If you signed up to beta test Sony's first build of Android 7.0 Nougat for its Xperia X Performance smartphone, it's worth knowing that Sony has started sending out emails to those who have been picked to enter the Beta Program. In the email, Sony says that the beta update will be rolled out over-the-air, and will start hitting selected Xperia X Performance units in the next 48 hours. More information related to the update will be shared via email shortly. Via
Senin, 31 Oktober 2016
Minggu, 30 Oktober 2016
Best Apps and Games of the Week
Evie Launcher
This new launcher has an interesting UI, with a panel on the left that houses all your apps and widgets in a vertically scrolling list. You can also access the settings from that panel. On the homescreen you can swipe down to do a local as well as online search. You can also customize the grid size of the homescreen icons.
DoubleTwist
DoubleTwist is a music player for Android that has been around for a while now but got a major redesign with the latest update. Although not exactly Material UI, it's still an attractive design with its usual dark theme. The new design is more modern and keeping with the Material Design guidelines for most parts. Unfortunately, the stable release is only for devices running Android 7.0 but if you're on older versions you can still install the beta.
PinOut
PinOut is Tron meets pinball. Created by the developers of Smash Hit, it is an extremely stylistic take on pinball with neon lighting, slick level designs, and an exciting background score. Regardless of whether you are into pinball it is worth checking out.
Gear.Club
Gear.Club is a racing title for iOS. The game features stunning graphics with superb vehicle models, detailed tracks, and beautiful lighting effects. The gameplay is not bad either and although the vehicle physics could be better it is overall a decent arcade racer.
Weekly poll: How bad do you want the Xiaomi Mi Mix?
Apple�s recent announcements got relatively muted responses - the spirit of innovation is missing. Young Xiaomi did a much better job of launching a device that got everyone talking, the bezel-less Mi Mix.
It�s almost all screen - 6.4� inches of it - and yet it�s only as tall as an 5.5� iPhone 7 Plus and about as wide. Yes, many point to Sharp�s Aquos line (and in fact Xiaomi used a Sharp screen), but the latest Aquos Xx3 abandoned the bezel-less design of its predecessors and even the Xx2 isn�t as impressive as the Mi Mix.
Xiaomi thought this through and used a 17:9 display - enough to fit 16:9 content and leave room for on-screen controls. When you have that much screen, you can carve out parts of it for things other than apps, we�re curious to see how MIUI develops to make better use of this design.
We especially love that the corners of the screen are rounded, which underscores that the Xiaomi Mi Mix is like nothing you�ve seen before.
The company went all out and made sure this is more than just a pretty face. There�s a �reasonable� model with a ceramic body, Snapdragon 821 and a 16MP camera. Then there�s the Exclusive Edition, which bumps up memory to 6GB RAM/256GB storage (UFS 2.0 to boot) and adds 18K gold-plated rings around the camera and fingerprint reader. One can make a solid argument that this is the most impressive phone of the year (and perhaps a good part of next year).
If we had to nit-pick, we�d point out that the screen is 1080p (2,040 x 1,080px to be specific, remember it�s 17:9). Still, a 362ppi pixel density is quite fine for the first-generation display of this kind (remember LG�s first flexible display was 6� 720p). Plus, official specs promise 1,300:1 contrast and 500nits of brightness, 94% NTSC color gamut coverage too.
The other thing is the 16MP camera - it uses an OmniVision sensor with 1�m pixels, which are unlikely to provide a great low-light shooting experience.
You could also make an argument that it is too big. Yes, the Xiaomi Mi Mix is the smallest 6.4� in the history of the world, but even if it had no bezel it would be quite large. Sharp chose to focus its efforts closer to 5� and the Aquos Xx2 has a 5.3� bezel-less display.
Or perhaps you wish a company other than Xiaomi would build such a phone - if not for worries about the heavily customized MIUI then for the availability. Currently, some retail channels are promising the Mi Mix but units will be limited in number (this is more of a proof of concept than a mass market device). Not to mention Xiaomi�s lack of official stores in the West.
For example Samsung might pull it off. It launched the Galaxy Edge (its first curved screen phone) with a similar semi-prototype status but when it saw the high demand, it ramped up production. The �edge� displays on Galaxys already have pretty thin borders.
Then there are others who will stick with Apple no matter what - even saying that the iPhone 8/7s will have a bezel-less display (every year there are such concept images floating around). That or something about accidental screen presses because the bezels are too thin.
What we want to know is this - which one are you? An early adopted that will go through the hurdle of customs to import a Xiaomi Mi Mix at any cost? An impressed onlooker that is waiting for higher screen resolution or better camera? Or is it the size of the screen that worries you?
Xiaomi Mi Mix
Top 10 trending phones of week 43
There are exciting announcements and then there's the Xiaomi Mi Mix. The (near-)bezelless Xiaomi phablet turned from concept phone to reality in the time it took to be fully detailed on stage, and you can actually pre-order one right now. Mostly if you're in China, unfortunately. The enthusiasm is very much the world over though, hence the top spot on our trending chart.
Xiaomi's affordable yet powerful Redmi Note 3 keeps its second spot for a third week in a row, with the Galaxy J7 (2016) losing the most this week - the long-time number 1 is now in 3rd, nudging its Prime brother into 4th.
Amidst the Mi Mix clamor, the Xiaomi mainstream big-screen flagship Mi Note 2 may have gotten less attention, but it seems like winner in its own right. The dual-curved Galaxy Note7 lookalike enters the chart in 5th.
The two new entries have pushed the Redmi 3s Prime and iPhone 7 as many spots down, and we find them in 6th and 7th, respectively. The Galaxy J5 (2016) inches one ahead, the Moto G4 Plus drops 3 into 9th and and the Galaxy S7 edge completes the chart in 10th.
Weekly poll results: Samsung Galaxy S7 edge is Best Phablet of 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge won the Best Phablet of 2016 vote, a clean sweep for Samsung (the small S7 won the Best Smartphone vote). This was a much more heated debate - the S7 edge still has a wide lead, but it didn�t dominate as much as its smaller sibling.
People asked about the Galaxy Note7, but that phone has a terrible battery life (the update limited it to 60% charge) and you�re not allowed on planes anymore.
Anyway, LG performed much better this time - the LG V20 is second! It beat out the iPhone 7 Plus by a healthy margin, showing that LG did the right thing going from the G5 to the V20 (G5 was second to last in the previous poll).
Surprisingly, OnePlus 3 stole third, closer to the LG than the iPhone (in fourth). OnePlus is a young company with only three generations of devices (and four devices total) but people love what it�s selling.
Apple slipped to fourth after the second place in the previous poll. The bigger iPhone 7 Plus is more heavily loaded with features but all popularity polls so far show the smaller iPhone 7 is better liked. Not far up the polls, but at least Google's Pixel XL got a similar vote as its chief rival, the big iPhone.
Results
- Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
36% - LG V20
18% - OnePlus 3
15% - Apple iPhone 7 Plus
11% - Google Pixel XL
8% - Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
5% - Motorola Moto Z
4% - ZTE Axon 7
3% - Huawei P9
4%
Week 43 in review: Xiaomi Mi Mix steals the show
The Xiaomi Mi Mix is the single most interesting smartphone we've seen in a while, no doubt about that. Sure, the iPhone 8 may be rumored to be all display next year, but we can have that now in the Mi Mix, sort of. It does have a chin, and it will only be available in China for the time being, but those are details.
A more conventional offering, the Mi Note 2 from Xiaomi is official as well - itself a proper flagship, even with a dual-curved display like a certain Note7 we sadly won't be seeing much of.
Xiaomi's high-profile announcements aside, this week also saw the birth of another BlackBerry, the beautifully named DTEK60. And that about covers all the new phones.
Plenty of rumors though, including the ongoing stream on the Huawei Mate 9. The Chinese company itself is teasing the upcoming phablet every now and then, but we won't know the full scoop until November 3.
Samsung is still investigating the Note7's flaws, meanwhile offering incentive to those who stay on-board with the company by opting for an S7 or S7 edge. Rumors put an optical fingerprint sensor inside the Galaxy S8, which will feature a slick design and an improved camera - that last anyone can tell you.
Those are just a few of the top stories this week, make sure to click through the links below for more.
91.3% screen-to-body ratio and Snapdragon 821 make this a truly impressive phone.
The cutting-edge handset also comes with 6GB of RAM and a 23MP camera.
No, it's not 91.3%, but that doesn't temper our love for the impressive phone.
How exactly Huawei's achieved the zoom feat is yet unclear.
It appears the flagship phablet won't be delayed after all.
The phone is rumored to sport a Leica-branded dual-camera setup, featuring 4X optical zoom.
That's more than the Samsung Galaxy S7 as well as the Apple iPhone 7.
John Legere says he's got news tomorrow about the Google Pixel on T-Mobile, what could it possibly be?
In a tweet this past weekend, the Indian subsidiary of the company revealed that the devices will be released in the country starting October 25.
A peek inside the secret sauce that makes the Taptic engine.
The handset is based on Alcatel's IDOL 4S shell, but with a few notable software and hardware improvements.
Under the program, those trading in their Note7 unit for either a Galaxy S7 or S7 edge will be able to upgrade to a Galaxy S8 or Note 8 next year.
The Korean giant didn�t go into any detail, but still reassured shareholders that such an incident will not happen again.
There have been reports that even members of the Galaxy S8 development team have now been tasked to find out the root cause of the problem.
The sensor will be beneath the screen and allow for a truly full-screen device.
An enhanced artificial-intelligence service has also been promised.
As expected, Apple finally announced some new MacBooks at its special event today. The MacBook Pro line has received a much needed refresh. The new MacBook Pro laptops still come in 13" and 15" sizes,...
The mid-range offers looks quite promising with its efficient Snapdragon 625 SoC and huge battery.
The device will hopefully become official soon, as it's been in the rumors for months now.
A few months ago, WhatsApp nixed video calling from the Beta version of the App on Android. Users that had the correct version of the WhatsApp beta were able to make calls, until the feature was disab...
The slight upgrade in the camera department and other internals does come at a price hike of around $80.
Aside from the now-classic 4.7" and 5.5" options, the company is said to also launch a 5" iPhone in 2017.
The A-series device could become official in the next few weeks.
Sabtu, 29 Oktober 2016
Xbox One S 500 GB (Minecraft Bundle) currently going for $280 in US
If you are in the United States and are in the market for an Xbox One S gaming console, here's a deal for you: the Xbox One S 500 GB (Minecraft Bundle) is currently going for $280, down from its regular price of $299.
eBay seller antonline is currently selling the console at that price. The listing says that quantities are limited, and - as of writing - a total of around 30 units have been sold. Shipping is free.
To know more about the discount, head to the Source link below.
Motorola offering $150 discount on Moto Z, Moto Z Force Droid, and Moto Z Droid
If you are in the US and are planning to purchase either a Motorola Moto Z, Moto Z Force Droid, or Moto Z Droid, you'll be glad to know that the company is offering a limited-time discount of $150 on these phones.
This means - as long as the deal is available - the Moto Z can be purchased for $550, while the Verizon-exclusive Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid can be purchased for $474 and $570, respectively.
To get the discount, you need a promo code, which you can get by entering your e-mail address. After you have the code, all you need to do is to apply it at checkout. Motorola hasn't specified when exactly the promotion ends, so you may have to act fast.
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) gets Bluetooth certified
After being spotted on benchmarking site GFXBench as well as India's import/export tracking website Zauba, the Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) has now been certified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
As is usually the case, the Bluetooth listing doesn't reveal anything about the device's specifications.
However, from what all has been revealed until now, the Galaxy A3 (2017) is powered by an octa-core 1.5GHz processor, and sports a 4.7-inch 720p display. RAM is 2GB, while internal memory is 8GB. The phone features a 12MP/8MP camera combo, and runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.
Two mysterious Xiaomi phones pop up on TENAA
Is it just us, or has naming in the mobile realm really gone downhill lately? We are far from the idea that Xiaomi is the only OEM guilty on this account, but one look at the Redmi announcements over the past couple of years is surely enough to confuse even the most loyal of fans and experts out there. At least it is less of a mess over in the higher end Mi section, but we still find ourselves struggling to decipher exactly what we are looking at from time to time anyway.
That being said, while digging through TENAA's website, we stumbled upon not one, not two, well, technically two to be fair, unfamiliar devices. The three listings in question are linked as sources below, so you can check them out for yourself, but two of them do seem to be identical, so we are looking at two devices.
Xiaomi Redmi 4
OK, at least the counting part appears to be covered with a certain degree of confidence, so moving on. Starting with a device that is labeled "2016090". At first glance it appears to be the eagerly-anticipated Redmi 4 and it might very well be. However, referring back to a leak from yesterday of what was claimed to be the Redmi 4 as well, the backs don't exactly match up.
Nor do the specs for that matter. Yesterday's info hinted at a 1080p panel, while this new device appears to stick with 720p resolution. Other than that, both phones are reported as having a 5-inch LCD display, 4,000 mAh battery, undisclosed octa-core CPUs and furthermore, the rest of their design, including shape and button placement seems to match up.
Xiaomi Redmi 4
It is thus quite possible that one of said units is actually a higher-specked version of the Redmi 4. Something along the lines of a "Pro" or an "S" trim, which are already plentiful in the Redmi realm. Our guess is that the older of the two is also the better equipped, since it appears to have a dual-LED flash, as well as 3GB of RAM, while the other gets 2GB.
If we assume that this is the case and that the models will share a body, then TENAA's measurements of 141.3 x 69.6 x 8.9 mm, weight of 153 grams and color option including Gray, Silver and Gold might be worth noting as well.
Moving on to the other phone, we have an arguably even bigger mystery on our hands. There is not much to be said about the black front panel, but the lack of a Mi logo in the corner is typically indicative of a lower-end Redmi device. The back is what really puzzles us, as we haven't really seen such a design. The relatively small camera up in the corner is quite reminiscent of the Redmi 3 and all its siblings. However, the antenna band goes straight through it. As for the second antenna band on the bottom, it also has an odd positioning below the speaker grill, when it is typically the other way around.
Unknown Xiaomi device
Specs-wise, we are looking at another 5-inch smartphone with a 720p LCD panel. It measures 139.9 x 70.4 x 8.5 mm and weighs 140 grams. Underneath the hood is another non-disclosed chipset, this time quad-core, along with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable on-board storage.
Unknown Xiaomi device
If by any change you manage to spot something we missed that would help us identify these devices, be sure to let us know.
Source 1 (in Chinese) | Source 2 (in Chinese) | Source 3 (in Chinese)
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)