Author Archives: Myriam Joire

Low-cost plastic-clad iPhone mentioned in China Labor Watch report

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Low-cost plastic-clad iPhone mentioned in China Labor Watch report

Remember that China Labor Watch report we recently covered? After digging further into the document, 9to5Mac's unearthed more possible evidence about that often leaked, low-cost plastic-clad iPhone. The introduction states:

Its assembled products include iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, and low-priced plastic iPhones.

Then, on page 27:

Today's work is to paste protective film on the iPhone's plastic back cover to prevent it from being scratched on assembly lines. This iPhone model with a plastic cover will soon be released on the market by Apple. [...] The new cell phone has not yet been put into mass production, so quantity is not as important.

Of course, there's no definitive proof that Apple will be launching a more affordable iPhone made of polycarbonate -- after all the company might just be testing prototypes that are not destined to market. Still, the information in this report sure gives all these recent iPhone rumors a lot more merit.

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Via: CNET Asia

Source: 9to5Mac

Android 4.3 supports TRIM, improves performance on Nexus devices

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Android 4.3 supports TRIM, improves performance on Nexus devices

It's no secret that many Android phones and tablets show a decrease in performance over time. Nexus devices are not immune -- it's particularly noticeable with the original Nexus 7. Our friend Brian Klug over at AnandTech discovered an interesting tidbit while testing the new and improved Nexus 7: Android 4.3 supports TRIM. What this means is that Google's mobile OS can now instruct the flash storage controller when to collect / recycle unused data pages / blocks. The net result is that devices running Android 4.3 will no longer become sluggish with time -- in fact, existing Nexus handsets and tablets will see performance improve after the update. It also looks like Jelly Bean invokes TRIM maintenance once within a 24-hour window (after one hour of inactivity), and only if the battery is 80% full (30% when charging). Follow the source link below for all the details.

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Source: AnandTech

Tokyoflash releases Kisai Neutron, makes Cylons proud (video)

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Tokyoflash releases Kisai Neutron, makes Cylons proud video

Like most tech-savvy humans, we're big fans of Tokyoflash watches here at Engadget -- after all, what's not to like about eccentric design and blinkenlights? Now Cylons everywhere can proudly get in on the fun thanks to the company's latest timepiece, the Kisai Neutron. This futuristic-looking LED watch is available for $139 during the next 48 hours and features an integrated motion sensor. It can be set to display the time (or date) by pulsing in and out or waving up and down. The light show is activated by flicking your wrist or pressing a button -- there's even a bonus "always on" mode. Color options include black, gold and gunmetal for the stainless steel and plastic case, plus red, white and blue for the LEDs. A USB-rechargeable battery completes the package. Enjoy the gallery below, then hit the break for a video of the new timepiece in action.

Gallery: Tokyoflash Kisai Neutron

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Source: Tokyoflash

Moto X gesture-tastic camera app makes cameo in leaked APK

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Moto X gesturetastic camera app makes cameo in leaked APK

We already know the camera app for the Moto X (and Droid Ultra, MAXX and Mini) will feature a minimalistic, gesture-based UI, but the clever souls over at Android Police went one step further and recently leaked an APK of the app. The file (later pulled and cached here) installs just fine on many devices but lacks some functionality. We tested it on a Nexus 4 running Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) and it worked okay, mostly. HDR and slow-motion video recording are disabled, panorama mode crashes and Quick Capture (double-twist your wrist to launch the camera) is not operational.

Still, the camera UI is ultra simple -- swipe right for the settings, left for the gallery, up /down to zoom; tap to capture, and hold to take multiple shots. The resulting pictures (16:9 aspect ratio) look pretty much like those snapped with the stock Android camera, and suffer from the same composition issues since the viewfinder crops the right edge of every image. It'll be interesting to see if any of this changes when we finally get our hands on the Moto X next week. Until then, check out the gallery of screenshots below and sound off about the APK in the comments.

Gallery: Moto X camera app

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Source: Android Police

2014 Spark EV test drive: affordable green fun (video)

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Spark EV test drive affordable green fun video

We've driven a number of EV's over the years -- from the Ford Focus Electric to the Tesla Model S -- but none have been as affordable as the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV. It costs $19,995, including the $7,500 federal tax credit, and just $17,495 in California, thanks to an additional $2,500 credit. The Spark EV is GM's first pure electric car since the company scrapped the EV1 program in 2002. It's a five-door supermini designed to carry four people plus luggage in comfort. While it's primarily a city car, it's perfectly at ease on the highway. We recently got the chance to take one for a spin in lovely Portland, Oregon, so hit the break for our impressions and hands-on video.

Gallery: Chevrolet Spark EV hands-on

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Android 4.3 source code reveals support for 4K resolution

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Android 4.3 source reveals support for 4K resolution

We've seen Android run on anything from low-resolution smartwatches to high-PPI phones and tablets, including the new 1920 x 1200-pixel Nexus 7 Google launched earlier this week. To make this possible, the mobile OS supports a number of pixel densities for app content -- from 120PPI (LDPI / Low DPI) to 480PPI (XXHDPI / Extra Extra High DPI). Close examination of the Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) source code reveals the addition of a 640PPI (XXXHDPI / Extra Extra Extra High DPI) pixel density, which -- according to the comments in the code -- is intended for 4K televisions. Does this mean we'll begin to see Android devices with 640PPI Ultra HD displays? Perhaps, but considering 480PPI is overkill on handsets, this is most likely designed to make image assets and fonts, such as the Google TV UI, readable on 4K screens when viewed from a distance.

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Via: Android Police

Source: Git at Google

Lomography reinvents Petzval lens for analog and digital SLRs

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Lomography reinvents Petzval lens for analog and digital SLRs

When it was invented in 1840, the Petzval lens revolutionized photography thanks to its f/3.6 aperture. It's legendary for producing images with super sharp centers and unique backgrounds with a whirly bokeh -- as such it's particularly well suited for shooting portraits. Most Petzval lenses today are defective because of age and not optimized for modern cameras, so Lomography set out to reinvent the lens for the 21st century. The company just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Petzval lens back for $300 -- it's teaming up with Zenit to manufacture high-quality lenses for analog and digital SLRs with Nikon F and Canon EF mounts. Lomography's Petzval lens is made of brass, features a gear rack focusing mechanism and comes with a Waterhouse aperture set (f/2.2, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16). Are you as intrigued as we are? Follow the source link below for the full campaign details.

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Source: Lomography (Kickstarter)

SwiftKey Cloud syncs your keyboard profile, includes trending phrases (video)

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SwiftKey Cloud syncs your keyboard profile, includes trending phrases video

Here's something we've all been wanting for some time. SwiftKey Cloud is launching today with a bunch of new functionality including -- you guessed it -- cloud backup and synchronization across multiple devices. By keeping your keyboard profile and settings online, you no longer have to re-teach Swiftkey your typing habits if you upgrade to a new tablet or lose your phone. Trending phrases is another new feature which analyzes relevant and localized phrases that are trending on social networks and other media and adds them daily to the keyboard's vocabulary. It supports US / UK English and eleven other languages at launch, with more coming in the future. Finally, SwiftKey Cloud makes its easier than before to personalize your keyboard by connecting it with your GMail, Facebook, Twitter and now Yahoo! mail accounts. We've been using the beta for about a day now and everything's working as advertised. Check out the gallery below, then it the break for the promo video and PR.

Gallery: SwiftKey Cloud

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Source: Play Store

Flipboard brings magazines to the web, launches ‘Big Ideas’

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Flipboard brings magazines to the web, launches 'Big Ideas'

By now you're probably familiar with user-created magazines on Flipboard, a feature that was introduced for iOS back in March and added to Android in May. Starting today, you'll be able to enjoy Flipboard magazines on the web, including access to the By Our Readers section. This web edition even lets users with Flipboard accounts subscribe to magazines and "flip" stories right from within the browser. While the mobile app is still the best way to fully experience Flipboard, the web edition supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari and IE9+ in 11 languages. Moreover, the company is introducing "Big Ideas", a new category in the Flipboard Content Guide which "celebrates innovative ideas, great speeches, industry thought leaders and inspirational organizations." Take a look the gallery below and find the PR after the break.

Gallery: Flipboard magazines on the web

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Source: Flipboard Community

Moto X leaks in more press shots, this time in white

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Moto X leaks in more press shots, this time in white

And the saga continues! Hot on the heels of this morning's leaked renders comes a couple more press shots of the Moto X, courtesy of @evleaks -- this time in glorious unicorn white. There's not much more to mention here other than it's a lot easier to spot the mics front and back and to get a feel for the texture that adorns the rear. It looks very much like the svelte handset Eric Schmidt recently flaunted at the annual Allen and Co media conference. Not a fan of the existing hues? Motorola's been pretty clear the phone will be available in custom colors -- we're longing for a beautiful shade of purple ourselves. With the official Moto X launch slated for Thursday August 1st, we're only days away from getting all the details, so stay tuned for more.

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Source: @evleaks