Sharp’s new concept phone has curved corners and looks utterly gorgeous
Sharp wowed us a couple of years ago when it introduced the Aquos Crystal phone with a virtually bezel-less display. Unfortunately for us Brits it never made it to our shores and was only made available in the US.
- Is the Sharp Aquos Crystal the first truly bezel-free smartphone?
The company is now back with another phone that pushes the boundaries of smartphone design, by producing a screen with actual curved corners. Appropriately called the Corner R, the new phone was unveiled at CEATECH 2016 in Japan and uses Sharp’s Free-Form Display technology which allows the screen to be cut and shaped into various shapes and ways.
The screen itself is a full HD 5.2in IGZO LCD panel that we think looks obscenely gorgeous, with the curved corners helping with the illusion of no bezel. The display is rated at 425ppi and has virtual buttons underneath. Unfortunately, Sharp didn’t divulge any other specs
Of course, it’s not the first time we’ve seen a curved display, as Samsung has the Galaxy S6 Edge and S7 Edge, but they have a large bezel at the top to house the earpiece. As for where the earpiece features in the Sharp Corner R remains a mystery.
The bad news is that the Corner R is just a concept for now, so it may never make it to retail stores, although we can’t think of many people who wouldn’t want to buy one. Come on Sharp, do the right thing.
Xbox One S now comes in multiple colours, thanks to Battlefield 1 and FIFA 17 bundles
Microsoft has announced two new colour choices for the Xbox One S to join the currently available Robot White. We thought it was just called White as well.
- Xbox One S review: Best console and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player out there
The two colours are Storm Grey and Deep Blue and both will be available exclusively from Game and Argos respectively. Game will be selling the 500GB Storm Grey Xbox One S with either a downloadable copy of Fifa 17 and one month of EA Access from October 28 or a copy of Battlefield 1 from October 21. Both bundles will cost £249.99
Meanwhile, Argos will have the 500GB Deep Blue version of the console with the same games and for the same prices. If you’re a die hard Battlefield fan, you can also pick up a limited edition Military Green 1TB Xbox One S exclusively from Game.
Microsoft will carry on selling 500GB and 1TB Robot White consoles with Fifa 17, Battlefield 1, Minecraft and Gears of War 4. There’s also a limited edition 2TB Custom Red console to accompany Gears of War 4.
- Xbox One S vs Xbox One: What’s the difference?
- Xbox One S vs PS4 Pro: What’s the difference?
The Xbox One S is a more compact version of the Xbox One and comes with an Ultra HD Blu-ray player built-in and 4K video streaming. It’s these features combined with improved gaming performance that make the Xbox One S the best console available, especially given the PS4 Pro can only handle 4K streaming.
Google puts fitness playlists in Runtastic’s Android app
If Google Play Music and Runtastic are your favorite running companions, this collab was meant for you. The Big G’s Play Music division has teamed up with Runtastic to put free workout playlists within the Adidas-owned fitness app itself. All you need to do is fire up its music section to access, say, a collection of 130-beats-per-minute tracks that can match your steps, electronic dance music or high-energy rock tunes. You’ll be able to pause, play and skip within Runtastic, so you won’t need to switch apps anymore.
Now, if you’ve been using Play Music mostly as a free, ad-supported service, this partnership also gives you the chance to try out the features only available to paying subscribers. You can get two months Play Music subscription for free if you’re a Runtastic user, whether you have an iPhone or an Android device. 
Source: Google, Runtastic (Google Play)
Apple and Spotify start streaming unofficial mixes
Earlier this year, both Spotify and Apple inked deals with Dubset for unofficial mixes, one of SoundCloud’s most popular services. As Techcrunch reports, the first of those is now streaming, a DJ Jazzy Jeff Jeff remix from Anderson .Paak. Dubset’s MixBANK system automatically scans samples to find original copyrighted materials, and pays artists, labels and publishers where appropriate. That tech allowed Spotify and Apple to clear the legal hurdle and start playing remixes.
With the top two streaming services carrying remixes, that will give DJs more publicity and sampled artists more royalties. For a sense of how popular this is, Dubset CEO Stephen White tells Techrunch that 700 million people listen to mixed content a month. At this point, multi-song DJ mixes that can carry your party through the night still aren’t available, but White says they’re “coming next” to Apple and Spotify.
Twitter recently invested $70 million in SoundCloud, and Spotify is reportedly in the process of buying the struggling streaming service. The Dubset deal means that SoundCloud no longer has an exclusive on remixes, but it still has a lot to offer Spotify — artist demos and rough track cuts often appear on the service ahead of commercial releases, for instance.
Source: Techcrunch
Samsung Quarterly Earnings Guidance Shrugs Off Galaxy Note 7 Woes
Samsung announced strong third-quarter earnings guidance to investors on Friday despite its exploding smartphone woes, thanks in part to the company’s component and display panel business.
The Korean technology firm said it expects to earn $7 billion in operating profit for the three months ended September 30 – a 5.5 percent improvement from a year earlier – in a quarter that includes Samsung’s recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.
The company’s final earnings won’t be released until later in October, but the profit preview demonstrates Samsung’s ability to rely on other phone and PC makers to drive sales, and underlines the robustness of Samsung’s diversified business model during difficult times.
The company is now the undisputed market leader in DRAM memory chips and next-generation 3-D NAND flash memory chips. Samsung also has a substantial lead over its rivals in sales of OLED panels, which are increasingly being adopted for use in smartphones. Currently, Apple’s only supplier signed on to create OLED displays for the iPhone 8 is Samsung.
The exploding Note 7 debacle has dominated headlines recently, with a U.S. passenger plane being evacuated just this week when one of the phones began emitting smoke. Shares dipped 13 percent following initial reports of the widespread problem, which analysts estimate cost the company between $1 and $5 billion, not discounting significant damage to its smartphone brand. And yet shareholders’ confidence in Samsung’s semiconductor and display manufacturing have seen shares rebound into record territory.
Expectations for corporate governance changes have also fueled some of the recent gains, according to The Wall Street Journal. A day before Samsung’s Q3 earnings preview, shares jumped 4.5 percent to a new record high after U.S. activist investor Elliott Management Corp. argued that Samsung was undervalued by as much as 70 percent.
After the release of its earnings preview, Samsung’s stock increased by an extra 0.9 percent to finish above the 1,700,000-won mark for the first time in its history.
Tag: Samsung
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Sprint Offers Customers Galaxy Note 7 Trade-In for Any Other Phone
Sprint today became the first network to allow all of its Galaxy Note 7 customers to exchange their handset for any other type of smartphone.
The change in policy comes a day after a supposedly safe replacement Galaxy Note 7 apparently set alight on a U.S. passenger plane before takeoff, causing an evacuation of the aircraft.
“If a Sprint customer with a replacement Note 7 has any concerns regarding their device, we will exchange it for any other device at any Sprint retail store during the investigation window,” a Sprint spokesperson told Recode.
According to Samsung, devices issued as replacements in its recall have been deemed safe because they use batteries that came from a different supplier to those that could overheat. However, reports of exploding Note 7 phones persist, which the company says it is looking into.
A Sprint representative said it is “working collaboratively with Samsung to better understand the most recent concerns regarding replacement Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones”.
Most carriers have encouraged their customers to exchange their first-generation Note 7 devices in exchange for either a refund or a replacement updated Note 7 handset, however Sprint is the first to allow all customers to return the replacement version as well, outside of standard return windows.
Samsung announced strong third-quarter earnings guidance to investors on Friday despite its exploding smartphone woes, thanks in part to the company’s component and display panel business.
Tags: Sprint, Galaxy Note 7
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Upcoming Pokémon Go Updates Aim to Make Game Easier for Beginners
In the face of waning popularity, developer Niantic recently announced a few updates to Pokémon Go that aim to make the game easier for players, with a focus on training at friendly Gyms and capturing wild Pokémon (via Engadget). The updates are for “trainers of all levels,” but they appear to mostly benefit newcomers who might have given up on the game prior to the changes.
The first update is a way to make it easier to catch rare Pokémon by incentivizing players to grind through common Pokémon. Through a “catch bonus,” users will increase their chances of catching lesser-seen creatures every time they nab one that they’ve already caught a handful of times. These are tied to the game’s existing medal system, so “for example, as you reach a higher tier for the Kindler Medal, your bonus to catch Fire-type Pokémon such as Charmander, Vulpix and Ponyta increases.”
The second addition will focus on training at friendly Gyms, allowing players to bring a total of six Pokémon into training instead of the current limitation to one creature. The game will also temporarily adjust the CP of the opposing Pokémon to your level “to generally match your Pokémon’s battle capabilities,” making it easier for low-level users to boost their team’s prestige at a Gym.
Basically, this will make it possible for lower level players to train Pokémon and get them into gyms at all. Under the current system, casual players stuck at lower levels or are just starting off can’t do much to get a Pokémon into a friendly gym or snag the free bonus coins that are available as a result. It doesn’t make it any easier to take the fight to other teams, but now even if you’re at a lower level than other players in your area, you will have a reason to actually stop at gyms again.
Niantic didn’t confirm when the updates would roll out, but the company did say they will be “coming soon.” In late September, Pokémon Go ended its reign as the highest grossing app in the United States App Store, which it held for 74 days. Other major updates have introduced a buddy system, but players are still waiting for trading, friend battling, a new generation of Pokémon, and the Apple Watch app announced at Apple’s September 7 iPhone event.
Tag: Pokémon GO
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V-Moda Crossfade Wireless review: Big on the bass
Bassheads rejoice, here’s another headphone for your contemplation: the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless – which appear somewhere between gaming headset, DJ cans and out-and-about over-ears – are snug fitting, comfortable and boast a solid build.
And, as the name suggests, they offer wireless connectivity if you want to ditch the plug-in 3.5mm cable (which, as it happens, is made of tangle-free material-wrapped cable, which looks great). At £249, however, you’re paying a premium for the wireless privilege and there’s no noise-cancelling feature here. Are they worth the cash?
V-Moda Crossfade Wireless review: Design
When we received our review sample Crossfade Wireless we were surprised to find the Pocket-lint name emblazoned across their earcups. Talk about bespoke. If you can blot that paint job out of your mind for the purpose of this review, however, then you’ll be left with plainer earcups. Available in black, red or ultra-shiny chrome finishes, the choice is yours.
Pocket-lint
The finish is rather industrial: six visible screws adhering a soft-edge hexagon to the outer side of each earcup, matched with a solid metal adjustable headband. We rather like the wing-like “v” cutaways in the metalwork, which are synonymous with the V-Moda brand. They’re well made cans to say the least.
This industrial aesthetic is paired with a much softer side, ensuring a comfortable finish from snug earcups made from clad memory foam. We found our ears to touch the inner mesh of these earcups, but without discomfort (this more than likely affects the way they’ll sound, though).
Pocket-lint
Owed to the metal design, the Crossfade Wireless don’t have hinges and, therefore, can’t fold for storage. They do come with a rigid, fitted carry case, though, which continues the industrial design aesthetic. There’s space enough for the included tangle-free USB charging and 3.5mm cables in there too.
V-Moda Crossfade Wireless review: Sound quality
Once the Crossfade Wireless are snugly nestled on your bonce the first thing they shout is “bass”. These cans are tuned to enhance the low-end, which gives a booming, almost resonant sound to them.
Pocket-lint
It can sound a little too thick at low volumes, as definition of the mid- and high-end frequencies can become lost. Crank up the volume, however, and the delivery is clear, albeit not the cleanest ever given the way that bass dominates.
It’s not total bass domination, though, with vocals still able to pour into your lug holes without being lost. And as the earcups and fairly small the Crossfade Wireless don’t move around unnecessarily, ensuring that the sound is delivered in a linear fashion.
Our preference (for rock music, anyway) saw us dip the 20-70Hz bass band by a couple of dB, curve up around the 850Hz voice band by a couple of dB, then amplify the high-end 8,000-20,000Hz by a good 3dB to enhance the separation between top-end and that booming bass. Four our genre of choice we felt this made for a more natural listen, without sending the bass to the cleaners.
Pocket-lint
Although there’s no noise-cancellation here, the Bluetooth wireless works well, with a built-in battery offering a full 12-hours of audio per charge (plus 30-min quick charge for around 3-hours of listening). And the quality between wired and wireless doesn’t suffer when the battery depletes: the drivers don’t need the on-board battery to operate, so there’s no loss in quality like you might find with, say, some of Sony’s powered headphones.
Verdict
Their industrial design may be divisive, but the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless are a lot more comfy to wear than they perhaps look. The snug fit and memory foam earcups stand out as a point of difference compared to most loose-fitting over-ears these days, while that metal finish ensures quality and ruggedness.
What V-Moda has really gone for in the Crossfade Wireless is booming bass. And if that’s your thing then they really don’t disappoint in terms of the low-end. We actually find them a touch over bassy, but it’s not to the total detriment of the sound.
Amazon will properly join the music streaming market with Music Unlimited
We reported back in June that Amazon was potentially working on its own proper music streaming service, that would be separate to its current Prime Music service. Prime Music comes as part of Amazon’s £79/year Prime subscription and gives subscribers unlimited access to a selection of albums and tracks.
- Amazon might launch a music-streaming service that works with Echo
Now, AFTVNews has found evidence of a much larger service on the horizon called Amazon Music Unlimited, which would be more of a rival to Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play Music and the like.
AFTVNews noticed a new Amazon Music app for the Fire TV media streamer and decided to delve into the back end to look at the code and it’s there it found evidence of the new service. There’s code that shows an upsell message and ‘yes’ and ‘no’ clickable buttons to choose whether to join the service or not.
There was also a banner advert that showed the name of the service, practically quashing all rumours and confirming the service’s existence.
There wasn’t any confirmation of pricing, although it’s likely it will cost the standard $9.99/month in the US or £9.99 in the UK. But sources are saying Amazon will offer it at a discounted price if it’s solely used through the Amazon Echo.
It’s not clear if it’s just the Echo speaker that qualifies for the lower price of it the Echo Dot, which can be hooked up to your own hi-fi system and speakers for arguably better sound quality will be included too.
- Amazon Echo: What can Alexa do and what services are compatible?
- Amazon Echo Dot (2016) preview: Alexa for those who use their own speakers
As for a launch date, AFTVNews reckons it will be relatively soon, to coincide with the launch of a new Fire TV box.
Win a Probox2 Android Home Entertainment system
Pocket-lint has teamed up with Probox2 to give one lucky reader the chance to win a Probox2 Air Android TV box.
The PROBOX2 Air is perfect for home entertainment. It is a revolutionary new way to enjoy all of your favourite movies, music, TV series and Live TV.
All packed into one device, with everything controlled with your fingertips. Loaded with Android 6.0 + PROBOX2 APEX UI User Interface & the built in “1-click swap” user interface function that you won’t find in any other TV box in the market. Empowered by Kodi 16.0 , you can watch live sporting events not broadcast on terrestrial or satellite TV, enjoy the latest episodes of your favorite shows long before they have aired on US / UK TV.
The Probox2 comes with an enhanced decoding performance which it is capable of hardware decoding for UHD 4K 60fps and supports multiple formats including H.265 10-bit, H.264 and VP. It also supports FHD 1080p 60fps for Hardware encoding with supports on H.264 and is also capable of supporting Dolby / DTS (by Kodi) and S/SPDIF (5.1CH, 7.1CH).
The real star of the package is the “Remote+”, which bears more resemblance to a primitive gaming controller, requires that you plug in a separate Bluetooth dongle to one of the USB ports (which then automatically pairs the device), and is significantly more responsive and easier to use.The game changer is the “Remote+” that comes packaged with the Probox2 Air, a Bluetooth remote that really enhances the experience. It has three modes of operation: a standard remote; an air mouse with motion controls; and as a game controller. It also has an auxiliary function as a microphone.
Probox2 Air is one of the best “Android TV” box yet – perfect for media center and retro gaming.
Product page for Probox2 Air – http://probox2.com/probox2-air/
Amazon (US) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KHMA15O
Amazon (UK): http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01KHMA15O
Which version of Android does the Probox2 run?
- Android 4.0
- Android 6.0
- Android 2.0
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