Home Blog Page 787

Upcoming HTC U11 EYEs (Ocean Harmony) could arrive with a dual selfie camera

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Remember the HTC Desire EYE smartphone which launched back in 2014? Well, it looks like the Taiwanese company is looking to bring back the “EYE” naming scheme. Well sort of.

According to reliable leakster, @evleaks HTC is gearing up to unveil a new handset dubbed the U11 EYEs. This is the same device previously known as the HTC Ocean Harmony which recently received CCC certification in China.

The HTC Desire EYE got its name from the large centrally-positioned 13-megapixel selfie camera on the front, so it could be assumed the HTC U11 EYEs branding could signal the presence of a dual-camera setup up front.

Other than that, the HTC U11 EYEs is expected to arrive with a 5.99-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio and thin bezels all around. Two versions of the phone will reportedly be launched, one with a Snapdragon 652 and 4GB of RAM + 64GB of native storage on board, as well as one with a Snapdragon 660 chipset.

HTC U11+

While we are yet to see any images of the HTC U11 EYEs, some believe the phone will look quite similar to the recently launched HTC U11+, but we’ll just have to wait and see if this will be the case or not.

Fortunately we might not have to wait that long, as according to recent rumors, the HTC U11 EYEs will make a debut this month.

Republic Wireless wants to take your mind off smartphones with two new products

Alexandra Arici
-
0

In an attempt to combat addiction to smartphones with large, bright displays among children, Republic Wireless has unveiled its own take at a kid-friendly phone.

Republic Wireless’ Relay looks more like a tiny, square speaker, but is in fact marketed as a phone for children. The small device benefits from both Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity but doesn’t include a screen and a keypad in order to minimize appeal. There’s a circular button in the middle of the device which triggers walkie-talkie interactions with another Relay devices, or users who have the Relay companion app installed on their Android or iOS devices.

The kiddie phone can hold up to 10 hours of music, includes a few games and is powered by the Google Assistant, although privacy-concerned parents can disable it if they wish to. The physical buttons located on the side of the device let users switch between Channels – which are used to communicate with family, and activate the Assistant. Adding a friend’s Channel on the Relay is done via the embedded NFC functionality.

The tiny device is said to be able to last multiple days without running out of power and will go on sale in multiple color variants including Blue, Pink, Azure, and White. Republic Wireless will start selling the kiddie phone in packs of one, two or three for $99, $149 and $199 respectively. Service will cost an extra $6.99/month per device.

Note that the Relay will be available for everyone interested in the product, so you don’t have to be a Republic Wireless subscriber to get one.

On top of unveiling the Relay, Republic Wireless also pulled the veil off a Google Assistant-powered speaker/phone called Anywhere HQ.

The speaker works in connection with a dedicated phone number (like a ported home number) and can be used as fully functioning phone by using the wake phase “Hey Republic”. Switch to “Hey Google” and you’ll get to interact with the Assistant instead.

Like the tiny kiddie phone, the Anywhere HQ has 4G LTE and Wi-Fi and should provide several day battery life. The speaker comes with built-in spam filtering and a Do Not Disturb mode which users can activate when they do not wish to get interrupted by calls.

The Anywhere HQ will be launched in the carrier’s beta program, Republic Labs in January. A wider rollout is expected to happen later in 2018.

LG unveils the ultra-premium V30 LG Signature Edition with 6GB of RAM, Android 8.0 Oreo

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Don’t you just wish sometimes you could live on the Asian continent? The market always seems to be getting the coolest exclusive smartphone models, while the rest of the world watches in envy from afar. A very good example of this trend is the Burgundy Red Samsung Galaxy S8 which made a debut mere weeks ago.

Today we have another one for you. LG just unveiled the V30 LG Signature Edition in South Korea. And while most of the new phone’s specs are similar to what you’d find in a normal V30, the LG Signature Edition does bring some intriguing bonuses.

Regular LG V30

The LG Signature Edition is the more luxurious version of the 6-inch phablet. For starters, the glass back on the V30 has been replaced with a more premium zirconium ceramic plate which is a lot less prone to scratch. And by the way, the LG will be offering buyers the option to engrave their name on the backplate.

In the hardware department, the LG Signature Edition boasts 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which beats even the 4GB of RAM and 128GB storage of the V30+. The phone will ship with two Bang & Olufsen headphones inside the box – a wireless one and a normal one.

Regular LG V30 (2)

Another edge the newcomer has over the standard V30 is that it comes with Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. In the meantime, LG is only in the testing phase when it comes to Oreo for the normal V30 units.

Merely 300 units will be made available, so unless you live in South Korea and act super-fast when sales start, we don’t really see how you could get your hands on one.

When will you be able to buy this beauty? LG is pretty vague about it, saying the handset will be launched towards the end of the month. No pricing information has been revealed, but it figures it will cost more than the regular V30 which is already a pretty expensive phone. The phone should be available in Black or White color versions.

Nokia Steel HR makes a debut in the US, available for $180 and up

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Looking for a Christmas gift for a tech-loving female family member or friend? Then you might want to take a look at the Nokia Steel HR hybrid smartwatch which just went on sale in the US.

Pricing starts at $180, depending on the variant you purchase. Customers can pick between a 36mm variant, which is available in black and white or the 40mm model which is only offered in black.

The product has been available in Europe for quite some time, and now customers in the US can also acquire it.

The Nokia Steel HR is almost a full analog watch, save for the small circular LCD screen that lives on top of watchface. The tiny screen can display information related to your heart rate, activity tracking, calorie/step counts, as well as a sleep patterns. On it, you’ll also see notifications for texts and calls, as long as you connect it to a smartphone, be it Android or iOS. The accompanying app called Nokia Health Mate lets users control their hybrid smartwatch, as well as view detailed health data.

The Nokia wearable is also water resistant (can be immersed into water up to 164 ft/50 m) and includes a battery that can reportedly last for up to 25-days with normal use or 5 days in workout mode.

The hybrid smartwatch is offered with a wide variety of additional wristbands from Leather, Woven or Silicone materials in many bright and cheerful colors, but they will cost you additionally.

If interested in the Nokia Steel HR, you should know the 36mm black variant starts shipping in 2-3 weeks, while the other models will begin going out to buyers on December 22.

Securing your data and keeping it that way (Promoted)

Guest Blogger
-
0

For companies and businesses out there today, there is nothing more important than securing company and customer/client data and keeping it that way. Nowhere is that more evident than in the medical field where data and information is collected in huge amounts, and is often very sensitive in nature. So how can the healthcare industry ensure that their data is being kept secure in the most up-to-date and safest manner? What is necessary on their end? Here’s a closer look on what the industry is doing.

When Data Needs to Be Available and Stored Online

A big part of the problem for the medical industry is that unlike so many other industries and businesses, the medical industry needs their data to be available, collected, updated, and stored online. This presents its own unique set of challenges because the right people need access to it, but it needs to be secure enough to keep everyone else out.

Medical billing is an excellent example of the type of data that needs to exist and be accessible online, but needs to be kept 100% secure. This is why many in the industry are using high-tech medical billing software such as what you’d find through MediPro.

This solution looks after the medical billing, as well as the revenue cycle management which is imperative from an administration and operations standpoint. It’s the kind of software that can work for large and small clinical practices no matter where they are located. This software even offers a patient portal so that the patient can access their account, a claims submission, and more.

For the medical industry this is the exactly the kind of software solution that makes sense and manages to put data security as a priority.

Making Sure Staff is Educated

Another step that the medical industry is taking to help ensure data security is to better educate its staff. Data breaches can happen without malicious intentions and simply due to operator error, so staff need to be aware of this and make sure they are following all the proper protocols. This includes such things as choosing secure passwords, changing passwords on a regular basis, and restricting access to data.

Wireless Networks Need to be Secure

This is something that isn’t just affecting the medical industry but industry as a whole. The wireless networks make it possible for everyone to access data, but it needs to be kept secure. Far too many networks seem to have security vulnerabilities these days, which allows hackers to steal data. In 2015, the Washington Post actually called it the Year of the Healthcare Hack, and unfortunately not a lot has changed according to those in the know.

A Concentrate and Continuous Effort

Keeping data secure and safe isn’t something that is a one-time deal, it is an on-going battle that needs constant attention. When dealing with such sensitive information as the healthcare industry does, there is no choice but to keep up with the latest security protocols and measures, taking every step possible.

Qualcomm and MediaTek announce support for Android Oreo (Go edition) devices

Alexandra Arici
-
0

During its Tech Summit, Qualcomm shared more details about its upcoming initiatives. For example, the chip giant announced support for Google’s newly launched Android Oreo (Go edition).

Part of the Android 8.1 Oreo rollout, the Go edition is a light version of Android Oreo which has been optimized for smartphones with 1GB of RAM or less on board. Well, Qualcomm says it has partnered up with Google to power the next wave of affordable smartphones with the aim to deliver “new experiences not seen before from smartphones in this range”.

In the official press release, the chipmaker notes that Snapdragon processors will be Android Go-optimized as soon as Google releases Android 8.1 Oreo to the Android Open Source Project.

But Qualcomm isn’t the only chipmaker who announced support for Android Go devices. MediaTek, the Taiwanese semiconductor company who is becoming more and more prominent, also joins the Android Go bandwagon.

Case in point, the company’s MT6739, MT6737, and MT6580 processors all now support Android Go. The first two models will be used to power 4G smartphones and tablets, while the latter will go into 3G devices.

The first Android Go smartphones with Qualcomm and MediaTek processors should make a debut on the market in early 2018.

Qualcomm shares details about the Snapdragon 845 processor

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Qualcomm unveiled its latest top-tier chipset, the Snapdragon 845 during the first day of its Tech Summit without further ado, but dedicated the second day to providing in-depth information about the platform.

Qualcomm’s official post on the Snapdragon 845 is brimming with technical details, but we’ll try to extract the essentials for you.

For starters, the new chipset is 30% more power efficient than the previous Snapdragon 835 chipset. It also includes an improved Adreno 630 GPU, which boasts 30% improved graphics, video rendering, and power reduction.

Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 845 SoC relies on a Kyro 385 CPU – which features four performance cores running up to 2.8GHz. This represents a 25% increase compared to the previous generation. There are also four efficiency cores clocked at 1.8GHz on board the chipset which is based on 10nm FinFET process technology.

The new SoC also includes a Hexagon 685 DSP (digital signal processor), Spectra 280 ISP (image signal processor), AQusting Audio and the company’s fastest modem to date, the X20 Gigabit LTE radio – which supports 20% faster peak and real-world speeds over last year’s X16. The new modem will be able to unlock speeds of up to 1.2Gbps (LTE Cat 18) once carries like Verizon, AT&T or Sprint will start deploying their Gigabit LTE-compatible networks. It also supports dual-SIM VoLTE.

Another big feature it’s the chipset’s ability to capture 4K video in HDR at up to 60fps. It can also shoot slow-motion 720p video at 480 fps and 240 fps 1080p video. And for photography, the embedded Spectra 280 IPS can work towards multi-frame noise reduction on 16-megapixel images at 60fps.

Qualcomm has embedded a brand new AQustic audio codec with the new premium SoC, which is said to be able to deliver improved wake-word recognition and also improved playback and record features.

The tech industry is putting a big focus on AI these days, and Qualcomm is no different. So the chip giant announced improvements for AI processing with the Snapdragon 845. The new high-end chipset supports a variety of AI frameworks including Google’s TensorFlow, Facebook’s Caffe 2, as well as the newer Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX).

The new AI features will also have an impact on photography like video style transfer or achieving artificial bokeh effect with single cameras. Digital assistants will become smarter too under the Snapdragon 845, meaning they will faster to respond and more accurate.

Qualcomm did not skip over the security aspect either, so the Snapdragon 845 now supports all kinds of biometric authentication methods like fingerprint, voice, face and iris scanning.

When can we expect to see the first Snapdragon 845-equipped smartphones arrive? Qualcomm says as soon as early 2018. Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, HTC, and Sony have been listed among the first OEMs to launch devices taking advantage of the new platform.

Next major Pokémon Go update to include 50 new Pokemon, dynamic weather effects

Alexandra Arici
-
0

Pokémon Go fans rejoice! Niantic just announced it will be adding 50 new Pokémon to your favorite game, as well as dynamic weather effects in its upcoming update.

The new creatures come from the Hoenn region, will start rolling out for players this week. Among the new additions, gamers will be thrilled to find the Gen 3 starters Treecko, Trochic and Mudkip.

What about weather effects? Niantic says this new feature will completely overhaul how players discover, catch and interact with Pokémon.

In the latest update, the in-game map changes to reflect real-world weather conditions. So when it rains, water, electric and bug Pokémon will be stronger and appear more frequently in the wild, giving you a better chance to catch creatures such as a Mudkip and earn Stardust bonuses in the process. Like-wise, Ice-type Pokémon Snorunt is much easier to capture when it’s snowing outside but will come with higher combat power, as well.

Niantic’s inclusion of Real-word weather in the gameplay experience is a first for AR mobile gaming and Pokémon Go fans will be the first to be able to try it out.

Earlier this year, Niantic launches the generation 2 Pokémon and expanded to even more regions of the world. And once the new creatures from Hoenn get unleashed, the game’s Pokémon headcount will rise to nearly 300.

How to enable the reading mode on the OnePlus 5/5T

AndroidGuys
-
0

One of the best things about the OnePlus devices besides their value for money hardware is their closer to Stock Android version of OxygenOS. While the experience of their exclusive OS is pretty much like the stock Android, they add a lot of additional features without ruining the overall feel of the OS and some of these features are exclusive to the OnePlus devices and are really useful.

One such feature of the OnePlus’s OxygenOS is the reading mode, which is somewhat similar to the one in Amazon’s Kindle device. This feature was added to the OxygenOS 4.5 and it is also available for the OnePlus 5 and the OnePlus 5T devices.

While there are a lot of apps available in the Google Play Store for enabling reading mode on your device, having a native option that does it is always good and the reading mode in the OxygenOS is as accurate as the popular third party apps.

What reading mode basically does is it adjusts the color produced by your device’s display to be more pleasant to the eyes. It does it by filtering the blue light emitted from your screen and turning it into a monochromatic like which does not affect your eyes as much as blue light does, especially when you are reading an e-book or just browsing through the web at night.

Research also suggests that enabling reading mode when you are using your device in a dark environment might actually help you sleep better as it impacts your circadian rhythm in a positive way. With so much blue light filtering and the reduction of colors emitted by your device, you could also significantly save your battery life.

The reading mode in OxygenOS is also capable of switching back and forth to the normal mode when you watch a video or use your camera, which a lot of third party apps fail to do. Well, enough about the greatness of the reading mode, here is how to enable it on your OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 5T.

How to enable the reading mode on the OnePlus 5/5T

Step 1:

Open the settings app on your device.

Step 2:

Now scroll down and then select the Display submenu.

Step 3:

Tap on the Reading mode option.

reading mode

You can also toggle reading mode from your Quick settings by clicking on the edit button and then dragging and dropping the reading mode toggle from the list of all available quick settings toggle.

reading mode

Step 4:

Now just the toggle the Turn on Reading mode toggle under the activate manually section to enable the reading mode on your OnePlus 5/5T.

reading mode

The reading mode will now be enabled on your device and the colour will be shifted to monochromatic grayscale kind of look. However, if you want the reading mode to be enabled only when you are using certain apps like your Ebook reader or your browser app, then just follow the below steps.

Step 5:

Just tap the ‘Add apps for Reading Mode’ option from within the Reading Mode settings.

reading mode

Step 6:

All you have to do now is to scroll down the list of apps installed on your device and then select the ones you want reading mode to enabled by default.

reading mode

Omnicharge Omni 20 review: The one charger to rule them all?

AndroidGuys
-
0

We’re at an interesting, and somewhat transitional time when it comes to what types of devices we’re carrying with us on a regular basis. Chances are good that you’re currently toting something today that has a different port than what your old device had. Further, you might even be carrying something entirely different in your bag, such as a 2-in-1 or Chromebook.

As a lot of you know the last generation or two of phones has given way to a newer and emerging type of charging: USB Type C. It’s faster and more efficient, and it’s found in a wider variety of products. If you’ve purchased a new Chromebook in the last year or so, then you probably have at least one of those ports.

For just about everyone else, it’s business as usual. In other words, who knows what your needs are today? We’re mixing and matching our devices and one day can be totally different from the next.

Perhaps you need to take your laptop with you for a few days on a business trip. Maybe you’ve got a tablet that you’ve been using quite a bit lately. Or, come next week you and the family may be taking a small vacation and each of you has a different selection of devices.

In the past, it was really easy for us to find a quality portable charger. Largely it was a case of us buying something with a standard USB port and/or a microUSB plug. Today, though, we tend to need a little bit of everything. Thankfully, the mobile charging industry has kept pace and now offers excellent options that help fit the all-in-one bill.

The Omnicharge Omni 20 is one such product that helps ensure that you stay charged no  matter what you’re carrying. It’s a portable solution some 20400mAh worth of power which can be shared through a variety of plugs and ports.

Included in the unit, and the box, are 5V USB, USB Quick Charge 3.0, 120V AC/150V HDVC (100W Max), and a DC (1V-24V) output. If you opt for the Pro Bundle ($50 extra), you’ll get tips for HP, Dell, Lenovo, and a universal plug. In short, it’s everything you’ll have something for just about everything.

When it comes to larger capacities in portable chargers, one feature we tend to appreciate most is an indicator of sorts. We like to be able to glance at our batteries to see how much juice is left to replenish our devices. You get an excellent one in the Omni 20 as it not only shows an exact percentage, but also details on battery temp, estimated time left on charge, and more.

There are more than one dozen status icons to help you get a feel for the status and health of your Omni 20. Some will show basic details such as what port is being used, but others can tell you if you’re in risk of overpowering or overheating.

We are incredibly impressed with just how much power and flexibility you can squeeze into a device this small. Just a few years ago we were carrying around 10,000mAh units that took up more space. There is a trade-off though; the Omni 20 weighs in at 1.4 pounds so it’s heftier than your old charger.

The Omni 20 is just about a square at 5-inches x 4.8-inches and is about one inch thick. You’ll not be throwing this in a hoodie pocket or a handbag but it doesn’t feel all that unwieldy or inconvenient in a backpack.

The Omni 20 isn’t cheap, coming in with a $250 price tag. You can certainly get other battery packs for much less money, especially if all you care about is having a USB port. Where this one shines, though, is that it has such a wide array of charging capabilities. Not only does it have two USB ports, but you can also charge a laptop, Nintendo Switch, digital camera, or something else by using the AC adapter.

If you have a phone that utilizes wireless charging, you’ll love the Omni 20 for its wireless output. Simply place your phone on top of the unit and you can charge your Galaxy S8 or other phones. We had to play a little bit with figuring out the exact placement of this but once we knew, it was easy from that point on.

There’s enough power here to charge a typical high-end smartphone up some 7-9 times. Digital cameras, tablets, and other products will vary, but we venture to guess you’re looking at multiple charges each. If you’re a drone enthusiast, you’ll definitely appreciate having something like this with you in the car or backpack.

If your laptop uses one of the special tips, go with the Pro Bundle ($299) and rest easier knowing you have that, too. This is handy for those times when you don’t have the power cord that your laptop requires. Or, rather, when you don’t want to bring it with you at all.

We love the flexibility and functions of the Omni 20 but we’d really liked to have seen a dedicated USB Type-C port. Incidentally, Omnicharge was offering an Indiegogo for a variant, the Omni 20 USB-C. That model has two Type-C ports, one for output and one for input/output. Funded some 42 times over, it will begin shipping this month.

While we won’t take this charger with us to dinner or around town for a night out, it’s the first one we’ll grab for a weekend outing. Camping, a trip out of town, or a day with the family… there’s plenty of reasons for us to pick the Omni 20. We don’t recommend this one for an every day sort of usage, but if you’re a remote worker or spend time in the field, you’ll appreciate having it. This goes double if you’re using multiple devices at a time.

Is it the one charger to rule them all? Pretty much, but there’s still a little room for improvement. It’s close enough for us to suggest it to you, but we’d like a lower price point and USB Type-C to really push it over the top.

1...786787788...1,316Page 787 of 1,316