home Check package for a monthly subscription. 

The Hive Camera will be available from 29 June 2017.

Hive teases future launches of Hive Leak Sensor and Hive Active Hub devices

Hive has announced the Hive Camera, adding video to its smart home system, but there’s more to come in 2017. 

The company has confirmed that it will be launching the Hive Leak Sensor and the Hive Active Hub to expand the offering of the growing system.

Initially launching with a smart thermostat and heating controls, the Hive system now encompasses motion and door sensors, lights and the new camera, giving a whole range of home monitoring and automation options.

• Hive review: The British Gas system that’s the hub of all things

The Hive Leak Detector follows the likes of Honeywell and Grohe, aiming to help you catch water leaks. The Leak Detector monitors the water flow coming into your home, so if the taps are all off and the water is still flowing, you know there’s a problem.

The Hive Active Hub is a little more unique. It replaces your existing Hive Hub with a more powerful unit with an intelligent audio sensor. This audio sensor can then alert you to thing happening in your home – for example a smoke alarm going off. 

These new additions to the Hive portfolio will be available in Autumn 2017 and we expect he hear more about them closer to launch.

Vertu signs deal with TCL to produce line of super advanced, super expensive smartphones

Vertu, the Paris-based, British phone manufacturer that specialises in super luxury, premium handsets, has signed a $40 million deal with TCL Communication, the company responsible for making BlackBerry devices.

• Vertu Constellation is a luxury handmade smartphone with a 5.5-inch sapphire crystal display
• Inside Vertu: Welcome to the world of luxury smartphones

It will be using advanced, innovative TCL technologies in a new line of phones. Each of the run of 30,000 will be handcrafted in the UK and cost upwards from £7,500 a pop.

Vertu was acquired by entrepreneur Hakan Uzan in mid-March of this year for £50 million, and the TCL deal is the first struck since his arrival. It should ensure Vertu phones are always as technology sound on the inside as they are opulent on the out.

Uzan hinted that the TCL partnership won’t be the last, either, saying that he plans to make many “considerable investments” in the future. He added: “TCL Communication is a valued partner of Vertu and we hope that this will be the start of a prosperous new chapter in our relationship”.

TCL is naturally pleased with the deal too, with Alain Lejeune, Senior Vice President saying: “Combining our advanced smartphone technology with Vertu’s superb craftsmanship and commitment to superior design and performance, it will help create an outstanding experience for its discerning customers”.

We can expect to see new products in the UK, France, China, Asia, Russia, Western Europe and the Middle East following the implementation of TCL tech around September this year.