Sunday, 31 July 2016
Fitbit Blaze
Oculus Rift
Chevy Bolt EV
EHang 184
Saturday, 30 July 2016
IPhone 7 preorders could start September 9
Consumers eyeing the iPhone 7 may be able to preorder it starting Friday, September 9.
No, Apple hasn't announced anything. Rather, the purported preorder date was leaked in a tweet Wednesday night from generally reliable leaker Evan Blass, aka @evleaks. Blass' tweetsaid simply: "Confirmed: Pre-orders start on the 9th. You can extrapolate the launch event date from there."
Blass didn't reveal where he got the information, but September 9 is around the same date last year when preorders for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus started, namely September 12. Blass' suggestion to "extrapolate the launch event date from there" is easy enough since iPhone sales typically kick off a week after preorders start. On Saturday, Blass already offered a tip via Twitter that the iPhone 7 will launch Friday, September 16.
Analysts and other Apple watchers will be paying close attention to preorder and launch weekend numbers for the iPhone 7. Apple's smartphone sales have declined the past two quarters, leaving the company stuck trying to find a way to boost demand. Many reports say this year's model will offer only modest changes and that Apple is saving major enhancements for next year's edition, but that is all speculation based on limited knowledge.
The rumored new features include stereo speakers, a larger camera lens and dual camera lenses for the iPhone 7 Plus. But another new report suggests Apple may have something up its sleeve for the iPhone 7's home button.
The home button for the new phone will be flat, flush with the surface of the screen, according to Japanese blog site Makotakara. Rather than being the traditional physical button of iPhones past that gives when you press it, the new button would simply respond with a vibration when touched. That could open the door for a 3D Touch-type feature to make its way to the home button.
A September 9 preorder date would mean that Apple's launch event for the iPhone 7 would likely take place the week of September 5. Last year's launch event occurred September 9, a few days before preorders began. September 5 is Labor Day, so that wouldn't work. And unless Apple holds the iPhone 7 event earlier in the month, it will probably take place September 6 or 7.
Friday, 29 July 2016
Samsung Galaxy Note 7: Release date, news, specs, rumours, images and price
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7
Update: (29 July 2016): The latest leak suggests that the Galaxy Note 7 will be released on August 16, in Amsterdam anyway. That's exactly two weeks after the official unveiling, currently scheduled for August 2.
Phablet fans rejoice, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is coming. And it’s coming soon. Samsung has confirmed the Galaxy Note 7 release date for August 2, with a launch taking place in New York City along with an extra event in London, England. This will kick off at 16:00 (BST) and we’ll be there live.
If you’re eager to find out everything about Sammy’s latest phablet then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s all the features, specs and pricing information you need to know.
The Note line is often seen as the top phone in Samsung’s line-up. It’s not as mass-market friendly as the Galaxy S series, but it often pushes things further with better specs. Likely features this year include a 5.7-inch Quad-HD Super AMOLED display, 12-megapixel Dualpixel camera and a water-resistant body, but you should also be expecting a price of around £725.
You might now be wondering what happened to the Galaxy Note 6. Did you accidentally oversleep and skip a whole generation of Samsung phablets? Fear not: it looks like Samsung has decided to ignore the Note 6 name completely. Apparently (and this is definitely an 'apparently', not confirmed), Samsung is keen to bring the Note branding in line with Galaxy S-series. And the iPhone. Both of which are on '7' in 2016. It makes sense...sort of.
We've also seen the first official TV ad for the Note 7 from Samsung Mobile Korea, which hints at a bunch of things, including a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner, waterproofing, a stylus, and the 'Note 7' name. Check it out:
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/samsung-galaxy-note-7-release-date-news-specs-rumours-images-price-uk#GS6hyGATIjcbR9BF.99
LATEST GALAXY NOTE 7 NEWS:
When does the Galaxy Note 7 come out? August 2, 2016
What’s new about the Galaxy Note 7? QHD screen, 256GB storage, Android N, Always-on screen
How much will the Galaxy Note 7 cost? £600-725
Watch Now: Everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 7
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/samsung-galaxy-note-7-release-date-news-specs-rumours-images-price-uk#GS6hyGATIjcbR9BF.99
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 RELEASE DATE UK & US – WHEN WILL THE NEW GALAXY NOTE 7 COME OUT?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 release date is August 2, 2016. That’s not strictly confirmed, but it’s as good as.
Samsung is hosting a dedicated Samsung Unpacked event here in London, with proceedings kicking off at 16:00 (BST). On the invitation, Samsung included a stylus graphic captioned with the text ‘7 UNPACKED 2016’. If that isn’t confirmation, we don’t know what is.
Perhaps the more pertinent question is when the phone will actually be released. Samsung’s previous Note release dates have been mixed:
- Galaxy Note 5 – August
- Galaxy Note 4 – October
- Galaxy Note 3 – September
As such, it’s hard to pin down an exact release date. However, rumour has it that the Galaxy Note 7 will go on sale the same day as the announcement. That doesn’t fit with Samsung’s traditional launch style, but anything is possible. We’ll find out for sure on August 2.
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 DESIGN – WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?
Rumour has it that Samsung is expected to use a metal-and-glass design for the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. That’s not a big surprise; the company has long since ditched its plasticky aesthetic.
We’re still not clear on exact dimensions. Depending on who you listen to, it’s either going to be 153 x 74.5 x 7.8mm or 1535 x 73.9 x 7.9mm. Neither are hugely different, and they’re both fairly svelte.
Perhaps the biggest design change is the screen. Samsung is reportedly planning to offer the Galaxy Note 7 with a curved dual-edge display, just like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Importantly, it’s expected that there won’t be a traditional flat display variant at all. This isn’t confirmed of course, but worth noting.
And finally, we’re expecting Samsung Galaxy Note 7 colours to include black, silver, and blue.
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 SCREEN
Many suspected that Samsung would finally make the leap to a 4K/Ultra HD display with the Galaxy Note 7. Unfortunately, it seems like Samsung will instead stick with a QHD panel.
The best evidence we have so far is a tweet posted by prolific tipster and journalist Evan Blass, who has a reliable track record for leaks. According to Blass, the handset will feature a 5.7-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) Super AMOLED display.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 shipped with a 5.7-inch display with a QHD resolution, which worked out at a 518-ppi pixel density. The screen went down well with consumers, so we see no immediate reason why Samsung should switch up its strategy.
Perhaps the only real incentive for Samsung to finally adopt a 4K panel would be for virtual reality. Samsung has already shown its interest in the sector with Gear VR, and it’s widely accepted that higher-density displays are far better for virtual reality, mainly due to the proximity of your eyes to the display when a phone is docked in a headset.
It’s also worth noting that the Snapdragon 820, the processor the powers a healthy chunk of Samsung Galaxy S7 devices, already supports native 4K displays running at 60fps. The Galaxy Note 7 will be using an equivalent – or maybe even newer – processor, so there’s no risk of the chip not supporting a 4K screen.
We're also expecting to see the Always-on display plucked from the Galaxy S7, so you'll be able to spot your notifications directly from the lock-screen with touching any buttons.
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 SPECS
Full spec list: An article published by 9to5google revealed the entire Note 7 spec list, and says the details have been "independently confirmed". Here's the spec sheet, as told by the Google fan blog:
- 5.7-inch QHD AMOLED
- Gorilla Glass 5
- 12MP rear camera
- 5MP front-facing camera
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- 3,500 mAh battery
- Iris scanner, fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity
- USB Type-C
- Android 6.0.1
- Bluetooth/WiFi B/G/N/AC
- NFC
- Onyx, silver titanium, blue coral
Processor: Samsung has recently adopted the strategy of using different chips in different markets. It’s rumoured that the Galaxy Note 7 will continue that trend.
Nothing is confirmed, but we’re expecting that Galaxy Note 7 handsets sold in East Asia will feature the Exynos 8890, a custom-built chip manufactured by Samsung. In western markets, meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 7 is instead tipped to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820. Both chips are about as good as each other, so put the pitchforks down folks.
Interestingly, Qualcomm recently unveiled the Snapdragon 821, which is marginally faster (by about 10%) than the Snapdragon 820. We don’t have a definitive launch date for the chip (Qualcomm says the second half of 2016), but it’s already been confirmed for use in the Asus ZenFone 3 Deluxe.
Could it feature in the Galaxy Note 7? Absolutely. Although the chip has only just been announced, it’s likely that manufacturers have been, at the very least, savvy to its existence. We certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see it featured in the Galaxy Note 7.
RAM: After the OnePlus 3 launched with an impressive 6GB of RAM on board, speculation that the Galaxy Note 7 would match the offer soon followed.
Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled a 10nm 6GB RAM chip, which many assumed would make its way to the Galaxy Note 7. That said, the case for having a 6GB RAM module in a smartphone isn’t great. It’s arguably more of a future-proofing feature than a necessity, at least by 2016’s standards.
We’d expect to see 4GB or 6GB. Unfortunately, we can’t pin down which one just yet.
Storage: The main storage rumour is that Samsung will load an incredible 256GB of memory into the Galaxy Note 7, with a base option 64GB for more frugal users.
But wait, it gets better. It’s also been widely reported that the phone will feature UFS 2.0 (Universal Flash Storage), which is an ultra-fast embedded memory standard. It’s reportedly 2.7x faster at reading files than eMMC 5.0 you find in most smartphones, and consumes about 50% less energy
We already know that Samsung is capable of manufacturing this sort of module. In fact, the company recently released a 256GB UFS 2.0 card that looks set to trample all over MicroSD as the mobile memory standard. The good thing is that old MicroSD cards should still work.
In other storage news, a report from Sammobile published in July claims that Samsung is doubling the amount of built-in storage from 32GB to 64GB. The site obtained an image showing model listings from mobile network giant South Korean Telecom, seemingly revealing a newly lofty base storage. However, it's not yet clear if this would be true across all launch regions.
USB-C: Pretty much every phone launched in the last year has been rumoured to carry the new USB Type-C standard. And yet most flagships still aren’t using it. Samsung failed to adopt the technology with the Galaxy S7, so the Note 7 is the next likely candidate.
But what is USB-C? It’s just a new physical connection, intended as a replacement for older systems like Micro USB. It’s reversible like Apple’s Lightning cable, and has the potential to offer faster charging, faster file transfers, and generally greater utility than alternatives.
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 CAMERA
One of the best Samsung Galaxy S7 features was its 12-megapixel DualPixel camera. This exceptional snapper has consistently been ranked as the best smartphone camera that money can buy right now. We’d be very, very, very surprised if Samsung didn’t use the same camera in the Galaxy Note 7.
It’s also been rumoured that the Galaxy Note 7 will offer a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Earlier this year, reports out of Taiwan suggested that the Galaxy Note 7 would feature a dual-lens camera, as cited by China’s ZOL industry news site.
Samsung has already designed its own dual-lens camera under Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., a part of Samsung Group. When the news broke back in March, the company reportedly had plans to begin mass-manufacturing of the dual-lens module as soon as July this year.
This move wouldn’t be a surprise. After all, Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus – also rumoured for launch this year – has been tipped to feature a dual-lens camera. Both LG and Huawei recently debuted the technology on the LG G5 and Huawei P9 smartphones.
Dual-lens cameras offer a number of benefits compared to conventional single-lens arrangements. These potential improvements include wider-angle image capture, better zoom, adjustable post-capture focusing, and improved lightin
Camera Rumors 2016: the biggest and best camera rumors around
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Canon's capable all-rounder looks set to get 4K video recording and be more sport-friendly
Predicted specs: Full-frame 24-36Mp sensor | 4K video capability | 8fps continuous shooting
Following the arrival of the 50Mp Canon EOS 5DS and 5DS R, the pressure is somewhat off the 5D Mark IV in the pixel count stakes. However, we expect to see a slight jump for the next model, with a 24Mp full-frame sensor seeming probable, although Canon may decide to take things a little higher.
We expect this camera to continue to be Canon's most video-centric full-frame stills camera, and 4K capability is a logical addition to the feature set, along with greater control over contrast in the guise of a dynamic range-expanding C-Log gamma option. The ability to shoot full HD at 120fps would also be popular with slow-mo lovers.
It would also mean that we might see dual CFast 2.0 and SDXC UHS-II card slots, especially for internal 4K capture, while we should also see the latest DIGIC 6+ processors featured.
While the 5DS and 5DS R have very capable autofocusing systems, the lower resolution of the 5D Mark IV makes it a more sensible choice for shooting sport. We expect an improved AF system, possibly with the same 61-point AF system found in the flagship EOS-1D X Mark II, along with a maximum continuous shooting rate of at least 8fps.
We're 99% certain that the 150,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor with 252 zones and Intelligent Scene Analysis, and the Intelligent Viewfinder II, both of which are found in the 5DS/R, will also be in the new camera.
Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Canon needs to up its game to maintain the interest of enthusiast photographers
Predicted specs: At least 24Mp full-frame sensor | 6fps continuous shooting | Vari-angle touchscreen
We loved the EOS 6D when it first came out, but at almost four years old, it's looking quite tired now and its specs don't compare that well with the Nikon D750's. As Canon's 'entry-level' full-frame camera it occupies an important position in the EOS lineup, making it a shoe-in for a refresh.
Until the 5DS and 5DS R came along Canon was quite conservative about pixel count. Jumping from 20 to 24Mp would be enough for many photographers, but some may expect closer to 36 million. A relatively high pixel count would make the 6D Mark II much more attractive to existing Mark I owners.
With just 11 points, the 6D's AF system is rather lacklustre, and we think the new model will see a big jump in this area, perhaps up to 61 to match the 5D Mark III. Low light and continuous shooting performance also needs to improve, and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 204,800 seems likely along with 6fps shooting. Wi-Fi, NFC and GPS technology also seem likely, and we're hoping there will be a vari-angle touchscreen as well, as on the APS-C format EOS 80D, to make the camera more user-friendly.
Canon EOS M4
Could 2016 be the year that Canon shows it's serious about the mirrorless market?
Predicted specs: Built-in viewfinder | Improved AF system | Extended lens range
While Canon's CSC range, dubbed EOS M, has proved capable of producing high-quality images, the cameras have been let down by under-performing autofocus systems and a lack of commitment from the manufacturer – there's still a very limited lens lineup.
Canon makes some fantastic SLRs, but many users prefer the more modern design of a mirrorless camera and the advantages of a full-time live view. Other companies, like Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony have managed to produce fast and accurate AF systems for their CSCs, so it surely can't be beyond Canon if it puts some effort into it. Add a few more lenses and a built-in viewfinder and the M4 could be a big success
