Tuesday 4 October 2016

Motorola’s Moto Z phones are slick modular smartphones


Slick is the word that comes to mind when you talk about Motorola’s new Moto Z phones launched in India. Both phones; the Moto Z and the cheaper and thicker Moto Z Play will be available later this month on October 17 on Flipkart and Amazon and these phones also represent the future of the smartphone.

Like LG’s G5 which launched earlier this year, the Moto twins are modular smartphones. The functionality of these phones can be augmented with mods which seamlessly can be strapped on to the device using magnetic connection points.

So while LG jumped the industry with a modular smartphone of its own, its implementation was horrendous and clearly wasn’t something that most users would’ve enjoyed. LG’s system entailed the user snapping open a section of the phone, detaching the battery and connecting the mod with it.

It was an ugly implementation to say the least. Motorola has a slick and functional solution. Mods magnetically connect on the back and the phone intelligently understands when the mod is enabled.

There are some useful mods too. There’s one from Hasselblad, which costs a bomb at Rs 14,999, but it adds a 10x optical zoom and full point and shoot camera system to the device. There’s a boombox mod from JBL which also doubles as a battery mod. This one comes for less at Rs 5,999.

Then there are other novel things like a battery mod essentially a battery attachment giving the phones monstrous battery life and a projector mod which can come in handy for watching movies or showcasing pictures.
There are some back plates too which come in various materials that include wood and a matte finish plastic.

The phones themselves too seemed to be very good in the short time I spent with them. The cheaper Moto Z Play is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chip and has a 5.5-inch full HD screen. It also rocks a large 3,500mAh battery. The phone looks gorgeous clad in metal and glass and frankly looks sexier than the iPhone 7, but it isn’t the most ergonomic thing to hold in the hand. It also is a massive fingerprint magnet on the back which is home to a glossy plastic finish.

The flagship Moto Z is drop dead gorgeous. Copious amounts of metal has been used in its construction and the phone feels like a really really expensive phone. It is also the slimmest 2016 flagship phone at 5.9mm. That’s drastically thinner than the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy S7.

This also means that Motorola had to remove the 3.5mm jack something what Apple did with the iPhone 7. But Motorola’s reasons seem more genuine and understandable. There’s an adaptor for the same in the box which can be used with the USB Type C connector on the phone.

Processing chops wise, the phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 four core processor, 4 gigs of RAM and 64GB of storage which can be further expanded. There’s also vibrant 5.5-inch quad HD OLED screen. The battery on this one is smaller 2,600mAh, so you may need the battery mod if you’re a heavy duty user.

Both phones come with decent camera hardware too. The high-end Z gets a 13-megapixel sensor on the back with an optically stabilised lens. The Z Play gets a 16-megapixel snapper which is electronically stabilised.

Both are also running a stockish version of Android Marshmallow and Lenovo executives have promised that the phones will be one of the first ones to get the Nougat update, but that’s something time will tell.

Overall, the pricing is attractive for what the Motorola brand represents and what its competition is doing. Moreover, in the short time I spent with the phone, I could say that the mods do work well and do represent some real innovation from the folks from Chicago. In the meanwhile keep an eye out at the Gizmodo India reviews page for the full review of both the phones.

Monday 3 October 2016

Google Pixel: Leaked Again, more details now


There’s just a day more to go for the much-awaited Google phones to launch, but an UK retailer has played the spoilsport and leaked the design and specifications of the upcoming Pixel phones from Google.

Carphone warehouse, which is a UK based retailer has put up an ad on its website to start pre-orders for the phones, leaking a very clear idea of what the phones are going to look like.

Based on the leaks, it is now clear that the phones made by HTC come with rounded edges and a half cut glass panel at the back, which houses the fingerprint scanner.

Larger among the two, the Pixel XL is going to sport a 5.5-inch quad-HD AMOLED display with a 2560x1440 pixels resolution. The smaller Pixel will have a 5-inch Full HD display with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, all underneath a Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

The AMOLED displays, apart from producing vibrant colors and deep blacks, can also power Google's Daydream VR platform.

Both the devices are expected to be powered by the new Snapdragon 821 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM. They are going to come in two storage variants- 32GB and 128GB solid state storage. This would mean that these become the first mass produced devices with Qualcomm’s new processor.

As for the camera, both phones are likely to feature a 12-megapixel shooter at the back with f/2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization (something that was missing from the previous Nexus devices) and an 8-megapixel front-facing selfie camera.


The Pixel will be powered by a 2,770mAh battery and the Pixel XL will have a 3,450mAh battery.

But the hardware apart, what will make Google's Pixel phones stand out will be the infusion of Google Assistant into every bit of the operating system. Google Assistant is a heavily integrated artificial intelligence-based digital assistant, much like Apple's Siri.

Google is also expected to release the 4K Chromecast dongle on October 4th, along with Google's Smart Home speaker that the company first teased in its I/O conference this year. Along with this, Google may also tease Andromeda- a lovechild of Chrome OS and Android operating system.

This Blog was first published on:- http://www.gizmodo.in/indiamodo/Google-Pixel-Leaked-Again-more-details-now/articleshow/54654966.cms

Friday 30 September 2016

IBM, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon form enormous AI partnership

On Wednesday, the world learned of a new industry association called the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, and it includes some of the biggest tech companies in the world. IBM, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon have all signed on as marquis members, though the group hopes to expand even further over time. The goal is to create a body that can provide a platform for discussions among stakeholders and work out best practices for the artificial intelligence industry. Not directly mentioned, but easily seen on the horizon, is its place as the primary force lobbying for smarter legislation on AI and related future-tech issues.
Best practices can be boring or important, depending on the context, and in this case they are very, very important. Best practices could provide a framework for accurate safety testing, which will be important as researchers ask people to put more and more of their lives in the hands of AI and AI-driven robots. This sort of effort might also someday work toward a list of inherently dangerous and illegitimate actions or AI “thought” processes. One of its core goals is to produce thought leadership on the ethics of AI development.
So, this could end up being the bureaucracy that produces our earliest laws of robotics, if not the one that enforces them. The world “law” is usually used metaphorically in robotics. But with access to the lobbying power of companies like Google and Microsoft, we should expect the Partnership on AI to wade into discussions of real laws soon enough. For instance, the specifics of regulations governing self-driving car technology could still determine which would-be software standard will hit the market first. With the founding of this group, Google has put itself in a position to perhaps direct that regulation for its own benefit.
But, boy, is that ever not how they want you to see it. The group is putting in a really ostentatious level of effort to assure the world it’s not just a bunch of technology super-corps determining the future of mankind, like some sort of cyber-Bilderberg Group. The group’s website makes it clear that it will have “equal representation for corporate and non-corporate members on the board,” and that it “will share leadership with independent third-parties, including academics, user group advocates, and industry domain experts.”
Well, it’s one thing to say that, and quite another to live it. It remains to be seen if the group will actually comport itself as it will need to if it wants real support from the best minds in open source development. Below, the Elon Musk-associated non-profit research company OpenAI responds to the announcement with a rather passive-aggressive word of encouragement.
The effort to include non-profits and other non-corporate bodies makes perfect sense. There aren’t many areas in software engineering where you can claim to be the definitive authority if you don’t have the public on-board. Microsoft, in particular, is painfully aware of how hard it is to push a proprietary standard without the support of the open-source community. Not only will its own research be stronger and more diverse for incorporating the “crowd,” any recommendations it makes will carry more weight with government and far more weight with the public.
That’s why it’s so notable that some major players are absent from this early roll coll — most notably Apple and Intel. Apple has long been known to be secretive about its AI research, even to the point of hurting its own competitiveness, while Intel has a history of treating AI as an unwelcome distraction. Neither approach is going to win the day, though there is an argument to be made that by remaining outside the group, Apple can still selfishly consume any insights it releases to the public.
Leaving such questions of business ethics asiderobot ethics remains a pressing problem. Self-driving cars illustrate exactly why, and the classic thought experiment involves a crowded freeway tunnel, with no room to swerve or time to brake. Seeing a crash ahead, your car must decide whether to swerve left and crash you into a pillar, or swerve right and save itself while forcing the car beside you right off the road itself. What is moral, in this situation? Would your answer change if the other car was carrying a family of five?
Right now these questions are purely academic. The formation of groups like this show they might not remain so for long.
This blog was first published on: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/236459-ibm-google-facebook-microsoft-amazon-form-enormous-ai-partnership

Wednesday 28 September 2016

8 Amazing Things Google Is Going To Launch At Its October 4 Event

Short Bytes: At its upcoming October 4 event under the tagline “Made by Google”, the company is expected to launch a wide range of new hardware. It’s being speculated that Google will show off its new Pixel smartphone, Pixel tablet, Google Home, a new OS named “Andromeda”, and a lot more.

Move over Apple, it’s Google’s turn to open its pandora box. On October 4, the tech giant is going to expand its hardware range by launching new smartphones, tablets, home automation devices etc. Google has even created a dedicated website for the event.

Google October 4 Event: What to expect

1. Pixel and Pixel XL phones

The company is calling the October 4 event “Made by Google”, suggesting that it’s going to launch lots of new hardware. It’s being speculated that Google is going to leave behind the Nexus brand and produce Pixel-branded smartphones.
The media reports suggest that Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones will be manufactured by HTC. Pixel, the smaller of the two phones, will feature a 5-inch display. Pixel XL will come with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display. They are expected to run Android N and offer support for Google Daydream VR platform.

2. New Pixel tablet

According to the renowned phone leaker Evan Blass, Google is looking to release a Huawei-made tablet that’ll feature a 4GB RAM.

3. Daydream VR

Virtual reality is one of the fastest growing technologies at the moment. Google plans to go beyond Google Cardboard and leave a mark with its new Daydream VR platform. It’s expected that Google will showcase Daydream VR running on its new hardware. Google has also confirmed that it’s working on its own headset and controller.

4. 4K Chromecast

It’s expected that Google will refresh Chromecast in the form of Chromecast Ultra or Chromecast Plus. Introduced at ~$70, it’ll support HDR and 4K. It’s also expected to arrive with updated design, refreshed app, and improved internals.

5. Google Home

Google aims to compete with Amazon Echo by launching Google Home. It’s like Google Now for your home. It’ll activate with “OK Google” prompt and let you interact with different home automation systems.

6. Google Wi-Fi

Google is also expected to release a new Wi-Fi device named Google Wi-Fi. The reports suggest that it’ll let you mesh multiple networks and enjoy a better internet connection. It’ll be similar to previously released OnHub router. Google Wi-Fi is expected to feature dual band and 2 ports, AC1200 speeds, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 radios.

7. Andromeda OS

Last year, we came to know that Google is willing to kill Chrome OS and merge its best features into Android. This will be followed by a unified operating system by 2017.
Now, the October 4 event is expected to mark the official debut of this merger in the form of a new OS named Andromeda. We expect it to follow the open source philosophy.

8. Pixel 3 Laptop

The launch of Andromeda OS is expected to accompany a new laptop in the form of a new Pixel 3 laptop codenamed “Bison”. The company expects to develop an actual rival to Windows and Mac.
Pixel 3 laptop will come in an ultrabook form factor, featuring Intel processors, 32GB/128GB storage, 8GB/16GB RAM, and a battery life of 10 hours. It’s also possible that Google might skip the Pixel 3 launch and unveil it next year.
Did you find this article interesting? Don’t forget to drop your feedback in the comments section below.
This Blog was First published on:- https://fossbytes.com/8-amazing-new-things-google-is-going-to-launch-at-its-october-4-event/

Tuesday 27 September 2016

THE IPHONE 7 IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE MACBOOK AIR — BUT THERE'S A CATCH

The iPhone 7 is one of the most powerful smartphones to date, but did you know that’s it’s actually more powerful than plenty of computers? In fact, it’s more powerful than both the MacBook Air and the 2013 MacBook Pro.
This appraisal comes from John Gruber, who notes that the iPhone 7 pretty much leaves every other smartphone in the dust when it comes to performance, achieving a single-core score of 3,450 on Geekbench, which is around twice the score as the second-best device, the Samsung Galaxy S7.

It’s only recently that we have even been able to compare smartphones and computers. Previously, there wasn’t a direct comparison between Geekbench’s scores for desktop and mobile devices, but Geekbench has made a recent effort to bring the two scoring systems in line with each other to make for easier comparison.


Still, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to benchmarks. Benchmarks are an indicator of a phone’s performance, but they don’t always line up with real-world results. In fact, manufacturers can sometimes optimize how a phone runs to achieve higher benchmark scores while leaving real-life performance behind.

The other thing to remember is that Geekbench measures things like CPU speed, but the amount of RAM and SSD speed will help make the MacBook perform a lot faster.
Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the iPhone 7 is really the most powerful smartphone ever, and whether the iPhone 7 is more powerful than MacBooks or not, it’s still impressive.  Other smartphone manufacturers will likely be playing catch up for at least the next few months or so. It will be interesting to see how Android handsets stack up against the iPhone 7 once the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 starts shipping on devices.

This Blog was first published on: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-7-more-powerful-macbook-air/

Monday 26 September 2016

Replaced Galaxy Note 7 devices are reportedly overheating, losing power while charging

Replaced Galaxy Note 7 devices are reportedly overheating, losing power while charging


Samsung’s woes with the Galaxy Note 7 are far from over. After asking consumers worldwide to return their newly purchased Galaxy Note 7 because of exploding batteries, it seems even the replaced handsets come with their own set of issues, but thankfully, all non-explosive.
Users in South Korea who received their replacements devices are now reporting overheating on their devices and even loss of battery while the phone is charging, as noted by the Wall Street Journal.
As per the report, the replaced devices are overheating and leaking battery while the phone is charging.
Samsung while not disclosing the number of cases behind this issue has acknowledged it and a spokesperson has said the problem is completely unrelated to the battery of the device. Instead, it mass production of the smartphone is the likely cause behind the issue. Samsung said it is closely monitoring the situation.
The Galaxy Note 7 that came out in August has been plagued with multiple cases of exploding batteries. Users who kept the phone on charge for long reported the battery exploding and the phone catching fire. A lot of accidents including a burnt jeep and an injured child has been reported.
Samsung tried to tackle this issue by issuing a formal recall of all Galaxy Note 7 phones sold across the world and replacing them with a working handset free of cost. As of last week, Samsung reported it had successfully recalled over 1 million devices in the US alone.
As Bloomberg reported, Samsung tried to undercut Apple’s success with the iPhone by pushing for a tighter release deadline despite packing a lot of new features. Saying the decision ‘backfired’ might be an overstatement.

Saturday 24 September 2016

iOS 10.1 Public Beta brings much-anticipated ‘Portrait Mode’ to iPhone 7 Plus

iOS 10.1 Public Beta brings much-anticipated ‘Portrait Mode’ to iPhone 7 Plus


Apple is making the most of its head start over Samsung due to the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, and already consolidating its position in the smartphone market. After releasing iOS 10 publicly just ten days back, Apple is already adding even more features to its OS with the iOS 10.1 public beta.

And apart from squashing a lot of bugs and fixing a few errors, the iOS 10.1 public beta brings the much anticipated 'portrait mode' to the iPhone 7 Plus.


The mode allows users to take photos with the background blurred, creating a depth-of-field effect that makes the viewer's eyes focus more on the subject of the photo. The effect will blur out out-of-focus background all the while keeping the subject of the photo in focus.

It is a feature exclusive only to the iPhone 7 Plus that comes with a dual camera setup containing one wide-angle lens and one telephoto lens.

The Portrait mode was showcased at the iPhone launch event earlier this month and even though it wasn't there in iOS 10, the feature finds its way through in iOS 10.1.

However, it should be noted that the feature is still in its beta stage and that means its likely to have a few bugs.

Apple has also included a set of instructions to make the best use of the portrait mode. When the Portrait mode is turned on, the camera app will ask you to place the subject within 8 feet, for the depth-of-field effect to come into play. Also, Apple says the function needs to have adequate lighting to work properly. There is still no option to record videos in Portrait mode, however.

The depth-of-field effect is created because of the wide-aperture length of the iPhone 7 Plus camera lenses. With an aperture size of f/1.8, the iPhone camera can keep the shutter wide open allow you to create bokehs from out-of-focus backgrounds while simultaneously allowing you to focus on the main subject with greater clarity. As a result, the Portrait mode can also be used to click insane macro photographs.

As a result, photos of people's faces looks much more immersive and aesthetically pleasing.

Apple's Public Beta Program allows everyone to sign up for beta releases of iOS for free. Participating in the program will let you experience Apple's newly included features earlier than the general public, but with quite a few bugs and errors included along with it.