Possible next-gen Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablets spotted on Zauba

Two new tablets from Samsung have been spotted listed on Zauba, a website which tracks India's import and export. The listings for these devices reveal that they carry model numbers of SM-T719 and SM-T813, respectively. Another crucial information that the listings reveal is the display sizes. While the SM-T719 sports an 8-inch screen, the SM-T813 has a 9.7 inch display. Given that the Galaxy Tab S2 series from last year has 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants (with model numbers SM-T710/SM-T715 and SM-T810/ SM-T815), these new devices could very well be the next generation tablets in the series. Aside from the specs, the Zauba listings also gives an idea about the price tag the new tablets will carry - the SM-T719 is listed at INR 13,817 (around $215), while the SM-T813 is priced at INR 17,271 (around $255). Keep in mind, however, that pricing information on Zauba is not always precise. Via...

It's official: Samsung to unveil Galaxy S7 on February 21

Turns out the rumors were correct. Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship smartphone will be unveiled on Sunday, February 21 (19:00 CET) in Barcelona, just a day before MWC 2016 officially kicks off. The South Korean company has also posted a teaser video on YouTube (embedded below) that confirms the same. The video, however, doesn't reveal much - it just shows a man wearing the company's Gear VR headset. "Get ready to rethink what a phone can do," Samsung said in the text accompanying the video. "#TheNextGalaxy will be revealed at Unpacked on February 21." The Galaxy S7 has already been the subject of endless rumors and leaks. It is expected to be launched in the US and Europe on March...

New update to Samsung's Android browser brings support for ad blocking

Samsung has pushed out a new update to its Web browser on Android that adds a new API using which developers will be able to build ad blocking extensions for the browser. The update will only be available to Samsung devices running Android 5.0 or up. Once you update your Samsung Internet browser, you'll be able to block ads by installing a content blocking software that takes advantage of the new API. One such tool is Adblock Fast, which is claiming to be the first free open-source ad blocker for the browser. The team behind Adblock Fast for Android claims the extension allows webpages to load an average of 51% faster. The ad blocker is also available for Chrome and Opera on desktops and laptops. Source |...

You can now fetch yourself some Stan on Fetch TV

Good news for owners of the Fetch TV DVR – After partnering for the launch of Netflix last year, the digital streaming/DVR box has today launched a dedicated Stan app on the platform.

Located within the Apps section of the Fetch TV's menu system, the new Stan app offers integrated access to the thousands of hours of movies and TV shows.

Just like with Netflix, Fetch TV customers will still need a Stan subscription in order to access the content, although new Optus broadband customers signing up to the $90 Entertainment Starter Bundle with Fetch TV will get three months of Stan for free.

Stan-ding on its own two feet

Stan usage won't be unmetered though, so customers on plans with data limits will need to monitor their usage to ensure no excess data charges.

The expansion to Fetch TV comes just weeks after Stan expanded to the Xbox One, and means that accessing the service on a big screen is available to a large number of people.

While the number of compatible devices is still a long way off Netflix's near ubiquitous accessibility, Stan's expansion is still much greater than that of Presto, thanks to apps on devices like the Apple TV and Telstra TV.

• Check out the best shows on Stan

February 01, 2016 at 08:06AM
Nick Broughall

Apple Australia to replace shockingly broken Mac and iOS device chargers for free

If you bought one of Apple's AC wall plug adapters between 2003 and 2015, you may be in for a shock. Literally.

The Mac maker is recalling potentially dangerous two-prong wall plug adapters that were shipped to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Continental Europe, New Zealand and South Korea during that period.

According to Apple, affected models may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched. The recall follows 12 incidents that were reported by owners of faulty hardware.

Apple said that the adapters were included with "certain Mac and iOS devices", meaning Macs, iPads, iPhones and iPods. They were also included in the Apple World Travel adapter kit, which includes a set of seven AC plugs with pins that fit different power points around the world.

Finding fault

Potentially faulty two-prong plug adapters can be identified as having four of five characters or no characters on the inside slot where they attach to the main Apple power adapter. Check out Apple's AC Wall Plug Adapter Exchange Program page for guidance.

Apple has offered to exchange faulty adapters for working ones at its official stores, and you can also request a replacement via the web. Both methods require the serial number of the device that came with the faulty plug.

Just to ease your nerves, Apple has stressed that the recall doesn't affect other Apple AC wall plug adapters designed for Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, the US or any Apple USB power adapters.

• What's the best Mac to buy?

January 28, 2016 at 10:48PM
Kane Fulton

Motorola's 'shatterproof' Moto X Force set for India launch today

The Motorola Moto X Force, which is claimed to be the first smartphone in the world to come with a shatterproof display, will be launched in India on February 1 - today. The announcement was made by the company in a tweet yesterday. Are we there yet? Almost! #1DayToXForce, launching on 1st Feb at 3 PM https://t.co/q6VpVxSNrr http://pic.twitter.com/nPyufpRhv5— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) January 31, 2016 The event is set for 3PM (IST) today, and you can catch the device's live unveiling by heading to the YouTube link at the end of this story. The launch comes nearly a couple of weeks after Motorola India started teasing the phone on Twitter, and a couple of days after it was spotted listed as 'coming soon' on Amazon India. There is currently no official information on its India price though - in the US, where it is sold as the Droid Turbo 2, it carries a price tag of $624 for the base model. Source |...

Best Apps and Games of the Week

These are the best apps and games that came out this week. Guides by Lonely Planet Guides by Lonely Planet is exactly what it sounds like. The app has guides for popular locations, which tell you more about the place, what to see, where to shop, what to do, etc. It also has offline maps for the locations, along with useful tips. and bookmarking for locations. The app currently includes maps for Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kyoto, London, Madrid, Montréal, Moscow, New Orleans, New York City, Paris, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, St. Petersburg, Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver, Venice, Vienna, Washington, DC, and more will be added later. iOS • Android Chrooma Keyboard Chrooma is a simple, resizable keyboard for Android that automatically changes color to match the color of the app. There's also a night mode that changes color according to the time of the day. Android Mimicker Alarm Mimicker is an alarm app by Microsoft. The app makes you do certain tasks after the alarm rings, such as snap a selfie or speak a phrase. If you fail to do that the alarm keeps ringing. If you have trouble getting up in the morning then you could give this a try. Android Twofold Twofold is a color matching game, where you have to move around squares and match their colors. You have to match a certain number of colored squares to get to the next level. Use up all your moves and it's game over. Twofold is made by the developers of rymdkapsel and has the same level of polish and finesse in gameplay and presentation. iOS • Android Downwell Downwell is a fast-paced action game, which is now also available on Android. You fall down a well, shoot enemies with your Gunboots, and collect red gems. There is not much else to know nor should you need to. iOS •...

Weekly poll: Huawei Mate 8 - hot or not

We kicked off our review year with the Huawei Mate 8 and set the bar pretty high for the ones to come. And while we were certainly impressed with the smartphone, it's also hard to overlook its flaws, which we made sure to point out. And now that you're familiar with our findings (perhaps some of you also have first-hand experience with the Mate 8), we're determined to find out what you think of Huawei's top-tier phablet. Our classic hot-or-not formulation sums up the question whether the good outweighs the bad. Are supreme build, powerful chipset, fine 6-inch display, and record-braking battery life enough for you to turn a blind eye on a camera that doesn't quite measure up to the standards of the segment and an Android overlay that's polarizing, to say the least? Additionally, other smaller pros and cons could tip the scales either way depending on who you are and which particular bit of a smartphone's performance is higher on your list of priorities. And since we can't really speak for everyone, we're asking you to speak for yourselves and tell us what you think on the matter at hand - is the Huawei Mate 8 hot or...

Week 4 in review: Flagship rumors intensify

As MWC 2016 inches ever closer, it seems that our news section is overrun by rumors and not much else. After witnessing a sea of specs leaks and rumors about the Galaxy S7 line in the past few weeks, now we are finally starting to catch glimpses of the device as well, or at least parts of it. Apple has also been popping up frequently in the news section.Cupertino is set to unveil a brand new generation of iPhones this year - the iPhone 7, which is definitely more exciting that an "S" upgrade. But there is also another reason why the US giant has caught fan attention so early in the year, prior to its typical fall announcement session. Everything seems to suggest that 2016 will see the resurrection of the 4-ich iPhone form factor. Information on the matter is still scarce at best, but the very prospect seems to have everybody excited. LG and HTC also appear to be hard at work on their next flagship offer. The LG G5 is shaping up to be quite interesting and a definite departure from the OEM's signature design and approach for the past few flagship iterations. HTC only recently appeared back on the radar with a fresh batch of flagship rumors and despite the tardiness, it is hopefully still in the game. An upgrade to its signature "M" series is apparently on the way, but this time it might come with an entirely new look, one borrowed largely from the company's recent One A9 model. Lastly, we take a look towards Asia, where Xiaomi has been teasing its own crown jewel for some time now. The Xiaomi Mi 5 definitely shouldn't be underestimated, as it could, very well play a key role in shaping the flagship scene this year. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 28%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 70%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px !important; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } Live images of the Samsung Galaxy S7 front camera and display surface Originating from a manufacturing facility, the photos confirm that the smartphone's production is well under way. Samsung Galaxy S7 with S820 benchmarked, here's how it compares with the Exynos 8890 version This is the AT&T version, while the other result comes from a Canadian model. Lenovo K5 Note launched with Helio P10 SoC, all metal body It carries a price tag of RMB 1,099 in China (around $167). Apple's next 4-incher now tipped to be named iPhone 5se, iPhone 6/6s hardware inside Sources say it will be powered by the A8 chip and come with the 8MP/1.2MP camera combo. Xiaomi Mi 5 to have four versions, pricing revealed Previous rumors had suggested that the flagship will arrive in two different versions. First alleged image of the 4-inch iPhone 5se surfaces The next small smartphone from Apple has reportedly been captured next to an iPhone 5. iPhone 7 Plus again tipped to come with a dual-camera setup A KGI analyst believes that a version of the iPhone 7 Plus will be offered with a dual iSight camera setup. Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special Edition with Intel Z3590 chip goes official The rest of the specs remain unchanged, including the 256GB of internal storage and 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Lenovo Vibe X3 launched in India for $293 Going on sale on Amazon starting tomorrow. LG G5 dual camera design confirmed by another case leak Farewell to the rear-mounted volume controls, alas. Xiaomi Mi 5 photographed again, check out the rounded metal unibody The comparisons with an iPhone 6 or an HTC One A9 are unavoidable. HTC One M10 to follow A9 design trend The handset is apparently still in development and heading to...

Poll results: Galaxy Note5 wins platform clash vs iPhone 6s Plus and Lumia 950XL

A winner among droids, and now a winner among platforms - we give you the Galaxy Note5. Samsung's latest in a line that started the whole phablet trend captivated the most of our readers in yet another poll this week. This time around the Note5 gathered more than half of the total votes for an uncontested 51% win. In a more curious turn of events, the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL came in second, 5 points ahead of the iPhone 6s Plus. Persisting anti-Windows rants about lack of apps and the OS being bug-infested don't seem to have affected the Lumia's image in the eyes of loyal fans. The iPhone 6s Plus has to settle for third place in our poll, which in all likelihood will mean zero to the company. After all, the most recent financial report out of Cupertino cited quarterly records in both revenue and profit, which isn't something Microsoft's smartphone division can brag...

Top 10 trending phones of week 4

Apple's iPhone 6s returns to our weekly Top 10 trending chart after being absent for more than a month, leaving it to the iPhone 5s to defend the company's honor. Defend it it did, and is also present this week, the two-generations-old model in 8th, while the current one is in 10th. In between them is the Samsung Galaxy Note5, a spot down from last week. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has dropped 3 places, and we're finding it in 7th, but the smaller non-Note Redmi 3 has dropped off the Top 10 altogether. Climbing up the chart, it's a Samsung Galaxy fest, with the Grand Prime in 6th, one up compared to week 3. The J2 is in 5th, while the S6 is the one that's made the most progress - from 9th to 4th. The Galaxy J5 is in third and the J7 is this week's runner-up - we're used to seeing the two together, but the J7 used to hold the crown for a long time, only not since week 2. The Lenovo K4 Note showed up and pushed the J's off the top and seems to set on staying there for a while. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 25%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 75%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } #review-body .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { margin-top: 25px; line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 .phone-name { display: inline-block; width: 325px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: text-bottom; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } .flat-button{ text-align:center; text-decoration: none !important; font: 400 22px Google-Oswald,Arial !important; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 150%; padding: 20px 60px !important; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; margin: 10px 0; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -ms-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -moz-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -o-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; color: #fff !important; } .flat-button-1 { background: #0CADA7; } .flat-button-1:hover { background: #0A948F; color: #666666 !important; } .flat-button-2 { background: #FF7E47; } .flat-button-2:hover { background: #EE7440; color: #666666 !important; } .n-right .rank-info { display: inline-block; font-family: "Google-Oswald",​Arial,​sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 100; } .n-right .rank-info .current-rank { font-size: 23px; } .circle { background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #8fb28f; border-radius: 50%; height: 23px; width: 23px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px -1px 10px; } .arrow { width: 0; height: 0; border-style: solid; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px -1px 10px; } .arrow-up { border-width: 0 15px 25px 15px; border-color: transparent transparent #0cada7 transparent; } .arrow-down { border-width: 25px 15px 0 15px; border-color: #ff7e47 transparent transparent transparent; } Lenovo Vibe K4 Note RANK: 1WAS: 1 specs gallery Samsung Galaxy J7 RANK: 2WAS: 2 specs review Samsung Galaxy J5 RANK: 3WAS: 3 specs review Samsung Galaxy S6 RANK: 4WAS: 9 specs review Samsung Galaxy J2 RANK: 5WAS: 6 specs review Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime RANK: 6WAS: 7 specs review Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) RANK: 7WAS: 4 specs review Apple iPhone 5s RANK: 8WAS: 10 specs review Samsung Galaxy Note5 RANK: 9WAS: 8 specs review Apple iPhone 6s RANK: 10NEW IN specs...

Microsoft promises it will address the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 power issues ASAP

Microsoft is still under a lot of heat concerning the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4. This time around, users are justifiably complaining about an improper sleep function on the devices, along with a few other battery management issues that ultimately lead to poor power performance. Sadly, this is far from the first issues that was found to plague the high-end hybrid devices and similar topics have been exploding on the support forum ever since the pair was announced in October 2015. If you don't recall, at a Microsoft even on October 8 2015, the Surface Pro 4 was unveiled as the bigger brother to the Surface Pro 3 and the US giant also endeavored to take things to the next level with its powerful 13-inch tablet-pc crossover device, dubbed the Surface Book. At the time, both seemed like really amazing products with lots of potential, which even managed to justify the eye-watering price tags for some users. Since then, however, many of the early adopters have been dreading the purchase, or at least that is what a quick browse through the support forum led us to believe. It appears both models might have been outed a little prematurely, with a few notable issues reaching end users. Both exhibited a rather annoying flickering issue and a lot of power problems, one of which has become known as the infamous sleep issue we already mentioned. Yesterday, Microsoft outed a new update which is said to offer: .refinements to improve battery charging and thermal tuning, wireless and Bluetooth performance, and to the detach-reattach experience on Surface Book. However, the elephant in the room was still not addressed. It is at least reassuring that the bug was acknowledged, but currently disgruntle users have only a promise to hang on to: We know some of you are still experiencing issues, including issues related to power management, and we are working to address those as quickly as possible. We'll publish additional updates as soon as they are ready. Interestingly enough, there are also rumors circulating that the issue lies within the Intel Skylake processor, which could mean that other non-Surface devices are prone to the bug as well. We will be sure to keep a close eye on the matter in hopes that a speedy resolution will be found and that this will be the last unfortunate set of bugs the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book experience. Source |...

S6 and S6 edge get Marshmallow update in South Korea

Samsung has started rolling out the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update for the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge in South Korea. The final version comes out after a brief beta test where users had to sign up to receive the beta build. Looking at screenshots by SamMobile, the update brings some minor UI changes, such as the updated notification menu and power menu, along with the usual under the hood changes, such as enabling the fingerprint sensor to work in third party apps. The update should eventually make its way outside of South Korea, and also to other Samsung...

Opinion: Your PS Vita may be gathering dust, but it's no console failure

Sony PlayStation Vita

Oh PS Vita, what did you do deserve this? Once a powerful, robust bit of handheld kit, you could have co-ruled the world as a herald and trusty companion to PlayStation 4.

Sony even began marketing it that way in 2014, but it was too little, too late by that stage. And while the PS4 has gone on to achieve incredible sales feats worldwide, the poor Vita stagnates. It seems, for all intents and purposes, that the PS Vita is as good as dead and ready for its dotage in the Kutaragi Home for Retired Consoles.

But is that really the case? Did Sony really invest all that money into a console for nothing?

The answer on both counts is an emphatic no. Much like PSP before it, sales of PS Vita were strong enough to help Sony bridge the gap between the expensive mess that was PS3 and the critical darling the PS4 has become.

The fact those sales didn't take place in the West almost doesn't matter, but we'll get to that later.

Form factors

What breaks the heart the most is the sheer technological miracles Sony pulled off beneath the Vita's handheld hood. Its ARM CPU and Power VR SGX543 GPU cores give it all the grunt it needs to conjure an almost spot-on approximation of the PlayStation 3's graphical performance - and all that on a mere six per cent of the juice Sony's seventh generation console used.

Not to mention the power it takes to stream and calibrate PS4 content via the Remote Play feature. It's a proper little pint-sized powerhouse.

Think about what PS Vita can do.

With the proportionate power of PS3, it can play games as grand and as beautiful as Tearaway, Gravity Rush and Killzone: Mercenary. It can stream (depending on the strength of your broadband) every single PS4 game direct to your handheld with minimal lag, providing a second screen experience Nintendo attempted to replicate with Nintendo Wii U.

Not only that it can play PSP, PS1 and PS Mini titles, making it one of the most comprehensive retro machines on the market.

As to why it still doesn't offer the same retroactive option for PS2 games remains a mystery, but that issue is somewhat negated by the fact that every PS2 emulator on PS4 will work with Remote Play. So that's another library of titles available on Vita.

Yes, many of those titles are available on PS3 and have been for years, but the handheld holds a different position in our consciousness. An innate intimacy that home consoles simply can't replicate.

In the zone

Just look at Killzone: Mercenary. Yes, it's a Killzone game, but it provided one of the most striking full console experiences in a far smaller form factor.

Full 3D controls thanks to the double analogue sticks, a smooth 30 frame per second (this is handheld after all), high definition graphical output, a full-on soundtrack and completely voice-acted story. It was gaming on a grander scale, it was… on PS Vita.

So it also came and went, registering as barely a blip on the radar of the gaming mainstream.

Even Uncharted - the franchise of the modern PlayStation era - couldn't boost PS Vita beyond the 'fad' connotation. That's a fully mo-capped, fully voiced, fully scored, full-fat cover shooter with Nathan Drake on the cover.

Nope. Nada. Dead in the water.

The fact it sat in PS Plus for well over a year for the grand total of zero pounds just adds to this overwhelming feeling that Sony realised the war was lost and simply threw all its best software against the wall for free in a thin hope it might do some good. It didn't.

It's a sad state of affairs, but one that's also exclusive to the West.

In Japan, PS Vita lives a very different life with a very different reputation. Ever since its launch in December 2011, it's remained high on the console sale rankings. In fact, in December last year (four years after it hit store shelves) it outsold PS4 by six thousand units.

SIX THOUSAND units more than the fastest-selling console in gaming history.

A different world

So what's kept PS Vita so high in the favour of Japanese gamers? Historically, handheld consoles have always sold well, from the original Game Boy to the New 3DS and PS Vita itself, and the rise of tablets and smartphones has done nothing to tarnish this record.

Some of Japan's biggest and most popular franchises - including Monster Hunter, Danganronpa, Persona and Steins;Gate - are either entirely handheld based or have significant entries on portable consoles.

Steins;Gate is a huge deal in Japan, with its time-travelling visual novel antics, but like many Japanese titles it's niche at best in the West.

When you look at the lifetime sales of software titles in the Japan, a staggering eight out of ten are handheld exclusives. Of course, it's important to note that most of the these titles are distinctly Japanese in presentation and gameplay.

This makes them niche prospects West - if they even make it over at all. Monster Strike 3DS sold 1 million units in two days in Japan - an incredible feat when you consider how big PS4 is in the East. And of the 13 million units sold worldwide in the PS Vita's lifetime (so far), a staggering 4 million of them originated on that tiny island.

Those sales are still in an upward curve, too.

Nintendo's 3DS remains the frontrunner - hell, it's outselling everything - but to the Japanese market the PS Vita and 3DS are very different machines, offering two very different experiences. There's very little divide between the two in terms of their audiences (unlike the ever pointless fanaticism we see between PlayStation and Xbox over here) and there's every chance PS Vita will continue to grow and bloom on Eastern shores.

The PS Vita then isn't a failure - it's a Western failure.

It's inability to seed in North America and Europe led Sony to announce its decision to stop making first-party titles for the handheld, but none of that will affect its future in Japan where most of its most successful titles are developed by third party studios.

Could we see a sequel to PS Vita then, its sales being so strong overseas? Well, considering Sony has described the climate as being, "not healthy," for its successor the prognosis suggests it's unlikely, but that comment was made specifically regarding the future of Sony handhelds in the West.

If Vita does ever breed, don't be surprised if it forms into a purely Japan-focused machine.

• This could another year of PlayStation domination.

January 30, 2016 at 11:00PM
Dom Reseigh-Lincoln

The Bluboo Xfire 2 comes with a metal body and fingerprint reader for $60

As with any other great tech advancement in history, smartphones have developed rapidly from luxury to a necessity and as such are constantly becoming more and more affordable. OEMs, especially those operation out of China are always pushing the envelope on what is possible on a shoestring budget and it is an undeniable fact that you can now get a decent mid-range Android device from a major brand for around $200 and enjoy a modern Android experience. But what if you want to go cheaper still? A quick search online revels that you could opt for a no-brand device or a very outdated one for as little as $40. Blueboo's latest model, the Xfire 2 definitely goes one step beyond. We don't typically dip our foot into the vast sear of obscure Chinese brands, but this one is definitely an eye-catcher, at least on paper that is. For $59.99, the handset offers a metal unibody design, with a nice-looking arc and even complete with a 2.5D glass and a back-mounted fingerprint reader. That is definitely great value. The rest of the specs sheet is also decent with a 5-inch HD panel and powered by an MTK6580 quad-core processor and Mali 400 GPU. Memory is set at 1GB for RAM and 8GB for internal storage, but there is also a microSD card slot for up to 32GB more. The camera setup includes a 5MP main shooter with AF and a single LED flash and on the front there is a 2MP unit, which it also has an LED flash of its own. Powering the show is a 2150 mAh battery and the Xfire 2 boots Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, so you are really getting an up-to-date experience for your buck. The only real, obvious, downside of the Bluboo Xfire 2 specs-wise is the Lack of 4G LTE, but perhaps such handsets will also become reality in the sub $100 price range soon, thanks to MediaTek's latest line of ultra-affordable chips. According to the manufacturer's website, the Bluboo Xfire 2 is currently in pre-sale for the special price, which will later be raised to $69.99, still an amazing value. Both GearBest and Geekbuying currently have the dual-SIM variant listed for $73.86 and $79.99, respectively and shipments are expected to begin in February. Source |...

Google adds a Watch Later button to YouTube notifications on Android

It is a well-known fact that the best technology is the one that goes unnoticed, in other words, things that simply work and you feel like they are just the most natural thing ever and have always been. Amidst all the largescale and revolutionary work Google is doing in most every perceivable field of technology, the online giant still puts a lot of value in supporting its products with tiny details that polish them to perfection over time. Now, don't get us wrong, even Google isn't without error and there are plenty of blunders to go around, but it definitely makes us smile when we learn about the little things the team made time to introduce to the user experience. The Calendar app on both Android and iOS, just got an update with real-time text suggestions and now, the YouTube app for Android also has a new feature. It also fits into the hard to spot category perfectly, so much so, that you either have to be involved with YouTube's Android team on be really, really diligent in sifting through your notifications to spot it. The feature is a new "Watch Later" button, added to YouTube notifications for new video uploads. If you don't recall, back in the summer of 2015, YouTube added the convenient feature that allows users to subscribe for new upload notifications per channel. It is a pretty good idea, but up until recently, you could only tap on the notification to watch the video instantly or swipe it away and probably forget about it. The new style of actionable notification was noticed by fans and it appears is not tied to any app update, but is rather a server-side deal. The other action slot is filled with a quick link to potentially unsubscribe from the feed for the particular channel - also convenient. If you haven't started getting the new style of notifications yet, you will probably notice the change when the next one comes along, now that you know what to look...

Week in Gaming: Revealed: the secret diary of Hideo Kojima's 'tech tour'

Page 1

Hideo Kojima is finally free. Not free in the way America is free, or free in the way "Buy Five, Get One Free" is free - he's broken loose from the shackles of Konami like the dogs in Homeward Bound, and now he's running around the globe like a very happy Golden Retriever that's also quite good at making video games.

During his voyage of discovery, Kojima (known best for Metal Gear Solid and tweeting lots of pictures of sausages) has been spotted at studios in the UK, on boats in Amsterdam, and in restaurants with Mark Cerny, game developer extraordinaire and lead architect of the Playstation 4. Sony is clearly sparing no expense in giving their new man the freedom he wants.

Because Koj was here in the UK not too long ago, and everyone in the UK knows each other, we managed to get a sneak peek at his diary while he was staying in our sister's boyfriend's aunt's house*. Sorry for prying, Kojima!

Day 1 of Kojima's World Tour

The day after I finished at Konami, I wrote this on Facebook:

"Hey friends! I've got a few months spare and I really want to have an adventure but pretend it's for work. Can anyone recommend anywhere cool?"

A lot of people replied and it turns out everywhere is cool, so that's what I'm going to do! Go everywhere! It will be like having a gap year, except I'll be using it to find the "new sound" for video games, which means I can go on Sony's dollar. I shall call it… the Tech Tour.

Day 2 of Kojima's World Tour

Missing you, David Bowie :( You were the inspiration behind putting David Bowie songs in my games.

Day 5 of Kojima's World Tour

I drank lots of beer today. It's like liquid sausage. Fun fact: liquid sausage was the brief I gave to my designers when they were making the PT foetus lol

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/689350183080062976

Day 6 of Kojima's World Tour

Got my face scanned. What does it mean? Will I be in a new game? Am I the new Sam Lake? The answer is yes.

https://twitter.com/cerny/status/689582434409537537

Also, Mark Cerny is now tagging along for the rest of the trip. Eugh, he wanted to go surfboard shopping, and I was like "bro, maybe you wanna go shirt shopping first?" lol.

I think he wants me to make Knack 2.

Day 8 of Kojima's World Tour

Went to go and see my new friend JJ Abrams. Turns out he really likes my stuff, which is cool because I saw Star Wars and it was the best. One of the aliens said my name! But the truth is, I'm annoyed that he didn't ask me to be a Stormtrooper, since it's becoming apparent that literally everyone else in the world was.

I showed him how well I can do the pew-pew noise so that he might recommend me for Episode 8. He said he would try and took down my number, but then I remembered I didn't tell him my number and I'm pretty sure he was just drawing circles on a piece of paper.

Unrelated: had a new idea for a game about aliens. Maybe one of the aliens wants revenge on something. Contact Del Toro-san.

Day 10 of Kojima's World Tour

Shuhei Yoshida sent me a Snapchat of a cat today. The cat was in the dark and all you could see were its eyes. The caption was "still scarier than PT" so I sent him back a Snapchat of my bum.

Then I had some wine.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/690017867086106624

Day 11 of Kojima's World Tour

Today was the first time I have had time for breakfast, which is my favourite meal of the day (because I just love sausages). A bad thing happened: when I got my luggage off the carousel, someone had taken my name off the tag and written their own on top of it. Why does this keep happening to me? :(

Everyone said they liked my beard though. 2016 is going to be great!

Day 12 of Kojima's World Tour

Went on a plane that had a face. Unrelated: had another new game idea. There's this guy, he walks through a corridor, but you find out that the corridor is a hangar and you're a plane, and then… he gets revenge on someone. Ask JJ for ideas if he ever calls.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/690261148663349248

Day 12 of Kojima's World Tour, part 2

My beard is itchy.

Day 13 of Kojima's World Tour

Mark Cerny made me try a new thing. It's like sausage, he said, but flat. Flat sausage? I said. But then I ate it. Pretty good, but nowhere near as photogenic. I told Mark it looked like something out of Knack. He cried.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/690410528250974208

Day 14 of Kojima's World Tour

I promise thiss isnt the beers and wines talking but everyons so nICE <3 <3 <4

Day 17 of Kojima's World Tour

SAUSAGE!! I have missed you. Unrelated: story about sausage. Lots of fog. Sausage is searching for someone. Maybe for revenge???? Make new director friend and ask for advice. Actually, maybe this is Mark's field of expertise. LOL.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/690586594219204608

Day 17 of Kojima's World Tour

I'm in San Francisco. It's steep and noisy. NOTHIN LIKE SILENT HILLS HAHAHA :'(

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/690782726073352192

Day 19 of Kojima's World Tour

Went to Quantic Dream, met David Cage. Asked him what his next movie was going to be. He didn't laugh.

Remember to ask new friend David Cage about sausage idea. Also, see if he's interested in buying some pliable breast action figures. I severely overestimated demand.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/692394428363714560

PS Snuck up on Mark and put this mask on him. Almost suffocated him to death. He didn't find it as funny as I did.

Day 20 of Kojima's World Tour

I'v only had two...five beers but I feel like technology is like actual magic <3 <3 <3

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/692667709687877632

Day 21 of Kojima's World Tour

Went to visit Guerilla. They made me sign games. Eugh, does nobody even remember Zone of the Enders?

At least they made a cool picture of Mark and I on motorbikes. Why does he get to be at the front?

Day 22 of Kojima's World Tour

Now I'm in Paris! You might think that I am here to see Assassin's Creed or something but actually I just really wanted a crepe.

Day 23 of Kojima World Tour

Crytek asked me to go visit them in Frankfurt. At first I was "no way" because the tour was over, but then I remembered I still don't have an idea for the new game and also Frankfurt has the best sausages so I literally ran to the airport.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/693108160496689152

Day 24 of Kojima's World Tour

Sony tracked me down. Oh well, it's been fun. Now to find another way of stalling on this game. Maybe I'll tell Shuhei I need to go and find my inner peace in Tibet.

Sigh. Maybe I'll just do Knack 2.

(*not really)

January 30, 2016 at 08:17PM
Kate Gray