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mardi 25 octobre 2016

Smartphone Wi-Fi speeds set to dramatically increase in 2017

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Wi-Fi top speeds will be almost twice as fast in 2017, thanks to the implementation of the Wi-Fi Alliance's WiGig certification program. Upcoming smartphones, laptops and routers that take advantage of the new specification would receive "wired-grade" internet performance, said the Wi-Fi Alliance in a press release.

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The technology operates over wider 60 GHz frequency bands with the 802.11ad standard, enabling WiGig devices to "achieve data rates of up to 8 Gbps, allowing users to download an HD movie in a few seconds," writes the Wi-Fi Alliance. The tech would provide multi-gigabit performance for things like "augmented reality/virtual reality, multimedia streaming, gaming, and networking applications".

WiGig does require relatively short-range data transmission, however – roughly 33 feet (10 meters) – which means that it's unlikely to work as effectively on devices in different rooms to the router.

WiGig itself has been around for a couple of years now, but the announcement of the certification program means that manufacturers have a guaranteed way to develop it for their products and get the Wi-Fi Alliance's seal of approval, paving the way for further device adoption.

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Consumer products which support the new standard are currently in development but we don't know which will be the first to arrive. ABI Research, a technology market intelligence company cited by the Wi-Fi Alliance in its press release, suggest that "180 million WiGig chipsets will ship to the smartphone market in 2017″.

Proximity remains a huge barrier in effective Wi-Fi transmission and news of its effective radius will no doubt come as a disappointment to those who dwell on the peripheries of their router's range.

For everyone else, how excited are you for faster internet, eh? Let us know in the comments.



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Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) gets FCC certification

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Samsung seems all set to introduce yet another member to its family of mid-range handsets soon. A new Galaxy-branded smartphone bearing the model number A3LSMJ327P, believed to be the Galaxy J3 (2017), has just passed through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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While Samsung remains mum on the upcoming handset, the Galaxy J3 (2017) edition is likely to launch anytime soon as its FCC certification indicates the device has been cleared by all major U.S. regulators.

Prior to the FCC clearance, the phone made a quick stop at benchmarking website Geekbench and earlier passed the TENAA equipment certification authority in China. India's imports and exports tracking site Zauba also recently cleared the phone for testing.

Although there's no word yet about the handset's key specs, rumor has it that the Galaxy J3 (2017) will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor clocked at 1.4 GHz and run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

TENAA's listing also suggests the phone would come in two versions: the SM-J3119 for the Chinese market and SM-J3110 for international markets. Furthermore, it states that the device will sport a 5-inch display and pack 16 GB internal storage and 2 GB of RAM.

The device is also said to boast an 8 MP rear shooter and a 5 MP front camera. The phone will reportedly be juiced by a 2,600 mAh battery. The pricing for the smartphone remains unclear as well, though rumors suggest it could be in the ballpark of Rs. 10,000 (~$150).

Would you consider the Galaxy J3 (2017) once it rolls out? Share your thoughts in the comments.



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(Update: delayed) Samsung confirms the Blue Coral Galaxy S7 Edge is coming

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Update, October 25: A "high-ranking Samsung official" has told Korea's ET News that while the Blue Coral S7 Edge is on schedule for a Korean launch on November 4 (with only the 32 GB version on track for a November 5 launch in Singapore), availability in other global markets might have to wait a little longer. The official said the "schedule for release dates of each country has changed due to current situation of supplies."

Original post, October 21: When one phone dies in a fiery explosion, another is reborn from the ashes. Samsung Singapore has confirmed that the Blue Coral Galaxy S7 Edge we saw leaked recently is officially coming on November 5. As you may recall, the light blue hue was introduced on the Note 7 and was very popular indeed. You know, until that whole fireball thing went and messed things up.

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Of course, Samsung Singapore's statement only relates to that country (and only to the Galaxy S7 Edge, there's no mention of the less-popular regular S7), but considering the in-the-wild leak we already saw had Verizon branding on it, the whole thing pretty much stitches this one up for the U.S. sooner or later. It's all just a matter of when.

Samsung has been in a state of crisis since the global recall of the Galaxy Note 7, dealing with negative press, drastic changes to revenue forecasts, solidifying plans for the upcoming Galaxy S8 and navigating a toxic workplace environment. A little powder blue may not be enough to smooth over all that, but it sure is pretty.

What color S7 Edge would you like to see?



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You can now buy the LG V20 in-store at AT&T for $830

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AT&T customers will now be able to purchase the LG V20 from the mobile carrier's retail stores for $829.99 with no contract. AT&T's price tag, however, is much higher than that of other carriers: T-Mobile's retail price is just $769.99 while Verizon is asking only $672 for the phone outright.

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If you prefer buying the phone on an instalment basis, you can grab the handset with a 30-month contract starting at $27.76 per month or $34.59 per month for two years. The LG V20 is available to purchase online as well, though AT&T reiterates that shipments won't begin until October 27-31.

The V20 comes in Silver and Titan Gray color options and it's worth noting that the LG V20 is the first handset offering from AT&T to run Android 7.0 Nougat. As one of the most feature-rich phones of 2016, the LG V20 packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 32-bit Quad DAC, manual photo and video controls, 4 GB of RAM, a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, and a secondary screen above the phones main display.

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If you happen to buy the phone through AT&T Next, AT&T will throw in an LG G Pad X 10.1 for just $0.99 with a two-year agreement. Alternatively, DIRECTV and Uverse TV customers who port in a new line are eligible to receive up to $695 in monthly credits when buying a V20 on AT&T Next or Next Every Year. If you trade in an eigible device you'll get a $200 credit towards the V20 as well as a free pair of B&O H3 headphones.

Now that the latest LG flagship finally goes on sale via AT&T stores, are you planning to grab an LG V20? Let us know in the comments.



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Google Messenger 2.0 goes live with smart redesign

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Google Messenger has been updated from version 1.9 to version 2.0 and a subtle redesign comes along with it. You'll see an immediate difference with Messenger's new circular icon (above right) and inside are some other UI tweaks more congruous with the design ideology of Android 7.1.

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Contact profile icons have shrunk, meaning more text can be displayed, and the palette is now a darker shade of blue (huzzah!) than previously. See the old version below left and the new design below right.

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Also, when pressing the 'plus' symbol to send a new message, a list of top contacts appears first with your address book below, rather than the separate 'Frequent' and 'All contacts' tabs that were there before. Finally, the notification tray icon features the new design format and unread messages are now displayed on the home screen icon.

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It's certainly a 'less-is-more' update, though Google often favors small usability tweaks compared to radical innovation with its app updates. The update is rolling out now and you should be notified of it in due course. If you want to get it fast, you'll find it at APK Mirror at the link.

What are your thoughts on Google Messenger 2.0? Let us know in the comments.



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Deal: Unlocked HTC One M9 for $300

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If you're in the market for an unlocked smartphone with no contract, the HTC One M9 is currently available on htc.com for just $300. It is available in gold, silver, gray and pink at that price and is compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

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The HTC One M9 features a 5-inch Full HD Super LCD3 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage combined with microSD expansion. It's running Marshmallow now but has been confirmed for the Android Nougat update.

The M9 also packs a 20 MP f/2.2 primary camera and a 4 MP f/2.0 front-facing camera. It houses a 2,840 mAh battery and sports HTC's legendary BoomSound stereo front-facing speakers.

It may not be quite as fancy as the newer OnePlus 3 (which you can pick up outright for $400), but if you're a fan of HTC the price is definitely right. Keep in mind you can also pick up the HTC 10 for $150 off right now, making it just $549.



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Xiaomi launches Mi MIX concept phone with a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio

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Xiaomi has launched a bezel-less concept phone called the Mi MIX at its event in Beijing. The upcoming 6.4-inch handset, going on sale in China on November 4, will feature a 91.3 percent screen-to-body ratio, ceramic unibody and Snapdragon 821 processor.

Further specs include a 4,400 mAh battery, fingerprint scanner, a 16 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front-facing camera (housed on the bottom lip of the device, seeing that there's no room for it at the top).

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Aside from looking like one of the coolest handsets of the year, this could be a clever move from Xiaomi, building the idea of itself as a pioneer of inventive smartphone hardware, when in the past it has been accused of relying rather heavily on other manufacturer's designs (Xiaomi hasn't yet entered the US market as it is currently seeking further smartphone patents).

The Mi MIX will cost RMB 3,499 (~$516) for the 4 GB RAM version with 128 GB of internal storage and RMB 3,999 (~$590) for a 6 GB RAM/256 GB/18 karat gold version. The Mi MIX has been designed by legendary designer Philippe Starck.

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Earlier at the same Bejing event, Xiaomi lifted the lid on its Xiaomi Mi Note 2, a high-performance phablet which features a Samsung Galaxy Note 7-like dual-edge display.

Am I the only person who wishes these devices were coming to the West? Give us your thoughts in the comments.



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