Apple reportedly canceled development of its augmented reality glasses
Reports have surfaced over the last few months that Apple was working on a pair of augmented reality glasses, but a new report from DigiTimes suggests that instead Apple may have canceled, or at least temporarily suspended, the project. It's now unclear when, or if, Apple will launch AR glasses.
Samsung, T-Mobile to recycle an old phone for every S10e sold in the Netherlands
Tackling the mountain of e-waste not recycled in Africa, Dutch company Closing the Loop has persuaded Samsung, T-Mobile, and the Dutch government to try out an offsetting scheme that sees a scrap phone properly recycled for every new phone purchased. It's a first step toward greater sustainability.
Don’t want a smartphone? Alcatel’s latest is a flip phone exclusive to Verizon
Verizon has added the Alcatel Go Flip V to its basic phone lineup, a $100 device which is exclusive to Big Red. This is the second of two Alcatel devices ever to launch on Verizon as a broader effort on Alcatel's part to wade into the U.S. market. The Go Flip V is a flip phone without smart features.
Forget work and find Google’s hidden, fun, time-wasting Wimbledon tennis game
Google has hidden another of its fun Easter egg games in its Search engine, this time based on the Wimbledon tennis tournament, ready for those looking to take a short (or not so short) break from what you should really be doing. Work, probably. Here's how to find it. Just don't let the boss see.
Mobile games are the biggest earners among 30.3 billion apps downloaded in Q2
According to a new report from AppAnnie, app downloads hit an all-time high in the second quarter of 2019. Games, in particular, saw a ton of growth, despite only accounting for 35% of downloads, games also accounted for 75% of consumer spending on mobile.
Google Fit is so buggy that some users can’t even log in
Google Fit may have gotten a major redesign less than a year ago, but it doesn't seem as though Google is keeping up with the app. According to new reports, the app is so buggy that some users can't even log in, while others are experiencing issues with syncing and tracking.
T-Mobile’s new Revvlry phones offer decent specs at an affordable price
T-Mobile has taken the wraps off of its latest T-Mobile branded phones, the T-Mobile Revvlry and Revvlry+. The new phones are essentially branded versions of the Motorola Moto G7 and Moto G7 Play, but they're available at an affordable price and offer some pretty decent specs for that price.
AT&T is the first carrier to turn on spam call blocking by default
AT&T has announced that it will be turning on its spam call blocking technology by default for customers over the next few months. The carrier is the first to do so, after the FCC ruled in June that carriers could enable spam call blocking by default, without fear of any legal action.
iPhone rumor says 2019 models will make 3D Touch a thing of the past
Apple may remove pressure-sensitive screens from the next generation of iPhone models, bringing about the end of 3D Touch. Rumors of the change have spread for months, with the latest coming from revenue projections related to hardware companies, but the good news is functionality may live on in a different way.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 brings high-tech features to budget phones
Qualcomm has taken the wraps off of the new Snapdragon 215 chipset, aimed at bringing premium features like dual camera sensor support to budget handsets. The chipset will likely be featured in phones in the sub-$200 price range and is aimed at replacing the Snapdragon 212.
The FCC is going after international robocallers with new measure
The FCC wants to take on the robocalls issue in the U.S. head-on. FCC chairman Ajit Pai announced a new measure to ban international robocalls and malicious text messages that spoof caller IDs to appear as local calls and texts. The announcement is the latest move by the FCC against robocalls.
U.S. vs. Huawei: As trade war escalates, tech companies sit in the crosshairs
The U.S. Commerce Department has added Huawei to its "Entity List," meaning it cannot trade with the U.S. without permission. Google, Intel, and ARM are all confirmed or rumored to be ceasing business, which may have disastrous long-term effects on Huawei's smartphones. Here's what you need to know.
Over 1,000 Android apps are collecting user data without permission
According to a new report, around 1,325 Android apps collect user location data and phone identifier data even without the user's permission to do so. According to Google, a fix to the issue won't be released until Android Q -- and that will still leave those who don't get Android Q vulnerable.
Renders reveal Google’s upcoming Pixel 4 XL in all its notch-less glory
The Google Pixel 4 is coming this year, and if you’re wondering how it will look, here is a good idea. This is a render of the phone based on official news, leaked information, and alleged schematics, and the good news from a design standpoint is that the Pixel 3 XL's notch looks likely to disappear.
Drift car champ uses Samsung phone and Vodafone’s 5G to do what he does best
How do you demonstrate 5G’s low-latency signal in an exciting way? When you’re Samsung, you put a drift racing champion behind the wheel of a remote-controlled car where his only view is taken from the cameras on multiple Galaxy S10 5G phones. After that, you take it to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
7-Eleven’s mobile payment app shut down after hackers nab $500K from customers
A mobile payment system launched by 7-Eleven in Japan has been forced to shut down just days after launch after it was targeted by hackers. Poor security measures have been blamed for the mishap, which saw 900 customers lose a total of $500,000 in fraudulent transactions.
Battery pack suspected cause of recent Virgin Atlantic aircraft fire
A recent fire on board a Virgin Atlantic plane flying from the U.S. to the U.K., appears to have been caused by an external battery pack. The power packs are popular among smartphone owners who use them to keep their handset’s battery topped up, but poorly made or damaged packs can sometimes catch fire.
The humble cassette player gets a modern-day makeover, sort of
If you've been wondering what it was like to live in the 80s, or want to experience for yourself the joys of owning a portable cassette player, then this modern-day effort from Ninm Lab may be of interest. Now on Kickstarter, the maker claims it’s the first portable cassette player in the world to come with Bluetooth.
For the Mate 30, Huawei may hop on board 2019’s mad camera array design train
A render of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro has been posted online, giving us a glimpse of what the company may have planned for its next phone release. In a year when rear camera lens arrays are changing dramatically -- whether it’s the Nokia 9 or the Pixel 4 -- Huawei may have gone for something radical for the Mate 30 too.
Apple secretly adds AR-powered FaceTime eye correction in iOS 13
FaceTime is brilliant -- but because of the position of the camera, it's impossible to make conversations seem natural. Until now, that is. The latest version of the iOS 13 beta includes a setting that uses Apple's magical ARKit to make your FaceTime video calls seem a lot more natural.
Samsung reported to have fixed the Galaxy Fold, but it won’t be reappearing yet
Samsung has fixed some of the major issues that caused the recall of Samsung Galaxy Fold review units. The fix has seen the protective screen film extended, which may also help resist the notorious screen crease. However, don't expect to see the Galaxy Fold making its re-debut any time soon.
Glastonbury festivalgoers use enough mobile data to take 51 billion selfies
The amount of mobile data used at the Glastonbury music festival was equivalent to that needed to post 51.5 billion pictures to Instagram. That, is a lot of sweaty selfies.The statistic comes from the CEO of U.K. network EE, who tweeted that EE dealt with a total of 103.6 terabytes of data for the event.
Uber Eats Dine-in option targets folks who want to eat at the restaurant
If you thought Uber Eats was all about meal delivery, think again. The company is testing a Dine-in option that lets you order your meal via the app and then eat it at the restaurant. Currently available in several U.S. cities, the feature could suit time-pressed folks, and may bring in more orders for restaurants.
Apple awarded series of new patents related to smart fabrics and AR
Apple has been awarded a number of patents related to augmented reality and smart fabrics, including a patent for a systemwide user interface tailored for using AR on the iPhone, and a patent for a touch-sensitive fabric that could be used on jackets, shirts, and more, in conjunction with other devices.
Samsung teases Note 10 feature as invites go out for its next Galaxy Unpacked
The next Samsung Galaxy Note event will take place on August 7 in New York City. It's widely expected to see the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 smartphone, and Samsung may have teased a new feature in its invite. It features an S Pen drawing a circular camera, suggesting a connection between the two.
Wave your hands if you want the powerful, yet more affordable LG G8S ThinQ
LG has launched the LG G8S ThinQ, a spin-off of the existing LG G8 ThinQ, both of which were announced earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in March. The LG G8S ThinQ will cost a little less than the G8, while still providing plenty of performance and ability, including the Air Motion hand gesture controls.
5G mobile phones: Expensive, exciting, and on the rise
As 5G tech continues to roll out in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, it promises performance improvements designed to take the smartphone and Internet of Things experience to the next level. For now, consumers appear to be waiting for better geographical and product availability before spending their cash.
The Galaxy Fold launch was embarrassing. Even Samsung’s CEO admits it
Samsung’s CEO called the launch of the Galaxy Fold embarrassing and admitted that he launched the troubled phone before it was ready for prime time. Chief Executive Officer DJ Koh said the phone would still be released, but could not give reporters a specific launch date.
Huawei ban partially lifted, but situation remains as confused as ever
The ban on U.S. companies selling products and services to Huawei has been partially lifted, but the situation remains just as confused as it was before. Huawei will stay on the U.S.’s Entity List, but President Trump has stated, “U.S. companies can sell their equipment to Huawei," without going into further detail.
Don’t worry, OnePlus is behind the weird push notifications on your phone
Have you received some odd push notifications on your OnePlus phone? Perhaps messages with random jumbled English letters or other characters, that make no sense? If so, don’t worry, your phone hasn’t been hacked or compromised in some way, it’s a mistake on OnePlus’s part. The company has promised to investigate.
CAD renders claim to show off all three 2019 iPhone XI models
The iPhone XS barely seems old, but its replacement is definitely on the way. Leaked CAD renders claim to show all three models in 2019's range of iPhones. Though not much seems to have changed around the front, the iPhone XI, XI Max and XIR are rumored to pack radically redesigned rears.
Google’s Fast Share to replace Android Beam, will be similar to Apple’s AirDrop
Android Beam, which uses NFC connections to send information between smartphones, will no longer be available in Android Q. Google is working on a new feature named Fast Share as a replacement, and 9to5Google got it working on a Pixel 3 XL to give a glimpse of how it will work.
Stop writing Jony Ive’s obituary, his passing from Apple is a new beginning
Sir Jony Ive will leave Apple to start his own design company, and although there's shock with concern over the future of both, there's plenty of evidence this is an exciting shift for Apple and Ive. Rather than writing the man's obituary, it's time to understand why Ive is so influential.
Celebrate National Sunglasses Day by trying on AR shades with the Galaxy S10
National Sunglasses Day isn't exactly the most closely followed holiday, but we're happy to celebrate it today because it means you can try on expensive sunglasses in AR. If you have a Samsung Galaxy S10, then you can use your Bixby Vision to try on and even order a new pair of sunglasses.