Cam Bunton, Editor at NewGeekGuide – Cam has been passionate about tech since his dad bought the family’s first Commodore AMIGA back in the late 80’s. He’s been in the tech industry (writing and making videos) since 2010, and joined NewGeekGuide as the resident video producer and product reviewer in 2015. He sometimes writes news and reviews for 9to5Mac too.
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Google has partnered with a number of outdoor explorers, photographers, runners, skiers and filmmakers to take us closer than ever before to highest mountain in the Alps. Google’s new virtual exploration is simply breathtaking, and easily worth a few minutes of your time…
While online content continues to develop, grow and become increasingly complex and media-rich, Google has been working to keep it fast and efficient. Last September it announced a new compression algorithm called Brotli which the company claims can get between 20-26% higher compressions ratios over its previous algorithm, Zopfli.
Googler, Ilya Grigorik announced on his G+ page that Brotli has reached ‘intent to ship’ status, which means it’s rolling out very soon to your Chrome browser.
Once widely rolled out, it won’t just see desktop pages load quicker, it should see mobile devices using less data and less power. Customers using an Android phone on a prepaid, or postpaid plan with a low data limit could benefit.
It’s worth noting that Brotli is currently restricted to HTTPS connections, but has seen some significant savings in html, javascript and css:
Advantages:
Brotli outperforms gzip for typical web assets (e.g. css, html, js) by 17–25 %.
Brotli -11 density compared to gzip -9:
html (multi-language corpus): 25 % savings
js (alexa top 10k): 17 % savings
minified js (alexa top 10k): 17 % savings
css (alexa top 10k): 20 % savings
If you’re using Chrome Canary, Google’s beta/developer version of Chrome, you can access a Brotli demo link via chrome://flags#enable-brotli. Google hopes that other browsers will support the new Brotli format in the near future, although so far, only Mozilla Firefox has given any public indication of its plans to do so.
The CyanogenMod team has announced via an official blog post that it is ending support for WhisperPush, and that its services will be officially end of life from February 1st. WhisperPush, for those unaware, is an encryption service which keeps messages secure and private.
We’ve ultimately made the decision that we will no longer be supporting WhisperPush functionality directly within CyanogenMod. Further, WhisperPush services will be end-of-lifed beginning Feb 1st 2016. As this is a server side implementation, all branches of CM from CM10.2 and forward will be affected.
There are seemingly several reasons for CyanogenMod’s decision to end integrated WhisperPush support. The team says it saw many ‘hiccups’, and had a number of longstanding registration problems as well as issues in various countries with WhisperPush. Also, with the arrival of Snowden-endorsed Signal — an app which offers practically the same services — the necessity to continue the difficult development and upkeep of WhisperPush was significantly reduced.
We transitioned the work to CM13, instead opting to implement directly within our Messaging application. However, with the rapid adoption of the official Signal application, our implementation into Messaging would have been a seemingly unnecessary fork. Analyzing the costs of SMS verification (many thanks to Twilio for their support on this), usage traffic, server costs and registration numbers, forking would serve no larger long-term user benefit.
If you have a number registered with WhisperPush you should unregister by heading to Settings>Privacy>WhisperPush on your device running any version of CyanogenMod from CM10.2 to CM12.1. Once February 1st rolls around, all numbers will be unregistered by CyanogenMod.
Those who have used, or use the service regularly are urged by the CM team to download the aforementioned Signal app. It comes from Open Whisper Systems (who helped create WhisperPush) and offers encrypted text messages and voice calls. What’s more, it’s cross platform and there’s a desktop beta version.
Earlier this year, we checked out the Panasonic CM1. In short, it’s either an Android powered compact camera that can make phone calls, or a basic Android smartphone with an incredible camera. Either way, we were impressed by its image capture capabilities. Although it’s clearly a niche product, Panasonic has decided to follow it up with the CM10; a device that’s identical to the CM1 in all ways but one…
Earlier this month, Jide.com released an early alpha version of its new Remix OS. In essence, it’s a multi-window desktop operating system built on Android. It’s an interesting concept, but what makes it truly intriguing is that you can run it off a regular, fast USB 3.0 flash drive on a Windows PC or Mac. I took it for a spin on Mac to see what the initial version is like to use…
Huawei went from being relatively unknown to being one of the biggest smartphone makers in the world over the course of 2015. This was thanks to a strong portfolio of devices, ranging from low to high end in prices and performance.
While the Honor sub-brand sold like hotcakes in Europe, it was the P8 which really opened our eyes to how well this company could make smartphones. Writing for VentureBeat, well-known leaker Evan Blass claims the follow-up could come in four variants…
Saygus first wowed us with the ‘world’s most advanced smartphone’ in CES last year. When announced, the Saygus V2 (or V-squared) seemed like an absolute monster in terms of specifications. Sadly, as is often the case with new companies and crowd-funded projects, the device was delayed. Now — after more than a year since it was first unveiled — the V2 is finally about to start shipping (apparently)…
With the Xperia Z5 having only just been officially confirmed for the US market (albeit without a fingerprint sensor), you could be forgiven for assuming Sony won’t announce anything at MWC in Barcelona this year. Turns out, you’d probably be wrong for doing so.
The Japanese tech giant is reportedly sending out invitations to an event which is due to take place at the main MWC venue, Fira Gran Via on Monday, February 22nd. According to the invitation published by XperiaBlog, the event is set to kick off at 8:30 Central European Time (2:30am Eastern).
We’re not exactly sure what to expect from Sony in Barcelona this year. We’d like to see a new Android Wear smartwatch, perhaps one with a little more style than its current offering. As much as we’re not ready to see the next Xperia Z generation yet, it wouldn’t surprise us at all if Sony unveiled the Z6 (or slightly boosted version of the Z5). They might even announce the recently leaked C-series device.
Update: HTC has sent a note to investors refuting rumors that it will spin-off the Vive to a separate company owned wholly by Cher Wang.
“Recent media reports in Taiwan, such as by United Evening News, stating that Cher Wang is planning to spin off HTC’s VR operations into an independent entity that will be wholly owned by Wang is incorrect.
HTC will continue to develop our VR business to further maximize
value for shareholders.”
A report from Focus Taiwan this morning claims that HTC is seriously considering, even planning, to spin-off its virtual reality efforts in to a separate independent company. If HTC goes ahead with the plans, it could mean we’ll eventually start seeing headsets like the Vive launch without HTC’s branding on them…
WhatsApp’s founder Jan Koum has announced today that the widely-used messaging service is now free to customers. The Facebook-owned company is dropping its subscription service immediately. While it’s only 99 cents per year to use WhatsApp‘s multi-platform messenger app, Koum states that the annual subscription was still a barrier to some users…
For a while, Scotland-based audio company RHA was known primarily for delivering audiophile-grade sound in affordable earphones. With the T20, that’s not exactly how they played it. In fact, this set of headphones is not anywhere near cheap enough to be classed as an affordable pair, but I still feel that in terms of design, audio and versatility, they comfortably give you your money’s worth. That’s despite the fact they’d set you back $240/£180 if you decided to splurge on them…
HTC’s product management chief, Mo Versi has confirmed on Twitter that several North American carrier-locked variants of the HTC One M9 and One M8 will be getting Android Marshmallow over the coming weeks.
Beginning this coming Monday, January 18th, the Marshmallow OS update will be pushed to Sasktel, Rogers, Wind and Videotron HTC One M9 owners in Canada.
Great news for our Sasktel, Rogers, Wind and Videotron HTC One M9 owners! We'll go live on Monday for the Marshmallow OS update. Thank you!
— Mo Versi (@moversi) January 15, 2016
As you’d expect, following that tweet, many HTC One owners with different carrier-locked versions were keen to known an ETA for their Marshmallow update. In response to those, Mo Versi stated that the HTC One M8 on Sprint will get the new software from the middle of next week, while the T-Mobile variant is on schedule for a January 25 release.
Sadly there’s no specific news for AT&T or Verizon users, except to say that HTC needs a “few more weeks” before the update is ready for the HTC One M9 on AT&T.
A couple of months ago, a report claimed that Project Aura — the newly rebranded Alphabet/Google company responsible for head-worn wearable tech — will include screen-less headsets. These screen-less devices will allegedly rely on audio to pass on relevant information to the wearer through the use of bone conduction. Today, a report from Wareable corroborates those previous rumors.
Having spoken to Adam Mathes, EVP of Business Development at United Sciences, reporter Michael Sawh states that United Sciences’ brand ambassador, Thad Starner is involved in the development of these audio-focussed Project Aura devices.
Speaking to Wareable, Mathes told us, “He’s (Thad) working with Google still on some kind of in-ear wearable and Glass combination. They’re very keen on the ear.”
Starner, of course, has long been one of the technical leads responsible for the development of the original Google Glass headset, so it’s no surprise to hear his name being associated with the project.
The Project Aura team is rumored to be working on two different audio-centric devices, which are essentially like headphones that you wear on your face. One of them is claimed to have been designed with fitness in mind, and worn during exercise.
In our exclusive reports, we’ve already revealed that Google’s Project Aura is planning on launching a new Google Glass designed specifically for the enterprise market. These new ‘Enterprise Edition’ headsets will be more durable, and feature a new foldable design. They’ll allegedly be powered by an Intel Atom processor, be available with an optional extra battery pack and feature a larger optical prism.
Having run one of the most unusual pre-release marketing campaigns I’ve ever seen, the Oppo F1 is finally here with the strap-line “#HelloMetal”. Oppo‘s latest phone is an almost all-metal, small smartphone equipped with specifications you’d expect from a mid-tier Chinese-made smartphone.
The Oppo F1 features a 5-inch IPS display boasting a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, with a respectable pixel density of 294ppi. Inside, there’s a new Snapdragon 616 octa-core processor paired with 3GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by MicroSD card up to 128GB. Rear and front cameras are 13MP f/2.2 and 8MP f/2.0 respectively, while the non-removable battery holds 2,500mAh power, which should easily be enough to get through a day’s use in a phone this small.
At its thickest point, the phone measures just 7.25mm thin and comes in gold/white only. It runs Oppo’s ColorOS 2.1 on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop and is available to pre-order now from OppoStyle for $249.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKgmxsUGx4M]
We first caught wind of the Oppo F1 when it passed through TENAA in China a few weeks ago. All the specs seem to match, suggesting the F1 will launch with model number, A35.
As $250 smartphones go, the Oppo F1 certainly seems competitive enough. Although it doesn’t have the full HD screen found in the OnePlus X, or latest budget BLU smartphone, it still has enough about it to be worth the outlay, presuming the software and UI experience is as enjoyable and reliable. Its design gives it a luxury/high-end look, which should go a long way to convincing buyers to part with their cash. Let’s just hope none of them watched the awful #GoodbyePlastic videos, that would put me off a company for life.
Xiaomi has announced that it sold over 70 million smartphones over the course of the entire 2015 fiscal year. The company didn’t state exactly how many smartphones were sold, but it has improved on its 2014 total by around 10 million units. It’s not all positive for Xiaomi though, it missed its own 80 million projection set for 2015 which itself was reduced from an original target of 100 million…
Hot on the heels of announcing the brand new pink version of its flagship smartphone, Sony has announced that it’s bringing the Xperia Z5 and Z5 Compact to the US market starting next month. Once they land, it’ll mark the first time the company has sold its unlocked smartphones in the States since the Xperia Z3.
Spec-wise, both phones are up there with the best of the phones from 2015…
Samsung announced in a press release today that it has received government certifications for its security platform, KNOX, from the appropriate regulatory bodies in China and France. Both the China Information Security Certification Center (ISCCC) and France’s National Agency of Computer Security (ANSSI) have given Samsung’s secure mobile platform their blessing…
Not long ago, Xiaomi’s co-founder indicated we should expect to see its next flagship, the Mi 5, launch sometime after the Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year). The only other fact we knew for sure was that it will be powered by Qualcomm’s newest processor, the Snapdragon 820, which is being built using Samsung’s 14nm FinFET process.
While there’s no guarantee that these are definitive, or accurate, there have been a couple more leaks pointing towards what we should expect from the Mi 5 and when we should expect to see it…
When Motorola announced its new, second generation versions of the Moto 360 smartwatch, it also teased a more fitness-centric model called the Moto 360 Sport. While the regular 360 launched in time for holiday seasons shopping, the Sport didn’t land until significantly later. In fact, it only landed in the US — at Motorola and Verizon’s stores — last week.
For those who like to shop on Google’s own online store, you’ll be glad to know the Sport is now available to buy at Store.Google.com and costs $299.
For those who’ve been looking for an Android Wear device optimized for exercising, the Moto 360 Sport looks to be a great option. It comes with a durable, thick silicone strap and with a screen that adapts to surrounding brightness. It’s IP67 water and dust resistant and has a built in heart-rate monitor.
Key Specs:
Xiaomi has taken the wraps off a new variant of its flagship phablet, the Redmi Note 3. This new model is equipped with Qualcomm’s hexa-core Snapdragon 650 processor and is priced just a little higher than the MediaTek-powered models…
Google, Luke Wroblewski has shared some information on a new version of the Google Plus app which should be rolling out to the Play Store over the next couple of days. The G+ update will take the social networking app up to version 7.0.0 and includes a number of requested new features, as well as a boatload of bug fixes.
In the latest version of Google’s Android app, users should notice that the bottom tab bar is automatically hidden whenever they’re scrolling up or down any page (except the notifications screen). It may seem like a minor design change, but it does free up more screen real estate for actual content, and makes the app look a lot less cluttered.
Another new useful feature (which I can’t quite believe wasn’t already there) is the autocomplete suggestions which show up as you type in the search bar. As well as that, the home stream will now remember your position if you happen to go to a different screen within the app, so you don’t have to scroll down to find where you were when you return to it.
Lastly, along with the 69 bug fixes and 14 accessibility issues that were addressed, the new Google Plus app places a prompt on your profile to add a Collection or Community if you don’t have one. As we all know by now, Google Plus is now all about the Collections and Communities.
The updated app is available on the Play Store from today. If you have it installed, the update should show up on your device over the next day or two, if it hasn’t already.
Recently, Lenovo’s chief made some comments regarding the future of Motorola and Lenovo smartphones. Those comments seemed to indicate that the Moto brand name would only be used for high-end smartphones, while Lenovo’s ‘Vibe’ lineup would form the bottom end of the companies product portfolio. Some saw this as confirmation that Moto G and Moto E handsets would be discontinued.
Speaking to The Verge, a Motorola representative was quick to debunk those suggestions:
“Although we are simplifying the combined Motorola and [Lenovo] portfolio, we have no plans to retire Moto G, our most successful smartphone, or Moto E.”
Despite the fact that Lenovo’s chief seemed to be indicating an end to the bottom-tier Motorolas, it seems that instead, the Moto and Vibe brands will be used in different markets. The Moto G and Moto E are incredibly successful in a number of markets, particularly North America. In Asia, the Vibe brand is a better fit. So it could be instead that it slims down its portfolio, while still continuing to build new models of affordable Moto-branded products.
Most of the confusion and interest surrounding Motorola and its phones stems from a recent discovery that the Motorola brand name will be dying. Since then, it seems as though everything has been up in the air, at least in the media. While Motorola is going away, the Moto brand is too strong to give up. Just like it did with ThinkPad, Lenovo is going to continue using the Moto moniker for its devices.
As unusual rumors go, this is up there with the best of them. According to CNET Korea‘s sources, LG is planning and testing a G5 design featuring an all-metal structure, but with a semi-modular design for removing and replacing the battery.
The LG G5 is expected to be announced right before MWC next month, after the company sent out invitations to press for an event on February 21st in Barcelona.
Google has announced that YouTube watchers in Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start seeing a new homepage from this week. While YouTube has been available in Nepali, Sinhalese and Urdu for a while, the new pages have tailored content specific to those three countries. They also have country-specific domains.
Most-watched videos like Nai Nabhannu La 3 in Nepal, the Coke Studio channel in Pakistan and the Amazing Sri Lankan Spiderman will now show up in the top content for their respective countries, making them even easier to find.
With more local content finding their way to their viewers’ home-pages, YouTube hopes it will help inspire more local creators to get involved, and help them get discovered more easily.
While Google is keen to advertise its ‘tailored’ new home pages, there is a more interesting sub-plot here. YouTube has been banned in Pakistan since 2012, a ban which was re-inforced last February when the government said it would remain banned indefinitely. At the time, a Pakistan official said that “no tool or solution has been found which can totally block offensive content, that is why YouTube remains blocked and it will remain so indefinitely.”
With a dedicated Pakistan home page, perhaps Google is hoping it can persuade the government to lift the ban.