Subscribe via email

Enter your email address for a daily tech summary via email:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Notebook makers brace for minimum wage hike in eastern China

Notebook makers brace for minimum wage hike in eastern China: The minimum wage in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, is expected to hike by 14.86% from CNY1,480 (US$239) currently to CNY1,700 in July 2014, which will affect Taiwan-based notebook makers who run production there, according to industry sources.


Apple’s ‘dark days’ appear over (and they were never dark to begin with)

Apple’s ‘dark days’ appear over (and they were never dark to begin with):

iphone-5-apple-store-sign
If there's one thing sillier than analysts who think Microsoft is "doomed," it's analysts who think that Apple is "doomed." Over the past couple of years, however, the "Apple is doomed" crowd has gained some more legitimacy as the company's margins started coming under pressure and Samsung rose to become a dominant force in the mobile industry. However, the company's most recent earnings report seems to have convinced some investors that the "worst" is over for Apple, even though things were never bad for the company to begin with.

Continue reading...


iphone-5-apple-store-sign.jpg?w=150

5336a674178087fe17311cb340af70be?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

Microsoft donates $1 billion to help US schools buy PCs

Microsoft donates $1 billion to help US schools buy PCs: Microsoft isn't just supporting White House's ConnectED education program by lowering the cost of Windows -- it's also giving schools the cash they'll need to buy Windows PCs. The company is donating $1 billion to make sure that students have the...


Good luck, Microsoft: Nokia's phone sales are down 30 percent

Good luck, Microsoft: Nokia's phone sales are down 30 percent: Nokia, at least in the form that we once knew it, is no more. The handset business has been cleaved off and sold to Microsoft, but that union isn't beginning on a happy note. In Nokia's final earnings report as an independent phone manufacturer, the...


Apple MacBook Air renewed with marginally faster processor, same lovable chassis

Apple MacBook Air renewed with marginally faster processor, same lovable chassis: Been waiting for a MacBook Air refresh? Breathe easy, friend, because one has arrived -- well, sort of. Cupertino has quietly updated its online store with a familiar looking ultraportable, matching last year's model almost spec for spec: 4GB of RAM,...


Acer's Aspire Switch 10 tablet has a detachable keyboard, can be used in four modes

Acer's Aspire Switch 10 tablet has a detachable keyboard, can be used in four modes: You gotta hand it to Acer for giving its products self-explanatory names. The company just announced the Aspire Switch 10, and it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Which is to say, it's a 10-inch device that switches (get it?) from one mode...


EU measures bar Motorola and Samsung from suing over standards-based patents

EU measures bar Motorola and Samsung from suing over standards-based patents: The patent wars are about to cool down in Europe... a little bit, anyway. The European Commission has revealed measures that prevent both Motorola and Samsung from using lawsuits over standards-based patents as weapons against competitors, rather...


Microsoft's motion-sensing keyboard lets you skip the touchscreen

Microsoft's motion-sensing keyboard lets you skip the touchscreen: As convenient as touchscreens and air gesture controls can be on a PC, it's not very comfortable to keep raising your hands just to handle basic tasks. You might not have to subject your arms to that kind of strain if Microsoft's experimental...


Monday, April 28, 2014

Premium Galaxy S5 with 2K display reportedly launching soon

Premium Galaxy S5 with 2K display reportedly launching soon:

Galaxy S5 Prime Release Date
Samsung will reportedly launch the premium version of the Galaxy S5 at some point in June, according to “industry sources” that spoke to South Korean publication Asia Today. The Galaxy S5 “Prime” model has been detailed in many reports preceding the Galaxy S5 launch and was spotted online after the regular model hit stores, even though Samsung officially denied working on such a device.

Continue reading...


bgr-galaxy-s5-best.jpg?w=150

c0ae30df5f6e0347fe49a94f992d7869?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

Windows Phone thrives in Europe, but struggles in China and the US

Windows Phone thrives in Europe, but struggles in China and the US: Microsoft's quest for smartphone market share is hitting a few roadblocks, it seems. Kantar estimates that Windows Phone is still gaining ground in Europe, where it's up year-over-year to 8.1 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2014. However,...


HP SlateBook 14 leaks out: the first Android-based notebook

HP SlateBook 14 leaks out: the first Android-based notebook:


The first Android laptop is likely to become a reality very soon. Leaked images have just revealed the HP SlateBook 14, the first notebook that has surfaced so far running on Android only. It features a 14-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, it runs on an unspecified Nvidia Tegra chip, and is expected to feature a modern version of Android.



Interestingly, so far, Android has never been used as the main platform on a notebook - we’ve seen it on convertibles along with other operating systems, it’s also appeared on 2-in-1 tablets with a keyboard, ...


Finetech Japan 2014: Ultra HD and touch panels highlighted as key technologies

Finetech Japan 2014: Ultra HD and touch panels highlighted as key technologies: Ultra HD TV displays and touch panel technologies such as metal mesh were displayed at the 2014 Finetech Japan Expo in Tokyo.



Sunday, April 27, 2014

Motorola reveals that it shipped 6.5 million smartphones in the first quarter

Motorola reveals that it shipped 6.5 million smartphones in the first quarter: Sure, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 alone shipped 10 million units in the first quarter of this year. But Motorola just might be happy with the 6.5 million units it shipped during the same three month period. Whether the Motorola Moto X was a big success is something that is going to have be debated by scholars in the future. It certainly wasn't a game-changer for the manufacturer, who hasn't really shot out the lights since 2009's Motorola DROID.



Where Motorola did well was with the entry-level Motorola Moto G. Taking on the value niche, home to phones like the Nokia Lumia 520, the Moto G provided ...


Report: Worldwide tablet shipments off to a poor start in 2014

Report: Worldwide tablet shipments off to a poor start in 2014: On the day following Apple's fiscal second quarter earnings report, which showed a decline in iPad sales, a researcher reported a drop in global tablet shipments. According to the data, global shipments of tablets declined 30% during the first quarter of 2014, from the fourth quarter of 2013. That means that 58.56 million slates were in transit during Q1. The reasons for the decline were varied, and included seasonality, the maturing of the tablet market, and the decline in iPad sales reported by Apple.



Apple said that it had sold 16.3 million units of its iPad during its fiscal second quarter ...


4K tablets, here we come! JDI unveils the first 10.1" 4K display, with record 438ppi pixel density

4K tablets, here we come! JDI unveils the first 10.1" 4K display, with record 438ppi pixel density:


We've had 4K TVs for a while now, and Toshiba recently announced a 15.6" 4K laptop, but what about tablets? Granted, Panasonic has one, but it's a 20" Toughpad monstrosity, which can hardly be called a mobile device.


Here comes Japan Display (JDI), which just announced the first 10.1" tablet display panel with the whopping 3840 x 2160 pixels of 4K resolution. This elevates the LCD panel to 438ppi pixel density, which would be a record on a tablet, when this screen lands in one. For comparison, the current king of tablet pixel density, Samsung's ...

Digitimes Research: Single-layer multi-touch technology to enter tablet touch panel market

Digitimes Research: Single-layer multi-touch technology to enter tablet touch panel market: The single-layer multi-touch applications, mass production of which has been enabled by touch IC designer Goodix' technology, requires only a single layer of ITO film to support 5- to 10-point touch. Previously, the technology worked well only on small-size touch panels, but Goodix has made improvements to enable mass production of the technology on 7- to 8-inch touch panels.


Digitimes Research: Global notebook shipments drop 5.5% on year in 1Q14; HP, Asustek, Apple enjoy growth

Digitimes Research: Global notebook shipments drop 5.5% on year in 1Q14; HP, Asustek, Apple enjoy growth: Taiwan and worldwide notebook shipments dropped 13.8% and 14.2% sequentially, and 6.8% and 5.5% on year, respectively in the first quarter of 2014, according to Digitimes Research's latest figures. The sequential drops were mainly due to seasonality.


How a 3D screen for iPhones could become the banking industry’s security savior

How a 3D screen for iPhones could become the banking industry’s security savior:

SPONSORED POST

How a 3D screen for iPhones could become the banking industry’s security savior
Above: Nanoveu shows off their technology at SXSW 2014.

Image Credit: Singapore IDA

This sponsored post is produced in association with IDA Singapore. 

Nanoveu makes a thin, transparent film that goes on your iPhone or iPad, enabling it to display 3D images.

It seems like magic, but it really works. The secret involves a technology enabling Nanoveu to imprint the plastic with extremely tiny, nano-scale lenses, on the order of 10-9 meters in diameter.

That’s small enough that Nanoveu’s $27 iPhone screen 3D film has half a million supertiny lenses embedded in it; the iPad version (which is going on sale in late May for about $60) has 2 million lenses.

The effect, with these screens, is to direct the light from each individual pixel in a slightly different direction. Some pixels’ light goes to your left eye, and some pixels’ light goes to your right eye. Combined with Nanoveu’s free iOS apps, which control the screen image, that enables your device to display 3D images by sending a slightly different version of the image to each eye, creating the parallax effect that tricks your brain into thinking that it’s looking at something with real depth instead of a flat screen.

Currently Nanoveu offers three free iOS apps: One for viewing 3D still images, one for 3D videos, and one for creating 3D images out of 2D images.

“This is just the beginning of the use case for this technology,” says Vidur Verma, an executive with Singapore-based Nanoveu. “It’s a consumer play at this point, but we’re looking to expand it to B2B.”

How could nanolenses become a B2B product? Well, consider the potential market for 3D interactive displays. If you go into a car dealership, you could view a full 3D image of the car you’re consider buying, while tweaking its options, details, and paint colors.

Verma also suggests a far more intriguing possibility: using Nanoveu films as a kind of “decoder ring” to increase the security of banking apps.

Currently, banking apps require you to use a username and password to log in, plus often a second method of authentication, such as a code texted to your phone or displayed on a key fob.

With Nanoveu, that code could be delivered in a visually-scrambled form to the customer’s phone. Then they could pull out their credit card, which would have a small “window” of plastic that’s imprinted with Nanoveu lenses in a particular pattern. Place that window in front of the scrambled image, and the digits will appear clearly. Customers can then use those digits to log in to their banking app.

If you don’t have the plastic window, you can’t descramble the image. This would provide a far higher level of security than most current two-factor authentication systems, and it would be quite convenient, since the necessary “decoder” would simply be a piece of plastic embedded in the bank card.

Verma acknowledges that it might be hard to convince banks to adopt this kind of technology, but he’s hopeful, because they are highly motivated to avoid embarrassing hacks and data breaches.

“It’s going to be a tough sell because financial institutions are very stuck in their old ways of thinking. But they know that their current methods are not secure,” Verma said.

Nanoveu was founded in April, 2012, with an exclusive 10-year license from Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore, where the nanolens technology originated. It has raised about $2 million so far from private investors and is currently seeking another $5 million investment at a $20 million valuation.


Sponsored posts are content that has been produced by a company that is either paying for the post or has a business relationship with VentureBeat, and they’re always clearly marked. The content of news stories produced by our editorial team is never influenced by advertisers or sponsors in any way. For more information, contact sales@venturebeat.com.









nanoveu-e1396550862872.jpeg

ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96&r=G

Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 tipped to use flexible screen

Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 tipped to use flexible screen: While the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is rumored to employ a flexible three sided Youm screen, there is talk about Samsung building a new factory for the sole purpose of manufacturing more flexible screens. The current rumor is that Sammy will start offering bendable screens in earnest starting with the Samsung Galaxy S6. That would be next year's version of the Korean manufacturer's flagship model. The new factory will be up and running by November or December of this year, in plenty of time to produce flexible screens for the Galaxy S6.



Samsung also plans on offering a similar type of flexible ...


Gecko toes inspire reusable adhesive that sticks to almost any surface

Gecko toes inspire reusable adhesive that sticks to almost any surface: geckskin2

Command Adhesive is pretty cool stuff, but it’s got nothing on University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Gecko-inspired cling technology. It’s called Geckskin, and it’s capable of sticking to just about any surface in your […]


Chromebooks will soon unlock when your smartphone is nearby

Chromebooks will soon unlock when your smartphone is nearby: hp-chromebook

Own a smartphone? Sure you do, and chances are good that it’s never that far away from you. That makes it a handy authentication tool, and that’s why Google wants to let you […]


Surface sales up 50% from last year — down nearly 50% from holiday quarter

Surface sales up 50% from last year — down nearly 50% from holiday quarter:

Surface sales up 50% from last year — down nearly 50% from holiday quarter
Image Credit: Devindra Hardawar/VentureBeat

How can big data and smart analytics tools ignite growth for your company? Find out at DataBeat, May 19-20 in San Francisco, from top data scientists, analysts, investors, and entrepreneurs. Register now and save $200!


Microsoft’s Surface ain’t dead yet — but it could certainly be doing better.

In its earnings report today, Microsoft revealed that Surface sales have jumped 50 percent since last year, reaching nearly $500 million. But, that pales in comparison to the Surface performance in the previous quarter, when Surface sales rang in $893 million.

Most companies selling consumer electronics typically see a huge bump in sales during the holiday season, so the Surface’s quarterly decline isn’t too surprising. But at this point, I’d expect an even bigger year-over-year jump for the tablet.

Last year’s Surface lineup didn’t sell very well because the Surface RT simply wasn’t very good. The Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro, on the other hand, are both solid productivity tablets.

Many people expect Microsoft to round out its Surface lineup next month with a smaller Surface Mini, which leaked early via an Amazon listing.





Microsoft Corporation is a public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through ... read more »



















8-dsc08740.jpg

ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96&r=G

Researchers Invent a Camouflage Material That Changes Like a Chameleon

Researchers Invent a Camouflage Material That Changes Like a Chameleon:



Mother Nature has already mastered the art of camouflage, so it only makes sense that we steal her ideas when it comes to the art of hiding. Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a remarkable new material "inspired" by chameleons, which can change shape and color under different lighting conditions.

Read more...


















These Nanoparticle Panels Will Bring Blue Skies Indoors

These Nanoparticle Panels Will Bring Blue Skies Indoors:

These Nanoparticle Panels Will Bring Blue Skies Indoors

Skylights are so 1986. Now it doesn't matter if the weather outside is dark and dreary, or even if it's midnight, for that matter: Thanks to this LED panel which replicates cloudless skies, you'll feel like you're bathed in warm sunshine.

Read more...


















Saturday, April 26, 2014

Huawei Device aims to ship 80 million smartphones in 2014

Huawei Device aims to ship 80 million smartphones in 2014: China-based vendor Huawei Device has set a goal of shipping 80 million smartphones globally in 2014, growing 53.8% on year, according to the company.



TSA Pre Open to All: Breeze Through Airport Security for $17 a Year

TSA Pre Open to All: Breeze Through Airport Security for $17 a Year:

TSA Pre Open to All: Breeze Through Airport Security for $17 a Year

The TSA Pre program lets you quickly go through security at participating airports—no need to take off your shoes and belt. Until recently, the program was only for select individuals, but as of December 2013, it's open to everyone—and seems like a pretty good deal.

We talked about TSA Pre back when it first launched, but hadn't discussed it since—and after it opened up for applications in December, the TSA has been making a big push to get people to apply. I began the application process this week to find out what it entails.

The program requires an application, fingerprinting, and background check for $85. The application asks a series of questions to make sure you are of sound mind and not a risk (previous criminal history, and so on). Once approved, your Pre Status is good for five years, allowing you to use the express lane at security on most major flights.

You can apply online here, but you'll still need to go in person to a Universal Enrollment Center to finish the application process. They accept walk-ins, but strongly recommend an actual appointment at one of these centers. Summer travellers should book the appointment soon. Some of the centers have lead times of 30 days or more for an appointment. Approval for TSA Pre is one to two weeks after the in person application.

I'm still waiting to get my appointment, but if you're a frequent traveler, this seems like a good time to get in on the action before summer travel season—especially because the process takes awhile. Hit the link to read more.

TSA Pre Application Program | via Wall Street Journal

Photo by paulswansen.

Nissan adds superhydrophobic coating to their cars

Nissan adds superhydrophobic coating to their cars: carmud

We’ve all see the videos, and some of us have even gone out and picked up a few cans of the stuff to try out ourselves. Superhydrophobic coatings look like magic, but for […]


The iPhone 6′s exact shape and size seemingly revealed in leaked renders

The iPhone 6′s exact shape and size seemingly revealed in leaked renders:

iPhone 6 Leaked Pictures Digital Renders
Just as in previous years, it doesn't look like there will be much mystery about the iPhone 6 once it finally gets released this fall. UkrainianiPhone has posted some leaked pictures that supposedly show digital renders of the iPhone 6 designed to help manufacturers produce accessories for the new device.



Continue reading...


iphone-6-mockup-hajek-t.jpg?w=150

5336a674178087fe17311cb340af70be?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

Friday, April 25, 2014

Lenovo to start dual-brand smartphone marketing

Lenovo to start dual-brand smartphone marketing: Lenovo will adopt dual-brand marketing for smartphones in 2014, using the Motorola brand to sell mid-range to high-end models in the US and Western Europe, and selling entry-level to mid-range models under the Lenovo brand in China, Latin America and other emerging markets, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.


The OnePlus One is the only Android phone you should really care about right now

The OnePlus One is the only Android phone you should really care about right now:

OnePlus One Specs, Features, Release Date
OnePlus on Wednesday finally unveiled its first Android handset, the highly anticipated CyanogenMod-based OnePlus One. Considering the phone’s specs and affordable price, the One is the only Android phone you should really consider buying right now. The device will be even cheaper than customers expect, retailing for either $299/€269 (the 16GB version) or $349/€299 (the 64GB version), and should be available in the near future in 16 markets.

Continue reading...


oneplus-one-official-image-1.jpg?w=147

c0ae30df5f6e0347fe49a94f992d7869?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

New data suggests Galaxy S5 stole a surprising amount of business away from Apple

New data suggests Galaxy S5 stole a surprising amount of business away from Apple:

Galaxy S5 Vs iPhone
Earlier this week, we shared data from used gadget trade-in site Gazelle that showed iPhone users, for the most part, appeared to be largely uninterested in switching to Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5. But as it turns out, a similar and perhaps more comprehensive study from a different trade-in service paints a very different picture.

Continue reading...


bgr-galaxy-s5-best.jpg?w=150

80a3c6c6878b5a8e2f24a079830f0def?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

Samsung explains why the Galaxy S5′s display crushes every other smartphone’s

Samsung explains why the Galaxy S5′s display crushes every other smartphone’s:

Samsung Galaxy S5 Display
Samsung's Galaxy S5 has already won widespread acclaim from both reviewers and display quality experts for its incredible 5.1-inch full HD Super AMOLED display and now the company is taking a long victory lap by giving us a detailed explanation of just what makes the Galaxy S5's display so great.

Continue reading...


samsung-galaxy-s5-subway.jpg?w=150

5336a674178087fe17311cb340af70be?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

Apple announces exotic 7-for-1 stock split, ups share buybacks to $90 billion

Apple announces exotic 7-for-1 stock split, ups share buybacks to $90 billion:

apple-sign-sky
The market is about to get flooded with extra Apple shares. Apple on Wednesday announced a seven-for-one stock split, which means that shareholders will receive six additional shares of Apple stock for every share they now own. The split will go into effect on June 2nd this year. The company also said it would be upping its share buyback program to $90 billion.

Continue reading...


apple-sign-sky.jpg?w=150

5336a674178087fe17311cb340af70be?s=96&d=identicon&r=G

Amazing 4K displays are coming soon to 10-inch tablets

Amazing 4K displays are coming soon to 10-inch tablets:

4K Display for Tablets
Japan Display on Wednesday announced that it has already developed an ultra-high resolution 4K x 2K LCD module for tablets that’s not only capable of offering a huge 3840 x 2160 resolution on a 10.1-inch display, but it’s also energy-efficient. The company said in its announcement that even though the new tablet screen has 4K resolution, power consumption will be similar to 10.1-inch WQXGA LCD modules (which have 2560 x 1600 resolution), as it uses low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) technology.

Continue reading...


japan-display-10-1-inch-tablet-4k2k-module-full.jpg?w=150

c0ae30df5f6e0347fe49a94f992d7869?s=96&d=identicon&r=G