Nokia makes fun of HTC's phones that cannot be used with gloves
by Christian de Looper on Jan 14th 2014
Nokia_lumia_520_gloves
The new Nokia Lumias, Nokia's latest offerings to the smartphone world, can be used with gloves in the winter, unlike HTC's phones. This is thanks to a layer on the screen developed by the company Synaptics. In fact, HTC isn't alone - many smartphones cannot be used with gloves.
Yesterday HTC Russia asked their followers on Twitter how they use a phone in the cold if they don't want to take off their gloves. Nokia then replied saying that they can "quietly enjoy", and attaching a picture of their Lumia 520.
If that wasn't enough to frustrate HTC, Huawei also then joined in and posted a picture of their Ascend P6, which is also usable with gloves.
Oh Dear, HTC being 'attacked' from all directions. It is a shame because in my opnion, even though I haven't personally used all the competitors, they make the best smartphones taking all factors into consideration.
However, I think they should provide more support to the older handsets for future versions of the OS and I think they should churn out the updates a bit quicker.
What a moron! But hey, he's showed us how not to treat the fingerprint scanner (on any device)
Youtube Video
The guy sounded surprised when it failed to work after lightly scratching the sensor. I mean, what did he expect (not because its an iPhone, but because its sensitive. Come on man, its obvious)
Moral of the video: Protect your phone and don't let it scratch.
LG's G Flex Faces Reports of Bumps on Display, LG Reassures They Don't Affect Performance
Eric Abent January 16, 2014
LG GFlex
The LG G Flex and its curved 6-inch display have certainly gained a fair amount of attention, but these days, not all of that attention is positive. The Korea Times is reporting a small defect with the curved displays on the G Flex, noting that they can develop small bumps on the surface. While the bumps are tiny and LG claims they don't interfere with performance, there are probably at least a few people who don't like what they do to the aesthetics of their phone.
If the look of the bumps doesn't upset those consumers, the fact that LG knew about the defect before launch might. An official with the Korea Display Industry Association told the Korea Times that LG was "initially hesitant" to ship the device because the company was "previously aware of some technical problems." That official also said LG should have told consumers about the defect ahead of time, while electronics salesman Kim Jun-Hoon told the website that every LG G Flex model he's seen come through his store suffers from these small bumps.
Gflexbumps
For its part, LG admits that the handset does have a tendency to form small bumps on the display, but also reassures consumers that they don't affect the performance or quality of the device. They should go away on their own over time, the company says, while consumers can press on the affected area to get rid of them if they're looking for a more immediate solution. The bumps are blamed on the fact that some of the components are elastic, which means "excessive or frequent force that flattens the device" may cause them to appear.
All in all, it doesn't seem like an issue that will get consumers to grab their pitchforks, but we can see some degree of annoyance with the suggestion that LG knew about this problem but didn't speak up ahead of launch. 13,000 units have been sold in Korea since the device launched back in November, so it isn't as if these things are exactly flying off shelves there. Supposing everything goes as planned, the G Flex should be arriving on American shores sometime this quarter, so maybe that will give sales a little kick. Will this report make US consumers shy away from the G Flex, though? That remains to be seen, but admittedly, we're having a difficult time imagining a scenario where this news helps sales.
Texting And Driving Crash Caught On Police Cam: Car Hit Tree And Roll Over
We've seen plenty of drunk driving videos that looked an awful lot like this one. However, this time the only intoxicating substance involved was a smart phone.
Meet Michael Woody, a 23-year-old who must have been getting some pretty good texts by the sight of his car, which was weaving back and forth across the road on a suburban street in Ft. Myers, Florida. This was the case until he finally crashed into a tree, and then rolled upside down.
The entire incident was caught on a police dash cam. The police officer in the car behind Woody commented that his driving was so bad, he was more concerned that the driver was having a heart attack than anything else. However, once the car rolled over; the driver emerged from the passenger window of his 2004 Pontiac Grand Am, stunned, sober, and sheepish.
He admitted to the officer that he had been texting when he lost control
Google unveils 'smart contact lens' 17 January 2014 3:47 AM
Google said the sensors on the smart contact lens are so small they look like bits of glitter
Google has said it is testing a "smart contact lens" that can help measure glucose levels in tears.
It uses a "tiny" wireless chip and a "miniaturised" glucose sensor embedded between two layers of lens material.
The firm said it is also working on integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed certain thresholds.
But it added that "a lot more work" needed to be done to get the technology ready for everyday use.
"It's still early days for this technology, but we've completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype," the firm said in a blogpost.
"We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease."
'Exciting development'
Many global firms have been looking to expand in the wearable technology sector - seen by many as a key growth area in the coming years.
Various estimates have said the sector is expected to grow by between $10bn and $50bn (�6bn and �31bn) in the next five years.
Within the sector, many firms have been looking specifically at technology targeted at healthcare.
Google's latest foray with the smart contact lens is aimed at a sector where consumer demand for such devices is expected to grow.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in ten people across the world's population are forecast to have diabetes by 2035.
People suffering from the condition need to monitor their glucose levels regularly as sudden spikes or drops are dangerous. At present, the majority of them do so by testing drops of blood.
Google said it was testing a prototype of the lens that could "generate a reading once per second".
"This is an exciting development for preventive healthcare industry," Manoj Menon, managing director of consulting firm Frost & Sullivan told the BBC.
"It is likely to spur a range of other innovations towards miniaturizing technology and using it in wearable devices to help people monitor their bodies better."
Open innovation?
Google said it was working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to bring the product to mainstream use.
It added that it would look for partners "who are experts in bringing products like this to market".
Google said it would work with these partners to develops apps aimed at making the measurements taken by the lens available to the wearer and their doctor.
Mr Menon said it was "commendable" that Google was willing to work with other partners even before the product was commercially ready.
Sensible Baby showcased a prototype baby sleep monitoring system at this year's CES
"Their open innovation approach is going to help accelerate the development of this product and get it out to the market much faster," he said.
Other firms have also been looking towards wearable products that help monitor the health of the wearer.
Earlier this month, a gadget called Sensible Baby was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. It is a sensor put in an infant's night clothes that tracks their temperature, orientation and movement.
It sounds a smartphone app alarm if it detects a problem.
Several smartwatches that can monitor data by studying key indicators such as the the wearer's heart rate and temperature have also been launched.
Last year, Japanese firm Sony filed a patent for a 'SmartWig', with healthcare cited as one of its potential uses.
It said the wig could use a combination of sensors to help collect information such as temperature, pulse and blood pressure of the wearer.
Protective case for HTC M8 reveals that a fingerprint scanner will be on the device
As we all know, the M8 will be the new HTC One. No name confirmed as yet. Looks like it'll be released in the next couple of months.
An image of a case allegedly made for the HTC M8, and listed online, reveals a opening for a fingerprint scanner. The M8 is believed to be the code name for the upcoming successor to the HTC One Android flagship phone. While the HTC One does not employ a fingerprint sensor, the phablet-sized HTC One max does.
Based on the leaked case, the fingerprint scanner will be on the back, above the camera, and users will have to swipe their finger across the glass on the back. That is similar to the scanner on the HTC One max, and quite different than the TouchID scanner used by Apple for the Apple iPhone 5s. The scanner on the iPhone is embedded in its home button and requires the user to keep his finger still for a brief period of time while the sensor reads the fingerprint. HTC One max users claim that having the fingerprint scanner on the back makes using it rather difficult.
The latest rumored specs for the M8, which is expected to be named the HTC One+, includes a 5 inch screen with a 1080 x 1920 resolution, and a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU under the hood. We expect to see 2GB of RAM on board, 16GB of native storage inside and a microSD slot for those needing additional storage. A 2900mAh cell keeps the lights on. Android 4.4 is pre-installed out of the box.
The HTC One+ is expected to be launched in March after being unveiled at next month's MWC in Barcelona.
HTC's Android own-goal: How the phone-maker is easing into irrelevance
HTC's decision not to offer Android 4.3 or higher to owners of its One X and One X+ handsets doesn't come as a huge surprise.
The Taiwanese mobile-maker has a chequered past when it comes to serving up Android updates to its once-flagship phones.
A huge furore arose in 2011 when it revealed its year-old Desire would not be getting a taste of Android's then top-of-the-line Gingerbread software bump.
This time around though, it really is hard to find excuses. The One X+ is just 14 months old, the One X is closing in on its two-year anniversary.
Not spanking new devices, no. But hardly creaking, superannuated phones either.
What's more, Google made a huge play of its latest version of Android, 4.4 KitKat, being capable of working on ageing phones.
Here's Google's head of Android, Sundar Pichai, speaking last November: "[KitKat] can run comfortably on the 512MB of RAM devices that are popular in much of the world." That's hardly ambiguous.
Now, the One X+ has 1GB of RAM, as does the One X. Some have blamed the Nvidia processor that HTC used in the device for the failure to bring the update to devices.
HTC said in a statement: "We realise this news will be met with disappointment by some, but our customers should feel confident that we have designed both devices to be optimised with our amazing camera and audio experiences."
Some might say that getting het up about HTC's unwillingness or inability to serve up Android 4.3 or higher on its 2012 devices is pointless.
That key features, such as the camera and music player, will still work fine.
But that's to miss the point that users who bought these phones most likely got them on two-year contracts.
And when they signed up it was with the entirely justifiable expectation that they can download apps and services that use the latest version of Android to deliver optimum performance.
Now though, they're stranded on an older version of Android.
Google's assurances that all devices up to 18 months old can and should run the latest software sound hollow when one of its key partners makes a decision like this.
Yes, HTC is bringing Android KitKat to its year-old One flagship. But evidently its not interested in older customers.
If they served up timely updates, then perhaps they'd have more repeat custom, rather than scrabbling around in a desperate attempt not to be the next Nokia or BlackBerry.
There are many reasons why HTC has gone from hero to zero.
But burning those who've handed over hundreds for a supposedly cutting edge piece of tech like this is surely a key factor in its ongoing decline.
Try imagining Apple not serving up iOS 7 on the iPhone 5 and imagine the rightful stink it would cause.
In a world dominated by software and services, HTC has failed to understand that having the latest iteration is essential.
Source
Maybe HTC aren't releasing a HTC One II, it looks.like they'll just improve the current phone since its been unbeatable.
Oh well, so much for speculation hey!
HTC M8 release pinned on late March, twin-sensor rear camera in tow
New model to feature larger screen, snappy new camera
Will it be called the HTC M8? Or the HTC One Two? Monikers aside, it seems certain more than ever that HTC is planning a follow-up to the HTC One for release early this year.
Bloomberg has the word that there will be a new version of the HTC One released at the end of March (a release time frame we've heard before). The phone will retain the first One's well-received design, a source said, but offer some changes both inside and out.
One of the more notable transformations will be a screen said to measure "at least five inches," according to the unnamed tipster who posses direct knowledge of the Taiwanese manufacturer's plans.
Powered by a more recent flavor of Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, the new HTC One will reportedly be slightly larger than the 4.7-inch display on the current One model, but smaller than the HTC One Max's 5.9-inches.
Wonder twins
Another area HTC appears to be targeting for improvement is the One's Ultrapixel camera, which is designed to take higher resolution images with a lower megapixel count.
Bloomberg's source claimed HTC is planning to use twin sensors on the rear-facing camera for better focus, depth of field and image quality.
Despite critical acclaim for last year's HTC One, the smartphone maker has floundered in the market against the might of South Korean rival Samsung, currently the 300-pound gorilla of Android handsets.
HTC may need more than just a refreshed One handset to stave off the competition, as the big-screen HTC One Max failed to stem the tide of losses in the company's second quarter earnings.
A new addition to the family. Ok, so I got it a few days ago but only opened today. (guys, don't have a 500ml Red Bull during the day as it's effects start at the wrong time and you stay wide awake when you really need to sleep)
In order of size.
HTC wildfire S
HTC touch diamond
HTC Desire S
HTC Desire HD
HTC One 4.7" screen
HTC One Max. 5.9" screen
My thoughts!
The One Max is too heavy to hold, to big to hold to the ear and can't really be used with one hand. Apart from that, if it's in my hands, then I'd have to use it with a Bluetooth headset but is great for surfing the web, especially MuftiSays.
If you are considering buying it, think thrice!
It's not a practical phone, trust me. It's only good as a tablet. Takes awesome pictures and videos with unbeatable features.
Samsung Launches Eyes On The Road App That Prevents Texting While Driving
We know how hard it can be to stop yourself from texting and driving. After all the message could be an important one, or one that you have been waiting for, but ultimately it is dangerous and accidents have happened because of that. Looking to do something for the community and perhaps enact a little CSR, Samsung has announced a new app and campaign called Eyes on the Road which is basically an Android app that prevents drivers from texting while they are driving as statistics have shown that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to get into an accident.
Basically how the app works is that it will use the phone's sensors and GSM cell towers to determine the speed at which you are moving at, and presumably moving at a faster speed would allow the phone to assume you are in a vehicle. Once it detects that you are, alerts from phone calls, text messages, or social media will be hidden until you arrive at your destination. The app event allows for auto response to text messages informing the sender that you are currently indisposed. Unfortunately the app is currently available only in Singapore, so for our Singaporean readers, go ahead and take it for a spin.
There are drawbacks to the app which is that it is unable to detect if you are the driver or a passenger, but given that you have the option of disabling it, we guess there's that. Either way it's still a pretty good idea and if you'd like to see the app in action, check out the video above.
Sony Xperia Z1 Users Complain Of Their Phones Warping
Does Sony have a curved display smartphone in the works? If we didn't know any better, the photo above would seem to suggest just that, but as it turns out it's actually from a series of photos that have been posted online where different Sony Xperia Z1 owners have complained that their phones have started to bend, although the exact reason is unclear. The Xperia Z1 is made from aluminum which is a relatively soft material which is why its ability to bend when enough pressure is put upon it is not completely out of the question. However whether these Xperia Z1 owners have been sitting on their phones or if they have warped due to another reason is unclear at this point in time.
The users themselves report that they have not put any additional force onto the phones that would cause it to bend, so what could it be? The photos also appear to be real and not photoshopped (although we're no expert so if you think they are, let us know!), and this is also the first time we're hearing about the Xperia Z1 warping, which is surprising given that the phone has been in the market for a few months now. In any case we did not encounter this issue with our review unit but any Xperia Z1 owners out there can vouch for these claims?
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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