Samsung working on two foldable smartphones, dual-screen version arriving early 2017

Strap yourselves in kids, we're about to take a trip to the future. After years of teaser videos, leaked roadmaps, concept designs and flexible display panel demonstrations, Samsung is finally nearing a foldable product release. According to South Korea's ET News, Samsung is working on two different types of foldable smartphone with a separate dual-screened version to be released in early 2017.

The dual-screened smartphone that may appear at CES or MWC is said to be hinged though, not actually bent. Featuring two flat panels side by side with a hinge in between, it is reportedly similar to a prototype demoed recently by Japan Display. The device will presumably have three orientations: folded out with screens on the front and back, folded in to protect the displays in transit, or laid out flat like a tablet.

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According to ET News, this dual-screened smartphone is primarily intended to gauge user interest and introduce consumers to some of the features and benefits of foldable smartphones before truly foldable devices are officially launched. The example is given of the Galaxy Round and Galaxy Note Edge as precursors to the Galaxy S6 Edge.

Samsung will apparently produce a small amount of dual-screened smartphones in early 2017 and assess the market's response. This feedback will then be applied to two foldable designs the company is said to be working on and will go a long way towards determining when they are released.

Samsung is said to be "thinking deeply" about the release date for its foldable designs, as "its goal is to introduce [an] innovative product with [a] high level of perfection to markets faster than its competitors." Industry insiders have claimed Lenovo's foldable designs are still a while away from being produced at scale.

The two styles of foldable smartphones Samsung is working on are described as an "out-foldable" design and an "in-foldable" design. We've already seen an example of an in-foldable design in the concept device we saw as far back as 2014 in Samsung's infamous advertisement and that we've seen in patent applications as recently as a month ago.

The out-foldable design is seen as the "next step" in foldable smartphones. "When an out-foldable smartphone is folded, OLED panels are placed on the front and the back. Panels also work at the part where it is bent, and this smartphone can be used as a tablet when it is not folded." To get an idea of how this works, just take a look at Lenovo's foldable concepts demoed earlier this year.

So there you have it, foldable smartphones are coming. Again. Still. This may seem like a story we've all heard many times in the past, but this is the first time we've heard about a precursor product being prepped for release with actual foldable designs coming in its wake.

Whether we'll see them by the end of 2017 will largely depend on how well the dual-screened version goes down in the first half of the year. As much as Samsung will want to ensure it has an impeccable product on its hands before releasing its first truly foldable devices, it must also be noted that it will absolutely want to beat competitors like Lenovo, OPPO and even Xiaomi to market.

Would you buy a foldable smartphone? Or would you rather hold out for second-gen tech?

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Super Mario Run gameplay video shows off new modes and content

Nintendo has unveiled further details about its upcoming mobile Mario game, Super Mario Run. Launching December 15 on iOS, and coming to Android later, the new title plays on the classic side-scrolling platform action found in numerous Mario games but merges it with the auto-runner formula popularized on mobile devices.

To allow the Mario experience to work one-handed, Mario automatically runs across the screen and players are only in control of how and when he jumps. There are mechanics in place to temporarily stop Mario in his tracks, help him change direction, and jump greater distances, to allow players reach the end of each level without the need for additional buttons.

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The Nintendo team appear to have incorporated many of the traditional Mario gameplay facets; the levels, enemies, power-ups etc – though it has also added some new modes. Toad Rally lets you challenge friends and rivals from around the world in a bid to collect the most coins within a time limit, while Kingdom Builder offers some form of base-building, using coins to unlock structures and extra mini-games. Check out the new gameplay footage in the video below.

Super Mario Run will be free to play on iOS for the first few levels, but unlocking more will require a one-time purchase of $9.99. It's coming to Android sometime in 2017.

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Vodafone India offers double the data for its 4G pre-paid customers

Customers who are signed up for Vodafone's 4G pre-paid data plans in India are now getting double the amount of that fast download amount. The carrier announced the new "Double Data" benefits this week, most likely as a way to better compete with rival carrier Reliance Jio and others.

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Under the plan, customers who pay Rs 255 a month for the minimal 1GB 4G data plan will get an extra 1GB of 4G data at no extra cost. Also, people who sign up for the 3GB 4G plan will get an extra 3GB of 4G data a month for Rs. 459, and the 4GB customers will get another 4GB of free 4G data for the price of Rs. 559.

The top tier customers are not being forgotten. Customers in India who pay Rs. 999 a month for 10GB of data will get another 10GB of 4G data at no extra cost, and the Rs 1999 monthly plan for 20GB of data will get another big 20GB of 4G data. This new offer is currently available wherever Vodafone's 4G network is set up in India.

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Huawei Watch is gone from the Play Store, Michael Kors replaces it

Arguably the best-looking Android Wear smartwatch, the Huawei Watch is officially gone from the Play Store, only to be replaced by a gaudy Michael Kors smartwatch.

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The Huawei Watch is now over a year old but is still considered the best that Android Wear can offer: which says something about Google's wearable ecosystem as a whole. Indeed, it ticked a lot of boxes. It had a perfectly circular display with a high resolution – no flat tires here – and looked premium. But it also had a premium price tag (at least when it launched). What ultimately deterred me from buying Huawei's smartwatch was its lack of ambient sensors, which meant the user had to manually adjust the brightness.

Notwithstanding all that, the Huawei Watch was a refined device that ultimately showed Android Wear's potential vis-à-vis Apple's offering. Alas, the Huawei Watch is no longer available from the Play Store. Though it's been removed from Google's official selection, the standard Watch and all the other variants are still available for purchase directly through Huawei as well as on other third-party websites like Amazon.

With the Huawei Watch gone, who's going to fill the empty slot, you may ask. Unless you are a huge fan of Michael Kors, the answer may disappoint you. Google has added Michael Kors' new Android Wear smartwatch, the Access Bradshaw, to its offerings. This is the fashion brand's second Android Wear device following the Access Dylan, both of which cost $350 (at least the gold model of the Bradshaw).

Without any doubt, Michael Kors was going for an elegant, high-end design with the Bradshaw unlike the Dylan, but things couldn't be any more disastrous. Inside the watch, we find all the same boring specs we've been seeing for a long time now: Snapdragon 2100, 400 mAh battery, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of storage. If its internals aren't disappointing enough, the outside is worse.

The entire watch is plated in gold (at least the one available from the Play Store), and even the watch face has billions of gold sparkles twinkling. What could be worse than an all-gold, gaudy design? A gold flat tire. Yes, Michael Kors' new watch comes with a bright gold flat tire sitting right underneath an incomplete circular display. If Moto 360's relatively inconspicuous black flat tire wasn't annoying enough, try the Access Bradshaw.

Michael Kors' new watch comes with a bright gold flat tire sitting right underneath an incomplete circular display. If Moto 360's relatively inconspicuous black flat tire wasn't annoying enough, try the Access Bradshaw.

Needless to say, Android Wear is seeing a bit of a change. Conventional Android OEMs – the tech companies – are moving away from it as traditional watch makers like Fossil and fashion brands like MK or Armani are filling the gap. That may not be a bad thing if you're looking for a decent smartwatch that complements your fashion, but in terms of technological development, it makes me wonder if I should be paying more attention to Tizen.

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Pokémon Go code leak may reveal what will be in the game’s Dec. 12 update

Developer Niantic Labs has already confirmed it will reveal some major updates for its augmented reality game Pokémon Go on Monday, Dec. 12. Now, some people have code dived into the latest version of the game and discovered what may be included in that update.

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Many previous rumors claim that the game could see 100 new Pokémon creatures added to next week. However, the code inside the new 0.49.1 version for Android shows that might not be all that will be added to the game. If you don't want your experience ruined beforehand, consider everything beyond this sentence as a spoiler.

The code reportedly shows that Niantic could add Male and Female genders to the creatures in the game. Also, some creatures will get very rare shiny color variants, according to the code. Avatar customization might be in the works, as players can change the avatar's hair, shirts, pants and much more. Finally, the code suggests that the creatures could get optional costumes to wear, perhaps in a holiday-themed event.

It's important to keep in mind that the developer might decide not to put in some or all of these features in the next update, as the code might just be placeholders for future versions of the game. Which new feature are you most excited about for Pokémon Go?

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Samsung Galaxy Note 7 might be made useless in the US on December 15

A new report claims that all remaining Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones in the US will basically become useless on Thursday, December 15.  The company may potentially release an update to the phone that could disable the battery from charging.

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The report comes from The Verge, which states that a Note 7 owner on the US Cellular received the following message on his device:

As of December 15th, Samsung will modify the software to prevent the Galaxy Note 7 from charging. The phone will no longer work.

So far, US Cellular has not issued a comment on this report, and Samsung declined to comment. However, it certainly follows the pattern the company has followed to encourage people who still own the Galaxy Note 7 to turn in their phones, following its recall in October due to many of the devices exploding. Wireless carriers in Australia, New Zealand and most recently Canada have announced plans to cut off access to the Note 7 on that date as well.

Samsung previously released an update to the Galaxy Note 7 that restricted its battery charging to 60 percent of its full charge in the US. The company also stated that about 85 percent of US Note 7 owners have already turned in or traded the device as part of the recall order. It would appear that the few remaining holdouts will soon have a very expensive paperweight.

Are you still holding onto your Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and, if so, will this reported move to disable the battery make you finally trade it in?

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Bethesda Pinball launches with Doom, Fallout and Skyrim tables

Developer Zen Studios continues to add to its many virtual pinball games with its newest release, Bethesda Pinball. The game features three tables based on the Doom, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim game franchises from Bethesda Softworks.

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Each table is currently available from within the main Zen Pinball app for $1.99 each, but there will be a standalone Bethesda Pinball game that will launch in the near future. The Doom table is based on the revamped first person shooter from developer id Software that launched earlier this year for PC and consoles. It lets players battle demons on Mars while flipping the ball through its paces. The Fallout table is based on the long-running post-apocalypse RPG series, with players able to raid Vaults and much more.

Finally, the Skyrim table is based on the latest entry in the Elder Scrolls fantasy RPG series. It actually features ways for players to do things like craft weapons, cast magic spells and go on side quests. Yes, all that and more is in a pinball game. All three tables have features like leaderboards, score tracking, and social features so you can keep up with your friends.

Which table do you plan to play the most in this release?

Get it at Google Play

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