Samsung on Wednesday rejected claims that its new oversized smartphone had a defect, after some customers posted pictures of a gap between the frame and display panel.
The South Korean electronics giant, which had poked fun at rival Apple over reports that its new iPhone model was susceptible to bending, said the “Gapgate” complaints concerning the Galaxy Note 4 were groundless.
After the “phablet” went on sale in China and South Korea on Friday, a number of South Korean users posted or tweeted pictures showing how a business card could be inserted between the display panel and the frame.
Some warned the gap would collect dirt and might even allow fluid into the device.
Samsung insisted the gap was a natural part of design that “does not impact the functionality or quality” of the phone.
“We assure our customers that all Galaxy Note 4 units meet our strict manufacturing and quality control standards,” it said in a statement.
A company spokesman added that the model had passed rigorous tests for dirt protection and water resistance.
The Galaxy Note 4 is important for Samsung, which brought the launch forward, apparently with the aim of getting it into the China market before the new iPhone 6, and larger iPhone 6 Plus.
Samsung initially pioneered the market for the “phablet” devices sized between a smartphone and a tablet computer when it introduced the Galaxy Note series in 2011.
The two rivals have locked horns for years in their battle to dominate the global smartphone market, suing each other for alleged patent violations and using aggressive advertising.
In a recent ad for Galaxy Note, Samsung showed a bent phone bowing to a straight phone with a line “Bend to those who are worthy”.
-NDTV
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Microsoft has disclosed the first details of Windows 10 - its next operating system (OS), BBC reports.
The name is a surprise, bearing in mind it represents a jump from the last version - Windows 8.
The software will run on a wide range of devices, from phones and tablets to PCs and Xbox games consoles, with applications sold from a single store.
It also marks the return of the Start Menu, which had been removed from Windows 8.
In addition to offering a list of the user's favourite applications, the menu also brings up resizable tiles - similar to those featured in Windows 8's touch-centric interface on PCs and tablets.
These provide a quick view of notifications from relevant applications, such as details of new emails, Facebook messages and weather forecast updates.
The company said the facility was intended to make the software seem familiar to both users of Windows 8 and Windows 7.
The behaviour of the OS will depend on the type of device with which it is being used. Unlike its predecessor, users will not need to switch between Desktop Mode and the touch-focused alternative.
However, they can still spread a number of "live tiles" across the screens of two-in-one laptop-tablet hybrids to make them easier to use with both a mouse and finger presses.
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Microsoft plans to offer a glimpse of its vision for Windows this week, as its new CEO seeks to redefine the company and recover from missteps with its flagship operating system.
Although the new software won’t be formally released until next year, analysts already consider its success crucial for Microsoft and Satya Nadella, who has made mobile devices and Internet-based services priorities since becoming CEO in February.
With its tablet-like touch controls, Windows 8 had been Microsoft’s answer to slumping sales in personal computers amid a rising demand for mobile devices. But the company alienated many users by forcing radical behavioral changes. Research firm IDC even blamed Windows 8 for accelerating a decline in PC sales in the first full quarter following the system’s release in October 2012.
Microsoft has released updates that address some of the complaints, yet analytics firm Net Applications estimates that five out of six Windows users are still using something other than Windows 8.
The next major release will be the company’s chance to regain its footing and show that Microsoft can embrace mobile devices without sacrificing the traditional computing experience.
Microsoft is expected to give an early look at some new features Tuesday during an event the company has billed as a discussion about “what’s next for Windows.” The company hasn’t said what it plans to call the new Windows version.
- Foreign News
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 went earlier on sale than originally planned in order to compete with the iPhone 6 Plus. However, it seems that Samsung’s rush has resulted in some defective Galaxy Note 4 units, a report from South Korea suggests.
As you can see, there’s a gap between the Galaxy Note 4′s 5.7″ QHD Super AMOLED display and the metal casing next to it. The report suggests, the gap is wide enough to fit 2 sheets of A4 paper or a business card.
There’s no official comment from Samsung regarding the mishap of the number of affected Galaxy Note 4 customers. We guess if there are more such cases, we’ll be hearing from the company sooner than later.
In South Korea a SIM-free Galaxy Note 4 will run you at approximately $920, which is the cheapest of any Note phablet so far. Pre-orders of the Galaxy Note 4 are already underway in the US. There, the phone is confirmed to launch on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile on October 14.
-GsmArena
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It was only yesterday we saw a few noteworthy specs from the upcoming Motorola-made Nexus 6 (Nexus X) outlined in a new report. To help illustrate what we could be looking at when the device is officially unveiled later this year (nothing has been confirmed, of course) a quick mockup was made showcasing a really stretched out Moto X. Having seen a Motorola phablet ourselves, we confirmed that the mockup was, for the most part, accurate.
Today, the rumored Motorola Shamu — aka Nexus 6, Nexus X — seems to have made a physical appearance next to an LG G3 in a quick size comparison. The photo, posted on XDA, lines up with what we’ve seen of the device (only the one we peeped was all silver) and with a rumored 5.92-inch display, will look like an extremely tall version of the Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen).
We told you more leaks would begin coming out of the woodwork as we approach the anniversary of the Nexus 5. Expect more to be revealed in the coming weeks.
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THE ARTICLE 29 DATA PROTECTION WORKING PARTY has written to Google CEO Larry Page and reminded him that it is about time for Google to sort out its privacy policy problem, and told him how to do it.
Google and European data protection watchdogs are like oil and water, but there have been moves towards more friendly relations.
The Article 29 letter keeps things friendly, but is rather compelling. "Dear Mr Page," it begins.
"At the beginning of 2012, EU data protection authorities launched an in-depth investigation to assess the compliance of Google's privacy policy with European Data Protection legislation. This process unveiled several issues with the privacy policy and the combination of data across services.
"Procedures were conducted in 2013 and 2014 in a number of EU Member States, some of which concluded that the current privacy policy did not meet the requirements laid down in the respective national laws."
"In order to guide Google in this compliance effort, [we] developed guidelines containing a common list of measures that your company could implement. A draft version was presented to representatives of Google on 2 July 2014, at a meeting in Paris in presence of five European Data protection authorities," it said.
"The guidelines have been elaborated in the context of this specific coordinated EU investigation into Google's privacy policy. The Article 29 Working Party may also consider issuing guidance on specific issues to the entire industry, at a later stage. The Article 29 Working Party remains open to discuss any other measures that Google would propose to address the legal requirements."
The list of guidelines (PDF) comes in an appendix and it recommends that Google create easy to access and easy to understand privacy information. This should be clearly visible across all of Google's services, it added, and should be based on correct information.
The issue dates back to 2012 and a time when Google forced all users to accept one privacy policy across all of its services. European regulators baulked at this, and in France Google was fined a shoulder shrugging €150,000 for its effort.
Google has not commented on the latest missive.
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Apple filled a gaping hole in its product lineup with new iPhones boasting larger screens like Samsung's flagship Galaxy smartphones. Now, Samsung is coming out with a smaller phone that looks and feels more like an iPhone.
The new iPhones measure 4.7 inches and 5.5 inches diagonally, up from 4 inches before. Still, that's smaller than the 5.1 inches on the Galaxy S5 and the 5.7 inches on the Galaxy Note 3 and 4 phones.
But even Samsung is stepping back from its recent practice of releasing ever-bigger phones. The new Galaxy Alpha matches the 4.7 inches on the iPhone 6 and has a metal frame like the new iPhones, reflecting Samsung's attempt to mirror Apple's emphasis on design.
Unfortunately, the Alpha falls short in a few ways, including the resolution of its display. Other shortcomings will become apparent as I go through the various features.
The Alpha will be available in the U.S. starting Friday through AT&T. It will cost $200 with a two-year service contract, or $613 without one. The $613 price, which can be paid in installments, is less than the $650 starting price for the Galaxy S5 and the iPhone 6. You also get double the storage with the Alpha, but it's still a high price to pay for technology that isn't top of the line.
———
— THE BUILD:
The Alpha's metal frame represents a departure from previous Samsung Galaxy phones, which primarily consisted of polycarbonate plastics.
However, the Alpha still has a plastic back, albeit one that feels smoother and nicer than what's on the S5. You can swap in a spare battery, but can't add a memory card.
What struck me most was how the Alpha feels much like last year's iPhone 5s. The sides are smooth and straight, and the edges are at right angles, like the box for a deck of cards. The corners, though, are curved.
By contrast, the new iPhones feature curved edges, so they feel thinner, lighter and less boxy. But the Alpha is actually smaller, thinner and lighter than the iPhone 6 — by a tad. Compared with both, the S5 feels giant.
———
— THE SCREEN:
Size isn't all that matters. The screens on the iPhone 6 and the S5 are both sharper than the Alpha's. The Alpha's screen is decent for reading text and viewing images, but it's about the same resolution as what Samsung built into the Galaxy S III phone back in 2012.
Like other Samsung phones, the Alpha uses a screen technology called AMOLED, for active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes. This is designed to produce richer colors than iPhones, but sometimes the technology goes overboard. For instance, some people complain that AMOLED technology distorts color, so human skin looks too orange, for instance. There was a hint of that when viewing photos and video, but not enough to bother me.
———
— THE CAMERA:
The Alpha's camera is 12 megapixels, less than the 16 megapixels on the S5. Although the Alpha's megapixel count is still higher than the iPhone's 8 megapixels, Apple has squeezed many other technological touches into iPhones to deliver consistently good images.
I took dozens of photos with all three phones and found the megapixel count mattered only in a handful. In good light, street signs and posters on a store window across the street came out slightly better on both Samsung phones.
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The bigger screens but thinner bodies of Apple’s new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models have come at the cost of rigidity, according to owners who say they bent while being carried in trouser pockets.
A number of users across various forums, sites and Twitter have reported – and pictured – that their phones have become warped after they sat or bent down with them in front and rear trouser pockets.
The reports come just after an insurance company claimed that the new iPhones are the most robust ever – though its tests didn’t include bending.
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus chassis is milled from a solid piece of aluminium alloy whose composition is secret. The weak area of the phone appears to be around the volume buttons, where the frame is at its thinnest and creates a fulcrum point around which the phone bends. Surprisingly, the screen does not break when the phone bends – though it does if the phone is then bent back to a flat profile.
Apple is not the first to have the problem of a large-screened metal-framed smartphone bending under use. Sony’s Xperia Z1, which had a 5in screen and a metal frame, saw users complaining that they bent in pockets, while Samsung Galaxy S4 users had similar complaints, as did BlackBerry Q10 users.
The exact number of iPhone 6 users affected is unknown. The Guardian found dozens of people on Twitter whose iPhone 6 or 6 Plus had bent – though there are also hundreds more echoing news reports and the pictures put up by those who have been affected.
The amount of force required to bend the smartphone is unlikely to be repeated in all but the skinniest of trousers. Before conducting the test, Lewis Hilsenteger from Unbox Therapy said his 6 Plus showed signs of being bent simply from being in his trouser pocket.
The Guardian’s testing of the phones over the past two weeks has not revealed any tendency towards deformation when normal care is taken.
Apple had not replied to request for comment by the time of publication.
Hilsenteger conducted a similar test with the 5.7in Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phablet, which warped to a lesser extent and then came back into shape due to its primarily plastic construction. The Note 3 is 2.5mm thicker than the iPhone 6 Plus, which is 7mm thick.
‘Bigger and more durable than any before them’
Reports of the phones’ bending comes as SquareTrade, which offers extended warranties on products, concluded that the new iPhones were the most robust yet in its “breakability” rating. The company put the phones through submersion in water, drops and sliding tests.
“Both new iPhones are bigger and more durable than any before them,” the SquareTrade spokesman said in the YouTube video of the company’s testing regime. “The iPhone 6 passed all of our tests with flying colours. The iPhone 6 Plus also did extremely well but it’s so big that it lost points for gripability and size, and didn’t do quiet as well in our drop test.”
A dissembling or “teardown” by repair specialists iFixit showed that Apple has made durability improvements to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, with rubber gaskets around buttons to help prevent water and dust entering and causing damage. Other manufacturers including Sony and Samsung have made their smartphones including the Xperia Z2 and Galaxy S5 resistant to brief submersion in water. Apple hasn’t made any claims about water resistance for the new iPhones.
Smartphones bending under pressure in the pocket is not a new thing. Phones whose frames are made of metal are most susceptible and noticeable because the metal permanently deforms - rather than rebounding or snapping as plastic does.
‘Weakness of the new iPhone’
Previous iPhones, including the iPhone 4, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, have suffered from bending, with users complaining about the problem in 2010, 2012 and last year via Apple’s official internet forums.
But the larger and thinner the smartphone, the more likely it is to be damaged by being carried in the pocket under tension.
“In material bending, larger cross-sectional areas [thickness x width] and shorter lengths make things stronger - you can’t easily bend a cube - while the opposite makes things very easy to bend – paper is easily folded,” Jeremy Irons, a design engineer at Creative Engineering explained to Gizmodo. “The increased length and decreased thickness contribute to the weakness of the new iPhone. Strength is proportionally related to length, but strength is affected much more by changes in thickness.”
The thinner and larger the phones get the more susceptible to damage they are likely to be, regardless of how strong the materials used in the phones to reinforce them. Being thin makes large phones more pocketable, but users need to think about the stress and strain in tight pockets as they sit down, regardless of whether they carry them in the back or front pockets.
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Apple has sold more than 10 million units of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, setting a new record for the company and meeting analysts’ optimistic predictions.
This means that that the company continues its record-breaking streak of opening weekend sales, topping last year’s figure of nine million iPhones sold for the 5s and 5c.
Analysts have been predicted sales from around 7 million to the low teens, with Barclay’s Ben Reitzes commenting earlier this week that “anything above 10mm units should be considered a positive surprise”.
The figures will be particularly impressive as unlike with last year’s launch sales figures for the 6 and 6 Plus do not include China, the phone company’s second largest market by revenue. (The devices are still awaiting a crucial licence in China, creating a thriving grey market for the devices).
Both the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have larger screens than previous devices (4.7-inches and 5.5-inches respectively) and although Apple has not broken down the sales figures by model, it’s thought that the smaller 6 is out-selling the 6 Plus by a significant margin.
Apple’s full line-up of phone now comprise the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 5s and 5c – a relatively cheaper plastic model that the company did not update in its most recent launch, instead choosing to lower the cost (often free with a contract) in order to target less affluent customers.
Although Android still dominates the global smartphone market, the iPhone continues to be the most popular single device in many developed countries with 42 per cent market share in the US. The iPhone also continues to be Apple’s main money spinner, providing around 70 per cent of the company’s profit.
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The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are bigger than their predecessors in more ways than one.
The devices, which boast larger screens, are so popular since their unveiling last week that they have broken all iPhone pre-order sales records.
Apple sold a record 4 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones on Friday, the first day that the new iGadgets were available for pre-order, the company said Monday.
Demand for the new iPhones was so high that the iPhone 6 Plus sold out within hours. While many people who pre-ordered the iPhone 6 will get them this Friday, many others won’t get their iPhones delivered until next month.
“Demand for the new iPhones exceeds the initial pre-order supply,” Apple said in a statement.
The company noted that an additional supply of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones will be made available to walk-in customers on Friday Sept. 19, beginning at 8:00 a.m. local time at Apple stores.
People have already begun camping outside Apple Stores around the world to be among the first to get their hands on one of the new iPhones.
This is the first year that Apple announced how many iPhones it sold in the first day — rather than in the first weekend. A year ago, Apple said it sold 9 million iPhone 5S and 5C smartphones in the first weekend.
What makes the iPhone so hot, aside from having the latest Apple product, is the larger screen sizes.
The iPhone 6 is 4.7 inches, while the iPhone 6 Plus measures 5.5 inches diagonally, giving Samsung, which has dominated the giant phone market, some competition.
The iPhones are also packed with new features, including “reachability.” With a double touch, the display can slide down so users can reach “anything” at the top of the phone, an ideal feature for multitasking.
Apple Pay, the company’s digital wallet that is aiming to be a credit card killer, will also be supported on the new iPhones.
Source: CNN/ ABC News
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Apple’s website collapsed under increased traffic early Friday morning after eager customers waited until midnight to order the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Users logging onto the online Apple Store at midnight — when the new iPhones were scheduled to go on sale — reported slow load times and a long delay in the devices becoming available to purchase.
Some service appears to have been restored after about 30 minutes. But later Friday morning, the store was down for some users. Its availability appeared to be intermittent.
Some customers reported that the iPhone was available on carrier websites and the Apple Store app but not the desktop site. There were reports that the iPhone 6 had sold out through some carriers, though when we checked on Apple.com, the iPhone 6 was available. The iPhone 6 Plus is not shipping for seven to 10 business days, or longer depending on the model you want.
The delays in the iPhone 6 becoming available in the online store frustrated many customers, as they had waited until the early hours of the morning to order the new phone.
The non-functional online store is the third glitch in a row to plague the launch of iPhone 6. At the launch event, the livestream failed for 25 minutes, leaving viewers staring at a fuzzy test-card and listening to commentary in Chinese. Then Apple delayed the iPhone 6 launch in China after failing to get regulatory approval on time.
Of course, one might equally argue that the crashing web site illustrates the huge demand for the new phones — and is thus a good sign for Apple.
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Update: It seems that we might see the newest Windows as soon as September 30 in a preview event held by Microsoft. Also, we hope you like Cortana. Details below!
With Windows 8 and now Windows 8.1, Microsoft tried – not entirely successfully – to make tablets part of a continuum that goes from number-crunching workstations and high-end gaming rigs through all-in-one touchscreen media systems and thin-and light notebooks down to slender touch tablets.
The general consensus is that it still has a long way to go to produce a unified OS.
Despite rumors of an aggressive development and shipping schedule, there's no official word about what's in the next version of Windows, but there are plenty of rumors (many of them from Chinese enthusiast sites that claim to have leaked builds), plus more reliable information from job postings for the Windows and Windows Phone teams.
There are also patents, which may or may not be relevant, and some rare comments from developers on the Windows team. Here's what we've heard about Windows 9 and what we think is happening.
Cut to the chase
What is it? A complete update of Windows
When is it out? We expect it to be out in 2015
What will it cost? We really have no idea. But if Windows 8 is anything to go by, it won't cost much to upgrade.
Windows Blue turned out to be Windows 8.1 rather than a completely new version of the Windows OS – Windows 9 will be that new version.
As for interim releases, we'll probably also get Windows 8.2 before we get Windows 9. And we have already seen the initial update to Windows 8.1, called Windows 8.1 Update 1.
The new update features improvements to the Start Screen including the ability to boot straight into the Desktop, the return of shutdown on Start and a more familiar task bar to unify the old and new user interfaces. The update was announced at Build 2014, along with features teased for Windows updates to come.
It certainly seems there's a new development cadence for Windows in action. It seems that Microsoft is set to put out new releases of Windows, Windows RT and Windows Server every year, the way it already does for Windows Phone.
The next complete version of Windows is being referred to as Windows 9, though this may change. And a new codename has appeared – Threshold, possibly in refrence to moving across from our reliance on the desktop to a new world where the Start screen is at the heart of how we use Windows.
While still just a codename, Windows 9 was referenced by Microsoft in a job posting, spotted by MSFT Kitchen on March 13, 2013.
The ad, for a Bing Software Development Engineer, says that the team will be delivering products "in areas including Windows 9, IE11 services integration, touch friendly devices including iPad and more."
Windows 9 release date
As of right now, we expect to see Windows 9 in a preview build as early as September 30. The latest report from The Verge cites sources close to the matter with knowledge that press preview event will take place on that date. There are no details of where the event will take place or when exactly the preview build will be released, but we'll take it.
Microsoft communications chief Frank Shaw said the company wasn't ready to talk about how often Windows might come out when we spoke to him in January, but he agreed "you have certainly seen across a variety of our products a cadence that looks like that; Windows Phone is a good for example of that, our services are a good example of that".
We don't know if Windows 9 will be available as an upgrade from Windows 7 that you can buy as a standalone product or if you'll have to have Windows 8 to get the upgrade. But it may not be with us for a while yet – Windows business chief Tami Reller has talked about "multiple selling seasons" for Windows 8, meaning that we'll likely have several versions of it.
Some rumors have suggested late 2014 or early 2015 for a Windows 9 release, though the former seems wide of the mark. While claims and reports are all over the place, it seems like Windows 9 should drop before September 2015 at the latest.
In January 2014, well-known Microsoft blogger Paul Thurrott said he believes the company plans to release Windows 9 (codenamed Threshold) in April 2015, less than three years after Windows 8.
The thinking appears to be that the Windows 8 name is now too tarnished and that – in contrast to Reller's comments above – Microsoft wishes to clear things out by releasing Windows 9 instead.
ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley recently echoed these reports, citing sources pointing toward a spring 2015 release for Windows 9.
In May, prolific Microsoft leaker FaiKee released two separate documents that he or she claims to be Redmond's full roadmap for Windows 9 and other products. The first of which, released to the My Digital Life forums, pointed to text reading "Windows 9 Windows Preview Release @ 2015 02-03."
That appears to point toward a preview release of either February or March 2015. The second leak was caught by Myce.com, and is a bit more vague in timing but less so in the actual text. That alleged official document detailed a preview release between Q2 and Q3 2015, so by September of next year at the latest.
In June, we learned from a ZDNet source that Microsoft would launch a preview build of the latest Windows in the fall. But most recently, WZOR struck again with a rumor that Windows 9 in full will launch in that same time frame. Naturally, a Microsoft representative snapped back at the rumor on Twitter.
How much will Windows 9 cost?
Not a cent. At least that's what Russian leaker collective WZOR claims to have heard. The group reports that Microsoft is considering pushing out Windows 9 for free, but cannot confirm at this time.
What the collective has heard exactly is that a prototype version is in the works in which a barebones version of Windows 9 will be available for free. For additional functionality, users would have to pay up through a subscription.
That said, ZDNet's Foley has heard the opposite: different SKUs of Windows will be offered for free or at different prices to OEMs and consumers, but that the desktop version will indeed have a sticker price. A recent, subsequent leak provided by WZOR seems to not only corroborate Foley's sources, but render its previous report moot.
Windows 9: Return of the Start Menu
Teased during the Build 2014 keynote address, the long-missed Start is basically guaranteed to make its return in Windows 9. Since that preview of the Start menu, replete with both Desktop and Modern UI elements, a screenshot (seen below) of an updated version of the feature has surfaced – ba-dum, chhh – through the MyDigitalLife forums.
Regardless of whether the snap is legit, since Microsoft has publicly promised the return of the Start menu, it should be safe to expect its debut in Windows 9 ... whenever that is.
Next Part >>>
Source (techradar.com)
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Gadget Review: Asus Transformer Book T100 (LKR 65,000)
Hybrid computer devices, or 2-in-1s are quite an interesting concept in my mind. Soon after Apple ushered in the tablet revolution, three devices -a smartphone, tablet and laptop/Ultrabook - seemed to be the vogue. However, now it seems a growing number users, including myself, would prefer just two devices - a smartphone and a tablet/Ultrabook. This is convenient in terms of costs and portability. This is partly because it is has dawned on us that a tablet in itself is not entirely desirable, for real work. Watching a movie on a tablet is just fine but writing an article actually requires a proper keyboard better performance. Yet, a laptop or Ultrabook seem strangely anachronistic in our times - like the mobile phones of old. Hence, we have the odd compromise: tablets that come with all sorts of attachments to resemble laptops when necessary.
The Asus Transformer Book is a classic 2-in-1 hybrid range of computers that represent the continuing evolution from laptops to tablets. In fact, the transformer book, as the name suggests, transforms from a notebook to a tablet, with quite literally, a press of a button. It combines a decent tablet running the latest version of Windows and a reasonable keyboard attachment. What really makes the device stand out is the great price (LKR 65,000) and very impressive battery life (~12 hours for a low-intensity PowerMark test).
Pros
2-in-1 design
Great value for
Impressive battery
Cons
A little heavy for its size
Trackpad feels cramped
Display could be better
Design
It is clear that Asus used its Android 2-in-1 tablet experience to build this device. While the Asus Transformer Book isn't as sleek as the ZenBook or Surface Pro 3, it does have a great sense of practical design. The tablet part of the Transformer Book is quite bulky when compared to the latest range of tablets, but not necessary unwieldy. It is easy to spend a few hours reading while in bed or relaxing in a chair. The attachment is an old-school design which uses a fully-laptop style hinge and while this may not be as sleek as the Surface Pro 3 hinge, it feel very durable. In fact, I had no problem confidently carrying the entire device with the keyboard attachment like I would with a laptop.
One downside of the excessive use of plastic for both the tablet and keyboard. While I would have like to see more metal on the device, I am also quite certain that such a design would make the device difficult to carry around. As it is, the device is about 1.2 kg (each component weight in about 550g). So it doesn't really weigh more than a standard Ultrabook. The keyboard element is comes loaded with a USE 3.0, a standard keyboard (without the number pad of course) and a small trackpad, which is quite cramped. However, if you plan on using touch as the primary method of navigation, this shouldn't be a problem. The Tablet features a micro MDHI video output, MicroSD slot, headphone jack, and a MicroUSB port. The volume control, Power on/off, and Home buttons are located on the sides. The device charges via a MicroUSB port like any other standard Android tablet or smartphone.
Display and Performance
The T100 feature a 10.1" 16:9 IPS HD (1366x768) scratch-resistant screen. The pixel density is about 155 PPI, which is less than those found on the Google Nexus 7, which has a smaller screen. Personally, the colour and display quality was satisfactory but performance benchmarks I found online seemed to indicate that the display could be better. However, since Asus does not price this as a premium device, it is difficult to find a serious fault with this spec.
Underneath the hood, the T100 packs in the latest version of Windows 8.1, supported by the Intel Bay Trail 1.3GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3740 CPU. It is important to note that the new Atom processors are nothing like the old versions. The latest range can even compete with last-generation (not Haswell) i3 processors, which is quite impressive. Furthermore, 2GB of RAM compliments the processor. Despite these specs, don't expect to run Photoshop or other demanding programmes without an issue.
The T100 comes with a range of storage options : 32GB eMMC, 64 GB eMMC, 32 GB eMMC + 500 GB HDD or 64GB eMMC + 500 GB HDD. Right now, you'll most probably find the 64 GB variant in most stores. The T100 comes loaded with Wifi and Bluetooth 4.0 but there is no NFC or 3G/4G features.
Keyboard and Trackpad
Typing on the device is not a problem and navigation is not a serious issue either. However, this does not come close to a full-sized keyboard or a USB mouse.
Battery Life
Battery life is very impressive. The combination of Bay Trail processors and intelligent power management gives the T100 a good enough average run time of about 12 hours based on a low-intensity PowerMark test. I didn't get a chance to test the battery in a variety of different usage conditions but I was able to get through a full day of work (primarily using Chrome and Google docs) without a problem.
Camera and Speakers
The T100 features a single front-facing 1.2 MP camera. However, despite the obvious tablet features, the T100 does not come loaded with a secondary camera. The camera itself is just good enough for a video chat online but don't expect to take gorgeous selfies with this one.
I was quite impressed with the speakers, with high-quality sound even on the highest volume level.
Verdict
The Asus Transformer Book T100 does not pretend to give you a premium device and for what it offers, this is a good deal. The T100 packs in a relatively powerful device and a very reasonable cost. This is great for anyone who wants a standard hybrid device without splurging on an ultra-expensive Ultrabook or a standard Android or iOS tablet. Some issues definitely require improvement like the design, screen and keyboard module. However, these things matter less when you take into account the great battery life and value for money.
By Navam Niles (Dailymirror)
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Viber, the fast-growing communications app with more than 400 million users worldwide, has launched an update to its iOS and Android apps that brings video calling to mobile.
The Viber 5.0 update allows iOS and Android users to place free video calls with other Viber users anywhere in the world. The feature works cross-platform, so users on iOS can communicate with those on Android and vice versa. Both sets of users can also send video communications to PCs.
Viber is a fierce Skype competitor, offering users the ability to communicate via voice, text, and video. In February, Rakuten, a Japan-based e-commerce company, announced it had acquired Viber for $900 million. At that time, Viber said it had 300 million users — which means meaning it has added 100 million new users in the last seven months.
In addition to adding video calls, Viber now includes QR code scanning for quickly adding contacts. On the iOS side, Viber has also included improvements to forwarding photo messages. And on Android, it has refreshed the design.
-CNET
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An archive containing nearly 5 million Gmail addresses and plain text passwords was posted Tuesday on an online forum, but the data is old and likely sourced from multiple data breaches according to one security firm.
A user with the online alias “tvskit” posted the archive file on a Bitcoin security forum called btcsec.com and claimed that over 60 percent of credentials found inside are valid.
“We can’t confirm that it is indeed as much as 60 percent, but a great amount of the leaked data is legitimate,” said Peter Kruse, the chief technology officer of CSIS Security Group, a Danish security company that provides cybercrime intelligence to financial institutions and law enforcement.
CSIS researchers analyzed the data and concluded that it is up to 3 years old based on correlations with past leaks.
“We believe the data doesn’t originate from Google directly,” Kruse said via email. “Instead it’s likely it comes from various sources that have been compromised.”
This means that many of the leaked passwords do not correspond to Gmail or Google accounts, but to accounts on other sites where users have used their Gmail addresses as the user name.
CSIS has confirmation that at least five of the leaked user name and password pairs were never used as log-in credentials for Gmail or Google accounts. This enforces the idea that the data comes from compromises outside Google, though it’s possible that they were all perpetrated by a single individual or group, Kruse said.
“The security of our users is of paramount importance to us,” a Google representative said Wednesday via email. “We have no evidence that our systems have been compromised, but whenever we become aware that an account has been compromised, we take steps to help our users secure their accounts.”
Even if many of the leaked credentials turn out not to be from Google, affected users might still want to change their passwords on websites where they used their Gmail address as the user name. A website called isleaked.com allows users to check if their email address is among those leaked.
Source: Internet
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Apple on Tuesday unveiled two new versions of the iPhone, boosting the screen size of the iconic smartphone to 4.7 and 5.5 inches.
Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller, speaking in Cupertino, California, said the new iPhones were “simply stunning” with polarized glass displays and bodies that are “thinner than ever before.”
“These are the best phones ever made,” Schiller said, as he described the new devices at a major set-piece event streamed live online.
The new iPhone 6 will start at the same price of existing iPhones at $199 for US customers while the iPhone 6 Plus will be at $299 with a two-year contract.
Schiller said the devices would be available in at least 115 countries by the end of the year.
Apple will cut the price of existing iPhone 5s and 5c with the launch.
Apple’s move, expanding the latest iPhone with a four-inch screen, comes as consumers are switching to handsets with bigger displays to watch videos and browse the Internet.
Observers say the timing is right for Apple to introduce a generation of iPhone 6 models with screen sizes stretched to tap into users’ love for “phablets” that combine the features of smartphones and tablets.
The Cupertino giant has also revealed pricing and availability for the iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. The smartphones go on pre-order from September 12, while iOS 8 will roll out on September 17. The phones will release on September 19.
The iPhone 6 (on a 2-year contract) will be priced at $199 for 16GB, $299 for 64GB, $399 for 128GB. The iPhone 6 Plus (on a 2-year contract) will be priced at $299 for 16GB, $399 for 64GB, and $499 for for 128GB.
-NDTV
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A new female-only social network hopes to offer a space where women can speak freely without the interference of men.
Former Facebook employee Susan Johnson founded Women.com as a stripped-down question and answer forum where users can discuss careers, relationships, health, sex, beauty, parenthood, politics, fashion and more.
One anonymous conversation topic is featured daily, Slate reports, and all members of the Women.com community are able to weigh in.Members simply up vote the most relevant answers.
A well organized community management team keeps the site free of trolling and misogyny and fosters conversations about tough issues in a ‘well-lit, positive manner’.
And if a man tries to join the ladies’ club? ‘We’ve had a couple of men try to break in, and we just escort them out,’ says Johnson.
The site is invite-only and users gain access via Facebook Connect, limiting potential for men to gain access via fake profiles. Transgender women who identify as female, she adds, are 100per cent welcome.
Unlike Facebook, which focuses on photo sharing and status updates, Johnson chose to organize her network around questions and answers because she believes a good question is the foundation of a great conversation between female friends.
Given that female users account for 58per cent of Facebook and 84per cent of Pinterest, Women.com shouldn’t have trouble attracting an audience. The site is currently in an invite-only beta stage, but Johnson hopes to open it up to the general public soon.
She also plans to grow the site into a more complex network. She hopes to include interest segmentation and develop microcommunities around different topics so members can have side discussions about articles they find interesting, events in their area, or books they’re reading. Quora-style expertise identifiers are also in the works.
Source:DailyMail
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