Microsoft Surface Phone Image Leaked: Three Variants Are Confirmed!

A leaked image of Microsoft Surface Phone has surfaced after the rumor mill revealed the purported specs of its three variants.

Given the fact that the Surface Pro lineup is more or less Microsoft's most premium offering a laptop-tablet hybrid, it is not unnatural to assume that the Redmond-based tech giant will want to harness the much more powerful and power efficient solutions that AMD and Nvidia offer. He is the same leakster who had revealed photos of the cancelled Lumia 850 smartphone.

The QWERTY keyboard/stand attachment also appears to be an official flip-case attachment akin to the Surface tablet accessory range, rather than a permanent design feature of the phone. He had also accurately revealed the leaked renders of Lumia 650 before its release, Neowin reported.

Joe Belfiore, vice president of the operating system group at Microsoft, holds a pair of mobile phones featuring the new Windows 8.1. Hence, it seems that the smartphone will be equipped with an iris scanner. Judging the device from the image alone we can see what looks like a USB-C port and traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.

The rear is rumored to sport a 20-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics lens equipped with triple LED flash. The post also claims that the Surface Phone will run on Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 830 chipset and include a 5.7in 2K screen, "landscape screen support", a metal finish and an in-built battery.

Recent speculations have indicated that Microsoft will be end the production of Lumia series handsets in the near future and it will begin selling smartphones under the Surface brand name. The company has been coming out with updates and upgrades for their devices time and again, the company has now been focusing on their hardware devices much more than ever before, and their next big innovation is expected to be revealed when the company shows off the Surface Phone.

The Surface Phone has been expected to come out in the month of March in 2017.

The Pro Variant, with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space.

Source: Microsoft Surface Phone Image Leaked: Three Variants Are Confirmed!

Meet the Asus Transformer Mini (specs revealed)

Asus introduced 3 new Transformer tablets this week, but the company has largely focused on the higher-priced, higher-specced Transformer 3 and Transformer 3 Pro. The official press release had far fewer details about the smaller, cheaper Transformer Mini.

But thanks to some of the folks on the ground in Taipei for the Computex show this week, now we have a better idea of what makes this 10.1 inch tablet tick.

My colleagues at MobileGeeks and Notebook Italia both got some hands-on time with the Mini, and here are some of the specs they discovered:

10.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixel display

Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Cherry Trail processor

2GB and 4GB RAM options

Support for up to 128GB of storage (entry-level models will probably have less)

Full-sized and micro USB ports, micro HDMI, and a microSD card reader

802.11ac WiFi

Fingerprint reader

This isn't the only new 10 inch tablet from Asus with a Cherry Trail processor. But while the Transformer Book T101 features 2GB of RAM and a solid keyboard that lets you use the tablet like a laptop, the Transformer Mini borrows its design cues from the Microsoft Surface: there's a kickstand on the back of the tablet and the keyboard cover attaches to the front of the tablet via magnets.

Interestingly Asus has also omitted a rear camera from the Transformer Mini. There is a front-facing camera for video chats or selfies, though.

Asus says the Transformer Mini weighs 1.2 pounds and measures 8.2mm (0.32 inches) thick. The combined weight of the tablet and its keyboard cover is about 1.74 pounds.

Source: Meet the Asus Transformer Mini (specs revealed)

MacBook Pro 2016, Surface Book 2 Release Date Delayed?

Unlike the Surface line, you can only adjust the tablet to two angles, but unlike the iPad Pro, you don't have to be an origami artist to figure out how to set the different positions.

Back in May 2014 Patently Apple posted a report titled "Microsoft's New Surface Pro 3 Thinks it's a Notebook".

The problem that Microsoft have is how they need to make certain the new Surface Pro 5 specs are a huge enough increase that people actually want to upgrade to this new model.

When it comes to installation, upgrading via Windows Update service means that you'll have to wait for your Surface to receive the present package.

A report in the top tech blog Mashable says, "With a Surface phone, Microsoft's enterprise pitch is that much stronger".

Windows Central got a tip from Twitter user Jesse Cook showing off that, if you click "more info" on the update screen for the drivers, it takes you to this website.

Initially, MacBook Pro 2016 and MacBook Air 2016 are expected to arrive next month during Apple's WWDC. We look at Apple as a key competitor to the Surface product line and that's how we think about the product line. Apple Inc. reported a better than expected third-quarter profit of $1.23 billion, or $1.35 a share comapred to $1.07 billion, or $1.19 one year ago.

Meanwhile, a lot of fans have linked the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 June 2016 release to the launching of Intel's Kaby Lake processor that is expected to be embedded in this new model.

With regards to the other features of the Microsoft Surface Book 2, it is rumored it will offer the latest Intel i5 and i7 core processors, a USB Type-C port and an 8-megapixel camera.

(Microsoft)Microsoft Surface Book 2 is being delayed for good reasons. The current Surface Pro 4 received flak from consumers because of its insufficient battery life.

With all these upgrades, the next generation of Microsoft Surface Pro tablet will be supported by a more powerful battery. Microsoft stated that the Surface Pro 4 would give 9 hours of video playback but barely managed 5 hours of video playback.

It is important to note that these are purely assumptions and rumors.

Source: MacBook Pro 2016, Surface Book 2 Release Date Delayed?

Tablet Arriving In June 2016 To Beat Apple's MacBook Pro

Besides, Mobi Picker reported that the new Microsoft Surface Book 2 will be equipped with 4K resolution display for providing the laptop users with crystal-clear images.

The device had earlier been expected to come out in the October of this year, however, it has now been anticipated that it will release in the month of March next year, alongside the Surface Pro 5, Surface Book 2 devices. The report concluded that "If they ever get serious and challenge the MacBook Air the right way, more would find it appealing".

Specifically speaking, this release installs a new Surface Embedded Controller Firmware (88.1171.256.0) to adjust system thermal tuning and optimize battery utilization, as well as the 15.68.9040.67 Marvel AVASTAR Bluetooth and Wireless-AC controller to enhance Wi-Fi settings so that it can support Gulf regions.

The problem that Microsoft have is how they need to make certain the new Surface Pro 5 specs are a huge enough increase that people actually want to upgrade to this new model.

Microsoft also reworked the Surface Update History page. However, according to Modern Readers, October is a more reliable prediction because it signals the anniversary of the predecessor, Microsoft Surface Pro 4's, launch date.

While we do not know for certain, the price of the next Surface Pro is likely to start at $899, and then increase depending on what configuration you opt for, along with accessories.

Reports claimed that the upcoming Surface Pro 5 laptop-tablet hybrid will be powered by the current Skylake processor; other reports stated that it will be supported by the next generation Kaby Kale chipset, which is the 14nm successor of Skylake.

Microsoft's Surface development facility, a large unassuming building located in the company campus, is focused on iteration. It's expected that Apple will also jump in the bandwagon. So let me rephrase. Our intent is to compete in the very premium market... We look at Apple as a key competitor to the Surface product line and that's how we think about the product line. If that is the case, smartphones like the Microsoft Surface Phone concept seen here should last a lot longer.

Source: Tablet Arriving In June 2016 To Beat Apple's MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro 2016, Surface Book 2 Release Date Delayed?

Microsoft's decision to enter the laptop-tablet market with its Surface devices turned out to be an excellent choice.

The new Microsoft Surface Book 2 is expected to come with a more enhanced hardware and notable additional features.

You'll save, for example, on the Core i5 and Core i7 models of the Surface Pro 4, though Microsoft did not discount the cheapest Core m3 model. It has been previously known that Apple will likely launch its much-awaited laptop at WWDC next month.

Microsoft is receiving a lot of criticism from its fans for delaying the Surface Pro 5 and the Surface Book 2. The other rumoured features of Surface Pro 5 include fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C port and larger battery.

Hence, the Surface Book 2 release date is now rumored to have been pushed to spring 2017.

In another speculated report by Country Caller, Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to be introduced sometime in the first quarter of 2017 along with an upgraded Microsoft Windows software called Redstone amid rumors suggesting that the forthcoming flagship device will be equipped with a brand new operating system. Moreover, the release of the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 in June 2016 will give the company a big opportunity to get ahead of its greatest rivals. However, there have been reports about a space that remains between the screen and the keyboard when the Microsoft Surface Book is closed. It has been said that the release is very logical as Microsoft will not possibly disrupt the yearly product life cycle of its tablets.

It's been some time since the Surface Pro 4 was outed and initially, the iPad Pro was selling more units than the Surface Pro 4 but it seems that changed lately.

One user writes, in a post headlined Sleep of Death finally bricked my Surface: "I just want people to know that if you're experiencing the "Sleep of Death" with your Surface RT, that its demise might not be far behind..." Share to us your thoughts in the comment section below.

Source: MacBook Pro 2016, Surface Book 2 Release Date Delayed?

Asus Zenpad Z8 tipped for Verizon release with Snapdragon 650

Looking for a new slate with Big Red? A new leak shows a unannounced Asus tablet is headed to Verizon in the near future with the Asus Zenpad Z8, and it sports some pretty nice specs to boot.

Android tablets aren't nearly as prevalent as their smaller counterparts, but we still see some interesting slates appear during the year. If the rumors surrounding the Asus Zenpad Z8 pan out, it will be in the mid-range class, and should carry an affordable price tag if you want to finance considering it's coming from a carrier.

Evan Blass has struck again with a new leak, and this time Verizon and Asus were in his sights. According to Blass, the Asus Zenpad Z8 will hit Big Red with an 8-inch display featuring a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 and will be powered by a speedy Snapdragon 650. The chip will get a boost from 2GB of RAM, and while you'll only get 16GB of storage out of the box, it is expandable through the usual method. Last but not least is the camera combo which features an 8MP sensor on the back and a 1.8MP snapper on the front.

While there are still some questions left to be answered for the Asus Zenpad Z8, on paper it appears to be a solid slate. Availability won't be an issue as we already know where this one will land although its price tag and connectivity options are still very much up in the air.

Would you be interested in the Asus Zenpad Z8 if the price is right?

source: @evleaks

Read more about: Asus   Tablet PC  

Source: Asus Zenpad Z8 tipped for Verizon release with Snapdragon 650

Nexus 2016 release date rumors: Asus set to manufacture new tablet?

Reuters/Stephen Lam

Hugo Barra, director of product management at Google, unveils the Nexus 7 tablet during Google I/O 2012 Conference at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California June 27, 2012.

It was previously rumored that Google would be launching a refreshed Nexus 7 slate at this year's I/O conference. However, the event has come and gone without any glimpse of the new tablet. Speculations suggest that the 2016 Nexus 7 will instead launch in the latter part of the year, with Asus as its maker.

According to The Bitbag, the new Nexus 7 is said to be the showcase product for the new Android N platform. However, Google is still in the testing stage of the upcoming OS version, and reportedly, there are at least two more developer preview versions before the reveal of the full version of Android N. This places the reveal of the platform's full version to be happening in August. It is expected that when the full version of Android N is released, one of the first devices to showcase the new platform is the 2016 edition of the Nexus 7.

Meanwhile, the industry follower reported that Asus is rumored to be interested in making the new Nexus 7 slate. This stemmed from an interview with the company's chairman, Jonney Shih. Last year, the Asus executive said, "Even [the second-generation Nexus 7], we moved to the full-HD screen, and we still believe in this kind of beauty. It still makes sense. But then the next one actually takes a lot of discussion."

Google has yet to provide details on which company will be its partner in making the refreshed Nexus 7, although Asus may indeed be one of the candidates on top of the list. The tech manufacturer has had successes in the Nexus lineup and is in fact the maker of the original Nexus 7 when it launched in 2012. The company also released a second-generation Nexus slate the following year.

Aside from Asus, other likely candidates for the new Nexus products include Huawei and HTC.

Source: Nexus 2016 release date rumors: Asus set to manufacture new tablet?

Skype 7.0 For Android Delivers New Tablet Interface

If you are a frequent user of Skype across numerous platforms, then you would be sure to notice that Microsoft has not neglected Skype users in this aspect, having rolled out new versions and updates from time to time, and their latest effort would be the notably improved version of Skype for Android. Skype 7.0 for Android is said to deliver a revamped tablet interface, and this particular interface is touted to enable even more efficient communication, not to mention introducing a greater level of ease to search for contacts and chats from within the app.

There will be a new user interface for tablets as well, with Microsoft touting that it has come up with a UI redesign from scratch while keeping Material Design principles in mind. At the end of it, it would be fairly aesthetically pleasing. Not only that, this particular update will also include a floating action button (FAB) which enables users to engage in a conversation in double quick time, regardless of whether it is a message, a voice call, or a video call, all from the main screen itself.

There is also a new multitasking system that allows you to flip your tablet in landscape orientation during a call, and then you can check out the latest conversions while sending files as the call remains in focus. [Press Release]

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Android and Skype.

Source: Skype 7.0 For Android Delivers New Tablet Interface

Google Nexus 2016 Release Date Leaked? Nexus 9 Tablets Sales Stopped

Wikipedia/Nexus 7

Last year Google released the Pixel C tablet, and since then, it has not launched any other Nexus-branded tablet. It is rumoured that the search engine giant will be launching Nexus 7 (2016) by August this year.

At the recently held Google I/O 2016 event, the company did not unveil a new Nexus device. Instead, it made known its pre-installed Android OS. Since Android N is in beta stage, the OS is reported to be released by late summer.

Reports claim that sales of Nexus 9 tablets have been stopped, and this was seen as a cue for the release of a new tablet later this year. However, no official confirmation has been reported as to how many Nexus devices will be launched this year.

Google has once again sealed a partnership with HTC to build two Android N devices codenamed as M1 (Marlin) and S1 (Sailfish). These devices will be the successor of Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones.

Also Read: Android N Update: Enhance Exposure Settings In Camera App

Meanwhile, it was also reported that Huawei and Google are coming together to build a 7-inch tablet, and recently, the Chinese company filed a trademark for the device back in April with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), notes IBTimes.

Rumours are rife that the Nexus 7 (2016) tablet will sport a 7-inch display along with the support of Quad HD resolution. The device will be powered by Snapdragon 820 SoC with 4GB of RAM. Another report claims that the device will have a Snapdragon 625 chipset. Since this device is rumoured for release later this year, Android N will be preloaded.

Also Read: Android N v Android Marshmallow: Google Running Out of Ideas?

The grapevine suggests that the final version of Android N will be rolled out in August and the Nexus 7 (tablet) would make it is way in the same month.

Source: Google Nexus 2016 Release Date Leaked? Nexus 9 Tablets Sales Stopped

Team Develops Novel Technology To "Print" Customized Tablets for Personalized Medicine

A new technology developed by National University of Singapore researchers can make customized pills that release drugs with any desired release profilesImage credit: Slashme, Wikimedia CommonsA team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a way to make personalized medicine cheaper and easier. Imagine if you could combine the myriad of pills you need to take for your ailment in just one tablet; or if you need only to take the medication once a day and the drug will be slowly released throughout the day at different rates to treat your illness; or if doctors could easily make tablets on the spot that are tailored to each patient's needs.

All these could become a reality with a new method of tablet fabrication designed by assistant professor Soh Siow Ling and PhD student Sun Yajuan from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the NUS Faculty of Engineering. The novel system can make customizable pills that release drugs with any desired release profiles.

Customized tablets for optimal therapeutic results

Releasing drugs in a timely manner is important for optimal therapeutic effect in the human body. Different types of clinical circumstances may call for different types of timed release of drugs.

One common type of release profile is that of a constant one: the drug is released at the same rate for a period of time, as there is only a narrow range of concentration in which the drug can be effective. However, certain chemicals, such as hormones, may need to be released in pulses at regular intervals, in sync with the biological cycles of the human body. In situations where a relatively large dose of drug is needed initially to act against their targets rapidly, followed by gradually lower levels to maintain health—for example, in arthritis, a large dose is required initially to eliminate pain in the morning, followed by smaller doses to keep the pain from recurring—a decreasing release profile would be appropriate.

Related Article: INSIGHTS on Drug Discovery

While there are some existing tablet-production methods, including 3D printing, that can allow certain flexibility, they have their limitations—low dosage, release profiles that are non-continuous, or the drugs are released in a large burst in the initial stage, and poor durability of the tablet given its quick breakdown. These methods are also only able to fabricate tablets that release drugs with a limited type of profiles.

A fully customizable fabrication method

"For a long time, personalised tablets has been a mere concept as it was far too complex or expensive to be realized. This new tablet fabrication method is a game changer—it is technically simple, relatively inexpensive, and versatile. It can be applied at individualized settings where physicians could produce customized pills on the spot for patients, or in mass production settings by pharmaceutical companies," said Soh.

Instead of manufacturing the drug tablet by printing layer by layer, the drug tablet designed by Soh and Sun consists of three distinct components, including a polymer containing the drug in a specifically designed shape that will determine the rate of release of the drug. For instance, a 5-prong shape will allow the drug to be released in five pulses over time. By adjusting the shape of the drug-containing polymer, it is thus possible to release drugs at any desired rate.

Related Article: Researchers Develop 3-D Printed Diagnostic Device That Can Rapidly Detect Anemia

Using the system designed by the NUS team, a doctor only needs to draw the desired release profile in a computer software to generate a template for making tablets specific to a patient's treatment, which can then be used to easily produce the desired pills using a 3D printer. The system is easy to use and does not involve any complex mathematical computation whenever a new release profile is needed. The fully customizable system is able to create a template to print tablets for any release profile.

The use of a commercially available 3D printer in this method also makes it a relatively cheap way of making personalized medicine a reality, as compared to conventional tablet production or other methods in making small shapes, such as photolithography.

In drug delivery, it is also often important to administer more than one type of drug into the human body simultaneously to treat an illness. The fabrication method developed by Soh can be modified to include multiple types of drugs loaded within the same tablet—and more importantly, each drug can be customized to release at different rates even within the same tablet.

Aside from exploring commercialisation possibilities, the NUS team is currently doing further work to explore the various combination of materials for the different polymer-based components in the tablet to cater to various types of drugs and illnesses to increase the efficacy of this method.

Source: Team Develops Novel Technology To "Print" Customized Tablets for Personalized Medicine

Nexus 2016 release date rumors: Google waiting for full version of Android N?

[Photo credit: Facebook]

The Nexus 7, Google's 7-inch tablet screen powered by Android. Rumor has it that it will be rebooted this year.

Fans expected Google to announce new products at its annual I/O conference held this month, particularly the much-rumored Nexus 7 2016. However, the event has come and gone without any mention of the Nexus device. Speculations suggest that Google is still waiting for the full version of Android N before coming out with new Nexus products, including the new tablet.

The Bitbag underscores that being a new release, the upcoming Nexus 7 tablet is expected to run on Android N. However, the new platform's full version is still not ready, and this was apparent at the I/O event. While the new Android version did make an appearance, the showcased platform was only in its developer preview version.

As for when the Nexus 7 will appear, it may be before August or September that new Nexus lineups will be announced. Reports have mentioned that Google plans for Android N to cycle through at least five Developer Preview versions before coming out with the full platform. The new version is already in its third developer beta version, and it is expected that at least two more will roll out in June and July.

Meanwhile, Google has yet to come out with details about a new Nexus 7, but rumors on the new tablet continue to circulate online. Speculations suggest that one of the major candidates as the Nexus 7 maker is Huawei, and that it will feature above-average specs on the slate.

While it is unconfirmed, Huawei as the maker for the Nexus 7 is plausible. The China-based tech conglomerate is already familiar with the Google lineup, being the company's partner for the successful Nexus 6P. Huawei is also acquainted with tablet assembly, since it also has its own slate lineup.

The first Nexus 7 iteration was released back in 2012, made in collaboration with Asus.

Source: Nexus 2016 release date rumors: Google waiting for full version of Android N?

New tablet fabrication method can make personalized medicine cheaper, easier

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a way to make personalized medicine cheaper and easier. Imagine if you could combine the myriad of pills you need to take for your ailment in just one tablet; or if you need only to take the medication once a day and the drug will be slowly released throughout the day at different rates to treat your illness; or if doctors could easily make tablets on the spot that are tailored to each patient's needs.

All these could become a reality with a new method of tablet fabrication designed by Assistant Professor Soh Siow Ling and PhD student Ms. Sun Yajuan from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the NUS Faculty of Engineering. The novel system can make customizable pills that release drugs with any desired release profiles.

Customised tablets for optimal therapeutic results

Releasing drugs in a timely manner is important for optimal therapeutic effect in the human body. Different types of clinical circumstances may call for different types of timed release of drugs.

One common type of release profile is that of a constant one: the drug is released at the same rate for a period of time, as there is only a narrow range of concentration in which the drug can be effective. However, certain chemicals, such as hormones, may need to be released in pulses at regular intervals, in sync with the biological cycles of the human body. In situations where a relatively large dose of drug is needed initially to act against their targets rapidly, followed by gradually lower levels to maintain health - for example, in arthritis, a large dose is required initially to eliminate pain in the morning, followed by smaller doses to keep the pain from recurring - a decreasing release profile would be appropriate.

While there are some existing tablet-production methods, including 3D printing, that can allow certain flexibility, they have their limitations - low dosage, release profiles that are non-continuous, or the drugs are released in a large burst in the initial stage, and poor durability of the tablet given its quick breakdown. These methods are also only able to fabricate tablets that release drugs with a limited type of profiles.

A fully customizable fabrication method

"For a long time, personalized tablets has been a mere concept as it was far too complex or expensive to be realized. This new tablet fabrication method is a game changer - it is technically simple, relatively inexpensive and versatile. It can be applied at individualized settings where physicians could produce customized pills on the spot for patients, or in mass production settings by pharmaceutical companies," said Asst Prof Soh.

Instead of manufacturing the drug tablet by printing layer by layer, the drug tablet designed by Asst Prof Soh and Ms Sun consists of three distinct components, including a polymer containing the drug in a specifically designed shape that will determine the rate of release of the drug. For instance, a 5-prong shape will allow the drug to be released in five pulses over time. By adjusting the shape of the drug-containing polymer, it is thus possible to release drugs at any desired rate.

Using the system designed by the NUS team, a doctor only needs to draw the desired release profile in a computer software to generate a template for making tablets specific to a patient's treatment, which can then be used to easily produce the desired pills using a 3D printer. The system is easy to use and does not involve any complex mathematical computation whenever a new release profile is needed. The fully customizable system is able to create a template to print tablets for any release profile.

The use of a commercially available 3D printer in this method also makes it a relatively cheap way of making personalized medicine a reality, as compared to conventional tablet production or other methods in making small shapes, such as photolithography.

In drug delivery, it is also often important to administer more than one type of drug into the human body simultaneously to treat an illness. The fabrication method developed by Asst Prof Soh can be modified to include multiple types of drugs loaded within the same tablet - and more importantly, each drug can be customized to release at different rates even within the same tablet.

Aside from exploring commercialization possibilities, the NUS team is currently doing further work to explore the various combination of materials for the different polymer-based components in the tablet to cater to various types of drugs and illnesses to increase the efficacy of this method.

Source:

National University of Singapore

Source: New tablet fabrication method can make personalized medicine cheaper, easier

Samsung launches $200 Galaxy Tab Iris, an iris-recognition tablet for authenticating India’s citizens

Samsung has announced a new tablet that features iris-recognition technology, built specifically for government and enterprise bodies in India.

Priced at INR 13,499 ($200), the Android 5.0 Samsung Galaxy Tab Iris sports a 7.0" WSVGA (1024×600) display, 1.2 Ghz Quad Core processor, a 3,600mAh battery, and other average specifications. But the real kicker here is, of course, the onboard Iris camera, which allows public-facing organizations to authenticate the identity of individuals by scanning their eyes.

Above: Samsung Tab Iris

But why India?

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a government agency set up for the express purpose of collecting biometric and demographic data on the country's residents and storing it in a central database. Each individual is then allocated a 12-digit number, known as a Aadhaar.

The program has been controversial, with some groups calling it unconstitutional because it infringes on people's privacy. Indeed, similar schemes have been vetoed elsewhere in the world, but in March, India passed the new Aadhaar bill, which is designed to make the Aadhaar number mandatory for all government subsidies and is part of a push toward a cashless and paperless society. This is where Samsung India's new tablet comes into play.

It's "ready for Aadhar authentication through an integrated and highly secure biometric device," according to a press release issued today. "The Galaxy Tab Iris will provide cashless and paperless services in various applications such as banking, eGovernance services such as passport, taxation, healthcare and education."

So Samsung hopes the Galaxy Tab Iris will be used for services such as E-PDS (Electronic Public Distribution system), MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural employment Guarantee Act) payments, pension schemes, tax filings, passport renewals, car registrations, and even passenger verification at airports or railway stations.

Samsung's move into biometric tablets isn't entirely surprising — in March 2015, SRI International, the original creators of Apple's famous SIRI virtual assistant, announced an exclusive license of its Iris on the Move (IOM) technologies to Samsung. The first fruits of this deal were supposed to lead to a special customized version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 tablet with a built-in iris-scanner, though it's not entirely clear whether that device ever made it into the B2B marketplace.

Though the Samsung Galaxy Tab Iris will undoubtedly lead to continued controversy, India hopes it will help banks and government agencies streamline the authentication process, as it negates the need for paperwork, signatures, and other time-consuming procedures. But perhaps more than that, it also helps circumvent literacy and language barriers — India is home to many languages and dialects, which can cause problems, particularly for those traveling to other regions.

"We're excited to offer biometric-based services to the billion plus people enrolled in Aadhar," said Dr. Aloknath De, corporate vice president and chief technology officer of Samsung India's research and development team. "Our India R&D team has made significant investments in biometric technology research, and we built this product leveraging our knowledge in hardware design, biometrics and security for a high-speed scan, greater accuracy and high reliability."

Dr. Aloknath De added that Samsung is also offering an identity software development kit (SDK) to allow developers to build digital services that work with the technology. "This will encourage our startup ecosystem to rapidly build relevant apps and services," he said. "We strongly believe this overall offering will in turn strengthen government programs."

The case for iris-recognition technology

While fingerprint scanners are becoming the norm on mobile devices, as a mechanism for letting users unlock their device and login to apps, iris-recognition technology has hitherto been absent from phones and tablets. While it no doubt comes with its own unique and beneficial security credentials, the practicalities of holding a device up to your face to unlock it perhaps precludes the technology from becoming standard on consumer phones and tablets.

This is why the technology lends itself better to a B2C scenario, where a tablet can be mounted roughly at head-level to allow a person to identify themselves speedily. Whether iris-scanners take off in India, let along globally, remains to be seen, but it seems the uptake will very much hinge on legislation, which will vary widely on a country-by-country basis. There is still a great deal of mistrust among the citizens of the world that their governments can't be trusted with sensitive biometric data, so it's probably safe to assume that this kind of technology won't be implemented at scale any time soon.

There could be other use-cases though. If a phone or tablet has an iris-scanner built-in, it could be used as an additional, opt-in form of security for the super security conscious to unlock their devices. Or banks could perhaps offer it as an addled protection layer to access online accounts.

Whatever happens, Samsung clearly wants to be at the forefront of the eye-based security push. The company filed for a couple of patents in Europe last week, one for the "Samsung Iris" and the other for the "Samsung Eyeprint" trademarks. With its new Samsung Note 6 expected to launch later this year, the Korean tech titan could have a few innovative tricks up its sleeve come launch.

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Source: Samsung launches $200 Galaxy Tab Iris, an iris-recognition tablet for authenticating India's citizens

Ubuntu Touch OTA-11 Launches Next Week for Supported Ubuntu Phones and Tablets

Another week has passed and the major OTA-11 software update for the Ubuntu mobile operating system, which powers the Ubuntu Phone and Tablet devices, is getting closer to a final release.

Canonical's Łukasz Zemczak emailed the community today, May 25, 2016, with fresh details from the Ubuntu Touch land. And it looks like things are going well for the development cycle of the OTA-11 update, which should arrive next week, as the Release Candidate (RC) image has just entered its final testing stage.

Once the Ubuntu QA finish all the rigorous tests of the Ubuntu Touch OTA-11 candidates, the major software update will be immediately pushed to the stable channels for all supported Ubuntu Phone devices, as well as the new Ubuntu Tablet, BQ Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition, as a phased update during a 24-hour period.

"Our final OTA-11 candidates now entered final testing and so far we do not anticipate any more rebuilds required. We should be on schedule for next week," said Łukasz Zemczak. "With development work on OTA-11 out of the way, more and more changes for the next milestone are landing - really nice to see that."

The OTA-12 development continues at a fast pace

In the meantime, the Ubuntu Touch developers are concentrating all of their efforts on improving the Ubuntu mobile OS and fixing as many bugs are possible for the next major OTA update, the OTA-12, which Canonical's Łukasz Zemczak said a week ago that it will be more about fixes than new features.

A lot of changes have been implemented these past few days for several of Ubuntu Touch mobile operating system's core components, including the Unity 8 user interface, the telephony-service, which is now compatible with UITK 1.3, the Address Book app, Ubuntu System Settings, as well as QtMir. Next week, we will have fresh new about the release of the OTA-11 update and its exciting new features, so stay tuned.

Source: Ubuntu Touch OTA-11 Launches Next Week for Supported Ubuntu Phones and Tablets

iPad Pro 2 release date, specs, UK price & new features rumours

Apple's first iPad Pro is 8 months old - when will the iPad Pro 2 come out? Read on for iPad Pro 2 features, design, release date & UK price rumours

When will the iPad Pro 2 come out in the UK? (Or whatever they call the next version of the iPad Pro.) And what new features will be added to the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the iPad Pro 2?

The iPad Pro 2 could launch soon. Apple made a splash last September when it unveiled its first 10-inch-plus tablet: a device known at the time only as the iPad Pro with a blockbuster 12.9-inch screen, quad speakers and a super-quick processor chip. The following March a smaller and better version of the iPad Pro came out, creating mild naming complications (we now call them the iPad Pro 12.9 and iPad Pro 9.7 respectively) and causing a certain degree of regret in the hearts of early adopters.

But we are now looking ahead to the future of the iPad Pro line. When will Apple launch the iPad Pro 2, and what new features and design changes will this product incorporate? Will there be separate 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch editions of the iPad Pro 2 - will there even be a 7.9-inch model, a sort of 'iPad Pro mini'?

Our iPad Pro 2 release date & new features rumour roundup article weighs up all the clues and evidence about the new iPad Pro models, as well as our wishlist of new features that are missing from the current generation of iPad Pro hardware. Check back regularly for the latest iPad Pro 2 rumours.

Read next: iPad Air 3 rumours | iPhone 7 rumours | iPad buying guide 2016

iPad Pro 2 rumours: iPad Pro 2 launch date

When will the next iPad Pro come out in the UK? We don't expect anything before the autumn, and we might have to wait until March.

As with the two strands of iPhone models - the larger 6s and 6s Plus, last updated in September, and the smaller SE, updated in March - there are two schools of thought here. Either Apple will unify the two Pro brands into a single annual update event (most likely in autumn), or it will continue to update half the models in autumn and the other half in spring.

Both theories have down sides.

If Apple does a full refresh (9.7-in and 12.9-inch together) in March 2017, then the current hardware will be starting to feel old before then - the original Pro will be 18 months old, which is a long time to be the most expensive tablet on Apple's books. It the company does a full refresh in September then it will again upset a bunch of people who just bought new devices. Three major iPad updates in the space of 12 months might just be taking the mickey.

(This might seem irrational - the launch of a new product doesn't make the product you already own any worse - but there's still something annoying about paying top dollar for a flagship product and then seeing something much better come out a short while later. We are only human, and if you pay for the best product then it would be nice to have the best product, at least from that manufacturer, for a year.)

Maybe a better option would be for Apple to keep the two lines separate. But potential buyers are going to be naturally wary if new 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 models appear in September 2016 - they will wonder, understandably, if all the new features and a few extra will appear in a cheaper 9.7-inch Pro 2 six months later. There's also something a bit messy, a bit un-Apple, about having two press event to announce what would essentially amount to two SKUs of the same product line. I think the company will want to keep things simple.

So here's a new theory - a sort of compromise. Apple does an update in September 2016 but it's explicitly a minor update - just to bring the Pro 12.9 up to the standards of the 9.7. You could call it the iPad Pro 12.9 with True Tone display, or not even rebrand it at all - just mention it at the end of the iPhone press event. "From now on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro comes with the True Tone display and improved cameras of the 9.7-inch model."

No price change, no big deal. Then the iPad Pro 2 proper comes out in March 2017, and from then on is updated on a yearly basis.

A final thought, however, is that people don't update their iPads as often as their iPhones: only 6 percent of the respondents to our poll said they get a new iPad every year.

It's therefore debatable whether Apple actually needs to bring out new iPads this often. It could probably switch to a biennial release schedule without causing much of a problem.

iPad Pro 2 rumours: Will there be an iPad Pro mini?

Following the launch of the 9.7-inch Pro it's now firmly established that the Pro brand doesn't just refer to Apple's biggest tablets - instead, it refers to a set of specs and features and, in a way that's hard to define, any tablet that sits at the top of Apple's range. If we accept that a 9.7-inch tablet can be an iPad Pro, could we get a 7.9-inch Pro as well?

The truth is that there's no concrete reason why there can't be a 7.9-inch iPad Pro 2, but for various reasons we still don't expect Apple to do this. For one thing, unlike the Air line-up, the minis are still being updated; the mini 4 came out at the same event as the first iPad Pro, which suggests that Apple plans to keep both brands going at the same time. And besides, the Pro brand has always existed in opposition to a lower-end alternative: the MacBook Pro sits opposite the MacBook Air (and plain MacBook); the Mac Pro opposite the iMac; and so on. Apple can't just call every tablet a Pro.

We're starting to suspect that the Air brand may be phased out across Apple's laptop and tablet departments, but there still needs to be two lines left in each of these areas. Apple still sell a MacBook Pro and a 12-inch MacBook, we expect; in the same way, we'd expect there to be iPad Pro models and iPad mini models.

To read more about the iPad mini 5 - or the iPad Pro mini, if we're wrong about this - then take a look at our iPad mini 5 rumour roundup.

iPad Pro 2 rumours: New features wishlist

The iPad Pro tablets are great, but they're not perfect. Here are a few new features and design tweaks we'd like to see in the second-gen iPad Pro.

Carry the advances of the 9.7in Pro across to the 12.9in model

An issue we've addressed several times across this article concerns the disappointment felt by a number of 12.9-inch iPad Pro owners when the cheaper and in many respects better 9.7-inch iPad Pro was launched six months later. So the first thing we'd ask for is consistency. To achieve this the larger Pro model needs to get:

A 12-megapixel rear-facing camera (up from 8Mp)

A 5Mp front-facing camera (up from 1.2Mp)

4K video recording

Live Photos

Display with True Tone and 'wide colour'

A 32GB cellular buying option

A pink colour option

Better keyboard accessory (for 9.7-inch model)

The Pros are explicitly aimed at business users, and for this reason it was critical to get some good keyboard accessories.

Apple's own Smart Keyboard is a strong offering in the larger size - even though it's expensive, and Macworld is divided on the issue of whether Logitech's less attractive Create keyboard offers a better typing experience - but the 9.7-inch version is a different matter. As a result of the smaller keys typing accuracy is weaker; the lower weight means it feels less satisfying under the fingers. (The design looks great, however, and is magnificently slim and light from a portability point of view. And the Smart Connector - and the fact that you never have to worry about battery life - is wonderful too.)

We feel that Apple needs to create - or persuade a third-party accessory maker to create - a 9.7-inch keyboard you can really type on. And this may involve some compromises. It may need to have a foldout design (sounds ugly, right?) so that it could fit in larger keys. It might need to be heavier (thereby reducing portability) in order to feel better and reduce movement on the desk. But whatever happens, the smaller Pro needs an updated accessory line-up in order to compete as a business tool.

Read next: Best iPad keyboards

More Home screen icons

This is a software change rather than a hardware one, but it's frustrating that Apple doesn't allow you to fit more app icons on the screen of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. At present you're allowed 20 app icons (or folders), plus up to six in the Dock, and this is exactly the same that you're allowed on the 9.7-inch iPads, which feels like a waste of the extra space.

By default, the icons are the same size, so there's far more empty space on the screen. You can select a zoom view, with larger icons, but we'd prefer the option to have a grid of 5x6 icons, plus a seventh icon in the Dock.

Turn to the next page to read our original predictions for the first-generation iPad Pro models.

Source: iPad Pro 2 release date, specs, UK price & new features rumours

Google Nexus 7 2016 Release Date Rumors Later This Year With Two Variants

Google's Nexus program has certainly created some excellent gadgets over the past several years. From phones to tables, the program has certainly added some exciting stuff to the tech marketplace. While it is usually the Google Nexus phones which grab the headlines, Google Nexus 7 2016 has gotten a lot of attention as it is rumored that there will be two variants of the popular tablet.

According to a report from Neurogadget, Google is planning to release the Nexus 7 in a 7-inch screen variant along with a smaller 5-inch screen variant. The cost of the Google Nexus 7 could be between $229 and $269, with the 7-inch version of course costing more than the 5-inch model. Both are rumored to run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor and will be powered by 4GB of RAM.

Based on a report from Christian Daily, other expected features of the device are its expandable storage thanks to a microSD card as well as it running on Android N. It is worth noting though that Android N is still on the third version of the developer preview. There have been some news and rumors that the delay with the Google Nexus 7 could potentially be because the tech giant wants to wait until Android N is up and running.

There is still no timeline as to when the device will release but surely it will be one of the popular tables this year. Be sure to check back here soon to find out the latest news and updates about the Google Nexus program as well as other trending stories in the world of tech.

Source: Google Nexus 7 2016 Release Date Rumors Later This Year With Two Variants

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will be better, more powerful: release date nears

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will be better, more powerful: release date nears

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will be better, more powerful: release date nears

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is going to replace the company's existing top of the line tablet Surface Pro 4. There are claims that this is going to be the most powerful tablet-laptop hybrid ever launched in the market thus far.

The Redmond-based tech giant introduced its Surface Pro 4 late last year. It is just over six months when it was introduced in the market. Nonetheless it has not stopped the tech blogs and other top of the line news sources from speculating and sharing rumors about the next version of the Surface Pro tablet.

Right now there are speculations doing the rounds that the Redmond based tech giant will be launched in the market in June. There are other rumors that it will not come in June and that we will have to wait for its arrival till October.

There are reports suggesting that Microsoft, in order to compete well with Apple, will be aiming to release its next gen Surface Line a month before Apple's next MacBook Pro version. So, we might expect Microsoft to release the Surface Pro 5 a few weeks before that, to give them a competitive edge over its biggest rivals.

But this is not all. Some reports also suggest that MS may delay it till early 2017. This is due to the fact that Microsoft has planned to launch its next Windows 10 upgrade, codename Redstone (also known as the anniversary update) by early 2017. Some analysts believe that Microsoft will be implementing its newest OS in the upcoming Surface Pro 5. So we can expect the next gen Surface Pro to be released by mid-2016 or early 2017.

Like its current variant, the Surface Pro will come with top of the line specs. Surface Pro 4 comes equipped with the latest generation of Intel processors "Skylake', including Intel Core m3, Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7. The successor of Skylake, AKA "Kaby Lake" is rumored to hit mass production by late 2016, so it is only logical to believe that the next gen Surface Pro will feature the processing capabilities of Intel's next generation chipset.

This may be the reason that many believe Microsoft will wait until Kaby lake is commercially mass produced and release the Surface Pro 5 in early 2017. Along with the latest processor, the Surface Pro 5 should feature an internal storage of 128 GB and sport at least a 6GB RAM. When it comes to display, the current version measures up to 12.3 inches and offers razor-sharp 267 pixels per inch. The Surface Pro 4 raised the standards and smoked all of its competition. The next version will definitely be a massive improvement over its existing Surface Pro 4 version.

Source: Microsoft Surface Pro 5 will be better, more powerful: release date nears

Microsoft Surface Pro 5, specs, release date speculation: Here’s what we know thus far

Microsoft Surface Pro 5, specs, release date speculation: Here's what we know thus far

Microsoft Surface Pro 5, specs, release date speculation: Here's what we know thus far

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is going to replace the company's existing top of the line tablet Surface Pro 4. There are claims that this is going to be the most powerful tablet-laptop hybrid ever launched in the market thus far.

The Redmond-based tech giant introduced its Surface Pro 4 late last year. It is just over six months when it was introduced in the market. Nonetheless it has not stopped the tech blogs and other top of the line news sources from speculating and sharing rumors about the next version of the Surface Pro tablet.

Right now there are speculations doing the rounds that the Redmond based tech giant will be launched in the market in June. There are other rumors that it will not come in June and that we will have to wait for its arrival till October.

There are reports suggesting that Microsoft, in order to compete well with Apple, will be aiming to release its next gen Surface Line a month before Apple's next MacBook Pro version. So, we might expect Microsoft to release the Surface Pro 5 a few weeks before that, to give them a competitive edge over its biggest rivals.

But this is not all. Some reports also suggest that MS may delay it till early 2017. This is due to the fact that Microsoft has planned to launch its next Windows 10 upgrade, codename Redstone (also known as the anniversary update) by early 2017. Some analysts believe that Microsoft will be implementing its newest OS in the upcoming Surface Pro 5. So we can expect the next gen Surface Pro to be released by mid-2016 or early 2017.

Like its current variant, the Surface Pro will come with top of the line specs. Surface Pro 4 comes equipped with the latest generation of Intel processors "Skylake', including Intel Core m3, Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7. The successor of Skylake, AKA "Kaby Lake" is rumored to hit mass production by late 2016, so it is only logical to believe that the next gen Surface Pro will feature the processing capabilities of Intel's next generation chipset.

This may be the reason that many believe Microsoft will wait until Kaby lake is commercially mass produced and release the Surface Pro 5 in early 2017. Along with the latest processor, the Surface Pro 5 should feature an internal storage of 128 GB and sport at least a 6GB RAM. When it comes to display, the current version measures up to 12.3 inches and offers razor-sharp 267 pixels per inch. The Surface Pro 4 raised the standards and smoked all of its competition. The next version will definitely be a massive improvement over its existing Surface Pro 4 version.

Source: Microsoft Surface Pro 5, specs, release date speculation: Here's what we know thus far

Google’s Project Ara Is Finally Coming for Developers This Fall

Google's Project Ara is an exciting vision meant to change the way people use their smartphones, but unfortunately, tech enthusiasts started to lose their patience after the project was delayed multiple times. Spiral 2, a handset part of Project Ara, was scheduled for market release last year, but plans didn't go accordingly, and the event was postponed for this year.

Earlier this year, a Project Ara tablet showed up in benchmark tests, which spiked enthusiasm for this project once again, but little information has emerged since then.

During Google I/O 2016 on Friday, the ATAP division announced that the very first Project Ara modular phone would be revealed to developers this fall while a consumer version would be made available sometime in 2017. The upcoming developer release is set to have a 5.3-inch screen and run Android, probably the next Android N.

Developers can get their hands on the smartphone by heading over to ATAP's dedicated Project Ara website and filling out the form indicating what type of module they would like to develop.

It seems that Google faced some issues with integrating the processor and RAM into the standard frame so that it could allow room for six modular slots.

30 Google employees use Project Ara smartphones as their main device

The smartphone will allow users to swap out modules while the handset is still working so that users won't need to turn it off in order to change a module. The modules use an open standard UniPro, and one can support up to 11.9 Gbps. Each module consumes about as much power as a USB 3.

A button on the right side of the device brings up a map of all modules, and the user simply needs to tap on one in order to eject and swap the module. About 30 people who work for Google's Advanced Technology and Products division already use Ara smartphones as their main daily driver, Wired mentions.

With Project Ara, Google might actually change people's vision of smartphones and even tablets, since they will no longer be devices with customizable software, but also hardware. It will mean that people won't need to buy smartphone devices in full every two years, but rather replace modules in any way they wish.

  CHECK OUT THE GALLERY  (6 Images)

Source: Google's Project Ara Is Finally Coming for Developers This Fall

Nokia Smartphones and Tablets Running Android OS to Be Released

However, it seems that the Nokia brand still has a few fights left, since Android-based Nokia handsets might be coming to shelves in the near future.

The new company - HMD global - is being granted an exclusive branding and intellectual property licence to create Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets for the next ten years. As early as 2014 it dipped a toe back into the mobile market with the release of the Nokia-branded N1 tablet, manufactured under license by Foxconn, the manufacturing partner of HMD.

Sound confusing? Just think of it like this: a company bought the rights to build new phones using the Nokia name, but the products you'll see weren't made by the Nokia you might remember from a few years ago. It's all rather incestuous and confusing, but the long and short of it is: New Nokia-branded phones and tablets are on the way.

Nokia had previously sold its mobile phone business to Microsoft in 2014, and subsequently, the software major had begun offering devices as part of its Lumia brand.

Nokia will take a seat on the board of directors of HMD and will set standards for performance and brand requirements so "that all Nokia-branded products exemplify consumer expectations of Nokia devices, including quality, design and consumer-focused innovation". Nummela will be the CEO of the new company when the deal is done, of which it's expected to be done by the end of June. It will continue to support its Lumia range of smartphones, which run on Windows. In return for HMD Global using the brand name, Nokia will get royalties. HMD and Nokia Technologies entered an agreement on cooperation with FIH. "For Nokia, the agreement offers the chance to generate ongoing revenue from mobile devices without having to become involved in the manufacturing and distribution of hardware".

Source: Nokia Smartphones and Tablets Running Android OS to Be Released

Microsoft sells brand: New Nokia phones and tablets are coming

"HMD and Nokia Technologies have signed an agreement with FIH to establish a collaboration framework to support the building of a global business for Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets", Nokia explained in its release.

The new HMD company, was founded in Finland seemingly just as a way to get Nokia and its eponymous brand back into the smartphone and devices game that it exited when Microsoft bought part of the company two years ago.

FIH Mobile will also acquire Microsoft Mobile Vietnam - the company's Hanoi, manufacturing facility.

This deal will allow Foxconn access to all the feature phone assets of Microsoft, including their brands, software and services, contracts and agreements and care network.

The deal will affect about 4,500 Microsoft employees, who Redmond said "will transfer to, or have the opportunity to join" FIH or HMD. We hope to see Nokia branded smartphones, feature phones and tablets returning to its old glory. Company has also made an offer for Microsoft to sub-license Microsoft's current rights to use Nokia in cheap, basic functionality phones.

This announcement does not affect Microsoft's existing Windows 10 mobile devices, including its Lumia range.

As part of the process, HMD Global and its Taiwanese partner, FIH Mobile of FoxConn Technology Group, will take over Microsoft's feature phone business for $350 million, which it had bought from Nokia in 2014, the United States company said. It's all rather incestuous and confusing, but the long and short of it is: New Nokia-branded phones and tablets are on the way.

HMD's CEO will be former Nokia and Microsoft Mobile Devices executive Arto Nummela, and Nokia will have a place on HMD's board of directors. The Microsoft transaction is expected to close in H2 2016. "We will work with world-class providers in manufacturing and distribution to move quickly and deliver what customers want". "Working with HMD and [Foxconn] will let us participate in one of the largest consumer electronics markets in the world while staying true to our licensing business model".

Nokia won't be developing the new smartphones in-house, however.

Source: Microsoft sells brand: New Nokia phones and tablets are coming

Nokia to Launch Android Smartphones & Tablets with FIH Mobile & HMD Global

Microsoft has agreed to sell its feature phone business to FIH Mobile, the contract manufacturer owned by Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group, and Finnish company HMD Global for Dollars 350 million.

The deal will see FIH Mobile acquire Microsoft's manufacturing facility in Hanoi, according to the announcement.

Are you excited to see Nokia returning to mobile with Android devices?

Microsoft is effectively freeing itself from the feature phone assets and the Nokia brand name that it acquired when it purchased the Nokia's mobile phone business.

Post closure of this deal, some 4,500 employees will move to or have the opportunity to join FIH Mobile or HMD Global Oy subject to compliance with local laws.

However, in the press release, Microsoft has intimated to Foxconn that it will continue to develop Windows 10 for Mobile Lumia smartphones along with its other partners like Acer, Alcatel, HP, Trinity and Vaio.

FIH Mobile has snapped up the business, which Microsoft bought from Nokia in 2014 for $7.5bn (£5.2bn), for just $350m.

"Nokia branded basic phones are still among the most popular phones in several markets". The company announced a licensing and manufacturing deal with Finnish company HMD and FIH Mobile to create mobile phones and tablets bearing the Nokia name. One other detail that we do know is that HMD plans to invest around $500 million over the next three years to market these Nokia smartphones and tablets, so the devices will get a nice marketing boost. Microsoft has struggled to make an impact in the smartphone market with Windows Phone and recently denied reports it was retreating from the market.

HMD's device portfolio will be based on Android, Nokia said.

Nokia's Chennai plant, which was started in 2006, made about 180 million phones at its peak, but operations were suspended and eventually shut due to a Rs. 20,000-crore tax dispute.

Source: Nokia to Launch Android Smartphones & Tablets with FIH Mobile & HMD Global

Surface Pro 5: Release Date, Tech specs, Display Everything You Need To Know

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 should be released pretty soon and if you're a big tech fan then this release should interest you. Microsoft's biggest stake this year is the tablet industry, seeing how they've put the smartphone industry aside for now until their biggest project is coming which is the Surface Phone.

First and foremost you'll probably want to know when this device is going to be released. Most analysts speculate an October 2016 or early 2017 release date for this device. It's set to have a similar price tag to its predecessor which is around $899 for the base price.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Kaby Lake

The processor is one of the main things we're looking forward to in the Surface Pro 5 as rumor has it that it will be a very good one. Kaby Lake is Intel's next big project and alleged benchmarks were leaked a while back showing that the processor can handle 118.71 Giga operations per second on 8 threads. This is really a huge improvement and this processor is set to launch next month at Computex 2016.

Amazing Display On Surface Pro 5

Another very interesting piece of speculation we've heard recently is that the Surface Pro 5 will feature a 4K display with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. This is double the resolution of its predecessor and it would definitely sell a lot of units thanks to this. A better battery unit is also promised to be included which is granted if the display really is a 4K one. You can expect the Surface pro 5 to last you at least 7 hours which is extremely decent for this sort of device, but we hope we won't be seeing any sleep issues as with the Surface pro 4.

New Accessories

The Surface Pen is a very neat accessory and Microsoft wants to improve on it. Apparently, the Surface pro 5 will come with a rechargeable Surface Pen and a magnetic charging dock which is interesting news. Accessories really improve every Surface Pro owner's experience with the device and the Pen is very important because a lot of artists use a Surface Pro and this piece is very important to them.

Overall these are the primary news related to the Surface Pro 5. Microsoft is due to give out a couple more details over the coming months as it will keep us on our toes until the Surface Pro 5 actually gets released. The competition will be fierce as Apple will probably release its own tablet. Last year, the iPad Pro outsold the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 so Microsoft needs to ensure that its upcoming tablet will be of excellent quality in order to sell as many units as possible.

Do you think that the upcoming installment in the Surface Pro series is going to be successful? Why is that? Let us know by leaving a comment and tell us if you'll buy a Surface Pro 5 once the device actually gets released.

Source: Surface Pro 5: Release Date, Tech specs, Display Everything You Need To Know

Android N update: overview for smartphones and tablets

When will your device receive Android N? / © ANDROIDPIT When will the Android N update be released?

We expect to see Android N appear in final form in the late summer. It will replace Android Marshmallow, which many of you are still waiting for. Currently, you can install the Android N Developer Preview on supported Nexus devices. Find out what smartphones and tablets the Android N update will make its way to and when right here.

Jump directly to: Android N update: Samsung

It's still early days in Android N land, and manufacturers are reluctant to make concrete promises at any given time, let alone this far in advance. However, normally, Samsung maintains a two-year update window on devices, so it's a safe bet to assume that the Android N will be making its way to all Samsung Galaxy S6 and S7 variants. The Galaxy S5 is a less safe bet. The Galaxy S4 has not seen an update to Marshmallow, so Android N may be the S5's turn to fall behind.

Samsung was not so hot on the Marshmallow update front. Expect to wait six months following the official Nexus roll out before your flagship Galaxy gets Android N. The Galaxy Note 6 may launch with Android N in the late summer, but if not, the update shouldn't be far behind.

The S7 is sure to be one of the first Samsung devices to see Android N. / © ANDROIDPIT Android N update: Nexus

The Nexus line is Android blue blood. They are the first devices to see updates and this will continue to be the case so long as there is a Google above. Updates roll out over the air, and you have nothing to worry about. Come late summer, the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player are all certain to see Android N.

Skip down the page to see how you can get the Android N Developer Preview on your Nexus right now.

Android N update: HTC

HTC has taken steps to streamline its development process in an attempt to ensure more timely Android updates. So our hopes are high that by the time the new years rolls around, HTC 2016 devices will bear Android N inside them.

The day after Android N was detailed at Google I/O, HTC announced that the new firmware would be making its way to the HTC 10, One A9 and One M9. The announcement also made it clear that more devices would receive the update, but this confirmation would come later in the year, "when Google ships Android N to manufacturers."

Android N update: Sony

Sony usually lags behind the other major manufacturers when pushing out updates. Ahead of its Android Marshmallow rollout, Sony advised: "Sony Mobile is working hard to bring this update to as many of [its recent Xperia] devices as possible in a timely manner," but was unspecific on dates.

Sony's Xperia line has been slow to see Android updates in the past. / © ANDROIDPIT

Given Sony's recent past, it's unlikely that we'll see a Sony device updated to Android N before the start of 2017.

Having said that, Sony is working together with Google on this one, and the Xperia Z3 can already receive the Android N Developer Preview – the only non-Nexus device currently in such a privileged position – so perhaps our hopes can be a little higher.

Android N update: LG

LG was one of the first manufacturers to produce the Marshmallow update last year, bringing its LG G4 up to date with Android 6.0 as early as October in some regions. 

Even better, they made the software available for download online, so users didn't have to wait for updates over-the-air. There's nothing to suggest that LG won't be able to achieve the same again this year with its flagship device, the LG G5. So far, the Korean manufacturer hasn't made any announcements, however.  

LG is usually quick off the line, and we expect no less for the LG G5. / © ANDROIDPIT Android N update: Huawei

Huawei are generally quick to make promises and slow to fulfill them. The company's track record of rolling out updates is, shall we say, not excellent. You can expect its latest flagships to receive an update to Android N, but whether that will be before Android O is released is the real question.

Android N update: Levono / Motorola

Lenovo is now running things over in Moto land, but given the near-stock nature of the devices' software, there is little reason why timely updates should not continue as usual. The roll out of Marshmallow did see some upsetting exclusions, however, so let's hope Lenovo decides to be a little more welcoming of the entire Moto family.

How to install Android N manually Install the Android N update on the Sony Xperia Z3

Google had previously hinted that the Android N Developer Preview might make its way to non-Nexus devices, and shortly thereafter, Sony announced official support for the experimental software on the Z3 (D6603 and D6653 models) through its Xperia Companion application.

Android N on the Sony Xperia Z3: officially supported. / © ANDROIDPIT

The Xperia Companion app makes installing Android N a pain-free procedure. However, before you proceed, be aware that all your data will be wiped and the software is not stable. If you want to install the software, it would be wise to make a backup of your device first.

We tried the update out on an Xperia Z3 here in the offices and can confirm that installing it is a breeze. All it requires is a Windows or OS X computer and few moments of patience.

After a few minutes, Android N on the Xperia Z3 is good to go. / © ANDROIDPIT

The first thing you need to do is grab the Xperia Companion software and install it on your computer. Open Xperia Companion and hold down the ALT key while clicking on Software repair. Press on Next untill you can select Android N Developer Preview. While your device is disconnected from your computer, turn it off and wait at least five seconds. Then press and hold the Volume down key. Keep holding it and connect your device to your computer via USB.

When the software begins flashing, you're best off not touching the device at all. Just leave it until everything is finished. 

Android N on the Xperia Z3 gets you a quasi-stock experience. / © ANDROIDPIT

You can return your device to factory settings at any time by doing the same as above but without holding the ALT key when pressing on Software repair. Beware once more that all your data will be wiped.

Android N on Nexus devices: over the air

The download and installation of the Android N Developer Preview has been made easier than ever before. For the first time, you can preview the firmware through over-the-air updates, which also allow you to easily roll back to the more stable Android Marshmallow.

Just head over to the Google site, login in with your Google account, and activate the device you wish to use in the beta program and follow the instructions.

Of course, the name of the new Android version is kept secret. / © ANDROIDPIT Android N on Nexus devices: factory images

The conventional method of installing Android Developer Previews, prior to the beta program, was via facotry images. Google releases these here.

To install a factory image, you need a PC running a recent version of the Android Platform Tools, and your smartphone must have an unlocked bootloader. The process for flashing the image remains the same as how it was done with the Android Marshmallow Developer Preview.

Android N is currently available for the following Nexus devices:

Nexus 5X

Nexus 6

Nexus 6P

Nexus 9

Nexus Player

Pixel C

Android One

We'll update this page with more manufacturers and devices as they are announced. Until the, let us know which device you want to see Android N on first.

Source: Android N update: overview for smartphones and tablets

Google Chrome Dev Updated To Support Multi-Window

Android is the most popular mobile operating system on the planet today with Apple's iOS a distant second. And on the smartphone platform, Android's developers have very successfully built the operating system that both performs well and makes good use of the screen. However, on the tablet form factor, the Android operating system is relatively weaker. From a performance perspective, tablets usually have comparable hardware to a smartphone and so running performance is no issue here. Tablets often have similar resolution displays to smartphones but the software is set up to work better on a larger screen with a lower DPI (dots per inch) user interface resolution. This means that whilst many applications available from the Google Play Store will typically work on the tablet platform, unfortunately, their interface is compromised: the developer did not design the application to be able to scale properly to fit the larger screen real estate. For these applications, there is often a large area of the screen that is underutilised and unfortunately, it is not just third party developers that underuse the available space – several Google applications leave big areas of the screen and interface effectively useless.

One application that makes better use of the larger screens is the Google Chrome Browser. The browser scales to fit the full width of the screen and, importantly, renders web pages to also fit the screen. Tablets, especially the larger models, are arguably a perfect device for web browsing as one can see a lot more on the screen and the Chrome development team have worked hard to keep their browser up to date. To this end, the Development version of the Chrome Browser, which is available to download on the Google Play Store, has been updated to support multi-window mode when running in the tablet user interface mode. The Dev version of the Chrome Browser is used by Google to pre-launch new versions of the Chrome browser complete with experimental features to obtain feedback from users – what works, what does not and how it may be improved.

The next version of Android, currently known as "Android N," will include a multi-window mode. This should improve the tablet's user interface and hence how productive these devices will be. The new version of the Dev Chrome Browser supports the new way of multiple-instance multitasking and supports at least two Chrome Browser windows running side by side. It is still a Dev release of the browser and Google's development team are likely to refine and improve the code before it is upgraded into a new version, but it's exciting to see how various applications are being prepared for the next release of Android.

Source: Google Chrome Dev Updated To Support Multi-Window

Nokia Comeback: Finnish Phone Maker Announces Return To Smartphones And Tablets Market

Nokia, once the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, is all set to make a grand comeback. In a press release issued today, the Finnish company announced its plans to return to selling phones and tablets.

However, there are slight changes. Instead of manufacturing the devices themselves like they earlier did, Nokia will outsource the manufacturing part to a newly formed company, HMD Global, which would make smartphones and tablets for Nokia.

An excerpt from the press release reads as follows.

"Nokia has announced plans that will see the Nokia brand return to the mobile phone and tablet markets on a global basis. Under a strategic agreement covering branding rights and intellectual property licensing, Nokia Technologies will grant HMD global Oy (HMD), a newly founded company based in Finland, an exclusive global license to create Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets for the next ten years."

The terms of the agreement say that Nokia would receive royalty payments for the sales of all Nokia-branded products. Nokia has also tied up with FIH Mobile, which will acquire the rights to manufacture Nokia feature phones. FIH has also acquired Microsoft Mobile Vietnam, which employs more than 4,500 people. This facility would be used to make Nokia-branded feature phones that still remain popular in several pockets across the developing world.

While Nokia reaffirms that its feature phones business would continue, the most significant announcement that came today was the fact that future Nokia smartphones and tablets would run Google's Android OS.

The press release explicitly confirms the same.

"Nokia-branded feature phones remain one of the most popular choices of mobile phone in many markets around the world today, and HMD will continue to market them as part of an integrated portfolio alongside a new range of smartphones and tablets. HMD's new smartphone and tablet portfolio will be based on Android, uniting one of the world's iconic mobile brands with the leading mobile operating system and app development community."

Nokia has also issued another statement, addressing the people who love the brand and their phones over the years.

"We are proud to announce that the Nokia brand will be returning to the worldwide mobile phone and tablet market. Every day our fans continue to ask for Nokia smartphones. In fact, in a recent survey, we found that Nokia smartphones are amongst the top five considered brands for purchase by smartphone buyers – and they aren't even available yet.

"So, under a new agreement, Nokia Technologies has granted HMD, a new company led by some of the world's top mobile specialists, an exclusive global license to create a full range of Nokia-branded smartphones, tablets, and feature phones for the next decade. The new smartphones and tablets will be based on Android, uniting one of the world's iconic mobile brands, Nokia, with the leading mobile operating system and app development community."

The post goes on to thank people for the continuous support.

"A big thanks to you and all of the Nokia supporters around the world. You continue to remind us of the difference our devices have made in your lives. We can't wait for you to meet the next generation."

This is not the first time we have heard of Nokia planning to get back into the smartphones market. A few months ago, another report by the Inquisitr talked about Nokia's plans to head back into the market they once dominated. The plans were confirmed by Nokia's CEO Rajeev Suri as well. However, back then, there was no timeframe as to when we should expect an announcement. That said, there is still no clarity as to when we would actually see a brand new Android-powered, Nokia-branded smartphone in the markets, but we should expect devices at least by the end of the year.

A 2013 photo of Nokia's then CEO Stephen Elop announcing the Nokia Lumia 1020 [Photo by Richard Drew/AP Images]

Until 2011, Nokia was the world's biggest phone maker. However, a series of wrong decisions by the top management led to the downfall of the company, which could not compete with Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms. The final straw was Nokia's decision to adopt Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, a plan that backfired and failed miserably. In the end, the mobile phones division of Nokia was sold to Microsoft for $7.2 billion, after which the Nokia brand name was relegated to a few feature phones that the company was still making.

Do you think Nokia devices, now with Android running on them, would give tough competition to the likes of Samsung, Apple, and Sony? More importantly, with the tremendous brand value the company still has, will it bounce back and once again, become a force to be reckoned with?

[Phto by Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP Images]

Source: Nokia Comeback: Finnish Phone Maker Announces Return To Smartphones And Tablets Market