DJs
There is a version of this story where Apple quietly became the most thoughtful AI company in the room. Where its obsession with privacy, its custom silicon, and its tightly controlled ecosystem gave it advantages that cloud-first competitors simply couldn't replicate. Where its patience paid off and Siri 2.0 arrived polished, capable, and worth the wait. That version of the story is still being written. And right now, it is not going well.
In September 2025, Apple shipped five incremental Siri improvements in iOS 26: faster follow-up queries, richer answers, tighter Shortcuts integration, a refreshed calling interface, and instant language switching. Helpful, yes. But these were never a substitute for what had been promised. Internal testers on early iOS 26.4 builds were reportedly warning that the new Siri still did not compete with current chatbots.
Android has Google baked into its foundations. iOS is now paying Google to power its AI. The two dominant mobile platforms are, at the AI layer, increasingly the same thing. If a genuine alternative to that model emerges, whether from a new OS, a privacy-first hardware maker, or something we haven't seen yet, it will likely find its audience among exactly the people who read pieces like this one.
Apple Promised Us the Future of AI. Here's Why It Couldn't Deliver
There is a version of this story where Apple quietly became the most thoughtful AI company in the room. Where its obsession with privacy, its custom silicon, and its tightly controlled ecosystem gave it advantages that cloud-first competitors simply couldn't replicate. Where its patience paid off and Siri 2.0 arrived polished, capable, and worth the wait. That version of the story is still being written. And right now, it is not going well.
The Promise: WWDC 2024 and the Hype Machine
Cast your mind back to June 2024. Apple took the stage at WWDC and unveiled Apple Intelligence with the kind of confidence the company usually reserves for products that are actually ready to ship. The presentation was slick, the demos were compelling, and the message was clear: Apple had not just caught up to the AI moment, it had found a better way to do it. The headline feature was a reimagined Siri. Not the bumbling, forgetful assistant that had been the industry's longest-running punchline since 2011, but something genuinely new. A Siri with on-screen awareness, meaning it could see what you were looking at and act on it. Personal context, meaning it could understand your life, your relationships, your calendar, your emails, and respond accordingly. In-app actions, meaning it could reach into third-party applications and get things done without you having to navigate there yourself. Apple also dangled the prospect of Google Gemini as a future integration partner, with executives winking broadly at audiences across multiple events throughout the year. The marketing followed. iPhone 16 was sold, in no small part, on Apple Intelligence. Adverts saturated television, social media, and every surface Apple could buy. The message to consumers was direct: this phone is the AI phone. Buy it now, the features are coming.
What followed was one of the most embarrassing product rollouts in Apple's recent history. In March 2025, Apple publicly admitted it had missed its own quality bar. The smarter Siri, the one with personal context and on-screen awareness, was pulled. The features that had defined the entire iPhone 16 marketing campaign were quietly kicked down the road. A federal lawsuit was filed in California alleging false advertising. Apple eventually settled.
What We Actually Got
To be fair to Apple, not everything about Apple Intelligence was vaporware. iOS 18.1 and 18.2 did deliver some features. Notification summaries arrived, though they quickly became notorious for generating embarrassingly wrong summaries, including one that the BBC formally complained about after it misrepresented a breaking news story. Image Playground and Genmoji shipped. Writing tools that clean up grammar and adjust tone landed in Notes and Mail. ChatGPT was integrated for complex queries, though the implementation was so conservative that it barely registered. What never arrived was the part that actually mattered. The three flagship capabilities that Siri was supposed to gain: Personal Context, On-Screen Awareness, and In-App Actions. These were not peripheral features. They were the entire point. Without them, Apple Intelligence was a set of useful but unremarkable additions to an OS that already had most of what people needed.The Siri Timeline
Siri debuted in 2011 as a genuine novelty. Between 2014 and 2020, it received incremental updates focused on Apple's own apps. When ChatGPT exploded onto the scene in late 2022, it reportedly blindsided Apple executives entirely. The company scrambled, began work on a new foundation model internally codenamed "Ajax," and by 2024 felt enough pressure to announce a full overhaul before it was ready. By October 2025, iOS 26 had shipped and the major Apple Intelligence features were still absent with no confirmed release date.
Why Did This Happen?
The honest answer is more complicated than "Apple was lazy" or "Apple doesn't care about AI." Neither of those is true, and accepting them as explanations would be doing a disservice to what is actually an interesting and structural problem. Apple's approach to AI was always different from its competitors. While Google, Microsoft, and Meta raced to cloud-based large language models that could dazzle in demos, Apple planted its flag firmly in on-device intelligence. The idea was that your phone's neural engine does the heavy lifting, your data never leaves your device, and you get AI without the privacy tradeoff. It is, philosophically, an admirable position. It is also, technically, an enormously difficult one. Building a model capable enough to do what Apple promised, while keeping it small enough to run locally on an iPhone, is a genuinely hard engineering problem. The rest of the industry solved the capability question by throwing cloud compute at it. Apple's self-imposed constraints meant that solution was not available to them, at least not without compromising the privacy narrative that underpins their entire brand identity. There is also the ecosystem problem. Apple promised that the new Siri would reach into third-party apps via App Intents. For that to work, developers need to build support for it. And developers, watching Apple delay and delay and delay, have not exactly been rushing to invest engineering time in a feature that keeps not shipping. The result was a company that announced something it genuinely intended to build, encountered the reality of building it, and discovered the gap between the two was larger than it had anticipated. That is not a scandal. But announcing it to the world before closing that gap, and building an entire product marketing cycle around it, is where Apple deserves the criticism it has received.The Gemini Admission
On January 12, 2026, Apple and Google issued a joint statement that, depending on how you read it, was either a pragmatic partnership or a quiet admission of defeat. The two companies announced a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology, with those models set to power future Apple Intelligence features including a more personalized Siri. Let that sit for a moment. Apple, the company that has spent years positioning itself as the privacy-first alternative to Google's data-harvesting model, has agreed to pay Google reportedly around $1 billion a year to use Gemini as the foundation of its AI ambitions. Apple evaluated technologies from OpenAI and Anthropic before selecting Google, citing its models as the most capable foundation. The company is framing this as a technology choice rather than a retreat, emphasising that Apple Intelligence will continue to run through Private Cloud Compute and that privacy standards are maintained. That framing is not entirely wrong. But it does not change what the deal represents at a strategic level: Apple building toward its biggest announced product feature by licensing the core capability from its oldest and most complex rival. Reports suggest the deal is valued at around $1 billion per year for access to a custom 1.2 trillion parameter Gemini model. Google, for its part, now has Gemini running inside Apple's ecosystem, powering Siri on two billion devices. That is a remarkable outcome for a company that Apple has been quietly trying to reduce its dependence on.What Is Actually Coming in 2026
To Apple's credit, there is genuine momentum now. WWDC 2026, scheduled for June 8, is expected to unveil a new Siri interface integrated into the Dynamic Island, with a standalone Siri app that supports back-and-forth conversation and conversation history. The Gemini-powered foundation is reportedly being distilled into a smaller on-device model, which would preserve Apple's privacy architecture while delivering significantly better capability. Apple is reportedly planning to turn Siri into a full chatbot experience, capable of competing with OpenAI's ChatGPT, with a dedicated interface tested internally under the codename "Campos." The three long-promised flagship features: Personal Context, On-Screen Awareness, and In-App Actions, are reportedly still on the roadmap and expected to be more capable than what was originally shown at WWDC 2024. Apple has also stated publicly, to CNBC, that the upgraded Siri remains on track for 2026. Given the company's track record over the past 18 months, that assurance deserves some scrutiny. But the Gemini partnership, the new AI leadership under Mike Rockwell (previously of Apple Vision Pro), and the visible pressure from investors and the legal settlement all point to an organisation that knows it cannot miss again.The Bigger Question: What Does This Mean for AI?
Here is where this story connects to something larger. We have spent the last few weeks on this blog talking about focused tools versus distraction machines. The E-Ink phone piece. The Windows Phone legacy. The idea that the best technology respects your time and attention rather than monetising them. AI, done well, fits naturally into that philosophy. A genuinely intelligent assistant that knows your context, understands what you need, and helps you get it done is the ultimate focused tool. It is the promise that every voice assistant has made since 2011 and that none of them has fully delivered. The trouble is that the AI race, as it is currently being run, is not primarily about building focused tools. It is about building platforms. Microsoft wants Copilot embedded in everything you do at work. Google wants Gemini to be the layer through which you interact with all of Google's services. OpenAI wants ChatGPT to become a default operating layer for a generation of users. These are not neutral productivity tools. They are ecosystems competing for attention and data, dressed up in the language of helpfulness. Apple's stated alternative was different. On-device. Private. Yours. If it had worked, it would have been the most interesting AI proposition in the industry: intelligence that genuinely serves the user rather than the platform.The Third Platform Question
We asked in the Windows Phone piece whether the current duopoly leaves space for a third platform. The AI layer makes that question more urgent. If Apple's privacy-first approach fails, or gets quietly absorbed into the Google ecosystem through deals like this one, then the AI experience on every major platform converges toward the same model: cloud-dependent, data-hungry, and optimised for engagement over utility. That convergence could be exactly the space a third platform steps into. Not with a better spec sheet, but with a fundamentally different answer to the question of what your AI is actually for.
Final Thoughts
Apple's failure with Apple Intelligence is not a story about incompetence. The engineering problems are real and difficult. The privacy constraints are genuine, even if they also served as convenient cover for delays. The company still has the best consumer hardware in the industry, custom silicon that its competitors cannot match, and a developer ecosystem that remains the most valuable in the world. But it made a promise it could not keep, marketed a product it had not built, and spent 18 months watching the gap between its announcements and its shipping reality become a running joke. That matters, not just for Apple's reputation, but because the promise itself was worth making. A private, on-device, user-first AI would have been genuinely good for consumers. The fact that Apple could not deliver it without turning to Google suggests that the version of AI that respects your privacy and serves only you is harder to build than anyone wants to admit. WWDC 2026 is in June. The Gemini-powered Siri is coming. The conversation history, the Dynamic Island interface, the chatbot experience: all reportedly on track. Maybe this is finally the year Apple closes the gap between what it promised and what it ships. But I'd suggest watching what it promises next before deciding whether to believe it. What do you think? Has Apple permanently damaged its credibility on AI, or is this a stumble the company can recover from? And if Apple's privacy-first approach ultimately gets swallowed by the Google partnership, does that change what you think about the future of AI on mobile? Let me know in the comments.
DJs
eBay is a popular choice for customers looking to make money off their old electronics, but there are a lot of hidden fees and competitors. You can also try selling your electronics on websites like Amazon, Craigslist, Gazelle, USell, and DeClutter. But there is one website we came across that wants to help you save time when it comes to finding the best deal for your phone.
SellCell
SellCell.com is a website which promises to offer you the best price for your old smartphone. In fact, their guarantee promises to pay you double the difference if you find a higher price within 24 hours of placing your order
Usually to get the best deal you’d have to spend time searching through several different cell phone trade-in sites. But SellCell's price comparison engine compares prices from all the leading cell phone trade-in sites to ensure you get the best price from around the web. They promise to compare more phone buyers than any other site and to cover the widest range of cell phones and tablets so that the customer is guaranteed to always get the most cash for their old electronics.
SellCell.com was the first cell phone trade-in price comparison site in the USA, and have held that title for five years.
So next time you are looking to trade in your old smartphone, be sure to check out SellCell.com and get the best price for your old electronics.
Best place to sell your used smartphone
Smartphones can be pretty expensive these days, and a common trend for customers looking to purchase a new smartphone is to sell the one they are using. Manufacturers and carriers at times offer trade-in value, but savvy customers prefer doing their research and getting the best price for their used smartphone.
eBay is a popular choice for customers looking to make money off their old electronics, but there are a lot of hidden fees and competitors. You can also try selling your electronics on websites like Amazon, Craigslist, Gazelle, USell, and DeClutter. But there is one website we came across that wants to help you save time when it comes to finding the best deal for your phone.
SellCell
SellCell.com is a website which promises to offer you the best price for your old smartphone. In fact, their guarantee promises to pay you double the difference if you find a higher price within 24 hours of placing your order
Usually to get the best deal you’d have to spend time searching through several different cell phone trade-in sites. But SellCell's price comparison engine compares prices from all the leading cell phone trade-in sites to ensure you get the best price from around the web. They promise to compare more phone buyers than any other site and to cover the widest range of cell phones and tablets so that the customer is guaranteed to always get the most cash for their old electronics.
SellCell.com was the first cell phone trade-in price comparison site in the USA, and have held that title for five years.
So next time you are looking to trade in your old smartphone, be sure to check out SellCell.com and get the best price for your old electronics.
DJs
Microsoft Software
While the Apple iPad was originally released as a companion product, over the years it has become powerful enough to replace portable laptops as a full productivity device. With the inclusion of a keyboard and pencil accessory an iPad can be the perfect companion product for a student.
However, Microsoft's software and hardware solutions are still preferred among schools. According to consulting firm Futuresource, Microsoft hardware had 44% of the global education market in May. Microsoft brings enterprise-class collaboration, Teams for Education, device management, and Intune for Education with devices like Surface Go. This is complemented by an industry-leading cloud and enterprise-grade first-party software like Office 365 for Education.
Surface Go in education is backed by the weight of what makes Microsoft an enterprise success. And though Microsoft offers its apps across all platforms, the integration with Microsoft's services gives the user a much more fluid experience across all the apps and services.
Additionally, using Microsoft services in schools will prepare students entering the workforce, where Microsoft driven solutions are common. Having experience with using Microsoft's ecosystem will quickly familiarize users with what they can expect when they use Microsoft collaboration and device management tools like Teams and Office 365.
Microsoft Ink
While purchasing an Apple Pencil with your iPad gives you access to digital inking, Microsoft's Windows Ink is integrated with Windows and other software in a more broad way. Microsoft built Windows 10 from ground up to include support for inking input alongside the keyboard, mouse, voice and touch, and this is evident when you use the Surface Go.
You will be able to launch apps like OneNote or other Windows Ink Workspace apps using the Surface Pen. You can also use the pen to write on Office Documents, web pages on Microsoft Edge, emails in Microsoft Mail and more. The dimensions and ergonomics of the Surface Go make it a perfect alternate to the notepad.
By making Microsoft Ink available across all aspects of Windows, you will be able to naturally interact and create digital content through writing on your Surface Go.
More Versatile
The Surface Go is a fully fledged Windows device, despite its modest hardware and size. The device is capable of doing anything a full desktop computer can do, only limited by the power of its hardware. Tablets like the iPad are still limited to their app ecosystems and don't support additional hardware like a mouse.
More Options from OEMs
While the entry-level Surface Go is still slightly more costly than the basic iPad, it sets a blueprint for OEMs to build their own affordable iPad alternates. Other manufactures will soon have their own Windows tablets in the market to give users a wider range of options to choose from over the iPad.
Four Reasons the Microsoft Surface Go is better than the iPad for students
While Microsoft has always been associated as the go to for productivity and education, Apple over the years have been inching into market by replacing laptops with their iPad lineup. Microsoft recently released the Surface Go, as an affordable variant in the Surface lineup and an alternate to the Apple iPad. Here are four reasons why the Microsoft Surface Go is a better option for students than the Apple iPad.
Microsoft Software
While the Apple iPad was originally released as a companion product, over the years it has become powerful enough to replace portable laptops as a full productivity device. With the inclusion of a keyboard and pencil accessory an iPad can be the perfect companion product for a student.
However, Microsoft's software and hardware solutions are still preferred among schools. According to consulting firm Futuresource, Microsoft hardware had 44% of the global education market in May. Microsoft brings enterprise-class collaboration, Teams for Education, device management, and Intune for Education with devices like Surface Go. This is complemented by an industry-leading cloud and enterprise-grade first-party software like Office 365 for Education.
Surface Go in education is backed by the weight of what makes Microsoft an enterprise success. And though Microsoft offers its apps across all platforms, the integration with Microsoft's services gives the user a much more fluid experience across all the apps and services.
Additionally, using Microsoft services in schools will prepare students entering the workforce, where Microsoft driven solutions are common. Having experience with using Microsoft's ecosystem will quickly familiarize users with what they can expect when they use Microsoft collaboration and device management tools like Teams and Office 365.
Microsoft Ink
While purchasing an Apple Pencil with your iPad gives you access to digital inking, Microsoft's Windows Ink is integrated with Windows and other software in a more broad way. Microsoft built Windows 10 from ground up to include support for inking input alongside the keyboard, mouse, voice and touch, and this is evident when you use the Surface Go.
You will be able to launch apps like OneNote or other Windows Ink Workspace apps using the Surface Pen. You can also use the pen to write on Office Documents, web pages on Microsoft Edge, emails in Microsoft Mail and more. The dimensions and ergonomics of the Surface Go make it a perfect alternate to the notepad.
By making Microsoft Ink available across all aspects of Windows, you will be able to naturally interact and create digital content through writing on your Surface Go.
More Versatile
The Surface Go is a fully fledged Windows device, despite its modest hardware and size. The device is capable of doing anything a full desktop computer can do, only limited by the power of its hardware. Tablets like the iPad are still limited to their app ecosystems and don't support additional hardware like a mouse.
More Options from OEMs
While the entry-level Surface Go is still slightly more costly than the basic iPad, it sets a blueprint for OEMs to build their own affordable iPad alternates. Other manufactures will soon have their own Windows tablets in the market to give users a wider range of options to choose from over the iPad.
DJs
Traditionally, Google has been naming major Android versions after candy and pastries. Android 1.5, for example, was called Cupcake. Then came Donut, Eclair, Froyo, and so on, all the way to Lollipop. Since Android release names go in alphabetical order, it is safe to assume that the name of the next big Android release will begin with the letter M.
According to speculations, it could be anything from Muffin or Marshmallow to Milky Way or M&M's, should Google choose to partner up with a well-known candy brand like it did for Android 4.4 KitKat. It is said that the upcoming Android release is internally codenamed Macadamia Nut Cookie. Its official name, however, is most likely to be different, hopefully one that rolls of the tongue more easily.
In terms of version number, Google may choose to go with Android 5.2 or decide to jump straight onto Android 6.0 for their next dessert.
Material Design
In terms of features, Android M is shaping up as an evolutionary upgrade over Lollipop, not as a revolutionary one. That is, its focus could be on enhancing existing features instead of implementing a ton of new ones. Then there are the things likely to stay rather unchanged, such as the look and feel of Android's stock user interface. Minor tweaks here and there are sure to come, but as a whole, Android's UI is expected to be built on top of the Material Design principles instilled with Android 5.0 Lollipop. In other words, expect seeing more flat icons, shadows under objects, sliding transitions, and minimalist approach to graphics design in Android's next major version.
New Features
The Android M user interface is rumored to introduce a couple of welcome features – native multi-window support and universal quick replies to incoming messages. The former, which allows apps to run side by side, has been available on some manufacturer UIs for quite a while, and we'll be happy to see it land on a broader range of Android devices. As for the latter, quick replies have been part of iOS since its 8th major release. If Android M's approach follows a similar principle, we'll be allowed to shoot quick text messages back straight from the notification panel.
Android Pay
Back in March, Google confirmed that it had been working on a new mobile payments framework called Android Pay. It shouldn't be seen as a whole new mobile payments system as, technically, it isn't going to be. Rather, Android Pay is developed to be a layer allowing devs and companies to easily integrate secure payment methods in their apps. At first, NFC will be the main communications medium used by Android Pay, and biometrics data should be supported at a later point in time.
new Photos app
From the looks of it, a new Photos application will be announced alongside Android M. Screenshots of the new app were recently obtained by Android Police, showing off the software's functionality and UI. As before, users will be able to back up their images to the cloud, but the twist now is that images won't be tied with the user's Google+ account. Furthermore, Assistant is the name of a new feature in the Photos app. Its purpose is to let people easily create movies, stories, animation and collages out of their photos and videos.
New ways to interact
Imagine if you could interact with Android apps using your voice. Well, if rumors are to be trusted, that might be a feature in Android M, allowing developers to add hands-free capabilities to their software. While details are still scarce, this alleged hands-free capability could be just an advanced accessibility feature.
Another rumored Android M feature that we know little about is referred to as Nearby. In a nutshell, it is supposed to simplify the discovery of and communication with other Android users. Will this be Google's Answer to Airdrop in iOS? Well, your guess is as good as ours.
Furthermore, Android M is expected to bring changes to the UI's notifications and volume control system. Details are, again, little to non-existent, but we're secretly hoping for the plain ol' mute feature to make its return to Android. Not that we think Android's interruptions system is going to be retired, that is.
Performance Improvements
Even though Android M won't really be a major Android release, it will focus on improving the overall platform performance. Among the enhancements we're expecting to see are optimizations in RAM management – apps should be using less of the stuff. Furthermore, Android M is likely to improve on stand-by time by reducing app wake-ups and activity while the device is asleep.
Privacy and security enhancements
Lately, fingerprint scanners have become an industry trend, appearing on more and more premium smartphones, including Android-based phones like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Alpha.
Therefore, rumors suggesting that Android M will boast native support for fingerprint scanners make perfect sense as the feature is only going to grow in popularity. This should allow devs to integrate fingerprint authentication in their apps with ease, regardless of the device's make and model. Besides, logging in on multi-user devices with a scan of a fingerprint seems like a convenient solution.
On a related note, Android M is expected to be the most enterprise-friendly version of the OS to date. The new release is rumored to bring "the power of Android to all kinds of workplaces [...] to workers at small business, deskless workers, logistics and warehousing jobs". From the looks of it, Google could be building on top of Android's ability to separate personal and work-related data, which was added with Lollipop.
Speaking of security and privacy, rumor has it that Android M will allow users to edit app permissions. In other words, if you don't feel like allowing an app to, let's say, read your Google account information or to view your photo gallery, you should be able to disable the software's access to that data.
Release and Availability
Even though Android M will very likely be unveiled at the Google I/O Developer Conference, it will only likely debut later this year, alongside new Nexus devices. Both LG and Huawei are rumored to be building new Nexus handsets, and we cant wait to see what both manufacturers bring to the table.
Based on last year's trend, an early build of Android M may be released to developers after the conference. Last year it was only the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 (WiFi) owners who got to sample Android L, before the public release of Lollipop five months later.
But in any case, one should expect Nexus and Google Play Edition devices to receive the Android M update first. Flagship smartphones and tablets by Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC, and Motorola should come next in line. More information about the Android M launch date will be posted as we get it.
Android M - Rumor Roundup
The Google I/O Developer conference is set to kick off soon at the Moscone Center San Francisco, allowing Android enthusiasts from all over the world to to come together to improve their coding skills and see Google's latest technologies in action. While Android will more than likely be a highlight at the event, there is great expectation for the unveiling of Android M.
Traditionally, Google has been naming major Android versions after candy and pastries. Android 1.5, for example, was called Cupcake. Then came Donut, Eclair, Froyo, and so on, all the way to Lollipop. Since Android release names go in alphabetical order, it is safe to assume that the name of the next big Android release will begin with the letter M.
According to speculations, it could be anything from Muffin or Marshmallow to Milky Way or M&M's, should Google choose to partner up with a well-known candy brand like it did for Android 4.4 KitKat. It is said that the upcoming Android release is internally codenamed Macadamia Nut Cookie. Its official name, however, is most likely to be different, hopefully one that rolls of the tongue more easily.
In terms of version number, Google may choose to go with Android 5.2 or decide to jump straight onto Android 6.0 for their next dessert.
Material Design
In terms of features, Android M is shaping up as an evolutionary upgrade over Lollipop, not as a revolutionary one. That is, its focus could be on enhancing existing features instead of implementing a ton of new ones. Then there are the things likely to stay rather unchanged, such as the look and feel of Android's stock user interface. Minor tweaks here and there are sure to come, but as a whole, Android's UI is expected to be built on top of the Material Design principles instilled with Android 5.0 Lollipop. In other words, expect seeing more flat icons, shadows under objects, sliding transitions, and minimalist approach to graphics design in Android's next major version.
New Features
The Android M user interface is rumored to introduce a couple of welcome features – native multi-window support and universal quick replies to incoming messages. The former, which allows apps to run side by side, has been available on some manufacturer UIs for quite a while, and we'll be happy to see it land on a broader range of Android devices. As for the latter, quick replies have been part of iOS since its 8th major release. If Android M's approach follows a similar principle, we'll be allowed to shoot quick text messages back straight from the notification panel.
Android Pay
Back in March, Google confirmed that it had been working on a new mobile payments framework called Android Pay. It shouldn't be seen as a whole new mobile payments system as, technically, it isn't going to be. Rather, Android Pay is developed to be a layer allowing devs and companies to easily integrate secure payment methods in their apps. At first, NFC will be the main communications medium used by Android Pay, and biometrics data should be supported at a later point in time.
new Photos app
From the looks of it, a new Photos application will be announced alongside Android M. Screenshots of the new app were recently obtained by Android Police, showing off the software's functionality and UI. As before, users will be able to back up their images to the cloud, but the twist now is that images won't be tied with the user's Google+ account. Furthermore, Assistant is the name of a new feature in the Photos app. Its purpose is to let people easily create movies, stories, animation and collages out of their photos and videos.
New ways to interact
Imagine if you could interact with Android apps using your voice. Well, if rumors are to be trusted, that might be a feature in Android M, allowing developers to add hands-free capabilities to their software. While details are still scarce, this alleged hands-free capability could be just an advanced accessibility feature.
Another rumored Android M feature that we know little about is referred to as Nearby. In a nutshell, it is supposed to simplify the discovery of and communication with other Android users. Will this be Google's Answer to Airdrop in iOS? Well, your guess is as good as ours.
Furthermore, Android M is expected to bring changes to the UI's notifications and volume control system. Details are, again, little to non-existent, but we're secretly hoping for the plain ol' mute feature to make its return to Android. Not that we think Android's interruptions system is going to be retired, that is.
Performance Improvements
Even though Android M won't really be a major Android release, it will focus on improving the overall platform performance. Among the enhancements we're expecting to see are optimizations in RAM management – apps should be using less of the stuff. Furthermore, Android M is likely to improve on stand-by time by reducing app wake-ups and activity while the device is asleep.
Privacy and security enhancements
Lately, fingerprint scanners have become an industry trend, appearing on more and more premium smartphones, including Android-based phones like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and Galaxy Alpha.
Therefore, rumors suggesting that Android M will boast native support for fingerprint scanners make perfect sense as the feature is only going to grow in popularity. This should allow devs to integrate fingerprint authentication in their apps with ease, regardless of the device's make and model. Besides, logging in on multi-user devices with a scan of a fingerprint seems like a convenient solution.
On a related note, Android M is expected to be the most enterprise-friendly version of the OS to date. The new release is rumored to bring "the power of Android to all kinds of workplaces [...] to workers at small business, deskless workers, logistics and warehousing jobs". From the looks of it, Google could be building on top of Android's ability to separate personal and work-related data, which was added with Lollipop.
Speaking of security and privacy, rumor has it that Android M will allow users to edit app permissions. In other words, if you don't feel like allowing an app to, let's say, read your Google account information or to view your photo gallery, you should be able to disable the software's access to that data.
Release and Availability
Even though Android M will very likely be unveiled at the Google I/O Developer Conference, it will only likely debut later this year, alongside new Nexus devices. Both LG and Huawei are rumored to be building new Nexus handsets, and we cant wait to see what both manufacturers bring to the table.
Based on last year's trend, an early build of Android M may be released to developers after the conference. Last year it was only the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 (WiFi) owners who got to sample Android L, before the public release of Lollipop five months later.
But in any case, one should expect Nexus and Google Play Edition devices to receive the Android M update first. Flagship smartphones and tablets by Samsung, LG, Sony, HTC, and Motorola should come next in line. More information about the Android M launch date will be posted as we get it.
DJs
Internet Explorer (IE) has been the go to option to browse the internet for many Windows users. Competitors like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox have used their rapid updating, and fluid user experiences as means to divert Windows users away from IE, which is quickly showing signs of aging in the modern post PC era.
What is Project Spartan, and how does it differ from Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer (IE) has been the go to option to browse the internet for many Windows users. Competitors like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox have used their rapid updating, and fluid user experiences as means to divert Windows users away from IE, which is quickly showing signs of aging in the modern post PC era.For the next version of Windows, Microsoft hoped to address the shortcomings of IE, and felt the best way to do so was by introducing a brand "new web browsing experience for Windows 10", which became Project Spartan.
The name Spartan, like Cortana has been borrowed from Microsoft's popular game Halo. Just like Cortana, the new browser has been built from ground up with a new rendering engine that was built to be compatible with today’s web standards.
But Spartan doesn't aim to be yet another browser, instead, it has three new big features that would set it apart from other browsers; a note-taking mode that would allow you to annotate directly on web pages with a stylus or by touch, a distraction-free reading experience which will remove clutter from web pages, making them easier on the eyes and the addition of an offline reading list, and the inclusion of a context-aware Cortana, who can help you out with definitions, directions, and more to make information you might be looking for readily available to you.
Spartan will be a universal Windows app, which will work across PCs, tablets, phones, consoles and more. Unlike IE, Microsoft will continue to update Spartan to ensure it will always be modern and smooth.
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| Microsoft Spartan on mobile |
Microsoft wanted both Spartan and IE to be the browsers that will render all websites, old and new, accurately and as fast as possible. To achieve this, Microsoft planned to have two rendering engines built into the browsers. The first is Trident (MSHTML.dll), the existing rendering engine used in IE. Although it was updated rapidly since the launch of IE9, Trident was designed to remain compatible with the web of the past. It has legacy support for websites designed for browsers as old as IE5.5. Back then, IE also ran on the Apple Macintosh.
 |
| (The old Spartan strategy featuring two distinct rendering engines) |
The second rendering engine is Edge (EdgeHTML.dll). This new engine started out as a fork of Trident, but then quickly diverged into a separate entity. According to Microsoft, creating Edge from Trident, and then splitting the two apart allowed the company to keep all the major subsystem investments made over the last few years, while also allowing them to remove all the legacy support from the new engine. So this would leave Spartan and IE with two distinct engines; Trident, that would from here on out, remain largely unchanged outside of critical security updates, and Edge, which would continue to be updated as a service with bleeding-edge web technology and standards. Microsoft stated that Spartan and IE on Windows 10 would use Edge as the default engine, rendering your modern websites like Facebook, Twitter, Outlook.com, YouTube, and WinBeta.org and only switch back to Trident temporarily when you try to access legacy websites. The inclusion of Trident means a big deal to enterprises that haven’t updated their intranet sites since IE ran on the Mac, and there must be a lot of such enterprises out there if Microsoft is so reluctant to get simply get rid of Trident altogether.
 |
| (The new Windows 10 browser strategy; two browsers, each with its own engine) |
Microsoft has since had a change of heart, and has decided to completely remove Trident (MSHTML.dll) from Spartan, and completely remove Edge (EdgeHTML.dll) from IE in Windows 10. So Windows 10 customers will be left with two browsers; Spartan solely with Edge, and IE solely with Trident; this means that Spartan on Windows 10 will not be able to render legacy websites. Customers and enterprises that need to do so will have to turn to IE.
So it seems clear that Microsoft doesn't plan to offer Spartan as an upgrade to IE, and while the Edge rendering engine did start out as a fork of Trident, it has diverged into a product of its own and can no longer be considered as something that is simply a modified version of Trident. IE is not going to die, if we have to put a word to it, it is being discontinued as Microsoft insinuates that it plans to keep the browser “largely unchanged” for the sake of compatibility. It will still have security updates coming its way but expect all new browser-related features to make their way to Spartan instead.
Despite knowing quite a bit about Spartan at this point, there is still a lot of unknowns regarding this browser. We don't know if IE will be removed from Windows Phones as well, we don't know the final icon Spartan will use, and in fact we don't even know if Spartan will be the final name Microsoft will choose for their web browser. What we do know is Spartan is now available on Windows 10 build 10049 and is making its way to the final version of Windows later this year. You can try out the technical preview of Windows 10 now, or follow our Windows 10 news for more news on the upcoming version of Windows and Project Spartan.
DJs
No microSD expansion
No removable battery
No stereo speakers
Smaller battery
No Edge Panel
Five reasons not to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge was announced alongside the regular Samsung Galaxy S6, and its undoubtedly a beautifully crafted device. However we have put together five reasons you should not purchase Samsung's newest flagship, and likely consider something better.
No microSD expansion
Samsung has always differentiated itself from the iPhone, by offering microSD expansion alongside the usual base storage on the device. This allowed a potential user to purchase the base model, and upgrade storage via microSD based on their need.
Gone are those days, as Samsung has followed Apple's strategy and removed microSD storage on their new flagship. Users will instead have to decided on 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB of internal memory when they purchase their new device, and that will be it. Keep in mind that larger storage options will cost much more than microSD cards.
Now one could argue that Samsung makes up for this by offering its brand-new super fast flash technology, which should perform much better than microSD, and offer improved overall functionality. Still, lack of expandable storage may feel constricting to existing Galaxy owners, who are used to having it, and it would've been nice to have the option on the Galaxy S6 Edge.
 |
| Removable battery and microSD card slot on Galaxy S5 |
No removable battery
Many long time Samsung fans will be disappointed to know that the batteries of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are not user-accessible. Obviously Apple users have been dealing with this since the very beginning, and this is another avenue where Samsung stood out as a go to choice for its consumers.
Again once could argue that there is no place for removable batteries in the modern world, and that Galaxy S6 Edge users could pick up a portable power bank instead. However, the ability to carry a spare battery, and quickly swap it when your phone dies is something power users have enjoyed, and they will be disappointed not to have it.
No stereo speakers
There were initial rumors, that Samsung would include stereo speakers with their Galaxy S6. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be true. While the single speaker should perform as well as you would expect from a flagship smartphone, it looks like Samsung still has to work on their design to allow it to stand out in the competitive Android marketplace.
Smaller battery
Not only have Samsung sealed in the Galaxy S6 Edge battery, but they have even reduced it down to 2600mAh. The Samsung Galaxy S5 housed a 2,800 mAh battery, which fared well with a 1080p screen, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 had a 3,220 mAh power box to keep its QHD panel powered. But how will the Galaxy S6 Edge battery manage a QHD display and an octa-core processor.
Hopefully Samsung's 14 nm CPU will be energy-efficient enough for us to not notice a significant drop in battery life. In any case, a slightly bigger bigger battery is always appreciated in the modern smartphone world.
No Edge Panel
The Samsung Galaxy Note Edge was a unique device when it was first introduced, because of its Edge display which housed edge panel apps. These apps act like widgets, offering various types of quick details without having to look at the display. You get like favorite apps, S Planner updates, or a meter showing your data usage.
This is no longer the case with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge. Samsung has included some minor functionality like a Night Clock, or the ability to view notifications without lighting up the whole screen, or using it to call up favorite contacts. However it is nowhere near as comprehensive as what Samsung offered with the Note Edge... This is something that Samsung will likely rectify in future Galaxy S models.
DJs
Those who have travelled to a foreign country with a carrier-branded device, or tried to use their phone on a different operator in the US, would have realized that their devices were locked. While most carriers did honor unlock requests in the past, or sell their handsets unlocked (like Verizon, mostly), there was no universal policy on the practice in America. This is expected to change after February 11th.
The CTIA (which is basically the special interest group) is laying out a set of phone unlocking (that is, SIM/network unlocking) principles that AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular will abide by in the wake of the congressional un-banning of phone unlocking.
You can read the full FCC guide on the CTIA's changes here, but here are the key features for reference.
If you have more questions, feel free to add them in the comment section below and we will update this article accordingly.
source - AndroidPolice
You can unlock your phone on all four major US carriers, starting February 11
Those who have travelled to a foreign country with a carrier-branded device, or tried to use their phone on a different operator in the US, would have realized that their devices were locked. While most carriers did honor unlock requests in the past, or sell their handsets unlocked (like Verizon, mostly), there was no universal policy on the practice in America. This is expected to change after February 11th.
The CTIA (which is basically the special interest group) is laying out a set of phone unlocking (that is, SIM/network unlocking) principles that AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular will abide by in the wake of the congressional un-banning of phone unlocking.
You can read the full FCC guide on the CTIA's changes here, but here are the key features for reference.
What does the CTIA define as an "unlocked" device?
It appears that CTIA is referring to a full SIM unlocked device. Carriers like Sprint that historically had offered unlocking only for international travel (but still restricting domestic usage) now must fully unlock their devices for domestic use, as well. The exception is Sprint phones launched before February 11th - those devices can only be internationally unlocked, but will still have a domestic lock (eg, unable to be used on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or any other domestic network).Where can I find individual carrier unlocking policies?
Will I be able to immediately unlock my device on February 11?
Yes, but only if your phone is paid off or your contract term is completed - and your account is in good standing. If you're currently on an installment plan to pay off your phone (Next, JUMP, Edge, Easy Pay), your carrier is not obligated to unlock the phone until all installments are paid in full. If you bought your phone on a subsidized 2-year service agreement, the carrier doesn't have to unlock it until that 2-year period is up or you terminate the contract and pay an ETF. Oh, and even if you are eligible, carriers have 48 hours to complete the request.How will I know when I can unlock my device?
The new policy requires carriers to provide you notice when the phone is eligible for unlocking, and do so in a "clear" way. Obviously carrier's won't be happy to provide anyone obvious notice that they're no longer obligated to be their customer anymore, so it will be interesting to see how this works out. The other catch is that if you're a prepaid subscriber, the carrier only has to let you know when the phone can be unlocked at the time of sale, no future notices are required.Can I unlock my device before I am eligible?
While you can also try asking your carrier nicely, there are services on the web offering paid unlocking services for most GSM (T-Mobile, AT&T) carrier-branded smartphones. Costs range anywhere from $10 up to $50+ depending on the phone, carrier, and how quickly you want the device unlocked. Unlocking services for Verizon or Sprint devices are harder to find and generally more expensive.Wont my device automatically unlock when it becomes eligible?
Only Sprint has gone so far as to say they will automatically unlock phones after the contract or installment plan is fulfilled (fine print: phone must have been sold after February 2015). All other providers require you to submit a request. Again, most Verizon devices are SIM unlocked out of the box, but the few that aren't will require contacting Verizon. AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular all require "requests" for unlocking, but T-Mobile ships an app on its newer phones specifically to unlock the device that should work at the time it becomes eligible, so it's only a "request" in the technical sense.Will I be charged for unlocking a device?
Only if you are not currently a customer of the carrier which you are petitioning to unlock a phone. Then, the carrier may charge a "reasonable" fee to unlock the device. Unfortunately we don't know how much they will charge for providing this service. The good news is that the new rules require the carriers unlock eligible phones (not a bad IMEI, payments fulfilled) regardless of whether you are or were their customer, they just can charge you for the privilege.What if I am a prepaid customer?
All of the big four's prepaid brands are participating in this new policy. That means AT&T GoPhone, T-Mobile Prepaid, MetroPCS, Verizon Prepaid, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Sprint Prepaid. However, the requirements for prepaid customers are different. Prepaid phones must be unlockable after 1 year from purchase (before that is fine, too), but carriers can add requirements that the phone has been used with a paid account during that time. The requirements need to be "reasonable," but that's about as clear as mud.Which carrier has the best / most consumer-friendly unlocking policy?
Verizon, surprisingly. Almost all of Verizon's modern phones are sold SIM unlocked out of the box, and work with GSM carriers around the world, and even on AT&T and T-Mobile (though T-Mobile HSPA+ coverage may be poor).Which carrier has the worst unlocking policy?
AT&T, unsurprisingly. AT&T requires consumers submit an online request to unlock a device, with their phone number, IMEI number, the account holder's first and last name, the last 4 of your SSN, your AT&T account password, email address, and - just to insult you a bit - a captcha.If you have more questions, feel free to add them in the comment section below and we will update this article accordingly.
source - AndroidPolice
DJs
Apple is finally selling the SIM-free unlocked Apple iPhone 6 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus through its retail outlets and online store. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was first launched back in September in the US, and was made available on contract through Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The T-Mobile variant was sold through Apple at its full retail price.
The SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus costs the same as the T-Mobile variants:
While the T-Mobile variant comes with the carrier's SIM card, it too is essentially unlocked, and can be used on any GSM carrier. This means, T-Mobile customers have two-unlocked iPhone models to choose from.
T-Mobile
This model also works on China’s advanced TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA networks, so you can rest assured that all the necessary bands are there when you get hold of the device.
The SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus may not offer full compatibility with carriers in the United States, therefore you might be restricted to 2G or 3G on some popular networks.
Unlike the T-Mobile version of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the SIM-free variant does not come with any SIM card out of the box, and you have to purchase it separately.
The carriers supported by the SIM-free models in the United States are as follows:
If you are living in the U.S., you can select the Unlocked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. This model can be used with most major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
source - Apple
Unlocked iPhone 6 now available through Apple
Apple is finally selling the SIM-free unlocked Apple iPhone 6 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus through its retail outlets and online store. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was first launched back in September in the US, and was made available on contract through Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The T-Mobile variant was sold through Apple at its full retail price.
The SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus costs the same as the T-Mobile variants:
| 16 GB | 32 GB | 64GB | |
| iPhone 6 | $649 | $749 | $849 |
| iPhone 6 Plus | $749 | $849 | $949 |
While the T-Mobile variant comes with the carrier's SIM card, it too is essentially unlocked, and can be used on any GSM carrier. This means, T-Mobile customers have two-unlocked iPhone models to choose from.
What is the difference between the Unlocked T-Mobile and SIM Free iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus
The main difference lies in the bands which both the handsets support, and it can end up affecting your buying decision for which model you would want to go for.For starters, there’s one model each of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for both T-Mobile and the SIM-free versions. They are as follows:T-Mobile
- iPhone 6 (model A1549)
- iPhone 6 Plus (model A1522)
- iPhone 6 (model A1586)
- iPhone 6 Plus (model A1524)
Unlocked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for T-Mobile
- The T-Mobile variant of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus features bands which are more specific to the United States, therefore the handset will work just fine with most 4G LTE networks there.
- The T-Mobile version of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus won’t work with China’s advanced TD-LTE network, so if you plan on going to China, getting the T-Mobile version isn’t a good idea.
- This model comes with T-Mobile’s SIM card pre-installed, and it’s the best option to go for if you’re in the United States or plan to stick with the carrier as your daily runner.
- T-Mobile’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will also work with most 4G LTE networks around the world, but it’s first always good to check which bands are supported by your network before you make the purchase.
- Aio
- Alaska Communications
- AT&T
- Consumer Cellular
- Cricket
- Family Mobile
- GCI
- Net 10
- Straight Talk
- T-Mobile
- Union Wireless
- Verizon
- iPhone 6 GSM [ Model A1549]
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
- iPhone 6 CDMA [ Model A1549]
- CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
- iPhone 6 Plus GSM [ Model A1522 ]
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
- iPhone 6 Plus CDMA [ Model A1522]
- CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
The SIM-free variant of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is the one which is tailored to be used pretty much anywhere in the world, with compatibility for 4G LTE capable carriers in various nations.This model also works on China’s advanced TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA networks, so you can rest assured that all the necessary bands are there when you get hold of the device.
The SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus may not offer full compatibility with carriers in the United States, therefore you might be restricted to 2G or 3G on some popular networks.
Unlike the T-Mobile version of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the SIM-free variant does not come with any SIM card out of the box, and you have to purchase it separately.
The carriers supported by the SIM-free models in the United States are as follows:
- Appalachian Wireless
- Bluegrass Cellular
- Boost
- C Spire
- Cellcom
- Chariton Valley
- Chat Mobility
- Defense Mobile
- MobileNation
- Nex-Tech
- NorthwestCell
- nTelos
- Pioneer Cellular
- Sprint
- STRATA Networks
- Syringa
- Thumb Cellular
- United Wireless
- US Cellular
- iPhone 6 [ Model A1586]
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
- FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
- TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
- iPhone 6 Plus [ Model A1524]
- GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
- TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
- FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
- TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
Conclusion
Essentially, if you are a frequent traveller, you should select the SIM-free model of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. This will support all the necessary bands worldwide, but will have some limitations when it comes to carriers in the United States. Interestingly the unlocked model supports Sprint's bands in the U.S.If you are living in the U.S., you can select the Unlocked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. This model can be used with most major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
source - Apple
DJs
Its been 8 years ago, today (January 9, 2007), Apple's then CES Steve Jobs first unveiled the iPhone, at the Macworld Conference & Expo in Moscone West in San Francisco, California.
After quickly walking through Apple's position on the market and updating the attendees about everything Cupertino-related, Jobs' signature "one more thing" mantra teased not one, but three new devices - a "widescreen iPod with touch controls", a "revolutionary mobile phone", and a "breakthrough Internet communicator".
Well it turned out that it wasn't three devices after all, but the one and only Apple iPhone.
Back in the day, the iPhone was unique. Smartphones of that era were clunky devices, with tiny screens sharing space with large keyboards. Obviously the iPhone itself has evolved over the year's learning as much as it taught over the years.
Whether we love it, hate it, or love to hate it, the iPhone ushered in a new era of smartphones and a new way for people to interact with their mobile devices.
Sure it has its flaws, but the iPhone set the wheels of the smartphone industry in motion and led to putting the power of a computer into the palm of our hands..
Apple iPhone turns eight
Its been 8 years ago, today (January 9, 2007), Apple's then CES Steve Jobs first unveiled the iPhone, at the Macworld Conference & Expo in Moscone West in San Francisco, California.
After quickly walking through Apple's position on the market and updating the attendees about everything Cupertino-related, Jobs' signature "one more thing" mantra teased not one, but three new devices - a "widescreen iPod with touch controls", a "revolutionary mobile phone", and a "breakthrough Internet communicator".
Well it turned out that it wasn't three devices after all, but the one and only Apple iPhone.
Back in the day, the iPhone was unique. Smartphones of that era were clunky devices, with tiny screens sharing space with large keyboards. Obviously the iPhone itself has evolved over the year's learning as much as it taught over the years.
Whether we love it, hate it, or love to hate it, the iPhone ushered in a new era of smartphones and a new way for people to interact with their mobile devices.
Sure it has its flaws, but the iPhone set the wheels of the smartphone industry in motion and led to putting the power of a computer into the palm of our hands..
DJs
The Connects community is always something I have been proud to be a part. It introduces you to a world of Lumia and Microsoft technology, and shows how you can use this technology to make a difference in your life. This is the story of a fellow Connects Community member Phil Galloway.
Phil is a digital artist, who paints beautiful Christmas scenes and portraits live using a variety of Microsoft technology, including a Surface Pro 3 tablet, Lumia 930 and Fresh Paint app. Phil is known for winning the Connects MVC award back in September and his excellent tips for painting on your Lumias.
He is joined by fellow Connects community member, Jakob Montrasio who supported the creative direction of the shoot and shot behind the scenes stills with his Lumia 930.
You can check out some of Phil's at below.
Can you think of ways Microsoft technology can help your passion become a reality? Get it touch with the Connects team and see if you can #MakeItHappen like Phil with a #ConnectsTrial.
source - Microsoft
See Phill Galloway's #MakeItHappen story
The Connects community is always something I have been proud to be a part. It introduces you to a world of Lumia and Microsoft technology, and shows how you can use this technology to make a difference in your life. This is the story of a fellow Connects Community member Phil Galloway.
Phil is a digital artist, who paints beautiful Christmas scenes and portraits live using a variety of Microsoft technology, including a Surface Pro 3 tablet, Lumia 930 and Fresh Paint app. Phil is known for winning the Connects MVC award back in September and his excellent tips for painting on your Lumias.
My mission is to develop my traditional methods of art and drawing through mobile technology to produce realistic interpretations in digital paint. I want to fulfil, yet also challenge people’s perception of traditional art by producing engaging works in which people question how it was produced, what medium was used and on what platform it was created on. The Lumia phones along with Surface technology allow me this freedom and it is the viewer’s reactions to the work that drives me to keep learning, innovating and ultimately improving as an artist.Now this talented artist has made his way to Old Spitafields Market in London this Christmas, where he will be exhibiting his work and letting the audience get involved.
He is joined by fellow Connects community member, Jakob Montrasio who supported the creative direction of the shoot and shot behind the scenes stills with his Lumia 930.
You can check out some of Phil's at below.
Can you think of ways Microsoft technology can help your passion become a reality? Get it touch with the Connects team and see if you can #MakeItHappen like Phil with a #ConnectsTrial.
source - Microsoft
DJs
.jpg)
On its rear we find a 20.7MP Sony IMX220 Exmor RS camera sensor, protected by sapphire glass. The sensor has a 5-element, 300-degree panoramic lens with an aperture of F/2.2 and a fast, 0.3-second autofocus. 4K video recording, dual-tone flash, and a 100fps burst shooting mode. The 5MP front facing camera comes with a 4-element, 84.4-degree wide-angle sensor which should be perfect for video calls and selfies.
.jpg)
One of the highlight of the device is mTouch - a fingerprint scanner which is integrated into the sapphire glass-covered home button. According to Meizu, this module will register and process your fingerprints for 0.5 seconds, allowing you to either unlock the device or purchase something online in less than a second. The fingerprint sensor's sensitivity of 508ppi means that it will do its job even if your finger is wet or a little dirty.
source - Meizu | CNMO | ITHome
Meizu MX4 Pro officially announced with QHD display, 20nm Exynos chip, 20.7MP camera, and fingerprint scanner
After months of speculation, the Meizu MX4 Pro was finally made official, as a more powerful variant of the Meizu MX4. The device design is mostly similar to the MX4 but is more powerful, with a slightly larger frame, bigger display and a redesigned home button which houses a fingerprint scanner.
The Meizu MX4 Pro features a 5.5 inch JDI-made display which has a 1536 x 2560 pixel resolution. This results in a 546 ppi pixel density, one of the highest in the world right now. Meizu says that the MX4 Pro can achieve a maximum brightness of 450 nits. The display is also protected by a Gorilla Glass 3 coating.
.jpg)
On its rear we find a 20.7MP Sony IMX220 Exmor RS camera sensor, protected by sapphire glass. The sensor has a 5-element, 300-degree panoramic lens with an aperture of F/2.2 and a fast, 0.3-second autofocus. 4K video recording, dual-tone flash, and a 100fps burst shooting mode. The 5MP front facing camera comes with a 4-element, 84.4-degree wide-angle sensor which should be perfect for video calls and selfies.The device will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants, but users will have to select a storage that suits them best as microSD expansion is not available. Other specifications include dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz), 4G LTE connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, GPS and a 3350mAh battery.
The Meizu MX4 Pro is powered by a Samsung made, octa-core Exunos 5430 chipset, which is manufactured using the 20nm architecture. This chip has four Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and four Cortex-A7 cores which run at 1.5GHz, using the big.LITTLE technology. The setup includes a 600MHz Mali T628 MP6 GPU while 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM ensures the device runs its apps and processes smoothly.
.jpg)
One of the highlight of the device is mTouch - a fingerprint scanner which is integrated into the sapphire glass-covered home button. According to Meizu, this module will register and process your fingerprints for 0.5 seconds, allowing you to either unlock the device or purchase something online in less than a second. The fingerprint sensor's sensitivity of 508ppi means that it will do its job even if your finger is wet or a little dirty.The MX4 Pro also features a TI OPA1612 amplification chip, an advanced DAC master clock architecture, and other Hi-Fi goodies which should keep the audiophiles happy.
On the software side, the handset run Android 4.4 KitKat, which has been customized with the company's Flyme OS version 4. Previous rumors suggested that the MX4 Pro will run either Ubuntu Touch or Alibaba's YunOS.
The Meizu MX4 Pro bears some great improvements over the MX4 and comes with a $410 price tag attached for the Chinese market. The handset will be sold in grey, sand yellow, and white. There is no word on international availability at this time.
source - Meizu | CNMO | ITHome
DJs
source - PhoneArena
What if Nokia had used Android instead of Windows Phone for its smartphones
In an interview with BBC (from February 2011) Nokia's then CEO Stephen Elop and Microsoft's former CEO Steve Ballmer, we heard Elop admit that Nokia "spent time with colleagues at Google" to explore the Android ecosystem, while also checking out what Windows Phone had to offer. Here's what some of the popular Lumia smartphones may have looked like if Nokia had chosen to go with Android instead of Windows Phone.
Mr. Elop admitted that Nokia chose not to use Android, as it would have had difficulties "differentiating within that ecosystem". Nokia went on to choose Windows Phone as a replacement for Symbian, scrapping their plans an efforts on the Meego platform in the process. The company hopes that together with Microsoft, it would create smartphones that can stand out from the crowd.
Following the success of their affordable Nokia Lumia 520, the company once again attempted to enter the Android market with their Nokia X series which ran a forked version of Android, customized with Microsoft's apps and services. Unfortunately they were too late to the game, and the lack of a Google app ecosystem didnt allow the Nokia X devices to thrive.
In April this year, Microsoft purchased Nokia's devices and services unit, and the former phone giant is no loger involved in the phone making business.
Following the success of their affordable Nokia Lumia 520, the company once again attempted to enter the Android market with their Nokia X series which ran a forked version of Android, customized with Microsoft's apps and services. Unfortunately they were too late to the game, and the lack of a Google app ecosystem didnt allow the Nokia X devices to thrive.
In April this year, Microsoft purchased Nokia's devices and services unit, and the former phone giant is no loger involved in the phone making business.
source - PhoneArena
DJs
Another year another Nexus, but unlike the Nexus devices of the last, the newly announced Google Nexus 6 and the Google Nexus 9 are priced higher than usual. Especially those who have been fans of the Nexus smartphone line would find the $650 price of the Nexus 6 is no longer a bargain, so should you really purchase one ?
Should I buy my Nexus on Google Play
The Pre-order fiasco
Profits vs. Value for customers
So should I buy the Nexus 6 or not ?
Should I purchase the Google Nexus 6
Another year another Nexus, but unlike the Nexus devices of the last, the newly announced Google Nexus 6 and the Google Nexus 9 are priced higher than usual. Especially those who have been fans of the Nexus smartphone line would find the $650 price of the Nexus 6 is no longer a bargain, so should you really purchase one ?The Nexus 6 is still a flagship device, in fact it offers some of the best specs on a smartphone including a large 5.9 inch display with a Quad HD resolution and a Snapdragon 805 processor. Its closest competitor is the higher priced Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the newly announced Motorola DROID Turbo.
In terms of price, the Nexus 6 now costs as much as the notoriously overpriced Apple iPhone 6, and potential customers can now consider a wider range of devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z3, HTC One M8 or the LG G3 before spending all that money on the newest Nexus device. In fact customers may want to consider the cheaper Motorola Moto X, which is basically a smaller version of the Nexus 6.
Do the new features warrant the price increase
The Google Nexus 5 is still one of the most powerful smartphones in the market. It features a 5 inch display with a 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution, an 8MP camera with optical image stabilization and a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM. A year later, its still hard to find a device with similar hardware to match the price of the Nexus 5.
According to Google product manager Sandeep Waraich, the Nexus 6 is a "deliberate decision to push the boundaries on technology. We arrived at the solution, then the price."
But does the hardware warrant such a high price? In a way it does... You get a 6 inch Quad HD display, 32GB of storage on the base model, a 13MP camera and a Snapdragon 805 processor. But these specs are best suited for a niche audience who want to continue to push the boundaries of performance on their devices.
But if you are a regular user, you needs a smooth performing device, you will quickly realize the Nexus 6 doesn't really bring you any new features you cant get on your much cheaper Nexus 5. You don't get a fingerprint scanner, you don't get a heart rate monitor. Yes it is water 'resistant' but that's about it.
Do the new features warrant the price increase
The Google Nexus 5 is still one of the most powerful smartphones in the market. It features a 5 inch display with a 1920 by 1080 pixel resolution, an 8MP camera with optical image stabilization and a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with 2GB of RAM. A year later, its still hard to find a device with similar hardware to match the price of the Nexus 5.
According to Google product manager Sandeep Waraich, the Nexus 6 is a "deliberate decision to push the boundaries on technology. We arrived at the solution, then the price."
But does the hardware warrant such a high price? In a way it does... You get a 6 inch Quad HD display, 32GB of storage on the base model, a 13MP camera and a Snapdragon 805 processor. But these specs are best suited for a niche audience who want to continue to push the boundaries of performance on their devices.
But if you are a regular user, you needs a smooth performing device, you will quickly realize the Nexus 6 doesn't really bring you any new features you cant get on your much cheaper Nexus 5. You don't get a fingerprint scanner, you don't get a heart rate monitor. Yes it is water 'resistant' but that's about it.
Should I buy my Nexus on Google Play
In the past, I would have answered this with an emphatic yes. Previously Google offered their Nexus devices at a cheaper price on Google Play, while carriers would charge more for purchasing the device on their network. These were GSM unlocked handsets, and customers could purchase their Nexus smartphones from Google and use it with their own GSM carriers.
Because of this, carriers don't really get any advantage out of the Nexus lineup as users would much rather pick their smartphones up directly from Google's inventory.
With the high price of the Nexus 6, users are once again tempted to opt for the carrier's subsidized prices instead of paying $650 for their smartphone on Google Play. In fact, all five major U.S. wireless carriers will be offering the Nexus 6 for just $200 up front, along with a lucrative two-year contract.
While some users with deeper pockets, may still pick up the Nexus 6 from Google Play, the handset will end up primarily being sold on-contract, and presumably locked to one network. In an interview, Google VP for Android Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer said "We are selling the Nexus 6 in a way most people are used to buying a phone." Yes, but what happened to networks not supporting certain apps (Google Wallet, for example), or being slow to update software? Weren't these unpopular tactics a driving force behind making the Nexus range different?
Because of this, carriers don't really get any advantage out of the Nexus lineup as users would much rather pick their smartphones up directly from Google's inventory.
With the high price of the Nexus 6, users are once again tempted to opt for the carrier's subsidized prices instead of paying $650 for their smartphone on Google Play. In fact, all five major U.S. wireless carriers will be offering the Nexus 6 for just $200 up front, along with a lucrative two-year contract.
While some users with deeper pockets, may still pick up the Nexus 6 from Google Play, the handset will end up primarily being sold on-contract, and presumably locked to one network. In an interview, Google VP for Android Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer said "We are selling the Nexus 6 in a way most people are used to buying a phone." Yes, but what happened to networks not supporting certain apps (Google Wallet, for example), or being slow to update software? Weren't these unpopular tactics a driving force behind making the Nexus range different?
The Pre-order fiasco
The first Nexus phone was designed to shake up dependency on networks and stop us being sucked into an expensive, long-term contract. And there are still fans of the Nexus brand who will willingly spend their hard earned money on purchasing the handset on Google Play.
Since the launch of the Google Nexus 4, it has been extremely hard to pre-order the Nexus 4, and even the Google Nexus 5 due to high demand which resulted from its low price. Now one would expect that the Nexus 6 demand would be much lower on Google Play, given that it costs nearly twice as much as the Nexus 5.
The pre-orders were set to take place on October 29, and Google didn't even announce when the pre-orders went live. A few lucky users managed to grab an order of the Nexus 6 over the course of an hour, but through most of the pre-order period anxious users were greeted with a message station "We are out of inventory. Please check back soon."
Putting it up for sale inside Google Play was a token gesture. The company kept the pre-orders quiet, not even tweeting it out from the official Nexus account until 10am on October 30, by which time the virtual shelves were empty. For the phone to disappear so fast suggests the initial stock was relatively small. Google also delayed pre-orders in the U.K. and Europe until mid-November, and there’s no information on when pre-orders will re-open in America.
Did Google really run out of inventory of their expensive Motorola built Nexus ? Did the company learn nothing about pre-orders in the last three years? Did they underestimate the demand of the handset and not prepare enough stock ?
Or does this mean that the company that once fought against monopoly and money makers has now gotten in bed with the carrier networks. The sell-out of the Nexus 6 on Google Play could turn out to be due to Google, um, selling out.
Profits vs. Value for customers
Since Amazon launched its first Fire tablet, manufacturers were forced into compete or stand the chance of loosing customers to Amazon. Google was one of the first to respond with their Nexus 7 followed by the affordable Nexus smartphones. The demand for affordable small sized tablets even forced Apple into releasing the iPad mini at a lower price.
However for company's like Apple they have always tied quality with a hefty profit, and we saw this year's iPad mini 3, hidden behind the more profitable iPad Air 2 in order to make more money off their flagship tablet. Even Amazon who initiated offering better value for their customers ended up releasing an overpriced Fire Phone which didn't perform well in the market.
You'd think Google would have been paying attention to all this. Well, in a way, it has. "I wouldn't draw any conclusions from what we’re doing this year," said Google’s Android engineering VP, adding that “every year we do different things."
So should I buy the Nexus 6 or not ?
So it would seem that Google has taken a gamble with their Nexus 6. The company has introduced the interesting concept of affordable smartphones, and have decided to take advantage of their growing Nexus fan-base in an experiment to see if they will spend more money for the Nexus brand.
At $650, the Nexus 6 is fairly priced when compared to other flagship smartphones. There are very few smartphones with the Snapdragon 805 processor and you get the promise of quick Android updates. Those who find the price too daunting can still pick one up from their carriers at a subsidized rate.
However, if Android 5.0 Lollipop is what you are looking for, consider sticking to your Nexus 4 or upgrading to a Nexus 5. The Lollipop update is one of the biggest updates Google is set to release, and nearly the entire Nexus lineup will get to enjoy the latest treat before the end of this year. So you can gain access to the latest version of Android at a much more affordable price.
If Google is indeed trying to experiment with their user's money, it maybe a good idea for the customers to step back and wait a year. The company will hopefully come back to their senses and return to what made them popular in the first place... Quality first and quantity will follow...
DJs
Samsung Galaxy A5
Samsung Galaxy A3
source - Samsung Tomorrow
Related Devices
Samsung Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 announced with ultra-slim metallic design
Samsung has announced two new members of the Galaxy smartphone family - the Samsung Galaxy A5 and the Samsung Galaxy A3. The new Android handsets are part of Samsung's Galaxy A series - which is tailored for "young consumers seeking practicality and functionality" - and are presented as the company’s slimmest smartphones to date.
Both Galaxy A series handsets feature "full metal unibody" designs, and Samsung claims that they have been optimized for social networking with LTE connectivity and 5 MP front-facing cameras for "vivid selfies."
Samsung Galaxy A5
The Galaxy A5 is the more premium of the two, it is 6.7mm thin like the recently released Samsung Galaxy Alpha. The Galaxy A5 has a 5 inch Super AMOLED display with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, a 13MP rear camera, 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, a 2300 mAh battery and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.
Samsung Galaxy A3
The Galaxy A3 features a 4.5 inch Super AMOLED display with a 540 x 960 pixel resolution, 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, an 8MP rear camera, a 1900mAh battery and a similar 1.2GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. The Galaxy A3 is slightly thicker at 6.9 mm.
Both the Galaxy A5 and the Galaxy A3 run Android 4.4 KitKat and will be available in a variety of colors, including Pearl White, Midnight Black, Champagne Gold, Platinum Silver, Light Blue, and Soft Pink. Customers will be able to buy any of the two smartphones starting November, with China being one of the first markets to get them. Official pricing details haven’t been revealed.
source - Samsung Tomorrow
Related Devices
 | Samsung Galaxy A5 |  | Samsung Galaxy A3 | |||
| Specifications | Specifications | |||||
DJs
Oppo N3 officially announced with motorized swivel camera, multi-purpose fingerprint sensor, and lightning-fast charging
The Oppo N3 was announced during an official event in Singapore as the successor to the unique Oppo N1. You get an upgraded version of the swivelling camera, which replaces the traditional front and rear cameras on regular smartphones and the usual hardware enhancements you will expect from a newer device.
This time around, Oppo has chosen to reduce the screensize from 5.9 inches down to 5.5 inches. You still get the 1080p resolution, which results in a 400ppi pixel density. You would obviously expect the Oppo N3 to be much smaller because of its smaller screen size. But with 6.34" x 3.03" x 0.39" (161.2 x 77 x 9.9mm) dimensions and 6.77 oz (192g) weight, it is noticeably shorter, but actually thicker, and not much lighter than the Oppo N1.
The smaller size has also resulted in a smaller battery, which is now 3000mAh, compared to the 3610mAh battery in the Oppo N1. Fortunately the Oppo N3 comes with OPPO's VOOC technology, which allows one to charge their phone to 75% capacity in just 30 minutes.
Obviously the key feature on Oppo's N series is its swiveling camera, which now has a motorized mechanism, made in partnership with Schneider Electric. This allows the sensor to rotate around up to 206 degrees, which will allow it to take panoramic pictures automatically, without requiring the user to spin the device around. The camera also features a Tracking Focus feature, which should help users keep moving objects in focus.
On the back of the device is the O-Touch panel which can be used as a touch pad, to scroll around the UI and launch apps. This has been upgraded with a fingerprint scanner, which users can assign to different fingerprints in order to perform various functions and launch apps, expanding the phone's quick access functionality.
Other hardware includes 32GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, and a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor with 2GB of RAM.
The device also comes with an O-Click remote control - a companion device, which allows one to turn the camera around, take a picture, or control music playback from a distance.
On the software side, you get Android 4.4 KitKat, which has Oppo's Color OS User interface on top of it. The latest version 2.0i provides enhanced user experience, with gesture-based controls, floating notifications, and other useful features.
The Oppo N3 will go on sale by the end of 2014 and will be priced at $649.