Tuesday 31 January 2017

OnePlus reportedly cheated on AnTuTu and Geekbench benchmark tests

Both Geekbench and XDA say that OnePlus and Meizu are manipulating the results of benchmark tests being run on some of their handsets. Two handsets said to be involved are the OnePlus 3T and the Meizu Pro 6. Both models can reportedly detect when they are being subjected to a benchmark test, and will run differently in order to produce a better benchmark score. OnePlus defends this action by saying that to improve the user experience on some graphically intensive games, it "implemented certain mechanisms in the community and Nougat builds" allowing the CPU to run faster.

As a result, when ...

Huawei P10 Lite appears again, Kirin 655 chipset and 4GB RAM confirmed

Among the many “lite” smartphones that Huawei and Honor plan to launch in the coming months, there's one that should be above all others specs-wise, the P10 Lite. The downgraded version of Huawei's flagship smartphone hasn't been announced yet, but news about the P10 Lite emerged about a week ago.

A certain Huawei phone with model number WAS-AL00 was certified at TENAA, the Chinese regulatory commission, earlier this month. The smartphone's specs include a 2.1GHz octa-core Kirin CPU, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

Today, another unannounced Huawei handset with model number WAS-LX1A ...

AMD confirms Ryzen CPU will launch in early March, followed by Vega GPU in Q2 2017

After months of speculation, AMD has finally confirmed the Ryzen release date. During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Lisa Su

The post AMD confirms Ryzen CPU will launch in early March, followed by Vega GPU in Q2 2017 appeared first on DigiWorthy.


5 great smartphones from 10 years ago (2017 edition)


2007 was a very interesting year when it comes to mobile devices. Multiple GBs of storage space were slowly but surely becoming the norm for high-end phones, more connectivity options were being added, and, most important, touchscreens were about to become popular. Nevertheless, Nokia and Symbian were still leading the smartphone industry, as Apple's very first iPhone was just hitting the market, and Android was not yet ready for its commercial debut. 

After reviewing the greatest handsets of 2004, 2005, and 2006, we're now inviting ...

Nintendo says it will launch two or three mobile games every year

Japanese company Nintendo said last year that it will release up to three mobile games in 2017. Among them, Fire Emblem: Heroes will be launched on Android and iOS on February 2, and Animal Crossing, which has just been delayed.

A third game might be released later this year, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Speaking to investors on Wednesday, Nintendo's President Tatsumi Kimishima said that his company plans to launch two or three mobile games every year.

Although just 5% of those who downloaded Super Mario Run and played the free levels paid $9.99 to unlock the full game, Nintendo ...

Apple edges Samsung to lead smartphone producers in global market share

With 17.8% of the global smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2016, Apple edged out Samsung's 17.7% share to become the top smartphone manufacturer in the world. Apple sold a company record 78.3 million iPhone handsets during the fourth calendar quarter, topping the 77.5 million handsets shipped by Samsung during the same three months. While Apple's smartphone sales were up 4.7% year-over-year, Samsung's shipments were down 5% over the same time period. Globally, Huawei (10.2%), Oppo (6.7%) and Vivo (5.8%) were numbers three through five respectively during the quarter.

For all of ...

AMD will reportedly announce 5 Ryzen SKUs on March 2

With AMD Ryzen launch only a few weeks away, the rumor mill is churning new stories every day. Today, a new report has

The post AMD will reportedly announce 5 Ryzen SKUs on March 2 appeared first on DigiWorthy.


Samsung teases tablet announcement for MWC 2017, Galaxy Tab S3 to be unveiled on February 26


Sadly, the Galaxy S8 will be a no show at this year's Mobile World Congress, but that doesn't mean the South Korean company will skip the trade fair. The delay of the Galaxy S8 allows Samsung to focus on a different product: the Galaxy Tab series.

There have been quite a few rumors about the upcoming unveil of the Galaxy Tab S3 tablet, which makes today's Samsung teaser unsurprising for many.

Although Samsung hasn't yet confirmed which of its products will be the star of the MWC 2017, the latest teaser definitely points to the Galaxy Tab S3 tablet.

The ...

Apple expected to drop support for 32-bit apps in iOS 11

Based on a pop-up alert that iOS users are seeing with the latest iOS 10.3 beta, Apple will drop support for 32-bit apps on a future version of iOS. The message that accompanies the pop-up is directed to the user of a particular app, stating that the developer of the app will need to update it so that it will remain compatible with iOS.

Some developers have already updated their apps as far back as September 2013 with the unveiling of the Apple iPhone 5s. That model featured the 64-bit A7 chipset, allowing the iPhone 5s to be the first smartphone to support this technology. At the time, ...

Nintendo's Fire Emblem: Heroes game is free, but comes with stamina system and in-app purchases

Nintendo will be launching its second mobile game, Fire Emblem: Heroes, in just a few days, but some have already had the opportunity to try it out before the official release.

Since we've already reported about the game when Nintendo announced it will be launched on Android and iOS at the same time, on February 2, let's take a look at some of the aspect that haven't been revealed by the Japanese company yet.

First of all, just like Super Mario Run, the new game will require an internet connection at all times, even though Nintendo has reassured players that Fire Emblem: Heroes “connects ...

Alcatel confirms “Light Up” launch event will be held on February 27

Alcatel plans to reveal a couple of products in later next month at Mobile World Congress, we already know that. However, they won't be revealed at the company's keynote set for February 26, as we previously expected.

Alcatel has just confirmed another press conference for February 27 where we believe at least 5 new smartphones will be unveiled. “Light Up” is the name of the launch event, which rather confirms previous reports that Alcatel plans to launch a smartphone with colorful LEDs that glow in time with the music.

At least some of these five new smartphones will feature a modular ...

Apple sells record 78.3 million iPhone units during its fiscal first quarter

Apple reported a blow out fiscal first quarter after the stock market closed this afternoon. With the Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus adding some new features such as an IP67 certification rating, a dual-camera set up on the back of the iPhone 7 Plus, and some stunning new colors, Apple sold a record-breaking 78.3 million units of the iPhone during the holiday quarter that ran from October through December. That number topped expectations that ran as high as 77.4 million units, and exceeded last year's iPhone sales of 74.8 million units by 4.7%. The fiscal first quarter ended a streak of ...

Snapseed app updated with Curves and other improvements

Snapseed, the popular photo editing app that Google acquired back in 2012, received its first update of 2017.

The update brings a new tool that many users should be familiar with from desktop image editing programs: Curves (seen in the screenshot on the left). The tool provides exact control over color and brightness levels, plus various presets, thus making editing a more complete process.

For now, Curves seems to be available only in the iOS version of Snapseed, though we assume that the Android app will get it soon, too. In any case, there's a number of novelties that both the ...

Try Out 'For Honor' In The Open Beta, February 9-12

On the weekend before its release, Ubisoft will let players try out "For Honor" one last time in an open beta.

Apple sells 78.3 million iPhone units during its fiscal first quarter, topping expectations

Apple reported a blow out fiscal first quarter after the stock market closed this afternoon. With the Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus adding some new features such as an IP67 certification rating, a dual-camera set up on the back of the iPhone 7 Plus, and some stunning new colors, Apple sold 78.3 million units of the iPhone during the holiday quarter that ran from October through December. That number topped expectations that ran as high as 77.4 million units, and exceeded last year's iPhone sales of 74.8 million units by 4.7%. The fiscal first quarter ended a streak of three consecutive ...

Tech Companies Dealing With Effects Of Trump's Immigration Ban

Silicon Valley has united against the executive order barring immigrants and effectively closing the country's border. This is heartwarming--and a distraction from the work these companies would rather be doing.

Return To Vvardenfell With 'The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind' Expansion

The expansion also includes a new class, another PvP mode, and a new twelve-player dungeon.

LG G6 prototype photos leak, show slim bezels and dual camera

Photos of an LG G6 prototype showed up online, giving us another early peek at the smartphone after past week's renders. The photos are consistent with both leaked renders, although the prototype obviously doesn't portray the device in its finished state.

Up front, the smartphone boasts very slim screen bezels, although the display isn't curved. Rather than an "all-screen" design with curved edges or other bezel-destroying acrobatics, LG pursued an optimal screen-to-body ratio and went for an elegant design that looks understated and sturdy, rather than immediately striking.

The back ...

Take-Two Didn't Violate Ilionois Privacy Laws By Storing Facial Biometric Data, Court Rules

Take-Two Interactive prevailed in lawsuit started against the company by two of its "NBA 2k15" customers, who accused it of violating Illinois' biometrics privacy law.

Details Emerge About CD Projekt Red Forum Hack

The hack is said to have affected nearly 1.9 million people and leaked usernames, email addresses, and salted passwords.

Global VP of HTC Jason Mackenzie has left the company


HTC's Global Executive Vice President – Jason Mackenzie – announced his departure from the company on his Twitter account. No explanations are given, but Mackenzie says he's had a "great run" and "feels blessed" for having spent 12 years working for HTC. He's also yet to figure out where he will be going next.

Mackenzie's departure follows that of Claude Zellweger, a senior designer who worked on the HTC Vive virtual reality headset and other famous products.

Despite these blows to its hierarchy, HTC will proceed with releasing new products in 2017. A high-end ...

Nintendo grossed $53 million from Super Mario Run since its launch last month

Since its launch in December, mobile video game Super Mario Run has amassed $53 million in revenue for Nintendo, according to the company. And that amount was achieved with the game available only for iOS devices. The Android version of the game, which is expected to launch in March, could bring tens of millions of additional dollars into Nintendo's coffers. The game is free to download and a couple of levels of game play are also on the house. After you play those free levels, you will have to shell out $9.99 to enjoy the rest of the game. The Android version of Super Mario Run is expected to ...

'Sniper Elite 4' Overview Trailer Shows Six Minutes Of Gameplay

Rebellion's latest trailer for "Sniper Elite 4" shows you everything you need to know before you pick up the game on Valentine's Day.

Snapchat's latest update brings Snapcodes for any website

Not too long ago, Snapchat was updated with a new look, bringing a search bar to its main screen and some extra color throughout. Today, Snapchat received a small update on iOS that brings a fairly useful feature to millennials' favorite app. Starting with version 10.1.0.0, Snapchat users can create a Snapcode for any website they'd like. Snapcodes are Snapchat's very own QR codes, used solely within the app. Prior to this update, the only Snapcodes users could create were for their own profiles — similar to WeChat's implementation — allowing users to quickly add friends simply by taking ...

Facebook Tests Account Recovery Feature With GitHub

Facebook and GitHub partnered up to make sure their users never permanently lose access to their accounts.

Spora Ransomware Spreads Via Fake 'Chrome Font Pack'

Spora ransomware has started spreading via hacked websites that claim to require a "Chrome Font Pack."

Verizon outs January security updates for Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy S5


Verizon is keeping up with Android security patches by updating some of Samsung's older high-end devices – the Galaxy Note 4, the Galaxy Note Edge, and the Galaxy S5. Owners of these handsets on Verizon's network should be receiving the MMB29M.N910VVRS2CQA1 (Note 4), MMB29M.N915VVRS2CQA1 (Note Edge) and MMB29M.G900VVRS2DQA1 (S5) firmwares.

The security patches contain fixes for 67 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) in Android, along with 28 security patches for the Galaxy phones. You can read about the latter in full detail at Samsung's Mobile Security Blog.

To ...

Nolo 6-DoF Mobile VR Tracking System Reaches Crowdfunding Goal Within Hours

There appears to be a lot of demand for a low-cost 6-DoF tracking system with hand controllers for budget VR. Who knew?

Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus press renders and full specs leaked out


Lenovo is expected to reveal a couple of tablets next month at Mobile World Congress. Among them, the Tab3 Plus seems like a decent mid-range slab, which, according to our previous report, would be equipped with a Snapdragon 625 chipset.

A couple of official press renders and most of the tablet's specs have just emerged ahead of the slate's announcement at MWC 2017. Apart from the more than decent processor, the Lenovo Tab3 8 Plus is likely to pack 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory (expandable up to 128GB via microSD card).

One of the downsides would ...

Honor 8 Lite leaks out, could be released in March

Several months after the Honor 8 hit shelves in the US, we're now hearing that a Honor 8 Lite could be announced soon. Thanks to a series of leaked images that allegedly show the Honor 8 Lite inside a protective case, we can see that the new device looks a lot like the Huawei P8 Lite (2017), a handset that's about to be released in the UK.

Unlike the regular Honor 8, the Honor 8 Lite comes with a single rear camera and a MicroUSB port (not USB Type-C). If its features are similar to those of the P8 Lite (2017), they should include a 5.2-inch 1080p display, an octa-core Kirin 655 processor, ...

CPU Failures Hurt Intel's Bottom Line

Intel revealed during its Q4 2016 earnings call that unspecified CPU failures have impacted its bottom line. Intel enjoyed record Q4 revenue and a record $59.4 billion in overall 2016 revenue, but CPU failures reduced the Data Center Group's financials.

The age of Apple is far from over


“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently…You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things…while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” This quote from Rob Siltanen was made famous in Apple’s “Crazy Ones” TV commercial that aired in 1997 with Steve Jobs himself doing the narration, and since that advert ...

Newegg Announces Indiegogo-Focused Landing Page

The announcement is the latest in Newegg's efforts to bring Indiegogo-funded products to market.

Sony PS5 will be Backwards Compatible Launching after Xbox Scorpio, Says Dev

According to Thomas Mahler – the developer of Ori And The Blind Forest – PS5 will be backwards compatible and launch after the

The post Sony PS5 will be Backwards Compatible Launching after Xbox Scorpio, Says Dev appeared first on DigiWorthy.


be quiet! Launches Pure Power 10 CM and Pure Power 10 PSU Lines

be quiet! announced today the latest version of its entry-level power supply series, the Pure Power 10. The ten new models in the series include cable-managed and fixed-cabled versions ranging from 400W to 700W, and 300W to 700W, respectively.

#DeleteUber is wrong because it misunderstands surge pricing


People are very quick to protest these days and with good reason for the most part, but the #DeleteUber campaign is not one of them. Uber has had a spotty past and doesn't have the best good will with customers, but the reasons behind the #DeleteUber campaign are simply wrong and fundamentally misunderstand surge pricing and what Uber did during the JFK taxi strike.

For background, the whole mess began because of the controversial immigration ban ordered by President Trump. There have been protests around the country by those who disagree with the order ...

3D XPoint's DIMM Prospects Lighten, Memory Sticks Shipping

Intel announced that it is shipping 3D XPoint memory DIMMs to data center customers. Intel tested a laptop with 16GB of DRAM against a laptop with only 64MB of DRAM and 16GB of 3D XPoint in the DIMM form factor with no perceptible performance loss.

Oculus Touch Tracking Update Pushed To February

Oculus planned a software update for January that should address Touch tracking issues, but, Nate Mitchell, the company's VP of Product, revealed that the update is delayed into February.

This Moto Mod features wireless charging and an IR blaster for just $45

LG and Motorola both took a jab at bringing modular functionality to their flagship smartphones in 2016, and while LG's implementation of this tech never really took off, Motorola has been doing a commendable job at slowing growing their platform of available Moto Mods for their Moto Z line of devices. We've seen battery packs, projectors, and even a camera mod that adds true 10x optical zoom to all Moto Z handsets, and a new mod by the name of The Ultimate Moto Z Mod promises to bring both wireless charging and IR blaster support to the Moto Z line for just $45.

The Ultimate ...

So, what if there is no flat-screen Galaxy S8? Would you be on board with an edge-only model?


The Galaxy S8's unveiling may have been delayed, but it's still not too far off — only about 2 months left, according to reports. Naturally, we are getting rumors, leaks, renders, alleged pictures, and whatnot each and every day. And we can't help but notice that there's very little talk about a “regular” Galaxy S8 — one that doesn't have a curved or super-massive screen.

Of course, it could not be getting much limelight just because it's a more “boring”, orthodox model, compared to the futuristic, almost borderless edge screens of its curved counterparts. But considering ...

Render me speechless: Samsung Galaxy S8 leak-based renders, concepts, and design mock-ups


Yeah, it seems like there will be no Galaxy S8 at this year's MWC in Barcelona. Too bad, as we were pretty hyped up for that one thanks to the heaps of saucy leaks, rumors, and gossip.

It looks like we will have to wait a little longer for this year's Galaxy flagship, as it's strongly implied that it will be announced sometime in March, probably the 29th, and subsequently released on the market later in April. Sigh.

We've already summarized everything there is to know about the Galaxy S8 and the S8 edge at this point, but we felt like ...

Galaxy S8 may have 6GB RAM/128 GB storage version in select markets, but no 256 GB option

Samsung was tipped to do it with the Galaxy Note 7, so why not fast forward a few months and do it with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, offering both 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB models in certain markets. 

With the Note 7, it was speculated that Samsung didn't want local brands that already had phones with 6 GB RAM on the market to undermine the launch of its high-end phablet, and the argumentation for an eventual S8 with 6 GB RAM may be the same. 

It might not be accidental then that a tip has just emerged from the confines of a fairly reliable source in the ...

Fitbit CEO confirms plans for a smartwatch that does both style and fitness tracking

With both Pebble and Vector in its stable, Fitbit making a bona-fide smartwatch is not a question of "if", but "when". Just in case there was any doubt, CEO James Park revealed that the company, known for its fitness trackers, intends to "expand into the smartwatch category" and grab a slice of the "$10 billion global smartwatch market."

Most of that money goes to Apple, though, so Fitbit will face the intense challenge of creating and marketing a smartwatch that holds up to the Apple Watch. Obviously, Pebble and Vector's expertise will be quite welcome here.

Nevertheless, ...

2017 is shaping up to be the year we hit "AI" assistant overload


The big push in tech is to make every gadget "smart" in some way or another and in mobile that often means throwing some sort of "artificially intelligent" assistant, or to be more accurate -- voice powered assistants -- because manufacturers are going way overboard using the term AI despite apparently not understanding (or believing consumers don't understand) what that means. 

Just to get the language squared away: At the top of the heap is an "artificial general intelligence" (AGI) or "virtual intelligence", which can learn anything, think abstractly, ...

Best camera apps for black and white photography (Android and iOS)


With the advent of the digital camera, the default, universal output for all digital photography was suddenly flipped to “color”. And why wouldn't it be? I mean, people only used to shoot black and white back in the film days due to technical limitations, right? Well, yes and no.

Without getting into an exhaustive discussion on the technical and creative status of monochrome photography in modern times, we would like to ask you this: when was the list time (if ever) that you took a picture in B&W from the outset? We don't mean shooting in color and converting ...

Super Mario Run gets "easy mode" in latest update


A new update for Nintendo's troubled Super Mario Run is rolling out today, bringing “easy mode” to the frantic auto-runner.

The newly added “easy mode” gets rid of all the stress of playing Super Mario Run, giving players infinite retries and ditching the time limit to complete a level.

The game's multiplayer mode, Toad Rally, has also been altered a bit in favor of lower difficulties. Penalties for bad performance have been reduced, and Toads are easier to collect, AppleInsider reports.

Basically, easy mode kills most of the challenge of playing Super ...

Basemark's VRScore Benchmark Suite: 6 VR HMDs Tested

Basemark’s long-awaited virtual reality benchmarking tool, VRScore, is finally available. This piece of software is the first of its kind, allowing you to properly evaluate your PC's ability to serve up VR content.

Best camera apps for B&W photography


With the advent of the digital camera, the default, universal output for all digital photography was suddenly flipped to “color”. And why wouldn't it be? I mean, people only used to shoot black and white back in the film days due to technical limitations, right? Well, yes and no.

Without getting into an exhaustive discussion on the technical and creative status of monochrome photography in modern times, we would like to ask you this: when was the list time (if ever) that you took a picture in B&W from the outset? We don't mean shooting in color and converting ...

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs LG G6: preliminary specs comparison


The launch of the most important Android phones for 2017 is right around the corner: the Samsung Galaxy S8 and LG G6 have leaked out in images along with specs and all the details. And they are a big shift for smartphones: after years of similar smartphone design, the pair marks a new era. 

Welcome the 'all-screen' phones of 2017.


Samsung Galaxy S8

Announcement date: March 29th


All eyes are on ...

Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 edge rumor review: specs, features, expectations


It's never too early to find rumors about a much-anticipated device, especially if it's a flagship one. That applies to Samsung twice, since the bar is always raised twice as higher with the more popular manufacturers out there. Needless to say, rumors about Samsung's next flagship will be flying left and right in the upcoming months.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on meAfter the excellent Galaxy S7 and S7 edge arrived earlier this year, we have largely set our expectations to "high". After that unfortunate Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, Samsung is ...

Is HDR+ on the Pixel the same as HDR+ on the Nexus? No, it's new and evolved!


So, Google's camera app has had this feature, called HDR+, for years now — it's just like HDR, "but better", or at least that's what the name suggests. With the new Pixels, everyone has been raving about how awesome HDR+ is and how you virtually have no reason to ever turn it off. But, since it's the same branding, does that mean that the HDR+ on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P is just as good? Are they the same thing? Is the McRib ever coming back for good?

Our answers to those questions would be "The Pixel is better", "yes and no", "probably not, it's a terrible sandwich". ...

Nintendo delays Animal Crossing again, won't share sales data on Super Mario Run

Every time a company dabbles in a new market, problems are bound to occur. Even entertainment giants with years of experience are no exception, and Nintendo proved it. The company's mobile gaming debut was a bit shaky, with Super Mario Run not achieving the success it was expected to and the other two titles, planned for release last fall, being delayed.

And while we'll get Fire Emblem: Heroes on mobile this Thursday, fans of the Animal Crossing franchise will have to wait a bit more than expected. During Nintendo's third-quarter earnings call, the company announced that the still untitled ...

Spotlight: Tiles lets you add custom toggles to Android Nougat's Quick Settings


Developer: rascarloDownload: AndroidCategory: PersonalizationPrice: $1.99

Pssst.

Pssst! Hey, you! Got Nougat, perchance? 

If that's the case, then you already meet the single requirement to make full use of Tiles, a neat app for Android that allows you to further customize the Quick Settings toggles of your device. True, you can already rearrange said tiles to your heartfelt content, but how would you react if we told you that you can put custom ones up there?

That's exactly ...