Samsung shows it can make a great ad without a single second of Apple bashing

Samsung ads don't just tickle your funny bone — they can tug at your heartstrings a bit as well. Samsung has released a terrific new Galaxy S5 ad called "The Big Day" that shows a brother and sister preparing a surprise party for their parents' 40th wedding anniversary and taking pictures of it along the way with their Galaxy S5 phones. The ad highlights the Galaxy S5 camera's selective focus feature that lets you choose where your picture's primary focus will be, as well as the camera's ability to eliminate unwanted shadows in your pictures. Most importantly, though, is that the ad manages to show off the Galaxy S5's features without once mentioning Apple or any other competitors' products, which suggests that Samsung is confident that the Galaxy S5 can stand on its own without the need for excessive bashing. Be sure to check out the full ad below.

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Posted in 2014 at 10:09PM, May 23

Aspiring techies: Join these companies if you want to get paid

If you're a computer science major in college right now and you're looking to land at a place that will help you pay off your student loan bills the fastest, then you should really check out Glassdoor's new list of the 25 best companies for compensation and benefits. Google was the No. 1 company on the list, which isn't too surprising since other employee surveys have shown that Google employees are the happiest of any others in the tech industry. However, Google wasn't the only big tech company to make Glassdoor's list — in fact, tech companies seem to be disproportionately represented on the list and account for 14 of the top 25.

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Posted in 2014 at 08:32PM, May 23

Android users finally get one of the most useful iOS apps ever on June 10th

There are countless factors to take into consideration when crafting the perfect password, but after the Heartbleed scare, it's worth taking every precaution available in order to protect your private data. One of the most reliable password management apps we've ever used, 1Password, finally has a release date for Android after months of beta testing. Android users -- you'll be safer than ever starting on June 10th.

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Posted in 2014 at 07:30PM, May 23

Where is the wireless charging revolution?

January 8th, 2009. On this day, in the midst of the usual noise that surrounds the year’s most extravagant electronics show, Palm debuted the Pre. Outside of its radical software, the most notable hardware feature was one that truly was ahead of its time… years ahead, in fact. The phone supported wireless charging, with the Touchstone charger ushering in the idea well before most anyone else was even thinking about it.

Half a decade has passed, and we’re still waiting for wireless charging to matter.

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Posted in 2014 at 07:08PM, May 23

Incredible new tech will wirelessly charge devices from across the room

One of the greatest annoyances in our technology-filled world is the constant need to charge our phones, tablets, computers and cameras. Just about everything we carry around with us could die after a few hours, which is why wireless charging might be the next big innovation in the tech sector. MIT Technology Review was recently visited by George Holmes, the VP of sales and marketing at Energous, to test the company's wireless charging technology -- WattUp.

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Posted in 2014 at 06:25PM, May 23

Six months after launch, the PS4 is already profitable for Sony

The success of the PlayStation 4 cannot be understated. After capitalizing on Microsoft's PR blunders with the Xbox One, Sony took charge of the new generation of gaming and never looked back. Sales have been outstanding, indie developers are rushing to get their games on the PlayStation Store and this week, CEO Kaz Hirai announced at a corporate strategy meeting that the brand new console is already profitable.

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Posted in 2014 at 05:56PM, May 23

Return of a classic: iPod ‘Music Quiz’ game resurrected in a cool new iPhone app

Long before the iPhone came along and shifted consumer interest away from dedicated digital music players, there existed a small, chunky Apple device called an "iPod." The device was best known for its nifty click wheel and the shocking amount of music it could store on its hard disk drive — that's right, old iPods actually used HDD storage — but the iPod also shipped with a fun little game called "Music Quiz." Now, fellow dinosaurs can relive the iPod era with a new iPhone app that was just released this past week.

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Posted in 2014 at 05:39PM, May 23

Alleged iPhone 6 Backlight Panel Depicted in New Photos

While there have been a multitude of iPhone 6 mockups and case leaks, actual parts said to be from the iPhone 6 have thus far been in short supply. We've seen what might be the front panel of the device along with possible batteries and a manufacturing mold used for creating the phone's chassis.



What is said to be a backlight panel for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 has now appeared on Chinese Twitter-like site Weibo (via Nowhereelse.fr ) [Google Translation]. There is no way to verify the legitimacy of the images, but the backlight design does appear similar to the backlight panel of the iPhone 5s and the 5c, with a few small differences -- the connector has been relocated and the pins themselves have a different design.





Little new information about the iPhone 6 can be gleaned from the images, legitimate or not, but previous rumors have suggested that Apple will take advantage of advancements in LED backlighting technology to shift to thinner components for the iPhone 6, shrinking the thickness of the device considerably. Current rumors and design schematics have suggested the iPhone 6 might be between 6 and 7mm thick, considerably thinner than the existing 7.6mm iPhone 5s.



While today's part appears to be for the 4.7-inch iPhone, Apple is expected to release the iPhone in two sizes: the aforementioned 4.7-inch version and a larger 5.5-inch version. While the 4.7-inch iPhone is expected to launch in the fall, possibly as early as September, the 5.5-inch version has reportedly experienced production issues that may push its launch back several months.





Along with new backlighting technology that may result in a thinner design, the iPhone 6 is also expected to feature an A8 processor, camera improvements, and 802.11ac WiFi.

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Posted in 2014 at 05:27PM, May 23

New leak may be our first look at the iPhone 6′s LCD backlight panel

Now that we've seen more than our fair share of iPhone 6 mockups, it's nice that we now might finally be getting to see pictures of actual iPhone 6 parts. Nowhereelse.fr has posted a new leaked picture that purportedly shows the iPhone 6's LCD backlight panel for the first time and it's supposedly from the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 model.

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Posted in 2014 at 05:16PM, May 23

Here are 4 killer features Samsung will reportedly add to the Galaxy Note 4

Samsung has tried to cut down on its "feature spam" problem by introducing only a handful of new features to its new devices that it thinks will really enhance the user experience. SamMobile's sources claim that Samsung is planning to add four features to the Galaxy Note 4 that could definitely improve its functionality over its earlier smartphones, all without overwhelming users with spammy apps that they'll never use.

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Posted in 2014 at 05:01PM, May 23

Apple Offering Free Shipping on All Online Orders Placed Through May 29 [Mac Blog]

Apple kicked off a new promotion in time for Father's Day that offers free shipping on all online purchases placed through May 29. This limited time offer waives the $50 minimum purchase Apple usually requires for free shipping.





Besides the Father's Day branding and shipping promotion, Apple also updated its website with a gift guide that showcases the top gifts this year for Dads. Items highlighted on the list include the iGrill mini Smart Grilling Thermometer, Beats by Dr. Dre Studio Over-Ear Headphones and the Nike+ FuelBand SE.



Apple's retail and online sales experiences may change now that Angela Ahrendts is at the helm of Apple's retail operations. She reportedly shook up the in-house retail team and started reaching out to Apple Store employees in her first few weeks on the job. She is expected to focus on increasing Apple's presence in China, improving mobile payment options and redesigning the "end-to-end Apple Store sales experience."

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Posted in 2014 at 04:56PM, May 23

Samsung’s next smartwatch will be able to replace your Galaxy S5 or iPhone

One of the many problems with Samsung's first Galaxy Gear, apparently, was that it wasn't a standalone device and really required you to tether it to a Samsung smartphone for it to be at all useful. However, The Wall Street Journal now reports that Samsung will be releasing a standalone smartwatch this summer that will be perfectly capable of functioning on its own without a smartphone.

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Posted in 2014 at 03:56PM, May 23

Apple Launches Discounted 8GB iPhone 5c in India [iOS Blog]

In line with an earlier rumor, Apple today launched the 8 GB iPhone 5c in India, reports The Times of India . Apple is offering the phone with a Rs. 4,000 discount ($68), bringing the price down to Rs 33,500 ($572). For a limited time, Apple also is including a free case worth Rs 2,000 with every purchase.





Apple released the 8 GB version of the iPhone 5c earlier this year and brought the phone to more than 16 countries outside the US. Apple introduced this low-capacity model as an affordable option that also is compatible with a growing number of developing LTE networks overseas.



Apple has been expanding its presence in India, bringing back the iPhone 4 earlier this year and growing its network of retail stores in the country. According to Canalys's 2013 estimates, India is the third largest smartphone market in the world and growing. Apple is aware of the opportunity, with CEO Tim Cook reporting in Q3 2013 that iPhone sales in the country increased 400 percent year-over year.



The 8GB iPhone 5c sits at the bottom of the iPhone lineup in India, nestled in between the reintroduced 8GB iPhone 4 (Rs. 22,900) and the 16GB iPhone 5c (Rs. 41,900).

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Posted in 2014 at 03:14PM, May 23