Amazon to Buy US Grocer Whole Foods Market for $13.7 Billion

HIGHLIGHTS

• Amazon to acquire Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion
• Whole Foods Market will continue to operate stores under its brand
• The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2017

Online juggernaut Amazon is buying Whole Foods in a deal valued at about $13.7 billion, a strong move to expand its growing reach into groceries. Amazon.com Inc. will pay $42 per share for Whole Foods Market Inc., including debt. That marks an 18 percent premium to Whole Foods' closing price on Thursday. The deal comes a month after Whole Foods announced a board shake-up and cost-cutting plan amid falling sales. The grocery store operator was also under pressure from activist investor Jana Partners. The grocery chain, known for its organic options, had been facing increased pressure from rivals, including European grocery chain Lidl, which is planning to enter the East Coast market, along with Aldi and Trader Joe's. Amazon, meanwhile, has been expanding its reach in goods, services, and entertainment. Whole Foods will keep operating stores under its name and John Mackey will as CEO, with headquarters in Austin, Texas. The company, founded in 1978, has struggled to differentiate itself as competitors also now offer a plethora of fresh and organic foods, and has said customers may be choosing "good enough" alternatives closer to home. In addition to other natural and organic grocers, it has cited pressure from restaurant chains, meal-delivery companies and traditional supermarkets such as Kroger. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2017.

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Moto G5 Plus Now Available via Amazon India as Well

HIGHLIGHTS

• Moto G5 Plus now available via Amazon India
• The smartphone is priced at Rs. 16,999 for 4GB RAM variant
• It was earlier exclusive to Flipkart

Lenovo brand Moto launched the mid-range Moto G5 Plus in March as an exclusive to Flipkart, while the Moto G5 was available only on Amazon India. It now seems like the Moto G5 Plus will also be available on Amazon India as the smartphone has been listed on the e-commerce website. The Moto G5 Plus was launched in India starting at a price Rs. 14,999 for the 3GB RAM+16GB options, and Rs. 16,999 for the 4GB RAM+32GB variant. Notably, Amazon India only lists the 32GB storage variant, while on Flipkart the 16GB variant is marked as unavailable. The smartphone is available in Gold and Lunar Grey on both the e-commerce sites. Apart from online availability, Gadgets 360 learnt earlier this month that the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus are now also available through offline retailers. To recall, the Moto G5 Plus sports a 5.2-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) IPS LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by a 2GHz Snapdragon 625 octa-core SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM. Notably, the Moto G5 Plus along with the Moto G5 are the first in the series to sport an all-metal design, built using diamond-cut high-grade aluminium 6000. In our review of the handset, we found that the smartphone's metal body and pure Android Nougat experience are some of the winning points at this price point. The smartphone also features a 12-megapixel rear camera with dual autofocus pixels, 4K video recording, an f/1.7 aperture, and dual-LED flash, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a wide-angle lens. Connectivity options on the Moto G5 Plus include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, Bluetooth v4.2, 3.5mm audio jack, and Micro-USB. It packs a 3000mAh battery with support for TurboPower charging that will provide six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes of charging.

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iPhone 8 to Feature Wireless Charging and Waterproofing, CEO of Apple Manufacturer Wistron 'Confirms'

HIGHLIGHTS

• Wistron is an Apple manufacturer with a unit in India
• CEO confirms that upcoming iPhone models will sport wireless charging
• He also provided an update on iPhone manufacturing in India

Apple’s iPhone 8 is the most anticipated smartphone of the year, and the device has previously been rumoured to come with new AR features, OLED panel, a fast A11 chip, and wireless charging. Now CEO of an Apple manufacturer has all but confirmed the presence of waterproofing and wireless charging in Apple phones coming later this. Wistron manufactures iPhones, just like Pegatron and Foxconn, albeit in small quantities. Nikkei Asian Review reports that Wistron CEO Robert Hwang has confirmed wireless charging and waterproofing will be included in this year’s iPhone models. "Assembly process for the previous generations of [iPhones] have not changed much, though new features like waterproof and wireless charging now require some different testing, and waterproof function will alter the assembly process a bit," Hwang reportedly told reporters after the company's annual shareholders' meeting. This is not the first time the iPhone 8 has been tipped to feature wireless charging and enhanced waterproofing capabilities. However, it is still unclear whether Apple will adopt the industry standard of Qi wireless charging, or will introduce a new innovative long-range charging that has been rumoured a couple of times in the past. There’s a recent patent that tips Apple is experimenting with wireless charging technologies that could see you charge your iPhone with a Wi-Fi router. Hwang also gave an update about the Wistron facility in India that recently starting producing the iPhone SE. Hwang says that though the company makes only "a small number" of handsets in India right now, he expects Wistron's overall smartphone business in the country to break even next year. He added that the growth of manufacturing in India will depend on the negotiations between Apple and the Indian government, but is bullish on the country. "We are being very aggressive in expanding our presence in India in addition to smartphone business," he reportedly told reporters. Purported leaked iPhone 8 renders suggest that the smartphone will sport a bezel-less display with the fingerprint scanner embedded underneath, a vertical dual camera setup, a glass back, and an elongated power button. While some reports had suggested hiccups in production could cause a delay in launch, others insist that Apple will launch the iPhone 8 in September as per tradition. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Xiaomi India Announces 'Reward Mi' Programme With Discounts, Early Access to Products, and More

HIGHLIGHTS

• Xiaomi's Mi.com reward program kicks off today
• You can earn points and redeem them for discounts/ early access
• You can also buy 'out of stock' products

Xiaomi on Thursday announced its Mi.com reward programme in India that will let registered users earn reward benefits on purchasing Xiaomi products via the online store. Interested users can join the Reward Mi programme by visiting the Xiaomi website and they will receive 50 Mi Tokens as a "welcome gesture". The Mi Tokens are points acquired on Mi Store through shopping as well as participating in Mi events and performing other activities. Xiaomi says users will receive 10 percent of the value of transactions done on Mi.com as Mi Tokens. For example, users who purchase a Mi device worth Rs. 10,000 will get 1,000 Mi Tokens. Tokens will be credited to the user account upon successful delivery of the product. By performing other activities like sharing a product page or its review on social platforms, users can earn 5 Mi Tokens every day. Users can then redeem the Mi Tokens against their next purchase on Mi.com. Users can also redeem Mi Tokens to get F-codes, which is a priority code that will let users add a Mi product to their shopping cart even when it is not in stock for other customers. The Mi Tokens can also be redeemed for Discount Coupons which will help users get a discount on a product being sold via Mi.com. Detailed terms and conditions are available on the Xiaomi website. Xiaomi says that the first phase of the reward programme starts today, where registered users can earn Mi Tokens as explained above. The second phase of the Mi.com reward programme starts from the first week of August, and will be a referral-based affair, which will allow the current registered users to earn Mi Tokens by inviting their friends to sign-up. Xiaomi says that the third phase of the programme will "begin later and will include tier privileges" like including express delivery, early access to sales, products, and more.

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LG G6 Available on Amazon India at Rs. 38,990, a Discount of Rs. 13,000

HIGHLIGHTS

• LG G6 was launched in April at Rs. 51,990
• In May, LG offered a Rs. 10,000 discount for a limited time
• LG G6 is now available at Rs. 38,990
• 
  

LG is offering an Amazon Prime exclusive discount to prospective buyers of the LG G6. There’s a Rs. 13,000 discount on the purchase of the LG G6 through Amazon India, but only for those who have Prime membership. Furthermore, there are additional offers and a no cost EMI option also listed on the Amazon India site. The discount is available on both Ice Platinum and Astro Black colour options, and Prime members can grab the LG G6 for as low as Rs. 38,990 – the lowest price yet for the LG G6. Apart from the massive discount, Amazon is offering a No Cost EMI option on Bajaj Finance cards. There’s also a Reliance Jio offer that gets you up to 100GB of additional 4G data on the purchase of this smartphone, an offer that has been available for LG G6 buyers since the phone was launched in India. Lastly, there’s an interest cashback offer if you purchase the LG G6 through credit card EMI from the seller ‘Cloudtail India’ specifically. To recall, the LG G6 smartphone was initially launched by the company at MWC 2017 in February, and came to India in April at a price of Rs. 51,990. In May, the company announced a limited period discount of Rs. 10,000 on the flagship smartphone. LG G6 specifications As for specifications, the LG G6 runs Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box. The highlight feature on the smartphone is its 5.7-inch QHD+ (1440x2880 pixels) FullVision display with an 18:9 (or 2:1) aspect ratio instead of industry standard (16:9). The LG G6 was launched with the new UX 6.0 that company said has been optimised for the 18:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC coupled with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The LG G6 comes with 64GB that is expandable via microSD card (up to 2TB). In terms of optics, the LG G6 comes with a dual-camera setup at rear end with two 13-megapixel sensors - one for wide-angle shots with 125-degree lens and f/2.4 aperture, and the other for regular shots with 71-degree lens and OIS 2.0. At front, the G6 features a 5-megapixel wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture and 100-degree lens. The LG G6 houses a non-removable 3300mAh battery. It measures 148.9x71.9x7.9mm and weighs in at 163 grams. LG G6 supports LTE-A 3 Band CA network and in terms of connectivity options, it includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v4.2, NFC, and USB Type-C 2.0 connectivity options. It is available in Astro Black, Ice Platinum, and Mystic White colour options. Notably, the LG G6 was touted to be the "first smartphone with supports Dolby Vision" at the time of its launch by LG. It features a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC (digital to analogue converter) for enhanced audio playback as well. The phone packs a fingerprint scanner at the back as well. Another distinction is that the LG G6 has passed the MIL-STD 810G military standard certification for durability.

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Jio vs Airtel, Vodafone, and Idea as IMG Panel Looks Into Telecom Sector's Woes

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reliance Jio has accused incumbent telcos of milking the sector
• Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular were accused of cartelisation
• The three telcos except Jio will make presentations to the IMG on June 16
• 
  

New and old telecom operators were again at each other's throats on Monday with Reliance Jio accusing incumbents of milking the sector using borrowed money while the older players blamed free voice and data offering by the Mukesh Ambani firm for financial woes of the sector. As an inter-ministerial group (IMG) began hearing operators on reasons for telecom sector being dragged towards loan defaults, Jio launched a scathing attack on Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular accusing them of cartelisation and blaming financial woes on their reluctance to use equity for investing into new technology. While the 'big three' will make presentations to the IMG on June 16, Reliance Communications has said that FY17 was the first time since inception that the industry's revenue and operating profits declined, primarily because they were forced to match free offerings of the newcomer with deep pockets. Jio, on the other hand, blamed the incumbents for the financial woes saying they stretched the balance sheets through extensive borrowings without bringing in any equity money. While the Mukesh Ambani-owned firm blamed availability of easy credit to buy spectrum for worsening the situation, other operators said reduced cash flows were hampering capacity of telecom companies. Jio, run by India's richest man, said that the incumbents need to infuse Rs. 1 lakh crore to Rs. 1.25 lakh crore immediately, as well as spectrum liabilities need to be paid upfront instead of deferred payment route. RCom's policy prescription to the government included reduction in licence fee to five percent and one percent flat spectrum usage levy along with a three-year moratorium on these payments. The debt-ridden RCom - which recently got a seven-month reprieve from lenders to service its huge debt - also wants the period of repayment for deferred spectrum charges to be extended to 20 years which is the life of the spectrum. PTI sources in Telecom Department said the IMG will meet banks including SBI, PNB, Axis Bank and HDFC on June 14 to discuss the telecom industry's financial difficulties. Telecom PSUs Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd will be meeting the IMG on Tuesday, while Airtel, Vodafone and Idea are slated to make presentations before the government panel on June 16.

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Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G) Launched in India: Price, Specifications and More

HIGHLIGHTS

• Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G) was launched as the Galaxy J1 (2016) in Russia
• It sports 4G VoLTE connectivity
• It has been priced at Rs. 6,890

Samsung on Friday launched a new budget 4G smartphone in India - the Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G). Priced at Rs. 6,890 (best buy), the smartphone will be available to buy soon from physical retailers in the country. It is listed in Gold, Black, and White colour variants on the Samsung India site. Notably, the Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G) is not a brand new phone. The same phone was launched in Russia in March last year, after quietly making its way to Dubai in January. The smartphone was launched as the Samsung Galaxy J1 (2016) in Russia and Dubai. The Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G) aka Samsung Galaxy J1 4G (J120G) is an Android 5.1 Lollipop-based smartphone that supports dual-SIM cards (both Micro-SIM). It sports a 4.5-inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) Super AMOLED display and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of RAM. It sports a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash and also houses a 2-megapixel front camera. There is 8GB of inbuilt storage on board the handset, which supports expandable storage via microSD card (up to 128GB). The Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G) measures 132.6x69.3x8.9mm and weighs 131 grams. The Samsung Galaxy J1 (4G) features 4G LTE with VoLTE support, GPRS/ EDGE, 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, and Micro-USB connectivity options. The handset is powered by a 2050mAh battery.

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WhatsApp to Stop Working on Nokia Symbian, BlackBerry OS on June 30

HIGHLIGHTS

• WhatsApp will end support for BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10
• Support for Nokia S40, and Nokia S60 platforms also dropped
• Users can upgrade to a new device or platform to continue using WhatsApp

If you are among those still using a dated software platform, then it's time you start look for alternatives of WhatsApp. As promised, WhatsApp will be ending support for BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40, and Nokia S60 platforms on June 30. This step comes after the Facebook-owned brand decided in November to delay ending support for the ageing BlackBerry and Nokia software from December 2016 to June 2017. Support for Android 2.2 Froyo, iOS 6, and Windows Phone 7 was ended by WhatsApp in December last year. The most widely used instant messaging app had last year announced that it will drop support for a few platforms. The company later extended the support until June 2017 after BlackBerry expressed its disappointment with WhatsApp's decision to abandon the platform. WhatsApp gave the reasoning that the dated platforms don't offer the kind of capabilities it needs to expand the app's features in the future. In its Support page, WhatsApp explains, "These platforms don't offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app's features in the future. If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend upgrading to a newer OS version, or to a newer Android running OS 2.3.3+, iPhone running iOS 7+, or Windows Phone 8+ so that you can continue using WhatsApp." The Facebook-owned company has advised that anyone with the above-mentioned older platforms who want to keep chatting with friends via WhatsApp will need to upgrade to a newer operating system or a new device. WhatsApp also clarifies that currently there's no way users can transfer your chat history between platforms though the company will provide the option to send your chat history attached to an email, if requested by users. You can head to WhatsApp's Support page to understand the steps. WhatsApp had previously emphasised how much the market changed in the years since WhatsApp was launched in 2009. Recapping the market, the messaging service said that in 2009 Android and iOS platforms were running on less than 25 percent of the devices, while BlackBerry and Nokia's operating systems dominated the market with roughly a 70 percent share. WhatsApp's decision to pull the plug on Symbian and BlackBerry, however, recaps how the platforms have lost popularity.

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Reliance Jio Says Rivals' Failure to Invest in Tech Causing Financial Stress

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reliance Jio alleged rival telcos of not investing in new technology
• They need to invest Rs. 1,25,000 crores, payback debt, & invest in tech
• Jio met Inter-ministerial Group (IMG) to address the issue

Reliance Jio on Monday said telcos not investing in new technology and instead leveraging their balance sheet are themselves to blame for financial difficulties. Newcomer Reliance Jio, which met the Inter-ministerial Group (IMG) said operators need to raise funds by selling stake or invest in new technology through internal accruals. Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio is the newest telecom operator in the country that opened its services to the general public last year, and since has added over 100 million users thanks to competitive tariffs and free voice calling that forced Jio rivals across to slash tariffs of their own, leading to a stress on their financial resources. "Operators (excluding Jio) need to invest Rs. 1,25,000 crores, payback debt and they need to invest in technology, as growth is happening in data...they can do this by selling stake," said a senior Jio official who did not want to be named. Stating that the financial stress being faced by operators was "their own creation", the official said the only policy intervention required is in form of reduction in GST rates, licence fee, and USO levies. Lowering of these levies can generate Rs. 20,000-25,000 crores additional EBITDA for the industry, the Jio official said after coming out from the 45-minute meeting with the IMG. The IMG on Monday began consultation with operators as part of efforts to address the financial difficulties being faced by the sector. The telcos are reeling under a massive Rs. 4.6 lakh crore debt, and are facing pressure on revenue, profitability, and all other financial metrics in face of increasing competition intensified by the entry of Jio.

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Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom Price Revealed

mo

HIGHLIGHTS

. ZenFone 3 Zoom was launched at CES 2017 . It sports a dual rear camera setup . Pricing for the top-end variant was revealed

Asus, alongside the launch of the ZenFone Pegasus 3S in China, announced the pricing of the ZenFone 3 Zoom - at least, partially. To recall, the ZenFone 3 Zoom was launched at CES 2017 last week, but at the point the company had only detailed a February release date.
The Asus ZenFone 3 Zoom price is CNY 3,699 (roughly Rs. 36,400) - specifically, for the top-end 128GB inbuilt storage variant that also sports 4GB of RAM. Price details of cheaper SKUs were not revealed by the company. As we mentioned, the company made the price announcement at the China launch event of the Asus ZenFone Pegasus 3S IT168 reports.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom is called the "thinnest and lightest" smartphone featuring a 5000mAh battery by Asus. The smartphone is 7.9mm thick, and weighs 170 grams. It sports a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor.
The camera-focused smartphone bears a dual rear camera setup, with one 12-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX362 sensor and an f/1.7 aperture, and the other 12-megapixel rear camera featuring 2.3x optical zoom - allowing for a total 12x zoom. Like the Asus ZenFone AR, it features a TriTech+ autofocus system, dual-PDAF, 4-axis OIS, and 3-axis EIS. At the front, the ZenFone 3 Zoom packs a 13-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX214 sensor, an f/2.0 aperture, and a screen flash feature.

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Apple to Launch 3 iPad Models in Q2 2017; No New iPad mini: Report

HIGHLIGHTS

1) A refreshed 12.9-inch iPad Pro is expected
2) A new 10-10.5-inch iPad Pro is tipped
3) An affordable 9.7-inch iPad may also be launched
A new report by KGI Securities’ analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, claims Apple will be launching three new tablets in the second quarter of 2017.
Significantly, the note to investors contains no mention of the iPad mini, leading one to believe that Apple is either killing the lineup or will have a new model to unveil later this year
. Kuo has an excellent track record for predicting Apple plans, based on supplier information. The analyst claims that the Cupertino giant will launch an updated version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, while also introducing a new iPad Pro model with a new design featuring narrow bezels and a screen size between 10 and 10.5 inches. Alongside, Apple is also tipped to launch a more affordable 9.7-inch iPad that will be the “low-priced option” in its lineup.
The new 12.9-inch and 10-10.5-inch iPad Pro are said to ship with an Apple A10X SoC - an upgraded version of the Apple A10 SoC found in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus - made by TSMC. As for the new, low-priced 9.7-inch iPad, Apple will reportedly use the Apple A9 SoC that was used in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and will be made by Samsung. The analyst adds that a 10 percent drop in shipments can be expected this year, down to 35-37 million units, but that would still be less than what the company experienced in 2016 - where it saw a 20 percent fall year-on-year. The reason for the smaller drop in shipments, Kuo claims, is that the 10-10.5-inch iPad Pro is expected to see substantial demand from the enterprise demographic, while the 9.7-inch offering should see good demand - and is expected to account for 50-60 percent of the shipments. Apple can also be expected to generate good revenues from its tablet range in part due to a “a better ASP thanks to improved product mix on decreasing exposure to iPad mini will likely offset the shipment decline.” To recall, Apple launched the 9.7-inch iPad Pro back in March last year, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and iPad mini 4 in September 2015. The company was expected to refresh its iPad lineup at its September launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, however, that did not happen.

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LG Unveils 5.7-Inch QHD+ Display; May Be Used on LG G6

HIGHLIGHTS

. Use of inTouch technology makes the display more responsive
. The outdoor visibility is claimed to have improved by the company
. Enables the users to do multi-tasking and use dual-screen feature

LG Display has announced world's first 5.7-inch QHD+ (1440x2880 pixels) display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and pixel density of 564ppi. The display has been designed to provide users with immersive viewing experience and enable users with the capability of multi-tasking or using dual-screen feature, thanks to its large size. The company may very well use this display on its upcoming flagship smartphone, thought to be called the LG G6.
The company has made use of its inTouch technology to make the display more responsive to touch as well as keep the frame of the smartphone thin due to the absence of Touch Cover Glass, as per a statement quoted by Korea IT Times. The company says that due to a 10-percent increase in transmittance, the outdoor visibility of the display has been improved as well. Further, the power consumption has been increased by up to 30 percent, as per company's claims.
Excluding the cover glass, the module is reportedly less than 1mm thick and has its bezel width reduced by 20 percent at top and around 10 percent on the left and right sides in comparison with conventional QHD LCD displays, as pointed out in the report.
"We expect to maximize user experience and customer value through the super high-quality display with its new 18:9 aspect ratio, which sets it apart from conventional displays for smartphones," Byeong-koo Kim, senior vice president and head of mobile development Group 1 at LG Display, was quoted as saying in the report.
In comparison, the LG G5 smartphone, which was launched last year, packs a conventional QHD LCD display with screen resolution of 1440x2560 pixels. The company's upcoming G6 smartphone can be expected to sport LG Display's new QHD+ display. LG Electronics' Chief Technologist Skott Ahn recently said that the company will be moving away from the modular design seen on the G5 flagship with the launch of its upcoming LG G6 smartphone.

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Synaptics Launches Biometric Fusion Engine for Mobiles, Combining Fingerprint and Facial Recognition

Biometric authentications methods like fingerprint scanners have slowly made it to majority of smartphones adding at least basic level of security for users. However, attackers have found ways to bypass fingerprint scanners on smartphones that gives them access to the device. Ahead of CES 2017, Synaptics has come out with a new system that combines fingerprint authentication and facial recognition for enhanced security and improved usability. The all-new multi-factor biometric fusion engine will be integrated into Synaptics Natural ID fingerprint sensors which will use both fingerprint and facial biometrics. The biggest advantage of the new fusion system is that it lets users choose a modality based on preference or one that can be convenient at that moment. With the new system, users get an extra layer of security as both fingerprint and facial factors have to meet minimum threshold requirements before authentication. The Synaptics Natural ID fingerprint sensors can be used on smartphones, tablets, and PCs. The company explains that the Synaptics multi-factor fusion engine is backed by SentryPoint technology, which includes high secure authentication features like Quantum Matcher with PurePrint anti-spoof technology. The PurePrint examines fingerprint images using unique artificial intelligence technology to distinguish between fake and actual fingers. With the new Synaptics multi-factor biometric fusion engine, facial recognition also uses anti-spoofing tools including the ability to check for combinations of eye blinking and head movements for added security. Announcing the new system, Anthony Gioeli, Vice President of Marketing, Biometrics Product Division, Synaptics said, "Synaptics' Natural ID fingerprint sensors are already significantly more secure and convenient than typed passwords, and by adding multi-factor biometrics users achieve a whole new level of exceptional device- and application-level authentication. Phase one of our fusion engine is focused on fingerprint and facial, and future iterations will include additional biometric and security factors." Synaptics has partnered with KeyLemon, a camera-based facial recognition and authentication, to integrate facial biometrics with Natural ID fingerprint authentication.

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‘Five Nights At Freddy’s Sister Location’ Latest News & Update: Mobile Version Following Custom Night DLC Update Soon

"Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” continues to gain ground as it tries to appease gamers looking forward to some action-horror adventures. The “Custom Night” DLC has already been released but it looks like developer Scott Cawthon has some more things up his sleeve. Among the speculated plans for “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” include a mobile version though there is no actual date on when Cawthon plans to release it. In a friendly exchange at a discussion thread on the Steam Community page, Cawthon confirmed that he will release a mobile version though work on it will follow after “Custom Night” DLC.

“Custom Night” v 1.1 was released last Dec. 2 and now fans are eager to see when the mobile version will be out, iDigital Times reported. More to that, “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” players want to know what things they can expect from the mobile version. But before going that far, some are apprehensive on how a mobile version for “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” would stand out. Some gamers feel that not all features seen on the full game may apply in a mobile version.

One singled out “Night 3” and “Night 5” of “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” as not being feasible on mobile, singling out precise clicking for the said nights. Apparently, interface and navigation are two of the concerns most are worried about though Cawthon can always improvise to make it happen.

Apparently, there will be a lot of work involved as far as a mobile version of “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” is concerned. There will be adjustments on game play and possible iterations on what features can fit to that version.
From the looks of it, a mobile version of “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location” may take more time to work on. Cawthon may have confirmed plans of coming out with one but actually seeing it will still undergo the necessary process as other games have gone through.

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OnePlus 3 Receiving OxygenOS 3.2.8 Update; Brings Full-HD Recording at 60Fps, and More

HIGHLIGHTS

• OnePlus 3 now receiving OxygenOS 3.2.8 update OTA update
• The incremental update brings emergency calling feature in India
• The update gradually rolling out to users

OnePlus has started rolling out a new incremental OxygenOS update for the OnePlus 3 smartphone. The OxygenOS 3.2.8 update for the OnePlus 3 brings full-HD (1080p) 60fps video recording and more.
The company in its changelog reveals that the new incremental update also adds emergency calling for India, in-line with Government of India's order to add panic button. After updating, the OnePlus 3 users in India will have to triple press power button to trigger an emergency call.
The update also brings optimisation of Snapchat, with fixes for video calling and scrolling lags, as well as improved system stability and general bug fixes. OnePlus adds that the OxygenOS 3.2.8 update will be gradually rolling out to users. "The OTA will reach a small percentage of users today, and we'll begin a broader rollout in a few days," OnePlus said in a forum post. OnePlus 3 users should start receiving receive the update via OTA (over-the-air).
The incremental updates are a way OnePlus is making sure that OnePlus 3 users don't feel left out without Android 7.0 Nougat. A report earlier this month claimed that the Chinese company will bring a beta 'community' build of Android 7.0 Nougat for the OnePlus 3 this month. Previously, the company told its fans during a Reddit AMA that it was "actively" working on bringing the latest Android N update to the OnePlus 3. Earlier this year, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau teased Android N update for the smartphone with a short clip on Twitter that showed the "N" logo of Android 7.0 Nougat on the screen of the OnePlus 3 smartphone.

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Gionee S9 now official with a dual-camera setup

Gionee freshly announced the S9 in China yesterday with a fairly attractive hardware specs sheet underneath. The key feature here, as you would already know, is the dual-camera on the back. This has become an industry standard now with several manufacturers trying out this concept, so it’s not really surprising to see Gionee joining the bandwagon.
The smartphone comes with a 5.5-inch 1080p display on board, which might not be on par with most flagships today, but is just about the perfect size and resolution for a modern day smartphone. While all the talk will be about the dual-cameras on the back, Gionee has used an attractive 13MP sensor on the front as well, accompanied by the company’s selfie flash feature.
The handset will be officially available starting November 25 in China for 2499 CNY (Rs 24,600 approx). It’s still not known if the company plans to bring the device to the Indian shores.

Hardware specs of the Gionee S9:

• Display: 5.5-inch Full HD (1920x1080)
• Dimensions: 154.2 x 76.4 x 7.4 mm, weight of 168 grams
• Processor: 2 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6755
• Camera: 13MP + 5MP rear camera, 13MP front camera with selfie flash
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB (expandable via microSD)
• OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow w/ Amigo OS 3.5
• Battery: 3,000mAh
• Connectivity: 4G LTE

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Samsung Galaxy S8 Tipped to Sport Pressure-Sensitive Display

HIGHLIGHTS

• Samsung's pressure-sensitive display tech may work same as Apple.
• It is said to pack 6GB of RAM.
• Galaxy S8 is expected to launch on February 26.

Samsung may be the next handset manufacturer to go for pressure-sensitive display technology for its next flagship, if a new report citing multiple industry sources is to be believed. Notably, Samsung's pressure-sensitive display technology is expected to work same as Apple's 3D Touch seen on iPhones.

The technology will be able to distinguish between a light tap and deep press, enabling access to more functions just by pressing harder. Notably, Samsung won't be the first Android handset vendor to bring pressure-sensitive display technology to its phones as Huawei was the first to unveil the force touch tech. To recall, Huawei's Mate S was the first Android smartphone featuring Force Touch technology.

The report by The Investor cites an official of a Samsung supplier who said, "Samsung is mulling to adopt the force touch technology partially from the S8 but the full adoption will come in one or two years. It is a matter of time before other major Android smartphone makers deploy the technology that will help enhance user interface." The report also suggests that Samsung may utilise its own force touch tech developed by Samsung Display, which also supplies force touch displays to Huawei.

Additionally, Samsung's Senior Executive at component division on condition of anonymity claimed that the South Korean company was working on the force touch tech "for the adoption in the near future."

A recent report claimed that Samsung's Galaxy S8 may launch in two screen size variants - 5.7-inch and 6.2-inch. Prolific phone tipster Evan Blass (@evleaks) claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S8 models will have model numbers SM-G950 and SM-G955 for 5.7-inch and 6.2-inch screen sizes respectively.

Based on preliminary leaks, Samsung Galaxy S8 will sport a 5.5-inch 4K (2160x3840 pixels) Super AMOLED display with impressive pixel density of 806ppi. It is further expected to pack company's own Exynos 8895 SoC coupled with 6GB of RAM. Rumours so far have claimed that Samsung will launch the alleged Galaxy S8 flagship smartphone on the side-lines of MWC 2017 in Barcelona on February 26.

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Google Calendar for iOS Gets Landscape Mode for Month and Week Views, Spotlight Search, and More

HIGHLIGHTS

• Update adds support for non-Gregorian calendars
• The app can now arrange rooms and time for your meetings
• Update already available on App Store

Google Calendar app on iOS has been a useful alternative to the native calendar app and with its latest update, the search giant has added some features to make it even more useful apart from easier to use. Google has updated its Calendar app on iOS to version 1.6.3 and the update adds several features including landscape mode support for Month and Week views within the app.

Apart from the Landscape mode addition, the Google Calendar v1.6.3 for iOS brings along the ability to perform Spotlight searches for events, reminders, and goals within the app. However, the additions do not end there as the company has also added alternative calendars to the app with its latest update. Users will now get the option to add non-Gregorian calendars like Lunar, Hindu, and Islamic calendars within the app.

Another addition, which is only applicable through G Suite, enables the Calendar app to arrange for meeting rooms and decide the meeting time for users. As per the feature's description on App Store, you have to just "add colleagues as guests to your event and Google Calendar will find the best meeting times & rooms for you."

The updated Google Calendar app is already available and can be downloaded from the App Store. On Monday, Google also announced a major overhaul to Gmail for iOS. The update brings the Material Design interface, the Undo Send feature, improved search suggestions, as well as the ability to swipe to archive or delete mails.

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BSNL Eyes Spectrum in 700MHz Band for 4G Services

Weeks after the 700MHz spectrum went unsold in India's biggest auction, BSNL has approached the Telecom Department for airwaves in the premium band for rolling out 4G services. The telecom PSU has suggested that a 5MHz block in the 700MHz band be assigned to it by the government through the equity route. When contacted, BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava told PTI, "Yes. We have written to the Department of Telecom seeking 5MHz block on 700MHz band through equity route". In the recently concluded spectrum auction, the debt-ridden telecom sector had ignored premium radiowaves in 700MHz band - which was put up for sale for the first time - at a reserve or base price of Rs. 11,485 crores per MHz. Industry bodies like GSMA have urged Indian Government to reconsider the pricing for 700MHz band, which failed to find buyers due to its "unrealistically" high pricing. But Shrivastava downplayed the concerns on pricing, saying that spectrum in the 700MHz band would be an asset for the corporation, given its plans for 4G services. "We do not have right kind of 4G spectrum which can give us coverage, although we have some 4G spectrum which can give us the capacity. But 700MHz, if it comes, in combination with 2500MHz band available with us, will put us in a position to roll out 4G services through spectrum route across the country," he said. He also said that 700MHz offered clear advantage such as "good coverage" with lesser number of base stations. "The 700MHz spectrum can penetrate homes, so that means improved indoor coverage," he said. Explaining the model being proposed by BSNL, he said that the spectrum could be assigned, in lieu of Government raising its equity in the corporation. "We are proposing that 700MHz spectrum comes to us and in lieu of that, the paid-up equity of the government can increase to that extent in BSNL," Shrivastava pointed out. BSNL is a 100 percent Government of India Public Sector Undertaking.

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How to watch the presidential election results from your laptop, phone, or streamer

No cable? No problem. Here's how you can get the results of the presidential election with only your computer or phone.

The 2016 presidential election that's been obsessing the nation for months culminates tomorrow, November 8. Election Day has become a charged event characterized by polarized views of the candidates, and while all eyes will be glued to the results, the good news is that you don't need to be glued to your TV to watch the states' votes trickle in.
If you're out and about as the numbers tally, or you've cut the cord and don't own a TV, there are some excellent options for getting the election results straight to your computer, phone or streaming device.

Streaming TV news stations

Traditionally, broadcast news stations have been the place to go for election coverage, but even if you don't have a TV or you want to watch on the go, you can still get news from your favorite station.
Most of the broadcasters that have been giving the presidential election TV airtime will also post overviews of their coverage, along with a live stream, online. Because these stations are broadcasters and can be picked up by anyone with a TV antenna, you don't need a log-in to get started. Just go to the website and press "play."
For example, networks like CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox all have dedicated landing pages for the elections, and they'll all live-stream their news coverage for free. Not only will you find access to live streams here, but you can also find articles, video clips, and further analysis (Disclaimer: CBS is CNET's parent company).
These live streams work great on your laptop, but you can also watch on your phone. Many of these broadcasters have optimized mobile versions of their websites, and while the look of the site may be slightly different, the content is usually the same. If you want an even more seamless mobile experience, download the broadcaster's news app. CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC all have news apps, and you can access their streams straight from the app. In the case of the CBS News and ABC News app, you don't even need to create an account. Just download the app and tap the live icon for instant access.
If you prefer local news, you may be in luck. Local news stations that provide TV coverage of the election are likely to post coverage on their websites. In the past, this has also included live streams of the election results. Because local news differs depending on location and there are too many to name, just head to the station's dedicated election or live stream section on its website on Election Day. From there it'll be clear if that specific station will post results.

Sling TV

If you aren't a subscriber to Sling TV's paid service, you don't have to rule it out as a way to watch election results. Sling TV offers a free 7-day trial that doesn't require any contracts and can be canceled at any time. With Sling TV's most basic subscription package, Sling Orange, you get over 25 channels, including news stations like CNN, where you can watch election coverage remotely.
Sling TV has been a go-to source of live television for cord-cutters. If you haven't already considered it, here's everything you need to know about Sling TV. Sling TV stands out for stripping away all the contracts tied to traditional cable TV. You can download the Sling TV app for Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Xbox One. That means you can watch on your computer, phone or anywhere with internet access. If you were already mulling it over, you could try it out for Election Day coverage, enjoy a free week of TV, then decide if its worth keeping.

Twitter and Buzzfeed

What you get: Live stream, articles
If you think Twitter or Buzzfeed would be a weird place to watch voter results, think again. Come Election Day, reporters from Buzzfeed will be covering the incoming results, which the site will stream live on Twitter. This isn't the first deal of its kind -- recently Twitter live-streamed events including the presidential debates and NFL games.
The live stream will be accessible on both Twitter's desktop version and the phone app. On Election Day, head to the Moments tab in the Twitter app to view the live stream. If you have an Apple TV, Xbox One, or Amazon Fire TV, you can also view the live stream on your TV, thanks to Twitter's new TV app.
The live stream will be available on at 6pm ET by going to election.twitter.com. You can also access the stream on Twitter's Moments page.

VoteCastr

What you get: Live stream, interactive data
This real-time election startup is hoping to change the way we get our election results. Traditionally, major news networks embargo the polling results and don't release the final numbers until they have all been counted. The thinking is that early results could influence people who have yet to vote.
But VoteCastr does things differently. The startup has teamed up with Slate to give everyone a look into the number of votes in a few key states as they come in. If you want some early information on the election, or want to place bets with you friends, this is the place to go.
On Election Day, you'll be able to view these results in VoteCastr's app. This data will also be discussed by VoteCastr's very own live broadcast that will start when the first poll opens and end when the last poll closes. To get more information about the apps and updates, go to the VoteCastr website and enter your name and email.

Politico

What you get: Live stream, articles

If you want to get a breakdown of voting results without having to watch a live stream, Politico has you covered. The political media site has an interactive map on its website that will show the election results and break it down state by state. This is great if you want to pull up the map on your computer or phone, and check every so often while it gets updated. Plus, the state-by-state data is broken down in a chart that is quiet pleasant to look at. Politico also offers its own live stream on its website in case you think the map isn't enough.

NPR

What you get: Live radio, articles, audio clips, interactive data
If radio is your thing or you'll be stuck in your car on Election Day, tune in to NPR through your radio for its live election coverage. NPR has teamed up with PBS to deliver election news to audiences across digital, television, and radio outlets. NPR will have election coverage and a special live broadcast on the night of the election.
If you want to listen but don't have a radio, you can tune into NPR by going to its website and listen on your computer. NPR's website also has a mobile version that will allow you to listen to its live broadcasts from your phone's browser. Otherwise, you can always download a radio streaming app like TuneIn Radio and access the radio on your phone.

While you are on the NPR website, be sure to check out its professional analysis on all things election-related. Information will come in all forms, including live blog posts, data graphics, and an interactive map. The election night broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and go all the way until 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT, transitioning right into a one-hour recap starting at 4 a.m. ET /1 a.m. PT and then regularly scheduled morning programming on November 9. NPR will also be live on its Facebook page and NPR One App.

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