Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest tech endorsement is a ZTE phone
Sources say CR7 fell over when he saw the Nubia Z11. Absolutely no one was shocked. That’s what happens when you have a reputation for being the best diver on the pitch.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Here’s how the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual cameras could work
Apple’s 2016 iPhone launch event may be just days away, but that isn’t stemming the tide of leaks and rumors. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who is frequently, though not always, on the mark with Apple launches) has published a last-minute report claiming very detailed knowledge of Apple’s handset plans, including a few tidbits that have remained unclear. He now says he understands how the larger 5.5-inch model’s (for sake of reference, the iPhone 7 Plus) long-reported dual rear cameras would work. The two 12-megapixel sensors would reportedly be used for both zoom and “light field camera applications” — typically, that means after-shot refocusing. This would be at least somewhat similar to the dual-camera setup on the Huawei P9, where you can play with focal points and simulate different apertures. Huawei doesn’t offer an enhanced zoom, though.
On top of that, Apple would purportedly include higher-quality lenses (with more elements) and extra LED flashes to produce more natural color in low-light photos.
If the report is accurate, you also wouldn’t have to worry quite so much about Apple ditching the headphone jack. Much like Motorola, Apple is supposedly bundling a headphone adapter (in this case, Lightning to 3.5mm) in every iPhone 7 and 7 Plus box on top of native Lightning earbuds. It still wouldn’t be as elegant as a native 3.5mm port (you’d likely have to go wireless to listen to music while you charge), but you wouldn’t have to buy a dongle to keep using your pricey wired headphones.
There’s more. Kuo also hears that the A10 chip powering the new iPhones will run at a much higher 2.4GHz clock speed (the A9 in the iPhone 6s and SE tops out at 1.85GHz). And if you’re the sort who has to get a new color to prove that you have the latest iPhone, it might be your lucky day. The analyst elaborates on a previous rumor by claiming that Apple will replace its seemingly ubiquitous space gray color with “dark black,” and there would even be a glossy “piano black” if you’re feeling ostentatious. Oh, and the purported second speaker grille? That would hold a new sensor to improve Force Touch, though it’s not certain how that would work.
To top it all off, the report also supports a few existing stories. The new iPhones would indeed be water-resistant, surviving depths of 3.3 feet for 30 minutes. And Apple would not only double the base storage, but the mid-tier’s storage as well. You’d be shopping between 32GB, 128GB and 256GB models, much like you do with the iPad Pro. The display resolution won’t be going up, Kuo says (boo!), but you would get the smaller iPad Pro’s wider color range. All told, Apple would be counting on a ton of iterative improvements to get you to upgrade. Even if this isn’t the big redesign you’d hope for, it’d be more than just a modest tune-up.
Source: 9to5Mac
Six futuristic phone designs
By Cat DiStasio
Cell phone technology continues moving forward year after year, but many of the developments are incremental—a better camera, more storage space, or a faster processor. Those are just the improvements that make it to the mass market, though. There’s is a whole world of innovative developments in cellular phone design and technology that most people have never heard a word about, and some of them even come from leading cell phone manufacturers. Nokia, for instance, has developed a cell phone that can recharge in your pocket and other models made from largely recycled materials. Other companies are working hard to develop modular phones that are easier to repair and upgrade, thereby cutting down on electronic waste. It’s impossible to know which of these futuristic technologies we’ll actually be able to get our hands on, but it’s fun to dream about what kind of features your cell phone might have in another five years.
Nokia’s E-Cu phone charges in your pocket
Long-time leader in cellular phone technology Nokia developed an amazing concept phone that uses body heat to recharge its battery. Although we haven’t seen this technology hit the consumer market, the Nokia E-Cu’s unique charging ability would afford cell phone owners some major freedom if it ever came to fruition. The phone’s copper exterior and its internal integrated thermogenerator converts heat from the body into electricity, making it super easy to ditch the plug-in charger and portable battery packs without any concerns of the dreaded low battery indicator.
PhoneBloks modular reparable cell phone
PhoneBloks developed a concept phone a few years ago that many others have emulated since. A series of modular components snaps together like LEGO bricks, making it simple to replace a broken part or upgrade the phone. With a modular phone, you wouldn’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars for a brand new phone just because one component of your current phone stops working. PhoneBloks could save enormous amounts of electronic waste from ending up in landfills, also, since they allow people to get maximum use out of their initial phone purchase.
Kyocera’s waterproof, washable cell phone
Countless cell phones have been rendered useless bricks after being dropped in toilets, tubs, pools, and lakes – and everyone knows at least a few people who have desperately buried their damp phone in a bucket of rice in hopes of reviving it. Kyocera and Japanese telecom firm KDDI partnered to solve this modern-day problem by creating a waterproof, soap-proof phone called Digno Rafre. If washable cell phone technology becomes the norm, it would become even easier to keep up with your Twitter feed while soaking in a bubble bath, and could even lead to cell phones that could be used underwater, which would really make for some awesome Instagram pics.
O2 Recycle phone made from freshly cut grass
Created for the Rugby Football Union’s social responsibility campaign last year, the O2 Recycle phone is composed of reclaimed cell phone parts and grass clippings collected from southwest London’s Twickenham Stadium. Designer Sean Miles of DesignWorks made just one of the ultra-green phones, putting in over 240 hours building the phone case from glass clippings which were freeze-dried within two hours of being cut from the stadium, and then pulped, molded into the casing, and coated in an eco-friendly resin. The result is a crisp green phone that blends in completely with any stadium grounds or field, and has a much smaller environmental footprint than typical plastic phone bodies.
Samsung’s flexible phone
Ever the leader in consumer electronics, Samsung released a concept in 2011 for a truly futuristic cell phone design. The flexible, bendable, OLED phone can practically be folded in half without any risk of cracking the screen or damaging the components within. At the time, Samsung promised to release the flexible phones the following year, but the project has met a number of delays and is currently expected to roll out some time in 2017. The design has evolved over the years, and some of the images Samsung has released suggest a phone that could be curled around your wrist, reminiscent of slap bracelets from the 1980s.
Nokia Remade recycled phone
Finding new ways to incorporate recycled materials into new technology is a goal many companies share. Nokia was an early adopter of the eco-friendly trend, and in 2008 they unveiled a concept phone made from aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and old car tires. The recycled components primarily went into the phone’s casing, but Nokia didn’t overlook the inner workings. The company sought to employ more environmentally sensitive technologies like printed electronics (which reduce waste and CO2 emissions during manufacturing) and a backlit display which saves energy and increases the life of the battery.

ICYMI: Sorting crops with artificial intelligence
Today on In Case You Missed It: Google’s Tensor Flow machine learning technology helped create a device to sort through massive amounts of cucumbers at a farm in Japan, sorting the vegetables by quality grade so that humans don’t have to do it manually. Meanwhile, an Australian scientist created an ink that changes colors when exposed to sunlight, which could theoretically help people from getting a sunburn.
We also touched on the new internet-connected pet toy from Acer and rounded up the biggest headlines of the week for you in TL;DR. Be sure to check out IBM Watson’s movie trailer and read about SpaceX’s rocket explosion. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Samsung’s biggest challenge at IFA is keeping up appearances
Samsung has a huge presence at IFA. Its booth takes up an entire floor in City Cube, the newest and shiniest exhibition hall at the Messe Berlin. The company’s show area is so big, it’s in its own separate building. Samsung also held not one but two press conferences here in Berlin; one just for the Gear S3 and another that centered around the company’s home appliances and television displays. In both, Samsung was like a proud parent showing off the many accomplishments of its progeny, touting the many advances it’s made in the consumer electronic space.
This is all pretty standard for a trade show, but all the pomp and ceremony is running parallel to one of the most high profile product failings in recent history. The Galaxy Note 7, one of the flagship phones it’s proudly showing off at the show is being recalled globally due to exploding batteries. Many wondered how Samsung might react to the situation, with some suggesting the attention might be diverted somehow, or that the Note 7 might mysteriously vanish from view. Instead, the company’s sticking to its guns, and putting on a brave face here in Berlin — not easy when the world’s tech media are in full attendance.
As devastating as the news must’ve been to Samsung’s corporate HQ, if you hadn’t read the news, you’d be none the wiser if you were casually visiting Samsung’s IFA booth. The company has a dedicated area on the floor just for the Note 7, with several assistants on hand to show off the phone’s various features and to tout its prowess. Instead of hiding the phone away, or over managing things (as can sometimes be the case), there were dozens of them out in the open, ready and available for curious onlookers to play around with. Some wondered whether proud Samsung might err on the side of caution, but to its credit, it’s playing it cool.
The Galaxy Note 7 recall is one of the largest in recent memory, with over a million phones that would need to be replaced. Not just that, but the timing of the recall couldn’t be worse. The device was still being rolled out globally, and Apple’s iPhone 7 event is just a few days away. The implications for the company are massive; it would cost it hundreds of millions of dollars just on the recall and refunding process alone, even without factoring in logistics and inventory fallout. Other companies have had to deal with recalls and product defects before — Apple’s iPhone 4 Antennagate and Fitbit’s Force skin irritation issue come to mind — but few have been on such a massive, public scale.
I talked to a helper at the Samsung booth, and asked if she faced any questions about the Note 7’s recall. She said that she did get a few queries, but she simply responded with a statement that the company was working on the issue. She also said that new, updated Note 7s would be on their way to store shelves eventually, which matches Samsung’s own claim that it’ll start making exchanges in the next couple of weeks.
But here at IFA at least, everything is business as usual. Samsung’s booth was buzzing with a seemingly neverending stream of crowds. The mood was upbeat and positive, and no phones exploded. Though Samsung would likely need a long time to recuperate from such a loss — not to mention mend its reputation going forward — it appears that, if IFA is any indication, the company will very likely weather this storm.
We’re live all week from Berlin, Germany, for IFA 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Pokémon Go is getting a buddy system
Despite its initial success, Pokémon Go has been struggling to maintain its popularity. The game’s active users have shrunk by more than 10 million from its mid-July peak, which makes keeping the remaining players engaged that much more important for developer Niantic Labs. The studio is introducing a new feature in the form of a buddy system that might add an interesting dynamic to the game.
You will be able pick your favorite Pokémon from your collection and become best friends with them, allowing you to earn in-game rewards. The Buddy Pokémon will appear next to your Trainer avatar on the profile screen, and can be switched any time. Details, like whether or not a Buddy Pokémon might help you catch other Pokémon, are scarce at the moment. But, Niantic has promised the buddy system will go live soon.
Beyond that, the studio has more features in the works, and they’re all slated to come out this fall. With Pokémon Go’s downward spiral, a consistent dose of updates might help keep the game relevant in the coming months and years.
Source: Pokemon Go Live
This is how much an exploit merchant charges to break encryption
NSO Group, the exploit seller recently linked to a potential activist hack, charges just $650,000 to hack a group of 10 iPhones or Android devices, along with a $500,000 setup fee, the New York Times reports. For that cash outlay you’ll get complete access to everything on those phones, including taking screenshots, capturing keystrokes and tracking GPS locations.
The Israeli firm can even tap into phone’s microphones to record nearby sounds. It’s not the only surveillance tech firm out there, but with tech companies making encryption more widely available to their customers, it’s the sort of thing that governments are increasingly relying on.
An NSO Group spokesman says the company only sells its wares to authorized governments, who use it for criminal investigations. And sources tell the NYT that there’s also a strong internal vetting process. Still, they also note that the company hasn’t refused to sell its technology to any countries yet.
The company’s tracking software, Pegasus, can also tap into BlackBerry and Symbian phones, on top of iPhones and Android devices. To get around encryption, the software can be installed via public WiFi hotspots, customized emails or texts, in-person or by “over the air stealth installation.” Ahmed Mansoor, the human rights activist who brought NGO back into the news last month, was initially alerted by a strange text message with a link. Researchers found that the hack was trying to take advantage of three exploits in iOS, which Apple has been quick to fix.
According to the NYT, the NSO Group charges $500,000 to hack five BlackBerry users, and $300,000 for five Symbian phones, in addition to the setup fee. 10 additional targets will cost another $150,000; 20 more targets will cost $250,000; 50 will cost $500,000; and 100 more will cost $800,000.
Source: NYT
Samsung explains how the US Galaxy Note 7 recall will work
It’s been less than 24 hours since Samsung announced its worldwide recall of the Galaxy Note 7, and owners are probably wondering exactly what’s next. The major US carriers have already provided information on what they will do for customers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon), and now Samsung is laying out its plans for direct support. If owners want to exchange for another Galaxy Note 7, they can do that as early as next week. Their other option is to exchange the device for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, plus replacement of any Note accessories and a refund of the price difference.
For their trouble, Samsung says it’s offering a $25 gift card or bill credit from “select carriers” when swapping for a new device through the replacement program. Owners should contact the retailer where they purchased the device, or call 1-800-SAMSUNG for more information. Continuing its message from earlier this morning, the company says it has identified “the affected inventory” but it’s still voluntarily replacing devices for all interested owners.
It seems like a lot of trouble and not much payback for owners who have already picked up the phone. While sales of Galaxy devices have been a bright spot for the company this year, we’ll have to wait and see how much momentum is lost because of these problems.
Update: And even with these details, the saga might not be over yet. Consumer Reports has specifically called Samsung out for failing to issue an “official” recall that would involve the US Consumer Products Safety Commission. That would require clearer information about what’s wrong and what owners will do next, but so far Samsung hasn’t done it. According to Recode, officials have “concern” about the process, but have not officially commented on the recall.
Source: Samsung
Google officially ends its Project Ara modular phone initiative
Google has shut down its modular smartphone initiative, Project Ara, a spokesperson confirmed to VentureBeat today. This follows an earlier report from Reuters that claimed Google was finished with Project Ara. We’ve reached out to Google for confirmation and will update this article as the company responds.
The spokesperson didn’t offer any details about the shut down, VentureBeat reports, though Reuters said it was “part of a broader push to streamline the company’s hardware efforts.” A modular design complicates the hardware production process, since Google would not only have to manufacture a bunch of smartphones, but all of the detachable cameras, battery packs, speakers and other accessories that would make each phone unique.
However, Project Ara may live on. Reuters says that Google may still license out Project Ara’s technology to other manufacturers.
Source: VentureBeat
What we expect from Apple’s big iPhone event
Apple is holding a big press event next week, and it’s a pretty safe assumption at this point that we’re getting a new iPhone. We’re not expecting a radical reimagining of the device, but there might be a few surprises here (like no headphone jack!) to keep people on their toes. Will we see a new Apple Watch? Maybe. New MacBook Pros? Probably not. A play to repay $14.5 billion in back taxes? Keep dreaming. Watch the video above for all the latest on the Apple rumor mill.
AIVAnet 