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Qualcomm offers a more detailed glimpse of Snapdragon 835 at CES 2017

Alexandra Arici
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Qualcomm gave us a preliminary view of the Snapdragon 835 back in November, but this week the chip giant has revealed all the details about its newest top tier chipset which is bound to power this year’s flagships.

The Snapdragon 835 is the first chipset from Qualcomm manufactured using the 10nm FinFET process. While it’s expected that the new chipset will bring a significant increase in computing power, one of the SoC’s biggest advantages will be conservative power consumption –  which means phones using the new SoC will live significantly longer lives.

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Compared to the previous-gen chipsets, the Snapdragon 835 is about 35% smaller in size and can consume 25% less power, which as we mentioned before translates in more battery life.

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Speaking of battery, the Snapdragon 835 is the first to come bundled with Quick Charge 4.0. So juicing up 835 equipped phones should be 20% faster and 30% more efficient than before.

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Now that we’ve shared the basic info about the Snapdragon 835, let’s see what are the main features the SoC brings to the table:

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  • Kyro 280 CPU with four performance cores running at 2.45GHz and four efficiency cores running at 1.9GHz
  • Bluetooth 5.0 support
  • Adreno 540 GPU carrying support for OpenGL ES 3.2, full OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan and DX12
  • Dual-channel LP DDR4x memory at 1866MHz
  • Support for up to 32MP single and 16MP dual-camera with Qualcomm Spectra IPS, 2x IPS, 14-bit, hybrid autofocus (laser/contrast/structured light/dual-phase detection AF), Qualcomm Clear Sight, optical zoom, hardware accelerated face detection, HDR video recording
  • Quick Charge 4
  • 4K Ultra HD video capture at 30 fps, up to 4K Ultra HD video playback at 60 fps
  • Integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE model with support for Category 16 LTE download speeds up to 1GB/second and Category 13 LTE upload speeds up to 150MB/second.
  • 11ad Multi-gigabit Wi-Fi allowing for up to 4.6GB/second peak speed
  • Officially supports Google Daydream View VR headset
  • Qualcomm Haven security platform features support for fingerprint, eye and face-based biometrics.

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The Snapdragon 835 is a VR optimized chipset (it can also run mobile computing systems with full Windows 10 support) and to prove that Qualcomm revealed the first designs that will take advantage of its power and they aren’t phones. One of them is a AR/VR headset manufactured by ODG, while another is a sort of Amazon Echo alternative for kids called Mattel Aristotle.

snapdragon-835-immersive-visuals

Speaking of which, this year we expect to see the Snapdragon 835 power most flagships. We already heard rumors that the Samsung Galaxy S8, OnePlus 4 (or 5), HTC 11 and ASUS Zenfone 4 will all take advantage of the new SoC and they will certainly not be the only ones.

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The new premium chip is currently undergoing mass production, so we can expect to see the first Snapdragon 835-powered devices to hit the market in the first half of 2017.

E FUN launches two new Nextbook Ares tablets for the budget-minded

Alexandra Arici
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American maker of budget tablets and 2-in-1 hybrids, E FUN is also present on the grounds at CES 2017 to present two new products – an Android tablet and a laptop/tablet combo. Both models feature Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions and come with a set of pre-installed apps.

We’ll start off with the 2-in-1 hybrid which is called the Nextbook Ares 12 Flip. The device takes advantage of a 12.2-inch IPS display with 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution and an Intel Atom quad-core processor plus an unspecified amount of RAM.

E FUN also throws in 64GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot which can allow for memory expansion up to 128GB. There’s also a 5MP/2MP camera combo, if you’re into the whole tablet photography thing. The Nextbook Ares 12 Flip also has a micro HDMI port and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. The tablet can be converted into a laptop via the Pogo-pin keyboard.

The 2-in-1 device is expected to become available in Q2 2017 for an unspecified price.

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Moving on the Android tablet, the Nextbook Ares 8A let us tell you the slate comes packing an 8-inch IPS display with 1280 x 800-pixel resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio.

Like the hybrid, the Nextbook Ares 8A is powered by an Intel Atom quad-core processor. It takes advantage of 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 128GB via microSD card slot). Users can snap images using the 2MP/0.3MP camera duo, although don’t expect any stellar results.

nextbook-ares-8a-colors

Other specs include the HDMI port and Android 6.0 Marshmallow pre-installed. E FUN says the battery nestle under the bonnet should deliver up to 8 hours of battery life.

The tablet should become available for purchase in Q1 2017. Once again E FUN is mum about pricing, but the device should be quite affordable (around $78 according to the company’s website).

nextbook-ares-8a-back-view

To conclude, we should mention both Android devices come pre-installed with a number of apps including the Barnes & Noble NOOK app, the VUDU Movies and TV app, Flixster app and Net Nanny which ensures children watch only age-appropriate content.

We expect the two devices to be budget-friendly, so if you need a device to play games, watch movies or read a book, the two new Nextbook devices might be what you need.

T-Mobile dives deeper into IoT with two new Access packs

Alexandra Arici
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T-Mobile has scheduled a conference at CES 2017 a few days from now, but until then the Magenta carrier has some Internet of Things (IoT) related news to share with us.

T-Mobile just unveiled two new IoT Access packs to help encourage owners of IoT devices to get their devices online. The standard plan includes up to 5MB of data/month for $20 per year per device. After that customers will pay only $6 per year per device.

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For those who want more, T-Mobile has a more advanced plan that delivers unlimited data at 64Kbps if you pay $25 per year per device. For a limited time users can get $5 off the first year for each device they bring in.

T-Mobile says it doesn’t matter which plan you choose, as the carrier will cover the costs of the Sequans Cat1 module using bill credits.

The carrier also informs those interested in the developing IoT ecosystem it is continuing to work on the Category M and Norrowband IoT. In combination with T-Mobile’s Cat1 modules available on the carriers 4G LTE networks, these new modules should give users the opportunity to tap into faster data and longer life cycles (in comparison to 2G networks).

By bundling the service and module into one pack, T-Mobile hopes to attract more IoT customers who wish to get their devices online to its network.

Samsung’s new Galaxy A (2017) phones bring IP68 certification, Samsung Pay support

Alexandra Arici
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The mid-range smartphone sector has been getting quite interesting as of late and Samsung’s newest smartphones unveiled ahead of CES 2017 are a testimony of this growing trend.

Introducing the new Samsung Galaxy A lineup which features three models, the Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 – all IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. There are a few things all variants have in common like sporting sleek metal bodies that are 7.9mm thick and USB Type-C ports.

Interestingly, all three phones take advantage of a feature the Galaxy Note7 used to benefit from and that is Secure Folder. The option allowed users to easily and safely tuck away sensitive info in a folder.

They also run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box (sadly) and offer support for Samsung Pay (thumbs up to that). Let’s see what they each offer in terms of specs.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)

This is the top of the line model which arrives with a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Samsung uses its own chipset crop to fuel the new Galaxy A (2017) family, so the Galaxy A7 draws power from an octa-core Exynos chipset clocked at 1.9GHz combined with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (microSD card slot allows for memory expansion up to 256GB).

The photography department is where things get even more exciting. Just like the OnePlus 3T, the Galaxy A7 (2017) features a 16MP/16MP camera combo, so the phone should snap some great selfies.

The phone runs on a 3,600 mAh battery and will be sold in Black, Blue, Pink and Gold.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)

The Galaxy A5 is a tad smaller boasting a 5.2-inch display wth the same 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. It takes advantage of the powers of the Exynos 7880 clocked at 1.9GHz in combination with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (microSD card slot is again present).

Like in the case of the Galaxy A7, there’s two 16MP cameras onboard, but a smaller 3,000 mAh battery keeps the lights on. Customers can grab the A5 in Black, Blue, Pink or Gold.

Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017)

Last but not least is the Galaxy A3 which comes forth with a 4.7-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. The CPU is still an Exynos but this time clocked at only 1.6GHz. Cameras aren’t as advanced as on the A7 and A5, so we have a 13MP main snapper and 8MP selfie shooter – both with f/1.9 apertures (just like the A7).

Other specs include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (microSD card available) and a 2,350 mAh battery.

Samsung hasn’t specified anything in terms of pricing. It did say the trio will go on sale in Russia in early January with more markets to be added soon.

However, if leaks are to be believed, the Galaxy A3 will sell for approximately $342, while the A5 will bear a $446 price-tag in Europe. We don’t know the price for the A7 yet, but we expect it to hit the $500 threshold. Samsung’s new mid-rangers are definitely not super affordable. What do you think?

CES 2017: affordable Honor 6X dual camera phone launches in the US [Update]

Alexandra Arici
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In our recent CES 2017 smartphone prediction article, we told you that Huawei’s Honor sub-brand might announce it was launching the Honor Magic concept phone in the US.

Well it appears this is not the case. Instead Honor is targeting the middle-range smartphone market. So today at CES 2017, the phone maker has unveiled the affordable, but pretty solid Honor 6X.

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The Honor 6X was already available in China and now the company is making it available in the US and Europe starting at $249.99. Let’s see what you can get for this amount of money.

The Honor 6X takes advantage of a 5.5-inch LCD display with FHD resolution and an octa-core Kirin 655 chipset under the hood. The chipset is based on a 16nm process with 4 cores clocked at 2.1GHz and 4 cores operating at 1.7GHz.

honor-6x-phone-colors

Huawei’s sub-brand will offer the phone in several configurations including 3GB of RAM+32GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM+32GB of internal storage or 4GB of RAM+64GB of internal storage. The phone features a hybrid dual SIM slot, which means users have the option of using one of them to add a microSD card slot to expand memory. There’s also a fingerprint scanner located on the back.

honor-6x-fingerprint-scanner

Perhaps the Honor 6X’s biggest selling point is the dual rear camera. The phone takes advantage of a 12MP+2MP sensor combo which allows for a wide aperture range between f/0.95 to f/16. The selfie camera is of 8MP variety.

Sadly the phone comes equipped with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box with Huawei’s own EMUI 4.1 interface plastered on top. The Android 7.0 Nougat update might arrive at some point, but it might be a while before that will happen.

honor-6x-live-view

The affordable handset with 3GB of RAM will become available for pre-order starting January 4 in the US. Units will start shipping come January 15.

The 4GB of RAM model will go on sale in Q1 2017 but only in select markets for $299.99. Apart the US, the phone will also start selling in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Russia on January 4.

[Update]: Good news, it seems the affordable Honor 6X will be getting Android 7.0 Nougat treatment after all. Expect the update to land sometime in Q2 2017.

5 biggest mistakes people make when transferring their website (PROMOTED)

Guest Blogger
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Transferring a website can be a necessary evil for some. While a website transfer is necessary to break free of a host that is holding you and your website back, if you don’t complete the migration properly, you could end up losing part of your website.

If you’re looking to transfer your website to a new host, you will want to avoid some common mistakes that could end up costing you time and money. Here are five of the biggest mistakes that people make when moving their website.

1. Not Creating Backups

While we like to believe that a website transfer will run smoothly and backups won’t be necessary, it isn’t always the case. Even experts may find that something gets lost along the way.

Before you begin to move your website, you’ll want to ensure each page and file has a backup made. If you’re hoping to be extra careful during your transfer, you can create a backup of your backups.

Backups can prevent you from needing to re-do your work in the future, which can be time consuming and expensive. If something does get lost or disoriented during your move, your backup will allow you to fix the problem with minimal downtime.

2. Not Checking for Compatibility with New Host

If your website has widgets, detailed code, or special database software, you shouldn’t assume that your website will run smoothly on any and all hosts. While your old host may be able to run all the extras you’ve added to your website, your new host may have some different standards.

Before selecting a host (we use Digital Ocean), you’ll want to reach out to check the compatibility of your page with their operating system. If they can handle your new page, you’ll be all set to make the move without needing to worry about running into problems after the migration has already started.

Knowing if you will have an issue before you begin moving will allow you to either select a different host or make necessary changes before the move begins. This can help you be better prepared and reduce the amount of downtime you may experience.

3. Closing Your Old Page Too Quickly

When you’re making a website transfer, you’re probably itching to break ties with your previous web host. But no matter how bad they are or how incapable of holding your page they may be, you don’t want to alert the company that you will be taking your website to a new host until the migration is complete.

Many individuals may become fed up with their old web host and cut ties before their new page is set up. This means that their website will be down for the entire duration of the transfer, preventing visitors from reading content, interacting with you, or making purchases.

If you want the transfer of your website to run smoothly, wait until your new page is up and running to minimize your downtime. Keep your old host until the migration has been complete and all your pages are in the correct place. To ensure that your page is supported by the new web host, you may also want to consider keeping your old hosting for about a week after the migration.

4. Not Getting Adequate Help

No matter how many times you’ve transferred a website, you’ll want to contact the support desk of the new host to let them know you’re making a change. Because each website will be different and you are likely to have different plugins and software, each website migration that you complete can present you with new challenges or roadblocks. By first talking about the migration with your new host, you will be alerted of potential difficulties before you begin the move.

Your new web host may also offer migration services, taking the majority of the work out of your hands. If they offer to move the website for you, this can save you time and reduce the problems that you may run into in the future. Even if migration services are not offered, the support desk can probably offer you some tips on making the move.

When shopping around for a new host, look for someone that at least offers free support. Because websites can be a struggle at times, you won’t want to fork over an additional fee just to ask someone a question. Consider the future of your website before making a move so that you won’t need to make another transfer in the future.

5. Being Disorganized

Our websites have many different pieces and parts. If you don’t account for each piece of your page, you will probably come up with something missing after your transfer. This can result in downtime or just confusion for your visitors if you then need to spend time locating that website part.

Before you begin your move, you’ll want to make a checklist of all the items that need to be moved and where they can be located. That checklist may include things like account passwords and usernames, a list of all your database software, and documents stating you have full ownership of your domain names.

Keep this checklist handy just in case of any problems. If you notice that something is missing or a piece of your website has not been moved, you’ll know just where to look to find what you’re looking for.

With the right approach to your website migration, you won’t run into any problems. Being aware that mistakes can happen and knowing what to do in the event of a mishap can help you reduce your downtime, keep your website running, and ensure your visitors have minimal issues as you make your migration.

These five mistakes may be common, but if you take the right measures to ensure they’re avoided, they won’t happen to you.

This underwater drone uses a sonar to detect fish and films them in 4K

Alexandra Arici
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1

When you think of drones, you probably envision flying little robots that can film stuff from above. But PowerVision has an interesting new take on the whole drone concept.

If you enjoy fishing or just love aquatic fauna, you will really be interested in PowerVision’s new underwater drone, the PowerRay. The robot can dive as deep as 30 meters (98 feet) underwater and search for fish.

powerray-drone

The drone features a “Fishfinder” add-on component which uses sonar component to detect fish 40 meters below. Once it finds the underwater creatures, the robot beams out images of fish and underwater landscape plus temperature data in order to give fishermen an idea of what to expect.

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The drone can also film video or snap photograph in 4K and send them via Wi-Fi to the accompanying smartphone app. On top of that the PowerRay feature a luring light that’s supposed to attract fish towards the device.

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Users can take advantage of a remote-controlled bait drop that positions tasty traps in desired locations.

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Since VR is expected to be big this year, PowerVision offers a pair of VR goggles that respond to head tilting. Put them on and you will be able to control the robot by tilting our head up, down or moving it left and right.

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This interesting little drone will be up for pre-order starting February 27, but pricing options haven’t been announced just yet.

Lenovo unveils cheaper Amazon Echo alternative, powered by Alexa

Alexandra Arici
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0

CES 2017 hasn’t officially kick started yet, but some device manufacturers have already started taking the wraps off a few new products. Like Lenovo. The Chinese tech giant is mostly known for its lineup of ThinkPad and Yoga laptops and convertibles. The company also produces phones and has acquired Motorola a few years back.

But in 2017 Lenovo is branching out, so this week the device maker has pulled out of its bag an Amazon Echo clone, blandly called the Lenovo Smart Assistant. Seeing the rising popularity of the Alexa-enhanced speaker, Lenovo thought it might be a good idea to try offering something similar too.

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What’s quite amusing is that the new gadget is actually the product of a Lenovo-Amazon partnership, so it is powered by Alexa too, just like Amazon Echo.

Lenovo’s Smart Assistant features the same cylinder shape made famous by the Echo and will be available in a few color options. On the inside, the smart home appliance features eight 360-degre microphones that are capable of suppressing nose and canceling echo. Lenovo boasts that the device can understand voice commands uttered from up to 5 meters away thanks to the microphone setup.

home vs echo

Just like the Echo, Lenovo’s Smart Assistant can play music via de built-in speakers. The base model features a 5W tweeter and 10W woofer, but more demanding customers can opt for the Harman Kardon edition which includes an additional 2-inch acoustic sound cavity for improved audio.

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The device is powered by an Intel Celeron N3060 CPU in combination with 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. It can connect to Wi-Fi via the 1×1 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter and also has Bluetooth 4.0.

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Most importantly, the Smart Assistant has Alexa services baked into it. Given that there are many other smart home devices and services that make use of Alexa, Smart Assistant users will be able to do pretty much everything an Echo owner can.

Lenovo bets on pricing to attract customers to its intelligent speaker. The base models will cost you $129, while the Harman Kardon version will sell for $179 (just like the Amazon Echo). Expect to see them make it out on the market come May 2017.

CarbonROM based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat available for Pixel, Nexus 6P and more

Alexandra Arici
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1

The world of custom ROMs was shaken up at the end of 2016. CyanogenMod announced it was ending it and transitioned to LineageOS, after Cyanogen Inc. said it was be terminating its services and OS. But while some custom ROM makers are in a process of finding new paths, others are making a return to the world of customization.

You might remember CarbonROM, which used to be pretty popular with Android custom ROM fans back when Android 4.4. KitKat was the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system. CarbonROM has been on hold for quite some time, but now the team is makes a comeback by bringing into the light their first host of nightlies based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

 

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The nightly builds are to be installed on the Google Pixel or Nexus 6 or Nexus 6P. Other supported devices include the Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact, Xperia Z5 and NVIDIA Shield Tablet. CarbonROM will probably add support to more phones and tablets soon enough, so if you’d like to try it yourself keep an eye on their page.

However, you should keep in mind that the ROM is still in its early stages of development so bugs and issues are bound to appear, so proceed with caution.

Some of the major features CarbonROM brings to the tablet includes the Substratum Theme Engine Support – an intuitive customization tool, Carbon Fibers – a way to organize features with scrollable tabs under their respective category and OTA updater.

Have you ever tried installing a CarbonROM on your phone? If so, tell us what you think.

Come see ASUS’ first Tango-enabled smartphone, the ZenFone AR

Alexandra Arici
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0

In our previous What phones to expect from CES 2017 article, we told you that ASUS is anticipated to unveil the world’s second Project Tango smartphone, dubbed the ZenFone AR.

Well as we’re getting closer to CES 2017, more information about the upcoming phone has been revealed. First off, Qualcomm inadvertently posted some information about the new device, but quickly removed the blog post afterwards.

 

qualcomm-screenshot

Specifically, the chip maker divulged that the ASUS ZenFone AR is going to pack a Snapdragon 821. Some of us were probably expecting a new Snapdragon 835, but honestly Snapdragon 835-powerd phones will probably start showing up at MWC 2017 and not during CES 2017.

The post also notes the phone will be compatible with Google’s Daydream View headset and will allow users to explore “new worlds with apps like Google Street View and Fantastic Beasts, dive into personal VR cinema with YouTube, Netflix, Hulu and HBO, and get your game on with Gunjack 2, LEGO BrickHeadz, Need for Speed and dozen other titles.” So the phone will let users take advantage of AR and VR experiences.

Following Qualcomm’s accident, serial leakster @evleaks also revealed a press render of the device, showing it to us in its full glory.

asus-zennovation-invite

Apart from the chipset powering it, there’s not much info about the other specs the ZenFone AR should arrive bundled with. So we guess we just have to wait until January 4 at CES to see what the phone is all about.

But one thing is for sure. The ASUS ZenFone AR is going to come better specced that the first Tango phone, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. The phone features a huge 6.4-inch display with 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution, but only has a Snapdragon 625 processor under the hood to support it. The Phab 2 Pro features 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 13MP/5MP camera duo.

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