Wednesday 30 December 2015

Samsung Galaxy S7 and iPhone 7 may look the same… again

99techture.blogspot.com

Next year both the iPhone 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 will have a new look. Clues from both the Samsung and Apple camps suggest that antenna will be baked-in with the metal surrounding their glass fronts in 2016. While it's not clear whether or not the iPhone 7 will have a glass back, we can count on Samsung to return with a back that's not all that different from this year's model, while both groups have been tipped to be rolling with phones with an outer border that's slightly less broken up than before.

When I say the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the iPhone 7 may look the same again next year, I don't necessarily mean they'll look the same as they do now. I mean based on what we're being told today, the iPhone 7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 will adopt similar design changes, changing their looks ever-so-slightly in favor of very similar technological advancements.

One way or the other, Samsung's hero and Apple's hero will be butting heads in 2016. They'll be doing battle in the consumer market for best-selling phone model once again.

ABOVE: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and iPhone 6.

The most interesting bit in all of these is the idea that Catcher Technology could be working on manufacturing for both Apple and Samsung, creating for both companies a metal compound capable of transmitting radio signals with ease. Our anonymous source with information on the manufacturing processes of Samsung suggests that today's revelations on compound metals (see below) on the iPhone will also very likely be utilized by the Galaxy S7.

Catcher Technology is certified by Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and LG, having worked with each of these companies in the past to manufacture products like metal casings and bodies for smartphones and tablets.

Interestingly it would appear that the Catcher crew (through their official public home page) specify the exact "thinnest casing" they're able to produce, coming in at 0.6mm.

Galaxy S7 shows off designs early in cases

Catcher is capable of mixing composite fiber with carbon fiber or glass fiber, not too far a stretch from mixing the elements needed to create a metal conductive enough to replace the two-band situation going on with the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the top and bottom bands in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s (and so forth).

Composites of ceramics are also available through Catcher - they're not limited to metals, plastics, and glass.

Another technology employed by Catcher is Plastic Clad on Metal. As they describe: "Plastic Clad on Metal technology is useful for process simplification, cost-cutting, production cycle shortening and light weight design. The plastic clad on metal is now widely used in 3C products such as cell phone fringes, battery covers and laptop chassis."

iPhone 7 may be self-healing

Digi-Timescorroborates what we've been told - sort of - by suggesting that the iPhone will "use new compound materials to hide the antenna." They cite Taipei story from Business Times about Catcher Technology's supply of iPhone parts to Apple over the next year.

A similar story appears in that same news source, Business Times, which suggests that though shipments of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will be down in the first quarter of the next year, expectations are high for the second half of 2016 when the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be revealed.

They suggest therein that the iPhone 7 may have "improved acoustics," which we must assume has something to do with US Patent application US 13/764,682, revealed all the way back in August of 2014.

This patent describes a long-throw acoustic transducer, one whose technology could possibly replicate the sound of two speakers whilst keeping with the thinness of previous models.

But the real question is this - will the Galaxy S7 and the iPhone 7 finally bring their exterior speakers to the front of the phone, where they belong? We shall see!

Sunday 27 December 2015

Marshmallow significantly improves Edge panels on the Galaxy S6 edge


99techture.blogspot.com

The dual-curve display of the Galaxy S6 edge didn’t really do much aside from looking really pretty when the handset first came out, Samsung repeated the samemistake that it made with the Galaxy Note Edge, which also had a beautiful curved edge display that didn’t serve any real purpose. The company did add more functionality to it with subsequent software updates and Marshmallow for the Galaxy S6 edge brings the most significant improvement yet for Edge panels on this handset.

A video overview of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow beta running on the Galaxy S6 edge shows that the Edge panels feature is much more useful than before. Aside from People and Apps Edge, there’s a panel for My places which lists the most recently used apps, a Task edge panel which has shortcuts to relevant apps, a Quick tools panel which mentions the location and also contains a compass as well as separate tiles for S Planner, Weather, Twitter Trends, Yahoo Finance and Sports. All of this would really make the curved display of the Galaxy S6 edge much more useful, however users will have to wait for Marshmallow to arrive before they can take advantage of all this on their handset.

Galaxy S7 Release Date Leaked By Major Carrier

99techture.blogspot.com

CONTRIBUTOR

I write about technology's biggest companies

Did you get a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge for Christmas? If so, you may want to look away now…

China Mobile, the world’s largest telecommunications company (it has over 800M subscribers), appears to have let the cat out of the bag after images leaked from a major internal presentation. Picked up by Slashgear, the slide reveals an accelerated release for the Galaxy S7 (and therefore presumably the Galaxy S7 Edge and huge Galaxy S7 Plus) going on sale in February. 

This would represent a significant change from last year where Samsung announced the Galaxy S6 in March and it went on sale in April. It would also mean the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge had just a 10 month lifecycle.

Galaxy S7 concept. Image credit: igalaxys7.com

How credible is this? I’d say very, since it actually fits in with growing rumours that Samsung wants a bigger head start on new iPhone generations.

In fact Samsung has already implemented this approach with the Galaxy Note 5 which launched in August 2015 – just 10 months after the Galaxy Note 4. This gave the phablet a one month head start on the iPhone 6S Plus whereas the Galaxy Note 4 launched a month after the iPhone 6 Plus. Similarly a February launch of the Galaxy S7 would give it a 7 month head start over the expected September release of the radical iPhone 7.

Interestingly Samsung also looks set to be stockpiling for the February 2016 launch with no less than three different Galaxy S7 designs. Whether this inspires customers or creates confusion remains to be seen. Especially if the Galaxy S7 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 6 further complicate things later in the year.

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China Mobile presentation leak reveals Galaxy S7 release. Image credit: Slashgear

Were there any other nuggets of information to be gleaned from the China Mobile leak? Some. Fans of Huawei (which wowed me with the Nexus 6P – my phone of the year) will be pleased to hear the exciting Mate 8 will launch in late December/early January as will the less interesting ZTE Axon Mini.

So if you did find a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge under your Christmas tree, it might be a good idea to trade it in before prices crash on the arrival of the S7. Of course they remain excellent handsets, but if the S7 does indeed get its most controversial feature these 2015 handsets may start to feel dated rather quickly.

Galaxy S7 Release Date Leaked By Major Carrier

99techture.blogspot.com

CONTRIBUTOR

I write about technology's biggest companies

Did you get a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge for Christmas? If so, you may want to look away now…

China Mobile, the world’s largest telecommunications company (it has over 800M subscribers), appears to have let the cat out of the bag after images leaked from a major internal presentation. Picked up by Slashgear, the slide reveals an accelerated release for the Galaxy S7 (and therefore presumably the Galaxy S7 Edge and huge Galaxy S7 Plus) going on sale in February. 

This would represent a significant change from last year where Samsung announced the Galaxy S6 in March and it went on sale in April. It would also mean the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge had just a 10 month lifecycle.

Galaxy S7 concept. Image credit: igalaxys7.com

How credible is this? I’d say very, since it actually fits in with growing rumours that Samsung wants a bigger head start on new iPhone generations.

In fact Samsung has already implemented this approach with the Galaxy Note 5 which launched in August 2015 – just 10 months after the Galaxy Note 4. This gave the phablet a one month head start on the iPhone 6S Plus whereas the Galaxy Note 4 launched a month after the iPhone 6 Plus. Similarly a February launch of the Galaxy S7 would give it a 7 month head start over the expected September release of the radical iPhone 7.

Interestingly Samsung also looks set to be stockpiling for the February 2016 launch with no less than three different Galaxy S7 designs. Whether this inspires customers or creates confusion remains to be seen. Especially if the Galaxy S7 Edge+ and Galaxy Note 6 further complicate things later in the year.

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China Mobile presentation leak reveals Galaxy S7 release. Image credit: Slashgear

Were there any other nuggets of information to be gleaned from the China Mobile leak? Some. Fans of Huawei (which wowed me with the Nexus 6P – my phone of the year) will be pleased to hear the exciting Mate 8 will launch in late December/early January as will the less interesting ZTE Axon Mini.

So if you did find a Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge under your Christmas tree, it might be a good idea to trade it in before prices crash on the arrival of the S7. Of course they remain excellent handsets, but if the S7 does indeed get its most controversial feature these 2015 handsets may start to feel dated rather quickly.

Friday 25 December 2015

iPhone 7, Galaxy S7, Sony Z6, HTC One M10: These are the phones to get excited about in 2016


By 99techture.blogspot.com   

The class of 2015 will soon give way to a new range of flagship phones in 2016

It has been another top-notch year for the smartphone industry but, as is always the way, the next 12 months are set to be even better. We will see new flagships from Apple, Samsung and Sony, and it will be make-or-break time for HTC, Blackberry and maybe others, too.

Apart from the Samsung Galaxy S7 – or rather, the Galaxy S7 family – we have not seen too many leaks for 2016 handsets just yet. But rest assured, there will be plenty to get excited about over the coming year. Here is what you can expect:

Samsung Galaxy S7 and family

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is very likely to be announced at a media event in Barcelona the day before Mobile World Congress (MWC). This is 21 February and it will be a year after Samsung revealed the S6 for the first time. The handset is likely to retain a similar design to the Galaxy S6 and feature an improved battery but beyond this, little is known.

What we do know – or, what has been rumoured by some reliable sources – is Samsung will use the event to announce a whole family of Galaxy S7 phones. There will be the regular, flat-screened S7, the curved Galaxy S7 Edge, then the larger S7+ and S7 Edge+.

All that is missing is the prospect of a mini version of the S7. Samsung made an S4 Mini and S5 Mini, but a smaller model of the S6 never arrived. We think Samsung should follow Sony's lead with its flagship Compact range, bringing top-end performance to a smaller handset.

Apple iPhone 7

Another certainty for 2016 is the iPhone 7. Apple's "tick-tock" update cycle, where the number updates every two years, followed by an S model in between will likely continue, giving us the iPhone 7 in early September. Apple will likely stick with the same 4.7in screen size for the new model – and the same 5.5in display for the iPhone 7 Plus – but other aesthetic details will change.

We can expect the new handsets to be slightly thinner than their predecessors, feature a faster processor, a better camera – and hopefully a camera lens that does not protrude from the back, like it does currently. We also really want to see 32GB as the minimum storage option, finally replacing 16GB as the cheapest model.

Sony Xperia Z6 and family

There will likely be another family outing for Sony in 2016. This will come either at MWC in February, or at IFA, in Berlin, in September. After it released two new flagships each year in 2013 and 2014, it might finally be time for the company to slow down.

A family of new Xperia Z6 phones would include the regular Z6, a smaller Z6 Compact and a larger Z6 Premium. Extended family members released throughout the year will include a couple of Xperia Z6 tablets, one to compete with theiPad Air and the other, likely called Xperia Z6 Tablet Compact, to do battle with theiPad mini.

LG G5

Another annual tradition in the smartphone calendar is the new flagship by LG. Expected to be called the LG G5, we predict it to arrive around May, a year after the G4. LG usually hosts its own show for the flagship, but waning sales and a failure to match the popularity of Samsung and Apple could see it opt for an announcement at MWC instead, if the phone is ready in time.

As for specifications, we are hearing the LG G5 will have a 5.6in screen with a Quad HD resolution of 2560 x 1440, and it will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor. The big feature is tipped to be an iris scanner, which will unlock the phone only when the owner looks at its front-facing camera; the system is said to work from up to 50cm away and would be a first among Europe's flagship handsets.

HTC One M10

HTC left us wanting so much more when the M8 was upgraded to the M9. The original phone's excellent design remained almost unchanged but there just were not enough new features to get excited about. HTC is strapped for cash and needs to pull out all the stops with the M10 if it is to survive much longer.

The M9 was launched at MWC in 2015, so we can expect a February or March date for the M10. It will need to wow us with a new design, match its peers in terms of performance, and finally come with a market-leading rear camera – something the One series has sorely missed ever since the M7.

What about the rest?

This is where things get a little less predictable. Microsoft, Motorola, Blackberry, Honor, Huawei and OnePlus will all announce new phones in 2016 but when this will happen – and what area of the market they will shoot for – remains unknown.

It is about time Microsoft announced a Surface Phone, having done very little in the phone market since it bought Nokia's devices division and the Lumia name back in April 2014. The company makes excellent Surface tablets, so transferring a similar design and the Windows 10 operating system to a phone is the next logical step.

Motorola will likely produce another brilliant Moto G, a mid-range phone soon to enter its fourth generation, and a new Moto X flagship. Blackberry is understood to have a few new models in the pipeline, one of which is a candybar-style phone (small square screen above a physical keyboard) called the Vienna, and is in the works.

Honor will continue to plug away at the bargain end of the market, producing at least one flagship with Samsung-troubling performance and features for half the price; and we can expect exactly the same threat from a new OnePlus phone, too.

Make no mistake about it, 2016 is set to be a packed year for the smartphone market.

Saturday 19 December 2015

Android Circuit: Exciting Galaxy S7 Leak, Microsoft Invades Google Play, Nexus 6P Secrets Revealed

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CONTRIBUTOR

I look at the impact of  mobile technology and online media.

Taking a look back at seven days of news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit includes the force-touch enabled Galaxy 7 display, Samsung’s new hero handset for 2016, Microsoft’s Android app store, leaked images of the HTC One X9, fitness tools in Pebble’s latest smartwatch update, Fairphone profiled by the BBC, secrets of the Nexus 6P and 5X, and Google’s Android-powered lightsaber.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple news digest here).

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge (image: Ewan Spence)

Samsung Follows Apple For Force Sensitive Display

If you believe some reports, we could be seeing the Galaxy S7 in a little over a month’s time, with a potential launch just after CES. Most people think the traditional pre-MWC slot in late February is more likely, but information on Samsung’s Galaxy S7 handset is already coming out. One interesting leak points to a new technological addition to the screen. Gordon Kelly looks at the reports from the WSJ and wonders what this will do in the long-runng Samsung/Apple saga:

 

Samsung BusinessVoice

Making The Most Of Mobility For Better Patient Care

So how will this pan out? Obviously the WSJ’s source will need to be on the money, but assuming the paper is correct (and it has a great track record in recent years) Samsung is likely to point to similar technology developed by Qualcomm as a defence. In fact using Qualcomm’s technology may well be the strategy, though it is impossible to imagine a world where Tim Cook isn’t furious and Apple’s legal team aren’t unleashed to start a new series of lawsuits that tie up the courts for years to come.

So what would Samsung get out of it? The fact that the lawsuits take years to be settled, nearly always for far less than the company makes from the tech in the intervening period, and that it gets a potentially major differentiator from Android rivals while keeping pace with Apple’s tentpole feature.


Read more about the pressure sensitive layer here on Forbes.

Samsung’s Hero Device For 2016… It’s Not The Galaxy S7

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There’s one other Samsung device of note that was revealed this week, and that’s the Galaxy A9. This is a mid-range device, sporting a SnapDragon 620 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. Those are really good specs, and I’m expecting this mid-range device to be a popular seller. Given Samsung’s failure in 2015 to grow the sales of the flagship Galaxy S devices and a reliance on volume sales in the mid-range devices to keep its mobile revenues up, the A9 is arguably Samsung’s hero device for 2016.

As the flagship sales fall away, Samsung’s mobile division is becoming more reliant on these mid-range devices. These devices sell in large quantities, but at a lower cost. A manufacturer relying on mid-range devices to drive a division’s revenue is going to need to have high-specification devices at attractive price points, the ability to invest in marketing, and an efficient distribution network that keeps costs low.

…It may not be slick or sexy, but it will be competent, reliable, and functional. It will offer vendors a competitive flagship from a manufacturer that they all have a solid relationship with. No high-street sales assistant is going to be fired for selling a Samsung.


More of my thoughts on this handset here.

And One [Microsoft] App To Rule Them All

Microsoft continues to expand its portfolio of Android apps, and is now at the point where many of your day-to-day tasks on your Android smartphone can be achieved exclusively with Microsoft apps. Curiously the one area you’ll leave Redmond’s reach is browsing the web. Microsoft’s latest app is a simplistic work of genius… an app that lists all of Microsoft’s appsTechCrunch’s Alex Wilhelm:

There are two parts to this development. The first is that Microsoft’s cross-platform work continues, and that the company has yet to let up an inch on its work to bring its software and services to users on every rival operating system. And, the second point is that Microsoft has created an effective Android app store — catalog? — inside of the actual Android app store.


It might seem a bit pointless, but one of the biggest problems in the App Store is visibility. If a user cannot find your apps, they will never get installed. Microsoft now has a single point of focus that it can promote in its apps and externally to hook a user into its Android ecosystem. It’s like a little app store… inside the Google Play app store.

Microsoft Slide (images: Microsoft App Store Listing)

Early Images Of The HTC One X9 Leak Out

Cam Bunton reports on HTC’s next smartphone, the One X9. Another mid-range device, fighting for the same market space as the Galaxy A9, the One X9 sports a look that could be considered ‘iPhone-like’ and while it might not be flagship-levels, the construction has many advantages:

Although it may not seem it, I think the most important detail here is the panel surrounding the camera module on the back. As you can see from the images below, it’s clearly a different material from the rest of the housing. That, along with the antenna bands on the edges, clearly indicates that the One X9 will be made primarily from metal. While it will gain the One-series moniker, it’s clear to me that this phone is a replacement for (or upgrade to) the HTC Desire range. It’s a mid-ranger with decent specs, but made from metal instead of plastic.


Read more at 9to5Google.

Fitness To Pebble

Android Circuit has two items from smartwatch start-up Pebble this week. The first is my look at the changes Pebble has brought to its latest device, the Pebble Time Round, along with an interview with CEO Eric Migicovsky:

Pebble Time Round is an attempt to move the conversation into a new space. “Existing smartwatches do not fit on many wrists”  Migicovsky pointed out to me, “and that influences how people think about smart watches. Pebble Time Round weighs half the weight of the smallest Apple Watch. When you have something this light, with a long battery life, it becomes something that is approachable.”


Pebble has also updated its software platform, with both the smartphone client and the various smartwatches. The older models pick up the timeline interface, while the Pebble Time family can now use the hardware in the watch as an activity and fitness tracker:

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic updates to Pebble’s software and smartphone apps today, with something for every Pebbler to enjoy. On top of bringing timeline to Pebble Classic and Steel, Pebble Health makes its debut on our Pebble Time lineup. It’s a brand new, fully native activity tracking experience with timeline integration.


There are more details on these updates at Pebble’s blog.

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Fairphone Reaches The Mainstream

The story of Fairphone is one that we’ve talked about here on Android Circuit before, but the company that has looked at ethical sourcing for components and has made a commitment to user-replaceable parts in its handsets is picking up interest from the mainstream media. This week saw the BBC cover the Amsterdam-based manufacturer:

Bas and his colleagues launched Fairphone in 2013, running a crowdfunding campaign that was so successful it took even them by surprise. They pre-sold 25,000 handsets before a single device rolled off the production line: people were buying into a concept.

“I was crying to my wife in bed, like how am I going to do this?” he says. ”I’d never made a phone before and all these thousands of people had put their faith in me, I was afraid I would let them down.”

He needn’t have worried. His company has now sold more than 82,000 phones. The company’s main focus is to make sure that it sources its materials from non-conflict mines.


You can watch the feature at the BBC News website.

Nexus 6P (image: Google PR)

The Story Of The Nexus 6P And 5X

Sometimes the story behind a smartphone is just as important as the device itself. Redditor sylocheed attended Google’s Nexus Open Studio Event in New York City and has written up the experiences in this post:

there were representatives from seemingly all of the disciplines at Google involved with the new Nexus phones: Android UX design, software product managers for Nexus, Nexus industrial design, Nexus hardware engineering, and others. And they were all super friendly and surprisingly open to answering all kinds of questions, from the mundane to controversial. In the end, whether or not we might agree or disagree with their product and design decisions, I came away with a clear picture of how passionate and thoughtful the folks at Google are.

Apologies for the dreadfully long post, but I wanted to share some of my experiences and the really interesting things I learned chatting with the Google staff about Nexus, Android, and technology.


Part report, part stream on conscious, it’s a great look at Google’s hardware and the people behind it.

And Finally…

Google decided to showcase the use of WebRTC and WebSockets in a demo this week, and like almost every other company, decided the best way to do so would be to tie it into Star Wars. In Google’s case your desktop browser acts as the view on the world, while your phone, which links to the browser instance with no extra code or connections, is the handle of your lightsaber. Now it’s just a matter of swinging away and reflecting the blaster shots as you play ‘Lightsaber Escape’

YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LPd0w3pVQVI

Android Circuit’ will round-up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course read the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!

Samsung working to make TouchWiz more ‘fluent’ than iOS with the Galaxy S7?

99techture.blogspot.com

We recently heard that Samsung might be teaming up with Google to optimize TouchWiz, and a new rumor today is lending further credence to that possibility. According to ITHome, Samsung will be focusing on improving the user experience with the Galaxy S7, with Google engineers helping the Korean company optimize the underlying code on its popular customized version of Android.

The report goes as far as saying that Samsung and Google’s ultimate goal is to make a “a non-delayed operating experience”, one with “greater fluency than iOS”. Now, Android has come a long way and is probably more consistent on high-end devices in terms of general fluidity these days given how Apple’s updates to iOS continue to bring new problems (especially as the Cupertino company makes the OS more flexible), but it’s unclear if Android will ever be as optimized as its biggest competitor.

Samsung has already reached an impressive level of optimization with the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 edge+, and it would be great to see TouchWiz become even better in the future (it would also be great to see Samsung fix the multitasking limitations that plague its software on high-end phones). The report also reiterates that the microSD slot will return with the Galaxy S7, though at this point we can only wait and see if these rumors have any semblance of truth behind them.

Friday 18 December 2015

Samsung in 2016: Expanding its Galaxy way beyond the phone

The electronics giant, stung by weak smartphone sales, likely will amp up its efforts to infiltrate and interconnect your entire household.

by 99techture.blogspot.com

Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge marked a new design push for the company.


One of Samsung's newest holiday ads, titled "Give the gift of Galaxy," features gift-wrapped packages of various shapes and sizes. People tear off the paper to reveal gadgets like the Galaxy S6 Edge phone, the SUHD television, the Galaxy View tablet, the Gear VR headset and Level headphones.

The tagline? "It's not a phone, it's a Galaxy."

The simple motto is a not-so-subtle reminder that the consumer electronics giant isn't just about smartphones. And as the once rabid interest in its Galaxy S phones wanes, the South Korean company will look to everything from smartwatches to refrigerators to virtual reality in an effort to reignite your excitement about its technology.

You saw a bit of that this year, but look for Samsung to really push the idea of smart everything in 2016. The hype train will roll out of the station in early January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where you can expect to see a bevy of connected gadgets, except for new notable smartphones.

Samsung is just one of tech's heavy-hitters looking to create a world of devices that surround you and talk to each other, all in the name of bringing ever more convenience into your life. The challenge will be in convincing you to fork over money for these pricey gadgets. That convenience doesn't come cheap, after all.

Samsung will have to work with its partners to get you to shell out. While rival Apple controls every element of its products, Samsung relies on companies such as Android maker Google and virtual-reality specialist Oculus for the software that powers its devices. Its own track record on software hasn't been great: Samsung has even killed some of things, like its WatchOn video control app, that were meant to better link its devices.

With new leadership in its mobile and home-appliance businesses, Samsung will be looking for new sparks of success in 2016. Can it turn its fortunes around, or is it doomed to be another footnote to the roster of tech innovators?

Samsung declined to comment.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

10 Smartphones We Loved in 2015

99techture.blogspot.com

10 Smartphones We Loved in 2015
It's hard to whittle down the hundreds of smartphones launched this year into a list of just 10 favourites. We've seen some phenomenal advances, not just at the top end, but in every segment of the market. Speeds and resolutions always improve, but it seemed as though manufacturers wouldn't let even a few weeks pass between product launches this year - competition is so fierce that product recommendations can change from one day to the next.
A lot happened in 2015: fingerprint sensors went mainstream, metal displaced plastic in nearly every premium offering, big displays became normal, screen resolutions jumped off the charts, and cameras became seriously good. Features that were restricted to phones which cost over Rs. 40,000 not too long ago started turning up in models that sell for less than Rs. 10,000.

Here are our picks of the 10 phones that shaped the landscape of 2015 in India, in no particular order.

1) Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Easily on of the most beautiful consumer products of 2015, this is one smartphone you can't take your eyes or hands off. Samsung's display engineering, and manufacturing expertise clearly has no match, and the rest of the metal body is just as stunning. The processor is fast, the camera is fantastic, and even the software is appealing. If you want to be seen and noticed, this phone is well worth the premium over the equally capable Galaxy S6.

2) iPhone 6s
What list would be complete without an iPhone? Apple's 2015 model retains the styling of its predecessor, but a new force-sensitive touchscreen and significantly improved camera keep things fresh. The new iPhone's speed improvements are tangible, and the iOS ecosystem has plenty of diehard fans. While not a huge jump over its predecessor, the new iPhone is still an impressive device with few alternatives available that beat it.

3) Google Nexus 5X
Its bigger sibling, the Nexus 6P, might be getting more attention, but we love this phone for offering nearly all the same features at a much lower price and in a regular-sized body. It's fast, has a great screen, and a fingerprint sensor that just works. Of course, Android Marshmallow is one of the biggest draws. We'd go with the 32GB model since non-expandable storage is one of its very few major flaws.

4) Lenovo K3 Note
Chinese giant Lenovo made huge strides in the Indian smartphone market this year with a variety of models that flew off store shelves, but perhaps none more so than the K3 Note. This phone represents the best value you can get under Rs. 10,000, with specifications and performance that rival many phones that cost twice as much. It's a great device for anyone who needs a little more than the basics.

5) Xiaomi Mi 4
The Xiaomi Mi 4 burst onto the scene at the beginning of this year, with the company's trademark fanfare. The high-end hardware and lowball pricing had an immediate impact on competitors, and long after other phones would have been retired, the Mi 4 still feels premium. A promised update to Android 6.0 and a significant price cut will keep this one on our radar for some time still.

6) Moto X Play
The Moto X Play is an easy choice due to its dependability. It's not flashy or over-the-top but a solid smartphone that simply works. Being a Motorola, you can be assured of good build quality and timely software updates. The Moto X Play offers a Nexus-like near-stock Android experience, excellent all-round performance, improved battery life, and good camera. More importantly, it offers one of the best value propositions in the sub-Rs. 20,000 segment.

7) Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The Galaxy Note 5 is easily the best smartphone with a stylus in the market and one of the best high-end phones currently available. We love the Galaxy Note 5 for its aluminium-and-glass body and striking design. It also happens to have one of the best cameras of any phone today. The highlight of the Note 5 is its stylus, which can be used to boost productivity or simply get creative thanks to its pressure sensitivity.

8) Gionee Marathon M5
The Marathon M5 is the latest weapon in the war against bad battery life. With a 6020mAh battery, the M5 will easily let you do a 24-hour movie marathon on your phone. With regular use, one can go multiple days without needing a charge. The Marathon series from Gionee is all about battery life so other aspects of the phone take a back seat. The M5 makes it to our list purely because of its ability to outlast any other smartphone in the market.

9) Google Nexus 6P
The Huawei-built Google Nexus 6P is the kind of device that other smartphones look up to. Featuring Android Marshmallow with the stock user interface, the Nexus 6P is premium in every way. From the beautiful metal build, to the gloriously detailed screen, to the absolute power under the hood, the Nexus 6P is one of the best Android smartphones you can buy right now. The Nexus 6P also features an excellent set of cameras. And the icing on the cake? The ability to shoot in 4K or at 240fps 720p.

10) Asus ZenFone Selfie (3GB/32GB)
Camera and selfie lovers rejoice, the Asus ZenFone Selfie is the smartphone for you. The phone has 13-megapixel cameras with dual-tone LED flashes both at the front and the back, and also features a laser autofocus for the rear camera. Indoor and low-light shots are absolutely stunning, and selfies are among the best we've seen on a smartphone. Along with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 SoC, the Asus ZenFone Selfie represents serious value at under Rs. 20,000.

What was your favourite phone of the year? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
Rs. 58900

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Fantastic performance
Unmatched original style
Incredible camera

No microSD slot
Difficult to grip securely
Read detailed Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review
Display
5.10-inch
Processor
1.5GHz
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
1440x2560 pixels
RAM
3GB
OS
Android 5.0
Storage
32GB
Rear Camera
16-megapixel
Battery capacity
2600mAh See full
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Apple iPhone 6s
Key Specs
News
Display
4.70-inch
Processor
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
750x1334 pixels
RAM
2GB
OS
iOS 9
Storage
16GB
Rear Camera
12-megapixel
Battery capacity
1715mAh
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LG Google Nexus 5X
Rs. 31900

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Pure Android 6.0
Fingerprint sensor
Good camera
Good overall performance

Limited storage
Expensive
USB Type-C adapters required
Ditches wireless charging
Read detailed LG Google Nexus 5X review
Display
5.20-inch
Processor
1.8GHz
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
1080x1920 pixels
RAM
2GB
OS
Android 6.0
Storage
16GB
Rear Camera
12.3-megapixel
Battery capacity
2700mAh See full
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Lenovo K3 Note
Rs. 9999

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Great performance
Lots of software tweaks
Good screen and sound

Average camera quality
Battery life could have been better
Read detailed Lenovo K3 Note review
Display
5.50-inch
Processor
1.7GHz
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
1080x1920 pixels
RAM
2GB
OS
Android 5.0
Storage
16GB
Rear Camera
13-megapixel
Battery capacity
2900mAh See full
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Xiaomi Mi 4
Rs. 19999

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Good performance at a great price
Good camera
Good battery life

No storage expansion
Slightly heavy and uncomfortable
Read detailed Xiaomi Mi 4 review
Display
5.00-inch
Processor
2.5GHz
Front Camera
8-megapixel
Resolution
1080x1920 pixels
RAM
3GB
OS
Android 4.4
Storage
16GB
Rear Camera
13-megapixel
Battery capacity
3080mAh See full
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Motorola Moto X Play

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Good battery life
Near stock Android
Improved camera

Low light camera performance could be better
No water resistance
Read detailed Motorola Moto X Play review
Display
5.50-inch
Processor
1.7GHz
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
1080x1920 pixels
RAM
2GB
OS
Android 5.1.1
Storage
16GB
Rear Camera
21-megapixel
Battery capacity
3630mAh See full
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Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Rs. 53900

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Pleasing aesthetics
Solid performance 
Good battery life

No expandable storage
No IR blaster 
S Pen mechanism prone to damage
Read detailed Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review
Display
5.70-inch
Processor
1.5GHz
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
1440x2560 pixels
RAM
4GB
OS
Android 5.1.1
Storage
32GB
Rear Camera
16-megapixel
Battery capacity
3000mAh See full
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Gionee Marathon M5
Rs. 17999

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Insane battery life
Sturdy and well built
Decent camera
IR blaster
Fluid interface

Low-res screen with exaggerated colours
Very heavy
Amigo UI is not for everyone
Read detailed Gionee Marathon M5 review
Display
5.50-inch
Processor
1.3GHz
Front Camera
5-megapixel
Resolution
720x1280 pixels
RAM
3GB
OS
Android 5.1
Storage
32GB
Rear Camera
13-megapixel
Battery capacity
6020mAh See full
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Huawei Google Nexus 6P
Rs. 39999

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Great design and build
Fantastic display
Excellent camera
Blazing performance and software
Good battery life

No expandable storage
Expensive
No wireless charging
Read detailed Huawei Google Nexus 6P review
Display
5.70-inch
Processor
2GHz
Front Camera
8-megapixel
Resolution
1440x2560 pixels
RAM
3GB
OS
Android 6.0
Storage
32GB
Rear Camera
12.3-megapixel
Battery capacity
3450mAh See full
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Asus ZenFone Selfie
Rs. 17999

Reviews

Key Specs

News

Design

Display

Software

Performance

Battery life

Camera

Value for money
Excellent front camera
Quick and accurate autofocus on rear camera
Looks and feels good
Good screen and UI

Outdoor shooting is average
Read detailed Asus ZenFone Selfie review
Display
5.50-inch
Processor
1.7GHz
Front Camera
13-megapixel
Resolution
1080x1920 pixels
RAM
3GB
OS
Android 5.0
Storage
32GB
Rear Camera
13-megapixel
Battery capacity
3000mAh

How to Download and Manually Install Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on Nexus Devices

99techture.blogspot.com

The first major update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow has begun rolling out to Nexus and Android One devices. If you are the impatient kind who wants to download the update immediately, then you can do it manually. Google has released Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow factory images for various devices in its Nexus range.

We've listed the new features in Android 6.0.1 and if you have one of the eligible devices, you will get an OTA update soon. The following devices will get Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

There are several risks involved with manually downloading and installing Android factory images. You could lose all of your data and the process is pretty complex that's best avoided if you are new to this kind of a thing.

(Also seeBest Android 6.0 Marshmallow Features)

Android 6.0 Marshmallow is currently available for the following devices - Google Nexus 5Google Nexus 6Google Nexus 7 2013,Google Nexus 9Google Nexus PlayerGoogle Nexus 6P, andGoogle Nexus 5X. Here's how to manually install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on these devices.

1) Download and install the latestAndroid Studio Preview on your Windows computer. This installs the ADB and Fastboot programmes, which can be accessed through the command terminal on your PC.

2) Add the SDK folder to the PATH by following these steps:

3) Right click My Computer and click on Properties.

4) Click on Advanced System Settings.

5) Click on System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables.

6) In the Window, select Path, then click on Edit, and then type in the name of the directory where you installed the SDK, and remember that each entry is separated by a semi-colon.

7) Enable USB debugging on your device. First, go to Settings > About Phone > Software information.

8) Tap Build number seven times.

9) Go to Settings > Developer options. Tick USB debugging.

10) Download the correct factory image for your device.

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 5

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 6

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 7 2013 Mobile

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 9 Wi-Fi

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 9 LTE

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus Player

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 6P

Android 6.0.1 for Nexus 5X

11) Extract the image on your computer. This should give you a tar file. Extract it again.

12) Connect your device to your computer over USB.

13) Start the device in fastbootmode.

The easiest way to do this is to hold a key combination while powering up the device. For Nexus 5, hold the volume up, volume down and power buttons while powering on the device. The full list of key combinations for different devices ishere.

You can also boot into fastboot mode using the ADB tool: With the device powered on, go to the command terminal and execute the following: adb reboot bootloader

If needed, unlock the device's bootloader through your computer using the command terminal and executing: fastboot oem unlock

1) Open a command terminal and navigate to the unzipped system image directory.

2) Execute flash-all.bat, which was a part of the unzipped image file. This script installs the necessary bootloader, baseband firmware(s), and operating system. For this to work, you need to have added the folder where ADB and Fastboot are installed to the system's path as described in step 2.

3) When this is done, Google recommends that you lock the bootloader for security. You can do that by booting the device in fastboot mode while still connected via USB, and using the command terminal to execute: fastboot oem lock.

That will install Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow on your Nexus device. For more tutorials, visit our How To section.

Google CEO Pichai Touts India as Key Testing Ground for New Products

99techture.blogspot.com | Updated: Dec 16, 2015 17:42 IST

New Google leader Sundar Pichaipledged on Wednesday to use India as a testing ground for its products as the US tech giant targets hundreds of millions of consumers in the developing world set to move online in the next few years.

"We think that what we build in India will apply to many global places," Indian-born Pichai, appointed chief executive officer in August, told reporters at an event in New Delhi.

With Internet penetration already topping more than 90 percent in many developed markets, Google is increasingly betting on large developing countries like India as a future source of growth. The company does not disclose how much it has invested in India.

Google expects more than 500 million Indians to be online by 2018, up from around 300 million today. But Pichai said that with most new users accessing the Internet via cheap smartphones instead of desktops, poor mobile connectivity is forcing the company to adapt how it structures and sells its software.

Google's CEO said the company would train two million Indian developers for its Android operating system by 2019, promote Internet use among rural women in thousands of villages, and expand its campus in Hyderabad to get more people online.

"It's about making sure that as the next one billion come online, they have access," he said during a visit to the Indian capital, where he is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There are likely to be more users of Google'sAndroid software in India than in the United States next year, Google said in a statement.

Pichai cited user-generated maps, as well as a version of YouTube that allows consumers with limited Internet access to store videos offline, as two recent examples of products developed in India that have since been rolled out to other countries.

Google is also working with Indian Railways to bring wireless Internet service to 100 train stations, with Mumbai Central the first to go online in January. It's also working on increasing the number of local languages available on its virtual keyboard to target non-English speakers.