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AfterDawn: News

New leak seems to reveal full iPhone 6 and Passbook app with mobile payments

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 06 Sep 2014 4:50

New leak seems to reveal full iPhone 6 and Passbook app with mobile payments Thanks to Chinese site cnBeta, we appear to have full pics of the upcoming iPhone 6 along with the rumored updated Passbook app for mobile payments.

The design looks similar to previous leaks, patents and designs we have seen, showing off the 4.7-inch display, rounded corners and edges, and different volume rocker.

In the software, the Passbook app has been updated with a red stripe that appears to have a credit card, suggesting Apple will be getting into the mobile payments market as expected. In addition, the home screen has a full new row for icons (6 compared to 5) supporting the purported 1334 x 750 resolution.

As far as leaks go, these photos do not seem like obvious fakes we have seen in the past, and the device certainly looks like Apple's purported next flagship.

We will know for sure in just a few days.

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AfterDawn: News

Refreshed Moto G keeps cheap price, adds larger screen

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 06 Sep 2014 12:22

Refreshed Moto G keeps cheap price, adds larger screen In addition to their other higher-profile launches, Motorola also announced the refresh of their popular Moto G mid-range device.

The incredibly cheap yet serviceable device will still sell for $179.99 unlocked, but with improved specs. The phone now has a 5-inch 720p display with Gorilla Glass, a Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, dual SIM capabilities, 8GB internal storage and a microSD slot for 32GB expansion.

Stock Android 4.4 is pre-loaded (with some basic Moto apps that are helpful), and Motorola has already guaranteed an update to Android 5.0 Lemon Meringue Pie.

Dual cameras, double stereo speakers, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE and 720p HD video capture are the rest of the upgrades for the mid-range device. The 2070mAh battery is good for one day of mixed usage, says Motorola.

Available now for $180 unlocked, in the U.S., India, France, the UK, Brazil, Spain and Germany.

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AfterDawn: News

Motorola unveils the new powerful Moto X refresh

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Sep 2014 11:44

Motorola unveils the new powerful Moto X refresh Motorola introduced the second-generation Moto X today, a powerful refresh to their popular flagship device.

The company has updated the specs, moving the device to a 1080p 5.2-inch AMOLED display, and slimming down the design to just 144 grams.

Powering the smartphone is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor clocked at 2.5GHz, a 578MHz Adreno 330 GPU and 2GB of RAM. Base models have 16GB internal storage, and Motorola has added Gorilla Glass protection, and a "splash guard" water-repellent coating.

Like its predecessor, the Moto X will run on almost stock Android 4.4 (to be quickly upgraded to Android Lemon Meringue Pie), with Motorola adding a few of their own features, all of which are well received. The company kept their Migration tool to help you bring over your old contacts, texts and data. Moto Actions, Moto Display and Moto Assist are back and each are extremely helpful. Moto Actions uses new IR sensors which allow you to, for example, snooze your alarm by waving your hand over it. Tapping and swiping to use gestures are the same, as well. Moto Display is a specialized home page that shows three notifications, allowing you to get a quick preview of each. Moto Voice also takes custom phrases, taking voice control to a new level. "Take a selfie" opens the front-facing camera, "Play YouTube" launches the YouTube app, etc, etc. Very cool.

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AfterDawn: News

The Moto 360 smartwatch is official, and already sold out

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Sep 2014 9:43

The Moto 360 smartwatch is official, and already sold out Motorola has released their long-awaited Moto 360 smartwatch, arguably the first smartwatch that is actually comfortably wearable with a suit.

The device, which runs on Android Wear, has already sold out via Motorola and Google Play, and it should be available in Best Buy retailers later this month.

Priced at $249.99, the device is the most expensive Android Wear device to date, and it will set you back $299.99 if you want metal bands when they become available next month. If you really want the watch now, the metal bands cost $79.99 as an accessory.

Making the watch different is its round face with (almost) edge-to-edge display. The display is 1.56-inch with 320×290 resolution, 205ppi, with a total 46mm diameter watchface. Under the hood is a TI OMAP 3, 4GB of internal storage and 512MB of RAM.

The watch has a pedometer, wireless charging support, heart rate monitor, and as expected, a mic for voice controls. To protect your investment, the watch is IP67 dust and water resistant and has a Gorilla Glass protected screen.

Early reviews of the device have been very mixed. While the design has seen universal acclaim, the battery life is atrocious. Most people claim that the battery life is even worse than current Android Wear devices, with moderate wear leading to just 12 hours of battery life, which is unacceptable by any standards.

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AfterDawn: News

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has killer specs, tons of features

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Sep 2014 12:24

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has killer specs, tons of features Samsung unveiled their Galaxy Note 4 earlier this week, showing off a phablet with killer specs and a plethora of features.

The note 4 has a 5.7 inch inch Quad HD Super AMOLED screen, (2560 x 1440 resolution) and is powered by a 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 805 CPU or a 1.9 GHz Octa-Core Exynos CPU depending on your network and country.

Additionally, the phone has 3GB RAM, 32GB external storage, microSD slot for up to 64GB, a 16MP rear camera with Smart OIS, a 3.7MP front facing camera with "Wide Selfie" features.

The phone runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat, the phone has support for 4G Cat 4, 4G Cat 6, 3G / HSPA+. 2.5G support and has a large 3220 mAh removable battery with Fast Charging tech.

On the software side, we have Air Command with Action Memo, Smart Select, Image Clip, Screen Write, S Note, Snap Note and Direct Pen Input, also it comes with improved Multi Window, Ultra Power Saving Mode, Voice Recorder, Interview Mode Recording capability, Dynamic Lock Screen, Briefing, Download Booster, S Health 3.5, UV sensor, Heart Rate Monitoring, Bluetooth v4.1, IR LED, HDR rich tone software for camera along with Selective Focus, Rear-cam Selfie, Dual Camera, Virtual Tour Shot, Shot & More, Beauty Face, and others.

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AfterDawn: News

IFA: Sony unveils two new smart wearables

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Sep 2014 11:50

IFA: Sony unveils two new smart wearables Using the IFA event as their venue, Sony has unveiled two new smart wearables including an update to their line of smartwatches.

First, the company unveiled its new SmartWatch 3, an Android Wear sequel to its previous proprietary Android smartwatches. Sony says the watch will work as a standalone and will also sync to your Android Wear capable smartphone for better functionality.

The SmartWatch 3 has a 1.6 inch 320 x 320 LCD touch display, a stainless steel body, and IP68 dust and water-resistance. Under the hood is a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 chip at 1.2GHz, 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. As is standard, the device has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, NFC, GPS, an ambient light sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer and a gyroscope. Most importantly is the microphone which allows for voice control.

Better than other current devices, the SW3 has a 420mAh battery good for 48 hours of usage. The watch is also extremely light at 38 grams.

Second, Sony introduced the SmartBand Talk, a fitness band used to monitor your movements and help you keep a log of your activities. The device has a 1.4 inch E-ink display (296 x 128) that can show you the time, synced notifications and the status of monitored activities. Since it doesn't need any major power, the device has an ARM Cortex-M4, 256KB RAM and Bluetooth 4.0 BLE and NFC. The band has a 70mAh battery and also has a microphone and speaker for some basic voice controls.

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AfterDawn: News

'Angry Birds Stella' is here

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Sep 2014 10:56

'Angry Birds Stella' is here Finnish casual gaming giant Rovio has released their latest spin-off of the popular Angry Birds franchise, dubbed 'Stella.'

Stella is the main female character of the series, having been featured in a few of the past games including Angry Birds GO! and Angry Birds Star Wars.

The game has a familiar feel to past games, with familiar birds and pigs and stars and unlockable characters. The game does add a new slow motion tap-and-hold mechanic which allows for more pointed flight and attacks.

As usual, the game is free, and the first levels are ad-free. Afterwards, there are banner ads and video ads that you will have to sit through. There are also in-app purchases of coins if you need them for special power upgrades during a level.

Rovio has also announced a set of Telepod toys that can be used for new characters or features after you scan them.

The game is available now on Android and iOS.

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AfterDawn: News

Google settles with FTC for $19 million over unauthorized in-app purchases

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Sep 2014 10:18

Google settles with FTC for $19 million over unauthorized in-app purchases Just a few weeks after Apple settled over the same policy, Google has settled with the FTC over their in-app purchasing policies and unlawful billing of unauthorized purchases.

Google has settled for $19 million and will refund parents whose kids may have made unauthorized in-app purchases that did not require passwords. Apple recently settled for $32.5 million, as they had more angry consumers.

When the Google Play Store first launched, in-app purchases did not require a password, meaning a parent could have downloaded a free app, let their kids play, and unknowingly had their kids buy in-app upgrades or DLC that were then charged to an attached credit card.

In 2012, Google updated the policy to add authentication every 30 minutes, but that was still a large open period and some accounts racked up hundreds in charges before parents noticed.

If you made any in-app purchases during that time frame, you will receive an email from Google with steps on how to apply for part of the refund fund.

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AfterDawn: News

Nokia expected to bring HERE mapping service to Android and iOS

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Sep 2014 9:48

Nokia expected to bring HERE mapping service to Android and iOS Nokia will soon release their HERE mapping services for iOS and Android, looking to take some share from its bigger rivals.

Currently, HERE maps are the default mapping service for Windows Phone devices, but will soon be available for free for the two major operating systems.

Giving HERE a major leg up on Google and Apple is the fact that Nokia will make full maps available for downloading when offline. "We will go where the scale is," says a Nokia exec. "I'm convinced people are looking for alternatives. Google Maps is a good solution for many--their maps work very well--but it has looked the same and done the same for a long time."

Nokia is not expected to see any financial gains from the move, since there is really no advertising yet, especially compared to Google Maps. The mapping business makes money through corporate license fees for use of the digital mapping platform especially to companies that have major logistics needs, like a Fedex for example.

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AfterDawn: News

WSJ: Apple iTime will have NFC

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Sep 2014 9:06

WSJ: Apple iTime will have NFC According to a new report, the upcoming Apple iTime smartwatch will include a near-field communication (NFC) chip, allowing for one-tap mobile payments and other transfers of information.

Apple is expected to unveil the watch at next week's iPhone 6 launch event. Additionally, the company is expected to also launch a mobile payment platform, one where you can keep all your credit and debit cards in a digital wallet and pay with a simple tap or scan.

There are expected to be two models of the watch, which is not expected to be available to consumers until February.

Although obviously unconfirmed, the iTime is also expected to have a curved screen and be available in black, white and gold.

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AfterDawn: News

Toshiba unveils low-end full Windows 8.1 tablet for just $119

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Sep 2014 8:44

Toshiba unveils low-end full Windows 8.1 tablet for just $119 If you are looking to get a full Windows 8.1 tablet without style or powerful specs but at a crazy cheap price, Toshiba has got the device for you.

The company has revealed the 7-inch Encore Mini for just $119, featuring low-end specs and a ship date on September 17th.

Under the hood is a quad-core Intel Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, a microSD slot, dual cameras and a micro USB 2.0 port. The 7-inch 16:9 widescreen display has a low 1024 x 600 resolution.

From a design standpoint, the Toshiba Encore Mini has huge bezels, and a plain, rectangular shape. It is not winning any awards.

At its price point, the device is easily the least expensive full Windows 8.1 device out there, undercutting the newly announced $199 HP Stream 7, although that device has a better screen and more RAM.

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AfterDawn: News

Netflix buys rights to stream 'Gotham' before it has even aired on TV

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Sep 2014 11:11

Netflix buys rights to stream 'Gotham' before it has even aired on TV Netflix has set a new precedent in the streaming industry, signing a streaming deal for a broadcast series that has not even yet aired on TV.

The deal between Netflix and Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution is for the new series 'Gotham' and Netflix will be the exclusive SVOD (subscription video on demand) provider for the show in all of its territories. The show will be available to Netflix subscribers after its U.S. broadcast run, with the first season expected to be made available in September 2015 right before the launch of the second season.

Deadline's report says Netflix is paying $1.75 million per episode, a huge figure only surpassed by the company's alleged 'Blacklist' exclusive deal at $2 million per episode.

Gotham premieres on September 22 on Fox and will tell the origin story of a younger Bruce Wayne and a younger Commissioner Gordon.




AfterDawn: News

Microsoft removing 2GB limitation for file sizes in OneDrive

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Sep 2014 10:34

Microsoft removing 2GB limitation for file sizes in OneDrive Microsoft has quietly begun dropping the 2GB file size limit for its OneDrive cloud storage service.

Last month, Microsoft group program manager Omar Shahine confirmed that the limit was to be removed in the near future, saying "It's not arbitrary. It's simply an old limit that we've been working on removing for far too long now. The good news is that we are actively working on this."

Currently, the the limits are being removed, but it will be a slow rollout.

"As we mentioned on our UserVoice, we have started the work to increase the file size limit for all OneDrive accounts. We have started the process with a small number of customers and will continue to roll it out to our full customer base. We will have more to share on this update in the near future, stay tuned to the OneDrive blog," says Microsoft.

All free OneDrive accounts have 15GB free storage.

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AfterDawn: News

Xiaomi emerges as possible suitor for failed Android console and Kickstarter darling Ouya

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Sep 2014 9:31

Xiaomi emerges as possible suitor for failed Android console and Kickstarter darling Ouya Ouya, the Android console maker, is up for sale and has some major possible suitors in China, and in the U.S.

According to sources, preliminary discussions have been had with Xiaomi and Tencent in China, and some minor discussions with Google and Amazon in the U.S. There have been no offers made, but a full acquisition seems much more likely than the company raising more money in the near future.

The company raised over $8 million on Kickstarter in late 2012, and remains one of the highest funded campaigns in the site's history. The flagship product was a $99 set-top console called the Ouya that had its own gaming controller and had a library of Android games that were "free to try" and could then be purchased or updated through in-app purchases.

Sources say the acquisition but be strictly for talent rather than the failed console, and the Chinese companies could use the boost in set-top talent as they approach new markets.

Most recently, Ouya partnered with Xiaomi to put the company's own proprietary software on smart TVs and set-tops made by the Chinese giant, so an acquisition does not seem out of the question.

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AfterDawn: News

Microsoft China leaks Windows 9 logo

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Sep 2014 8:32

Microsoft China leaks Windows 9 logo Microsoft China "accidentally" leaked the upcoming Windows 9 logo earlier today, before quickly removing it and taking down the accompanying post.

In the post, the company asked "Microsoft's latest OS Windows 9 is coming soon, do you think the start menu at the left bottom will make a come back?" The post suggests the operating system is on its way soon, which previous reports and leaks have also implied.

The logo was later confirmed as a mockup, but could certainly still be used in the future, as it keeps with Microsoft's style.

Microsoft is expected to unveil the OS on September 30th, and release an early "tech preview" soon after for developers, enterprise users and early adopters.

Windows 9 will add a new mini Start Menu, remove the stupid Charms menu and add other UI features making the OS more accessible for non-touchscreen users.

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