Unreal Engine To Support HTC Vive Virtual Reality Headset

Epic Games has just published their roadmap for Unreal Engine 4 according to which, the world’s most popular game development engine will add support for Valve’s SteamVR platform – read HTC’s Vive headset – as early as next month. The roadmap also says that they are looking forward to add new features for Sony’s much talked about ‘Project Morpheus’ headset as well. It is worth remembering here that Unreal Engine 4 already supports Oculus Rift and Gear VR. What this new announcement means, is that UE4 will now have support for all the major virtual reality platforms either already out in the market, or in their final stages of development, to be launched over the next few months. Both Epic and their biggest competitor Unity, had already announced support for Oculus Rift in 2012 itself, when the project was still in its embryonic stage. Between the two of them, they power almost all games available on VR platforms as of now.

Virtual reality is being viewed in many quarters as the next frontier of entertainment and many companies, big and small are jumping into the fray trying to introduce the killer product which will differentiate them from the rest. Towards that end, Samsung has been developing their Gear VR headset, developed in association with Oculus and HTC showed off their Vive headset, developed in association with Valve Corporation, as part of their SteamVR platform. Then there’s the small matter of Sony’s Morpheus headset as well. But more than the hardware, it will be the content available on a particular platform, that will decide who will walk away with the honors when the dust settles. This is where both content developers as well as hardware manufacturers will need support from one another and VR enthusiasts will no doubt be overjoyed at the fact, that the biggest online game distributor, Steam, and the most popular game development engine, Unreal Engine, have both embraced VR with open arms.

What all this means for the end consumer is that by this time next year, in all probability they will be spoilt for choice with multiple titles available to make immersive gaming experience a reality.

Kishalaya KunduIntern Writer

I’ve always been a tech buff and have been building my own PC’s since as far back as I can remember. My first computer was a home-built desktop running MS-DOS on which I learnt to program in GW-BASIC and my interests apart from technology include automobiles and sports.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Unreal Engine To Support HTC Vive Virtual Reality Headset

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Engine, headset, Reality, Support, Unreal, Virtual, Vive

Featured Review: Olixar Leather-Style Flip Case for HTC One M9

Here we have another case review for the HTC One M9, and another that’s best for our UK readers. This is the Olixar Leather-Style Flip case for the HTC One M9. Designed as something to give your device something of a more classier look and feel, this is a flip case with few frills, but it does double as a stand for the device, and will of course protect your display when closed. While not genuine leather, this looks and feels the part, and you can also store some cards in there as well if you enjoy having more than just your phone stolen. Of course, for things like travel cards and that sort of thing it doesn’t seem a bad idea.

I was genuinely impressed with this case. It’s not too expensive and while I wouldn’t trust it down a flight of stairs, it offers decent protection and it’s a modern, classy-looking case, that’s for sure. The faux-leather looks very nice, and the lining of the case is a nice color, too. The plastic shell that the phone sits in holds the device fairly tight, but I wouldn’t say it gave all that much protection. One thing I wish were different was the one hole at the top for the speakers. If you want to take advantage of the BoomSound speakers and protect your display, you’ll block much of the sound out. Then again, you won’t fill them with pocket lint when closed, either.

The stand function is well, functional. I wouldn’t rely on this to watch a film on anything other than a sturdy surface, but it’s a nice little feature to have. As inexpensive cases go, this one from Olixar is understated and classy. It’s got modern looks without shouting about it and it will keep your device’s screen clean and those speakers free off dirt and fluff. It’s available from MobileFun and in the US there are similar options available on Amazon.

Tom DawsonEditor-in-Chief

For years now I’ve had a heavy interest in technology, growing up with 8-bit computers and gaming consoles has fed into an addiction to everything that beeps. Android saved me from the boredom of iOS years ago and I love watching the platform grow. As an avid reader and writer nothing pleases me more than to write about the exciting world of Android, Google and mobile technology as a whole.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Featured Review: Olixar Leather-Style Flip Case for HTC One M9

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Case, Featured, Flip, LeatherStyle, Olixar, Review

Fleksy Integrates GIF Keyboard By Riffsy And Now Supports Three More Languages

Fleksy is one of the most popular keyboard apps on Android, giving users the ability to type fast without worrying about having to go back and correct every single word they type. Like many other third party keyboards, it has auto correction baked right in but it also carries things most keyboards don’t like gestures for cycling through punctuation and gestures to space between or delete words. In some of Fleksy’s most recent updates, they gave the app a face lift and brought in a material design style UI and even added in a bunch of new themes, they also added in a feature called keyboard extensions which allowed users to basically augment their keyboard with a little extra functionality, like the GIF extension which allowed users to quickly access GIF’s to insert into their texts without having to leave the message.

Today Fleksy is announcing another new update which comes along with not only support for a few new languages, but it also now integrates GIF keyboard by Riffsy, allowing users the same quick access to GIF’s but with a couple of improvements. If you like to use GIF’s then this is great as the GIF keyboard by Riffsy brings a couple of things to the table that the previous keyboard extension option did not. The new GIF keyboard comes preconfigured into the regular keyboard and you can access GIFs with the tap of a button on the main keyboard screen, and now have typing, GIFs, and emojis all combined into one typing experience, something which Fleksy states no other keyboard offers.

Also new with GIF keyboard by Riffsy is the ability to actually search for GIF’s which is something that wasn’t possible before. You can also still browse by category of course and just sift through GIFs if you’re not looking for any one type in particular. As for the new languages support, adding to the already large list of supported languages, in this latest update Fleksy has added in support for Korean, Hindi, and Indonesian. Users who haven’t given Fleksy a try before can download Fleksy for free to give it a shot by navigating to the free trial version of the app, (located in the Google Play widget below) which Fleksy mentions will stay free forever. Fleksy’s commitment to their loyal users and passion for bringing them new features like these, has led them to see a 1,000% year-over-year growth and Fleksy is now also the newest winner of the Google Play Editor’s Choice Award.

Justin DiazContributing Editor

Justin loves craft beer, food, video games(of all kinds and platforms), and generally anything technological, and has been a fan of Android since the T-mobile G1. Game of Thrones is one of his vices, and you can usually find him playing a match of League of Legends or some other game during parts of his free time. He currently uses a Sony Xperia Z3 as his daily driver which he is deeply fond of.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Fleksy Integrates GIF Keyboard By Riffsy And Now Supports Three More Languages

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Fleksy, Integrates, Keyboard, Languages, More, Riffsy, Supports, Three

ASUS Announces Zenfone 2 Event for NYC on May 18th

ASUS has just started sending out invites to a New York City event on May 18th for the Zenfone 2. This is going to be the launch of the Zenfone 2 in North America. At least according to the invite. ASUS announced the Zenfone 2 back in January at CES in Las Vegas, so it’s not the first time we’ve seen the Zenfone 2 in North America.

The Zenfone 2 has been getting lots of attention because it was the first – and only, still – smartphone to feature 4GB of RAM. There is also a 2GB of RAM model, so we are unsure which model we’ll be getting here in the States. But obviously we are salivating for that 4GB model. ASUS has been selling the Zenfone 2 2GB model on Amazon for a bit now. So it’s a bit interesting to see them holding an event in NYC to launch the thing. The ASUS Zenfone 2 has a 5.5-inch 1080p display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top. It’s running on the Intel Atom Z3580 (4GB model) or the Z3560 (2GB model), along with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage. ASUS also has a 13MP camera on the back with a 5MP front-facing shooter. Along with a non-removable 3,000mAh battery inside to keep it going all day long.

We’ll be there to see what ASUS has for us, even though we know pretty much everything about the Zenfone 2 already. It could be an AT&T exclusive, as most of ASUS’ devices do go to AT&T exclusively and never really land elsewhere. But we are hoping it’ll be available unlocked. While that wouldn’t help out Verizon and Sprint customers, it will at least expand the number of people that could potentially buy the device. The Zenfone 2 has been a pretty popular device, especially at the price that ASUS is selling it for. Currently it’s going for $ 279 over on Amazon for the 2GB of RAM model. It will definitely be interesting to see what ASUS have to say on May 18th. We’ll be sure to keep all of our readers informed, though.

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Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: ASUS Announces Zenfone 2 Event for NYC on May 18th

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = 18th, Announces, Asus, Event, Zenfone

Featured Review: Olixar ArmourDillo for HTC One M9

We’ve been reviewing a number of accessories for the HTC One M9 and Galaxy S6/Galaxy S6 Edge lately and today, we have yet another review for you. This one is perhaps more for our UK readers, and covers the Olixar ArmourDillo case from MobileFun. This is a fairly inexpensive option for those looking for something a little more rugged, a little more hardwearing. It’s a big case, and it makes use of that extra bulk by offering up a fairly neat kickstand to make watching videos on the move easier, and in general, it’s a case to keep your device extra safe.

This particular case feels good in the hand, it definitely adds some bulk to the One M9, but it doesn’t feel like you’re holding a giant potato or anything, The silicon feel is nice in the hand, and there’s a rigid sort of exo-skeleton that sits on top of the silicon case keeping everything nice and sturdy. I’m fairly confident that – tied with a decent screen protector – the ArmourDillo will keep an HTC One M9 nice and safe in the vast majority of circumstances. As far as looks go, this is decidedly masculine in the black option we have here, but there are other color mixes available, like blue and yellow for instance. The kickstand gets the job done, it adds a nice angle to the display, and it sits nice and level. Perfect for a tray table on a plane or on a train, for example.

For readers in the UK, this is available from MobileFun for just £12.99, which isn’t too bad at all, and those in US can find similar options from Amazon for similar pricing. This is a nice option for those prone to dropping their devices, but not in need of something like an Otterbox Defender. A middleground if you like, the Olixar AremourDillo is a strong case that gets the job done.

Tom DawsonEditor-in-Chief

For years now I’ve had a heavy interest in technology, growing up with 8-bit computers and gaming consoles has fed into an addiction to everything that beeps. Android saved me from the boredom of iOS years ago and I love watching the platform grow. As an avid reader and writer nothing pleases me more than to write about the exciting world of Android, Google and mobile technology as a whole.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Featured Review: Olixar ArmourDillo for HTC One M9

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = ArmourDillo, Featured, Olixar, Review

T-Mobile Offering MLB At Bat 15 Premium for Free to Customers, Again

It wasn’t too long ago that T-Mobile announced they were the official wireless carrier of the MLB. Much like Verizon is for the NFL, and Sprint is for the NBA. With T-Mobile being the official wireless carrier, this means T-Mobile customers get to use the premium features of the MLB At Bat app for free. The Premium version of the app is typically $ 19.99. This is the premium version, but it does not get you all of the games for free. Just the MLB.tv game of the day. As well as being able to track every single pitch, in-game highlights, and access live look-ins and key plays. It’s also important to note that the Game of the Day are subject to blackouts. Which is crazy that blackouts are still a thing.

If you are on T-Mobile and are a baseball fan, then this is a pretty good deal for you. However if you want to see all of your teams’ games this year, you’ll have to subscribe to MLB.tv which starts at $ 19.99 per month, if you want to watch them all on mobile, then it’ll be $ 24 per month. Pretty expensive, but then you have to remember that there are 162 games in a baseball season, compared to 16 in the NFL, 82 in the NBA and NHL.

To get this offer from T-Mobile, you will need to download the app over the T-Mobile network. WiFi won’t work. Then you’ll need to sign in, and when prompted for T-Mobile’s offer, just accept it. The offer runs from May 1 to September 30th. Kinda interesting to see that the offer didn’t start when the season started. Nevertheless, it starts tomorrow, so we can all get our baseball fix in tomorrow.

You likely won’t be able to use it on your Tablet, unless your tablet is on T-Mobile’s network. As you need to be on their network to download the app. However, downloading it on your tablet that is tethered to your T-Mobile smartphone might just work. We’ve reached out to T-Mobile to see if this offer is available for tablet users, even WiFi tablet users. We’ll be sure to update once we learn more.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: T-Mobile Offering MLB At Bat 15 Premium for Free to Customers, Again

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Again, Customers, Free, Offering, Premium, TMobile

Google brings bleeding-edge Chrome dev channel browser to Android

Just as it’s done on the desktop, Google is pushing out a developer build of Chrome for Android for those who want the latest and greatest features and are willing to live with some pesky bugs in return.

The Chrome dev channel gives you insider access to what Google is experimenting with. Of course, that means there can be lots of bugs, though Google is betting on wide usage will give it the data it needs to squash them.

Just like with the beta build, you can download the dev browser on your device but keep the stable version as default if you want something less fussy. If you want to check the new browser out, you can grab it now from the Play Store.

The story behind the story: Google works on new features by trying them out on multiple early access versions of its browser, graduating them to the stable channel when they’re ready. The dev channel has been on Windows, Mac, and Chrome OS already, but this is the first appearance on mobile. Desktop versions also run a Canary channel, which is the most raw and uncut version of Chrome. 

Source = greenbot

Tags = Android, bleedingedge, brings, browser, channel, Chrome, Google

No. 1 S6i is a Stunning Galaxy S6 Clone with Lollipop

The business of cloning phones is well known among phone enthusiasts around the world.  When a hot phone comes out plenty of people want it but can’t always afford it, and with price tags like Samsung’s Galaxy S6 has there are sure to be plenty of people left without the ability to purchase one.  Company’s like No. 1 specialize in making phones that look like the original model and sometimes even feel like them, but come at a fraction of the price.  No. 1’s latest product, the No. 1 S6i, looks identical to the original Samsung Galaxy S6 even down to the razer thin 6.8mm body that Samsung touted, but it does all this for around $ 120.

Being $ 600 cheaper comes at a cost of materials and processing power for sure, but as we’ve seen from plenty of other No.1 phones we’ve reviewed in this price range No. 1 is particularly good at the game they play.  As can be seen from the picture above the phone comes packed with a mostly stock looking Android 5.0 Lollipop, outside of the icons of course.  Inside the phone is a quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6582 processor which powers plenty of phones at this price range and offers tons of power for the price.  1GB of RAM isn’t exactly a lot but we’ve seen that it’s not a big deal when the phone manages RAM well as others from No. 1 with this amount of RAM have.

There’s also 16GB of internal storage but unforutnately no way to expand that storage, so this phone is going to be more of a streaming device than anything because of that.  The screen on the front is a 5.1-inch 720p display, which will probably look just fine but nowhere near as good as the incredible Quad-HD display on the Galaxy S6.  There’s also a 16-megapixel shooter on the back but it’s being reported as only an 8-megapixel one, and a 5-megapixel one on the front.  All in all it looks like a pretty fantastic phone for $ 120 and marks one of the first Galaxy S6 clones to hit the market so far.  Check out No.1’s website below to find out where to purchase it if you’re interested!

Nick SutrichSenior Staff Writer / PodCasting Co-Host

I’ve been into games and technology since before I could spell, and while I’ve had my share of technology allegiances throughout the years Android is the OS I call home. I started off my Android journey with an HTC G2 (Vision for the International crowd), enjoyed all the Galaxy Note phones up to 3, and now I’m rocking a OnePlus One. I’m a professional IT guy and live with my wife and son in balmy Florida.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: No. 1 S6i is a Stunning Galaxy S6 Clone with Lollipop

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Clone, Galaxy, Lollipop, Stunning

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 is Cool, Much Cooler than the 810

This week, LG announced the LG G4. And as we had seen in leaks it is running the Snapdragon 808. Instead of the more powerful Snapdragon 810. As we’ve seen from our own experiences, as well as tests from other sites, the Snapdragon 810 does heat up, and some devices throttle it pretty heavily – like the LG G Flex 2. We’ve been using the LG G4 since Tuesday afternoon when we picked ours up, and so far it hasn’t really overheated, and doesn’t feel at all slow, like the Snapdragon 810-powered HTC One M9 and LG G Flex 2. Ars Technica – who we all know for their great technical reviews and analysis – did some testing with the Snapdragon 808, and found that it stays pretty cool, especially in comparison to the Snapdragon 810.

While the Snapdragon 810 can’t really hit its peak, before needing to throttle down due to the heat. The Snapdragon 808 can hold its own at the 1.8GHz peak speed. For almost the full 15 minutes before needing to throttle. What’s also interesting is in the Geek Bench 3 benchmarks Ars Technica did, the LG G4 does score higher than the LG G Flex 2. Again, benchmarks don’t equal real world use, but it does show us that the Snapdragon 808 – while not having the fastest clock speeds – can still hold its own against it’s bigger brother the Snapdragon 810.

LG and Qualcomm had stated that the two had been working together on the Snapdragon 808 and the LG G4 for over a year. So this means that integration might be much better than what LG and Qualcomm did with the LG G Flex 2. Of course, this is what they told us. And could be true, it also could be untrue.

The good thing here is that we don’t need to worry about overheating with the LG G4, which is great news. After spending time and reviewing the LG G Flex 2, my only real complaint on the device was the slowness and lag. Which was due to the processor. And now that is no longer an issue with the LG G4, this device might just be a true flagship. Even without Quick Charge 2.0.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 is Cool, Much Cooler than the 810

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Cooler, Much, Qualcomm’s, Snapdragon, than, “Cool”

The Android Headlines Show Ep 106 is Tonight! At 9:30pm EDT!

The LG G4 is in house. So naturally, we have to talk about it. That’s not all we’ve got on tap for this week’s show. We also have a pretty interesting interview going on to kick things off. Let’s take a look at the agenda for this week’s show!

• Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Interview!


• LG G4 was announced, we have one in our hands.

If you can’t make it live to watch the show at 9:30pm EDT, we completely understand. That’s why we record it for you to watch later on. Make sure you subscribe to the Android Headlines Show over on Stitcher, Podomatic, YouTube, iTunes, Pocket Casts and anywhere else you might find us. We’re also on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Google+. Make sure you follow us so you can stay up to date with all the Android news out there.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: The Android Headlines Show Ep 106 is Tonight! At 9:30pm EDT!

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = 930pm, Android, Headlines, Show, Tonight

Grab an Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 for just $275 from eBay

The Galaxy S6 is available, and it’s selling for about $ 629 unlocked. But not everyone wants to pay that much, or needs the latest and greatest. The Galaxy S5 is still a great smartphone, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 inside, and is currently on sale for just $ 275. This is the AT&T model, but it is carrier unlocked. So you’ll be able to use it on T-Mobile and other GSM carriers as well. The Galaxy S5 features a 5.1-inch 1920×1080 resolution Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It also has that amazing 16MP camera on the back.

Pick up the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 now from eBay’s Daily Deals.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Grab an Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 for just $ 275 from eBay

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = $275, eBay, from, Galaxy, Grab, just, Samsung, Unlocked

Sony’s New Earphones Cost $2,500 And Can Be Customized To Fit Your Ears

Sony is a huge tech company, a corporation which actually manufactures all sorts of stuff. As you probably already know, Sony is selling headphones, earphones, TVs, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, gaming consoles, cameras… and a number of other tech products, not to mention that they manufacture certain mobile components as well. This Japan-based company is doing great in a wide array of those areas, but not the mobile sector. The company actually had to cut costs last year and have been reorganizing their business as well.

After announcing the new Sony Walkman ZX2 during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the company has now dropped a pair of earphones as well, called Sony XJE-MH1. Much like the Walkman, these earphones are really expensive, a lot more expensive than the Walkman actually. Sony is clearly aiming at hardcore audiophiles with their new custom-made earphones which are priced at $ 2,500. So, what is so special about these earphones? Well, for one, they will be designed to fit your ears believe it or not. They will also be designed to fit your sound environment as well, for example, Sony will find tune them to your liking.

Now, you may wonder how will Sony do all that for you. Well, when you order these earphones, Sony will collect your ear measurements and will ship the earphones your way. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay extra in order for Sony to custom fit the earphones to your ears though, an extra $ 70. Sony has actually released two variants of these earphones, the aforementioned XJE-MH1 are the customizable dynamic 2-way hybrid type with Balanced Armature (BA). The ‘cheaper’ alternative are the XJE-MH2 earphones which will ship with three pre-set sound quality modes: monitor, listening and club mode. The more affordable model will set you back around $ 1,700.

There you have it, these are Sony’s new incredibly pricey earphones. One thing is for sure, not many people will be interested in something like this, but there are always those who are willing to pay such a price tag for something like this. Regarding the availability, we still don’t know much, what we do know is that these earphones will launch in Japan first, that’s it.

Kristijan LucicAssistant Editor

I’ve always been interested in technology but when I got my first Android phone years ago I was hooked. Mobile technology has been my first priority ever since. I’m currently using the LG G3 phablet, even though I’m prone to using Nexus devices, but I sold my Nexus 5 smartphone and the Nexus 6 is just too big (and pricey) for me. Other than technology I also enjoy football, movies and TV shows along with socializing with my friends and family.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sony’s New Earphones Cost $ 2,500 And Can Be Customized To Fit Your Ears

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = $2500, Cost, Customized, Earphones, Ears, Sony’s

Grab an Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 for just $275 from eBay

The Galaxy S6 is available, and it’s selling for about $ 629 unlocked. But not everyone wants to pay that much, or needs the latest and greatest. The Galaxy S5 is still a great smartphone, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 inside, and is currently on sale for just $ 275. This is the AT&T model, but it is carrier unlocked. So you’ll be able to use it on T-Mobile and other GSM carriers as well. The Galaxy S5 features a 5.1-inch 1920×1080 resolution Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It also has that amazing 16MP camera on the back.

Pick up the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 now from eBay’s Daily Deals.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Grab an Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S5 for just $ 275 from eBay

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = $275, eBay, from, Galaxy, Grab, just, Samsung, Unlocked

Samsung Raising Investment Into Its Semiconductor Businesses

Samsung have made a very deliberate and concerted push into semiconductors over the last few years, including developing new cutting edge mobile processors and memory chips. The business had been recruiting chip engineers from around the industry including AMD and the fruits of their labors are present in the Samsung Galaxy S6, which arguably has the best in class processor available for mobile devices combined with a high performing and efficient memory unit. It’s reassuring, then, to read that Samsung has no plans to rest on their laurels but is instead making plans to continue to invest capital into the semiconductor business – as much as $ 10 billion for 2015. This investment is driven by the success that Samsung’s mobile chips are having within the industry.

Samsung Semiconductor Senior Vice President, Jeeho Baek, said this on the matter: “Last year, we invested around 10 trillion won [$ 9.36 billion] in memory semiconductors. We plan to maintain similar volume this year. We have set DRAM and NAND production ratio to 7 to 3, but will manage this flexibly depending on demand, going forward.” We understand that Samsung is increasing its production capacity for memory chips; an additional line of DRAM production is being built at Hwaseong, the main hub for memory chip production in South Korea. This production line is due to be completed by the end of the year. In 2017 a new plant is due to be completed at Pyeongtaek, South Korea, further adding to Samsung’s production capacity.

Samsung is also planning to increase its 3D V-NAND products. This is a way of stacking cells vertically within a chip in order to increase capacity for the same board space. Only Samsung and Toshiba have successfully commercialized 3D V-NAND technology at this juncture; Samsung is planning to offer new 3D V-NAND solid state drives, SSDs, later in the year. The firm has already received supply deals with Google and Amazon to supply solid state drives for datacentres.

In the mobile sphere, however, Samsung’s lead at producing 14nm processors is believed to have secured it contract wins for semiconductor manufacturing. It’s believed that Samsung will be manufacturing processors for Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia on both 14nm and 20nm die sizes but these stories remain rumors for the time being.

David SteeleStaff Writer

I grew up with 8-bit computers and my first PDA was a Philips Velo 500 in the late 1990s, moving through almost all of the Palm handheld devices ever sold. I’ve found my home with Android and I love my technology grounded in the real world. I currently tote the HTC One (M8) and the Nexus 7. You’ll also see me carrying my much-battered Samsung Chromebook.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Samsung Raising Investment Into Its Semiconductor Businesses

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Businesses, Into, Investment, Raising, Samsung, Semiconductor

Just How Intense is the Apple-Samsung Rivalry at Launch Time?

We know that both Apple and Samsung have a pretty intense rivalry. They both like to take jabs at each other during their keynotes. There is a new graph out from Time which shows how their market share changes at the launch of the new iPhone and new Galaxy S smartphone. It’s quite interesting actually. And each year, the drops and jumps get larger and larger. In fact if you look at the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S2, Samsung didn’t lose any market share at all, it kept going up. But looking at the Apple market share for the iPhone 4, it actually declined until the Galaxy S2 was announced and then it rose. Pretty crazy.

Looking at the graph, you’ll notice something. Apple and Samsung haven’t been this close since the iPhone 4s and Galaxy S3 launch. That was back in 2012. And ironically, that was back when Samsung really started their dominance, and made a design that Apple couldn’t sue them over. Since then, Samsung has had a sizable lead over Apple until this past year when the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were announced and became available. Then Apple’s market share skyrocketed, and they are almost dead even right now. Of course, it’ll likely change in a few months, especially after we see Q2 numbers come out. Seeing as the Galaxy S6 was made available in Q2, even though it was announced in Q1.

It’s good that these two are neck-and-neck. Why? Competition. Samsung is a prime example of not having competition. For years we had pretty much the same design from Samsung with only incremental changes (they weren’t the only ones though). And they had no competition forcing them to change. However the Galaxy S5 pretty much bombed, in Samsung’s terms. And they didn’t want to get set in their ways, so they did an all new design for the Galaxy S6 and now they having some pretty amazing sale numbers. Which is a great thing for Samsung. And a prime reason why we need competition. Competition drives innovation, which is a win/win for the customer.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Just How Intense is the Apple-Samsung Rivalry at Launch Time?

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = AppleSamsung, Intense, just, Launch, Rivalry, Time

FCC Fines AT&T And SNET $10.9 Million For Allegedly Abusing Federal Program

The largest fixed-line telecommunications service provider in the US, AT&T and its former subsidiary Southern New England Telephone Co. (SNET) have been fined for over-billing a federal program that subsidizes telephone service for low-income families, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The two companies were accused of providing discounts to landline customers without certifying their eligibility to receive such benefits under the FCC’s Lifeline program. AT&T has been fined $ 6.9 million, which they have agreed to pay. SNET, now a part of Frontier, has been fined $ 4 million.

The FCC, while slapping civil penalties against the companies for overcharging the support program, also said that they had found other non-compliance issues as well, including, but not limited to, their inability to de-enroll ineligible customers within the specified time-frame. These fines will be over and above the money that the companies had already refunded last year to fully reimburse the Lifeline program. Lifeline is a federal program that aims to provide universal telecommunication services by reimbursing telecommunication companies up to $ 9.25 per month for providing discounts to eligible low-income customers. According to the report, an internal audit carried out by AT&T in 2013 found that some customers who no longer qualified for the discounts continued to receive them and AT&T ended up charging the Federal Government for at least one extra month of subsidies. AT&T say that they had voluntarily disclosed this anomaly to the regulator and refunded the entire amount to the Federal Universal Service Fund, last year itself.

As part of this settlement, the FCC will also require AT&T and SNET “to adopt rigorous compliance plans related to their Lifeline activities”. These include a number of stringent measures which will serve as a precaution and act as a deterrent for future recurrences of such issues. The FCC laid out a plan of action whereby AT&T and SNET will each designate a person in senior management in their respective companies to act as a compliance officer to ensure “a comprehensive compliance plan”. They will also be required to report regularly to the Enforcement Bureau to make sure that such issues do not recur in the future.

Kishalaya KunduIntern Writer

I’ve always been a tech buff and have been building my own PC’s since as far back as I can remember. My first computer was a home-built desktop running MS-DOS on which I learnt to program in GW-BASIC and my interests apart from technology include automobiles and sports.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: FCC Fines AT&T And SNET $ 10.9 Million For Allegedly Abusing Federal Program

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = $10.9, Abusing, Allegedly, AT&T, Federal, Fines, Million, Program, SNET

FCC Fines AT&T And SNET $10.9 Million For Allegedly Abusing Federal Program

The largest fixed-line telecommunications service provider in the US, AT&T and its former subsidiary Southern New England Telephone Co. (SNET) have been fined for over-billing a federal program that subsidizes telephone service for low-income families, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The two companies were accused of providing discounts to landline customers without certifying their eligibility to receive such benefits under the FCC’s Lifeline program. AT&T has been fined $ 6.9 million, which they have agreed to pay. SNET, now a part of Frontier, has been fined $ 4 million.

The FCC, while slapping civil penalties against the companies for overcharging the support program, also said that they had found other non-compliance issues as well, including, but not limited to, their inability to de-enroll ineligible customers within the specified time-frame. These fines will be over and above the money that the companies had already refunded last year to fully reimburse the Lifeline program. Lifeline is a federal program that aims to provide universal telecommunication services by reimbursing telecommunication companies up to $ 9.25 per month for providing discounts to eligible low-income customers. According to the report, an internal audit carried out by AT&T in 2013 found that some customers who no longer qualified for the discounts continued to receive them and AT&T ended up charging the Federal Government for at least one extra month of subsidies. AT&T say that they had voluntarily disclosed this anomaly to the regulator and refunded the entire amount to the Federal Universal Service Fund, last year itself.

As part of this settlement, the FCC will also require AT&T and SNET “to adopt rigorous compliance plans related to their Lifeline activities”. These include a number of stringent measures which will serve as a precaution and act as a deterrent for future recurrences of such issues. The FCC laid out a plan of action whereby AT&T and SNET will each designate a person in senior management in their respective companies to act as a compliance officer to ensure “a comprehensive compliance plan”. They will also be required to report regularly to the Enforcement Bureau to make sure that such issues do not recur in the future.

Kishalaya KunduIntern Writer

I’ve always been a tech buff and have been building my own PC’s since as far back as I can remember. My first computer was a home-built desktop running MS-DOS on which I learnt to program in GW-BASIC and my interests apart from technology include automobiles and sports.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: FCC Fines AT&T And SNET $ 10.9 Million For Allegedly Abusing Federal Program

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = $10.9, Abusing, Allegedly, AT&T, Federal, Fines, Million, Program, SNET

Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

If you’re on Sprint and you travel quite a bit, this news is definitely going to be good news for you. Today, Sprint and Boingo announced that they have entered a multi-year deal to bring seamless WiFi to Sprint customers in 35 of the nation’s airports. So now, instead of having to pay to use Boingo’s Hotspot service, Sprint users will get the fastest speed available for free. Your Sprint smartphone will actually auto-connect to those Hotspots. I noticed this, this week when I was traveling to New York for LG’s G4 event. The Sprint Galaxy S6 I had with me had WiFi turned off, but it would turn on and connect to Boingo Hotspot. Probably a way for Sprint to get some congestion off of their network in that area as well.

“With Wi-Fi being the world’s largest wireless ecosystem, we view it as a highly complementary layer to our network,” said Stephen Bye, Sprint CTO. “By enabling customers to move seamlessly between secure Wi-Fi and cellular, our customers will have a better mobile experience in more locations, all while lowering their cost of data usage.”

If you’ve ever been to an airport and tried to use your phone as a hotspot, you probably know just how fustrating it is. For example, at New York’s LaGuardia airport, it’s almost impossible to get a decent data connection, without paying for the airport’s WiFi. With Sprint giving their users Boingo Hotspot access for free, it’s a pretty big deal. If you’re a frequent domestic traveller, you’re going to love this partnership between Sprint and Boingo.

“Boingo’s relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”

Currently, this service is only live in 35 major US airports. Hopefully we’ll see it expand to more and more. Sprint hasn’t released a list of which airports have Boingo Hotspot and which don’t. We did reach out to clarify that information, and will update once that info is available.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Agreement, Boingo, Enter, MultiYear, Sprint, WiFi

Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

If you’re on Sprint and you travel quite a bit, this news is definitely going to be good news for you. Today, Sprint and Boingo announced that they have entered a multi-year deal to bring seamless WiFi to Sprint customers in 35 of the nation’s airports. So now, instead of having to pay to use Boingo’s Hotspot service, Sprint users will get the fastest speed available for free. Your Sprint smartphone will actually auto-connect to those Hotspots. I noticed this, this week when I was traveling to New York for LG’s G4 event. The Sprint Galaxy S6 I had with me had WiFi turned off, but it would turn on and connect to Boingo Hotspot. Probably a way for Sprint to get some congestion off of their network in that area as well.

“With Wi-Fi being the world’s largest wireless ecosystem, we view it as a highly complementary layer to our network,” said Stephen Bye, Sprint CTO. “By enabling customers to move seamlessly between secure Wi-Fi and cellular, our customers will have a better mobile experience in more locations, all while lowering their cost of data usage.”

If you’ve ever been to an airport and tried to use your phone as a hotspot, you probably know just how fustrating it is. For example, at New York’s LaGuardia airport, it’s almost impossible to get a decent data connection, without paying for the airport’s WiFi. With Sprint giving their users Boingo Hotspot access for free, it’s a pretty big deal. If you’re a frequent domestic traveller, you’re going to love this partnership between Sprint and Boingo.

“Boingo’s relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”

Currently, this service is only live in 35 major US airports. Hopefully we’ll see it expand to more and more. Sprint hasn’t released a list of which airports have Boingo Hotspot and which don’t. We did reach out to clarify that information, and will update once that info is available.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Agreement, Boingo, Enter, MultiYear, Sprint, WiFi

Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

If you’re on Sprint and you travel quite a bit, this news is definitely going to be good news for you. Today, Sprint and Boingo announced that they have entered a multi-year deal to bring seamless WiFi to Sprint customers in 35 of the nation’s airports. So now, instead of having to pay to use Boingo’s Hotspot service, Sprint users will get the fastest speed available for free. Your Sprint smartphone will actually auto-connect to those Hotspots. I noticed this, this week when I was traveling to New York for LG’s G4 event. The Sprint Galaxy S6 I had with me had WiFi turned off, but it would turn on and connect to Boingo Hotspot. Probably a way for Sprint to get some congestion off of their network in that area as well.

“With Wi-Fi being the world’s largest wireless ecosystem, we view it as a highly complementary layer to our network,” said Stephen Bye, Sprint CTO. “By enabling customers to move seamlessly between secure Wi-Fi and cellular, our customers will have a better mobile experience in more locations, all while lowering their cost of data usage.”

If you’ve ever been to an airport and tried to use your phone as a hotspot, you probably know just how fustrating it is. For example, at New York’s LaGuardia airport, it’s almost impossible to get a decent data connection, without paying for the airport’s WiFi. With Sprint giving their users Boingo Hotspot access for free, it’s a pretty big deal. If you’re a frequent domestic traveller, you’re going to love this partnership between Sprint and Boingo.

“Boingo’s relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”

Currently, this service is only live in 35 major US airports. Hopefully we’ll see it expand to more and more. Sprint hasn’t released a list of which airports have Boingo Hotspot and which don’t. We did reach out to clarify that information, and will update once that info is available.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Agreement, Boingo, Enter, MultiYear, Sprint, WiFi

Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

If you’re on Sprint and you travel quite a bit, this news is definitely going to be good news for you. Today, Sprint and Boingo announced that they have entered a multi-year deal to bring seamless WiFi to Sprint customers in 35 of the nation’s airports. So now, instead of having to pay to use Boingo’s Hotspot service, Sprint users will get the fastest speed available for free. Your Sprint smartphone will actually auto-connect to those Hotspots. I noticed this, this week when I was traveling to New York for LG’s G4 event. The Sprint Galaxy S6 I had with me had WiFi turned off, but it would turn on and connect to Boingo Hotspot. Probably a way for Sprint to get some congestion off of their network in that area as well.

“With Wi-Fi being the world’s largest wireless ecosystem, we view it as a highly complementary layer to our network,” said Stephen Bye, Sprint CTO. “By enabling customers to move seamlessly between secure Wi-Fi and cellular, our customers will have a better mobile experience in more locations, all while lowering their cost of data usage.”

If you’ve ever been to an airport and tried to use your phone as a hotspot, you probably know just how fustrating it is. For example, at New York’s LaGuardia airport, it’s almost impossible to get a decent data connection, without paying for the airport’s WiFi. With Sprint giving their users Boingo Hotspot access for free, it’s a pretty big deal. If you’re a frequent domestic traveller, you’re going to love this partnership between Sprint and Boingo.

“Boingo’s relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”

Currently, this service is only live in 35 major US airports. Hopefully we’ll see it expand to more and more. Sprint hasn’t released a list of which airports have Boingo Hotspot and which don’t. We did reach out to clarify that information, and will update once that info is available.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Agreement, Boingo, Enter, MultiYear, Sprint, WiFi

Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

If you’re on Sprint and you travel quite a bit, this news is definitely going to be good news for you. Today, Sprint and Boingo announced that they have entered a multi-year deal to bring seamless WiFi to Sprint customers in 35 of the nation’s airports. So now, instead of having to pay to use Boingo’s Hotspot service, Sprint users will get the fastest speed available for free. Your Sprint smartphone will actually auto-connect to those Hotspots. I noticed this, this week when I was traveling to New York for LG’s G4 event. The Sprint Galaxy S6 I had with me had WiFi turned off, but it would turn on and connect to Boingo Hotspot. Probably a way for Sprint to get some congestion off of their network in that area as well.

“With Wi-Fi being the world’s largest wireless ecosystem, we view it as a highly complementary layer to our network,” said Stephen Bye, Sprint CTO. “By enabling customers to move seamlessly between secure Wi-Fi and cellular, our customers will have a better mobile experience in more locations, all while lowering their cost of data usage.”

If you’ve ever been to an airport and tried to use your phone as a hotspot, you probably know just how fustrating it is. For example, at New York’s LaGuardia airport, it’s almost impossible to get a decent data connection, without paying for the airport’s WiFi. With Sprint giving their users Boingo Hotspot access for free, it’s a pretty big deal. If you’re a frequent domestic traveller, you’re going to love this partnership between Sprint and Boingo.

“Boingo’s relationship with Sprint removes the traditional barriers between Wi-Fi and cellular service,” said David Hagan, Chief Executive Officer for Boingo Wireless. “Sprint is a market leader with the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular, which is a very customer centric solution to provide an always-best-connected experience through either network.”

Currently, this service is only live in 35 major US airports. Hopefully we’ll see it expand to more and more. Sprint hasn’t released a list of which airports have Boingo Hotspot and which don’t. We did reach out to clarify that information, and will update once that info is available.

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sprint and Boingo Enter Multi-Year WiFi Agreement

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Agreement, Boingo, Enter, MultiYear, Sprint, WiFi

Anonymous Social Network Secret, Closing in the Coming Weeks

Earlier this week, it was announced that anonymous social network, Secret, was to shut down over the coming few weeks. Secret allows users to share information with friends and associates without their identity being revealed. On Tuesday, co-founder David Byttow announced that the company was closing down after declining user statistics. People close to the matter, asking to remain anonymous themselves, explained how severance packages were then handed out. This weeks development followed a meeting last summer at Secret’s new San Francisco office, where the founders David Byttow and Chrys Bader explained that they had sold their stake in the business. At the time, some Secret employees believed this to be a turning point for the business: of the founders had withdrawn their investment, did this mean they were protecting themselves from the Secret social network failing?

David Byttow wrote a blog yesterday about the decision. In it, he explained: “After a lot of thought and consultation with our board, I’ve decided to shut down Secret… I believe in failing fast in order to go on and make only new and different mistakes.” He said he would wind down Secret over the next few weeks and would return money to investors.

This is quite the change for Secret. The application is only sixteen months old and is part of a family of anonymous sharing applications including Whisper and Yik Yak. The rise from rags to riches, and back again, highlights the nature of Silicon Valley start ups – although Secret’s fall from grace has been unusually quick. Secret raised $ 8.6 million around this time last year from a number of venture capital firms such as Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers and celebrities including Ashton Kutcher. Casualties include e-commerce business, Fab.com, which at one time was valued at more than $ 1 billion and had raised more than $ 150 million before being sold off this year for around $ 15 million. We’ve also seen smaller start-up businesses struggle as their turf is invaded by larger competitors, such as live-streaming video application Meerkat, which is having to deal with the entrance of Twitter and Periscope into the same market.

Perhaps one of the reasons why Secret was adopted so quickly by an initial following is because it screened out identity information at a time when anonymous services were very popular in Silicon Valley. But ultimately, how does one market an anonymous social network through viral marketing? One of the founders of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, said this: “Apps like Secret become an outlet for people to speak honestly about things that would otherwise result in career damage.”

Secret serves a purpose, then, but to many it was considered a playground for cyberbullies. Secret installed a community of moderators to control the negative posts but it was not enough to prevent Brazil from banning the app; insiders have stated that the business was not prepared for the flood of negative comments. Perhaps the writing has been on the wall for Secret as in the last six months the majority of Secret’s top engineers have moved to other businesses such as Uber, Airbnb and Twitter.

David SteeleStaff Writer

I grew up with 8-bit computers and my first PDA was a Philips Velo 500 in the late 1990s, moving through almost all of the Palm handheld devices ever sold. I’ve found my home with Android and I love my technology grounded in the real world. I currently tote the HTC One (M8) and the Nexus 7. You’ll also see me carrying my much-battered Samsung Chromebook.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Anonymous Social Network Secret, Closing in the Coming Weeks

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Anonymous, Closing, Coming, Network, Secret, Social, Weeks

Anonymous Social Network Secret, Closing in the Coming Weeks

Earlier this week, it was announced that anonymous social network, Secret, was to shut down over the coming few weeks. Secret allows users to share information with friends and associates without their identity being revealed. On Tuesday, co-founder David Byttow announced that the company was closing down after declining user statistics. People close to the matter, asking to remain anonymous themselves, explained how severance packages were then handed out. This weeks development followed a meeting last summer at Secret’s new San Francisco office, where the founders David Byttow and Chrys Bader explained that they had sold their stake in the business. At the time, some Secret employees believed this to be a turning point for the business: of the founders had withdrawn their investment, did this mean they were protecting themselves from the Secret social network failing?

David Byttow wrote a blog yesterday about the decision. In it, he explained: “After a lot of thought and consultation with our board, I’ve decided to shut down Secret… I believe in failing fast in order to go on and make only new and different mistakes.” He said he would wind down Secret over the next few weeks and would return money to investors.

This is quite the change for Secret. The application is only sixteen months old and is part of a family of anonymous sharing applications including Whisper and Yik Yak. The rise from rags to riches, and back again, highlights the nature of Silicon Valley start ups – although Secret’s fall from grace has been unusually quick. Secret raised $ 8.6 million around this time last year from a number of venture capital firms such as Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers and celebrities including Ashton Kutcher. Casualties include e-commerce business, Fab.com, which at one time was valued at more than $ 1 billion and had raised more than $ 150 million before being sold off this year for around $ 15 million. We’ve also seen smaller start-up businesses struggle as their turf is invaded by larger competitors, such as live-streaming video application Meerkat, which is having to deal with the entrance of Twitter and Periscope into the same market.

Perhaps one of the reasons why Secret was adopted so quickly by an initial following is because it screened out identity information at a time when anonymous services were very popular in Silicon Valley. But ultimately, how does one market an anonymous social network through viral marketing? One of the founders of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, said this: “Apps like Secret become an outlet for people to speak honestly about things that would otherwise result in career damage.”

Secret serves a purpose, then, but to many it was considered a playground for cyberbullies. Secret installed a community of moderators to control the negative posts but it was not enough to prevent Brazil from banning the app; insiders have stated that the business was not prepared for the flood of negative comments. Perhaps the writing has been on the wall for Secret as in the last six months the majority of Secret’s top engineers have moved to other businesses such as Uber, Airbnb and Twitter.

David SteeleStaff Writer

I grew up with 8-bit computers and my first PDA was a Philips Velo 500 in the late 1990s, moving through almost all of the Palm handheld devices ever sold. I’ve found my home with Android and I love my technology grounded in the real world. I currently tote the HTC One (M8) and the Nexus 7. You’ll also see me carrying my much-battered Samsung Chromebook.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Anonymous Social Network Secret, Closing in the Coming Weeks

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Anonymous, Closing, Coming, Network, Secret, Social, Weeks

Google Is In The Process Of Rolling Out “Collections”, Google+’s Latest Feature

Google is in the process of rolling out a brand new feature to Google+ called Collections. This new feature focuses on the user’s interests and groups them together, somewhat similar to what Pinterest does, but with some blogging elements included. Google+ is without a doubt on the verge of changing the way the platform is currently used, as it has been reported on several occasions. Google+ Collections appeared last week, but until today, it was in either internal testing or in a private beta, as users stated that even with the latest update to the Google+ app, they were unable to access the latest feature of Google’s social network. The new Google+ Collections roll-out is most likely controlled, meaning that Google itself is managing how the new feature is made available.

With Google+ Collections the user will be able to create its own groups of interests and include photos, links, and videos within them; which strongly resembles the way Pinterest works. The new feature will allow the user to create collections of anything that he or she finds interesting. Sharing will be a big part of Google+ Collections as it gives the user the option to either share or explore other users’ own Collections, expanding on the content they will be able to find and add to more Collections.

A new Google+ update was released today, which made most users think that the Collections feature would be included with it. This was quickly dismissed after users that had the latest version of Google+ reported Collections was nowhere to be seen. The new feature has been highly anticipated since it showed up last week, this is mainly due to the fact that after Bradley Horowitz, was named Google Vice President of Photos and Streams products, speculation began for what the future held for Google+. Major changes are, without a doubt, coming to Google’s social network, but until the appearance of Google+ Collections, nobody knew exactly what Google had planned for Google+. Sundar Pichai himself confirmed Google will have a strong focus on communications, photos and the Google+ Stream being three separate areas, when previously they were all known for being dependent of one another.

Ricardo TrevizoIntern Writer

Mexican Android enthusiast. I’ve always liked technology, especially gadgets of all sorts. I found my passion for Android back in 2011 when I got an ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, I haven’t looked back ever since. I currently own a Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 7 (2012), LG G2, and Galaxy S3.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Google Is In The Process Of Rolling Out “Collections”, Google+’s Latest Feature

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Feature, Google, Google’s, Latest, Process, Rolling, “Collections”

Google Is In The Process Of Rolling Out “Collections”, Google+’s Latest Feature

Google is in the process of rolling out a brand new feature to Google+ called Collections. This new feature focuses on the user’s interests and groups them together, somewhat similar to what Pinterest does, but with some blogging elements included. Google+ is without a doubt on the verge of changing the way the platform is currently used, as it has been reported on several occasions. Google+ Collections appeared last week, but until today, it was in either internal testing or in a private beta, as users stated that even with the latest update to the Google+ app, they were unable to access the latest feature of Google’s social network. The new Google+ Collections roll-out is most likely controlled, meaning that Google itself is managing how the new feature is made available.

With Google+ Collections the user will be able to create its own groups of interests and include photos, links, and videos within them; which strongly resembles the way Pinterest works. The new feature will allow the user to create collections of anything that he or she finds interesting. Sharing will be a big part of Google+ Collections as it gives the user the option to either share or explore other users’ own Collections, expanding on the content they will be able to find and add to more Collections.

A new Google+ update was released today, which made most users think that the Collections feature would be included with it. This was quickly dismissed after users that had the latest version of Google+ reported Collections was nowhere to be seen. The new feature has been highly anticipated since it showed up last week, this is mainly due to the fact that after Bradley Horowitz, was named Google Vice President of Photos and Streams products, speculation began for what the future held for Google+. Major changes are, without a doubt, coming to Google’s social network, but until the appearance of Google+ Collections, nobody knew exactly what Google had planned for Google+. Sundar Pichai himself confirmed Google will have a strong focus on communications, photos and the Google+ Stream being three separate areas, when previously they were all known for being dependent of one another.

Ricardo TrevizoIntern Writer

Mexican Android enthusiast. I’ve always liked technology, especially gadgets of all sorts. I found my passion for Android back in 2011 when I got an ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, I haven’t looked back ever since. I currently own a Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 7 (2012), LG G2, and Galaxy S3.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Google Is In The Process Of Rolling Out “Collections”, Google+’s Latest Feature

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Feature, Google, Google’s, Latest, Process, Rolling, “Collections”

LG G4 Promo Videos Surface With Focus On Leather, Display and Camera Abilities

It seems, making smartphones is only part of the job when it comes to being a smartphone manufacturer these days. The other side of the equation seems to be releasing marketing and promotional videos. This, at least seems to be the case if you look at the top smartphone manufacturers. Of course, when it comes to promo videos, few manufacturers can compete with the likes of Samsung. Not to mention, with the launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, the South Korean tech giant has stepped up their promo video presence and released an abundance of videos. However, over the last few weeks, there has also been a ton of promotional videos coming from HTC, all promoting their latest offering, the HTC One M9.

Well, this week saw the other South Korean tech giant, LG, launching their latest flagship device, the LG G4. This particular device has been long speculated upon, largely thanks to a larger-than-usual amount of leaks and information coming down the wire over the last few weeks. All the speculation finally did come to an end though, when the company did unveil the G4 along with a 5.5-inch Quad HD Quantum LCD display, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 64-bit hexa-core processor, 16-megapixel OIS rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. All being powered by a 3,000 mAh removable battery and running on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) out of the box.

Well, like the other big manufacturers who have been releasing devices of late, LG have also now started their promo video campaign with a few new videos. However, unlike both Samsung and HTC, the LG videos, so far, seem to be taking a much more direct approach, foregoing any comical or otherwise content. The LG videos much more focus on the actual features of the device. In particular, the leather backing of the device, the quantum dot display on offer, as well as the camera features available with the G4. Interestingly, two of the ‘leather’ videos are identical, barring the actual color of the leather backing. Either way, you can check out all the videos release today by clicking play below.

John AnonAssistant Editor

I’ve been an avid Android user since 2011 and have never looked back. Started with Android with a Samsung Galaxy S2 and stuck with the Galaxy range until recently started using a OnePlus One. With an obsession for open-source I am constantly flashing (in the good way), changing ROM’s and generally looking to improve the Android experience.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: LG G4 Promo Videos Surface With Focus On Leather, Display and Camera Abilities

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Abilities, camera, Display, Focus, leather, Promo, Surface, Videos

CRTC Publishes 3-Year-Plan to Modernize Canada’s Communications

Canada’s telecommunication landscape always seems to be in flux – the Big Three continue to rule the wireless airwaves, the Federal Government is always trying to improve competition by bending/changing the rules to give new entrants a chance to help lower prices, all in an effort to lower the prices that customers must pay for their mobile services.  In their latest efforts, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) published its new Three-Year-Plan, defining six goals it wants to accomplish between the years 2015 to 2018.  The plan is designed to help Canadians prepare for future moves that the CRTC will carry out.

Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the CRTC said, “The Three-Year Plan is the Commission’s commitment to Canadians to pursue its efforts to modernize the communication system. We plan to undertake a number of activities to enable Canadians to step into the digital future with confidence and to ensure that the communication system protects their health and safety.”  The plan by CRTC is being put in place to ensure that all Canadians have access to a world-class communication system.  There are six key goals that CRTC has laid out:

“The introduction of the revised framework established with the Let’s Talk TV initiative, which includes the development of a draft code to help consumers make informed choices about their TV service providers and to make the service agreements easier to understand – the review of basic telecommunications services to ensure that Canadians have access to world-class telecommunications services that will allow them to participate actively in the digital economy – an assessment of the accessibility of mobile wireless handsets for Canadians with disabilities – a review of the reliability of the 9-1-1 network in Canada and of the next generation of 9-1-1 services – continued joint efforts between the CRTC and its partners, both in Canada and abroad, to protect Canadians from unsolicited communications by telephone and by email – and the continued implementation of the Voter Contact Registry.”

The mandate of the CRTC is to serve Canada’s public interests by providing them with a communications system second to none.  Then they work to promote and enforce compliance through regulatory policies.  From their language, it looks like they will be more aggressive in enforcing net neutrality and “to ensure that Canadians have access to world-class telecommunications services that will allow them to participate actively in the digital economy.”  Studies have shown that more and more Canadians are using their wireless mobile device and even cutting their landlines.

Cory McNuttSenior Staff Writer

I am Pittsburgh born and raised except for a 21-year detour through the VA/DC area. I have loved technology and gadgets my entire life, especially mobile devices. I have loved all things Android since I purchased my Motorola Bionic on the day it was release. I now sport a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 that you would have to pry out of my cold, dead hands! I love the excitement each day of what new Android devices will be released, and then I get write about those devices…does life get any better?

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: CRTC Publishes 3-Year-Plan to Modernize Canada’s Communications

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = 3YearPlan, Canada’s, Communications, CRTC, Modernize, Publishes

Android How to: Setup the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge

The very first thing you do when you get a new smartphone is turn it on right? And then start setting it up. The thing with Android is that no two smartphones setup are the same. Heck even the Verizon Galaxy S6 and Sprint Galaxy S6 setups are different. And that’s due to the carrier’s services and apps being integrated into the setup.

We have the Verizon Galaxy S6 here, and the setup is a bit different, but still largely the same. Of course, their Verizon Cloud service is built into the setup process – as one would expect – which does make it different. Through the setup process the device will be making sure that your phone is working properly with your SIM. So as soon as you choose your language and hit next, you are shown your phone number. Which shows that your SIM card is working properly. Then you’ll be signing into WiFi (if needed), followed by setting up Verizon Cloud and all your email accounts. Gmail is separate actually. After you’ve set up those accounts, next up is Gmail, or Google. Once you sign into Google you can then choose to restore from another device. However, it will only show Lollipop devices, so there’s a good chance that you won’t have any listed there. You can also choose to set it up as a brand new device.

And that’s not all. Samsung’s services are still to be signed into. With the Galaxy S6, Samsung has made it possible for you to register a Samsung account using your Google ID. Which makes it easier for a lot of us to get logged in, as that’s one less password we need to remember.

That, in a nutshell, is how you set up the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 Edge. The set up processes are pretty much identical. After this is done, it’s time to go into the settings and disable some apps you don’t use. And there’s plenty on all four carrier variants to disable. Then go ahead and jump into the Play Store and start downloading your apps, if you didn’t choose to restore from another device.

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Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Android How to: Setup the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Android, Edge, Galaxy, Samsung, Setup

Motorola Shared A New Promo Video Focused Wood And Leather Materials

Korean tech giant LG has announced their new flagship two days ago, the LG G4. This handset is similar and yet different than its predecessor. What does this mean? Well, the phone offers somewhat similar design, but is ever so slightly curved and some of its version offer genuine leather and ceramic removable back covers. LG is hoping that leather and ceramic will give more of a premium feel to the device and appeal consumers their way. However, LG wasn’t the first smartphone OEM to introduce a smartphone sporting genuine leather, and Motorola has decided to remind everyone of that fact. The Lenovo-owned company has tweeted out a picture of their leather back Moto X (2nd-gen) and Moto 360 smartwatch (which sports a leather strap) along with this caption: ‘Letting you customize your genuine Horween leather since 2014′.

Motorola has also prepared a promo video dubbed ‘Moto X: The Making of the Wood and Leather Phone Backs’ in order to remind people that they can customize the look of their Moto X handset. Several Motorola employees are commenting their current offerings in the video and he company also asks several people for an opinion on their back covers in the video. As you probably already know, Motorola is manufacturing devices using all sorts of materials, such as metal, nylon, kevlar, wood and leather. As far as leather goes, Motorola has partnered up with Horween back in 2014, a well-known U.S.-based leather company. In case you’d like to check it out, the video is embedded below this article.

These two companies are the only two smartphone manufacturers to ship smartphones which include genuine leather as part of their design. The two devices are vastly different one from the other, as are the two companies. Motorola Mobility was purchased by Lenovo a while back, and that China-based company has already expanded the availability of Motorola’s smartphones by furthering their availability to Asia. LG’s G4 handset will be available more or less everywhere, LG is very good at shipping out their smartphones all over the globe, especially their flagship offerings. It will be interesting to see how will people accept LG’s newest handset, and also what Motorola has in store for us this year. The company is expected to announce the third-gen Moto X in September, let’s see what Motorola has up their sleeve.

Kristijan LucicAssistant Editor

I’ve always been interested in technology but when I got my first Android phone years ago I was hooked. Mobile technology has been my first priority ever since. I’m currently using the LG G3 phablet, even though I’m prone to using Nexus devices, but I sold my Nexus 5 smartphone and the Nexus 6 is just too big (and pricey) for me. Other than technology I also enjoy football, movies and TV shows along with socializing with my friends and family.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Motorola Shared A New Promo Video Focused Wood And Leather Materials

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Focused, leather, Materials, Motorola, Promo, Shared, Video, Wood

Android Deals – April 30th, 2015: EC Technology, Spigen, LG, and More!

Plenty of great deals going on right now around the Android world. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

Smartphones

Tablets

Wearables

Accessories

Other Tech

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Android Deals – April 30th, 2015: EC Technology, Spigen, LG, and More!

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = 2015, 30th, Android, April, Deals, More, Spigen, Technology

Android Deals – April 30th, 2015: EC Technology, Spigen, LG, and More!

Plenty of great deals going on right now around the Android world. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

Smartphones

Tablets

Wearables

Accessories

Other Tech

Alexander MaxhamAssistant Editor

Alex has been an Android user since the Motorola Droid back in 2010. He’s been a huge Android fan ever since using many of the most popular flagships. He’s currently rocking a Nexus 6 and Moto X.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Android Deals – April 30th, 2015: EC Technology, Spigen, LG, and More!

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = 2015, 30th, Android, April, Deals, More, Spigen, Technology

Nokia’s Network Profits Show Year-on-Year Fall, Puts Alcatel-Lucent Deal in Question

Not too long ago, Nokia sold their handset business to Microsoft, essentially cutting off the limb that produced the Lumia devices. This left Nokia a smaller company, and obviously raised questions about how they would continue to bring money in for the future. The answer for Nokia was in their network solutions. As a major player in the history of wireless communication, it’s understandable that the company would double-down on their network solutions. After quite some time of building relationships and becoming a big player in the network field once again, Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent recently agreed to a deal that would see Nokia purchase the company. Thus creating an even larger, more powerful networks company. However, if recent figures are anything to go by, the deal could be under question, as Nokia posts a loss in network profits.

As Reuters is reporting, while the company’s first quarter revenue for networks exceeded expectations, year-on-year profits fell by 61% as a result of different products being sold, such as low-margin equipment in emerging markets like China. Since announcing the deal to purchase Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia shares have dropped by as much as 20%, which has led some to question the €15.6 ($ 16.6 billion) value given for Alcatel-Lucent. Analysts have been saying that it would be good for both parties if Alcatel-Lucent were to also post poor performance figures for the first quarter of the year.

The Alcatel-Lucent deal was posed to give the European duo better ability to compete against Ericsson and Huawei, but this sharp decline in profits year-on-year doesn’t bode well for Nokia Networks. After all, the network market had been a lucrative one for Nokia, so these figures have taken the industry and analysts by surprise. The HERE mapping firm which Nokia has apparently put up for sale could be a big help for Nokia’s bottom lime after such dismal figures. Hopefully, we won’t see much decline from Nokia’s network business in Q2 figures.

Tom DawsonEditor-in-Chief

For years now I’ve had a heavy interest in technology, growing up with 8-bit computers and gaming consoles has fed into an addiction to everything that beeps. Android saved me from the boredom of iOS years ago and I love watching the platform grow. As an avid reader and writer nothing pleases me more than to write about the exciting world of Android, Google and mobile technology as a whole.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Nokia’s Network Profits Show Year-on-Year Fall, Puts Alcatel-Lucent Deal in Question

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = AlcatelLucent, Deal, Fall, Network, Nokia’s, Profits, Puts, Question, Show, YearonYear

YouTube’s CEO Announces Its Mobile Audience Alone is Larger than any TV Network

The meteoric rise of YouTube as a platform encapsulates the influence and tastes of Generation Y, or the millennial generation. While there is no precise date signaling the dawn of the millennial generation if you grew up online you are most certainly a member. It is no secret this cohort prefers to access media via the internet, whether it be streamed or downloaded, and are obsessed with their mobile devices. At the YouTube Brandcast event in New York this evening YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki made an announcement that supports this commonly held belief.

According to Ms. Wojcicki YouTube reaches more 18-49 year olds via mobile devices alone than any TV network. At an event catered to advertisers this is a pretty big deal; the 18-49 demographic is what advertisers refer to as a “key demo” – the most lucrative demographic advertisers can target. While key demographics can shift based on the time of day, network, and type of programming young adult viewers have been TV advertisers’ target demographic for decades. In other words: not only is YouTube’s popularity growing at an insanely high rate (when compared to last year the number of people visiting YouTube is up 40% and time spent on YouTube is up 50%), it is stealing TV’s bread and butter while it is at it.

Last year YouTube announced it reaches more people than TV networks in general. Ms. Wojcicki’s latest presentation highlights how YouTube is doing a far better job than traditional media at capitalizing on millennial’s love for streaming media and mobile devices. This is incredibly significant as media consumption via smartphones is growing faster than any other device (includes TVs, game consoles, and PCs) according to a study released last year by international market research firm Nielsen.

This is also essential for Google’s advertising business as a whole. According to Google’s Q1 2015 earnings announcement advertising still makes up the bulk of its revenue. Although paid clicks increased by 13% when compared to the previous year the rate of this increase has declined over the past five quarters. What is more worrying is the decline in revenue generated by these clicks; Google’s revenue per click dropped 13% year-over-year. This is largely due to the fact that a greater proportion of paid clicks are coming from mobile devices, which Google can’t charge as much for. However, YouTube is a different story. Advertisers don’t care if a user is watching via a mobile device or on the desktop so long as the ads being served by Google are targeting users effectively and designed to work well on mobile. Although YouTube’s latest announcement might make TV networks and advertisers cringe it is certainly a boon for Google.

Lucius Bossio

As a modder, tweaker, and performance optimization enthusiast Linux is the beating heart that brings all of my devices to life. My love for open-source software began when I converted my Windows laptop to Linux many years ago, which set the stage for my adoption of Android. Witihn a month of purchasing my first Android tablet I became active on XDA, 8 months later I purchased my first Android smart phone. I have not looked back since. From the moment I set up my frst Android device I progressively became more obsessed with mobile technology, which has become a major component of my life and source of inspiration.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: YouTube’s CEO Announces Its Mobile Audience Alone is Larger than any TV Network

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Alone, Announces, Audience, Larger, Mobile, Network, than, YouTube’s

Sony Xperia Z5 Gets Pictured In A Couple Of Concept Images, Unrealistic But Sleek Looking

Sony did something really, really odd recently. The company has unveiled their new Xperia Z4 flagship in Japan without any sort of marketing beforehand, what’s more interesting, this way a Japan-only launch. They will quite probably release the phone globally next month, at least according to the recent reports, but this is still way too odd. One would expect Sony to do a proper launch of their new flagship, and what they did simply wasn’t right. Now, it is possible that Sony intends to release a somewhat different device next month, something that will awe us, but that’s also unlikely. As you all know, a rather powerful Xperia P2 leaked recently, but it remains to be seen how legit those leaks were, especially because its design seemed way off.

Anyhow, until we wait for Sony to make their next move, let’s check out the new Xperia Z5 concept design which popped up online. Concept designs tend to look futuristic and in most cases, really great. These renders definitely belong in that category, and are accompanied by a list of specs as well. The designer envisioned a device which sports a 4K display, 4GB of RAM and an octa-core processor clocked at 3.2GHz. This phone also sports a fingerprint scanner, a 4,500mAh battery and is water resistant as well. There’s a 10-megapixel camera located on the front side of this device, while the designer didn’t mention the rear-facing shooter, which is kind of odd. As you can see in the images down below, this handset sports extremely thin bezels and is made out of glass and metal.

The Xperia Z5 definitely won’t look like this, but it would be nice to see sony trim those bezels down in their upcoming flagship. It remains to be seen what will Sony’s next move be, but for their sake, I hope they have something great to show us in the coming months. As you all know, Sony Mobile hasn’t been doing all that well in terms of profit, and they really need to step it up in order to get back to the right path.

Kristijan LucicAssistant Editor

I’ve always been interested in technology but when I got my first Android phone years ago I was hooked. Mobile technology has been my first priority ever since. I’m currently using the LG G3 phablet, even though I’m prone to using Nexus devices, but I sold my Nexus 5 smartphone and the Nexus 6 is just too big (and pricey) for me. Other than technology I also enjoy football, movies and TV shows along with socializing with my friends and family.

Author Archive Page | Latest Post: Sony Xperia Z5 Gets Pictured In A Couple Of Concept Images, Unrealistic But Sleek Looking

Source : androidheadlines

Tags = Concept, Couple, Gets, Images, Looking, Pictured, Sleek, Sony, Unrealistic, Xperia