Netflix to introduce an audio-only mode

930

Netflix is planning to add an audio-only mode to its Android app, allowing users to play their Netflix shows and movies in the background.

Audio-only mode lets you toggle your video on/off

Image credit: Android Police

The new feature was first discovered by
XDA Developers
 in October, but
Android Police
 has pointed out that it’s now available to those who are using
Netflix version 7.84.1 build 28 35243
. Those who can access the feature should be able to see an “video off” button when they play their shows. Once selected, the content will be played without a video — you’ll instead get a blank screen with all the playback controls.

Configure your audio-only mode in Netflix settings

Image credit: Android Police

You’ll also go to the app’s settings to choose between three modes: Always On, Headphones or External Speakers, and Off. Selecting the first option will mean that your Netflix shows will always play with audio-only unless you switch off, whereas the second option will only play your Netflix content in the audio-only mode when you’re connected to headphones or external speakers.

Having this feature can be useful for those wants to enjoy their shows but do not want to be distracted by the video. It can even help save your mobile data since you’re only playing audio.

audio-only mode
netflix


Netflix begins proxy crackdown in Australia

396

Netflix has begun making good on their word
 as according to Australian VPN users, they can no longer access US-based Netflix content.

Content unblocking service
Uflix
 has reported that some of their  customers are receiving this
error message
. “Though it is only affecting a few users at the moment, we expect this number to grow. We are working on a solution to get around these new measures and apologise for the inconvenience to those who are currently only getting Australian Netflix,” says a statement on its website.

Moments later, uFlix announced that they’ve found a method to overcome to block, but has stated that it will be putting additional measures in place before releasing it. In the meantime, uFlix is seeking information from its customer base in an effort to work out how many of them were targeted as well as their proxy settings.

With this, it is only a matter of time until Netflix starts rolling out this VPN blocking system into other regions

Source :
The Australian
,
uFlix

australia
netflix
regionlocking
uflix


Netflix blocks app from rooted Android devices

337

Netflix has blocked its app on the Google Play Store on Android devices that have been rooted or had their bootloader unlocked. The company has confirmed that it is following Google’s Widevine DRM technology protocol for the Play Store with its latest version of the app:

With our latest 5.0 release, we now fully rely on the Widevine DRM provided by Google; therefore, many devices that are not Google-certified or have been altered will no longer work with our latest app and those users will no longer see the Netflix app in the Play Store.

With reliance towards Google’s Widevine DRM technology, rooted and unlocked Android devices are most probably being categorized as being altered from their original states, rendering some apps not available (or incompatible) for download on the Play Store.

According to Android Police, numerous users running rooted or unlocked Android devices have reported that Netflix was listed as incompatible on the Google Play Store. However, if you happen to have the app already installed on your rooted device, the app still functions as for now.

We can’t be certain for sure as to the reason behind Netflix’s decision to adopt this protocol since having the app installed on unlocked devices probably won’t do much harm. Are you running a rooted device? Let us know if you’ve faced any problem similar to this one!

android
app
device
google
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store
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Netflix CEO reveals that they won’t be joining Apple’s streaming service

390

Everyone is expecting Apple to launch its video streaming service next week, and though the company is welcoming third-party services like HBO, Showtimes and Starz, Netflix said that they will not be joining Apple’s streaming service.

According to
Recode
, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said, “We want to have people watch our shows on our services,” even though he thinks “Apple’s a great company.” In addition, Netflix also doesn’t support the Up Next feature on Apple’s TV app, so it’s expected that Netflix won’t want its content to be controlled by Apple.

Netflix also addressed the issue in getting more competitors, in which Hastings said “You do your best job when you have great competitors.” According to
Mac Rumors
, Hastings also mentioned that the company will compete “with difficulty”, though it has been doing so with Amazon over the years.

As for Apple, its streaming service will probably be revealed next week, but analysts are already predicting that the service will not be offering a big impact in terms of company earnings in a
Bloomberg report
.

apple
Apple TV
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tvos


Netflix price hike announced ahead of 6% Digital Tax introduction next year

422

Sorry to be a bearer of bad news but Netflix have announced their revised subscription pricing in accordance with the 6% digital tax that’s to be implemented next month. Netflix’s updated pricing will take effect on January 9.

The Basic plan will cost RM35 (from RM33) – this lets you watch on only one screen at any given time, with no HD streaming. The Standard plan will cost RM45 (from RM42) – this gets you HD streaming and up to two screens you can watch on at one time. Lastly, the Premium plan will set you back RM55 (from RM51) – this adds ultra HD streaming to its features and allows up to 4 devices playing at one time. No changes will be made to the Mobile plan (RM17) that lets you only stream on your mobile devices.

So, an overall increase of RM1.50-RM1.75 for each member if you’re going you subscribe to the Standard or Premium plans. Basic sees you paying RM2 more by yourself.

If you’re wondering how the digital tax is going to affect other services, stay tuned on our page as we bring you a complete list of services and their bumped-up prices.

Digital Tax
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sst
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Netflix enables HDR support on Windows 10

310

For those of you that love watching Netflix on your computer and have an HDR screen will be happy to know that the video streaming provider is bringing HDR support to the Windows 10 platform which will be available on both the Windows app and on Microsoft Edge browser.

Not all the shows support HDR but a majority of them do and more will come immediately supporting HDR as the technology is now becoming more common on a lot of monitors. However, HDR support is only available on its premium plan which in Malaysia will cost you RM51. Users will have to meet a minimum requirement of 7th Gen Intel Core processor or higher, Intel HD graphics with up-to-date drivers or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 and higher, and Windows must be updated with the Fall Creators update. It is odd that they did not mention if AMD and Radeon would support HDR as they are more than capable to support it.

It is still unsure if AMD processors and graphics cards will support this feature when it comes here but they are able to support 10 bits-per-channel which in theory, able to support HDR content.

hdr
netflix


5 Netflix Games now available for Android users & free for subscribers!

5K

Earlier this year,
Netflix announced that they would be creating gaming content
 for its users – it has now been released globally for Android users to try, while the iOS version is still being developed.

Currently, there are five games available: Stranger Things: 1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter Up. Starting today, users can download these games via the Google Play Store but can launch them straight from their Netflix app. However you will require a Netflix subscription to get all of the games for free.

For those of you who have updated your Netflix app on your Android device to the latest release; you will now see a dedicated row for the new games. Some of the which will require an internet connection to play, but others can be played offline once downloaded.

Netflix has not made this feature available to any kids’ profiles yet. However, if you have an existing subscription , you can play these games on multiple devices; but only one person can be playing at any time.

This feature has been tested for a few months in countries like Poland, Spain, and Italy. So for now, it seems that the only stable versions are on Android devices, but iOS support has been confirmed. To find out more about the service, you can go to the
official Netflix about page

f
or
 more information.

free
games
mobile
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subscribers


Netflix has finally added an offline playback mode

344

Remember that time where Netflix said that they will not be adding an offline playback mode ever? Well, the company has decided to do a 180-degree turn on that statement as Netflix’s offline playback mode has finally gone live for the iOS and Android app version of the streaming service.

In a
press release
 issued today, Netflix has mentioned that the offline playback mode will allow Netflix subscribers to save movies or shows to watch later. The company did not go into too much detail as to what titles will be offline playback compatible, but it did mentioned that Netflix Originals such as Orange is The New Black, Narcos and The Crowd will be among some of the content that will be available for offline playback. It would be a safe bet to say that not everything on the Netflix catalogue will be available for offline playback, because licensing is complicated.

As for the offline playback system itself, the feature is pretty straightforward. Offline playback compatible content will sport a download option located on the content’s page. Once you’ve tapped on the download button, Netflix will download and store the video to your device, allowing you to watch said content whenever you’re free.

Source:
Netflix

content
download
movies
netflix
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offline
playback
series
streaming


Netflix improves proxy detection to enforce geography-based content licensing

303

Do you rely on VPNs or proxies to access region-locked content on Netflix? Well…I have some bad news for you as it seems that Netflix is going to start cracking down on subscribers who use VPNs, proxies and other unblocking services.

In a press release issued by the company
, the company promised that “in the coming weeks, those using proxies and unblockers will only be able to access the service in the country where they currently are”. Netflix has promised that this crackdown would not affect subscribers who have never utilise such services.

Netflix’s decision to take action against proxy users is inevitable as the
company was criticised by content owners
 who believe that Netflix hasn’t done enough to crack down on customers who evade geographic licensing restrictions.

In the coming weeks, subscribers to Netflix that uses proxy services to access Netflix content will most likely stumble into
this error message
. Do note that the Netflix
terms of use
 does mention that the company may terminate accounts that violates geographical content restrictions, so trying out various other proxy or VPN services may result in a banned account.

Source :
Netflix
,
Ars Technica

contentrestriction
crackdown
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Netflix introduces video previews on their mobile app

493

Netflix is rolling out a new feature for its mobile app, the new update will allow users to see a short preview of the series or movie before watching it. The feature will make it fun, simple and easier for users to learn about the new content on the platform.

The preview lasts about 30 seconds and is presented in a verticle format, so users will not need to turn their phones while watching the preview. The preview is shown in a slideshow format, allowing you to tap and play or add to your list. If the preview is not to your liking, simply swipe or tap the screen to watch the new preview. Video previews are not a new thing on the platform, last year the company introduced video preview to TVs and they have mentioned that video previews have helped users browse less and discover content more quickly.

The feature is currently available on the iOS app but it will come to the Android version at a later date.

feature
mobile
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Netflix is looking to roll out mobile-optimized versions of its original shows

637

Netflix itself knows that many people around the world utilise the service on the mobile device, and as such, they’re looking to make the experience even better. To do so, Netflix is looking at the possibility of preparing versions of its original movies and TV shows that are optimized for mobile devices.

Speaking to a group of journalists in San Francisco, Netflix’s Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt has mentioned that the company is exploring the possibility of streaming mobile-specific cuts of Netflix’s original content. In essence, Netflix would use the master copy of the content to create a seperate version with scenes or shots that are more easily visible or immersive on a mobile phone. “It’s not inconceivable that you could take a master and make a different cut for mobile. It’s something we will explore over the next few years,” says Hunt.

While Hunt’s statement could potentially mean that Netflix is serious about making mobile-optimized versions of its content, you shouldn’t expect said content to arrive anytime soon.

Source:
The Verge

content
devices
mobile
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Netflix is replacing the star rating system for a thumbs up and thumbs down system

423

Within the next few weeks, Netflix will be making some changes to its rating system. More specifically, the current 5-star rating system will be removed as Netflix is replacing it with a thumbs up and thumbs down system instead.

According to a report by Variety, Netflix has been testing this thumbs up and thumbs down system with “hundreds of thousands of members” last year. During the testing period, Netflix saw 200% more ratings being given by viewers. While Netflix will be dropping the star rating system in the near future, the metadata that was generated by the star rating will still be used to personalize the profiles of Netflix users.

On top of the new thumbs up and thumbs down rating system, Netflix will also be introducing a new percent-match feature. Utilising the metadata generated by the ratings system, Netflix will now show you how good of a match a given content would be for the individual. Netflix users will see a percentage rating on shows that are highly compatible with their viewing tastes. Meanwhile, shows that are not as compatible (less than 50% compatibility) will not have a percentage rating assigned to them.

Source:
Variety

netflix
percentmatch
ratingsystem
thumbsdown
thumbsup


Netflix reported a mass increase in paid subscribers during COVID-19

380

COVID-19 has led to Netflix getting more subscribers during these two months and honestly? We’re not surprised.

Media consumption should be sky-rocketing right now because everyone is advised against going out and hanging out with friends. Netflix reported an increase of paid subscribers by 15.77 million during the first quarter of this year. The company expects the second quarter of 2020 to see a lower rate of increase in paid memberships under the assumption that the home confinement period will be over by then.

However, Netflix also faces some drawbacks due to the pandemic. For example, many titles have to be delayed due to a halt in productions and international revenue will also decrease since the dollar is rising rapidly.

“No one knows how long it will be until we can safely restart physical production in various countries, and, once we can, what international travel will be possible, and how negotiations for various resources (e.g., talent, stages, and post-production) will play out,” said the company in its letter to shareholders.

The company also pointed out that there will be some difficulties in language dubbing, but they will still proceed with releasing their shows and films that they’ve previously had in mind. Their original comedy series starring Steve Carell and Lisa Kudrow — Space Force — should be out in Q2 2020.

netflix
paid subscribers
streaming service


Netflix now lets you share to Instagram Stories on what you are watching

344

Binged on a recent Netflix series and want to tell the whole world on what’s so great about it? Netflix now lets you share that joy to Instagram Stories.

When you choose to share to Instagram Stories, it will generate the content’s artwork and a link that your followers can tap if they are interested, while you can still add on the usual hashtags and stickers like the way you do before posting.

This feature will work on both Netflix Originals and other third party content providers, unfortunately you will not be able to extract clips from parts of the content you are watching or even share a particular thumbnail of an episode.

If you don’t see that option on your Android device, that’s because it is only available for
iOS
 iPhone users at this point of time, but Netflix has promised that it will deliver that update shortly to Android users.

CORRECTION: The feature is currently available to iPhone users only.

instagram
instagram stories
netflix
Netflix Malaysia


Netflix tests RM17 mobile-only plan in Malaysia

475

Its very common that there’s people who likes to stay in and surf on the web watching their favorite movies and dramas online. With so many free downloads for movies online, its no wonder why there are increasingly more websites that showcases all kinds of movies and dramas online for those who loves binge watching.

One of the most well known website for movies and dramas would be “Netflix”. A one stop platform for those who wants to watch twenty episodes of TV series online or simply just for a movie. Netflix have recently announced that they are now testing Netflix streaming on mobile phones where users could be a part of this test by signing up and purchase a one month plan for just RM17.

By signing up for the one month plan on Netflix’s mobile only test, subscribers are entitled to get unlimited access to movies and TV series available in the app but they could only stream on either mobile phones or tablets. It seems like a great deal, but one of the downside of the one month plan is the fact that the contents will only be available in standard definition (SD) and not in high definition (HD).

For users who are more keen to watch Netflix via laptop or television, they would have to opt for Netflix’s Basic plan which will cost RM33 a month. Similarly like the mobile version, Netflix’s basic plan displays standard definition and one screen at a time. However, there are also other options that users could choose from such as the Standard plan which allows users to view content in high definition and on “two” screens simultaneously for RM42 and there’s also a Premium plan which shows content in both high definition and ultra high definition along with the ability to view up to four screens at the same time for RM51.

If you’re interested to try out the new mobile only plan which is still on its test phase, you would have to view it on Netflix mobile app or on Netflix’s website on your smart phone. The option would not appear on screen if you’re viewing it on desktop or laptop. It is said that this move has been made in line with Netflix’s recent announcement to test lower priced subscription plans to attract more users in Asia.

netflix
Netflix Malaysia
Netflix Mobile


Netflix releases Interactive Stories catered to their younger audience

309

Netflix is taking a step forward to make their platform more interactive by adding interactive storytelling catered more towards its younger audience, giving you the option on what type of story to watch and how the story will progress based on the decisions of the viewers.

Now I don’t know how your childhood was, but during my time, every time I watched TV my parents will question me, why do I spend so much time in front of the “idiot box”. With this new feature, instead of TV watching being a passive experience, kids can enjoy watching a story unfold based on evaluating the outcomes and selecting a path they want the story to go towards. Parents can also rest easy knowing that their kids are not just glued to the TV watching the “idiot box”, but actually interacting as well.

Netflix has already launched one of these interactive titles with the first being Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale and Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile which will release on July 14.

buddy
interactive
netflix
puss in boots
story
thunderstruck


Netflix shows can now be downloaded and saved into an SD card on your Android device

386

Do you have a Netflix account and an Android device? If you’ve answered yes to the question, you might be interested to know that Netflix’s Android app will now allow you to download and store certain shows on the service for offline watching purposes.

There are a few caveats when it comes to downloading Netflix shows into your Android device’s SD card. Firstly, only shows that are available for offline viewing can be downloaded to your SD card because content licensing issues. Secondly, the feature will only allow you to download a certain amount of content at any given time, presumably to prevent people from downloading entire video catalogues in one go.

Android Users – You can now download to your SD card so there’s always room for more.
pic.twitter.com/Uqt2GSjPw5

— Netflix US (@netflix)
January 24, 2017

Finally, shows that are downloaded to the SD card can only be played on the device they’ve originated from. This means that you can’t transfer your Android phone’s SD card to your Android tablet and watch your shows from there.

Apart from these restrictions, all you really have to do to utilise this feature is to save a show for offline viewing. Doing so will open a dialog box that will ask you if you want to save the content on the device itself or into an SD card. Choose the SD card option, and the show would store itself on the card. Again, this feature is currently only available on the Android Netflix app for now. If you’re an iOS Netflix user, you might want to keep your fingers crossed that Netflix would port this feature over to iOS.

Source:
Google Play Store
,
Engadget

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app
download
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Netflix stops supporting AirPlay due to “technical limitations”

334

Netflix is removing AirPlay functionality for iOS users, but while many believe that it’s a sign of retaliation against Apple and its launch of Apple TV+, the former stated that it’s actually due to “technical limitations”.

Due to Apple allowing third-party TVs to support AirPlay, it has become difficult for Netflix to differentiate between Apple TVs and other TVs, causing Netflix to be unable to “certify these experiences”.

“Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices,” said the company.

With the support of AirPlay on other TVs, Netflix is unable to guarantee the app experience to ensure that the viewing quality are up to standards. While it seems like an issue that can be resolved, a Netflix spokesperson hinted that Apple is the real decision maker in the situation.

airplay
apple
Apple TV
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Netflix to reduce streaming quality in Malaysia for 30 days

379

If you’ve been experiencing slower buffer speeds and lower resolution content on Netflix, that’s because the company is reducing the streaming quality of their content in Malaysia. This comes after doing the same in Europe.

This has been happening for the past few days now and it can now be confirmed that this is due to the throttling of quality in the country as announced by a spokesperson, reports wrote. With the COVID-19 pandemic rendering everyone at home, you’ve got a spike in people on Netflix, at anytime of the day.

So, just like its implementation in Europe, this is done to ease up congestion on Netflix’s servers and to ensure all its users still get to stream content, without being totally shut out.

The exact amount in quality reduction is 25% and it affects those who’re subscribed to High Definition and Ultra High Definition packages. The spokesperson said users can stream in those resolutions but with a reduction in picture quality.

The spokesperson said that the company will continue to monitor the situation and take feedback from stakeholders; which will dictate their next course of action. For now, the reduction in quality will last for 30 days at least. So, sorry you have to watch Fifty Shades Freed (because it was
number one
 in Malaysia at one point) at a lower
resolution
.

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Netflix vs iflix : Which is better?

1.2K

After a long, long wait, the American video streaming site Netflix has finally arrived in Malaysia. Many Malaysians are so happy with this development that they’ve stated that iflix is now on life support.

This brings us to the question: Is Netflix actually better than iflix?

Well, we’re going to compare both streaming services against each other to find out if that really is the case. The factors that we’ll be taking into account includes the pricing, library, quality and presence of censorship in both services. So without further ado, lets begin.

Pricing

Let’s start with the main barrier of entry : the pricing. As you can see, between iflix and Netflix, iflix has the cheapest subscription price, only requiring RM10 per month to access its service. If you subscribe to iflix for a year, you’ll pay a sum of RM96. When you divide RM96 between 12 months, it comes down to RM8 per month. The best part of iflix is that there is no tiering system, meaning you’ll be able to access everything that iflix has to offer for a flat fee. At any one time, you can stream two seperate shows on one account, effectively allowing you to share your iflix account with another person besides yourself.

For Netflix, a tiering system is present. This means that the price of a subscription is based on which tier you select. The Basic tier costs RM33 per month, the Standard tier costs RM42 per month, and the Premium tier costs RM51 per month. This tiering system affects the amount of content you can stream at any one time as well, with Basic only allowing a single stream, Standard allowing two seperate streams, and Premium allowing four different pieces of content to be streamed at any time.

Library

The most important aspect of a streaming service is the size of their content catalogue. In that regard, iflix and Netflix excels at different areas. On iflix’s side, the service features a respectable amount of Western content. It features quite a number of recent television shows from the United States as well as a reasonable selection of movies from Hollywood. Where iflix truly shines however, is in its Asian content. The service provides a rather hefty amount of Chinese, Malay, Filipino, Tamil and Korean content on it, which is great for those who enjoy it.

On Netflix’s side, the service trumps iflix in the Western content department. Netflix features more Hollywood movies and TV shows when compared to iflix, which is a given since Netflix is an American service. On top of that, Netflix Malaysia does get access to some, but not all, of the Netflix original shows and movies. Movies like the Ridiculous 6 and Beasts of No Nation are availble to Malaysians, but unfortunately, House of Cards is nowhere to be found on the service. This brings us to the fact that Netflix does impose region locking on its library because content licensing is much more complicated than the 1MDB money trail. Also worth mentioning is the fact that you could actually access another country’s Netflix library with your Malaysian subscription. If you have a VPN at hand, you can actually set it to access another country’s Netflix content. Let’s get back to the Malaysian Netflix for now. Where Malaysia’s Netflix falls, is in the regional content. When compared to iflix, Netflix doesn’t really have many, if any, local content. Sure there’s the odd Bollywood show here and there, but the local Netflix service lacks Korean, Chinese and Malay content.

In summary, iflix has better local content and Netflix has better Western content. Neither have any sports content so Astro remains relevant.

Quality

Next up is the video quality available in the services. For iflix, the content available peaks at 720p. The company has mentioned that they intend to add HD support sometime in the future, but until then, they don’t have 1080p content at this point in time. Subtitles are available on iflix, but it is not present on all content.

Netflix’s content quality is a bit more complicated due to its tiers. If you want access to HD content, you’re going to need a Standard subscription at minimum. If you have a Premium subscription, you’ll be able to gain access to Ultra HD content. As for subtitles, all content that we have gone through thus far have, at the very minimum, English subtitles. Some of the more recent additions to the service includes Chinese, Korean and even Arabic subtitles.

Censorship

I’m not sure how important censorship is for others, but for me personally, censorship is a factor I take into account when I decide to subscribe to content streaming services. In this area, I am certain that iflix does censor their content, as they did remove the “Hallelujah” scene from the Watchmen movie.

For Netflix, censorship isn’t a factor. I know this because I’m pretty sure our government would not allow movies like Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange to be viewable without being heavily edited. Now that I mentioned that, you CAN watch A Clockwork Orange in all its full “Singing in the Rain” glory.
The company has since confirmed that no censorship of any kind
 will be applied to the service, which would probably make this service “haram” to certain groups of people.

Conclusion

Many have been quick to say that iflix is now no longer relevant as Netflix is the better service. I don’t exactly agree with that sentiment. While there is no denying the fact that Netflix does have a stronger Western catalogue, iflix does have a better regional catalogue. There is also the fact that iflix is a MUCH cheaper service than Netflix.

In my opinion, iflix isn’t as irrelevant as some people may like to think. If nothing else, iflix is a good starting place to introduce the concept of online video and movie streaming to other people. If you prefer your Korean dramas instead of Hollywood movies, iflix offers a better catalogue for that as well.

Simply put, iflix isn’t quite on suicide watch just yet, but they really need to ramp up their library of content as well as implement HD content if they want to remain relevant.

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Netflix wants more interactive content after the success of Bandersnatch

350

Netflix’s title Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was a hit when it came out because it was an interactive film with multiple endings. This is rather unique as the story changes depending on the decisions you make, which is why Netflix is planning on producing more interactive films.

Netflix’s VP of content Todd Yellin said, “We’re doubling down on that. So expect over the next year or two to see more interactive storytelling. That aside, Yellin also said that future interactive films doesn’t have to be sci-fi or dark.

“It could be a wacky comedy. It could be a romance, where the audience gets to choose – should she go out with him or him.” This means that the upcoming interactive films might just be rom-coms where audience can possibly choose whether two characters end up together or go their separate ways.

Image credit: Netflix

Aside from interactive films, Yellin revealed that the company will produce more Indian content, pointing out that the Indian original series titled Sacred Games was a global hit because two out three viewers of Sacred Games are from outside of India. Viewers are expected to see twice the amount of Indian content in the following year, and even more after that.

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Netflix will be introducing mobile games soon; free for subscribers

1.6K

Netflix has
confirmed
 that they will be adding games into their list of offering, and the brand says that the new product will be available to all existing subscribers for now extra charge.

The company has hired former a former

Electronic Arts
, and Facebook executive lead, Mike Verdu to spearhead the project; the team will work on mobile-centric games that focus on ‘interactive’ mechanics inspired by that seen in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.

However, there’s no word yet on any official titles being in development as of now, and we’re remaining cautiously optimistic that Netflix will push boundaries in their gaming products, and not deliver cookie-cutter games.

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Netflix will stop working on some Samsung TVs and Roku media player from December 1, 2019

297

If you’re a Netflix user then this may be a rather important news to you — Netflix will no longer be available to certain devices after December 1, 2019.

Netflix has supported many devices, but next month onwards, some of the Samsung TVs and Roku media players will no longer work with Netflix. According to Netflix’s help page, devices that doesn’t support the app will display an error message that says, “Due to technical limitations, Netflix will no longer be available on this device after December 1st, 2019. Please visit netflix.com/compatibledevices for a list of available devices.”

If you’re one of the affected users, Netflix suggests that you switch to another device that is Netflix-supported before December 1. Samsung has also mentioned in its forums that older TVs such as those with C or D in its model code or 2010/2011 models are most likely to stop supporting Netflix.

Not to worry though, if you have a game console, streaming media player or a set-top box, then you won’t have to worry about being unable to stream Netflix.

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Netflix’s launches its mobile-only subscription plan in India; cheaper than its basic plan

298

Netflix was previously testing mobile-only subscription plans in some countries, but now this mobile-only subscription plan is going official in India. Sadly, this much cheaper plan will only be available in India for now.

According to the company, this new plan is “an effective way to introduce a larger number of people in India to Netflix and to further expand our business in a market where Pay TV ARPU (average revenue per user) is low (below $5).”

The mobile-only plan will only allow users to watch Netflix on one device at a time and they won’t be able to watch it on streaming devices, PCs or laptops. Currently, the basic plan in India costs 500 rupees a month, but the mobile-only plan will be lower as it only costs 250 rupees a month during the testing period.

It is also reported that there’s actually a decrease in the number of US subscribers during the recent quarter, hence this might be a countermeasure to increase customer growth. Either way, there may be many individuals outside India that would love to subscribe to this mobile-only plan.

netflix


Netflix’s new mobile-only plan is priced at RM17, but streaming quality capped at standard definition

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You can now sign up for Netflix for as low as RM17 per month! The catch is this package is only available for smartphone and tablet users only.

We saw a similar mobile-only plan launched in
India
 recently, and it was introduced as a test in
Malaysia
 earlier last year. This time it’s officially available to choose when you sign up.

For the price, you get to watch content capped at standard definition, 5 profiles with one device streaming at a time, as well as Smart Downloads.

Plus, a new simpler UI has been introduced for lower end or older Android devices that may not be able to load up the app as fast. Plus, Netflix on mobile utilizes mobile-optimized encoding that allows you to stream at a decent quality even with a low 250kbps connection. The best part: you get to watch up to 6.5 hours of content while consuming only 1GB of mobile data.

mobile only plan
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Netflix’s Smart Downloads feature is finally available on iOS devices

337

Back in 2016, Netflix introduced the Download feature so its users can download movies and series that they like and watch them everywhere they go without needing to exploit their cellular data and stream on the go. Now, Netflix has finally brought Smart Downloads to iOS devices.

While this feature has already been available for Android devices since last year, iOS users will also be able to enjoy this feature that aims to better manage your downloads. Smart Downloads helps users to download the next available episode when they’ve finished watching a downloaded episode. The app will also delete the downloaded episode that users have finished watching to save storage space once the next episode is done downloading.

Of course, to prevent overusing users’ cellular data, Smart Downloads only work when users are connected to Wi-Fi. This means that when they’re using their cellular data, the next episode will not be downloaded nor will the watched episode be automatically deleted. If you’d rather keep your downloads, you can either toggle the Smart Downloads off at the top of the Downloads tab or turn off Smart Downloads from App Settings.

You’ll also be notified when Smart Downloads is active because you’ll get notification when your download is in progress and another notification when your download is complete. Needless to say, Smart Downloads will only automatically download the next episode if it’s available and it won’t download previous episodes if you choose to watch the latest episodes meaning that if you choose to watch the last episode of a series, the feature will not help you download the earlier episode even if you haven’t watch it.

This feature is definitely practical for those who are constantly binging on Netflix and like to optimize their storage space. However, if you’re someone who like to re-watch episodes and keep your downloads, then Smart Downloads might not be the feature for you.

ios
netflix
Smart Downloads


Netflix’s update for iOS brings better playback controls

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Netflix has been a great app to watch movies and series but its recent update on its iOS app is going to please its users even more because it offers better playback controls.

The most impactful update will probably be the buttons that allow users to fast forward or rewind 10 seconds when they’re watching something on Netflix. Previously, Netflix has only allowed users to rewind their shows with a tiny button on the bottom left, but now it has been changed to bigger buttons that appears in the centre of the screen, the rewind button on the left and the fast forward button on the right. Similar to YouTube, users can double tap their screens on the left/right to rewind/fast forward the timeline of their shows.

Speaking of the button size, the play/pause button has also been increased to a bigger size so it’s more convenient to be liked on. In addition to that, Netflix also added labels to the bottom of the screen for Episodes, Audio & Subtitles and Next Episode so that users can easily click on these options compared to the previous icons-only interface that was located on the top right of the screen. In addition to that, the Next Episode button is also a new feature for the iOS app as it is previously unavailable. Now users can easily skip to the next episode whenever they want.

Netflix’s changes in the playback controls is available in the latest version which is version 11.12.0, and can be downloaded for free on App Store.

ios
netflix


Netgear Nighthawk X6: 6 Antennas and Tri-Band WiFi

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In the Malaysian market, we have the ASUS RT-N66AC which has proven to be one of the best consumers router that offers superior networking performance with its extremely powerful antennas and processing internals, you will now find the Nighthawk X6 from Netgear even more exaggerating, which sports 6 antennas and offers Tri-Band Wi-Fi.

Now, it would seem that there’s a new wireless frequency that Netgear has discovered, the X6 has Broadcom’s new 5G WiFi XStream chipset, which offers three wireless bands – one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz, the maximum throughput of 2.4GHz band is 600Mbps and the
dual 5GHz
 bands will have a crazy 2600Mbps combined throughput. The best feature that this router can do compared to others is load balancing, the X6 will be able to discern between slower and faster devices then directs them to appropriate bands rather than have the congested on the same wireless channels, the two 5GHz bands are splitted into upper and lower channel ranges which makes the network uncongested. The X6 will feature a 1GHz dual-core processor with three offload processors, beamforming support, VPN support, 5 Gigabit ports and a USB 3.0 ports.

A quick check on ASUS’s networking site, the company has a similar
AC3200 router
 which pretty much has the same performance as the Netgear X6 however lacking the load balancing feature. The Netgear X6 is available for preorder in the US for $300, expect prices to be around RM1.1k when it reaches our shores with taxes applied.


NETGEAR Releases Nighthawk X4S Router

340

NETGEAR is one of the world’s leading networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers by launching their highest performance VDSL Modem Router with Nighthawk X4S AC2600 WiFi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router (D7800). The router is powered with a dual-core 1.40 GHz processor and built-in DSL modem, it’s the first DSL modem router on the market to support the latest Wave 2 WiFi technology with Quad-Stream on both bands.

The Nighthawk X4S AC2600 WiFi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router provides a built-in fast DSL modem for broadband that is compatible with legacy ADSL, ADSL2, and ADSL2+ connections as well as lightning-fast VDSL and VDSL 2 speeds. Besides that, the router features a quad-stream Wave 2 Wifi that allows four data streams in each WiFi band to maximize connection speeds for faster gaming and smoother HD video streaming with greater clarity and less buffering. Moreover, high-powered amplifiers, four high-performance external antennas and Beamforming+ improve the X4S range and reliability to extend WiFi coverage and reduce dead spots.

Other than that, it offers the highest levels of wireless security to ensure your family’s online safety and privacy. Besides that, it has a software – ReadySHARE Vault to allow you enable automatic backups of incremental changes on all PCs in your home network and saves them to a
USB
hard
drive
 connected to the Nighthawk X4S modem router. Then, the router has four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting wired devices.

Nighthawk X4S AC2600 WiFi VDSL/ADSL Modem Router (D7800) is available now in Australia, and will launch in the UK with the price at AUD 529 (approx. RM 1570)


New 10.5-inch iPad Pro benchmark result shows 4GB of RAM

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It was only less than two weeks ago that Apple announced its new products and product refreshes at WWDC 2017, which was held at San Jose, California. WWDC 2017 saw the Cupertino giant breathe new life to its entire Macbook and iMac lineup. Apple has also refreshed its iPad series, with the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro making its debut.

The iPad Pro 10.5 sports Apple’s latest processor, which is the Apple  A10X Fusion chipset. Although benchmarks don’t tell the whole story especially when you factor in Apple’s devices, Michael Louviere, a well known developer took the iPad Pro 10.5 for a spin on Geekbench, and the results were astonishing.

The iPad Pro 10.5 happened to smoke the Geekbench test, according to the screenshot provided by Louviere. It scored 3,915 for Single Core and an impressive 9,387 for Multi-Core. This means that the raw performance of the iPad Pro trumps the previous generation substantially. It has also been revealed through the Geekbench result that the iPad Pro 10.5 packs 4GB of RAM underneath the hood, similar to the original iPad Pro.

This goes to show how powerful Apple’s latest line of iPad’s can be. As mentioned before, benchmark test results aren’t as important, but given Apple’s top notch optimization with its iOS devices, this iPad Pro is surely a beast.

10.5
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The new 4K Apple TV’s remote could have haptic feedback

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Apple is all set to announce some new products like the new iPhone and another is the new Apple TV which looks to have some pretty neat features. Guilherme Rambo once again took a dive into the codes over the past weekend and found some interesting features that might come with the remote for the Apple TV.

What he found was settings for features like Actuator Calibration, Force Calibration and Vibe Waveforms. All these features point to haptic feedback which one would assume would be in the remote. It’s not clear what exactly will be put into the remote but if this haptic feedback is true then it would mean that we would be getting a similar feel to what the iPhone’s Taptic Engine offers. However, there is still no news on if this new feature addition would bring about a change in the design of the Apple TV remote.

Looks like the new Apple TV remote will have haptics
pic.twitter.com/FY9SYAPRYI

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside)
September 11, 2017

Now I am not a fan of Apple, but I do admire the software and hardware that they have provided to us even if the price is premium. I am also most looking forward to seeing what they will be offering with the Apple TV, see you on the live stream which is happening around 1 AM tomorrow Malaysia time.

4k
apple
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NEW accessories for the Moto 360

306

Motorola
 has announced the company’s efforts to spruce up their gallery of accessories and features for their highly acclaimed smartwatch – the Moto 360.

The fashionable consumer would be delighted to know that the Moto 360 now comes with aircraft-grade stainless steel which accentuates the overall aesthetics and the rounded face of the said timepiece. There are light and dark metal bands already available on
motorola.com
 retailing for $299 per piece while new slim bands for those with smaller wrists “will be available in time for the holidays”, said
Motorola
. There are two options for the new slim bands namely Light Metal
(left)
which also retails for $299 and the classy Champagne Gold Finish
(right)
 priced at $329.

Motorola
 has also partnered with brands such as DODOcase and TYLT for an even larger array of choices namely stitched leather bands (in four new colors) and colorful silicone bands which would be supplied by the brands respectively.

The Moto 360 has also undergone a facelift of sorts as users would now have the option to customize the face of the smartwatches e.g. background image, style of tick marks and hands. These new options “will be available through an update on the
Motorola
 Connect app within the next few days” according to
Motorola
.

And finally, for the health-conscious consumer, there is now an all new wellness feature (aptly named – Moto Body) which aids in tracking the number of steps, distance, heart rate and calories burned. The update will also be available through the MotorolaConnect app update.

I know what I want for my Christmas present! What about you?

Source:
Motorola


New add-in for Powerpoint will translate presentations in real-time

379

Just like skype’s real-time translation feature, Microsoft has implemented a translation feature into Powerpoint. Although it will not translate your slides into another language, the add-in will translate your voice in real-time using an iOS, Android or Windows app, the feature will also generate a link that your viewers and use to choose the language they want.

During Microsoft’s Build Conference, the company showed how it can translate Spanish sentence to English which turned out pretty well on its first try, where else it did take a few more tries for it to understand the Chinese language. While it is still in the early stages, this is an interesting demo of the translation capabilities of its Cognitive Services tools, which developers can use to make videos easily searchable or index images. As Microsoft is moving towards AI it is good that they are showing us how features like this can be integrated into an average consumer’s life.

Currently, Powerpoint Translator supports 9 spoken and more than 60 written languages, a preview of the add-in will be provided at their Garage site
here
 on an invitation basis.

Source:
Engadget

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New Android Wear update brings dark theme to AMOLED devices

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The Android Wear line up does not get as much love as the other devices that Google supports, it does take some time for updates to roll out to devices but recently, a new update has come to the Android Wear devices that will enable a system-wide dark theme.

The new theme will replace the grey theme that is on existent Android Wear devices but it will only come to devices that have an AMOLED display and the others will not get the theme. Currently, only the Huawei Watch 2 and the Huawei Watch has been confirmed to get the theme. It will also bring new and improved features like third-party chat app support in Contacts, reduce accidental entry into watch face picker, improve Play Store discovery, bug fixes and other features.

Even if the dark theme is not coming to devices that don’t support AMOLED screens, the other updates and features will come to non-AMOLED devices but not all of the features will come to every watch and it seems not to work on Fossil-based watches.

android
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New app by NoiseHub allows Apple Music subscribers to get their “Music Year In Review”

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The year of 2018 is coming to an end and some may find it interesting to know what’s their listening habits like throughout the year. Unfortunately, Apple Music does not provide any packages or feature that allows their users to review their yearly listening habits however there’s an app made by NoiseHub, called “Music Year In Review” that shows an overview of what you listened to throughout the year on Apple Music, similar to Spotify’s “Wrapped” program.

Music Year In Review is not as in depth as Spotify’s “Wrapped”, but it does provide basic metrics that is fun and easy for users to use. To use it, simple enter your email address into the app and connect it to Apple Music. It will then gather your listening data and show you three separate graphics which includes how much time you spent listening to your favourite artist on Apple Music, your top five songs and artists, and overall favourites such as genre, artist and song.

Users of the Music Year In Review app are able to save and share their yearly review graphics on their social media. The app may only be able to provide simplistic overview, but considering the fact that Apple does not offer any sort of personalized year-end look at what you listened to, its definitely worth downloading and trying out for the sake of statistics.

The app is available for free download on the Apple App Store.

apple
Apple Music
Music Year In Review


New Apple AirPods will come with Siri integration this year

448

The first Apple AirPods debuted in 2016 and after two years, the company is finally released an updated version of their wireless earpieces. The noticeable difference between the old and new is that it will come with an improved wireless chip and the function to call upon Siri by saying “Hey Siri”.

Bloomberg later suggested that Apple will make the AirPods water-resistant next year. Apple has the most convenient connecting Bluetooth earpieces thanks to the usage of the W1 chip. It allows the AirPods and iPhone to connect to each other seamlessly and provides a great transfer rate between the earpiece and the phone. It’s no surprise that with the rise in wireless headsets and the removal of the 3.5mm jack in most modern phones, the need for an alternative audio listing device is higher than ever before. Which is probably why Apple is already planning ahead with their AirPods line.

Google has already integrated Assistant with their recently released Pixel Buds, a Bluetooth earphone which also comes with language translation built-in. However, the language translation is not the best and still needs some work. We will see if Apple will just be integrating Siri into the AirPods, or they will add more features to the earpieces.

airpods
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resistant
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The new Apple TV might support HDR and Dolby Audio

394

Previously, there have been reports that Apple is going to be releasing a 4K Apple TV and hints at 4K content on iTunes, recently there has been a leak on a snippet of codes from the new Apple TV and it looks like it will support Dolby audio and HDR10 or either one of them.

Although Apple is not the first company to produce an HDR supported media box, you will be glad to know that the new media box will be able to support HDR regardless of the TV or media services that you use. Other than that, there have been references to the codename “Gizmo” which is the codename of the new Apple Watch which is rumoured to support a SIM card to enable connectivity without a wireless connection.

Both
pic.twitter.com/bsuxptLWd1

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside)
August 5, 2017

Let’s hope that all these rumours will be put to rest during the reveal of the new iPhone, as that would be the best time for Apple to show off their new devices and the new smartwatch that would be directly linked to the new iPhone

apple
box
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hdr
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New Asus flagship listed on AnTuTu, comes with a Snapdragon 845 and 6GB of RAM

256

A new listing for an Asus smartphone has been spotted on AnTuTu, which shows the specs and benchmark scores of the device. The phone is listed as the Asus Z01RD and comes with flagship specs including the latest Snapdragon 845 processor, which is said to be unveiled this month.

The model listed comes with an FHD+ resolution of 2246 x 1080 pixels and an 18:9 aspect ratio which means it will be a full body display and 6GB of RAM with Android 8.0 out of the box. The phone has produced benchmark scores of 238129 points which is slightly lower than the Galaxy S9 with the same processor and the Nubia NX606J which scored a 271,674 of AnTuTu as well. We still don’t know what the name of the phone will be other than its model number, but if assumptions are correct, this could be the next ZenFone 5 phone that Asus will be unveiling during their MWC conference.

We will be covering the Asus even when it happens in Barcelona this week, so don’t forget to stay tuned for an update when the announcement happens in the next couple of days.

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New Audi Q7 features cool new technology on its Virtual Dashboard

461

Following the introduction of the new Audi Q7 in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi Malaysia has finally launched the Great quattro in Malaysia.

In the local launch held at GTower, Kuala Lumpur, Immo Buschmann, Managing Director of Audi Malaysia shares, “The original Audi Q7 was the living embodiment of Audi’s quattro philosophy, combining the capability of an off-roader with comfort and utility of a family vehicle as well as the prestige and presence of a business sedan.”

Other than the latest cutting-edge design and lightweight contruction of the Audi Q7, paired with the latest generation 3.0 TFSI V6 petrol engine and 8-speed tiptronic transmission, the new Audi Q7 features the Audi virtual cockpit, powered by NVIDIA Tegra X1. Debuted in the TT coupe, the virtual cockpit springs to life upon the press of the Start button. This fully digital 12.3-inch virtual cockpit allows for flexible display of information such as vehicle and engine speed, map representation, and infotainment controls. Controlled via the multifuction steering wheel, you can change between two differently sized representations of the round instruments dubbed as the Classic or Progressive view.

In addition to the virtual cockpit, there is also an MMI navigation and MMI touch system incorporated into the new Audi Q7 SUV. The MMI navigation is an additional 8.3-inch central screen that rises automatically from the dashboard upon engine ignition. This allows passengers to have access to all the features of the MMI navigation using the MMI touch located just above the gear knob on the centre console. Features such as 3D navigation, infotainment and telephone features can be navigated using the MMI touch, which is basically a touch-sensitive control panel with handwriting recognition.

Using the MMI navigation and MMI touch, you also have access to Audi drive select. On top of the standard Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency, Comfort and Individual settings, the Audi Q7 also features an Allroad mode which prepares for a mixed terrain by lifting the ride height by 25 mm and Lift/Offroad mode which prepares the SUV to go far off the beaten track by raising the right height to the maximum of 60 mm. All these settings can be adjusted on the fly using the MMI system, as long as the SUV does not go above 60km/h.

Another interesting feature is the convenient connection of the Audi Q7 to the internet using integrated data module with LTE support. This allows you to connect to the internet in order to use Audi connect features, on top of being a Wi-Fi hotspot for connecting mobile devices. Unfortunately, this feature is not available in Malaysia as of now.

There is also an Audi Tablet with Rear Seat Entertainment available as an add-on feature. Basically, it is a standard Android tablet that sports the app to use MMI navigation, as well as media and audio streaming and display of vehicle data. Since the Rear Seat Entertainment includes pre-installed wiring and mounts for the holders in the driver and front-passenger seat backrests, you would need to request for this feature from your Audi dealer as this special Audi Q7 would need to be pre-ordered.

If you are one who enjoys great entertainment in-car, then you would enjoy the Bose 3D sound system featuring a 15-channel amplifier with 19 loudspeakers for a total output of 558 watts.

The new Audi Q7 is retailed at RM 589,900, and available for booking at all authorised Audi dealerships from 30 November onwards.

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virtualcockpit


New Backup and Sync app will automatically backup files and pictures to Google Photos and Google Drive

349

Google has announced the launch of an all-in-one software that will backup and sync files and photos to Google Drive and Google Photos, conveniently enough the name of the software is called Backup and Sync and is available on Windows and Mac. The program is also simple enough to use, just select the files and folders that you want to backup and sync and the software will automatically do all the work of placing them in the correct cloud service.

In addition to that, Backup and Sync can also automatically import files from SD cards and USB drives when a camera, SD card, or other storage devices connected to the computer. There are also specific features like users can choose upload photos at a lower quality if you are low on space.

This is technically Google’s answer to the Time Machine, providing the same service to everyone and people that prefer to use Google’s cloud services against Apple’s iCloud, although it does not remember how your desktop looks like and position of your files, but it is a good step in that direction. Backup and Sync is available for download now through Google Drive and Google Photos.

backup
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New Balance launches its own Android Wear smartwatch

420

There is still some hope for the future of Android Wear. With Android Wear version 2.0 slated for a release less than a week from now on the 9th of February, New Balance has officially launched an Android Wear smartwatch, after teasing the wearable at CES 2017. As expected, the RunIQ smartwatch is targeted at fitness enthusiasts, and has a couple of features tailored for fitness activities.

The RunIQ is a circular smartwatch, sporting a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen. It probably does not have a the infamous flat tire design seen on the Moto 360 smartwatches. Powering the wearable is an Intel Atom processor, alongside 512MB of RAM, plus 4GB of onboard storage. The RunIQ is also fitted with a heart rate sensor and a GPS made for running and cycling to places.

RunIQ users can also login to their Strava account to track an analyze their runs, which can be then compared against fellow Strava users. The MyNB app also allows connection to Google Play Music for users to download playlists to be listened to on the go. With that, users can listen to their favorite tunes when they’re out for a run without their smartphone with them. Another key feature is that the RunIQ is water resistant up to 5ATM.

The RunIQ carries a price tag of $299.99 (RM1,328.06) on Amazon in the US but the wearable is labeled as out of stock. The RunIQ should be able to run Android Wear 2.0 but we aren’t entirely sure just yet. What do you think?

Source:
New Balance

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New biometric technology fools Touch ID using Play-Doh

282

Fingerprint sensors are getting more common nowadays, with Apple being one of mainstream pioneers for the smartphone embedded technology. Fingerprint technology has proved to make our devices more secure, but security company Vkansee has spoofed Apple’s Touch ID, with Play Doh.

In the video by TechRadar, Vkansee takes an imprint of a thumb using dental clay. As soon as the dental clay dried up, Play Doh was being used to get the thumbprint. The famous play toy plasticine for kids was then used to unlock the iPhone, as simple as that.

The demonstration wasn’t meant to offend or fool Apple in any way, instead, Vkansee CEO Jason Chaikin wanted to prove that today’s fingerprint sensor’s embedded in smartphones don’t have resolution’s high enough to capture a fingerprints details in order to make a phone secure.

According to him, Vkansee’s fingerprint sensor can capture images at 2000 dpi, compared to the iPhone’s lowly 500dpi. The company’s chip even captures details such as sweatpores, further securing your device.

Looks like we might be seeing Vkansee’s chip in upcoming devices next year, but the company has yet to confirm any OEM’s who have adopted their technology, which is currently in its pre-proudction stage.

Source:
TechRadar

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New Chrome OS update has a severe flaw; fix is on its way

1.1K

While updates are often beneficial and offer bug fixes, the recent Chrome OS 91.0.4472.165 has caused users to be locked out of their Chromebooks.

Google confirmed the faulty Chrome OS update

Google
 has also confirmed the unfortunate event and pulled the update. For those who are affected, Google offered three workarounds, but these methods will clear your local data.

Fix will come soon

According to
Google support
, you can powerwash your Chromebook, rollback to the previous Chrome OS via USB, or remove your account before adding said account back to your device. But if you’re willing to wait, Google has a fix that’s supposed to come today.

A new Chrome OS 91 update will be made available today; with this update, users can update their Chromebooks manually by logging into Guest Mode. Another alternative is to leave your Chromebook on the login screen — this will allow the update to be downloaded via auto-update.

chrome os
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New colors for upcoming iPod refresh

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MacRumors reported that incisive iPod owners with
iTunes

12.2 have discovered an image that shows the
iPod
touch
, Nano and Shuffle in new colors. There will be six different color options for these three devices starting from Silver, Space Gray, Red, Bright Pink, Deep Blue, and Light Gold but there will be another three additional to the family – Blue, Pink, and Gold but the Space Gray model might be slightly darker than the existing color.

Apart from the color options, the devices appear to be similar from the previous generation, except perhaps for an external change for the
iPod
touch

that does away with the attachment for the wrist loop. It seems Apple didn’t upgrade the internal hardware and it will be simply going to introduce new color options. The latest update for the Apple’s iPod was on September of 2013 which Apple changes the “Slate” color to “Space Gray” and there isn’t any update since that date.

According to MacRumors these new colors, iPod will be releasing on July 14, 2015, which fall next two weeks and we predict the price will remain the same.

apple
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New e-hailing regulation will cause passengers to wait longer for Grab rides

354

The new e-hailing regulation will be effective from July 12 — that’s two days from now — and what this means for Grab users are fewer Grab drivers and longer waiting time.

The new regulation requires Grab drivers to have their PSV (Public Service Vehicle) license which includes trainings and a test. In addition to that, they will also need to obtain e-hailing insurance, annual vehicle checks, medical checks and more.

While the e-hailing regulation was actually announced last year, Grab says that the process only began this April, and only 10% of their active driver-partners have gotten their PSV license. Many drivers have found it tedious to go through the various procedures and others found it hard to complete the whole process while they’re juggling full-time jobs.

According to Grab, a passenger can usually get a ride within 6 minutes but that might not be the case anymore. With the new regulation and the unsatisfactory number of drivers who have obtained their PSV license, it is only logical that there will be fewer Grab drivers around. There might even be those who continue driving without their PSV license and Grab encourage passengers to report these incidents via Grab app.

For now, Grab’s only advice is to ask its passengers to book earlier than usual and avoid peak hours.

e-hailing
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New feature by Google Photos now recognizes your pets

328

Picture perfect memories of your pets may be hard to come by. Pet owners can definitely identify with the frustration of taking decent photos of their favorite lovable pets. On top of that, scouring for pictures of your pets in your gallery’s sea of pictures can be quite time consuming as well. Google is rolling out a new feature to its Photos app which will change that.

The Photos app by Google definitely comes in handy especially when identifying faces of people in your photo library. One’s camera roll may be filled with selfies and group pictures after a night out. With face identification on Google Photos, it makes searching through images a much easier process. Google is currently extending pictures to pets.

If you have a pet dog for example, all you need to do is go through the Photos app and type “dog” in the search bar. Photos of dogs in your gallery will then be singled out. After singling out the images, you can also take things to the next level by naming your dog in the app. This will make it even easier for you to search for your pet dog named Lucky in your photos for future reference.

Google has rolled out yet another nifty feature which will identify animals by breed. Taking photos of your little furry ones will be even more pleasant with this new feature. What do you think of Google’s new technology for pet identification?

camera
cat
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New fitness tracker for cats called “Moggie Collar” aims to help owners track their cats health

437

Cats are mysterious, and they won’t show you much signals when it comes to their health. Obviously they can’t talk to you like a human being, but unlike dogs, dogs are expressive, whereas cats remains silent and mysterious.

A new company has invented a new technology wearable for cats which comes in the form of a collar and its called the “Moggie collar”.

The Moggie collar allows owners to communicate and understand their cats well being, get feedbacks on how to improve their cats health, and get tailored guidance and instructions to take a better care of their cats via the Moggie collar’s mobile app.

According to the company, the Moggie collar is light weighted, safe and waterproof.

It works by tracking the cat’s movement and through the movement, it will then convert it into vet algorithm where you (the owner) will be alerted by the mobile app’s Veterinary intelligence if there is any potential health risks or if your cat is getting sick.

The company claims that by using Moggie collar, owners will be able to keep their cat happy, healthy and improve the relationship between the owner and cat.

Currently the product is still not in the market yet, but it is said that it will be out very soon.

For more information on Moggie collar, visit their website
here
.

Moggie Collar


New foldable phone patent filed by Samsung

350

Samsung, who has been busy making up losses for its Galaxy Note 7 disaster, is said to be working on a foldable smartphone yet again. This particular rumor has been raging on and off for a couple of years now, and as crazy as it sounds, the company has reportedly been spotted submitting a patent for a foldable phone again.

The Korean manufacturer turned out to be the trend setter for curved edge screen phones beggining with the Galaxy S Edge. Who would have thought that such a design would garner so much appeal leading to many other OEM’s (mainly Chinese companies) making phones with curved edge displays up to this year? Samsung seems keen on igniting another trend in its name again, with a foldable smartphone that has been rumored for years.

According to images of the reported patent by Dutch site Galaxy Club, the foldable handset appears to have a hinge at the halfway point, making it foldable into half, resembling the folding mechanism of a wallet. Note that when folded, both halves of the screen do not appear to have full contact upon each other. A foldable smartphone may still sound not too practical, but it might make sense as to being able to get a better grip of the phone, minimizing drops.

Who knows? Samsung might be gearing up for a concept phone launch in MWC next year like how Xiaomi released the bezel-less Mi MIX phablet late last month. Let us know your thoughts at the comments section below!

Source:
Galaxy Club

design
foldable
galaxy
hinge
patent
phone
samsung
smartphone


New Fossil Q smartwatches ditch flat tire display

314

Fossil is one of the first designer brands to adopt Android Wear for its smartwatches. The company released its first generation smartwatch running on Android Wear – the Fossil Q Founder. The Q Founder sported the features that came with Android Wear, plus the premium Fossil timepiece look. The Q Wander and Q Marshal followed suit, but all three wearables feature the infamous flat tire display design. That is about to change with Fossil’s new offerings.

The upcoming Fossil Q Venture and Q Explorist are the latest in Fossil’s smart wearable lineup. The main difference that separates them from predecessors are the new circular display without the flat tire, which has been criticised for quite some time. In terms of general design, the Fossil Q Explorist has a larger 45mm diameter compared to the 42mm diameter of the Q Venture. Both smartwatches sport 12.6mm and 11.5mm cases respectively. The internals are of the same, powered by a Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor exclusive to smartwatches and run on Android Wear 2.0.

The Fossil Q Explorist and Fossil Q Venture will both be available for sale this fall, starting at a price of $255. Both are definitely affordable for brand new Android Wear smartwatches.

android wear
explorist
flat tire
fossil q
smartwatch
venture


The new iMac Pro will be releasing in Malaysia on 14 December 2017

349

After a really long time, Apple has finally updated their iMac line of desktop computers and this time they are going all out. The iMac Pro is a beast of a computer and this is not just shown on the specs, but international media groups have already reviewed the computer and they had good things to say about the performance.

The iMac Pro comes with up to an 18-core Xeon processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.5GHz, Radeon Pro Vega with 8GB or 16GB HBM with a total of 400GB/s memory bandwidth and up to a whopping 128GB of 2666MHz DDR4 ECC memory. The 4TB SSD will offer you all the space you need to store all your project files and raw footage for editing and there are four Thunderbolt 3 ports alongside a 10GB ethernet port for fast upload and download speeds to your NAS or work server. The screen is a 27-inch 5K Retina display with P3 colour with support for over one billion colours and 500 nits of brightness for true-to-life images. The speakers have also been improved with a broad frequency response, rich bass and more volume so for those of you that do audio editing.
The iMac will come in Space Grey and with that, they have also updated the colours of the Magic Keyboard which has a numeric keybaord and the Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad all in the same Space Grey colour. The iMac Pro will release in Malaysia tomorrow, 14 December 2017 and the price will be revealed tomorrow as well, just don’t expect it to be cheap.

apple
computer
gray
imac
release
space


New iPhone SE 2022 to launch with A14 Bionic chip

1.4K

Similar to what Apple did with last year’s
iPhone SE
, the iPhone SE 2022 will be launched with the A14 Bionic chip that we’ve been seeing on the current iPhone 12.

iPhone SE 2022 will use the Bionic chip from 2020

Unlike the premium iPhone series, the SE series doesn’t have annual launches. Despite that, Apple still uses flagship chipsets for its less pricey iPhones, even though it’s usually one generation older from the latest one.

If we use the previous iPhone SE as a point of reference, then we should be expecting the next iPhone SE to launch in the first half of 2022 — it could be in March.

Still small and compact

Though the iPhone SE 2022 will be more powerful than its predecessor, we are not expecting a major design overhaul. It should still look similar to its predecessor and sport a 4.7-inch display. We should still be getting Touch ID and a single camera at the back.

There aren’t many confirmed reports yet, but we’ll find out more over the months.

Source

iPhone SE 2022
iPhone SE 3


New iPhones might not ship with virtual home button

336

Bad news for Apple fans, as a rumor is on the rise as the delay on the iPhone 8 is caused by the virtual home button. One of the most anticipated feature from Apple is the removal of the home button and placing the fingerprint sensor under the phone’s glass exterior. With that Apple could potentially remove the home button adding a larger screen to the next generation of iPhones.

According to the Pacific Crest Securities analyst reports, the virtual home button my be giving Apple component partners trouble. Because of this, the feature may cause a delay or be totally removed so that the new iPhone will launch on time. They go on to add, “While this creates some risk of production delays, at this point we do not believe it materially threatens volume through the coming iPhone cycle”

Never the less, all rumors should not be taken with a grain of salt, as Apple has features that they keep on the low, and they usually never confirm or deny any rumors that surface. For now, the best that can be done is to wait for Apple to unveil the new iPhone this coming September.

apple
home button
iphone


New iPhones reportedly will not come with a Type-C port

373

Reports by Mac Otakara, which has connections to Apple’s Asian supply chains and accessory manufacturers, claims that this year’s iPhones will not sport the more common Type-C port, but rather will stick to a Lighting port and USB-A charger combo.

This comes as a bit of a surprise since last year’s iPad Pro came with an 18W USB-C charger and port. Many expected Type-C ports to be the standard for new Apple devices, which would make life easier for the masses.

According to the report, the move is an effort to cut cost, but this will come at the cost of charging speeds. Users who want to boost charging speeds will have to buy accessories like the 12W iPad charger or a USB-C to Lightning cable that supports USB-C Power Delivery.

These are early days, so Apple could still surprise us; but considering Mac Otakara knack for successfully predicting tech trends (they predicted the iPad Pro’s switch to Type-C), it seems likely that 2019 iPhones could indeed stick to Lighting ports.

apple
charging
iphone
typec
usb


New KLStep contact tracing system will help combat COVID-19 in KL

418

KLStep
 is Kuala Lumpur’s very own digital contact tracing system that functions much like Selangor’s
SELangkah
.

If you live within the Valley, you may have realized that certain business premises allow you to scan a QR code before entering the establishment, while other businesses do not – that’s because the latter is based in the capital.
KLStep
changes that and
essentially
 makes sure most establishments within the Valley offers a QR code-scanning method for contact tracing.

Image credit: Bernama
Prior to this, many businesses in KL required visitors to write down their credentials before being allowed entry, but
KL City
 mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad
Dahlan
 wants
KLStep
 to be a standard tracing system used by all businesses in KL.

He also said that establishments have been notified of the system and he expects most to adopt it soon. However, he also says that smaller businesses that do not expect a large number of patrons, can continue to use the
write
-down method as that still abides by the SOP.

Like
SELangkah
, the information you give to
KLStep
 helps the
Ministry
 of
Health
 to monitor potential cluster infections and exposure, which is crucial in beating the virus.
So,
 if you plan on heading out, please abide by the contact tracing SOPs set by the government.

contact tracing
covid 19
KLStep
kuala lumpur
QR code
SELangkah
SOP


New LeEco flagship phone to pack an insane 8GB of RAM, 25MP camera

316

As if 6GB of RAM isn’t an overkill, we now have news that Chinese manufacturer LeEco’s next flagship will feature a whopping 8GB of RAM, according to GizChina. LeEco has definitely been making some waves, having launched the Le Max 2, the first Snapdragon 820 processor powered handset ahead of major flagships. 8GB of RAM might sound crazy, but it definitely isn’t too far from 6GB of RAM.

To re-highlight how crazy it sounds, that’s double the amount of RAM underneath the hoods of the Samsung Galaxy S7, the LG G5 and the HTC 10 phones respectively. The device, which is rumored to be named the Le Max 2 Pro or the Le Max 3, is said to sport a Snapdragon 821/823 processor, rumored to be packed in the upcoming Nexus phone as well. Not only that, the LeEco flagship is also said to feature a 25MP rear facing camera, going all out on the spec sheet.

If these rumors happen to be true, then this LeEco device might be the next to look forward to apart from the Galaxy Note 7 and the next Nexus phone. A couple of days back, OnePlus launched their flagship, the OnePlus 3 with a whopping 6GB of RAM, which isn’t exactly new for a Chinese phone, but 8GB of RAM is really next level. Let us know your thoughts at the comments section below!

Source:
GizChina

2
25mp
821
823
8gb
camera
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pro
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snapdragon


New LeEco flagship to feature dual cams on front and back

315

LeEco is new to the western market, having officially expanded its base to the US just recently. The Chinese manufacturer has also performed pretty well last year, selling more than 20 million units of smartphones in 2016 alone. Impressive in the company’s own stride, of course. LeEco seems eager to wow us consumers with an upcoming flagship smartphone that is rumored to sport dual cameras on both the front and back side.

A LeEco X10 handset was sported on a GFXBench results page, with what seems to be pretty impressive specs – a 5.5-inch display at QHD resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset with 6GB of RAM. Unsurprisingly, the LeEco X10 smartphone will sport a dual rear camera configuration, but on top of that, the handset features a dual camera setup on the front side as well. The rear camera setup is of two 12MP shooters. while the front camera setup consists of two 15MP sensors. If that isn’t impressive enough, the front camera setup will be capable of recording QHD video.

One major letdown is that the LeEco X10 is running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. An Android Nougat software would definitely be more ideal, but we would still take our chances and say that this impressive package of a handset might see an MWC 2017 appearance at Barcelona next month. What do you think?

Source:
GFXBench

12mp
15mp
2k
820
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camera
dual
front
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phone
qhd
recording
snapdragon
video
x10


New Microsoft Windows 10 update causes file deletion and loss of connectivity for users

339

Users have been reporting that Microsoft’s latest
Windows 10 KB4549951
 update has been causing issues with their systems, including breaking internet connectivity, and deleting files.

Users took to the official Windows forum to complain about not being able to install said update – and a handful of people are experiencing the same issue. This means that they also lose out on crucial security patches for their system.

Image credit: Windows Latest

The worst of which is a file deletion bug that, on top of killing your
Bluetooth
 hand
WiFi
 connection, as well as causing the blue screen of death, has had many resorting to rolling back their systems and waiting for a new patch to arrive.

Image credit: Windows Forum

Microsoft hasn’t publicly
acknowledged
 the issue, so any hopes of a fix to this seems are nil for now. At the moment, it is advised that you postpone updating your system until Microsoft puts out a proper fix.

bugs
cumulative update
file deletion
microsoft windows 10
windows 10


New Moto 360 smartwatch now in Malaysia

584

When Moto 360 was first launched, it was hailed as one of the first smartwatches that went circular in shape. Now that the 2nd Gen of Moto 360 is available in Malaysia, you can easily find a smartwatch that is customisable to suit any occasion. Today, Lenovo Malaysia launched four variants of the new Moto 360 – the Classic Moto 360 in three sizes, and the Moto 360 Sport Edition.

The Classic Moto 360 features a classic and timeless design inspired by the long heritage of watches. It has lugs specially tailored for men and women, with different styles of polished bezels. You can even swap between leather and metal bands in seconds thanks to its new quick-release bands. Since there are different variants in terms of sizes, you can opt for a 42mm unisex variant in black, a 48mm men’s variant in silver, or a slimmer 42mm women’s variant in rose gold.

If you are a fitness buff, then the new Moto 360 Sport Edition would be the one for you. It features on-board GPS to track your speed, distance and pace of your run, and to top it off, with Motorola’s AnyLight hybrid display, you can get a clear view of the screen regardless of lighting conditions. This is the first of its kind where the LCD display combines a traditional backlit transmissive screen with a front lit reflective technology. On top of that, the Moto 360 of all variants features a built-in holistic and comprehensive health and wellness experience known as Moto Body. This new watch features accurate sensors located at the back of the watch to track your heart rate and calories burned. These information is then translated into feedback and tips to improve your fitness with the step counter and pedometer.

The Moto 360 is able to recognise gestures with the Ambient Mode, which keeps the display constantly on to keep track of your notifications. Featuring Android Wear which now supports Android and iOS systems, you can change watch faces and interact with your smartphone using compatible apps.

The Moto 360 2nd Gen is priced as follows:

42mm Women’s Rose Gold : RM 1,499

42mm Unisex’s in Black : RM 1,399

46mm Men’s in Silver : RM 1,599

Moto 360 Sport in Black : RM 1,399

All four variants are now available at SenQ, Urban Republic and Thunder Match stores nationwide, as well online on Lazada Malaysia. For now, Moto Maker and other accessories are not available in Malaysia. This device will also not be available at Lenovo concept stores as the Moto and Vibe brands have different strategies and will not be marketed together for now.

Check out more photos below:

androidwear
lenovo
moto3602ndgen
mymoto360
smartwatch


New Netflix users are no longer given the option to use iTunes billing for subscription

474

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you’d know that you can pay for the subscription via the site itself or through in-app purchases (iTunes and Google Play Store). Back in May, Netflix has stopped allowing users to pay through the Google Play Store and now, the same is happening to App Store.

According to Netflix spokesperson who told VentureBeat, the company “no longer support iTunes as a method of payment for new members” though existing active members are still allowed to do so.

The implementation of this new update was said to have happened at the end of November, though many might not have known about it since there wasn’t any big announcement on the matter.

Not only will new users be excluded from paying through iTunes, existing users who have previously cancelled the payment for at least a month and wants to resubscribe will also be excluded from the option of iTunes billing.

Netflix’s move to stop iTunes billing is so that they are able to keep all the proceeds without Apple getting a 15% cut for each in-app subscription.

Netflix is not the only one that is escaping from Apple’s and Google’s fees, as Spotify, Fortnite and Steam have also decided to skip the iTunes and Google Play payment method.

app store
apple
iTunes
netflix


New Nintendo 3DS is coming to America on September 25

332

Finally, after a long time awaiting, the new
Nintendo

3DS is coming to America on September 25, 2015. At the GameStop Managers Conference in Las Vegas,
Nintendo

announced its new 3DS will be part of a special bundle, which includes the new handheld, the upcoming Animal Crossings: Happy Home Designer game, two cover plates and one amiibo card at a suggested retail price of $219.99.

Now, not only will
Nintendo
 be launching the new 3DS with Animal Crossings bundle, you will also be seeing a new Hyrule Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system, which is gold in colour and feature a Hylian Crest on the front. This will be exclusively sold at GameStop stores on October 30, 2015 at a SRP of $199.90. The launch of the handheld will coincide with the game launch of The Legends of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes on October 23. Unfortunately,
Nintendo
 did not bundle the 3DS XL with that game, so you would have to buy them separately.

The new Nintendo 3DS will incorporate the same features as the new
Nintendo
 3DS XL, which includes features such as a wider range of controls, face-tracking 3D and built-in NFC functionality. The NFC functions allows you to communicate with amiibo figures, which is why you would get amiibo cards in the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer bundle. By tapping on the cars, you can meet your favourite Animal Crossing characters and their separate personalities and design requests in the game.

Both of these new handhelds also features interchangeable cover plates that can be easily swapped out to change the look of the device, and when you purchase the Animal Crossing bundle, two cover plates inspired by the game will be included as well.

Next question is, when will these be available to those in Southeast Asia, especially here in Malaysia?

Source:
BusinessWire

3ds
animal
crossing
gaming
handheld
legend
nintendo
of
the
zelda


New Nokia 3310 will come with 4G connectivity

535

Those of you that love the Nokia 3310 that the company has brought back will be happy to know that they are refreshing the phone to support 4G connectivity. Prior to this, 3G was the only option on the phone and it did not support many bands, but now they are making it to available to more people.

One of the other changes that will be making its way to the 3310 is a change in OS, prior to this, they were using FeatureOS which on its own, was very limited. Now, they are using YunOS which is able to run some apps on Android and it is based on AOSP. It won’t be a surprise if we will be seeing lite versions of Android apps on the 4G variant. Most of the users that buy the 3310, mainly have it for nostalgia sake or use it as a backup phone, with 4G connectivity, it gives the phone more value and will probably be a more solid choice as a backup phone.

There is currently no news on pricing for the phone as the listing just appeared on TENAA, but we should expect the phone will be priced slightly higher than the current model of the 3310.

3310
4g
new
nokia


New Nokia Prototype shows iPhone inspired design

312

Let’s face it, when Nokia announced the N1 tablet last year, it looks totally like an iPad mini clone. With recent news of the Finnish company getting back to make phones of its own after a year of its acquisition by Redmond, it seems that the company is really working to get back to the industry with an iPhone clone as you can see in the leaked pictures. Of course, rumors have also previously suggested that Nokia is working on an Android device called the C1, however sources have suggested that this could be a feature phone, but judging from pictures alone the phone’s display size should measure around 5-inches and would be too big for a feature phone.

Just like the Nokia N1 tablet, we believe that Nokia’s new phone will be manufactured by Foxconn while the company merely licenses its name to be used on the product, hence the iPhone design cues won’t come as a surprise. With Mobile World Congress coming up next month, we should also expect to see more leaks of the Finnish company’s phone in time to come.

Source:
Nokiapoweruser

android
c1
microsoft
nokia


New Oculus Rift update brings roomscale VR to the headset

331

Room-scale VR has thus far been a HTC Vive thing. However, that may no longer be the case as a recent update to the Oculus Rift has given it the capability to do room-scale VR as well.

With the new update, the Rift’s Oculus Home software is now able to support up to four tracking sensors. For room-scale VR, you’ll need only two sensors to do so, but with four, this would provide a more accurate experience when dabbling in room-scale VR. The developers have also said that with this update, the Rift can now play room-scale SteamVR games, assuming that you have more than one sensor of course.

That said, while the update does allow the Rift to do room-scale VR, you can’t actually use said functionality yet as Oculus is currently not selling the sensors by itself. Oculus did not give a timeline as to when you can buy additional sensors, but we’re hazarding a guess that it’ll be available once, or shortly after, the Oculus Touch controllers are released.

Source:
Engadget

oculus
rift
roomscalevr
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New Oculus update breaks Revive; locks out Vive support for Oculus games

315

Prior to a recent update, owners of the HTC Vive headset are able to utilise Oculus software through a fan-made patch called Revive. This is no longer the case as a recent update has blocked the Revive patch, which means that the HTC Vive can no longer utilise Oculus software.

First reported on
reddit
, the Oculus App 1.4 updates comes with a few changes. One of this changes mentioned that the Oculus App has received an update to its “platform integrity checks”. This particular change is assumed to be the main culprit as to why Revive can no longer work with Oculus software.

When asked about the update, Oculus spokesperson Jim Redner told
Ars Technica
 that the “platform integrity checks” are meant to “curb piracy and protect games and apps that developers have worked so hard to make.” Redner further states that the update wasn’t targeted at a specific hack and claimed that the entitlement check’s functionality is common in commerce platforms that validates a user has purchased a piece of software. The Revive team thinks differently of course, as they believe that the update isn’t checking for legitimate software purchases, it was checking for whether or not an Oculus hardware is connected.

Now though,
reports are coming in
 that not only have the team in charge of Revive managed to workaround the new update, the new update has somehow managed to make pirating Oculus software even easier. According to a Revive developer known as Libre VR, the injection technique used by the latest version of Revive is able to bypass the Oculus’ ownership check altogether, which means that the system can no longer determine whether or not you llegitimately own the game. Libre VR has since stated that it wasn’t his intention to enable piracy on the Oculus and has said that he’ll implement a workaround that doesn’t disable the ownership check if such an option is available.

Source:
Reddit
,
Ars Technica
,
Motherboard

htc
oculus
piracy
revive
rift
virtualreality
vive


New Overwatch lunar map available now on PTR

325

It has been a year and Blizzard still has not stepped on the breaks when it comes to further expanding the Overwatch game as they have recently released a new map on the public test realm for the PC. The new map will be called Horizon Lunar Colony and it was home to the hero Winston, it is an Assault map set in a scientific moonbase which will give you a view of the Earth.

Based on a video released by Blizzard explaining the origin of the map, it was a base that is dedicated to examining the effects of prolonged extraterrestrial habitation on human and apes alike, the research was incredibly promising until all contact and communications with the base were cut off.

Because this map will take place on the moon, only certain sections of the map will offer low gravity areas, as they felt that it would be too gimmicky if the entire map had low gravity. For those of you that want to experience this new low gravity game mechanic, there is an Arcade option that will enable low gravity on all maps as well as low gravity Custom Games option for a limited time.

Extras: Looking at the picture above, we can see that two specimens are missing Winston (Specimen 28)which is already part of the roster of Overwatch heroes, and another called Hammond (Specimen 8). Previously, from what we know, Blizzard likes to put hints about upcoming events or releases all over the place, so could this mean something? Maybe a new Hero or addition to Winston lore? We will find out soon enough.

blizzard
colony
horizon
lunar
overwatch
winston


New Overwatch update introduces Halloween costumes and PvE content

316

Overwatch’s latest patch is taking a page out of Team Fortress 2 as it introduces a bunch of new Halloween-themed character skins, as well as a new PvE mode.

From today until the 1st of November, Overwatch players will be able to earn Halloween-themed lootboxes that brings with it Halloween-themed goodies such as player models, emotes and voice lines.

The update also brings with it “Junkenstein’s Revenge”, a PvE mode that sees four players team up against waves of enemy robots. This mode will be familiar to Team Fortress 2 players who’ve played the Mann vs Machine mode. However, there are a few key differences between “Mann vs Machine” and “Junkenstein’s Revenge”. “Junkenstein’s Revenge” will only support four players, and only four characters (Ana, Hanzo, McCree and Soldier 76) will be available for selection. Like competitive mode, selecting a character in “Junkenstein’s Revenge” would lock the character out, forcing the player to choose another character instead.

Both the Halloween lootboxes and the “Junkenstein’s Revenge” mode will only be available for a limtied time. Once November 1st arrives, Overwatch will revert back to normal, meaning you’ll need to wait for a year before being able to earning the skins or play the modes associated with it.

Source:
Overwatch

halloween
overwatch
update


New Overwatch update introduces Sombra and new game modes

412

The wait for Sombra is over as Blizzard has finally released a new patch that finally makes the character playable in the standard servers.

As reported earlier
, Sombra will be an offense-class character who specializes in hacking and other disruptive skills to mess with other players. If you’re looking for a Spy-like character for Overwatch, Sombra is the closest you can get to it.

Besides the new character, Blizzard has also introduced a new Arcade mode that rotates maps modes and rules. This mode is a good break for those who are tired of either Quick Play or Competitive modes. A new Arena map called Ecopoint: Antartica has also been introduced to the map rotation. Finally, Blizzard has also slightly reduced the experience required to level up between levels 14 to 100, allowing players to level up and gain loot boxes quicker than before.

If you’re an Overwatch player, you’ll be pleased to know that the patch is now live across all platforms. If you’re not an Overwatch player, do remember that there will be a free play period this weekend.

Source:
Battle.Net

blizzard
overwatch
pc
playstation4
xboxone