Tag: device

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HTC Preview to allow users to test software and devices before launches

A new day signals a new attempt at HTC’s desire to return to the relevant side of the niche market. If the One M9 was a failure and HTC A9 is somewhat of a black sheep because of its design, HTC has now decided to take on the test software market instead. Maybe they will be luckier here. Enter the HTC Preview Program, a feature that will allow users to test unreleased devices and software in order to help the OEM improve everything before launch.

 

HTC Preview

 

 

If you choose to sign on for HTC Preview, you should know that you get no guarantee that you will get an awesome secret device to test anytime soon. In order to register you will need to take a good 10-15 minutes of drilling on what your favorite mobile activities are and what device you’re currently sporting. In case you answer you have an HTC device, they will ask you for the IMEI and carrier information so that you may get the chance to test proprietary software updates in the future.

 

Of course, HTC preview forms will ask you to agree to an NDA to join, and it’s pretty serious, so be careful what you tick. You will have to use the devices or software they give you on a daily basis in Preview in order to provide feedback. If its your sort of thing, go ahead and sign in via the source link below!

 

Source: HTC preview

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Accessories News

The Braille smartwatch – public release by the end of the year?

A start-up tech company from South Korea is working on making the Braille smartwatch a reality. Dot wants to create attractive and useful technology for the visually impaired. But could this actually be a productive accessory? We shall see.

 

Braille smartwatch

 

 

Company officials say that this device could help visually impaired people hear their loved ones’ voices reading messages or they could even read them themselves via touch, making them all the more personal in the process.

 

Because of the steady release of Apple and Android products, the entire smartphone/smartwatch and accessory niche has grown exponentially on all markets. There are smart braille devices on the market right now, but they cost $3,000 and up. More than 285 million people in the world have severe visual impairments and over 39 million of them are declared legally blind. They could improve their lives with the help of appropriate technology if they would have more options to choose from.

 

Dot wants to create and sell its smartwatch for $300, which is 10 times less than what other smart devices for the niche market sell for.

 

How does the braille smartwatch work?

 

The device has a braille display on a usual smartwatch display and it has four depressed cells or dots that will refresh to show Braille characters. You can change the speed of the character refresh if you are a fast reader or you can make the letters pop slower if you need more time to understand.

 

Dot Braille

 

 

The watch uses haptic tech to provide information in real time via touch. It can connect to devices by using a Bluetooth connection and this way it converts usual texts into Braille letters. The battery is said to last around 10 hours.

 

The Braille smartwatch is being developed in South Korea and it has been tested on Braille screen already. It was proven to be a success and it is almost ready for public release. Dot is trying to bring the current tech to the blind and it proposed to make 10,000 Braille smartwatches by the end of the year.

 

Source: Iflscience

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News

[The rumor mill] Samsung Galaxy Note 5 details leaked: meet the first phablet with USB Type-C

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 rumors are coming! With the imminent announcement of the new device coming alive growing closer by the day, new rumors and bits of information are starting to surface. The second half of the year is bound to witness the launch of more flagship devices and among the most important is the next Samsung Note device.

 

Note 4

 

 

According to a report which cites various Samsung Employees on Meibo, the Note 5 will be sporting a USB 3.1 Type-C connector. If this is indeed true, this could be the best device to launch this year. This type of connector allows for both its ends to be USB hosts, USB-PD Power Consumers, and DisplayPort video sources.

 

USB type C

 

 

It is also speculated that Samsung will pair the USB Type-C connector with a USB Power Delivery v2.0 which could deliver up to 100W power and this could mean a much faster charging time for your device. The Type-C connector also allows for data transmission to a 4K display in full native resolution.

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is also expected to use a Quad HD display on the Note 5. The display will increase to 5.85 inches and this means its pixel density will be lower than that of the current Note 4. The larger screen will have a more potent battery in the shape of a rumored 4100 mAh cell. Taking into consideration the device should be 7.9mm thick, this could prove to be a great accomplishment. There will be a Stylus-pen embedded in the handset, as it has happened with previous devices.

 

This year Samsung is cutting losses and will launch only one Note version, letting go of the Note Edge line, at least for now (or Galaxy S6 Edge could play a part in it). This is also just a rumor, and it could prove false.

 

There are a few month until IFA 2015 and there is still time for rumors and details to surface before a proper announcement. We will just have to wait and see.

 

Source: Androidauthority

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News

[The rumor mill] Blackberry rumored to launch an Android-powered device soon!

 Blackberry is rumored to be making a smartphone running on Android this time round and it may even have a physical keyboard! The device rumored to launch this fall will have a slide-out keyboard and it should be able to re-take the market! If you remember the beginnings of the smartphone, you will know that Blackberry were the first to sport such a device before it was cool. Then came Apple and Android showed its face after that, and in the end the former QWERTY god remained almost bankrupt with just a sliver of market (and hope).

 

Blackberry

 

 

Things may be a ‘changing now, two years after the company launched Blackberry 10, the current smartphone platform that was not a clear success to customers. Now you can even install BBM on iOS and Android, and the new BES12 device management system works with Windows, iOS and Android too. Releasing an Android device may prove to be a smart move though.

 

According to sources, the device launching this fall will have a rather large display and a slide-out keyboard. Even if we’re supposed to be used to touchscreens by now there are still plenty of people out there who would still like a keyboard to go with their device, especially considering larger and larger displays and possibilities we get every day.

 

Blackberry is not saying anything at the moment, but they are usually scarce in words. What are your thoughts on this? Would you like an Android-powered Blackberry device?

 

Source: Reuters

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News

Huawei Expo SnapOn – the low-end smartphone with LTE you can have if you don’t love Moto G

A new budget Huawei device showed its face on Amazon today and it may vaguely remind you of a more known device on the market, at least in terms of specs or price? It is supposed to be a Moto G competitor with LTE weighing in at $180. The unlocked smartphone market is starting to grow in the US and the whole world, and in the sub-$200 price range that means avid competition. Huawei is known for offering cheap alternatives to renowned flagships, and this is a similar case, making a point that the Chinese OEM has plans to take over the American market as well.

 

huawei

 

Huawei Expo is a low-end device that looks kinda chic, as do all of Huawei’s slim and candy-bar devices. Here’s the spec list:

  • 5.0″ TFT LCD (720p)
  • Snapdragon 400 processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB storage (plus microSD slot)
  • 5MP rear camera, 2MP front
  • 2200mAh battery
  • AT&T and T-mobile LTE bands (2, 4, 5, 12)
  • Android 4.4

 

Huawei Expo

 

 

The device comes packed with Android 4.4, which is probably its biggest drawback, and a possible update is up in the air, as there are little chances this cheap device will ever see the light of Lollipop. It’s still not one of the bad low-end devices out there, mainly because you get LTE which not many cheap smartphones have yet, even the second gen Moto G doesn’t have it.

The pre-order page says Huawei Edge SnapTo began shipping on April 9th in the US, you can pick from white and black versions and you’ll pay $179.99 for one.

Source: Amazon via Androidpolice

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News

HTC One M8s – Europe’s cheaper slightly different but still the same HTC One M8 version

HTC announced a One M8s device destined for Europe. It is basically less expensive than the M8 version because, even if on the outside it looks exactly the same as HTC’s 2014 flagship, the insides are not just as mirrored with the mother-device, having a different processor and a changed camera.

 

HTC ONe M8s

 

Instead of getting the Snapdragon 801 processor you will get a Snapdragon 615 clocked at 1.7 GHz and the Ultrapixel rear camera turned into an ordinary 13MP camera. The front camera is a little different as well, with less sharpness at F2.0 versus F/2.8, but it still has a 5 MP sensor. M8s does have a slightly bigger battery at 2840 mAh versus the previous 2600 mAh battery.

Design-wise the changes are small, but observable. The metal chassis is just a bit thicker at 9.55mm versus the previous 9.35mm, and you will not get a 32GB version, you will have to be OK with 16GB plus a microSD card.

Apart from the above changes, HTC One M8s is the same solid 2014 flagship with a 5.5” 1080p LCD screen with 2GB of Ram, LTE AC Wi-Fi and Android 5.0. The device will reportedly cost £380, a decent cut from the usual M8 £550.

There is no official launch date yet and no word whether the device will be available outside Europe.

Source: Anandtech