Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge!! Samsung says demand for the s6 Edge is outstripping supply

Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge go on sale in the US today at 12.00pm ET, with the South Korean manufacturer predicting record sales for its new flagship devices. Samsung certainly needs a boost, with relatively sluggish sales for the Galaxy S5 dragging down its revenue and profit in the last quarter. However, after positive reviews across the board for the S6 and S6 Edge, some analysts are expecting the new devices to sell as much 50 million units in 2015 alone. "We expect the sales volume to hit the highest record ever among the Galaxy series," said Lee Sang-chul, Samsung's head of mobile marketing. 

 

Samsung also seems bullish about the prospects of the S6 Edge. The company's head of mobile, JK Shin, told press that demand for the Edge was outstripping supply, thanks to both increased orders from carriers and the difficulty of manufacturing the Edge's curved screen. Of course, not being able to keep up with demand does not necessarily mean that demand is exceptionally high — it says more about launch inventory than future sales — but even a relatively small number of extra sales for the S6 Edge would be good news for Samsung thanks to its higher price point (an extra $100).

Although the S6 and S6 Edge go on sale today in the US , UK, Germany, and France, customers in other markets — especially in Asia and Africa — will have to wait at least a week to get their hands on one. To add to the fanfare of the occasion, Samsung says it will be "rolling out the S carpet" for the devices, with certain venues offering customers the opportunity to transfer data from their old phone to their new one on the spot.

image credit:AFP

source: theverge  and sumsung

Read More

Apple Watch release date, price and features

Apple Watch is now on sale with the first pre-orders arriving on Friday, April 24 - you can set your friend's inferior Android Wear smartwatch to that release date. However, some Apple Watch colors are already sold out for day one, back as far as August. This means we have plenty of time to tell you every detail about what's been hiding up Tim Cook's sleeve.

It's an iPhone-compatible smartwatch officially dubbed Apple Watch, shedding the fabled iWatch moniker, as the company focuses on its first chic wearable over geeky tech. To that lavish point, the Apple Watch price ranges from $349 (£299, AU$499) for the entry-level Sport model to $17,000 (£13,500, AU$24,000) for the top-tier 18-karat gold editions. 

Apple Watch apps let you read email, summon Siri, receive calls and track fitness goals. Facebook, WeChat and Twitter notifications can also be beamed your wrist without pulling out your smartphone.
But is this really the first smartwatch that matters, like Cook says? Does its 18-hour battery life hold up? Is it water resistant? We finally have those answers days before the Apple Watch launch.

Why Apple Watch costs so much?

It's not just the notorious Apple tax pushing the price tag to $349 and well beyond, it's the components involved. For example, the all-metal Link Bracelet has 100 components and takes an insane nine hours to cut.

Apple also recruited high-profile people throughout the watch and biometrics industries who have wound up on its Apple Watch team. That talent comes at a price. Then there's a hidden cost. While a subsidized iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are cheaper upfront in the US, stores make up the difference with contract kickbacks. Not so with a smartwatch. Stores need a cut too.

For the sake of comparison, Android Wear's initial watches were the Samsung Gear Live at $200 (£170, AU$250) and LG G Watch at $230 (£160, AU$250). The more stylish Moto 360 is priced at $249 (£199, AU$329) and LG Watch Urbane is set to be even more expensive. Apple is clearly aiming for luxury given the sapphire glass-protected display, an imposing digital crown, two sizes and even the 18k gold edition.

 via:techradar

Read More

Stanford's aluminum battery fully charges in just one minute

Lithium-ion batteries have been a boon for the modern world -- they've replaced the heavier, single-use alkaline type in everything from wristwatches to jumbo jets. Unfortunately, these rechargeable cells are already struggling to keep up with our ever-increasing energy needs. But a new type of aluminum-ion battery developed at Stanford University is not only less explode-y than lithium, but also can be built at a fraction of the price and recharges completely in just over a minute. Best of all, "Our new battery won't catch fire, even if you drill through it," Stanford chemistry professor Dai Hongjie boasted in a recent release.

 

Unlike earlier aluminum batteries, which generally failed after only about 100 recharge cycles, Stanford's prototype can cycle more than 7,500 times without any capacity loss -- 7.5 times longer than your average li-ion. The aluminum-ion cell isn't perfect (yet) as it can only produce about 2 volts, far less than the 3.6V that lithium-ion an muster. Plus aluminum cells only carry 40 watts of electricity per kilogram compared to lithium's 100 to 206 W/kg power density. "Improving the cathode material could eventually increase the voltage and energy density," said Dai. "Otherwise, our battery has everything else you'd dream that a battery should have: inexpensive electrodes, good safety, high-speed charging, flexibility and long cycle life. I see this as a new battery in its early days. It's quite exciting."

Via: PC World
Source: Stanford University

Read More

It's Amaizing:: Facebook now lets you send content from other apps in your chats in Messenger!!

It took Facebook a little over a year since the acquisition of WhatsApp to start incorporating its new asset into Facebook’s platform. On Saturday, we learned that Facebook has begun testing a new feature in its Facebook for Android app (Version 31.0.0.7.13) that includes the first major integration of WhatsApp.

As you can see in the images above, Facebook has added a “Send” button with the familiar WhatsApp icon as a part of the status actions buttons that appear under each status update. The new button appears on the right side (for left-to-right languages) for some users in the most recent version of the Facebook for Android app.

at Facebook and WhatsApp work closely together to enhance each other’s capabilities. Back in the day it was Jan Koum, WhatsApp’s co-founder and CEO, who promised users after the acquisition that nothing was going to change and that WhatsApp would keep operating independently.

Up until today, we hadn’t observed any integration between the two platforms. On the contrary, we’ve seen Facebook keep pushing its Messenger platform, especially with its latest announcement at F8.

Now that this is out, we believe that this is merely a first step towards connecting the two platforms in order to sustain growth and take control of the messaging market together. According to unconfirmed rumors, teams from both companies are already working on a deeper integration that will include the ability to send messages between Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

Read More

Google's mobile network could offer free international 'roaming'

Google reportedly is in talks with the operator of the UK's Three and several other mobile networks to let subscribers use its upcoming mobile phone service without charge while abroad.

Google hopes to offer customers free use of its upcoming network while outside the US, with none of the traditional "roaming" fees travelers pay, according to a report Saturday in the Telegraph. That option is the subject of negotiations between Google and Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa, the UK newspaper said, citing unnamed industry sources.

Hutchison Whampoa would be a potentially powerful global partner to help Google cut roaming fees. It operates the UK's Three network and is trying to acquire the UK's O2 network from Telefonica. It also operates networks in Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Ireland. In March, Google announced plans to offer mobile phone network service in coming months through partnerships to use other operators' network infrastructure. Although Google's product chief Sundar Pichai said the service will be "smaller scale," it could shake up the market by resetting customer expectations for what a network should offer and how much it could cost.

Roaming fees are a painful part of mobile phone service for people who travel outside their home countries. They can be socked with steep fees for calls, text messages and Internet data transfer -- unless they choose to forgo mobile phone service while traveling. Relief from roaming fees has become a selling point for carriers trying to challenge larger incumbents. For example, T-Mobile USA offers some free international roaming benefits and has lured customers away from the top US carriers, AT&T and Verizon.

source: cnet.com

Read More

POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKS!! woman can use Facebook to serve divorce papers

A Brooklyn woman scored a judge’s approval to legally change her relationship status to “single” via Facebook. In a landmark ruling, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Matthew Cooper is allowing a nurse named Ellanora Baidoo to serve her elusive husband with divorce papers via a Facebook message.

Baidoo, 26, “is granted permission serve defendant with the divorce summons using a private message through Facebook,” with her lawyer messaging Victor Sena Blood-Dzraku through her account, Cooper wrote. “This transmittal shall be repeated by plaintiff’s attorney to defendant once a week for three consecutive weeks or until acknowledged” by her hard-to-find hubby. 

“I think it’s new law, and it’s necessary,” said Baidoo’s lawyer, Andrew Spinnell.

His client and Blood-Dzraku tied the knot back in a civil ceremony back in 2009, but their relationship crumbled when Blood-Dzraku reneged on his promise to have a traditional Ghanaian wedding ceremony as well, Spinnell said. Both are from Ghana.

“She wanted their families there,” the lawyer said. As a result, the wedding was never consummated and the husband and wife never lived together, the lawyer said — but Blood-Dzraku apparently still doesn’t want a divorce. He kept in touch with his wife by phone and Facebook — but that was it, the ruling says.
via: nydailynews

Read More

Xiaomi Expands Its Online Retail Channels In India

Xiaomi is broadening its horizons in India with the news that its Mi devices will be available through two of the country’s major e-commerce sites, and offline retailers there for the first time.

The Chinese company initially entered India via an exclusive retail partnership with Flipkart, but, after selling one million devices in its first five months, it is broadening its distribution to reach more consumers and drive increased sales. First up, customers will be able to buy devices from The Mobile Store‘s 800 outlets across India, as well as stores from operator Airtel — that’s according to Manu Jain, the head of Xiaomi India.

Finally, Xiaomi will stop requiring users to pre-register for its flash sales. The system, while frustrating for users, is designed to ensure Xiaomi only sells stock that it actually has. The fact that it is being lifted — coupled with these new retail partners — suggests the company has a far larger allocation of phones. Good news for frustrated, would-be Mi phone owners in India.

 

Read More

Jay Z aims to topple Spotify with music streaming service Tidal

Musicians including Beyoncé and Madonna show support for rapper as he overhauls service designed to make more money for artists.

 

Many musicians turned their profile pictures turquoise and encouraged their followers to do the same and share the hashtag #TIDALforALL to promote the new music portal Jay Z launched on Tuesday.

The hip-hop star began it himself by writing on Twitter, "The Tides They Are-A Changing' #TIDALforALL" and his pal West added, "Together, we can turn the tide and make music history. Start by turning your profile picture blue. #TIDALforALL."

Tidal doesn't have Swift's most recent album, 1989, but it does have her songs We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Knew You Were Trouble and access to her entire Red album, which Spotify does not have.

Many in the music industry have compared Tidal to United Artists, the film studio founded by Charlie Chaplin, D.W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Mary Pickford. More than a dozen artists, including Alicia Keys, Jack White, Usher, West and Daft Punk were introduced as owners of the company at its star-studded event in New York that underscored the artist-friendly approach of Tidal.

Jay Z, born Shawn Carter, is pursuing exclusive deals with artists, some of whom have bemoaned the thin payments they receive from rival streaming services, according to senior record label executives with knowledge of the discussions.

Read More

Friday smart lock offers more ways to match your decor

 

 

There's a growing number of smart locks out there, but if design's as important to you as function, this one looks like a decent contender. The device is called Friday Smart Lock, and it can be unlocked remotely through its accompanying iOS or Android app. Once you're done installing it (the device was created with easy DIY installation in mind) and setting up its app, you can grant either one-time or permanent but revokable access to friends and family, as well. Its creators, tech startup Friday Labs and architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group, made sure the device is small, so the baseplate and battery can be inserted inside existing US single cylinder and Scandinavian deadbolts.

Now here comes the fun part: you can choose from four different, interchangeable shells -- porcelain, stainless steel, wood and bronze -- to complement your door. Friday Smart Lock comes with both Bluetooth and WiFi out of the box, so no need to buy extra modules. Plus, it supports both Apple HomeKit and Thread (created by Samsung, Google/Nest and ARM), giving you a way to connect it to the home automation platforms when they're released. Its availability depends on whether its Indiegogo fundraiser hits its goal, though: if you'd like to take a chance, you can pledge at least $99 to get one, or $150 less than its intended retail price.

Source: Indiegogo

Read More

10 ways to squeeze more battery life from your Android phone

We all have one common tech problem: Smartphones run out of battery way too quickly.

Smartphones typically last a full day. While there are smartphones with extra-large batteries that can last more than a day — like the iPhone 6 Plus and the Moto Droid Turbo — those are the exception, not the norm.

But the good news is there are many ways to strategically squeeze out a lot more battery life from your phone just by adjusting a few settings.

1. Lower the brightness, turn on sleep

 

 

This is, perhaps, the most common battery-saving tip that applies to any device with a screen. Keep your screen's brightness at 50% or lower and your Android phone will last longer. You can adjust the brightness by bringing down the notification shade with a two-finger swipe down (sometimes it's a single swipe) from the top menu bar or by going into Settings > Display > Brightness level. And while you're at it, you may as well disable Auto Brightness (called Adaptive brightness on Android 5.0 "Lollipop").

The other feature within the Display settings that you can adjust is the screen's sleep time, the amount of time the screen will wait while it's inactive before switching off. It's usually set to 30 seconds, but we recommend setting it to the quickest (15 seconds or less).

2. Figure out the power hog

 

Suspended apps — apps that are minimized but not closed — can still consume a lot of power without your knowledge. Luckily, Android has a built-in battery monitor. Go to Settings > Battery and you'll be able to see which apps are the biggest offenders. Now, you'll know which apps to avoid using when you know you're going to be out all day.  

3. Turn on battery saver mode

 

Not all Android smartphones have a power savings mode, but if your phone does — Samsung, Sony, Motorola and HTC phones usually do — you can turn it on when you're running low on battery. On some Android phones, the power savings mode can be set to automatically kick in when your battery dips below a certain percentage.

If your phone is running Android 5.0 "Lollipop," there is a built-in battery saver mode, which can give it up to 90 extra minutes. It can be accessed by going to the Settings > Battery > Battery Saver (in the menu icon on the upper right).

4. Kill NFC and Bluetooth

 

Bluetooth usually isn't turned on by default, but NFC might be. We've set up many new Android smartphones only to discover the battery secretly draining in the background because NFC was on.

NFC's a great way to connect an Android phone to things like Bluetooth speakers and digital cameras with a single tap, but like Bluetooth, you should only turn it on when you need it. Some Android phones have an NFC icon in the notification shade. If your phone doesn't have one, you can usually toggle NFC on/off by going into the Settings > Wireless & networks > NFC.

5. Use darker wallpapers

There two main types of smartphone displays: LCD and AMOLED. LCD uses a backlighting system that illuminates every pixel on the display. AMOLED displays, however, have pixels that are individually lit; a pixel that turns into a color is lit, and thus, uses power. A pixel that remains black, is not lit and doesn't use any power. If your Android phone uses an AMOLED display (just about all of Samsung's do), you can use a darker or all-black wallpaper to make your phone more power-efficient.

 

6. Turn off GPS/location tracking

 

Many apps like Google Maps, Swarm and Yelp use your location to provide real-time location data, but if you rarely use location-based apps or use them sparingly, it would be wise to leave the GPS off. Some phones have a GPS (called "location" on Lollipop) button accessible in the notification shade. Otherwise, you can turn off location tracking by going into Settings > Location.

7. Disable gimmicky gestures/features

This one's different for all Android phones. But if your device has any silly features like eye-tracking or air gestures, as is the case on the Galaxy S4, go ahead and disable them. There's a good chance you won't ever use them and they're just sipping power in the background. You can usually find toggles for these in the Settings app.  

8. Turn off vibrations and unnecessary sounds

 

Haptic feedback — the vibrations you feel when you tap on an Android phone's touchscreen — is great. I love the tactile sensation when I'm typing on Android, but those buzzes activate the vibration motor, and as a result suck up more power.

To turn off battery-sucking vibrations go to Settings > Sound & notification > Other sounds. From there you can switch off the "Vibrate on touch feature," as well as "Dial pad tones," "Screen locking sounds" and "Touch sounds" — turning them all off nets you that teensy bit of battery that could come in handy, say, during an emergency and your phone's about to die.

9. Keep widgets at a minimum

Widgets are a great way to see bite-sized info at a glance on the homescreen or provide convenient shortcuts for things like music controls. For the sake of better battery, kill the ones you don't use often. You can remove widgets by long pressing on them and then swiping them to the "Remove" (sometimes it's a trash can icon) that shows up.

10. Axe the animations.

 

 

Did you know that your phone's flashy animations and transitions are decreasing your phone's battery? Good news, though: You can turn them off and get some battery life back by activating the hidden "Developer options" feature. Go to Settings > About phone, then scroll down to Build number and tap it seven times.

Hit the back button and you'll now see "Developer options" that previously wasn't there. Scroll down until you see "Window animation scale," "Transition animation scale" and "Animation duration scale." Turn all three of these off and voila, your phone battery will last slightly longer (and maybe even run faster). You may have to reboot before seeing the changes. 

 credit: Mashamble 
source: Mashamble.

 

 

 

 

 

Read More