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Friday, December 18, 2015

TV panel shipments fall in November; China makers overtake Taiwan in volume, says WitsView

TV panel shipments fall in November; China makers overtake Taiwan in volume, says WitsView: A total of 22.74 million LCD TV panels were shipped in November 2015, representing a 0.8% decrease compared with the prior month and a 2.2% increase on year, according to WitsView. Iris Hu, WitsView assistant research manager, stated that since branded TV vendors are going to do an annual inventory check at the end of the year, some of December's panel demand was pulled into November. Consequently, November's monthly TV panel shipments saw only a small decline.


Huawei ships a record 100 million phones for 2015, lines up firmly behind Samsung and Apple

Huawei ships a record 100 million phones for 2015, lines up firmly behind Samsung and Apple:


Hot on the heels of a report putting it in third place worldwide with 7.4% of the global smartphone shipments last quarter, Huawei took to its Weibo page today, boasting in its turn that it has hit a milestone. The achievement that Huawei unlocked? Well, no less than a 100 million smartphones shipped in 2015 so far.


That's a record for the company, and places it firmly behind Samsung and Apple in the top three of the most prolific phone makers that inhabit our little blue planet. Granted, the 100 million mark is mostly due to inexpensive rockstars, ...

Xiaomi Mi 5 rumor review: specs, features, release date, everything we know so far

Xiaomi Mi 5 rumor review: specs, features, release date, everything we know so far:

Despite unleashing a couple of top-end phones (Mi Note, Mi Note Pro, Mi 4i), Xiaomi did not release a flagship smartphone in 2015. Yes, we witnessed the arrival of the Xiaomi Mi 4i and the so-so Mi 4c, but the anticipated Mi 5 remained a mirage of sorts. Interestingly, the rumor mill never ceased to come up with possible release dates for the device; actually, there were a couple possible dates during each of the preceding months. However, Xiaomi kept mostly mum and unveiled no Mi 5.



However, the rumor mill has quickened the pace at which it churns out new hearsay and is claiming ...

Xiaomi Mi 5 rumor review: specs, features, release date, everything we know so far

Xiaomi Mi 5 rumor review: specs, features, release date, everything we know so far:

Despite unleashing a couple of top-end phones (Mi Note, Mi Note Pro, Mi 4i), Xiaomi did not release a flagship smartphone in 2015. Yes, we witnessed the arrival of the Xiaomi Mi 4i and the so-so Mi 4c, but the anticipated Mi 5 remained a mirage of sorts. Interestingly, the rumor mill never ceased to come up with possible release dates for the device; actually, there were a couple possible dates during each of the preceding months. However, Xiaomi kept mostly mum and unveiled no Mi 5.



However, the rumor mill has quickened the pace at which it churns out new hearsay and is claiming ...

Move Over, Graphene: The Latest Super Material is Borophene

Move Over, Graphene: The Latest Super Material is Borophene:

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Graphene is the best-known two-dimensional material, with its atom-thick layers proving plenty of fascinating material properties. But now a team of scientists has developed a new material with a similar structure that they’re calling borophene.

Read more...





















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Apple’s secret design studio and new ‘Apple store of the future’ to be featured on ’60 Minutes’

Apple’s secret design studio and new ‘Apple store of the future’ to be featured on ’60 Minutes’:

Apple Design Studio


Of all the secretive enclaves within Apple, none is more hallowed than Apple's notoriously quarantined design studio. Run by Jony Ive, Apple's design studio is where the company's small team of industrial designers collaborate, experiment, and bring products to life. Every Apple product you've ever used over the last 15+ years -- from the flower iMac to the iPhone 6s -- can be traced back to this studio.

Continue reading...

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New Sony battery technology promises 40% longer battery life

New Sony battery technology promises 40% longer battery life:

Sony Smartphone Battery


With each passing year, companies like Apple and Samsung manage to make smartphones faster while also packing them with increasingly advanced features. That's all well and good, but battery technology, in contrast, has seemingly hit a plateau in recent years. It's hardly a surprise, then, that the one feature request shared by most all smartphone users is prolonged battery life.

Continue reading...

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BlackBerry tops estimates with its Q3 earnings report; shares soar

BlackBerry tops estimates with its Q3 earnings report; shares soar:

Even though BlackBerry reported today a 3 cents a share net loss for its third quarter, the results topped Wall Street expectations of a 14 cent a share loss. Additionally, revenue also topped estimates of $488.8 million. For the quarter, the company reported revenue of $557 million. During last year's third quarter, BlackBerry reported the slimmest of profits (1 cent per share) on revenue of $793 million.



Including the launch of the company's first Android phone during the period, handset sales totaled 700,000 units for the quarter. Numbers for the BlackBerry Priv slider were not broken ...


Hot Best Buy iPhone 6s deal: $1 iPhone 6s and $200 gift card

Hot Best Buy iPhone 6s deal: $1 iPhone 6s and $200 gift card:

Best Buy iPhone 6s Christmas Deal


Still deciding whether you should upgrade to the iPhone 6s this Christmas? Looking for a great deal that will make the iPhone even more affordable? You may have missed out on some great deals in the past weeks, but more special iPhone 6s sales are still available in time for Christmas.

It turns out that Best Buy has a fresh iPhone 6s offer that you might not be able to refuse.

Continue reading...

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Check out the Oukitel K10000 in action; handset carries a massive 10,000mAh battery

Check out the Oukitel K10000 in action; handset carries a massive 10,000mAh battery:

Back in June, we first told you about the Oukitel K10000. This handset includes a huge 10,000 mAh battery that will keep the phone powered for days. Last month, we showed you in a video how a number of K10000 units working together, generated enough power to cook noodles. And about a week ago, we told you that the phone was available for pre-orders.



Today, Oukitel has released a new video for the K10000 that shows off the phone in action. The device carries a 5.5-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 720 x 1280. The MTK6735 chipset is under the hood, featuring a quad-core 1GHz CPU. 2GB of ...


The 20 Best Gadgets of 2015

The 20 Best Gadgets of 2015:

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Technology is all about progress. Sometimes it’s incremental or subtle, but other times it can be colossal and even transformative. In 2015 we saw a metal and silicone cornucopia of gadgets and gizmos. There were amazing deals, sad departures, brand new product categories, and even world-changing ideas. These are the 20 best gadgets from 2015.

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Monday, December 14, 2015

Tor's new executive director is a digital privacy legend

Tor's new executive director is a digital privacy legend:

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Tor's anonymizing internet technology is already vital to whistleblowers, human rights advocates and others who value their digital privacy. It only makes sense that the project team should hire a privacy champion to help lead its efforts, doesn't i...


The Pebble Time Round sacrifices battery life but is down to a small, more fashionable...

The Pebble Time Round sacrifices battery life but is down to a small, more fashionable...:

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Author:
Forbes Tech News
Source:
Sprinklr
The Pebble Time Round sacrifices battery life but is down to a small, more fashionable size onforb.es/1OZF1Gh



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Google's iOS app receives update that adds 3D Touch support and more

Google's iOS app receives update that adds 3D Touch support and more:

Google has updated its iOS app, adding support for 3D Touch. A heavy fingered tap on the app's icon will present an Apple iPhone 6s or Apple iPhone 6s Plus user with a shortcut menu to Google's voice, text or image searches. You also might notice that some new information pops up on your screen when you Google a local business, including restaurants and bars.



Search for a nearby business or eatery, and your Google search result will include a graph showing how busy this particular location is at certain hours. If you're in a rush, this information can be a timesaver. And Google has also ...


This smartphone packs a 10-day battery

This smartphone packs a 10-day battery:

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Forget picking up a gigantic USB battery, or shoving your phone into an equally bulky battery case -- if Oukitel has its way, your phone will have the juice you need for days on end. Its upcoming K10000 smartphone has a whopping 10,000mAh battery th...


WSJ: Galaxy S7 coming with 'lowlight' camera, Force Touch and microSD slot, release date is mid-March

WSJ: Galaxy S7 coming with 'lowlight' camera, Force Touch and microSD slot, release date is mid-March:

Samsung's Galaxy S7 is looming on the horizon as the most anticipated phone for the first half of 2016, and there is barely a passing day now when we don't hear a little something about its alleged features, release date, or model versions.


We have already rounded up the oft-cited rumors about the device's upcoming features, and now the Wall Street Journal is corroborating some of this speculation, too, claiming "people familiar with the matter" as its sources. First off, the publication confirms the rumors that the Galaxy S7 will ship with a pressure-sensitive display, similar ...

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Compal enjoys notebook shipment growth in November; expects flat performance in December

Compal enjoys notebook shipment growth in November; expects flat performance in December: Compal Electronics shipped 3.3 million notebooks in November, up from three million units in October, and it expects its December shipments to stay flat sequentially.


Samsung aims to reduce pricing for small- to medium-size OLED panels 20% by mid-2016, says report

Samsung aims to reduce pricing for small- to medium-size OLED panels 20% by mid-2016, says report: Samsung Display is expected to drop pricing for small- to medium-size OLED panels 20% by mid-2016 in order to meet requirements for a surge in orders from China-based handset vendors, according to a report from Korea-based Edaily.


Samsung to begin mass producing transparent OLED displays in December, says report

Samsung to begin mass producing transparent OLED displays in December, says report: Samsung Display will begin mass producing transparent OLED displays in December, with initial supply mainly going to North America-based retailers for use in show case applications, according to Korea-based iNEWS 24.


Baidu's Testing a Self-Driving Car and Samsung Is Building Autonomous Car Parts 

Baidu's Testing a Self-Driving Car and Samsung Is Building Autonomous Car Parts :

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Asian tech giants are scrabbling to join the autonomous car race. A pair of new announcements reveal that Baidu has successfully tested a self-driving BMW in China, while Samsung has decided to begin producing components for use in autonomous vehicles.

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Latest leaked image of the Xiaomi Mi 5 surfaces with home button and thin bezels?

Latest leaked image of the Xiaomi Mi 5 surfaces with home button and thin bezels?:

We've recently seen a couple of images allegedly showing off the Xiaomi Mi 5. Both pictures showed a device with thin bezels, and one was revealed to be sporting a home button. Today, a new image of the Mi 5 has appeared on China's Weibo site. Once again, we are treated to a screen with very thin bezels, a high screen-to-body ratio, and a home button. The image isn't as clear as the previous renders, although the features can still be discerned.



While there is a resemblance to the previous leaked render, the picture did not come from an official source, meaning that we should take this with ...


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

A Samsung leak revels that the smartphone maker might be primed to release a massive...

A Samsung leak revels that the smartphone maker might be primed to release a massive...:

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Author:
Forbes Tech News
Source:
Sprinklr
A Samsung leak revels that the smartphone maker might be primed to release a massive Galaxy S7 phone: onforb.es/1NJKZrA


Act surprised: Samsung’s going after Apple in smart car race

Act surprised: Samsung’s going after Apple in smart car race:

Samsung Self-driving Car Technology


Apple is yet to confirm its Titan car project, but there’s plenty of evidence that suggests the iPhone maker is eying the car industry for some sort of disruption in the future. Apple isn’t the only tech company looking to create smarter cars, with Google already testing self-driving technology on its own car.

While Apple has not announced anything regarding its car platform, Samsung on Wednesday confirmed it plans to enter the car business in the future. Many would rightly say that Samsung is also ready to go where Apple is heading, as the South Korean giant has been a close Apple follower in the past few years, ever since Apple revolutionized the mobile landscape with the iPhone.

But Samsung’s decision to attack the car business makes plenty of sense, as the company is struggling to find a new growth driver now that its mobile division isn’t performing as well as in the past few years.

Continue reading...

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Best Buy knocks $100 off all its Apple Watches

Best Buy knocks $100 off all its Apple Watches:

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Here are two pieces of information that you might think that it's worth using to draw a conclusion, or not, we won't judge. First up, Best Buy is offering a $100 discount on the Apple Watches that it sells, meaning that you can grab a base-model 38mm...


Hyundai will release a car manual that uses augmented reality later this year: https://t.co/UHzHT4x0If...

Hyundai will release a car manual that uses augmented reality later this year: https://t.co/UHzHT4x0If...:

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Author:
Forbes Tech News
Source:
Sprinklr
Hyundai will release a car manual that uses augmented reality later this year: onforb.es/1maCu2F



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Google seems more determined than ever to take control of Android

Google seems more determined than ever to take control of Android:

Google Android Apps Phone Contacts


The open-source nature of Google's Android is both a curse and a blessing. Google conquered the post-PC world by making sure its mobile OS is the dominant platform in the smartphone business. Over 1.4 billion smartphone users have an Android device that can be used to browse the web and bring in some ad-based cash to Google – though many reports still say that iPhone owners are even more profitable for Google when it comes to ad money.

However, Google grabbed the lion’s share of the smartphone market by giving Android away. That means it lost the ability to control its mobile platform.

But Google has other ways of trying to take back control of Android that don’t involve pressuring OEMs and carriers to launch updates in a more timely fashion.

Continue reading...

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Apple's solution to its battery life problem, the iPhone Smart Case, has a lackluster...

Apple's solution to its battery life problem, the iPhone Smart Case, has a lackluster...:

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Author:
Forbes Tech News
Source:
Sprinklr
Apple's solution to its battery life problem, the iPhone Smart Case, has a lackluster design onforb.es/1maMQ2H



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Monday, December 7, 2015

AUO reports 18% on-year decline in November revenues

AUO reports 18% on-year decline in November revenues: AU Optronics (AUO) has announced consolidated revenues reached NT$28.49 billion (US$870.28 million) in November 2015, down 2.4% on month and down 18.1% on year.



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Digitimes Research: China touch panel makers increasing investments in niche products and large-size applications

Digitimes Research: China touch panel makers increasing investments in niche products and large-size applications: The China International Touchscreen Exhibition (C-Touch) was recently held in Shenzhen, China, featuring a number of local and international touch and IC makers. Throughout the exhibition there were several noticeable trends namely a revival of G/G solutions, development of large-size touch screens and further emphasis on niche products.


RT @Forbes: Users looking for high-end devices are not staying with Android https://t.co/ID8A7rX24G...

RT @Forbes: Users looking for high-end devices are not staying with Android https://t.co/ID8A7rX24G...:

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Author:
Forbes Tech News
Source:
Sprinklr
Users looking for high-end devices are not staying with Android onforb.es/1Oz3gNo https://t.co/urgGQEtJtE



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Microsoft Lumia 550 arrives in select regions at a cost of $139

Microsoft Lumia 550 arrives in select regions at a cost of $139:

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The Microsoft Lumia 550 was officially unveiled back in October after a fair amount of speculation. Having gone for pre-order on November 14th, it was promised that the affordable handset would make retail on December 8th. Slightly earlier than billed, the Lumia 550 is now available to purchase across much of Europe, and with pricing set at the equivalent of $139, it's an ideal prospect for those seeking a basic, no-frills experience.


While not packed to the gills with power, the Lumia 550 does have plenty going for it. For starters, it's 4G LTE ready, ...

The Galaxy S7 might have a liquid cooling system, according to newest Samsung leak:...

The Galaxy S7 might have a liquid cooling system, according to newest Samsung leak:...:

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Author:
Forbes Tech News
Source:
Sprinklr
The Galaxy S7 might have a liquid cooling system, according to newest Samsung leak: onforb.es/1XVMaKh https://t.co/4IQiGoAIfj



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JDI tipped to invest in OLED display lines to prep for the iPhone 8 in 2018

JDI tipped to invest in OLED display lines to prep for the iPhone 8 in 2018:

Japan's joint-venture of Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba, which makes for JDI - one of the world's largest mobile display makers - has been rumored for a while to have landed a $1.7 billion cash injection by Apple for new plants. If true, that would indicate a long-term strategic partnership between the two companies to provide LCD displays for Apple's gadgets. In fact, just recently JDI boasted that it barely manages to produce new displays fast enough for the new iPhones, citing a "difficult technology being used," which likely means the 3D Touch pressure-sensitive tech that Apple now employs.

JDI, ...

3 Hours Left: to use $150 coupons on all of #Apple's 2015 #iMac 4K and iMac 5K BTO...

3 Hours Left: to use $150 coupons on all of #Apple's 2015 #iMac 4K and iMac 5K BTO...:

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Author:
AppleInsider
Source:
Twitter Web Client
3 Hours Left: to use $150 coupons on all of #Apple's 2015 #iMac 4K and iMac 5K BTO models ainsdr.co/21G7BDP https://t.co/Ptk7Nv7gCf



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Friday, December 4, 2015

You Will Finally Be Able to Buy the OnePlus 2 Like a Normal Phone

You Will Finally Be Able to Buy the OnePlus 2 Like a Normal Phone:

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When it came out earlier this year, we said that the OnePlus 2 is a great phone with an invite problem : you can only spend your money on OnePlus’s phone if you have an invite to do so. It’s a dumb system, and starting tomorrow, it will finally die.

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LG Display expected to save in OLED costs due to local makers

LG Display expected to save in OLED costs due to local makers: Korea-based Poongwon Precision has increased its yields for producing flexible OLED panel core components and is expected to be responsible for the vast majority of supply to LG Display in 2016.



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IDC: Xiaomi shows impressive growth in the wearable market, Samsung drops out of the top five

IDC: Xiaomi shows impressive growth in the wearable market, Samsung drops out of the top five:

Like them or hate them, wearables appear to the next big thing in the technology sector. According to the latest report from the IDC, a total of 21 million wearables have been shipped during the third quarter of 2015, a 197.6% increase compared to the same time period a year ago.



The report indicates that Fitbit remained the world's largest wearable manufacturer by units shipped. During Q3 2015, Fitbit is estimated to have shipped 4.7 million wearables, more than doubling the 2.3 million units it has shipped in Q3 2014. The market research firm notes that Fitbit has banked on the "Corporate ...