Apple’s completely redesigned giant ‘iPad Pro’ will make its debut on September 9th

Apple’s completely redesigned giant ‘iPad Pro’ will make its debut on September 9th:

There have already been a flood of reports today regarding Apple's September 9th event, but news continues to pour out. According to the latest report, Apple will unveil not only the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and a new model of the Apple TV, but Cook and company will also use the enormous venue to announce the iPad Pro and the next-gen iPad mini.

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Do you want a 4K display on a phone? (poll results)

Do you want a 4K display on a phone? (poll results):

Whether you want it or not, you've got it: Sony has just officially taken the wraps off its Xperia Z5 Premium, the world's first smartphone with a 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160-pixel) resolution on a 5.5-inch screen, and yes - that works out to a whopping 800ppi+ of pixel density.

The phone is already a fact and will be available in the coming months as a direct competitor to the expected Apple iPhone 6s Plus, the Samsung Galaxy Note5, as well as the other high-end phablets.

Having this fresh official announcement at hand right now, though, is a reminder for ...

iSkin turns body into touch sensor:

iSkin turns body into touch sensor

A skin-worn sensor that promises to turn bodies into touch interfaces was recently presented by a group of academics. The iSkin prototype is a wearable, stretchable interface that can detect two levels of pressure even when stretched by 30% or bent with a radius of 0.5cm. It was presented by Embodied Interaction, a German research group in human-machine interaction.

Researchers were drawn from the Max Planck Institute for Informatics and Saarland University in Saarbrucken, Germany; Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; CNRS LTCI, Telecom-ParisTech, Paris, France; and Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland.

The sensor was developed in light of a growing trend of wearable devices and is designed to interact with mobile devices. ISkin has been demonstrated worn on the arm, finger and ear to control phone calls, write emails and control music.

Researchers noted that, for a wearable sensor, design was crucial and existing vector graphics can be used to create functional sensors. The sensor is made of think, flexible and stretchable silicone using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a base material.

Researchers say it is an easy-to-process silicone-based organic polymer. Furthermore it is fully transparent, elastic, and a highly biocompatible material and is often used in body implants.

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Snelling scoops 5 year contract with London university:

Snelling scoops 5 year contract with London university

UK integrator Snelling Business Systems has landed a five year contract to supply AV systems to London’s University of Westminster.

Under the terms of the agreement Snellings will deliver technology updates for approximately 350 AV-enabled teaching spaces for the University that has 22,000 students.

Consultant Hewshott International developed the room standardisation, which comprises standard, enhanced, specialist and custom spaces, combined with the implementation and on-going development of a touch panel interface, centralised monitoring and management system and estate wide service and maintenance. Snelling will have a dedicated on-site presence.

Steve Royans, sales manager at Snelling, said: “As part of the tender process for this high-value, long-term contract, we were required to demonstrate our ability to deliver a leading edge solution that offers innovation, flexibility and flair for design, as well as establish a product supply and integration service that provides the end users with an optimum combination of quality, service level and cost.”

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Sahara signs Panasonic:

Sahara signs Panasonic

Sahara Presentation Systems, a UK distributor, will add Panasonic large format displays and projectors to its portfolio from the beginning of September 2015.

The company offers more than 1000 presentation products sold through approximately 1,900 UK resellers and 80 international distributors. The company was recently named in the London Stock Exchange 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report.

Sahara moved to 260,047ft² premises earlier this year with logistic partner, Europa Worldwide Group and aims to increase its product range to resellers by more than 50%.

Kevin Batley, managing director at Sahara, said: “With a strong foothold in large format displays, a larger facility and increased onsite logistic capabilities, Sahara’s portfolio will be strengthened by the new range of Panasonic solutions that we can offer our customers, whilst helping us to realise our plans for further growth in the market.”

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Another record quarter for interactive displays:

Another record quarter for interactive displays

The global interactive displays market has grown 7% Year on Year, making it the largest Q2 ever with 300,000 displays sold globally, according to a report by industry analysts Futuresource.  Quarter 2 has seen a shift to higher priced interactive flat panels, which accounted for 57% of the market.

Despite this success, the picture isn't too healthy for western-based providers, as the Chinese market makes up more than 50% of global demand and is serviced almost entirely by local providers.

The major FATIH tender in Turkey (a total of 350,000 displays) also has a big impact on market volumes with 60,000 units shipped in Q2.

If you exclude China and Turkey from the analysis, market volumes were down 17% Year on Year as many markets increasingly focus on investments in one-to-one learning systems, such as PCs, software and digital content, highlighting the challenge for many of the leading providers to significantly penetrate these growth countries. This issue has been emphasised this quarter by the purchase of Promethean for £84 million by Net Dragon.

"As the surge of IFPDs from IWBs continues, half of the 67 countries which we track, IFPDs now make up 20% of sales, 17 countries had well over 50% and in the UK, one of the most advanced countries, this grows to 80%," says to Colin Messenger, senior market analyst at Futuresource.

Interest in interactivity within corporate meeting rooms is building and the introduction of Microsoft Surface Hub in January 2016 is expected to create a significant boost by driving awareness of the benefits of meeting room interactivity, and at the same time providing a simple to use intuitive platform for collaboration. Futuresource has increased corporate forecasts from 2016 in the USA, UK and major western European countries. Futuresource estimates that current penetration is negligible at 1.6% (with market volumes in 2014 reaching just over 100,000 units), compared to the 20% penetration in classrooms.

Asia continued to post strong volume sales in 2015 Q2, while China continued its ascent, with almost half of all world sales.

In the US, sales once again decreased. However, going forward the market value is forecast to increase strongly with a 31% 'CAGR' (2014 to 2019) driven by the increased IFPD sales into corporate business.

Q2 sales in EMEA increased 75% Year on Year, with major input from the second phase of the FATIH project in Turkey. 2015 is forecast to continue strongly with 44% volume increase before volumes drop in 2016 with the end of FATIH.


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"Shatterproof" Motorola Bounce to be called Moto X Force, new render leaks out

"Shatterproof" Motorola Bounce to be called Moto X Force, new render leaks out:

The unannounced Motorola Bounce that we showed you yesterday will reportedly be launched as the Moto X Force - a name that makes more sense, since the Moto X brand is pretty well known around the world.



The handset's new name was revealed by @upleaks, which also posted another render of the device, this time showing a black variant of it (after yesterday's white version).



As previously reported, the Moto X Force / Bounce is expected to be a high-end smartphone with a "shatterproof" display - we're not exactly sure if this means the display is protected by sapphire glass. Anyway, ...