Oct 01

Google Reportedly Building Its Amazon Echo Show Rival

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You might remember that Google recently decided to cut YouTube access on the Amazon Echo Show, Amazon’s first Alexa-powered device with a display. Who knows when this issue between the two companies will end, but it appears that Google has plans of ramping up the competition for the Echo Show. According to a new report, Google is building its own Echo Show rival.

Citing multiple sources, TechCrunch reports that Google is developing a “tabletop smart screen” for video calling. The new device is going to compete with the Amazon Echo Show.

The device has reportedly been codenamed internally as “Manhattan,” and is said to have the same 7 inch screen size as the Echo Show. The device is said to offer features like Google Assistant, Google Photos, YouTube, video calling, and more.

It will also double as a smart hub to control smart devices from the likes of Nest. It’s going to run a version of Android which will make it easier for developers to come up with apps for the new device.

The report says that Google was previously targeting a 2018 launch for this product but the internal pressure has increased since then and the company now wants it out in 2017. However, it’s still possible that Google’s Echo Show rival might not be launched before 2018.

It’s unclear at this point in time how much this device might cost when it’s finally launched.

Google Reportedly Building Its Amazon Echo Show Rival , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Huawei Mate 10 Pro Render Leaked

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Huawei is going to unveil its new flagship smartphones in a couple of weeks. The company is expected to launch three Mate 10 models, namely the Huawei Mate 10, Mate 10 Lite, and Mate 10 Pro. A reliable leaker has now leaked a new render of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. The render teases the handset’s dual camera system.

Evan Blass, better known as @evleaks, has leaked this render of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. He has previously said that this particular variant of the Mate 10 is going to have a bezel-less display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and will feature a dual camera system.

The rear dual camera system is said to feature a 12 megapixel and 20 megapixel camera. There’s also going to be an 8 megapixel front camera. Other than that, the handset is expected to have flagship-level specifications which include Huawei’s latest Kirin processor that touts built-in artificial intelligence capabilities.

Huawei has actually been playing up the artificial intelligence angle quite a bit for the Mate 10. The teasers it has released so far suggest that this handset’s AI capabilities will be superior to any of its rivals on the market right now.

Huawei released a new promo for the Mate 10 flagship earlier this week which suggests that this won’t be a smartphone but an “intelligent machine.” We’ll come to know for sure how these claims stand up when Huawei formally launches the Mate 10 and its variants on October 16th.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro Render Leaked , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

LG V30+ Exclusive To Sprint, Launches October 13th

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Major carriers in the United States have confirmed their pricing and availability details for the LG V30 but not for the V30+, because most of them don’t have it. Sprint is actually the only major U.S. carrier to offer the LG V30+ at launch. The handset brings twice the onboard memory compared to the LG V30 as well as a higher quality sound experience for music and video content.

There aren’t a lot of differences between the LG V30 and the V30+. However, it does come with 128GB of onboard storage out of the box and that can be expanded further via the microSD card slot.

The handset features a Hi-Fi Quad DAC for an enhanced audio experience, but it’s not like the regular V30 doesn’t have it as well. It even ships with a better pair of QuadPlay Earbuds. It’s actually the only V30 model that comes with the QuadPlay earbuds in the box.

Sprint is going to launch the LG V30+ on October 13th. The handset will be available for purchase from the carrier’s stores and via its website. Customers will have to pay $38 per month for it with Sprint Flex and $0 down. New customers can save $30 if they purchase the handset online while existing customers can save $30 by upgrading online.

LG V30+ Exclusive To Sprint, Launches October 13th , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Amazon Echo Devices Can Now Call Landline And Mobile Numbers For Free

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Amazon recently launched new Echo devices and it also confirmed that its Echo devices can now call landline and mobile numbers for free. The Amazon Echo, Echo Show, and Echo Dot have all gained the ability to make voice calls to mobile and landline numbers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for free. It’s also possible to receive calls on the Echo devices but it’s not free.

In order to receive calls on the Echo devices from regular numbers, users will have to purchase a new Connect box that Amazon has launched. It costs $35. The device will enable users to use their home telephone number for Echo calls. It will even allow them to dial 911 and international or premium rate numbers.

This follows the Alexa calling functionality that Amazon originally rolled out. However, the feature only enabled users to call other Amazon Echo owners to people who had the Alexa app on their smartphones. They can now call anyone in their contacts list with an Echo device or even speak a specific number for the device to dial.

Users have to set up this feature first. Once they have done that, their mobile number is linked to the device. That’s what shows up for the recipients when they place a call using an Echo device. Users do get the option to opt out of displaying their number, in that case, the recipient will see “unknown caller” when they’re called via the Echo device.

Amazon Echo Devices Can Now Call Landline And Mobile Numbers For Free , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Apple Reportedly Interested In Developing Custom ARM Chips For Macs

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It appears that Apple isn’t just interested in producing chips for its mobile devices. If a new report is to be believed, the company wants to reduce its dependence on Intel for the MacBook lineup. It suggests that the company is thinking about developing custom ARM chips for future Mac machines.

Citing multiple industry sources, Nikkei Asian Review reports that Apple is looking to develop custom ARM chips for future Mac products.

“Notebooks are becoming thinner, while consumers are demanding better mobility and longer battery life,” says an unnamed chip industry executive cited in the report, adding that this gives a good opportunity to ARM’s architecture which is known for its power efficiency. No further information is available about Apple’s possible shift to ARM other than industry chatter.

Moreover, there haven’t been any rumors suggesting that Apple is developing an ARM-compatible version of macOS. So even if the company might be thinking about such a move, it’s far from confirmed that this will happen, so take this information with a grain of salt until there’s more information.

The report also mentions that Apple has been investing in research and development for baseband model chips. This could mean that the company might eventually reduce its reliance on Qualcomm as well for future iPhones, but this may also take a few years. Nothing is set in stone, though.

Apple Reportedly Interested In Developing Custom ARM Chips For Macs , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Initial Coin Offerings Banned In South Korea

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We reported recently that China had decided to ban ICOs or initial coin offerings. The country has classified them as illegal fundraising and has dropped the banhammer on ICOs. It’s not the only country that’s against ICOs. South Korea has also joined China in banning initial coin offerings.

ICOs have been quite popular this year. Some estimates suggest that over $2 billion in funds have been raised through ICOs so far this year.

Reuters reports that South Korea’s financial regulator has said that raising money through ICOs will be banned. All kinds of ICOs will be banned as the country’s Financial Services Commission feels that trading of virtual currencies needs to be controlled tightly and monitored.

“Raising funds through ICOs seem to be on the rise globally, and our assessment is that ICOs are increasing in South Korea as well,” the regulator said in a statement, adding that it will issue “stern penalties” to parties or financial institutions found involved in ICOs.

However, it didn’t detail what these penalties might be. The government feels that ICOs can increase the risk of financial scams so it’s taking steps to ensure that the public isn’t dealt losses by those who are using ICOs to make a quick buck.

Initial Coin Offerings Banned In South Korea , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Google Assistant For Chromebooks Might Be Almost Ready

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Google has gradually been rolling out its artificial intelligence-powered Google Assistant to more platforms but it’s yet to bring the digital assistant to Chromebooks. That might change soon. We’ve been hearing rumors that Assistant might land on Chromebooks in the near future. More evidence has surfaced to suggest that Assistant for Chromebooks may be almost ready.

New references have been discovered in the Google Home app which suggests that some Assistant apps will work with Chromebooks. This is a good indication that Assistant for Chromebooks might be coming soon as all Assistant apps mention the platforms that they are compatible with.

There are some apps available on Assistant that don’t work on smartphones but do work on Google Home. So if these references have popped up, they can be taken as an indication of an impending launch of Google Assistant on Chromebooks.

The references aren’t just in text. A Chromebook icon is also being shown right alongside the icons for smartphones and Google Home. Thus this is taken as a good sign that Google Assistant might be making its way to the Chrome OS platform in the near future.

Google still hasn’t confirmed when it’s going to bring the Assistant to Chromebooks. The company is conducting an event on October 4th for its new Pixel handsets. Perhaps it will talk more about Assistant’s future on Chromebooks at this event.

Google Assistant For Chromebooks Might Be Almost Ready , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Facebook Testing Facial Recognition For Account Recovery

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Facial recognition is no longer something that you see in science fiction movies or only in specialized industries. We have smartphones on the market right now that put facial recognition technology into your pocket, look no further than the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 from Samsung. Apple’s iPhone X that’s due next month also touts this technology. So we’ll see increased use of this technology in the future which is why it’s not surprising to hear that Facebook is testing facial recognition as a method of recovering a lost account.

TheNextWeb’s Matt Navarra reports that Facebook is testing a new facial recognition feature which will help users secure their Facebook accounts.

This is going to be particularly useful when someone is in a place where they can’t receive the SMS message for two-factor authentication. This will enable them to log into their account even if they forget their password.

Facebook has confirmed to TechCrunch that it’s testing a new feature “for people who want to quickly and easily verify account ownership during the account recovery process.” So it’s not a new way of logging into your Facebook app, just a new method of recovering your account.

It’s an optional feature that’s available only on devices that users have already used to log in. “It is another step, alongside two-factor authentication via SMS, that were taking to make sure account owners can confirm their identity,” Facebook adds.

Facebook might eventually roll out this feature to more users across the globe if it proves to be reliable.

Facebook Testing Facial Recognition For Account Recovery , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Samsung Pay App Gets Android 8.0 Oreo Support

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It was reported recently that Samsung might be preparing a beta program for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ which will enable select users to try out the Android 8.0 Oreo update for these flagship smartphones. It appears that the beta firmware for these devices will come with support for Samsung Pay from day one as the Samsung Pay app has now been updated with support for Android 8.0 Oreo.

Android 8.0 Oreo is the latest and greatest iteration of Google’s mobile platform. The company released it several weeks ago but it has only landed on a couple of handsets so far. Third-party manufacturers like Samsung will take some time to prepare the update for their handsets.

While it’s unclear when Samsung is planning to release Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, I’m pretty sure that those who own these handsets will want the company to roll out Oreo as soon as possible. The same holds true for Galaxy Note 8 owners as well.

Samsung appears to be rolling out an update for the Samsung Pay app in some markets where the app now supports Android 8.0 Oreo. This suggests that Samsung Pay will be supported on the beta from day one. Some are even taking this as an indication that the beta program might be launched soon.

Hopefully, Samsung will provide clarity on the beta program matter soon rather than later.

Samsung Pay App Gets Android 8.0 Oreo Support , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

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Oct 01

Paul Ryan On Trump And Race: ‘His Heart’s In The Right Place’

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He says Trump has learned since Charlottesville. Since then, Trump has attacked NFL players and Puerto Rican officials.

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