Though when this article is being written and published, we’re not certain of what the next iPhone will be called, it does seem quite likely that there’ll be a version with a plastic back cover in a variety of colors. This device has been code-named iPhone 5C in the tech news circuit, and may very […]
A few months ago we found out about the Durovis Dive, a virtual reality gaming headset for Android smartphones. A similar device called vrAse is now looking for funding on Kickstarter. The company behind it claims that future versions will be compatible with all smartphones.
Like the Dive, vrAse uses your smartphone to display 3D content. vrAse is also highly customizable. For instance, you can change its case or its optics to fit your needs. In its default state, its optics can emulate a 200-inch movie screen, though they don’t specify what distance that would be viewed at. Most of all, you can easily upgrade its “hardware.” All it takes is to swap in a better phone.
Pledge at least £48 (~$74 USD) on Kickstarter to get a vrAse case as a reward. But before you pledge know that the Kickstarter release of vrAse will only be compatible with six smartphones: the iPhone 5, the HTC One, the Sony Xperia Z, the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
I’m excited to see 3D gaming being more and more affordable, but I don’t think we can compare vrAse to the Rift. First off, the vrAse is only compatible with media and games that are in Side by Side (SbS) format. Second, it doesn’t seem to have its own head-tracking software, which is a big part of what makes the Rift so immersive. Perhaps developers can integrate head-tracking into their games or apps if vrAse takes off. Finally, the Rift has a distinct advantage in terms of hardware, because PCs are more powerful than even the latest smartphones. Still, I think many people would love to enjoy immersive 3D video or mobile games for the right price. Perhaps Dive and vrAse are on to something here.
[via DVICE]
It’s not often when a single smartphone company has two reports leaking from the same arena saying they’re creating both higher-end and lower-end products in the same breath. That’s just what’s happened this weekend as a pair of reports from the same reporter suggest that South Korean media reports pin Samsung for a lower-end Samsung […]
Unlike babies that wail when they’re born, the three new members of Alcatel’s One Touch family have silently slipped into the company’s website. The two handsets, the Idol S and the Idol Mini, follow the original trio revealed at CES this year, sharing similar elements despite the difference in size. Both run Android 4.2, can read microSD cards up to 32GB in capacity and support quad-band GSM, as well as some UMTS (3G) bands, depending on the model.
Idol S, the larger of the two weighs 110 grams, has a 4.7-inch 1,280 x 720-pixel screen and DC-HSPA data connectivity. It’s powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, has 4GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and an 8-megapixel rear / 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. On the other hand, the Idol Mini has a smaller 4.3-inch 854 x 480-pixel display, weighs 96 grams and comes with HSPA+. It’s equipped with up to 8GB of internal storage, 512MB of RAM and a 5-megapixel rear / VGA front camera.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Via: GSM Arena
Source: Idol Mini, Idol S, One Touch Evo HD
Think 150Mbps LTE-Advanced data is quick? KDDI could offer far more bandwidth next year. Nikkei claims that the Japanese carrier plans to upgrade its cellular network to 220 Mbps data as soon as summer 2014. Service would reportedly launch with an Android smartphone, and rely on new wireless technology; it’s not clear whether this entails a faster LTE-A variant or something new. KDDI hasn’t confirmed the rumor, so we wouldn’t consider moving to Japan just yet. If there’s any truth to the claims, however, even NTT DoCoMo’s upgraded LTE could soon feel downright pokey.
[Image credit: TAKA@P.P.R.S, Flickr]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Source: Nikkei (subscription required)
The camera-centric Nokia Lumia 1020, bearer of a 41-megapixel camera, will be arriving for Canadian customers on TELUS and Rogers, according to a tweet Nokia fired off saying as much. Other pertinent details — namely how much it will cost and when it will available — weren’t specified, but we’re hoping it won’t be too […]
A document has surfaced today from the inner realm of Apple product support that suggests the dates between and including September 15th through the 29th will not be available for employee vacation. This range of dates for a blackout provided by AppleInsider suggest something very similar to what we saw earlier this week from T-Mobile […]
One of BlackBerry’s highest-profile enterprise wins for BlackBerry 10, international bank behemoth Morgan Stanley, will reportedly freeze plans to upgrade over concerns that the Canadian smartphone firm lacks resolve in the OS. The brokerage firm will instead stick with its existing BlackBerry 7 phones, two sources tell Bloomberg, having become wary of BlackBerry’s recently confirmed […]
A prospective roadmap of releases has been leaked today detailing the upcoming arrival of both the Samsung Galaxy Note III and the Sony Xperia Z1, aka Honami. These devices have been tipped as getting their first full showing during the Berlin-based festivities at IFA 2013 at their own unique events on the 4th of September. […]
Modern smartphones only have a few buttons, which by default are stuck performing one or two actions. The pull down shortcut menu in Android devices is a great way to access some of the most toggled settings, but you might have other apps or actions that you want to activate quickly. That’s where Pressy comes in.
Pressy is a small button that plugs into the headphone jack of an Android device, providing you with an extra input method. It will have a companion app where you’ll set your shortcuts. The video below indicates that you can set 1, 2 or 3 clicks, and each click can be long or short. If that’s true, that means you can save up to 14 shortcuts at once. For instance, you can set a single short press of Pressy to activate your camera or three long presses to close all running apps.
Also, in the video you’ll see that users will be able to activate the shortcuts using headsets that have playback buttons, so in theory Android users will be able to enjoy Pressy’s features without spending a cent.
As of now Pressy will only work with devices running Android 2.3 and up. The company behind Pressy, Nimrod Back, said that Pressy may come to iOS but via Cydia, i.e. it will only run on a jailbroken iOS device. Pledge at least $17 (USD) on Kickstarter to earn a Pressy as a reward.
It seems like a great accessory, but as of this writing, backers have at least one crucial unanswered question about Pressy: Will a device recognize Pressy as a headphone? Because that might break some basic features. For instance, it could block the audio from an incoming phone call, because the phone is sending the audio to a headphone or headset that’s not actually there. Hopefully Nimrod Back responds to that soon.
[via The Next Web]
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
