Friday, October 17, 2014

New MasterCard combines a fingerprint sensor with NFC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/17/mastercard-zwipe-fingerprint-sensor-nfc/

For awhile now, there's been a number of companies trying to simplify payments for everyone. Google did so with Wallet and, most recently, Apple announced it would be doing something similar with the soon-to-be-launched Apple Pay, among others. Not surprisingly, MasterCard's, synonymous with paying for stuff, is working on a product of its own. In partnership with Zwipe, a company that focuses on biometric tech, MasterCard has built a charge plate with a built-in fingerprint sensor and NFC, albeit for trial purposes. The Zwipe MasterCard, as it is currently known, is said to be extremely secure -- all data is stored directly on the card, rather than an outside database, for example.

It'll be simple to use too; you put tour thumb on the sensor, point it toward the terminal, the card makes sure it's really you and voila, kind of like how Apple Pay works using Touch ID. Zwipe says it is already working on a standardized card, which is designed to support all payment terminal expected to be released next year. Theoretically, it could be adopted by more credit card brands, like Visa, American Express and Discover, but we shall see.

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Via: Digital Spy

Source: Zwipe

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Article: Microsoft opens up to Truecaller to help Windows Phone users pick out spam callers

Swedish startup Truecaller has announced a partnership with Microsoft that will see its Live Caller ID feature arrive for Windows Phone users. Founded in 2009, Truecaller is a cross-platform call and contact management service, claiming more than 85 million users globally. It's like an internatio...

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/10/16/microsoft-opens-apis-truecaller-help-windows-phone-users-pick-spam-callers/

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Google's new Chromecast is coming, but you won't notice a difference

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/16/google-chromecast-fcc-h2g2-2a/

Last night an apparently refreshed model of Google's Chromecast streaming dongle popped up in FCC filings (as pointed out by Zatz Not Funny), just like the original did in March last year, but don't get too excited. Unfortunately, the documents don't show any real difference that we could find, and missing features like support for 5GHz WiFi will still be missing whenever the H2G2-2A hits the streets. Need more confirmation? Six members of the Chromecast team took part in a coincidentally-timed AMA on Reddit this afternoon, and according to Google Jacky Hayward "we don't have any new user-facing features planned for this device." Whatever changes there are in the new model "it will have the same features as the original and most users won't notice a difference."

Of course, that doesn't stop us from thinking of features we would like to see in a new device, and the AMA did result in a few new nuggets of information. Beyond the recent "Backdrop" feature to give users more choice in terms of the info that pops up on their screensaver, there's a new Chrome OS files app coming (seen in developer builds, and as of today, in the beta channel) that will let users cast photos and video directly from Google Drive. They're also "looking into" gapless playback for Google Music, are working on smoother transitions for the device, and plan to "continue to innovate" when it comes to HDMI-CEC.

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Via: Zatz Not Funny

Source: FCC, Chromecast Team AMA (Reddit)

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Archos is launching a GearVR competitor that costs just $40

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/16/archos-vr-headset/

We may not know how much GearVR will cost, but we're reasonably sure that Archos is already trying to undercut Samsung and Oculus head-mounted effort. The French company is busting out the wittily-named Archos VR Headset, a Rift-like device that's compatible with any smartphone that measures between 5 and 6-inches. The kicker here, of course, is that the device will retail for £25 in the UK, roughly converting to $40, which would put it well beneath the - frankly insane - $200 figure an unnamed Samsung official told VentureBeat during New York Fashion Week. If you're interested in trying one out, it'll be available at some point in November, and we hope that the GearVR isn't too far behind.

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CHART OF THE DAY: Half Of All iPad Owners Have A Tablet That's At Least Two Years Old (AAPL)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-half-of-all-ipad-owners-have-a-tablet-thats-at-least-two-years-old-2014-10

Apple introduced its iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 on Thursday. The iPad Air 2 is thinner and faster than its predecessor, while the iPad Mini 3 didn't see any internal improvements. Both tablets, however, now come with Touch ID, which allows them to make online payments through Apple Pay (there's no NFC for any retail use, however).

The new iPads face an uphill battle, though. Based on Localytics data from September charted for us by BI Intelligence, 48% of all iPad owners around the world still own iPad models that are at least two years old — that includes the first iPad, iPad 2, and third-generation iPad. This comes as no surprise; iPad owners tend to upgrade their tablet hardware more like laptop hardware (every 3-4 years) as opposed to phone hardware (every 1-2 years). With very few new features to show off this year, except for Touch ID, Apple might have a difficult time persuading current iPad owners to upgrade to one of its new tablets.

Tech_COTD 1016

SEE ALSO: CHART OF THE DAY: The Fastest Internet Speeds Aren't In The US

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Blocks' modular smartwatch will talk to your iPhone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/15/blocks-modular-smartwatch-using-tizen/

Phonebloks' modular smartwatch

Blocks first unveiled its modular smartwatch with a plan to use Android Wear, much as Project Ara smartphone will use a special version of Android. However, there has been a change of plans -- and it's good news if you're not of the Google persuasion. The team now says that it's using a version of the open source Tizen platform that should support Android, iOS and Windows Phone, so you probably won't have to give up a favorite device just to try this out. The Blocks team also has access to Intel's newest processors thanks to a prize from a recent design challenge, and modules will have removable covers that let you change both the style and functionality of your wristwear. This is still an incredibly ambitious project that may not pan out as planned, but it's evident that the pieces are quickly falling into place.

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Source: Phonebloks

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Lenovo is building a new smartphone brand to compete with Xiaomi

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/15/lenovo-is-building-a-new-smartphone-brand-to-compete-with-xiaomi/

Samsung and Apple may be the two biggest names in smartphones in the western world, but in China it's all about Lenovo and Xiaomi. The two companies are among the most recognizable brands in the region, but Lenovo wants more: it's about to create a new smartphone company for the Chinese market. While the new brand name hasn't been announced, Lenovo says that it will officially open for business in April of 2015, and will focus on branded applications, consumer engagement and, like Xiaomi, selling devices online. The company's core brand isn't out of the running, though -- Lenovo phones will still be available through local carriers and retailers.

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Source: Wall Street Journal

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Google's Nexus 9 available early next month with Android 5.0, starts at $399

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/15/google-nexus-9/

Today's the day Google fans have been waiting for: The announcement of this fall's Nexus lineup. It's essentially an annual tradition at this point, since the last few Nexus devices have arrived at the same time of year. Along with a 6-inch smartphone and a media streamer called the Nexus Player, Google's introduced an 8.9-inch 2048x1536 tablet built by HTC aptly called the Nexus 9. This slate, which is available for pre-order this Friday and in stores on November 9th, starts at $399 for the base 16GB WiFi model; $479 for the 32GB WiFi; and $599 for a 32GB LTE variant that comes packed with pentaband HSPA+, quad band GSM/EDGE and CDMA. As often is the case with brand new Nexus phones and tablets, the 9 is among the first to get the latest version of Android - in this case, it's Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The Nexus 9 will be the first in the lineup to come with 64-bit support, thanks to the dual-core 2.3GHz NVIDIA K1 chipset inside. You'll also get 2GB of RAM, an 8MP rear-facing camera with autofocus, BSI and f/2.4 aperture, a 1.6MP selfie camera and a 6,700mAh battery. HTC was also able to slide in its signature BoomSound stereo speakers, which has been impressive on its flagship devices. The 7.9mm-thick slate will be available in black and white and weighs in at 425g (436g for LTE).

As for the external appearance, it actually looks a bit like an enlarged version of the Nexus 5 but with brushed metal sides. The display also takes advantage of a 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than 16:9. When it comes to productivity, Google and HTC have designed a keyboard folio case that attaches to the Nexus 9 magnetically.

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Source: Google

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Google's Nexus Player offers streaming and gaming for $99

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/15/google-nexus-player/

Remember the Nexus Q? Yeah, we'd rather forget it, too. Google regained its streaming cred with the Chromecast, and now it's looking to offer up another set-top box. The compact Nexus Player will handle streaming, games and run Android apps. An included remote wrangles navigation with voice controls for finding the content you're after on the ASUS-made gadget. For those gaming sessions, a $39 controller can be tacked on as an additional purchase.

The Nexus Player will offer much of the same functionality as Mountain View's diminutive dongle, adding the ability to leverage those mobile apps as well. It's also the first device to run Android TV, an effort detailed back at I/O and promised to arrive alongside Android L, er... Lollipop. And yes, you'll be able to "cast" stuffs from other devices to your TV. In terms of content options, you can expect Netflix, Hulu, Food Network, Travel Channel and more for now -- but there's no mention of either WatchESPN or HBO Go. If all of that sounds somewhat familiar, Amazon's Fire TV touts a similar set of entertainment abilities for the same price. Of course, one taps into Prime Instant Video while the other leverages the Google Play repository. Speaking of cost, the $99 unit will be available on November 3rd, however if you're anxious to lock one down, you can pre-order the Nexus Player on October 17th.

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Source: Google

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Apple leaks iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3 ahead of official announce

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/15/apple-leaks-ipad-air-2-and-ipad-mini-3/

Well, this is a bit unlike Apple -- the company appears to have accidentally spilled the beans about the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, which are expected to be announced tomorrow. Representations of both devices showed up in a screenshot of the iPad User Guide for iOS 8.1, which we're also expecting new details about tomorrow. We can't tell much from the image, but it does confirm that Cupertino's tablets will be getting Touch ID.

Developing...

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This Is Google's New Smartphone — The Nexus 6 (GOOG)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-nexus-6-specs-photos-price-2014-10

Nexus6Official

Google has officially unveiled its new smartphone, the Nexus 6. Just as rumors had indicated, it comes with a giant 6-inch screen and is made by Motorola.

The Nexus 6 will be available for preorder in late October and will go on sale in November. The phone will sell for $649 without a two-year contract. 

The Nexus 6 is going to look gigantic compared to your average smartphone. With it's 5.9-inch screen, it's even larger than the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus and 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 4. It's one inch shy of being the same size as Google's Nexus 7 tablet.

Like we expected, the phone will come with a 5.9-inch screen with a resolution of 1440 x 2560. It'll feature a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. Here's a quick rundown of all the specs:

Developing...

SEE ALSO: 11 Things Android Phones Can Do That The iPhone Still Can't

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This $150 Hack Can Crack a Safe

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-150-hack-can-crack-a-safe-1646552086

This $150 Hack Can Crack a Safe

It might not look much, with its plain 3D printed arms and cables hanging free, but this little guy can punch well above its weight. Made up of components worth an estimated $150, this auto-dialler can do the same job as a machine worth tens of thousands: it can crack a safe.

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You Can Customize This E-Ink Watch Down to the Strap

Source: http://gizmodo.com/you-can-customize-this-e-ink-watch-down-to-the-strap-1646561540

You Can Customize This E-Ink Watch Down to the Strap

If there's one group that will surely embrace smartwatches, it's those who like to change their background image and the look and feel of their devices every day. But the FES Watch doesn't just let you change the watch face whenever you tire of the current design, using E-Ink technology it actually lets you change the look and style of the entire timepiece.

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Italy's first electric supercar comes from a brand you've never heard of

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/15/tecnicar-lavinia-se/

Tecnicar Lavinia

Italian supercar makers are willing to embrace hybrids, but they're reluctant to develop pure electric cars -- not surprising when they're virtually defined by their sweet-sounding gas engines. They may have to reconsider that strategy pretty soon. Tecnicar, a startup whose main claim to fame is a city car, has revealed plans to build the country's first super-fast EV, the Lavinia SE. The finished vehicle is expected to produce the equivalent of 800HP, or enough to take it to 62MPH in 3.5 seconds. That's just behind a Ferrari 458 Italia, folks. It should also be nimble thanks to both a lightweight carbon fiber body and high-performance ceramic brakes, and the 186-mile range will be enough for a blast through the countryside, if not much more.

As you might gather by looking at the 3D rendering shown here, the main catch is that the Lavinia SE isn't yet a practical reality. Tecnicar is currently building its first prototype in Sicily, and you won't see it in the metal until a car show in April. There's no release date or price, either, although it's safe to presume that this green machine will cost you a six-digit sum if and when it arrives.

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Via: Inhabitat

Source: Gnius Motori (translated), Tecnicar (Facebook)

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Scientists 3D Printed Self-Assembling Wood and Carbon Fiber

Source: http://gizmodo.com/scientists-3d-printed-self-assembling-wood-and-carbon-f-1646263682

Scientists 3D Printed Self-Assembling Wood and Carbon Fiber

For the most part, our wood and carbon fiber objects are solid, inert, and boring lumps. They don't bend or curl—or at least, they aren't supposed to. But MIT researchers have created wood and carbon fiber specially designed to be dynamic, conjuring up visions of wood furniture that self-assembles out of the flat pack or carbon fiber that morphs with the temperature.

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A New Breed Of Apps Could Completely Change The Way We Pay In Bars And Restaurants

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-new-breed-of-apps-could-completetly-change-the-way-we-pay-in-bars-and-restaurants-2014-9

US Lyft Uber Revenue

The success of apps like Uber and Seamless provide a powerful template for how we may soon pay for even more things in the physical world.

Car-hailing app Uber enables users to pay for a car service entirely within the app, for example. The company generated about $1.2 billion in US revenue in the last year, according to BI Intelligence estimates. And Seamless has made a comparable impact on food delivery. 

But Uber and Seamless are just the beginning. While still nascent, a new breed of apps like Cover, Dash, and even OpenTable is taking mobile commerce into stores and promising to revolutionize the way we make payments at restaurants and bars. These apps provide an alternative way for mobile payments to take off, eliminating all need for outside hardware.

In a new report from BI Intelligence we take a close look at these apps, the advantages they provide to both consumers and merchants, and why they could gain more traction than any other mobile payment technology on the market. 

Access The Full Report And Data By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today >>

Here are some of the key takeaways from the note. 

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In full, the research note

For full access to all BI Intelligence's charts and data on the Payments Industry, sign up for a free trial.

The Digital Commerce Spectrum

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Facebook May Be Working With Samsung On A New Smartphone (FB)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/are-facebook-and-samsung-making-a-phone-2014-10

facebook phone

It looks like Facebook could still be mulling over a possible Facebook phone — this time without HTC's help.

Facebook is reportedly in talks with Samsung regarding a possible collaboration on a new smartphone, according to The Korean Herald and The Korea Times (via 9to5Google).

According to the reports, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg met with Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jay-yong at Samsung's headquarters in Seoul.

Rumors of some sort of a standalone Facebook phone have existed for years. Facebook's previous attempts at a Facebook-centric phone include the HTC ChaCha, which featured a physical Facebook button for quickly posting to the social network, and the HTC First, which included the Facebook Home operating system, which was really a software "layer" on top of Android.

Both phones failed to take off, leaving the possibility of a Facebook-exclusive phone up in the air.

A partnership between Facebook and Samsung could make a lot of sense, however, and the two companies are actually already working together.

Facebook now owns Oculus, the virtual reality company behind the highly anticipated Rift headset. Oculus and Samsung partnered earlier this year for Samsung's GearVR headset.

GearVRSide.JPG

Oculus helped provide the tech behind the headset, along with integration with the Oculus ecosystem, and in return, Samsung provided Oculus with the displays for its DK2 development kits, which utilize screens taken from the Samsung Galaxy N! ote 3.

Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 iFixit teardown 

If Samsung and Facebook do work together on a smartphone, you can expect Facebook's focus to be on the software inside the phone and how apps will integrate with Facebook, which Zuckerberg has fixated on in the past.

If you're interested in reading the original reports, head on over to The Korea Herald and The Korea Times.

SEE ALSO: The 15 Best Productivity Apps For Getting Things Done

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Sharp AQUOS Crystal review: mid-range brains meet striking looks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/14/sharp-aquos-crystal-review/

Pop quiz, hotshot: When's the last time you saw a Sharp phone in the United States? The Sharp FX from years back? Maybe the FX Plus? If you're anything like me, your mind will hearken back to chunky clamshell classics like this one. Long story short, it's been ages since Sharp has had any kind of mobile presence around these parts. That's something the Japanese company is finally ready to change, and it's aiming to do it with a splash. Enter the AQUOS Crystal, one of the most striking phones you'll ever see. It's finally available for $149 on Boost Mobile now and Sprint will get it come October 17th, but we have questions -- so many questions. Has Sharp figured out a way to crack the all-too-fickle US market? Are we looking at a classic case of style over substance?

Hardware

Let's just get it out of the way now: The AQUOS Crystal looks fantastic. It's the only phone I've ever tested that prompted random bystanders to either gawk or give it a double take as they walked by. One look is enough to reveal why: Those people were ogling the 5-inch 720p screen sitting up front... and more specifically, the lack of just about anything surrounding it. Squint hard enough and you'll see just the faintest hint of a bezel running around the screen, so small that it may as well not be there. The effect is utterly striking -- it feels like you're holding some sort of J.J. Abramsian Star Trek floating-screen prop in your hand instead of a smartphone you can buy from a store right now.

It isn't long before you notice why the Crystal earned its name, either. The glass covering the screen is angled at the edges to look like some sort of precious stone, an effect that's usually more obnoxious than neat since it creates a pair of distracting rainbow lines where the material angles sharply. That gemstone motif informs the rest of the phone's design, too: It's mostly hard angles and flat edges, making the gently curving back the only real concession to comfort you'll find. Still, since there's hardly any cruft taking up space around the screen, the Crystal feels surprisingly small when you're holding onto it -- in fact, the HTC One M8 and Samsung Galaxy S5 feel downright unwieldy in comparison.

Since a full seven-eighths of the phone's face is nothing but screen, Sharp had to get creative when it came time to load it up with the usual accoutrements. Take the Crystal's earpiece, for instance: There isn't one. Well, not a traditional one, anyway. Rather than try and squeeze one in above the display (and ruin that lovely floating effect), Sharp included what it calls a Direct Wave Receiver that essentially turns the entire front glass panel into an earpiece. It's hardly a new concept -- Kyocera's been playing with the idea of speaker-less phones for a few years now and Google Glass has a bone-conducting transmitter -- but Sharp's solution sounds better than you might think. Meanwhile, the 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera is actually located in a silver expanse along the bottom edge of the phone's face, which some of you will know is definitely not prime placement for selfies.

The rest of the Crystal is decidedly sparse: The 8-megapixel camera and LED flash sit high on the phone's rear, amid a sea of dimpled, white plastic that forms the removable battery cover. Underneath that lies the (sadly) non-removable 2,040mAh battery, with nano-SIM and microSD card slots nestled right above it. Turns out that latter addition is pretty crucial, since it will let you add up to 128GB of storage to a device that only comes with 8GB of space (only about four of which you can use right out of the gate). When it comes to the brains of the operation, don't let the premium looks fool you: We're working with a pretty modest spec list here. There's a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 thrumming away inside that plastic frame, paired with 1.5GB of RAM and a CDMA/LTE radio -- nothing terribly new, nor astonishingly snappy, but not a bad choice considering the Crystal's cheapo price tag.

Display and sound

It'd be pretty stupid of Sharp to use a subpar screen when it removed nearly everything that could possibly distract you from it. Thankfully, it's got the chops to make some impressive displays, and the 5-inch LCD panel it crammed into the Crystal doesn't disappoint. First, the elephant in the room: Yes, the screen only runs at 720p, and no, that's not a bad thing. It's plenty bright when you need it to be and colors are well-saturated, though whites aren't as crisp and blacks aren't as sumptuous as they are on more premium devices. Still, pictures and videos pop when there's no border restraining them -- even poking through your email feels just a little wondrous.

Alas, that screen ain't perfect. My biggest niggle comes to the fore when you look at the Crystal's screen from an angle. This isn't an issue with viewing angles; your face could be perpendicular to the display and you'd still be able to make out what was going on without much trouble. No, there's actually some prominent light leakage going on at the edges of the panel. It's not so noticeable on the longer left and right edges, but there's enough light bleeding through along the screen's top side that my eyes couldn't avoid gravitating there when I was indoors (the power of the sun usually overpowers it). Distraction? You bet. Dealbreaker? Probably not. I'm not sure how widespread this issue is, or if it's even avoidable given how the screen is laid out. Still, it's a mild annoyance at worst and it's even more tolerable considering how much the phone'll set you back.

Sadly, the audio side doesn't quite live up to the (pretty high) bar the screen has set. Sharp (and Sprint, I'm sure) have tried to augment the Crystal's musical chops with Harman Kardon's Clari-Fi and LiveStage audio-enhancing tech. I've taken both features for a spin in the past, and there wasn't much new to report back here. Clari-Fi once again does a fine job of livening up your audio tracks by sharpening mids and highs and enhancing vocals, but that all really comes down to the song you're listening to -- some will sound vastly improved; others will hardly change, and you probably won't notice any of those software-enhanced nuances the minute you get on the subway.

And what of LiveStage? I still can't for the life of me understand why anyone would bother to turn this on. In a perfect world, the feature would add reverb just so and tweak tracks to make them sound as though they're being performed in front of you. Instead, it adds a bit of aural distance between the layers of a song and almost always makes them sound worse. Maybe my ears, battered as they are thanks to years of loud Japanese rock, just don't get it. I'd wager yours won't either, but hey -- it's not a dealbreaker. And, of course, none of those features even work without headphones plugged in, which is sort of a shame considering the single rear speaker is purely average when it comes to pumping out the jams. The speaker's wimpy muddiness is pretty much par for the course for a budget smartphone, which, while unavoidable, is still a bummer.

Software

I (like many of you, I suspect) am an Android purist. Shocker, right? Thankfully, Sharp hardly futzed with Google's OS before throwing it on the Crystal: It runs a pretty clean build of Android 4.4.2... that just happens to be festooned with all the extraneous Sprint apps you could think of. Upon first boot, I was greeted by a preloaded AccuWeather widget on the home screen, a Sprint featured-apps widget on another and no fewer than 20 additional apps and bolt-on services that the carrier decided I needed to have. Fortunately, most of those bright yellow Sprint icons are merely pointers to listings in the Google Play store, which means they're easy to dismiss with extreme prejudice.

Not all of them are useless cruft, though: MobiSystems' Office Suite 7 contains solid document and spreadsheet apps, and NBA Game Time and NASCAR Mobile are easily accessible if you're into ballers and racers, respectively. There's also a pretty impressive Siri/Cortana analog in the form of Speaktoit's Assistant app (yeah, its branding could use a little work) that'll read you the day's top headlines, translate languages and let you check in on Foursquare in addition to the de facto slew of virtual assistant tasks. What few bits Sharp did add are centered on the screen; so-called Frameless effect settings allow you to enable visual notifications that surge across the display. Meanwhile, an additional screen lock will kick in once you initiate or pick up a call just to make sure your cheek doesn't accidentally hang up on your friends for you. Hardly the fanciest things you'll ever see, but surprisingly useful all the same.

Camera

Every phone maker is guilty of cutting corners with cameras at least once (especially with mid-range phones for the masses), and Sharp is no different. The main imaging attraction is an 8-megapixel rear camera that mostly churns out soft, grainy, under-saturated shots, even when there's a seemingly sufficient amount of light bathing your subjects. Take it into the great outdoors on a bright day, though, and things start to improve a bit -- you'll be able to pick out just a little more detail in your photos, but the end results are still rarely worth getting worked up over.

If anything, I'm fonder of the equally lacking 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera because it's quirky and isn't where it should be. As mentioned before, it sits at the bottom of the Crystal's face -- in order to take a selfie that isn't 90 percent neck and chin(s), you've got to turn the Crystal upside-down. Honestly, it sounds like much more of a hassle than it actually is (though the repeated visual reminders of everything going on south of my face are a little disturbing). Anyway, it's good enough for a Skype video call or a group Hangout; just don't expect to snap any masterpieces with it. As usual, both cameras will record video (with resolutions maxing out at 1080p and 720p for the main and secondary shooters, respectively). Surprise, surprise: Video doesn't come out so hot either, as it's laden with grain and the lens takes a bit longer to switch focus than I'd like to see.

It's actually kind of a shame the two sensors are so lackluster, because the camera UI packs in a few neat tricks to help you snap better photos. All the usual settings like HDR mode, geotagging controls, ISO and white balance are present and accounted for, but a framing guide displays patterns on the Crystal's screen so you can better line up your photos. Oh, and if you're a nerd who often takes pictures of computer screens (not that we'd know anything about that), a Flicker Control setting counteracts the annoying refresh rate that manifests as those dark bars that run down displays. You can dismiss those settings with a single touch, while another snaps a fresh new photo, though there were a few (very rare) occasions when I had to tap the screen multiple times to make the Crystal understand I wanted to take a photo.

Performance and battery Life

The screen will garner most of the attention, but let's not forget about how this thing runs. As I pointed out earlier, the AQUOS Crystal uses one of Qualcomm's 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400s (more specifically, the MSM8926). It's nothing if not a known quantity by now; it was first revealed over a year ago and has powered devices like Motorola's LTE-friendly version of the Moto G and LG's G2 mini LTE. Consider that a roundabout way of saying it's not too hard to guess how smoothly the Crystal operates: It's plenty snappy, but easy to stymie if you're willing to try. Rapidly scrolling through long web pages in Chrome was mostly a graceful affair, as was jumping in, out and between apps.

The Crystal isn't immune to slowdown, though -- it took three seconds to launch the camera and a jam-packed notification shade would occasionally stutter when I dismissed it -- but there's enough horsepower tucked away in there to make sure it won't leave you hanging while you're trying to get things done. Oh, you're a fan of numbers? The benchmark breakdown reveals, well, nothing terribly surprising. The AQUOS Crystal and Motorola's second-generation Moto G are pretty much dead even by all counts, while HTC's Desire 816 (also available contract-free on Virgin Mobile) pulls ahead thanks to its slightly speedier version of the Snapdragon 400 chip.

Sharp AQUOS Crystal Moto G (2014) HTC Desire 816
Quadrant 2.0 8,553 8,846 13,172
Vellamo 3.0 1,621 1,669 2,421
3DMark IS Unlimited 4,657 4,679 4,830
SunSpider 1.0.2 (ms) 1,569 1,534 1,137
GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen (fps) 1.7 N/A 1.7
CF-Bench 14,496 14,470 19,593
SunSpider: Lower scores are better; results compiled on Chrome.

Now, regarding that 2,040mAh battery. In the standard Engadget rundown test (with the phone connected to WiFi and looping a 720p video while fetching social updates at 50 percent screen brightness), the AQUOS Crystal stuck around for a full eight hours and 46 minutes before it needed to suckle on a power outlet once more. Curiously, that's just over an hour more than what the 2014 Moto G eked out of its battery (which is actually just a touch more capacious) when we ran it through the wringer earlier this month. Real-world testing saw some similarly strong results -- my days of tweeting, taking calls, watching Sutton Foster videos on YouTube, triaging emails and playing games on the toilet were never enough to kill the Crystal before work hours were over. On average, it took just north of 15 hours to discharge the thing completely, which means enough juice for your routine and then some.

Here's another question to ponder: How well does this thing actually work as a phone? It lacks a traditional earpiece! How crazy! In fact, the whole telephonic shebang works reasonably well -- while call quality is best when you hold your ear to the top of the phone, you can actually stick it anywhere on the screen and converse the way you always do. Why anyone would choose to plop those ears smack-dab in the center of the screen to listen is beyond me, but hey: At least you've got the option. Alas, it's never quite as loud as a standard speaker, and people I called weren't terribly enthused with the somewhat quiet output they got as I spoke into the microphone.

The competition

Here's the thing to remember about the AQUOS Crystal: It's only going to be an option for you if you're OK inking a deal with Sprint (or shacking up with sub-brands like Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile). Everyone else can just move along right now... unless you live in Japan, in which case I'd recommend you live a little and splurge on the Crystal's more powerful big brother. After all, the Crystal X pairs a bigger 5.5-inch frameless display with a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 for added oomph. That snappy combination of style and power is a distinct step up from the version we have here in the States, and I'm frankly a little bummed that's not the model I'm reviewing today.

Anyway, let's break the rest down by carrier. On Sprint, the Crystal costs $240 upfront to own it free and clear, which you could also split into monthly payments that get tacked onto your bill. You could feasibly consider the LG G3 Vigor (with monthly payments of $13 over 24 months), though we're looking at a dead heat between spec sheets and I'd give the Crystal the nod if only because of style. And don't forget the original HTC One. It's a bit long in the tooth, but it's got a lovely 1080p display and enough horsepower to run a circle or two around the Crystal.

If you're jonesing for some non-contract action on Virgin Mobile (where the Crystal only costs $150), you'll have to decide whether you'd rather spend the extra cash on a HTC Desire 816. It's bigger, and it packs a better camera and speakers, and a Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.6GHz. The downside? It costs twice as much as the Crystal. Did your wallet just groan as you read that? You could also consider the HTC Desire (actually a rebranded Desire 601), but you probably shouldn't -- you'd spend $30 more for a lousier camera and a lower-resolution screen. The Crystal costs the same $150 on Boost Mobile, where there are plenty of (less stylish) choices.

There's yet another HTC Desire in the form of the 510 that only costs $100, and while it doesn't quite stack up to the Crystal, it's cheap and it comes close. Oh, and in the event you're not exactly married to Sprint's ilk and want a similarly spec'd phone without spending a ton of money, consider the original Moto G with LTE. Sure, it doesn't have the big screen or improved camera that its sequel does, but $219 will score you a device with the same brains as the Crystal and the LTE support none of the next-gen Moto phones have yet.

Wrap-up

Sharp and Sprint deserve some major kudos -- not only did they bring a truly interesting smartphone to our shores, but also they're pricing it to move and trying to get it into as many hands as possible. I can't help but wish Sprint imported the Crystal's more powerful brother instead, but hey: We have an actual bezel-less screen, and a set of guts that (for the most part) doesn't let it down. In the end, though, here's what it boils down to: If you're absolutely, positively enamored with Sprint, and don't feel the need to pay gobs of money for top-tier power, the AQUOS Crystal is definitely worth your attention. If you're all about the non-contract lifestyle on Virgin or Boost, though, the Crystal is a steal at $150. Thanks to the dark magic of carrier-exclusivity deals, no one else need apply.

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Verizon's announcing its new Droid on October 28th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/14/verizon-droid-turbo-october-28/

It's been leaked to hell and back lately, but no matter - Verizon's finally ready to pull back the curtain on its latest Droid smartphone at an event in New York on October 28. That device is the Droid Turbo, a seemingly super-charged version of this year's Moto X that reportedly wraps an even speedier Snapdragon 805 chipset into a more traditional (some would say more heinous looking) Droid body. No need to lament its looks too much, though: while it keeps the same 5.2-inch screen as the X, Motorola stuck a 21-megapixel rear camera into the Turbo's slimmish chassis, and rumor has it that there's a staggeringly capacious 3,900mAh battery lurking in there to boot. If you've thumbed through our Moto X review, you'll know that those two issues were the only things keeping Moto's newest flagship from smartphone greatness, so forgive us for getting just a little excited to see the Turbo in person. After all, latest year's Droid lineup were just slight variations on the original Moto X theme -- this time Motorola seems to have dramatically upgraded the X formula.

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