Hasta La Gadget!

Apple’s rumored low-budget iPhone could be assembled by Pegatron instead of Foxconn, at least that’s what the reports are saying.

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Your smartphone has advanced security, why shouldn’t your front door? Startup August is aiming to change that, with its Smart Lock security system replacing your traditional deadbolt with one that can be controlled from your smartphone, including allowing temporary or permanent guest access for visitors, dog walkers, or babysitters.

The Smart Lock uses Bluetooth LE (low energy) to connect with a nearby smartphone, with “virtual keys” that can be kept to the homeowner, or shared out with others. Each of those share invitations can be optionally time-limited, so that visitors only get access when the homeowner wants them to.

August – a collaboration between Yves Behar (who also designed the OUYA) and Jason Johnson – is said to work with 90-percent of home lock systems in the US, and take a couple of minutes with some screwdriver handiwork to fit. There’s no WiFi connection or external power needed, so even if the electricity goes out the door is still secure. A standard key means that, even if the batteries are flat, you can still get in.

The Smart Lock will automatically ping out a message to you whenever a guest enters and exits, and entry permission can be removed at any time. The control on the inside – which rotates to lock and unlock manually – has a built-in LED indicator to show lock and permissions status, and also makes different noises depending on whether it’s locking or unlocking.

As for the app, that can be used to send out invitations individually or to a group, and a guestbook can be used to leave notes for visitors or for them to add messages back.

It’s all part of a growing effort to make home security more technologically advanced, at the same time bringing the functionality down from what have historically been high price points. August isn’t the only company doing smart locking systems; AT&T, for instance, rolled out a 15-market trial of its Digital Life service last month, which includes lock control as well as CCTV and water leak monitoring.

August expects the Smart Lock to begin shipping later in 2013. It’s up for preorder now, priced at $199; there are no ongoing fees for the “core functionality” August says.

VIA Gizmodo Australia

August Smart Lock wants to make your front door intelligent is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It looks like Huawei has a new Windows Phone handset coming up thanks to a leaked image.

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Samsung has officially confirmed the Galaxy S4 Mini, following a brief leak earlier this month. The new handset takes the name of its current flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, but couples it with more mid-range specs to extend the reach of the flagship brand to a larger pool of consumers. It’s a strategy Samsung also deployed with its prior flagship, the Galaxy S3, taking the wraps off a Galaxy S3 Mini last year.

Indeed, Samsung’s overall smartphone strategy is about producing scores of iterations at various price points and screen sizes in order to saturate the market with as much of its hardware as possible. A strategy that, coupled with its massive marketing budget, continues to be extremely successful for the Korean electronics giant, making it far harder for other Android OEMs such as HTC to compete with their far more modest device portfolios.

As with the majority of Samsung’s devices, design wise you’d be hard pressed to distinguish the Galaxy S4 Mini from any other recent Samsung device. Its smaller size being the most distinguishing feature vs the flagship S4. The Mini has a 4.3″ qHD Super AMOLED display vs the 5″ pane on the flagship S4. At 4.3″ the Mini is not actually that small, certainly not compared to some of Samsung’s budget devices, but the target here is users who might not be comfortable with the phablet-sized screen of Samsung’s current flagship but still want something flashy enough to look like a flagship.

Under the hood, the S4 Mini has a 1.7 GHz dual-core chip, rather than the quad-/octa-core of its big brother. There’s 8GB of internal memory and 1.5GB of RAM. The rear camera is 8MP and the front-facing lens is 1.9MP.  Samsung says it will be offering a 4G version of the device, as well as a 3G and dual-SIM version — based on what makes sense for each market.

Features wise, Samsung says the S4 Mini supports “many” of the same features as found on the flagship S4 — including Sound&Shot, Panorama Shot and Story Album, on the camera software side. Other confirmed apps include Group Play, ChatON, S Translator and WatchON. The Mini clearly lacks the full gamut of software services poured onto Samsung’s flagship but most smartphone buyers aren’t going to be fussed about a few lacking apps, especially as the Mini’s price-tag should also be a bit more modest.

There’s no official word on pricing or a full list of confirmed market availability — but expect the S4 Mini to land wherever the S4 has, and certainly to head to the U.S. and the U.K.

Nintendo has outed a fresh batch of hardware and accessories for Japan, including a white Wii U 32GB console and a larger battery for the tablet GamePad controller to address runtime claims. The new white Wii U 32GB Premium edition should arrive in Japan on July 13, functionally identical to the existing black model aside from the new casing; it’ll go on sale alongside a new Rapid Charging Stand for the Wiimote, which Nintendo says will cut down the amount of time gamers will need to have the motion-sensing controller on charge.

That will consist of a new battery and back panel, which will slot on to replace the existing back panel, and a new charging cradle onto which the Wiimote sits. It’s unclear exactly how much extra runtime the accessory delivers, or indeed how much charging time it cuts.

Meanwhile, there’s a new battery for the GamePad, offering 2,550 mAh of power which Nintendo claims is good for between 5 and 8 hours of runtime. That’s a big improvement on the original 1,500 mAh battery, which was one of the most criticized elements of the Wii U gaming experience: some players were seeing three hours or less before they needed to recharge.

The replacement Wiimote battery and cradle bundle will be priced at 4,200 yen ($42), while the battery on its own will be 2,625 yen ($26); the GamePad battery will be 3,150 yen ($31).

As for the Nintendo 3DS, there’s the new Luigi special edition of the XL version of the glasses-free 3D handheld, which we now know will hit shelves on July 18. It’ll be priced at 22,500 yen ($224) and come with a 4GB card in the box.

Exactly when – or indeed if – availability of the new hardware will spread outside of Japan remains to be seen. Nintendo is ramping up to a software-centric E3, the company has confirmed, with a much-needed games refresh expected at the show. There’ll also be companion events held at Best Buy stores across the US and Canada, where gamers will be able to try out some of the new titles before they’re officially on sale.

Nintendo reveals Wii U bigger batteries for GamePad and Wiimote, more is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.