Showing posts with label out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label out. Show all posts
Monday, May 25, 2015
Followup Brazil contemplates safety exemption for VW Kombi as it goes out of production today w poll
Brazil: the country of carnivals, indescribable beauty adjacent to abject poverty, Ayrton Senna and old Volkswagen models. Only theyre not old â€" theyre new, theyre just based on old designs. The original Beetle continued production there long after it had been phased out elsewhere, but the original Kombi van has lasted much longer. That ends today, however, with the iconic VW Microbus ambling out of production on the last day of 2013.
VW kept making the van in Brazil with the original air-cooled 1.2-liter boxer four until 2005, after which the original design was updated with a 1.4-liter water-cooled engine. Today, however, it ultimately falls prey to safety regulations that mandate that all vehicles â€" no matter how old their design â€" need to have airbags and ABS, forcing Volkswagen do Brasil to cease production of the Microbus after a 56-year production run. But the latest word is that the Kombi (as its presently known) could get a stay of execution â€" or at least a resurrection in short order.
According to reports, the Brazilian government is looking into granting the Type 2 Microbus an exemption from said safety regulations, reasoning that the van was designed long before the advent of airbags and ABS. If the measure goes through, the Kombi Last Edition (pictured above) could prove not to be the last at all. So what do you think, should the Microbus get an exemption from Brazilian safety regulations for nostalgias sake? Vote in our poll below, then have your say in Comments.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Android 4 3 update starts rolling out to Sony Xperia Z1
The Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update has started rolling out for the Sony Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra.
Read more »
Sony promised that the Android 4.3 update would be available sometime this month for selected handsets, and now the first two on the list are receiving the software update.
Offering an update from Android 4.2.2 Jelly Beans along with additional Sony software improvements, the update is rolling out to the Xperia Z1 and Sony Xperia Z Ultra now.
The update is available today, but Sony reminds users that as with all updates, it could take a while for it to arrive on all carriers in all regions.
Software update for the Z1 and Z Ultra includes performance enhancements and updates to Sony’s inbuilt apps like Messaging, My Xperia, Smart Connect, Track ID and Sony Walkman among others.
The Xperia Z Ultra will get access to the Sony Smart Social Camera feature of the Xperia Z1 with the update too. This will allow the rear camera to use Sony’s downloadable camera apps.
The firmware update will also offer support for downloaded themes from the Xperia Theme system. Sony has said it will expand upon this feature in the future as well.
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean offers software features like Restricted Profiles, which allow users to control access to content and apps at a user level. Users can hide all the purchase functionality within apps and access to the Google Play store, leaving only the purchased content shown to family members.
The latest version of Android Jelly Bean also introduces Bluetooth 4.0 LE and OpenGL ES 3.0 support. Google also added new DRM APIs with Android 4.3 to allow Full 1080p HD streaming.
Other Android 4.3 features included easier text input and faster profile switching.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Samsung Galaxy S5 could miss out on Snapdragon 805 processor
The Samsung Galaxy S5 could miss out on running the new Snapdragon 805 processor as Qualcomm tips the chip for launch later in the year.
Read more »
One of a number of Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours to do the rounds in recent weeks, it has been claimed that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 follow-on will become the first device to launch with the Snapdragon 805 CPU, bestowing the handset with more power and better battery consumption.
Now, however, speaking with TrustedReviews, chipset manufacturer Qualcomm has suggested the first devices to run a Snapdragon 805 processor will not launch until ‘mid 2014’, months after the Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to hit retailers.
Although Qualcomm has failed to mention any specific devices by name, its ‘mid-year’ billing for the first Snapdragon 805 products appears to have cut the Samsung Galaxy S5 out of the picture.
“In November we announced Snapdragon 805, the next-generation of 800,” Tim McDonough, Qualcomm’s Vice President of Marketing said. “We’ve said it will launch mid-year.”
Latest Samsung Galaxy S5 rumours have placed the phone’s release date for mid-March, a full three months before Qualcomm envisages the first 805 power smartphones will enter the realms of reality.
Although suggesting the Snapdragon 805 processing unit will not launch until later in the year, McDonough has revealed that the next-gen CPU has already been passed on to manufacturers.
“It is already sampling,” he said. “We have made a chip and delivered it to customers to do something with it.”
Detailing the benefits of the Snapdragon 805, a chip that will replace the 800 found in the LG G2, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and more, he added: “It is the Ultra HD mobile processor and it runs Ultra HD. It will shoot it with video, it will play it back, it will play it back with surround sound and it will run an Ultra HD UI.
“When you think of how many pixels it is running on screen, it is an incredibly competent processor.”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Google Nexus 5 Stock Shortages Already sold out in US
Google Nexus 5 stock shortages look like they could be a problem as the newly confirmed phone sells out in the US within an hour of launch.
Read more »
With last year’s Google Nexus 4 release having been plagued by continuing stock issues, the Google Nexus 5 has failed to get off to a promising start. The 16GB SIM-free edition of the phone was listed as sold out through the US Google Play Store less than 60 minutes after originally going on sale.
A message on the product listing reads: “We are out of inventory. Please check back soon.”
The UK looks set to fare little better either. At the time of writing the Google Nexus 4 stock shortages are already creeping in to British shores. Having originally been listed with a 1-2 business day shipping estimation, the Google Nexus 5 is now listing as being shipping on November 8.
The Google Nexus 5 stock shortages look set to worsen too, with a range of third-party retailers and network providers set to offer the phone from tomorrow, November 1.
Pairing a premium spec with a wallet-friendly price tag, the Google Nexus 5 specs sheet sees a 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor line up alongside 2GB of RAM and the option of 16GB or 32GB storage capacities.
While the 16GB costs just £299 SIM-free, the 32GB Google Nexus 5 price tag has been set at £339.
Further Google Nexus 5 features include an 8-megapixel rear-mounted camera with optical image stabilisation and a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera up front. The handset benefits from NFC and 4G connectivity options as well as a 2300mAh Lithium-Polymer battery. It is the first handset to run the new Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
HTC M8 to miss out on 2K display and lose all soft keys
The HTC M8 may miss out on a 2K resolution display after all, according to a leaked User Agent Profile (UAProf).
It seems the HTC One follow-on will not utilise a 2K QHD (1440 x 2560p) display, opting to use the same full 1920 x 1080p HD resolution as its predecessor.
Read more »
It seems the HTC One follow-on will not utilise a 2K QHD (1440 x 2560p) display, opting to use the same full 1920 x 1080p HD resolution as its predecessor.
According to the UAProf brought to our attention by @evleaks, the HTC M8 (also known as the HTC One Two) will have a Full HD display of unknown size.
Previously leaked specs put the M8’s screen size at 5-inches, falling between the 4.7-inch HTC One and 5.9-inch HTC One Max. These rumours also placed the screen resolution at 1080p full HD, with the official UAProf, providing further support for such specs.
If the HTC M8 does lack a 2K resolution display, it could put the specs a long way behind potential rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S5, which is heavily rumoured to feature a 5.2-inch 2K display when it launches next month.
What’s also interesting in the leaked UAProf is the HTC M8’s apparent lack of soft keys. The HTC One and all its siblings feature two soft key buttons either side of the HTC logo at the bottom of the screen.
However, it seems HTC is removing these for the HTC One Two and will resort to only using on-screen navigation tools.
Other HTC M8 rumours include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, Android 4.4 KitKat and 2GB of RAM.
It should also feature an enhanced fingerprint sensor, building on that included with the HTC One Max.
The latest rumours also indicated the HTC M8 could offer a twin-sensor UltraPixel rear camera, aiming to offer improved depth of field, image quality and better focusing.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
BlackBerry 10 2 1 update to be rolled out January 28
The BlackBerry 10.2.1 OS update has been tipped to start rolling out on January 28, according to multiple sources.
Read more »
BlackBerry 10 was first announced around a year ago with devices like the BlackBerry Q10, which means it’s about time for the Canadian manufacturer to release a meatier update for its BB10 devices.
Although there’s been no official word from BlackBerry yet on the update’s release date, there is mounting evidence to suggest it is imminent.
For starters, there are BlackBerry developer events scheduled for the end of January to apparently show off BlackBerry 10.2.1, while elsewhere carriers report they’ve heard of a January release for the update.
A recently leaked OS 10.2.1.1925 beta has been updated with new files and been given a new date of January 8. The developer version of 10.2.1 OS is also available for download now.
According to multiple sources speaking to Crackberry, the release date will be January 28 with the update available in regions like EMEA and APAC. However, others claim it’ll be a global roll out.
We’re not sure as yet what features will be offered by the new OS update, but there are rumours of a pinch gesture in the Hub, custom quick settings, a new call screen, Device Monitor and picture passwords.
Originally, there was talk of the ability to run Android APK files simply by directly downloading them onto a BB10 device running 10.2.1, but BlackBerry issued an official statement saying that wouldn’t be a possibility:
“We can confirm there is no planned support for Google Play on BlackBerry,” read the statement. “BlackBerry World remains the primary source for trusted and curated BlackBerry applications and we continue to support open standards and open source tools so BlackBerry developers can continue to create apps on any of the development platforms we support.”
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Googles trying to boot Windows out of Android devices apparently
Google is unhappy about sharing devices with Microsoft, claims a new report, and is trying to dissuade manufacturers from releasing devices that dual boot Windows and Android.
According to Digitimes (sometimes right, sometimes not), Google is putting "pressure" on Asus to postpone the release of its Transformer Book Duet TD300 hybrid, which comes running both operating systems.
The report goes on to claim that "other PC vendors now also have intentions to stop plans for producing products featuring dual operating system features"
As such a big player in the market, it wouldnt be a surprising move from Google – dual-booting with Windows is only really going to benefit Microsoft.
As for how successful Google might be at ousting its rival from the bed, its tough to tell. Intel and Microsoft could reap a lot of rewards from jumping in with Android, so Mountain View better hope it has enough charm to sway manufacturers.
That is, if any of this is true at all. Weve contacted Asus for comment on the availability of the TD300 and will update when we hear more.
Read more »
According to Digitimes (sometimes right, sometimes not), Google is putting "pressure" on Asus to postpone the release of its Transformer Book Duet TD300 hybrid, which comes running both operating systems.
The report goes on to claim that "other PC vendors now also have intentions to stop plans for producing products featuring dual operating system features"
Sorry, theres just no room
As such a big player in the market, it wouldnt be a surprising move from Google – dual-booting with Windows is only really going to benefit Microsoft.
As for how successful Google might be at ousting its rival from the bed, its tough to tell. Intel and Microsoft could reap a lot of rewards from jumping in with Android, so Mountain View better hope it has enough charm to sway manufacturers.
That is, if any of this is true at all. Weve contacted Asus for comment on the availability of the TD300 and will update when we hear more.
Smartphones tips and tricks Tablets tips and tricks Smartphones reviews
Smartphones rooting Tablets reviews News from mobile world
Smartphones rooting Tablets reviews News from mobile world
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)