Snapdseed update version 2.13 brings improved RAW support and UI

Snapseed is a favorite among users and we even listed it in our 15 top photo editor apps, so it is always good news when we see good features coming to the simple, yet advanced image tuner. Today we are seeing an update to version 2.13, which brings forth UI and RAW support improvements.

The most important change is that users are no longer limited to swiping up and down to change parameters. Instead, one can tap on the bottom adjust button to bring up a tap-enabled parameters menu. Then you can easily swipe left and right to make your edits, as you always have.

In addition, Snapseed is also improving RAW support for images captured using HDR Scape. Preview and final image colors are now more accurate, making it easier to edit photos to your liking. The preview will show default RAW colors, which wasn't always the case in the past.

• How to take better pictures with your Android smartphone

By the way, iOS users are also getting the White Balance tool, which came to us Android users a while back. It's a great feature!

You can go get your update from the Google Play Store now. Enjoy!

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Huawei unveils breakthrough graphene-assisted Li-ion battery

Watt Laboratory, an organization under Huawei's Central Research Institute, has introduced a new graphene-assisted Li-ion battery which can withstand higher temperatures when compared with ordinary Li-ion batteries.

The new batteries are able to function at a temperature of 60°C (140℉), which is 10°C (50℉) above the current upper limit. They can be used in cellular base stations in high-temperature regions around the world and have a lifespan that is twice as long as ordinary Li-ion batteries.

In addition, the new batteries can extend the range of EVs in high temperatures and can also be used in drones, which tend to produce quite a bit of heat.

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1 week ago

Dr. Yangxing Li, Chief Scientist at Watt Laboratory, has stated that there are three technologies that have assisted them in making a breakthrough in this battery technology. The first is a special additive in the electrolytes that can remove trace water and prevent the electrolytes from evaporating in high temperatures.

The second is modified large-crystal NMC materials that are used for the cathode and are able to improve the thermal stability of the cathode powder, while the third is graphene, which allows for more efficient cooling of the Li-ion battery.

Dr. Yangxing Li also said that charging and discharging tests in a high-temperature environment have shown that the graphene-assisted high-temperature Li-ion battery is 5°C (41℉) cooler than ordinary Li-ion batteries. And after being recharged 2,000 times at a temperature of 60°C (140℉), the graphene battery retains more than 70 percent of its capacity.

In other battery-related news, Huawei's Watt Laboratory introduced a quick charging technology back in 2015, which is able to charge 48 percent of a 3,000 mAh battery in only 5 minutes. The company has now said that that technology will soon be available. Huawei plans on announcing a new smartphone in late December that will have the new quick battery charging tech onboard.

There is no other information regarding the device for now, so we'll just have to wait for a month or so to see what Huawei will bring to the table. Stay tuned.

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Samsung terminating network services for Galaxy Note 7 in Australia

Samsung has announced that it is working with Australian telecommunication networks to discontinue services for Galaxy Note 7 devices still being used there. The move arrives as Samsung continues to try and recover all of its Note 7 smartphones after they were recalled in October.

The process will begin on December 15 and Samsung said customers would be notified about the changes today with "on-going communication and updates about the Australian network discontinuation provided to customers over the next three weeks, to ensure adequate notice is provided."

Samsung once again urged those who are still using a Galaxy Note 7 to return it to its place or purchase, call the Samsung Customer Service line on 1300 362 603 or visit Samsung's Australian Note 7 returns page for further help.

See also:

Samsung Galaxy Note 7's Grace UI is rolling out to Note 5 units in South Korea

6 days ago

Samsung is still offering to swap the Note 7 with a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, refund the difference in price, and offer $250 in credit, but noted that this promotion would end on December 22.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was recalled twice and eventually cancelled after reports of the handset catching fire. Samsung is currently still investigating the cause.

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Fitbit reportedly plans to acquire Pebble for $34-40 million

One of the first major companies to launch smartwatches may be about to be sold. New, but still unconfirmed, reports claim that the wearable fitness device company Fitbit is planning to acquire Pebble, which got its start by funding its first smartwatch on Kickstarter in 2012, raising over $7 million

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Pebble Time Round review

November 25, 2015

The Information was first to report on the possible Fitbit deal to buy Pebble, and VentureBeat added that it will pay between $34 to $40 million to acquire Pebble. The smartwatch company has actually raised a total of over $40 million in its many Kickstarter campaigns for the past few years. That includes money it received from its most recent effort to launch the Pebble 2 and Pebble Time 2 smartwatches earlier this year.

However, it would appear that all that crowd sourced money, plus funds from venture capital financing rounds, was not enough to keep Pebble afloat. Indeed, in March the company laid off about 25 percent of its team members. with CEO Eric Migicovsky admitting in an interview that "money is pretty tight right now".  The Information claims that when and if the deal goes through, Fitbit will be acquiring Pebble's intellectual property and software, but sales of the smartwatches themselves will be phased out.

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Google Play Store rolling out new search result interface

While we haven't seen any changes yet, plenty of online reports claim the Google Play Store is rolling out a server-side update. This is said to bring forth a new card-based layout for your search results.

The new UI seems to focus more on each app that shows up in the results. Upon searching for any app, you will get large cards that you can swipe through (left and right). They include the option to install, uninstall, descriptions and more. It's pretty much a preview of the app's page.

There's not much evidence of these changes, but we do have plenty of user reports and a video created by user Rony Mishchuk, who claims to have the update and has a video of the new improvements.

We are liking the new changes, but so far we have no idea what's going on with this update and choose to treat it as a rumor. As always, don't hold your breath on it. We will definitely keep our eyes open for any more details that may show up.

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Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) photos and video reportedly leaked

A few weeks ago, we posted some exclusive renders and information, in collaboration with @OnLeaks, for the upcoming 2017 version of the Samsung Galaxy A5. The company has not yet officially announced this phone but today some new photos, and a hands-on video, have made their way onto the Internet that allegedly show off the smartphone.

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Report: Samsung Electronics considering splitting into two companies

3 days ago

The video and renders come from a person named Neil Potgieter, who in the clip says he is doing a "review" of the 2017 Samsung Galaxy A5. However, since the phone hasn't even been announced yet, let alone released, this "review" is likely of a pre-production prototype for the phone.  For example, the video shows the phone running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, but it's more than possible the final 2017 Galaxy A5 could have Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box.

The video does seem to jibe with what we have learned about the phone, including that it will be nearly identical to the current Galaxy S7 in terms of its design, complete with rounded corners. It also seems to show that it will indeed have 3GB of RAM and an octa-core processor. The video shows that this model has 32GB of storage, but again it's possible that Samsung could release models with even more onboard storage.

In any case, Samsung is expected to officially announce and launch the new Galaxy A5 sometime in December. Are you interested in getting the new version of this mid-range smartphone?

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The Moto Z Hasselblad camera mod is used to create SI magazine cover

While smartphone cameras have come a long way in the past few years, they still lag behind professional stand alone cameras for serious work. That gap may be getting smaller, however, thanks in part to Motorola's support of Moto Mods for its Moto Z family of smartphones. Indeed, the Moto Z was used with its Hasselblad True Zoom camera mod to take the cover photograph for the latest issue of Sports Illustrated's print magazine.

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Moto Mods Review: Blast, Power and Project in a snap

July 27, 2016

The subject of the latest SI cover just happens to be Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who started as a college football player and pro wrestler and is now arguably the most famous movie star in the world right now, not to mention People magazine's latest "Sexiest Man Alive"

The photo shoot itself was taken on Nov. 14 in Beverly Hills by photographer Mike LeBrecht. Motorola says that he was able to use the Hasselblad Mod's professional settings with the Moto Z to create an image that looks as good as one made with a high-end camera. Of course, LeBrecht already knows his way around a photo shoot, and there are also other factors in this image such as lighting that the normal smartphone owner would not have. However, it does show that Motorola's support of Mods to add extra functions to smartphones may be getting some traction.

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