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Google shows off expensive, gorgeous Pixel C reference tablet

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2015 11:46

Google shows off expensive, gorgeous Pixel C reference tablet Google CEO Sundar Pichai and product management exec Andrew Bowers announced today the latest addition to the high-end Pixel range: The Pixel C tablet.

The tablet is a $499 10.2-inch tablet running on Android Marshmallow (rather than Chrome OS) with 3GB RAM and a powerful Nvidia Tegra X1 processor.

Bowers took time onstage to show off the Pixel's key feature, a $149 keyboard that attaches via magnets, turning the tablet into a laptop, basically. In fact, Bowers says the "C" stands for convertible.

"Mobile devices often force you back to a laptop when you want to write a document or respond to a long email," said Bowers. "And while there are plenty of keyboard accessories, they are often just that -- they're accessories. They have cramped keyboards, require you to use them on a desk, or get in the way when you don't want to type. In the case of tablets, we asked ourselves what would an ideal touch plus typing experience look like? Something where the screen and the keyboard complement each other."

The tablet will be available in time for the holidays, and as of writing only has a "teaser" landing page. You can see that here: Pixel C




AfterDawn: News

Google shows off new, updated Chromecast

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2015 11:06

Google shows off new, updated Chromecast Alongside its bigger announcements, Google also unveiled a new second-generation Chromecast streaming dongle today.

Design-wise, Google has changed the device from a "stick" to a round disc that has an HDMI arm that extends out or sticks to the back when needed. The change in design was made so the dongle can hang further away from the TV and reduce interference.

The new Chromecast also support 802.11ac and 5Ghz bands (thank you Google) and the company says there are now three different antennas for optimized streaming compared to the one the original Chromecast had.

Google also boasted that there are now thousands of apps available that support casting, and Google has revamped the actual Chromecast app, adding a discovery section that searches for what is hot in the streaming apps you have downloaded on your devices.

The search giant says they have sold 20 million units of the original since its launch, quite a success for an experimental product, and the second-generation dongle will keep the original's $35 price tag so Google is hoping the strong sales will continue.

Check it out here: Google Play




AfterDawn: News

Google unveils Nexus 5X, a second flagship

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2015 10:29

Google unveils Nexus 5X, a second flagship In addition to launching their Nexus 6P high-end flagship today, Google also showed off the LG-built Nexus 5X.

The new smartphone will serve as the smaller of the two flagships, the same way Apple has the 6s and 6s Plus, and the specs are still very solid, especially for the price.

Under the hood of the Nexus 5 is a Snapdragon 808 processor, 2GB RAM and a 2700mAh. The phone runs on Android Marshmallow, has a 5.2-inch 1080p display (with Gorilla Glass 3), the USB-C charging port, and the same 12MP camera of the Nexus 6P which includes 1.55-micron pixels for excellent night shots.

Just like its big brother, the Nexus 5X also adds a fingerprint scanner, calling the tech Nexus Imprint. Supposedly, it takes just 600ms to recognize your prints, and it actually improves over time.

The smartphone is also priced at about half the price of the iPhone 6S, starting at $379 for the 16GB model.

Check out the device here: Nexus 5X

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AfterDawn: News

The Google Nexus 6P is here starting at $499

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Sep 2015 9:42

The Google Nexus 6P is here starting at $499 Google's latest flagship is official, although we have seen a slow drip of leaks over the past few weeks that took away some of the surprise.

The Nexus 6P, built by Huawei, is slightly smaller than its predecessor the Nexus 6 with a 5.7-inch WQHD display, and features a completely redone design that is just 7.3mm thick and features an all-metal body.

Under the hood is 3GB RAM, a Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor, and a huge 3450mAh battery. The phone is the first Nexus to include a fingerprint sensor (placed neatly on the back), which can authorize payments and unlock the phone just like on Samsung and Apple devices.

Where the Nexus 6P really shines, however, are the cameras. The selfie cam is up to 8MP and the rear camera is 12.3MP with a special Sony sensor that allows for more light to be taken in and improve low-light photos significantly. The camera also allows for 4K video, burst mode, slow-mo, and more. In early spec comparisons, the Nexus 6P is expected to have the best camera of any smartphone with the exception of the new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+.

Huawei has included a USB Type-C port for charging (meaning you can insert the cable in any direction) and it should actually improve charging speeds. Just like the Nexus 6, the 6P also supports fast charging, meaning up to 50 percent of charge in an hour.

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AfterDawn: News

Pirate Bay founder freed from jail in Sweden

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Sep 2015 10:49

Pirate Bay founder freed from jail in Sweden Pirate Bay founder Gottfrid Svartholm has finished serving his time in Danish and Swedish jails following his convictions for hacking and copyright crimes.

Back in 2011, the four founders of the Pirate Bay were all sentenced to one year in prison by Svartholm ran, ending up in Cambodia before getting arrested in 2012 and extradited back to Sweden. After serving his initial sentence, he was then accused of hacking IT company Logica, Nordea Bank and IT company CSC by Swedish and Danish authorities.

For his part in the hack on Logica, Svartholm received one year and for the attack on CSC, three and a half years. For good behavior, he was released early in Denmark last month but shockingly he was arrested again and sent back to Sweden to serve one more month for the original crime.

As of writing, Svartholm appears to be a free man for good.

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AfterDawn: News

Apple reveals record sales for latest iPhones

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Sep 2015 6:24

Apple reveals record sales for latest iPhones Apple has said today that they have sold 13 million new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, a new record for three days of availability.

"Sales for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus have been phenomenal, blowing past any previous first weekend sales results in Apple's history," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "Customers' feedback is incredible and they are loving 3D Touch and Live Photos, and we can't wait to bring iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus to customers in even more countries on October 9."

Furthermore, Apple says the phones will be available in 40 more countries starting October 9th, and in 130 countries by the end of the year.

The strong early sales likely bode well for Apple's quarterly earnings moving forward, as there had been worries about the struggling Chinese economy.

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AfterDawn: News

Netflix is now its own studio

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Sep 2015 2:58

Netflix is now its own studio Netflix has confirmed that more "Originals" are coming to the streaming service, and Netflix will be in charge of shooting them, as well, lessening their dependence on third party studios.

For example, Netflix is actively considering filming Chelsea Handler's new talk show and will also be the studio behind "Flaked" and "Lady Dynamite," both set for release next year.

By all accounts, the move makes perfect sense. Netflix controls the worldwide rights for all of its original programming, some of its most popular shows are actually owned by other media entities. Marvel owns "Daredevil" and "Jessica Jones" while Lions Gate owns "Orange is the New Black." Over time, the licenses Netflix has will lapse and the series will no longer be exclusives.

"Obviously there's benefits if we produce a show," said CFO David Wells. "If there's great reach across the world and we can distribute that show and it will be consumed and enjoyed across the world. So there's tremendous benefits there in terms of just the scale of distributing it."

Netflix recently began leasing 200,000 square feet of office and pre-production space in a tower at Sunset Bronson Studios in Hollywood and is likely to add another 120,000 square feet for sound stages. The move is expected in early 2017.

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AfterDawn: News

Report: Windows 10 now installed on 100 million PCs

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Sep 2015 2:38

Report: Windows 10 now installed on 100 million PCs According to insider sources, Windows 10 has now surpassed 100 million installs, a major milestone for the operating system.

That number is also likely to jump in the near future as Microsoft just signed a deal with Baidu to launch Windows 10 in China.

Additionally, Microsoft is expecting a boost in October when they introduce the Surface Pro 4 and other updates to the operating system.

Microsoft has long claimed they want 1 billion Windows 10 users across all platforms within 3 years of launching the operating system and they appear to be off to a strong enough start.

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AfterDawn: News

Google Nexus 6P leaked in its entirety

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Sep 2015 11:36

Google Nexus 6P leaked in its entirety Two days ahead of its official unveiling, we have all the specs and official pictures of the upcoming Google flagship, the Nexus 6P.

The new phone will be the first Nexus device to have an all-metal body, the first with a fingerprint scanner and the first with USB-C connectors.

As expected, the screen is a 5.7-inch QHD with Gorilla Glass 4, and the smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor and 3GB RAM. The phone has a massive 3450mAh battery, and will run on Android Marshmallow, which has built-in battery efficiency tech.

On the back of the phone is the fingerprint scanner, in a similar position to how LG has their fingerprint scanners compared to where Samsung and Apple have theirs (up front).

The cameras will also get a nice upgrade, with the rear camera at 12.3MP and the front camera at 8MP. The rear camera has an F-stop rating of 2.0 and the camera's sensor uses 1.55 μM pixels allowing for much more light to be taken in - great for low light situations.

You can take a look at the full list of specs and features here: Imgur




AfterDawn: News

Zuckerberg and Gates want Internet for all by 2020

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Sep 2015 11:09

Zuckerberg and Gates want Internet for all by 2020 Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates have both pledged to help bring Internet to everyone on the planet by 2020.

"When people have access to the tools and knowledge of the Internet, they have access to opportunities that make life better for all of us,"
reads the declaration. "The Internet belongs to everyone. It should be accessible by everyone."

The declaration was made at the UN this week, as part of a larger pledge by the United Nations to get everyone out of poverty by 2030.

"The Internet is more than just a network of machines; it is the key driver of social and economic progress in our time," Zuckerberg added. "A 'like' or a post won't stop a tank or a bullet, but when people are connected, we have the chance to build a common global community with a shared understanding -- and that's a powerful force," he said.

By giving Internet access to all, Zuckerberg estimated that affordable education could be brought to 600 million children who would otherwise grow up without education.

So far, the UN says $25 billion has been pledged by the U.S., Canada and other nations although the UN has estimated it will cost over $5 trillion to make its goals a reality.

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AfterDawn: News

Report: Google under antitrust scrutiny over Android operating system

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Sep 2015 10:50

Report: Google under antitrust scrutiny over Android operating system According to a new report, the FTC and Justice Department are prepared to begin an investigation into Google's Android operating system and whether the search giant blocked competitor's access to the OS.

Technology companies have been complaining that Google gives priority to its own services while restricting others.

Of note, the inquiry is still in early stages and the FTC could end up not filing an official case against Google. The European Union has started its own investigation into Android, as well.

Android has nearly 60 percent share of the U.S. market, and much higher share around the globe. The investigation will likely focus on Google's long-term strategy of bundling its own software into the stock version of Android including YouTube, Maps, Chrome, Gmail, Google Play Music and Drive. The watch dog group will see whether that practice harms developers of rival applications, and if it hurts manufacturers that build Android phones but may have their own rival apps.

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AfterDawn: News

Blackberry's Android phone is official and it's called the Priv

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Sep 2015 9:20

Blackberry's Android phone is official and it's called the Priv BlackBerry's first Android smartphone is official, and it's called the Priv.

Formerly known by its codename Venice, the device will launch later this year.

"Today, I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry's heritage and core mission of protecting our customers' privacy," said John Chen, Blackberry's executive chairman and CEO. "Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform."

Plenty of pictures have been leaked over the past few months of the device, which will have a full QWERTY keyoard that slides out, as well as a touchscreen. Additionally, the device will be powerful with a QHD display, a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM and 5MP/18MP cameras. It will run on Android 5.1.1 right out of the box, as well, in stock with the exception of a few BlackBerry ecosystem apps.

While the specs seem nice and there are definitely people out there that miss a full keyboard, it will be interesting to see if the BlackBerry name can translate to any sales.




AfterDawn: News

Report: Samsung owned smartphone market in Q2

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Sep 2015 9:04

Report: Samsung owned smartphone market in Q2 According to new research from Counterpoint, Samsung was the undisputed king of smartphones for the second quarter.

For the Q2, Samsung had 21 percent of global sales, beating out Apple at 14 percent and Huawei at 9 percent. ZTE and Xiaomi rounded out the top 5 at 5 percent each.

In most continents, the numbers were similar, except for North America where Apple had a 31 percent share to Samsung's 24 percent. Of note, Xiaomi actually beat out Apple in Asia, at 11 percent to 10 percent.

Also of note, Samsung had 19 percent of all mobile phone sales for the quarter, which includes non-smartphones, as well.

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AfterDawn: News

Samsung Pay has been popular - in Korea

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Sep 2015 5:17

Samsung Pay has been popular - in Korea Samsung has boasted of the success of Samsung Pay this weekend, although the service is currently only available in South Korea.

The tech giant says there have been $30 million worth of transactions done in the first month, through 1.5 million purchases. While those numbers are very small, Samsung says it's a lot higher than they expected for the first month of availability in a limited market.

36 percent of those with the app installed used it in the past month, and 10 percent used it daily.

The Galaxy Note 5 was the most used device, unsurprisingly, with 60 percent of purchases being made by Note owners. Samsung Pay comes pre-installed on the device.

For now, the Korean experiment is the first of an eventual global launch, although it is unclear what the road map and time frame are.

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AfterDawn: News

Pebble surprises with new circular 'Pebble Time Round'

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Sep 2015 11:15

Pebble surprises with new circular 'Pebble Time Round' Pebble has surprised this week, introducing the Pebble Time Round with a circular display and a much thinner profile than previous devices.

In-line with other smartwatches, the smartwatch will begin at $249 (for leather strap model) or $299 for black or gold metal bands.

The recently released Pebble Time was the first of Pebble's devices to introduce a color e-ink display and the new watch integrates the same technology.

Unfortunately, Pebble has killed one of their best features: battery life. All previous Pebble watches offered at minimum three days of battery life, and usually around 6 days, but the new Pebble Time Round only promises 2 days with regular use. With the loss of battery life does come a massive upgrade in looks and a slimmer profile, so I guess the trade off could be worth it.

The Pebble Time Round goes on sale on November 10th.

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