Here is some aggregating of the data and then throwing out some predictions:
Mobile is eating the world also in 2017. As we pass 2.5bn smartphones on earth and head towards 5bn, and mobile moves from creation to deployment.
IHS research institute of the market next year will be 139 million a flexible screens, most of which are in smartphones. Vivo and Xiaomi have already released smart phones with flexible AMOLED screens. Progress has been slowed by the capacity of the display manufacturers, but Samsung Display and LG Display are already building new factories. It is expected that in 2020 the number of flexible screens will be 417 million.
Today’s smartphones utilize a wide array of sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes and various other). New sensors will be added in 2017. Barometric pressure sensor, which measures air pressure, is currently being integrated into premium-grade smartphones and IoT applications. Air pressure sensors in smartphones are useful in navigation and fitness tracking applications but also in weather forecasting.
Rumors surrounding the next iPhone 8 keep coming in 2017. Analysts and market researchers have also predicted a big iPhone update from Apple. Let’s wait to see if this is evolution or revolution. A brief report in The Korea Economic Daily claims that Apple is working with LG on a new dual camera module “which enables 3D photographing. I would be surprised if Apple could come up with something that really revolutionary in 2017.
Virtual Reality Will Stay Hot in 2017. VR is the heaviest heterogeneous workload we encounter in mobile—there’s a lot going on. VR requires high refresh rates with new content every frame. It also needs to calculate data from multiple sensors and respond to it with updated visuals in less than 18 ms to keep up with the viewer’s head motions. To achieve these goals, the phone needs a fast-switching AMOLED display at nearly full brightness running constantly. The skyrocketing popularity of augmented reality (Pokemon Go) and virtual reality (Google VR) may be the boost microelecromechanical systems (MEMS) projectors into the mass market. Integrating micro-lidar (3-D imaging system using invisible infrared beams) to smart phone can become feasible.
Smart phone markets will be still almost completely be in the hands of Apple (iOS) and Google (Android) also in 2017. Microsoft’s Windows phone OS is practically dead in. But that does not stop other player trying to get their spot. For example Samsung wants developers to build apps for its homegrown Tizen mobile operating system, and it is offering cash prizes to do so. Samsung will launch further Tizen-powered smartphones in 2017, but the company is unlikely to swap Android for its home-grown software on high-end devices.
Mobile Video to Grow 50% a Year also n 2017. According to Ericsson’s Mobility Report, mobile data traffic continues to grow, driven both by increased smartphone subscriptions and a continued increase in average data volume per subscription, fueled primarily by more viewing of video content. Ericsson forecasts mobile video traffic to grow by around 50% annually through 2022.
Even though smart watch market has done much worse than expected in 2016, is not forgotter in 2017. Companies need to put effort to convince consumers that wearables — smartwatches specifically — are still in demand. For this Google says it will launch two flagship OEM-branded smartwatches and Android Wear 2.0 in early 2017. The new platform brings a number of new features.
Smartphone is already widely used mobile payment, a person identifying itself and a wide range of services in place, so it is only a matter of time until the driver’s license is transferred to smart phone. In fact, the trend is already on the move, as piloted by Gemalto digital driver’s license in Colorado, Idaho, Maryland and Washington. In the early stages of the digital card functions as a conventional physical card partner.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Startup can be distinguished by styling
Finding a great and unique technical device is no longer enough for success. Startup is difficult to distinguish in the market. The ASMO known as the Oulu-based, fire-proof Asmo charger set out in a new way that Finland has not yet become accustomed to. ASMO decided to combine Finnish design with Finnish top technology.
Asma aims to combine Finnish design with Finnish top technology. Their goal is to spread Finnish design to the world at every home.
- The idea is therefore that a renowned Finnish designer takes our challenge to formulate something traditional, boring electronic device.
The first challenge for ASMO was the legend of Finnish design Eero Aarnio.
- Aarnio’s work is playful, fun and unique. His work certainly leaves no one cold and Mr. Charger does not make any exception. Mr. Charger’s reception among the public has caused strong reactions. It is either hate or love, Asmo Saloranta says.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/6397-startup-voi-erottua-muotoilulla
Tomi Engdahl says:
Paul Miller / The Verge:
Qualcomm says Quick Charge 4+ standard will charge phones up to 15% faster, 30% more efficiently, and that new safety features will monitor against overheating
Qualcomm’s new Quick Charge 4+ standard is 15 percent faster than Quick Charge 4
But it means more work for device manufacturers
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/6/1/15725432/qualcomm-quick-charge-4-plus-standard-faster-safer
Qualcomm loves its charging standards, which have become just as much a selling point for its Snapdragon chipsets as the processor power. Now, just a mere six months after announcing Quick Charge 4, which boosted charging times and safety considerably over its predecessors, Qualcomm is introducing the new Quick Charge 4+ standard.
Unlike previous standards, which required a new chipset, 4+ is something device and accessory manufacturers can implement by adding three enhancements to Quick Charge 4-compliant devices:
“Dual Charge,” which is already an option in earlier version of Quick Charge, but is “now more powerful”
“Intelligent Thermal Balancing,” which steers current through whichever of the dual charging pathways is coolest to keep temperatures down
“Advanced Safety Features” to monitor both the phone temperature and the connector temperature to protect against overheating and short-circuit damage
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft accidentally releases Windows 10 Mobile build that bricks your device
https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-accidentally-releases-windows-10-mobile-build-which-bricks-your-device/
Microsoft accidentally released a new build of Windows 10 to Windows Insiders that you should probably avoid. The company released internal build 16212 for some PCs and Mobile devices to Windows Insiders. Build 16212 causes Windows 10 Mobile devices to enter a boot loop, requiring users to reset their device using the Windows Device Recovery Tool. Resetting your device will mean that you’ll have to get rid of all the files on your devices, and that’s something none of us probably want to do.
The build is believed to be available to Windows Insiders in the Fast, Slow, and Release Preview rings. However, we’re also hearing that the build is rolling out to some regular users who aren’t part of the Windows Insider program and that’s certainly quite worrying.
If you’re a Windows Insider, DO NOT install build 16212 on your Mobile or PC. Remember, this is an internal build that was never supposed to get released to users
Tomi Engdahl says:
Virtual reality headsets even less popular than wearable devices
The market’s growing fast, but only the cheap stuff with no strings attached is selling
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/02/idc_augmented_and_virtual_reality_headset_tracker_q1_2017/
Virtual reality headsets are moving at a rate of 2.3 million a quarter, but cheap and simple devices dominate the market.
So says analyst firm IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset Tracker for 2017′s first quarter. The firm says “bout two-thirds of all headset shipments were viewers like as Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s Daydream View that rely on external screens. More expensive tethered headsets make up the rest of the market.
There’s good news in the market’s rapid growth – IDC says shipments are up 77.4 per cent year over year – but that number represents broad a shallow demand “as new products began shipping and existing headsets expanded distribution to additional countries.”
By way of contrast, consider the wearable devices market, a field widely considered to be stalled despite lots of initial enthusiasm.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Romain Dillet / TechCrunch:
Snap’s Spectacles are now available in Europe, online at Spectacles.com or through vending machines in select cities for £129.99 / €149.99 — Snap’s Spectacles are going on a summer tour across Europe. Starting today, anyone in Europe can buy a pair of sunglasses on Snap’s website or in a vending machine.
Snap’s Spectacles are now available in Europe
https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/01/snaps-spectacles-are-now-available-in-europe/
Snap’s Spectacles are going on a summer tour across Europe. Starting today, anyone in Europe can buy a pair of sunglasses on Snap’s website or in a vending machine. With this launch, Spectacles are available outside of the U.S. for the first time.
European Spectacles are exactly the same as the ones that launched in September 2016 in the U.S. While the excitement around Spectacles has been a bit more quiet in the U.S., Snap has been slow when it comes to rolling out its first hardware product.
In Europe, Snap is launching Spectacles simultaneously on its website and in a bunch of vending machines. Customers in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and the U.K. can now buy a pair for €149.99 or £129.99.
Spectacles are basically sunglasses with a tiny camera. You press a button, and it records 10 to 30 seconds of video. You can then find the footage in the Snapchat app on your phone, making it easy to share those videos with your Snapchat friends or keep them in the Memories section.
Tomi Engdahl says:
7 million people have downloaded that ridiculous ‘Fidget Spinner’ app
http://mashable.com/2017/06/01/fidget-spinner-apps-popular/#dzMrQa6mPSqA
Yes, the only thing more inane than an actual fidget spinner is an app version of a fidget spinner.
Still, ridiculous as they are, the apps are — inexplicably — nearly as popular as the toys themselves. Seriously.
Of all the “fidget spinner” apps — and there are hundreds — the most popular by far is this app from Ketchapp simply called “Fidget Spinner.” The app, which hit the Ap Store May 16, has already racked up more than 7 million downloads across Apple’s App Store and Google Play, according to statistics from app analytics firm Sensor Tower.
That’s right: more than 7 million downloads in just over two weeks. Now, that’s no Pokémon Go, which hit 10 million downloads in a record-setting seven days. But it’s remarkable for an app that’s, in the words of Mashable’s esports reporter Kellen Beck, “is the worst resource-collecting game I’ve ever played on an iPhone.”
Ketchapp, the game studio known for churning out chart-topping addictive games with intrusive app-install ads, is far from the only developer seeking to capitalize on the fidget spinner craze.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
What to expect at WWDC 2017: next versions of Apple’s OSes, spec bumps to MacBooks and MacBook Pros, updates to Siri, possible unveiling of Siri speaker, more — It’s June again, so it’s time for Apple to give the world a look at what it’s been up to and what we should expect from the iPhone …
Apple’s WWDC 2017: a Siri speaker, iOS 11, and what else to expect
https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/2/15720572/apple-wwdc-2017-keynote-date-rumors-ios-11-siri-speaker-ipad
Tomi Engdahl says:
Prices of Flash circuits rose by 25 percent
in January-March, manufacturers of NAND flashes were able to smile, as DramExchange rose by 20-25 percent from October to December.
For manufacturers, the situation is good in many ways. The average prices are rising, the demand for SSDs is growing steadily, and smart phones have a solid flash memory at a fast pace.
For example, the smartphone now has an average storage capacity of 42 gigabytes, while at the end of 2013, the average smartphone had an average NAND of 13.4 gigabytes.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/6418-flash-piirien-hinnat-nousivat-25-prosenttia
Tomi Engdahl says:
Zac Bowden / Windows Central:
Leaked internal Windows build reveals new Windows shell that allows the same adaptive UI across all device types, including PCs, tablets, phones, Xbox, HoloLens
Microsoft’s Windows 10 ‘CShell’ adaptable UI in images and video (exclusive)
https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-cshell
We have exclusive screenshots and video of Microsoft’s upcoming “CShell” adaptive UI for Windows 10!
First Look at CShell on a Windows phone (Exclusive)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNxtMtlrm6U
This is CShell, Microsoft’s new adaptable Windows Shell currently in the works for Windows 10.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat:
IDC: Wearables grew 17.9% in Q1 2017; Fitbit shipped 3M units as its marketshare fell to 12.3%, behind Xiaomi and Apple, which both shipped ~3.6M units — It has finally happened: Fitbit has shed enough market share to lose its first place spot in wearables.
IDC: Wearables grew 17.9% in Q1 2017, Xiaomi and Apple overtake Fitbit
https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/05/idc-wearables-grew-17-9-in-q1-2017-xiaomi-and-apple-overtake-fitbit/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple introduces iOS 11
http://www.epanorama.net/newepa/2017/06/05/apple-introduces-ios-11-techcrunch/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wearables Shipments Swell as Consumer Tastes Shift
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331856&
Worldwide shipments of wearable devices surged by nearly 18 percent in the first quarter as both the high-end Apple Watch and a slew of low-cost devices gained traction among consumers, according to market research firm International Data Corp. (IDC).
Apple Inc. and Xiaomi Inc. have surpassed Fitbit Inc.—the early leader in wearables shipments—and now control nearly 15 percent of the market apiece, IDC (Framingham, Mass.).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huawei will not give up EMUI
An Android smartphone is undergoing a change, which is about to get rid of custom-built user interface layers. For example, HMD Global’s new Nokia phones are very pure Android. However, Huawei has risen to the top position in Finland. However, Huawei is not abandoning its “skin”.
The EMUI interface has another function. According to Yanmin Wang, fragmentation of the Android platform has led to the fact that without the hardware manufacturer’s management apps would eat memory very quickly. So EMUI is also a hardware base.
In Finland, Huawei EMUI is the most popular smartphone dashboard. At the end of last year, the company emerged as the best-selling smartphone in Finland
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6433&via=n&datum=2017-06-07_14:09:32&mottagare=31202
Tomi Engdahl says:
Exclusive: Apple makes iPhone screen fixes easier as states mull repair laws
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-repair-exclusive-idUSKBN18Y0BF
Hey Siri, where can I get my cracked iPhone screen fixed?
Apple Inc customers will soon have more choices as the company looks to reduce long wait times for iPhone repairs at its retail stores.
By the end of 2017, Apple will to put its proprietary machines for mending cracked iPhone glass in about 400 authorized third-party repair centers in 25 countries, company executives told Reuters.
Among the first recipients is Minneapolis-based Best Buy, which has long sold and serviced Apple products.
Fixing cracked screens may seem like small potatoes, but it’s a multi-billion-dollar global business. The move is also a major shift for Apple. The company had previously restricted use of its so-called Horizon Machine to its nearly 500 retail stores and mail-in repair centers; and it has guarded its design closely.
The change also comes as eight U.S. states have launched “right to repair” bills aimed at prying open the tightly controlled repair networks of Apple and other high-tech manufacturers
Tomi Engdahl says:
Molly Jackman / Facebook:
Facebook to share location density, movement, safety check maps based on aggregated location data with Red Cross, UNICEF, others during disaster relief efforts
Using Data to Help Communities Recover and Rebuild
https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2017/06/using-data-to-help-communities-recover-and-rebuild/
After a flood, fire, earthquake or other natural disaster, response organizations need accurate information, and every minute counts in saving lives. Traditional communication channels are often offline and it can take significant time and resources to understand where help is desperately needed.
Facebook can help response organizations paint a more complete picture of where affected people are located so they can determine where resources — like food, water and medical supplies — are needed and where people are out of harm’s way.
Today, we are introducing disaster maps that use aggregated, de-identified Facebook data to help organizations address the critical gap in information they often face when responding to natural disasters.
Tomi Engdahl says:
18 Views of an AR World
Event awash in rising tide of augmented reality
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331848
Augmented reality is still an emerging market, but it felt like one on the verge of arriving with the increasing quantity and quality of exhibitors and attendees at the Augmented World Expo here.
The annual event was host to industry giants and basement startups showing new products and pointing to ones yet to come. Relatively fat, heavy, and expensive AR smartphones from Asus and Lenovo roused speculation of a future, mainstream iPhone using the technology — Apple CEO, Tim Cook, has been talking up AR, further fueling expectations.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Diana Goovaerts / Wireless Week:
Cisco: global average IP traffic from smartphones will reach 14.9GB/mo per device in 2021, compared to 3.5GB/mo per device in 2016 — A massive rise in mobile data traffic has been playing out over the past several years, but a new forecast from Cisco indicates the global average internet traffic …
http://www.wirelessweek.com/data-focus/2017/06/cisco-global-ip-traffic-smartphones-will-quadruple-2021
Tomi Engdahl says:
Rani Molla / Recode:
Akamai: US ranks 28th in the world in mobile internet speeds with an average of 10.7 Mbps; UK takes top spot with average of 26 Mbps — We have slower mobile internet than Greece. Greece! — The U.S. lags behind much of the rest of
The U.S. ranks 28th in the world in mobile internet speeds
We have slower mobile internet than Greece. Greece!
https://www.recode.net/2017/6/7/15747486/united-states-developed-world-mobile-internet-speeds-akamai
The U.S. lags behind much of the rest of the developed world in mobile internet speeds, ranking 28th.
The U.K. has the fastest mobile speeds, with an average of 26 megabits per second, according to the latest State of the Internet Report by content delivery company Akamai. Among the 62 countries Akamai measured, the U.S. isn’t even in the Top 25, at 10.7 Mbps. (The U.S. ranks 10th in the world for average wireline internet speed.)
Measuring mobile internet speeds is increasingly more important as mobile takes up a bigger share of our overall internet usage and as people increasingly use phones as their main source of internet.
And as anyone with a smartphone knows, 4G LTE is only 4G LTE in some places. As an especially large country, coverage levels vary significantly in the U.S., even within the same city — not to mention rural areas where the network options are further limited.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Seeedstudio RePhone: Fun & creative modular DIY sm
World’s first open source and modular phone kit
https://hackaday.io/project/10430-seeedstudio-rephone-fun-creative-modular-diy-sm
The open source hardware manufacturer (SeeedStudio) published the world’s first open source, modular Smartphone (RePhone) in Kickstarter on September 23, 2015. RePhone is a GSM +BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) phone, future version will support 4G LTE.
The core of the RePhone is provided by Xadow GSM+BLE or by RePhone Core 4G Module, beyond these two core modules are 8 more chainable add-on modules to extend the features and functionalities. However, if you want to build your own smartphone in minutes, then the “Seeedstudio RePhone DIY Kit” is the way to go, it includes all the necessary basic components to build a GSM smartphone.
RePhone DIY Kit from Gearbest.
http://www.gearbest.com/diy-parts-components/pp_275693.html?wid=1
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bringing pro-audio high-fidelity features to mobile devices
http://www.edn.com/design/analog/4458457/Bringing-pro-audio-high-fidelity-features-to-mobile-devices
The future is sounding good for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, as a number of technology breakthroughs and new streaming music services are converging to help bring pro audio high fidelity (hi-fi) features to mobile devices. Just as high-definition TV transformed how people viewed television, hi-fi audio is lining up to be the next big thing for portables, especially smartphones.
In fact, there are a number of changes on the way that will improve sound quality for mobile devices. Hi-fi audio features can reduce the effects of noise, distortion or other digital irregularities – such as pre-ringing in your ears – that listeners may not realize are there, but impact their listening experience nonetheless. So let’s have a look at the drivers and enhancements that will, in essence, bring that “vinyl feeling” to your mobile sound quality, without draining your battery.
The first indicators that a move toward hi-fi audio is in the works, is the increase in streaming music subscriptions. According to a MIDiA Research Global Streaming Music Subscribers, December 2016 report, the number of streaming music subscribers more than doubled from 2014 to 2016, from 41 million subscribers to 100 million respectively, and is forecasted to reach 277 million by 2020. In addition, the BuzzAngle 2016 U.S. Music Industry Report noted there were more streams on any given day in the U.S. during 2016 (daily average of 1.2 billion) than there were song downloads for the entire year (734 million.)
The MIDiA data showed that streaming services such as Spotify (43 million subscribers), Tidal (approximately 1 million), Deezer (6.9 million), and Apple Music (20.9 million) are leading the way.
Bringing pro audio sound to mobile devices
First, what defines “high-fidelity” audio? Simply put, it is low noise and distortion audio that is as close to the original source music as possible. In more technical terms, high-fidelity audio refers to bit rates that allow “lossless” sound transfer. In order to compress the music, the system will “lose” sounds in data bits that it believes the human ear cannot hear, in order to save storage space. However, this “lossy” compression, in say MP3, does result in lower quality audio, because the human ear can actually detect a difference.
In fact, storage capacity on mobile products has grown exponentially over the last few years, so storing large lossless audio files, such as Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) files, is less of an issue. This means the user doesn’t have to compromise on audio quality just to be able to fit more than a few albums on their phone. Plus, many online music storage companies now allow the user to download, then delete songs and albums easily, eliminating the need to store your entire music collection on your phone.
Audio chip designers are in constant development to try and package high-performance features into tinier and tinier parts. These components are not only becoming smaller, but they are also being engineered to be ultra-low power, in order to maximize battery life.
In addition to achieving certain data points, such as being 16-bit/96kHz or higher, there are many other subtle extras to reproducing crystal clear, hi-fi audio that need to be taken into account. These attributes can have a significant impact in audio quality.
“Jitter-free” audio (without giving up caffeine!)
For example, the effects of jitter can disrupt the audio quality being reproduced. All clock signals are subject to the effects of jitter. In a typical system, if the sum of all the jitter components is below -105dBFS, the jitter will be inaudible. Clocking performance is something that needs to be considered from the ground up for an audio system – in essence, it must be part of its DNA.
accurate reference clocks or designing the IC around a dedicated accurate frequency-locked loop (FLL) to compensate for inaccurate reference clocks
New advanced hi-fi filters originally created for the highest performing DACs, used in many high-end and Pro Audio systems, are now being used in smart codecs for portable applications.
the filters can change the roll-off and phase responses
For example, a common and undesirable effect would be a cymbal crash, which doesn’t start as crisply as it should and has some audible sounds just before the crash.
Is that pre-ringing in my ears?
Pre-ringing is an artificial artifact introduced by digital processing and causes some of the sound to be introduced before the real sound occurs. This means the audio isn’t as clear or crisp as it should be. No sound in the real world causes pre-ringing and the human ear can be sensitive to this problem. If filters during the digital-to-analog process are poorly implemented the reproduction can often sound cloudy and muffled producing a dull flat sound.
In addition, another audio engineering feature important to distortion-free natural sounding digital audio is dynamic range.
If the DAC has low dynamic range, typically below 96dB, then when the volume is turned up, the digital noise floor can start to become audible. A typical 16 bit MP3 file has a dynamic range of 96dB. Today’s modern hi-fi audio formats, such as 24bit FLAC provide 144dB of dynamic range and significantly more for 32-bit audio.
A case in point, a recent Nielsen Report “Music 360 China Highlights” mentioned that 72 percent of the Chinese population listens to music an average of 16 hours per week, with millennials even higher at 19 hours; 66 percent of these music consumers (and millennials at 69 percent) listen on their smartphones. With a population of more than 1 billion, you can see how just this one country represents sizeable growth potential for better smartphone audio – and smartphone manufacturers are taking notice.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Johnny Lin / Medium:
How scammers use deceptive security apps and abuse search ads in the App Store to trick users into expensive subscriptions — It’s far easier than you think. No luck or perseverance necessary. — At WWDC, Apple reported that they’ve paid out $70 billion to developers, with 30% of that ($21 billion!) in the last year.
How to Make $80,000 Per Month on the Apple App Store
It’s far easier than you think. No luck or perseverance necessary.
https://medium.com/@johnnylin/how-to-make-80-000-per-month-on-the-apple-app-store-bdb943862e88
At WWDC, Apple reported that they’ve paid out $70 billion to developers, with 30% of that ($21 billion!) in the last year. That’s a huge spike, and surprising to me because it didn’t seem like my friends and I were spending more on apps last year. But that’s anecdotal, so I wondered: Where are these revenues coming from? I opened App Store to browse the top grossing apps.
Final Note
App developers take pride in the fact that if their creation adds value, or improves peoples’ lives in some way, then people will be happy to pay for it, and everybody benefits. Not only that, but making good apps requires design, engineering, and sales skills, as well as a ton of dedication and hard work.
So, aside from the obvious moral wrongs of exploiting the vulnerable for profit, it’s extremely disheartening to know that some developers are becoming financially successful the easy and unethical way — by making bogus apps that take a few hours to code, and whose functionality is purely to steal from the less well-informed.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wall Street Journal:
How Chinese smartphone makers are gaining global market share with competitive pricing and by offering devices with features targeted to local markets
Two SIM Cards and Better Selfies: How China’s Smartphones Are Taking On Apple
Chinese manufacturers add locally targeted features, helping to double their market share in five years
https://www.wsj.com/articles/two-sim-cards-and-better-selfies-how-chinas-smartphones-are-taking-on-apple-1496827801?mod=e2tw
Tomi Engdahl says:
Most applications share your data with outsiders
When you install a new app on your smartphone, it now asks for permission to use various data collected by the device. The IMDEA Networks Institute survey showed that 70 percent of all smartphone applications share user information about so-called ” For third parties.
Generally, permission to use data collected by the device is justified.
According to IMDEA, the problem is that when a license is granted to an application, data can be shared to all those whom the developer wanted to share.
In practice, for example, Google and Facebook will get apps to know where the user is, how fast he moves and what he is doing. For example, a mapping application loads data to a server for calculating the direction and targets for which the user is going. This information can be utilized in many ways.
Applications generally do not disclose what program libraries they use. Often this information is listed in user agreements, where no one reads them. IMDEA has a tool (Lumen Provacy Monitor) that reveals, for example, the risk created by shared libraries used by different applications for the user’s personal data.
Based on statistics, 70% of applications sent user data to at least one service. 15 percent of the applications sent data to at least five data-gathering services.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/6457-valtaosa-sovelluksista-jakaa-datasi-ulkopuolisille
Tomi Engdahl says:
Every day more than a million new mobile users
According to Ericsson, more than one million new customers acquire a broadband mobile connection every day. The 4G networks will become the world’s most important mobile connectivity technology next year. Five years later, 5G subscriptions are expected to be half a billion. The information is provided in the company Mobility Report.
New mobile broadband customers will be up to 1 million a day up to 2022. Over the next five years it means about 2.6 billion new customers. During the first quarter of 2017, some 240 million new mobile broadband customers became available.
- In 2022 the majority – 90 percent – all the subscriptions are mobile broadband subscriptions. Currently, the proportion is 53 percent worldwide. According to FICORA, in Finland, broadband subscriptions already accounted for 88 per cent at the end of 2016, says Olli Sirkka, Managing Director of Ericsson Finland.
Ericsson anticipates that mobile data traffic will be eight times higher than the current level by 2022. Between the March and the same year last year alone, mobile data traffic grew by over 70 per cent. The video becomes more dominant; When half of the mobile traffic was in 2016 in video, in 2022 the corresponding figure is already 75 percent.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/6466-joka-paiva-yli-miljoona-uutta-mobiilinetin-kayttajaa
Tomi Engdahl says:
Emerging SD Card Uses Push Controller Development
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331877
xternal media such as SD cards are not going away despite steady expansion of onboard storage capacity in smartphones, and controller companies are keeping up with emerging application areas by leveraging expertise in the SSD domain.
Silicon Motion Technology recently introduced what it said is the first merchant SD controller that supports the latest SD 6.0 specifications and meets the new A2 application performance rating with a minimum random read/write performance of 4,000/2,000 IOPS. The SD Specification 6.0 was announced earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress by the SD Association (SDA). It expands support for mobile devices with Application Performance Class 2 (A2) more than doubling random read and write speeds guaranteed in the entry level App Performance Class 1 (A1), which was announced late last year.
In a telephone interview with EE Times, Robert Fan U.S. general manager at Silicon Motion, said the company’s latest SD controllers demonstrate the evolution of the storage media as they must support bandwidth-intensive applications such as 4K video recording and playback and AR/VR, as well as better random read and write performance. Expandable memory cards with Silicon Motion’s new controller will also provide sufficient performance so users can run Android 6.x/7.x applications directly from their cards.
While there’s been plenty of speculation over the years that SD cards and other removable cards would fade away, Fan said the opposite is true, even as smartphones gain more onboard storage capacity. “The non-iPhone market has grown, especially in China,” Fan said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel Sued Over Handset SoCs
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331886&
A computer company based in Brazil is suing Intel Corp., claiming its SoFia SoC caused smartphones to overheat, catch fire and explode. Qbex Computadores SA filed suit June 12 in San Jose District Court claiming up to $100 million in damages.
In its complaint, Qbex claims it received 35,000 customer complaints and 4,000 lawsuits in Brazil due to design errors found in the SoFia SoC by an independent review it plans to release later. Qbex “is now known as the brand of exploding and defective smartphones,” it said.
Qbex got its start as an electronics assembler in 2003. It rose to annual sales of $85 million, selling as many as 600,000 desktop PCs in 2012. It moved into tablets and in 2015 sold Brazil’s second most popular system next to the Samsung Galaxy, the complaint said.
In June 2015, Qbex struck a deal with Intel to assemble and sell smartphones using on the SoFia SoC and other components provided by a group of four contract manufacturers in China. It had also considered a smartphone deal with Qualcomm.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Google Play debuts Android Excellence curated collections that showcase top apps and games
Google Play introduces ‘Android Excellence’ collections that showcase editorially selected top apps and games
https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/13/google-play-introduces-android-excellence-collections-that-showcase-editorially-selected-top-apps-and-games/
At WWDC this month, Apple introduced an entirely revamped App Store that puts a much greater focus on editorial, with plans for stories about the apps, how to’s, interviews, and more, in addition to regular postings of curated lists and “app of the day” type features. Today, Google announced its own plans to expand editorial involvement on Google Play, with the launch of its new “Android Excellence” program.
The idea with “Android Excellence” is offer Google Play’s editors the ability to showcase the highest-quality apps and games on Android on a rotating basis. Like Apple’s “Editor’s Choice” round-ups which often highlight new iOS features or are top-tier examples of great design, the new “Android Excellence” collections will also be used to highlight the sort of apps Google wants developers to build for its own mobile platform.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Sources: Google hires Manu Gulati, who led Apple’s chip development for almost eight years, as Lead SoC Architect
Google Hires Key Apple Chip Architect to Build Custom Chips for Pixel Phones (EXCLUSIVE)
http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-manu-gulati-pixel-chips-1202464014/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ever wonder why those Apple iPhone updates take so damn long?
Turns out Apple execs were testing new file system on you
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/13/long_apple_iphone_updates/
It’s a recurring pain experienced by all iPhone owners: the huge and very slow software updates that require you to plug your phone in and forget about it for 30 minutes.
Many have also wondered why the phone feels the need to shut down, start up again, shut down again and start up again before finally letting you get at it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Ramps Mobile SoC Team
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331898&
Google is ramping up a team to build mobile SoCs for tablets and smartphones. The Web giant posted nearly 200 job openings in its hardware group including at least half a dozen specifically for mobile SoC designers.
Google launched its Pixel smartphones in October 2016 based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC. At that time, Google also hired David Foster, who formerly ran the Lab126 group that built Amazon’s Kindle and other devices. Foster attended the event where the company also debuted its Google Home speakers and other consumer systems.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple vs. Qualcomm: Nobody Wins
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1331901&
Can the legal fight between Apple and Qualcomm possibly help either company?
In my opinion, the genesis of the spat between Apple and Qualcomm over LTE modems can be traced to Apple’s desire to not be reliant on any supplier. That desire led to Apple’s use of modem chips for the iPhone 7 to be shared between Intel and Qualcomm. Furthermore, Apple wanted to reduce the royalty paid to Qualcomm for use of its intellectual property (IP) on the cost/price of the entire smartphone. Apple further influenced the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to file suit against Qualcomm because of its dominance against other semiconductor suppliers for modem chips.
Suits and counter-suits have followed, which have led to overall product strategy changes that potentially hurt both companies and, in turn, the customer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Ramps Mobile SoC Team
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1331898&
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Google is ramping up a team to build mobile SoCs for tablets and smartphones. The Web giant posted nearly 200 job openings in its hardware group including at least half a dozen specifically for mobile SoC designers.
Google launched its Pixel smartphones in October 2016 based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoC. At that time, Google also hired David Foster, who formerly ran the Lab126 group that built Amazon’s Kindle and other devices. Foster attended the event where the company also debuted its Google Home speakers and other consumer systems.
Google posted listings for multiple mobile SoC architects, generally seeking engineers with at least a decade of working experience. It is also hiring for mobile SoC physical, packaging and memory design engineers, all to be based at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Emily Jackson / Financial Post:
Canada’s telecom regulator CRTC orders all new devices be unlocked, bans unlocking fees, effective Dec. 1
CRTC bans smartphone unlocking fees, outgoing chairman Blais regrets not taking decision sooner
http://business.financialpost.com/technology/crtc-bans-smartphone-unlocking-fees-outgoing-chairman-blais-regrets-not-taking-decision-sooner
Wireless providers will no longer be allowed to sell locked mobile devices or charge Canadians to unlock their phones for use on rival’s networks, according to new rules that will erase millions in annual revenue for carriers.
change will make it easier for customers to switch providers, encourage competition
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Colorado Group Wants To Ban Smartphones For Kids
https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/17/06/19/0415243/a-colorado-group-wants-to-ban-smartphones-for-kids
Colorado officials have cleared the language of a proposed ballot measure that would establish the nation’s first legal limits on buying smartphones for children. Backers of the move to forbid the sale of smartphones to children younger than 13 would now need about 300,000 voter signatures for the proposal to make the 2018 ballot.
https://www.apnews.com/a4aa4570bca34e3e9879df96e8216299/Ballot-language-approved-for-age-limits-on-smartphone-sales
Colorado officials have cleared the language of a proposed ballot measure that would establish the nation’s first legal limits on buying smartphones for children.
Backers of the move to forbid the sale of smartphones to children younger than 13 would now need about 300,000 voter signatures for the proposal to make the 2018 ballot.
The ban would require cellphone retailers to ask customers about the age of the primary user of a smartphone and submit monthly reports to the Colorado Department of Revenue on adhering to the requirement.
Retailers who sell a phone for use by a youngster could be fined $500, after a warning.
The campaign is being led by Denver-area dad and doctor Tim Farnum.
“Eventually kids are going to get phones and join the world, and I think we all know that, but little children, there’s just no good that comes from that,” he told The Coloradoan .
Tomi Engdahl says:
Paul Sawers / VentureBeat:
GSMA: 5B people, or two thirds of world’s population, now have a mobile connection, with North America and Europe at 80%+ penetration and India at 54%
5 billion people now have a mobile phone connection, according to GSMA data
https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/13/5-billion-people-now-have-a-mobile-phone-connection-according-to-gsma-data/
Planet Earth has hit a notable technological milestone, with five billion people globally — or two-thirds of the world’s population — now laying claim to a mobile phone connection.
there are now a fraction more than 5 billion individual mobile users around the world. GSMA calculates the figure using an “extensive database of mobile statistics and forecasts” that are updated each day.
It’s worth noting here that mobile connections far outnumber individual subscribers, as many people have more than one SIM card, perhaps indicating multiple phones for their personal lives or two phones to cover work and social life. Some reports suggest that there have been five billion mobile phone connections since as early as 2010. The GSMA defines a unique mobile subscriber as: “…an individual person that can account for multiple ‘mobile connections’ (i.e SIM cards).”
Though the data shows that there are more than 8.1 billion connections globally, this figure includes machine-to-machine (M2M) connections. GSMA estimates that there are actually 7.7 billion mobile connections around the world (not including M2M).
“Reaching the five billion subscriber milestone is a tremendous achievement for an industry that is only a few decades old”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Glass is apparently back from the dead, starts getting software updates
Google’s aging face computer gets a firmware and companion app update.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/06/google-glass-is-apparently-back-from-the-dead-starts-getting-software-updates/
Remember Google Glass—Google’s ultra-dorky, poorly supported, $1,500 face computer? Conventional wisdom said that the product was dead: it’s not sold anymore, the website was more or less shut down in 2015, its Twitter and Facebook were deleted, and the OS stopped receiving updates. But someone at Google apparently still cares about this clunky little headset, and this week the device got both a firmware update and a companion app update.
“XE23″ is the new firmware version, the first such update in nearly three years. In addition to the usual “bug fixes and performance improvements,” Glass can now make use of paired Bluetooth input devices, like keyboards and mice. Android Police actually dusted off a unit and got the new firmware up and running, discovering that you’ll actually get a mouse cursor on the unit if you pair a mouse.
There’s also an update to the “MyGlass” app, Google Glass’ Android companion app. After three years of rot and a target version of Android 4.2, the app was pretty broken in Android.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Niantic to punish Pokémon Go cheaters with mark of shame
Gamemaker says ill-gotten Pokémon “may not behave as expected.”
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/06/niantic-to-punish-pokemon-go-cheaters-with-mark-of-shame/
It has been just a month since Pokémon Go players began noticing that Niantic had started “shadowbanning” accounts that use third-party trackers and bot software, limiting them so they only see common Pokémon. Now, the company is going further to ensure ill-gotten beasts are publicly identified as such and don’t negatively impact the multiplayer experience.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Evan Blass / VentureBeat:
Source: Samsung Galaxy Note8 to come with 6.3″ display, dual 12MP cameras, and 6GB of RAM, launches in second half of September, will retail for €999
Samsung Galaxy Note8 launches late September for nearly €1,000
https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/23/samsung-galaxy-note8-launches-late-september-for-nearly-e1000/
Samsung is making preparations to launch its most expensive cellphone yet, telling partners that its Galaxy Note8 will retail for €999. The 6.3-inch device, with the same edge-to-edge, 18.5:9 aspect ratio AMOLED display as in the Galaxy S8 lineup, will be unveiled in the second half of September, an individual briefed on the company’s plans told VentureBeat.
At nearly the same size as the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+, for the first time in its seven-year history, Samsung is counting on more than an expansive screen to differentiate the Note line from the S-series. It aims to achieve that differentiation with selectively beefed-up components and a dual main camera setup, along with the line’s signature feature, the S Pen stylus.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: refurbished Galaxy Note 7 “Fandom Edition” initially launching in South Korea on July 7
Samsung Revives Galaxy Note 7 With New ‘Fandom Edition’
Galaxy Note 7 FE is coming to retailers’ shelves on July 7 with different components
https://www.wsj.com/articles/samsung-revives-galaxy-note-7-with-new-fandom-edition-1498564665?mod=e2tw
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ryan Smith / AnandTech:
Huawei Honor 9, which launched in China earlier this month, debuts in Europe with 20MP/12MP dual-lens camera, starting at £380; no US pricing or release date
Honor 9 Makes Its Way West: Launching Today in Europe for £380/€450
by Ryan Smith on June 27, 2017 10:40 AM EST
http://www.anandtech.com/show/11582/honor-9-makes-its-way-west-launching-today-in-europe
A couple of weeks back at an event in China, Huawei’s Honor sub-brand announced their flagship smartphone for 2017: the Honor 9. Following in the footsteps of the Honor 8 before it, the Honor 9 continues in Honor’s tradition of offering flagship-level smartphones with high-end components at a more mainstream price. At the time of the reveal, the Honor 9 was only being released in China. But now a short few weeks later, Honor is announcing that it is making its way west for its European launch, which kicks off today.
Honor’s latest flagship is a 5.15-inch phone that, at first glance, looks a lot like parent company Huawei’s recently-launched P10 smartphone. The Honor phone gets the same latest-generation Kirin 960 SoC from Huawei’s HiSilicon division, and the 5.15-inch 1080p display is only a hair larger than the P10’s 5.1-inch display. This is similar to what we have seen in past generations, with the Honor flagship serving as a more value-priced alternative for consumers who are after the latest Huawei tech.
Rounding out the specifications, depending on the configuration the phone is paired with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. All (listed) SKUs come with 64GB of NAND for storage, along with a microSD card for additional storage. For wired connectivity, Honor offers a USB 2.0 port as well as a 3.5mm audio jack.
the overall design of the phone and its construction appears to be very similar to the Honor 8 i
Tomi Engdahl says:
CastAR Shuts Doors
http://hackaday.com/2017/06/27/castar-shuts-doors/
Polygon reports CastAR is no more.
CastAR is the brainchild of renaissance woman [Jeri Ellsworth], who was hired by Valve to work on what would eventually become SteamVR. Valve let [Jeri] go, but allowed her to take her invention with her. [Jeri] founded a new company, Technical Illusions, with [Rick Johnson] and over the past few years the CastAR has appeared everywhere from Maker Faires to venues better focused towards innovative technologies.
In 2013, Technical Illusions got its start with a hugely successful Kickstarter, netting just north of one million dollars. This success drew the attention of investors and eventually led to a funding round of $15 million. With this success, Technical Illusions decided to refund the backers of its Kickstarter.
CastAR is an augmented reality system that puts computer-generated objects in a real, physical setting. Any comparison between CastAR and a VR system is incomplete; these are entirely different systems with entirely different use cases.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Richard Lai / Engadget:
Vivo demos Qualcomm’s new ultrasonic fingerprint sensors that work under glass, metal, and water; commercial devices using them are expected in 2018
Vivo beats Apple to an under-display fingerprint scanner
But the technology still has some way to go.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/06/28/vivo-qualcomm-under-display-fingerprint-reader/
There have been rumours of Apple exploring under-display fingerprint scanning technology, but you probably didn’t expect the first of such demos to come from China. At MWC Shanghai, Qualcomm announced its latest ultrasonic fingerprint solution, with the new highlights being its integration underneath OLED displays (up to 1.2mm-thick), as well as working fine even when the device is immersed in water. As before, this tech can tolerate dirt and sweat on skin better than its capacitive counterpart, and it also works underneath metal and glass (duh) but with increased penetration — up to 800um for glass and up to 650um for aluminum, as opposed to the old 400um for either material.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Your users are excited about VR
How can you harness this enthusiasm?
http://www.worldpay.com/global/insight/articles/2017-06/the-vr-opportunity-in-digital?utm_source=Techmeme&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=vroppindigital&utm_content=WP_infographic&utm_language=us
A world where digital goods and services are accessible across virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is getting closer
55%
Of global consumers think VR and AR will be as popular as smartphones in the future
Users are willing to pay more for enhanced experiences
33%
Of consumers globally haven’t used AR or VR yet as they haven’t yet felt the need to
A perception gap exists between this excitement and understanding how it will become part of their day-to-day lives
If digital companies can bridge the perception gap, then they have a potentially globally receptive audience
45%
Of U.S. consumers believe using a VR or AR device is a more fun way to make online purchases
50%
Of U.K. consumers have used VR for video gaming, followed by 15% for live entertainment experiences
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / Motherboard:
How iPhone jailbreaking has evolved over the years, from a widespread phenomenon to an individual pursuit, as Apple and hackers played a game of cat and mouse — How a ragtag group of young hackers made the iPhone what it is today. — The window shades are halfway down, leaving the bedroom dim.
The Life, Death, and Legacy of iPhone Jailbreaking
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/8xa4ka/iphone-jailbreak-life-death-legacy
How a ragtag group of young hackers made the iPhone what it is today.
Tomi Engdahl says:
T-Mobile Drops Support for iPhone 4S
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1331951&
Drops speeds to 2G as of today, down from 4G, but doesn’t lower prices.
Last week, I received a letter (yes on paper) from T-Mobile, my wireless carrier, saying that some devices on my account would drop data rates from 4G to 2G. On June 27, as announced, the two iPhone 4S phones on my account no longer run at 4G Speeds. The “4G” indicator has been replaced by the letter “E” indicating my data is now running at 2G speeds.
T-Mobile claims that it’s no longer supporting the U1900 cellular band and becuase my phones apparently don’t support compatible bands, my speed has dropped. Of course, T-Mobile is trying to turn this into a marketing ploy by offering upgraded phones at reduced prices.
That’s the problem will communication companies, be they wired, wireless, or cable. They won’t give me what I want: fewer services for less money. Cable TV providers are the worst offenders. They deliver dozens of channels I’ll never watch and don’t want to pay for, but there’s no option. Clearly, the technology is there to lets you select only those channels you want delivered. Do they offer that? Never.
So, now I’m forced to replace two perfectly working iPhones because my carrier won’t support them a particular slice of the spectrum. Yes, this happens.
Tomi Engdahl says:
touch screen toddlers PART II
http://www.electropages.com/2017/06/counterfeit-components-and-the-touch-screen-toddlers/?utm_campaign=&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=article&utm_content=Counterfeit+components+and+the+touch+screen+toddlers+PART+II
Touch screen toddlers
Meanwhile the debate on how much tech-time should young kids be allowed rumbles on. See a previous Electropages blog headlined:
“Kids technology overload. I blame the parents” http://www.electropages.com/2017/02/kids-technology-overload/
In that story 90% of parents reckon electronic gadgets get in the way of the family spending time together.
But going back to that youngster in the buggy entranced by the electronic gadget locked in their grasp, how did it get there? Did they pop into the Apple Store and lash out £500 for a phone or tablet. Of course they didn’t. It got there because the parents find it an easy way of keeping the little darling quiet while inflicting the mind-numbing tedium of shopping mall trips on them. No wonder so many youngsters get hooked on the technology habit. And it’s a life style habit started by the parents.
However, the latest item of breaking news that hit my desktop the other day says I could be wrong on this with many parents believing that children should not have smart phones before the age of 11. This is according to a survey of 2,000 UK parents by gadgets and technology retailer LaptopsDirect. According to this report only 12% of parents would allow their child to own a mobile phone under the age of 11. But I question the word own. It still leaves it possible for parents to shove their smart phone into the hands of a recalcitrant child to mollify the little rascal.
The report, which researched parents’ attitudes towards owning technology, does reveal that 61% of parents would allow their child to have a smart phone so they could be reached in an emergency. And 70% of parents felt that use of technology from a young age was something children needed to aid their development, with more than half (54%) believing they would start high school behind their peers if they hadn’t had any interaction with technology or gadgets at home.
Now those parents may well be right when you consider that it is pretty much impossible for children of school age not to have a computer and Internet access if they are going to be able to handle school studies and homework.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung salvages Galaxy Note 7 parts for new phone
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40477351
Samsung is releasing a new phone using parts from its Galaxy Note 7, which was axed after a battery fault led to some devices catching fire.
The firm said the Note Fan Edition would “minimise the environmental impact” of its high-profile flop.
The handset will go on sale only in South Korea on 7 July, with a safer, smaller battery, the firm added.
Samsung stopped production on its iPhone rival late last year after an earlier botched recall and re-release.
About 2.5 million handsets have since been recalled. The new phone features components from those recalled devices, as well as unused parts Samsung has in stock.
Smaller battery, smaller price tag
Environmentalists had been putting pressure on the firm to reuse Galaxy Note 7 components to reduce the amount of so-called e-waste.
It is thought about 400,000 handsets will be made available from Friday. It will be priced about 30% cheaper than the Galaxy Note 7 at around 700,000 Korean won ($615; £472).
The devices will be fitted with 3,200 mAh batteries that Samsung says have passed strict safety tests. The Note 7 used 3,500 mAh batteries.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Tests 3-D Face Scanning To Unlock Next iPhone: Bloomberg
https://apple.slashdot.org/story/17/07/03/2016234/apple-tests-3-d-face-scanning-to-unlock-next-iphone-bloomberg
Five years ago, Apple made fingerprint scanners on smartphones popular. Now the company may have found a better technology to replace it. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the Cupertino-based company is exploring 3D facial detection as a replacement for Touch ID fingerprint authentication.
Apple Tests 3-D Face Scanning to Unlock Next iPhone
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-03/apple-said-to-test-3-d-face-scanning-to-unlock-next-iphone
Apple Inc. is working on a feature that will let you unlock your iPhone using your face instead of a fingerprint.
For its redesigned iPhone, set to go on sale later this year, Apple is testing an improved security system that allows users to log in, authenticate payments, and launch secure apps by scanning their face, according to people familiar with the product. This is powered by a new 3-D sensor, added the people, who asked not to be identified discussing technology that’s still in development. The company is also testing eye scanning to augment the system, one of the people said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Texting On the Move Makes You Walk Weird, Study Finds
https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/17/07/05/013210/texting-on-the-move-makes-you-walk-weird-study-finds
According to results, phone users spend up to 61 percent less time watching out for the obstacle, and bring their foot up “higher and slower” over the obstacle as they walked, adopting a “cautious and exaggerated stepping strategy” to minimise the risk of tripping.
“This results in phone users adopting a slow and exaggerated stepping action.”
Texting on the move makes you walk weird, study finds
https://www.cnet.com/news/walk-and-use-your-phone-and-you-risk-looking-funny-says-study/
When we use our phone while walking, we employ a “cautious and exaggerated stepping strategy,” Anglia Ruskin Unveristy’s study shows.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Using phones can both cause and save us from car crashes, study finds
Texting while driving is still dangerous, though.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/phones-distracted-driving-can-save-us-study-cambridge-mobile-telematics/
We all know phones can contribute to behind-the-wheel distraction that may prove deadly, but perhaps some more concrete figures will finally convince you to keep the darn phone down.
From a study using data from hundreds of thousands of drivers, the majority of trips that resulted in a crash were found to have some type of phone-based distraction. This study came from from Cambridge Mobile Telematics, a provider of telematics for behavior-based insurance.
However, CMT believes that there’s another way to help curb phone distraction, and somewhat unsurprisingly, it involves the tech that CMT develops. Its DriveWell system automatically records phone sensor data during a drive, and if an app that incorporates DriveWell also incorporates some kind of positive feedback like in a game, it can reduce phone distraction by 30 to 40 percent over two months of use.
The solution, therefore, is simple. Treat everything — even dire situations that threaten one’s life — as if it were a game.