Apple said to unveil smaller iPhone, iPad models on March 21st

Apple said to unveil smaller iPhone, iPad models on March 21st:

All the hype surrounding Apple's rumored March event might soon boil to a head. Sources for both Recode and Buzzfeed understand that Apple will hold its shindig on or shortly after March 21st -- later than the previously-hinted March 15th date, but t...

Moth eyes inspire solar cells that work indoors

Moth eyes inspire solar cells that work indoors:

As a rule, most solar cells need to catch direct sunlight. Even those that work indoors can only do so much to generate power from artificial light sources. However, British researchers have found a clever (and decidedly) unusual way to harvest ene...

US and Europe reveal how they'll protect your personal data

US and Europe reveal how they'll protect your personal data:

The US and EU have published a big pile of documents that spill the beans on the pair's replacement for Safe Harbor. The new provision is known as the EU-US Privacy Shield and is designed to limit how much personal data the NSA (amongst others) can a...

Mercedes replaces robots with people on its assembly line

Mercedes replaces robots with people on its assembly line:

We've all heard stories about how the robots are taking our jobs. While that may be true, Mercedes-Benz is replacing some of its high-tech workers with real live humans. As it turns out, robots can't keep up with the degree of customization that the...

Leaked schematics show us what Apple’s next new iPhone will look like

Leaked schematics show us what Apple’s next new iPhone will look like:

Though Tim Cook once promised to "double down" on product secrecy, details surrounding Apple's upcoming iPhone 5se haven't left much to the imagination. Recently, schematics and drawings of Apple's soon to be unveiled 4-inch iPhone hit the web and, not too surprisingly, the device appears to largely resemble the iPhone 5s.

Despite earlier reports which indicated that iPhone 5se might liberally borrow some of the design cues Apple first introduced with the iPhone 6, it now seems that Apple will largely keep the iPhone 5s casing intact while significantly bolstering the internals.

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Report claims Apple’s next big iPad announcement won’t be what we expected

Report claims Apple’s next big iPad announcement won’t be what we expected:

Before today, I expected that Apple in March would until its third-generation iPad Air. However, a new report from 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is going to throw a curveball: Instead of unveiling an iPad Air 3, the new tablet will actually be a smaller version of the iPad Pro. In other words, it sounds like the days when the iPad was a completely keyboard-free device may be at a close.

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Virtual reality is amazing and I want no part of it

Virtual reality is amazing and I want no part of it:

One of the big themes at this year's Mobile World Congress has been the rise of virtual reality headsets as legitimate consumer gadgets. From Samsung's Gear VR to HTC's Vive, we've seen a lot of impressive hardware that promises to bring VR to the mainstream.

There's just one problem with all this amazing technology, however: I don't want any part of it.

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LTPS, Oxide, AMOLED displays penetrate 41.8% of China-made handsets in 2015, says CINNO research

LTPS, Oxide, AMOLED displays penetrate 41.8% of China-made handsets in 2015, says CINNO research: LTPS TFT-LCD, AMOLED and Oxide TFT-LCD panels took up 28.3%, 9.1% and 4.4% respectively of China-made handsets in 2015, according to China-based CINNO Research.

MWC 2016: Huawei aims to become largest smartphone vendor in 5 years

MWC 2016: Huawei aims to become largest smartphone vendor in 5 years: Huawei aims to surpass Apple in 2-3 years and then Samsung Electronics in five years to become the worlds' largest smartphone vendor, according to a China-based tech.qq.com report, citing Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei Device and CEO of Huawei's consumer business group.

Digitimes Research: LED communication is promising

Digitimes Research: LED communication is promising: Communication technology using LED diodes and image sensors offers many potential applications, such those for enhancing shopping, entertainment purposes and tourism, according to Digitimes Research.

11 things I learned about the smartphone that charges in under 15 minutes

11 things I learned about the smartphone that charges in under 15 minutes:

I still can’t believe a smartphone's battery can be recharged from empty to 100% in under 15 minutes, but now I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

Oppo announced its SuperVook fast-charging technology at MWC 2016, revealing that a 2,500 mAh battery could be recharged faster than anything we've seen before. In fact, a phone with this battery tech could be fully charged from empty in less time than it takes you to take your morning shower.

Naturally, I had to go and give the technology for a spin to find out how it works.

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Report says Apple iPhone 5/iPhone 5s were the most used iPhone models in the U.S. during Q4 2015

Report says Apple iPhone 5/iPhone 5s were the most used iPhone models in the U.S. during Q4 2015:

Device Atlas' comprehensive report for the fourth quarter of 2015 reveals that based on the amount of web traffic, the Apple iPhone 5 combined with the Apple iPhone 5s were the most used iPhone models in the U.S. from October through the end of last year. That was followed by the Apple iPhone 6 and Apple iPhone 6 Plus.



That was the case throughout much of the world. While the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus combination was next in the U.S., in most European countries the Apple iPhone 4 and Apple iPhone 4s were used to generate more web traffic than the most current iPhone models. ...

Report: Apple manufacturer Foxconn acquires Sharp for $6.2 billion

Report: Apple manufacturer Foxconn acquires Sharp for $6.2 billion:

Last month it was reported that Apple manufacturer Foxconn had bid $5.3 billion to acquire Japanese display maker Sharp, who has faced numerous financial and manufacturing difficulties over recent years. Now, Japanese news outlet Nikkei Asian Review reports that Sharp has accepted an offer from Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, for $6.2 billion.

It was initially reported last year that Foxconn was looking to acquire Sharp with an investment from Apple. That rumored deal proposed that Foxconn would hold a majority stake in the company, while Apple would be on the board as an investor. It’s unclear at this point if the deal Sharp accepted from Foxconn included an investment from Apple or not.

Sharp had faced a choice between Hon Hai’s takeover bid and support from the Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, a state-backed fund. The fund offered Sharp a 300 billion yen injection as well as a 200 billion yen credit line.

With Foxconn having now acquired Sharp, the company is put in a position where it can start to actually make iPhone components, going beyond its current role of assembling the devices.

Sharp’s Kameyama Plant No. 1 in Japan is solely dedicated to producing iPhone displays. Apple initially invested $987 million to transform the plant from an HDTV panel plant to a smartphone LCD factory.

Whether Apple is involved in the deal or not, it’s good news for the Cupertino company. iPhone displays are currently manufactured by Sharp, Samsung, and LG, with Foxconn handling the assembly process. For Apple’s part, it should no longer have to worry about one of its iPhone manufacturing partners going out of business and being unable to fulfill orders.

Apple has reportedly been beefing up its role in the display industry recently. The company reportedly opened a secret production laboratory in northern Taiwan last year to work on developing thinner and brighter displays. Should Apple play a role in the Foxconn acquisition of Sharp, it will gain access to a variety of new talent and resources. Even if Foxconn is the only player in the deal, Apple has such a strong relationship with the manufacturer that it will surely benefit from the deal.

We should know more about Apple’s role in the deal when Sharp and Foxconn officially release details. Until then, it’s unclear how big of a role Apple played in the acquisition process.

Check out 9to5Mac for more breaking coverage of AAPL Company, Apple, and iPhone.

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ZTE's Android projector/tablet combo is crazy like a fox

ZTE's Android projector/tablet combo is crazy like a fox:

Even more intriguing than new mid-range phones is ZTE's Spro Plus, which might just be the craziest projector design I've seen yet. The company basically managed to fit an 8.4-inch Android tablet right on top of a projector. And while that may sound...

Flexible smartphones may be coming sooner than you think

Flexible smartphones may be coming sooner than you think:

Companies have been promising us futuristic, paper-like displays since forever, but so far we remain unimpressed. The ReFlex, a prototype flexible smartphone from Queens University is tantalizingly close to what we've been waiting for, though. To bui...

Mitsubishi is working on a floating display

Mitsubishi is working on a floating display:

While it's not the 3D Star Wars hologram you're hoping for, Mitsubishi is developing a system to project video in mid-air, which it hopes to commercialize in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. To pull it off, the company is using two types of optical...

HTC's Vive will cost $799, ship in early April

HTC's Vive will cost $799, ship in early April:

If you've been eagerly awaiting HTC's Vive VR headset, we hope you've been saving up. At Mobile World Congress today, HTC announced that the consumer version of the Vive will cost $799. That price includes the headset, two wireless controllers with h...

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are beautiful, if unsurprising sequels

The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are beautiful, if unsurprising sequels:

When Samsung outed the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge last year, we all generally lavished it with praise. It was for a good reason -- they were easily the nicest phones Samsung had crafted in years, even though one was clearly more popular than the other. Th...

Lenovo has a lot of cheap Android tablets

Lenovo has a lot of cheap Android tablets:

In addition to unleashing Windows 10 fury on an unsuspecting Spanish public, Lenovo is also introducing a new line of Android tablets named "TAB3" here at MWC 2016.

There's the TAB3 7 and TAB3 8, which, if you couldn't guess, had 7- and 8-inch displ...

Visa thinks your car should pay for its own fuel

Visa thinks your car should pay for its own fuel:

The jury may still be out on the usefulness of the Internet of Things, but payments giant Visa is 100 percent sure that it doesn't want to miss out. Today, it announced plans to push Visa payments into numerous fields. We're talking "wearables, autom...

Motorola chief Rick Osterloh weighs in on life under Lenovo

Motorola chief Rick Osterloh weighs in on life under Lenovo:

Motorola's split from Google and absorption by Lenovo left many people wondering if one of the world's most interesting phone makers would get mismanaged into oblivion. Motorola president Rick Osterloh sought to clear the air with a candid chat sessi...

LG came out fighting at Mobile World Congress

LG came out fighting at Mobile World Congress:

MWC proper hadn't even started, yet LG was already poised to be the talk of the show. Its G5 flagship surprised everyone with its snap-on accessories, but that wasn't the main talking point. The company also introduced a dizzying array of accessories...

Oppo can fully charge a smartphone in 15 minutes

Oppo can fully charge a smartphone in 15 minutes:

Most people might not drool over Oppo phones, but they're going to get a feature that might get those salivary glands pumping. This morning at Mobile World Congress, the company showed off its new SuperVOOC quick-charging technology — if real-w...

Demand for LCD panels for mosaic video walls surging in China, says firm

Demand for LCD panels for mosaic video walls surging in China, says firm: Mainly because the China government has been boosting development of smart cities, there is fast growing use of mosaic video walls in communities, parks, hospitals and other public facilities and corresponding TFT-LCD panels, according to China-based Sigmaintell Consulting.

Smart car algorithm sees pedestrians as well as you can

Smart car algorithm sees pedestrians as well as you can:

It's one thing for computers to spot people in relatively tame academic situations, but it's another when they're on the road -- you need your car to spot that jaywalker in time to avoid a collision. Thankfully, UC San Diego researchers have made tha...

Diatoms are a biological wonder material, new study says

Diatoms are a biological wonder material, new study says:

Caltech professor Julia Greer and her team have taken a really close look at diatoms and found them to be tougher and more resilient than previously thought. Diatoms are single-celled, mostly microscopic algae encased in hard shells made of silica ca...

Foxconn likely to become Sharp's new owner

Foxconn likely to become Sharp's new owner:

Foxconn is now the clear favorite to buy Sharp after offering $5.5 billion for the moribund electronics firm. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Foxconn's bid was so large that it's now entering "exclusive talks" to seal the deal. Previously,...

Carbon nanotube film is stronger and stretchier than kevlar

Carbon nanotube film is stronger and stretchier than kevlar:

Researchers at East China University of Science & Technology have finally managed to develop a macroscopic material that exhibits the same strength and pliability as individual nanotubes. In fact, their new carbon nanotube-based film that is five...

Lenovo finally profitable on mobile after buying Motorola

Lenovo finally profitable on mobile after buying Motorola:

Lenovo is making money in PCs despite a flaccid market, and declining mobile sales apparently aren't bothering it, either. The company made a solid $300 million in net profit this quarter, even though overall sales were down eight percent over last y...

Samsung's Safety Truck concept starts testing in Argentina

Samsung's Safety Truck concept starts testing in Argentina:

If you've ever driven behind a slow semi-truck on a tight, two-lane road, you'd get the appeal of Samsung's Safety Truck. It's equipped with a camera up front, which sends a live feed to four weatherproof video monitors on the back. That lets you see...

Touchscreens could soon evolve way beyond 3D Touch

Touchscreens could soon evolve way beyond 3D Touch:

I’d never want to use a built-in physical keyboard on any device that has a touchscreen display, though some companies insist on coming up with such accessories. But the fact is that using touchscreens can be annoying in some instances where some sort of tactile feedback -- like the presence of a button -- might be helpful.

One startup figured out a way to manufacture a particular tablet case that creates buttons out of nothing (okay, it’s a liquid). More interesting, a German company is now studying a different kind of touchscreen manufacturing process that would let it add next-gen haptic feedback features to a display. Essentially, Robert Bosch wants to add a "feel" sense to displays that could be used without a person looking.

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Notebook vendors facing high channel inventory in 1Q16

Notebook vendors facing high channel inventory in 1Q16: Notebook brand vendors are facing high channel inventories for the first quarter of 2016 as they placed increased orders to restock in the fourth quarter of 2015, but demand from the year-end holidays was not strong enough to digest volumes to a safe level.

Detachable tablet sales are taking off

Detachable tablet sales are taking off:

The tablet market might be tanking as a whole, but there's apparently one major bright spot: tablets with detachable keyboards. While IDC estimates that slate shipments were down almost 14 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter, shipments of de...

Apple's smaller iPhone and new iPad tipped for March 15th event

Apple's smaller iPhone and new iPad tipped for March 15th event:

The iPhone 5se and iPad Air 3 rumors are piling up, and it looks like we won't have to wait long to get the official details. Both BuzzFeed's John Paczkowski and 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman, both of whom have solid track records when it comes to rumors, re...

Zagg buys battery phone case maker Mophie for $100 million

Zagg buys battery phone case maker Mophie for $100 million:

In what appears to be a coming-together of a phone accessory empire, Zagg has just announced that it's buying Mophie for at least $100 million, with perhaps more to be awarded later on depending on Mophie's sales figures. Zagg is a mobile accessory c...

Microsoft is reportedly buying SwiftKey

Microsoft is reportedly buying SwiftKey:

Microsoft has made a habit out of acquiring significant mobile app makers, but its next deal may cut particularly close to the bone for smartphone fans. The Financial Times' sources understand that Microsoft is on the cusp of acquiring software keyb...