Motorola just announced three new Moto Gs
Motorola has just announced a new generation of perhaps our favorite budget smartphone. Presenting the Moto G4, the Moto G4 Plus and the Moto G4 Play. It’s a confusing lineup, with the G4 and G4 Plus being riffs on one thing, and the G4 Play being an different device entirely. For now, let’s focus on the G4 and G4 Plus. There are numerous changes from the 2015 G, but the most notable is the display. The G4 and G4 Plus have a 1080p 5.5-inch panel, which is a bump from the last phone’s 720p 5-inch offering. The additional pixels are welcome, but the new screen makes the duo larger phones overall when compared to their predecessor. If you consider that the first Moto G (launched just two and a half years ago) had a 4.5-inch display, that’s a significant increase in size for someone who’s skipped a generation or two.
Powering that display is a more-powerful Snapdragon 617 octa-core processor paired with 2GB or 3GB of RAM depending on how much storage you opt for. Battery life will hopefully see an improvement too: the Moto G4 and G4 Plus have a 3,000mAh battery, up from 2,470mAh last year, and fast charging functionality.
The Moto G4 Play is more like last year’s model. It’s got a 5-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon 410 processor and a 2,700mAh battery. This is essentially the 2015 G in a new shell with a slightly larger battery.
While the G4 and G4 Plus share the same basic spec, where they differ is in the details. The Plus has a fingerprint sensor and a 16-megapixel rear camera with an f/2.0 aperture, “big pixels” and laser and phase detection autofocus. The regular G has a 13-megapixel unit (likely the same as in the current G), and no biometric magic. Both have a 5-megapixel front-facing camera and will be customizable with the company’s Moto Maker service.
Motorola is making a lot of noise about the new 16-megapixel camera in the Plus — that seems to be the real incentive to spend the extra money on the pricier model. The independent image analysis company DxOMark has apparently rated the Moto G Plus’ photo quality ahead of iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus. That bodes well, although it did have to concede that this rating only pertained to images, implying that the video and overall scores were lower.
As we mentioned, there are some slight RAM differences between the models, depending on which storage option you go for. The vanilla Moto G4 comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The G4 Plus will have the same, unless you opt for the model with 32GB of storage, in which case you’ll get 3GB of RAM. Those opting for a G with less storage will be happy to know the Micro SD slot remains, and now supports cards of up to 128GB. Incidentally, one thing that didn’t make it over was the Gs excellent front-facing stereo speakers. There’s now just a single speaker up top.
Both phones represent a decent upgrade over the current generation, and at not much of a premium. They’re coming to India and Brazil (the company’s largest markets for the G series) first, with the G4 debuting today in Brazil and the G4 Plus in India. After that, they’ll arrive across North America and Europe. We’re still waiting on US pricing, but the UK versions will start at £169 for the regular and £199 for the Plus, with both models arriving in June.
There’s not much value in translating those prices into dollars, but what we can do is point to the original starting point for the current Moto G: the 8GB model started at £159 in the UK, and $179 in the US. The pound has weakened significantly since then, so we could see a $179 entry point from the new £169 pricing, or perhaps it’ll increase by $10 or $20.
As for the Moto G Play, there’s no firm pricing or release date. It’ll launch globally this summer, and we’d expect it to undercut the rest of the range.
Update: This article has been updated multiple (!) times because Motorola decided to announce the three phones at different times and places over a period of several hours. Now the news flow seems to have stemmed, we’ve rewritten it entirely for clarity, but we wouldn’t rule out more information being added soon.
SoundHound adds voice search to its music discovery app
Last June, SoundHound revealed its plan to provide answers to more than just your music queries. It did just that with a universal search app called Hound, software with a feature that aimed to take on the likes of Siri and Google: voice commands. However, that handy tool didn’t hadn’t made the leap to the company’s flagship app, but that changes today. The SoundHound software that finds music answers will now let you ask those questions with your voice.
Thanks to the Houndify platform, the SoundHound app can handle spoken cues after you alert it with the “OK Hound” command. For example, if you wanted to hear something upbeat, you would say “OK Hound, play Major Lazer.” Don’t worry, you can still ask the app to identify a song being played, sang or hummed — that original function isn’t going away.
You can also tell SoundHound to add a track to a playlist on your streaming service of choice or ask it trivia questions. It can let you know where a particular artist was born or the name of their latest single. Need to find a music video? The app searches YouTube, too. If you’re looking to give it a go, the updated SoundHound app with Hound’s voice search is now available for iOS and Android.
OnePlus 3’s official render could be a decoy
This morning, a render of the much anticipated OnePlus 3 flagship phone (pictured left) has been making the rounds on the internet. We can confirm that this “leak” is legit as our pals over at Engadget Chinese also got it directly from a source at OnePlus, who didn’t say anything other than that this is a “OnePlus 3 render.” But said source has clearly been seeding the same image to other Chinese media outlets as well, which is why we’re smelling a decoy here — a tactic often deployed by OnePlus’ sister company, Vivo, to stir up hype before a product launch. Leaving the HTC-like design aside, we have a hard time believing that OnePlus would remove laser autofocus and dual-tone flash from its next flagship device; but hey, at least NFC is back, as hinted by the T-shaped antenna band.
If the render has any remaining credibility, it seems that the front-side fingerprint reader, three-stage alert slider and USB Type-C port are here to stay. The StyleSwap back covers are gone, though we don’t doubt that OnePlus will continue to offer other types of cases.
We reached out to both CEO Pete Lau and Head Of Global Carl Pei regarding this render, but they both declined to comment. So far, the only official detail about the OnePlus 3 is the June launch window which Pei confirmed to CNET back at MWC. According to some benchmark and certification listings from last month, the metallic device is expected to come with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 chipset, up to 6GB of RAM, Oppo’s VOOC rapid-charging tech and Android 6.0.1. Evan Blass, formerly known as @evleaks, added that it’ll feature an AMOLED screen and a 3,000 mAh battery.
Here’s hoping OnePlus has saved us some genuine surprises for the launch in a few weeks’ time; it’d be quite a shocker if the actual device looks rather different.
Via: Engadget Chinese
Gesture control is coming to phone-based VR
Right now, gesture control in virtual reality typically requires an expensive PC and specialized sensors. But what if you can only afford (or simply prefer) VR on your phone? Don’t worry, you’re covered. EyeSight Technologies has developed gesture control that uses your phone’s rear camera to allow touch-free input. It should work with any Android or iOS device, and it isn’t picky about headsets. Anything from Gear VR to Google Cardboard should work, although we can’t imagine Cardboard owners having much luck if they don’t have a head strap.
There’s no mention of just when you’ll see this gesture input in practice, although its hardware-independent nature makes it more a matter of integrating with the right apps. Also, more advanced experiences are in the pipeline. EyeSight is bringing its control scheme to phones with built-in 3D sensors, so you might get top-notch VR navigation without ever touching a computer or special controller.
Source: EyeSight, YouTube
Sony’s XA Ultra takes 16-megapixel stabilized selfies
Sony said in February that its mid-range Xperia X smartphone lineup would be camera-centric, and with the Xperia XA Ultra, it’s making good on that claim. The 6-inch device has a 21.5-megapixel Exmor RS main camera with quick launch and hybrid autofocus (though the AF isn’t predictive like on the Xperia X Performance). The coup de grace is the front-facing selfie cam, which packs an impressive 16-megapixel low-light sensor with a front flash and optical image stabilization (OIS).
The stellar cameras are tucked above a 6-inch screen that seems a half-inch smaller, thanks to the edge-to-edge curved, 1080p display. Under the hood, there’s a middling MediaTek octa-core CPU, 3GB of RAM and 16GB storage (expandable up to 200GB of via a microSD slot). The battery is quick chargeable and uses new juicing tech to prolong its lifespan, and Sony claims up to two days on a charge. Unlike other Sony Xperia phones, it isn’t waterproof and lacks a USB-C charging port.
It’s odd to have stellar cameras in such a mildly-powered device, but Sony is trying to separate its mid-range phones from other brands by playing to its strength — imaging. As such, the cameras and screen may attract users whose lives revolve around the camera and social media but don’t want to pay for a flagship. So far, there’s no word on when it’s coming and for how much, but Sony plans a worldwide release.
Source: Sony
NASA shows a typical day on the ISS via Snapchat
NASA hasn’t exactly been secretive when it comes to activities aboard the space station, but seeing astronauts living the dream is something else. To celebrate the ISS’ 100,000th orbit around our planet since it launched in 1998, the agency has teamed up with Snapchat to show the crew’s daily life through Live Stories. Expedition 47 commander Tim Kopra hosted the space-themed series, with short videos showing him eating a tortilla (a favorite among the astronauts, apparently), rolling around in mid-air and talking about their experiments, among other things.
Kopra replaced Scott Kelly as the ISS commander when the latter stepped down after spending a year in space. If you still haven’t figured out Snapchat — and there’s no shame in that — you can access Live Stories by clicking the hamburger menu at the bottom right of the app’s interface. This takes you to a new tab where you can search for NASA’s account. Add it, and you’ll be able to watch the agency’s “Day in Space” videos anytime.
On @Snapchat? See today’s Live Story about @Space_Station’s 100,000th orbit & add NASA: https://t.co/lcDapCrSnS pic.twitter.com/ynvFJvw031
— NASA (@NASA) May 16, 2016
Via: Techcrunch
Source: NASA (Twitter)
Twitter starts testing Periscope button for Android
A very small fraction of Android users might notice a new button in their Twitter app. According to The Verge, the the company has added a “go live” button that users can see when they compose tweets. It fires up Periscope when you tap it, so you can start broadcasting from within the application. But if you don’t have the video streaming app yet, it takes you straight to Google Play. Twitter, which acquired Periscope in 2015, told The Verge that it’s rolling out the “go live” button to a small number of users. It will eventually be available to everyone — we’re assuming even to iOS users — though the spokesperson didn’t mention when the feature will be officially released.
Source: The Verge
MTV’s first original Snapchat Discover show is all about sex
You’d think that MTV would have been quick to produce original shows for Snapchat’s Discover portal (to be where the young people are), but nope — it’s only just getting to that now. The network has unveiled Pants Off, an eight-episode series that dishes out serious advice on sex and relationships in an accessible way. Sex educator and video blogger Laci Green hosts each of the short-form clips, which tackle everything from sex advice myths to dating apps. It’s clear that MTV and Green aren’t pulling many (if any) punches in the first episode. Although there isn’t anything graphic on screen so far, you probably want to watch with headphones on while you’re in public.
It’s a somewhat unusual move for MTV, which is skipping the usual entertainment news and reality shows in favor of a weighty topic. However, it makes sense given both Snapchat itself and the people who use it. Sex advice is not only relevant to teens and young adults who thrive on Snapchat, but well-suited to a phone-oriented format — you can get sexuality tips while you’re on the bus. There’s no mention of future Discover shows just yet, but it’s easy to see more on the way if Pants Off proves to be a hit.
Source: MTV (YouTube)
YouTube for iOS now works with Google’s Cardboard headset
You no longer have to pick up an Android phone to watch YouTube videos with a Google Cardboard headset. YouTube has updated its iOS app to introduce Cardboard support, so you can watch any clip (not just virtual reality videos) using your iPhone and a low-cost paper box. You’ve already had 360-degree video support before, but this is a big deal if you’d rather not swipe the screen to view footage from every conceivable angle… or if you’d just like to immerse yourself in 2D. There aren’t any other big upgrades here, but Cardboard support may be all that matters if you’ve been itching to try VR without spending a fortune or switching phones.
Source: App Store
Report: Twitter won’t count links, photos in 140-character limit
According to Bloomberg, Twitter is prepping an update to its service that will keep photos and links from counting against the 140-character limit of a post. Currently the URL that points to images and sites takes up some of that available space.
The new feature is expected to launch within two weeks according to Bloomberg’s anonymous source. Part of the attraction of Twitter’s existing setup is that it limits the amount of information shared in each post. An early version of the service relied on SMS so that limiting the characters to 140 was more of a technical issue than anything else.
But, long-time users have asked that links, photos and usernames not count against the character limit. It looks like at least two of those items will no longer suck up valuable tweet real estate.
Twitter has been on a feature-adding spree lately as it tries to attract new users. But it’s stopped short of creating a purely algorithmic timeline like what you’ll see on Facebook. Instead, it’s enhanced DMs and surfaced what it believes are the most important tweets so that they appear at the top of users’ feeds.
We’ve asked Twitter for comment and will update this article if and when we hear back.
Source: Bloomberg
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