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Category: smartphone

  • Apple introduces Health app and HealthKit in iOS 8

    Apple introduces Health app and HealthKit in iOS 8

    ios-8-health-app

    Apple has finally released the much anticipated iOS 8. The new operating system is said to be the biggest release by Apple since the introduction of the App Store. The OS comes with tons of new features, apps, and tools that allow developers to “create more amazing apps.”

    Among the new apps is Health app that comes with an easy-to-read dashboard and a HealthKit tool that allows all health apps to work together. The new app allows all your health information to be revealed by just a tap.

    The app is able to gather information from various types of fitness devices and health apps. It then uses the gathered info to come up with a clear, current, and comprehensive overview – in one place.

    With your consent, the app is able to get all your health information from other apps, providing you with a comprehensive report that goes a long way in the overall management of your health and fitness.

    The Health app also allows individual apps to collect health info from other apps, of course with your permission. For instance, if you have Nike+ apps, using NikeFuel you will be able to collect other health data such as nutrition and sleep and this builds a custom user profile that can be used to improve performance in athletics.

    With the app, users can also create an emergency card that shows all the important health information in case of an accident. Such info can include your allergies, blood type, special health conditions, and so on.

    With all these functionalities, the new Health app might just mark the beginning of a health revolution.

  • Apple Announces iOS 8, “the Biggest Release Since the Launch of the App Store”

    Apple Announces iOS 8, “the Biggest Release Since the Launch of the App Store”

    ios-8

    During today’s WWDC keynote Apple unveiled iOS 8, with tons of new features and developers tools. iOS 8 delivers a simpler and more intuitive user experience, including iCloud Photo Library, allowing users to enjoy their photos and videos more easily across their devices; new Messages features to easily share voice, video or photos; and an entirely new Health app that gives users an overview of their health and fitness data all in one place.

    iOS 8 also includes predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType keyboard, Family Sharing to share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household, and iCloud Drive, so users can store files and access them from anywhere.

    In iOS 8, the Photos app can automatically straighten horizons and with smart editing tools, users can quickly adjust light and color or access individual tools for deeper fine-tuning. With iCloud Photo Library, every adjustment and effect is automatically updated across user’s devices.

    The new Health app gathers the information users choose from various health apps and fitness devices, and provides users with a clear and current overview in one place. iOS 8 offers developers the ability for health and fitness apps to communicate with each other. With user’s permission, each app can use specific information from other apps to provide a more comprehensive way to manage user’s health and fitness.

    iOS 8 introduces Family Sharing, making it easier to communicate and share purchases, photos and calendars within the same household. Family members can browse and download each other’s iTunes, iBooks or App Store purchases. Up to six members can participate, each with their own Apple ID. Parents can create Apple IDs for children, which includes Ask to Buy, requiring parental permission for purchases.

    With iCloud Drive, documents of any type can be stored, accessed and edited across your devices. When a user makes edits on one device, the most up-to-date version of the documents will be available across all devices, whether an iOS device, Mac, Windows PC or on www.icloud.com. iCloud Drive provides seamless access and the ability to work on the same file across multiple apps.

    Additional iOS 8 features include:

    • design enhancements that build off the stunning interface of iOS 7, bringing interactive notifications, quick access to key contacts, the ability to quickly switch back and forth between the inbox and drafts in Mail, as well as intelligent suggestions;
    • extended Spotlight® capabilities that give you results beyond what’s on your device, including articles from Wikipedia, findings from the news and results from places nearby; and
    • greater continuity between iPhone®, iPad® and Mac, including Handoff to start an activity on one device and finish on another, along with Instant Hotspot and the ability to make and receive calls and send SMS and MMS messages from your Mac or iPad.

    The iOS 8 beta software and SDK are available immediately for iOS Developer Program members. iOS 8 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display.

  • Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will feature bendable display

    Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will feature bendable display

    Samsung_Youm_Flexible

    Though Samsung is yet to announce the release date of Galaxy Note 4, the features of this device are already surfacing. Lee Younghee, the executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business,  revealed that one of the numerous “astounding” features of Galaxy Note 4 is a bendable display.

    Song Jong-ho, the Seoul-based KDB Daewoo Securities’ analyst, has reported that bendable Note 4 is expected to be released before the end of the year. According to him, the new Note will be made available at an “affordable price.”

    As Song reported to The Korea Herald, this bent smartphone is the initial step towards testing the market and finding out how it would react with the foldable smartphones expected to be released in the second half of 2015.

    The Korea Times reported that it would be unveiled during the yearly IFA trade fair to be held in Berlin this September. The company’s foldable display technology was showcased during CES 2014.

    The device is incorporated with a Super Amoled display of 5.5 inch and a 2560×1440 resolution giving it a 500+ of ppi. It is powered by Quad Core Snapdragon 805 processor that has 3GB LPDDR3 RAM clocking at 2.5GHz. It is also expected to have an ISOCELL technology rear camera of 16MP.

    Among the other expected features are: a 4K video recording, an S-Pen stylus with an air command and updated gestures, a 2MP front cam incorporated with a 1080p video recording and a dust and water resistant feature.

    Its hardware design is highly advanced with a 20 nm 4 GB DDR3 DRAM housing between 3,600 and 3,800 mAh battery. It may run on either Android 4.5 Lollypop or Android 4.4.3 OS.

  • Reuters: iPhone 6 Rumored to be Released in August

    Reuters: iPhone 6 Rumored to be Released in August

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    Samsung Galaxy S5 was a disappointment to many people upon its release as it did not have many thought features as per the hyped pre-release. This has created doubt on whether Apple’s hyped new smartphone iPhone 6 will have the rumored features.

    According to the latest report, the new flagship device is expected to be far superior to the recently released Galaxy S5.

    Apple is expected to release iPhone 6 either in August, 2014 and that is according to Reuters.  Apple is expected to first release the 4.7 –inch phone ahead of the 5.5-inch phablet. Similar to Samsung’s new smartphone, iPhone 6 is expected to have a display with 1920x1080p resolution.

    Compared to Galaxy S5 that is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, the new iPhone is expected to be powered by an A8 chip 64-bit processor which is far superior that that used by the rival. iPhone is also expected to run on iOS 7.2, while Galaxy S5 runs on Android v4.4.2 KitKat OS.

    According to Apple Insiders, analyst Ming –Chi Kuo was quoted saying that iPhone 6 is expected to sport a full scratch-free sapphire crystal glass screen, low temperature polysilicon in-cell touch panels, metal casing, Touch ID fingerprint technology for enhanced security, and an 8 megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture. Further, the device will come with sensors that can detect pressure, humidity, and temperature.

    Samsung Galaxy S5 which was announced in February before being released to the market in April came with a 16.0 megapixel camera with HDR, fingerprint-based biometric technology, Private mode, Kids mode, Download booster, Bluetooth v4.0 BLE/ANT+, waterproof and dust-resistant IP67 certification,  NFC, S Health v3.0,  and IR Remote among others.

    iPhone 6 concept: Martin Hajek

  • Slingshot For Android Now Available For Free on Google Play

    Slingshot For Android Now Available For Free on Google Play

    slingshot-for-android
    Squirrels     has released an Android version of Slingshot, a service-based application allowing cross-platform screen and file sharing.

    (more…)

  • Squirrels Releases Slingshot, an iOS, Mac and Windows Screen and File Sharing App


    Squirrels, the maker of popular Reflector and AirParrot apps, has today launched Slingshot, a service-based application allowing iOS, Mac and Windows screen and file sharing. 

    Claimed to be “the first application that allows screen sharing from a mobile device while meeting with others online”, Slingshot lets you share your iOS, Mac or Windows screen with anyone in a Slingshot session – regardless of the device they are using (Android is supported too).

    The service also includes online collaboration and meeting tools. Meeting Minutes allows anyone in a session to take collaborative notes in real time, and instant file sharing shares files with everyone in a session. Users files appear instantly in the meeting for others to review and download.

    Slingshot also includes face-to-face chat with up to five streaming webcams in a session.

    The service is available free for 30 days. The individual plan allows one-on-one collaboration and screen sharing for $9.99 USD. Other plans are available that allow more users, more webcam feeds, dial-in access and more concurrent sessions.

    The developer offers special pricing and plans for corporations and larger groups with “unique needs.”

    Find out more about Slingshot in the original article posted on What’s on iPhone.

  • The New and Stylish OnePlus One Smartphone


    There has been a recent influx of a high-powered Android smartphones that you can buy without contract, as seen with the likes of the Nexus 5 and the Moto G. If you’re looking for a powerful device that is affordable and one that will give you the best bang for your buck, look no further than the trending OnePlus One. 

    Not to be confused with the Taiwan giant’s flagship phone the HTC One which costs a whopping $600 without contract, OnePlus is a new company trying to get a foothold in the smartphone industry with its first go mobile phone being the Oneplus one. 

    A look under the hood

    The Oneplus One packs a 5.5 inch full HD display JDI-made with a 401ppi pixel density, smaller than the Samsung Note 3’s huge display. But by other accounts it has bested the Note 3 and is a force to reckon with.

    A peak under the hood reveals its processor which is faster than the Note 3. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor CPU that clocks a speed of 2.5 GHz which is much higher than Note 3’s 2.3 GHz. When it comes to the camera, the primary has 13 mp and 5 mp secondary camera greater than the Note’s 13 mp and 2 mp respectively. It is at par in terms of battery size with the Note 3, which should give you more than a day’s charge according to Oneplus. It runs on cyanogen, based on Google’s Android version 4.4 aka kitKat. The data equipment on the Oneplus is compatible with most 3G/4G networks in the world including AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S. It comes in the 16GB and 64GB versions. All this is packed inside a beautiful well finished magnesium casing. It weighs about 162 grams, which makes it the lightest of the 5.5 inch smartphones.

    It is currently available in white and black colors but OnePlus will soon be launching swappable back covers to add a touch of personality to the phone. The covers will range from denim, Kevlar, and bamboo. At $299 for the 16 GB version it’s one of the best smartphones you have never heard of.

  • Home SmartPhone S Helps You Block Nuisance Calls


    A recently announced Home SmartPhone S features a unique technology that allows you to call block up to 80% of your unwanted calls. This new smartphone is a follow up from the previous bestselling BT6500 that was the first landline to block nuisance calls.

    The new unwanted calls blocking feature allows you to block calls from withheld numbers, international numbers as well as unknown callers. You  also have an option of putting the phone on do not disturb mode, that bars outgoing calls to various numbers, switches off the ringer, blocks premium rate lines as well as  blocks incoming calls from 10 phone numbers.

    In the UK, nuisance calls have become a growing concern, with an average of 50,000 calls monthly coming to the advice line. However, since the BT6500 was introduced, the number of calls coming in has gone down by half. A research that was carried out by Ofcom indicates that on average, people receive two nuisance calls every week. It is indicated that more than half of these calls come from insurance companies sourcing for clients.

    The new Home Smartphone S now allows users to be in control of the people they want to talk to. It also allows them to look up cont acts and make chats via calls, email or Facebook. The new smartphone is available for sale in selected stores.

  • Pocket Friendly LTE Smartphones


    LTE smartphones have become a necessity in today’s society and there are different brands and varieties that emerge every day. However large the smartphone pool is, many people are looking for a smartphone that won’t break their banks. There are smartphones that are both economical and at the same time have phenomenal features. Two of these are the Huawei Kestrel and the Nokia Lumia 635.

    Having just been launched recently, the Nokia Lumia 635 and Huawei–made Kestrel are powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core Snapdragon that runs at 1.2 GHz. The main objective of using the Snapdragon, which was launched June last year, was to reduce the overall cost of the LTE smartphones. The Huawei Kestrel phone has a screen resolution of 960×540 pixels while the Nokia Lumia has an 854×480 pixel resolution.

    Just like the almost similar processor and screen resolution, the weight of the two phones is almost similar, too. The Nokia Lumia weighs 134 grams while the Kestrel weighs 145 grams. On the other hand the Kestrel measures 131×65.3×7.85 millimeters while the Nokia Lumia 129.5×66.7×9.2 millimeters. The integrated storage in both phones is 8GB but have external microSD card slot . The Kestrel has a 1GB RAM while the Nokia Lumia has a 512 MB RAM. An added advantage to the Nokia Lumia 635 is its 7GB online storage.

    Camera wise, the two smartphones have a 5 megapixel camera and video at 720p and 30 frames. The Huawei Kestrel also has an additional 1 megapixel  camera at the back. The two phones also have additional applications installed that help to enhance the phone’s camera. The Huawei Kestrel will be available from the end of April and will retail at $160 while the Nokia Lumia while be available during summer and will retail at $189 without taxes.

  • HTC Releases HTC One M8

    HTC showcased its new smartphone on Tuesday. The company hopes to capture its lost market share to Samsung through the Launch of HTC One M8, an upgrade of their award winning HTC One.

    The new smartphone boasts an improved camera technology, a faster processor, a larger display than its predecessor and upgraded software, the company said.

    During a meeting held in London, Cher Wang, the company’s Chairwoman said that the new smartphone was more advanced than HTC One.

    The smartphone has won numerous awards the latest being ` Smartphone of the Year` in February at a Mobile World Congress.

    She was full of praise for their new model terming it as the best smartphone in the world.

    Despite all the awards and praise by critics, the company still experienced declining sales as it scrambled for a share of the market dominated by market leaders, in terms of sales, such as Apple and Samsung.

    Research conducted by Neil Mawston, a Strategy Analyst, shows a decline in the company’s global market share to 2 percent in 2013 consideringthat over two years ago, a HTC phone was sold out of every 10 smartphones sold in the world.

    Sales figures in February are 36 percent lower compared to the sales of the previous year.

    HTC has introduced cheaper handsets to regain the market share not forgetting its new smartphone HTC One M8.

    Analysts at CCS Insight view the HTC One M8 as the smartphone that will define the success of the company. They also noted that the company had learned vital lessons from the award winning but underperforming predecessor.

    They also added that the phones new design and premium materials would help the company regain its lost market share.