Category: Brands and Companies

All Brands and Company Names

Moto X Launched : Motorola X8, 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED starting US $ 199

Motorola and Google have finally made the Moto X rumored device official, it is dubbed the “Moto X” and is designed with the “user in mind”. The Moto X comes with the ability of the User to design their own phone, it is designed and assembled in the US.

Motorola has also redesigned the structure of the Handset, with new processing via Moto’s new X8 Mobile Computing System. A SoC based on a Snapdragon S4 Pro with a 1.7GHz dual-core Krait CPU and a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, positioned alongside two unique Motorola processors, including one to handle language interpretation and a contextual computing core, which manages the smartphone’s sensors. Both of which are designed to ensure minimal battery drain when using these services.

The new Moto X has a 4.7-inch AMOLED display running at 720p, a 10-megapixel “ClearPixel” camera with 1080p video recording and will run Android 4.2.2. With the online app called Moto Maker, you choose the colors, and decide on the details: front, back, accents, memory, wallpapers, even add a name or a short message, a wooden case is also in the works and Motorola claims there are more than 2000 options with more to come soon.

The Moto X is powered by a 2,200mAh battery offering up to 24 hours of “mixed” usage and the handset is 4G LTE enabled. There’s a 10-megapixel Clear Pixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, both of which shoot 1080p video.

Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, GPS and GLONASS, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Miracast Wireless Display, NFC and a nano-SIM.

Sales Begin at the end of August, the 16GB model will retail for $199 with a two-year contract on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon, the 32GB is an AT&T exclusive which will ship for $249. For now only AT&T customers will have access to additional color options via the online app those on other carriers can choose from black and white.

[toggle title=”Motorola X8″]IBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Aug. 1, 2013 – People want choice. The choice to design their own phones. The choice to control their phones by voice when their hands are occupied. The choice to have their phones assembled in America.

Moto X offers you that choice. It’s designed by you, responds to you and is made for you by Motorola, a Google company. Once you turn it on, it’s all yours. And every Moto X sold in the USA is assembled right here in the USA.

With the best of Google services baked in, Moto X helps you get everyday tasks done quickly and with less fuss. But it’s also designed to sip battery, not chug it, so it will go all day and into the night.

Responds to You

Moto X is ready when you are. It responds to your voice – no touching necessary. With Touchless Control you can check the weather, get directions, or do just about anything without lifting a finger. Moto X doesn’t guess like other phones do. It knows.

With Active Display, Moto X keeps the information you need to know at your fingertips. Instead of a constantly blinking light, important information quietly appears on the screen. It doesn’t interrupt. You don’t have to wake it up to look at the time or see your messages. Before you know it, that constant itch to check your phone will be gone forever.

Need to capture that perfect moment before it’s gone? All it takes is two quick twists of your wrist and Moto X’s Quick Capture camera is ready to shoot. Touch anywhere on the screen and you’ll get just the shot you want. Its high-quality sensor can capture the darkest scenes or stop motion blur in bright light. You’ll see the difference in every shot.

And all of this is battery-friendly, so Moto X is ready to respond all day long.

Designed by You

Your Moto X is truly yours, because you design it. Through our online studio, Moto Maker, you choose the colors, and decide on the details: front, back, accents, memory, wallpapers, even add a name or a short message. When you’re done, we assemble your Moto X right here in the USA and ship it to you for free in 4 days or less*.

Choose from more than 2,000 possible combinations, with more to come. We’ll be constantly exploring new offerings, such as real wood backs, starting later in the year. Still love the classics? You can choose an eye-catching woven black or woven white model right in the store (see below for more info on availability).

We’re pretty sure you’ll love your Moto X, but if for some reason you don’t, you can redesign or return it within 14 days**, no problem.

Made for You

Moto X has a unique curved back, designed to fit your hand comfortably, along with a 4.7-inch screen that makes it easy to operate with only one hand — when you want to use your hands that is.

Plus, no one has ever assembled a smartphone in the US before. We think it’s about time. Each Moto X sold in the US is individually assembled in Ft. Worth, Texas. Doing this in the US means you can design a custom phone online and have it delivered right to your doorstep in just a few days.

You Are What You Wear

We’ve partnered with the most innovative brands in the world including SOL REPUBLIC to create an ecosystem of accessories for your Moto X. We call it M4DE Motorola™. These include headphones, speakers, cases, docks and more.

You can even match your headphones to your Moto X. They come in all the same custom colors of the phone, in two different styles. On your ears: SOL Tracks HD headset with a V8 sound engine that has deep base and high quality. In your ears: SOL JAX earbuds with controls for calls and music, plus free ear tips for life.

Where to Get It

Moto X will be available in the US, Canada and Latin America starting in late August/early September.

In the US, woven black and woven white models will be available at AT&T, Sprint, US Cellular, Verizon Wireless and at national retailers including Best Buy stores with a suggested retail price of $199 with a new two-year agreement. Additionally, it will be available on all carriers, including T-Mobile, at Motorola.com.

Visit motorola.com to sign-up for more details about Moto Maker, which will first be available for AT&T users. And, coming soon to Best Buy.

You’ll hear from our carrier partners around the globe regarding exact pricing and availability.

*Subject to parts availability
**California residents will have 30 days to return

IMAGES & B-ROLL: Click this link (also in the footer) for images and b-roll (you agree to our license terms when downloading images or video)

About Motorola Mobility

Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, creates smartphones, tablets and wireless accessories that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. For more information visit motorola.com/mobility.

Certain features, services and applications are network dependent and may not be available in all areas; additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply. All features, functionality and other product specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. Contact your service provider for details.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Google is a trademark of Google, Inc. All other trademarks the property of their respective owners. © 2013 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.
[/toggle]

[VIA] [Source]

August 2, 2013
HTC Desire 600 Dual Sim Unboxing and Hands On
HTC is ready to bring its flagship features to the masses with the new HTC Desire 600 Dual Sim. The Smartphone running Android 4.1 Jelly bean also features the Latest HTC Sense and Blinkfeed UI. Laid out with a 4.5 inch 540 x 960 px Super LCD2 capacitive touchscreen display, it has a nimble 242 ppi pixel density. Cameras are borrowed from the HTC 8X with a 8 MP snapper 1/3.2” sensor size, 1.4µm pixel size. The front facing camera is a 1.7 MP shooter both will do 720p video.

The HTC Desire 600 dual sim is based on a Qualcomm MSM8625Q Snapdragon 200 with a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A5 and an Adreno 203, all of which according to the company can tak on any Mediatek based handset offering similar features. The Build quality and feel of the HTC Desire 600 Dual Sim is definitely great. With its rubberized grippy back panel and slim brushed steel bezel the dual sim smartphone is really worth of the brand.

The box we got is not a retail box , but the usual in-box items should include :
HTC has not left out on the usual Sense features bundling 25 GB Dropbox storage. Check out the unbxoing video (uploading) and stay tuned for Gaming Benchmarks and full review shortly.
August 1, 2013
Moto X To Support Nano SIM Card

When it comes to Motorola’s upcoming Moto X smartphone, it might not be a flagship device, but this does not mean that there is not much buzz surrounding the smartphone. After all, we do know that it will be proudly “made in the USA”, and we have also seen its “final” press shots posted online already, in addition to rumors of a so-called Magic Glass bandied about, not to mention alleged images of the said Magic Glass spotted, too. Well, this time around, the Moto X comes under the spotlight once again, with an alleged Nano-SIM belonging to the Moto X leaked out in Hong Kong.

GSM Insider picked up a photo from a Hong Kong phone blog, which shows a nano-SIM card and tray placed next to an empty slot on the side of the phone.

If this proves to be true, that will make the Moto X one of the first phones to adopt the nano-SIM since the iPhone 5. Of course, whether the Moto X will actually come with the nano-SIM remains to be seen — neither Google nor Motorola has indicated what the device will offer. We’ll find out Thursday, though, when Google holds a press event showcasing the Moto X.

July 31, 2013
Microsoft Releases Office Mobile For Office 365 Android App

Last month Microsoft unveiled the Office Mobile for Office 365 for iOS and now the Redmond company is following up with an Android version.

Office Mobile 365 enables Word, Excel, and PowerPoint document creation straight from the source. The app works by linking with a SkyDrive or SharePoint account and keeping documents stored online in a cloud locker that regularly synchronizes across devices. Someone can start a document on a desktop computer and then edit on their smartphone, or vice versa. A list of recent documents appears on the phone or desktop, and changes saved to documents are universal.

“The release of this app shows that we’re committed to keep providing additional value for Office 365 subscribers,” Microsoft senior product manager Guy Gilbert wrote in a blog post.

Microsoft has tried to leverage the widely used Office, which is preinstalled on mobile phones running its Windows Phone operating system, to eke out market share in the smartphone business that’s dominated by devices running Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android operating systems.

Initially, Office 365 is rolling out in the U.S., but will eventually be available in 33 languages and 117 markets. That expansion should begin in the coming weeks. You need an Android 4.0+ phone, not tablet which is an annoying limitation as people are more likely to edit a doc on a tablet than a phone.

July 31, 2013
Microsoft To Rename SkyDrive After Losing Trademark Case

Microsoft has to come up with a new name for Skydrive, its cloud based data storage service.

Skydrive is used by Microsoft users to upload and share content. Unfortunately Microsoft did not give enough consideration to the fact that British Sky Broadcasting might have had a trademark on the word “sky”.

A UK court has ruled that Microsoft has infringed on a trademark owned by British Sky Broadcasting Group with the name “SkyDrive.” Microsoft has reportedly agreed to change the name, and they will not appeal the court’s decision.

A new name will not be given overnight. BSkyB will continue to let Microsoft use the name for a “reasonable period of time” as they try to rename the service. Microsoft has been using the SkyDrive name for their cloud-storage service for around 5 years now. The name has become synonymous with Windows 8, Windows Phone, and all of Microsoft’s new devices. Hopefully this brand change does not disrupt Microsoft’s vision.

There were also some financial and other terms in the agreement, however the details are confidential.

“We’re glad to have resolution of this naming dispute, and will continue to deliver the great service our hundreds of millions of customers expect, providing the best way to always have your files with you,” said Microsoft.

[Via]

July 31, 2013
Samsung caught boosting Benchmark results on Exynos devices

Most people consider the benchmark results of a smartphone before buying the handset. If reports are accurate, it appears Samsung has been boosting Benchmarks and inflating those numbers for quite some time, to enhance the overall outcome of the benchmark scores on Exynos devices. According to the tech explorers at Anandtech, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a software bot by the name of “BenchmarkBooster,” which is responsible for overclocking the processors when certain apps are running. This causes a 13% average increase in the overall outcome of the GPU benchmark and similar enhancements on the CPU side. The apps affected by this so called “BenchmarkBooster,” are GLBench 2.5.1, AnTuTu, Quadrant and Linpack whereas the GFXBench 2.7.0 is able to bypass the incremental patch.

What Samsung is actually doing is unknown, when we reached a Samsung Rep in India we were told that Korea HQ is looking into the matter and “may soon release an official statement”. Samsung could however be boosting Benchmark scores to impress upcoming customers and even reviewers in believing that the Exynos Based Smartphones perform better than they actually do. This could indeed inflate sales a bucket load more. Let’s see what Samsung has to say. For a detailed account and geeky numbers hit the source link below.

[Anandtech]

July 31, 2013
LG Launches PD233 Pocket Sized Printer In India

LG today launched a pocket-sized photo printer called LG PD233 Pocket Photo in India. The LG PD233 is available at retail stores across India for Rs 14,990.

Named Pocket Photo, the mini photo printer is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, operating wirelessly over either Bluetooth or near field communications (NFC).

Fitting in the palm of your hand, Pocket Photo produces small 3x2in colour prints as requested by the connected device. In order to do so, however, users need to download the LG photo app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store, where they can also embed QR codes or make quick edits directly from the device before printing.

Pocket Photo employs inkless printing technology from Zink, which LG claims eliminates the need for expensive ink cartridges.

“Printed photos offer a certain intimate appeal and tactile pleasure that digital images simply can’t provide,” LG said. “Whether you want to keep a photo in your wallet or add it to a personal scrapbook or diary, LG’s smart mobile printer offers the ideal solution.”

The Pocket Photo measures 72x120x24mm and weighs 215g.

July 30, 2013
iOS 7 Beta Code Confirms Fingerprint Sensor Feature For Next iPhone

In case you were wondering whether or not the next-generation iPhone will have that rumored fingerprint sensor, look no further than the latest iOS 7 beta.

A folder dubbed “BiometricKitUI” has been discovered in iOS 7 Beta 4 by Hamza Sood (and made public by 9to5mac) and, while the folder bears enough evidence of the fingerprint sensor in and of itself, the contents provide even more clues regarding the biometric capabilities of Apple’s next iPhones.

Following its 2012 acquisition of mobile security firm AuthenTec, which specialized in fingerprint sensors, Apple has been rumored to be looking to incorporate its technology into its future products.

The folder references a biometric user interface, complete with descriptions of a setup process that includes images of a colour-changing fingerprint and a person holding an iPhone with their thumb on the Home button.

Earlier this month Apple was granted a patent for an in-display fingerprint sensor which would allow for biometric functionality while negating the need for a separate sensor panel.

Details on the names for the new iPhone models have been scarce until earlier this week when a new photo leaked showing the packaging for a device called the iPhone 5C. This could be the name for the low-cost model scheduled to come out this fall.

But it’s potentially even more interesting than that. As Bulgarian designer/developer Pavel Simeonov just tweeted, “Fingerprint sensor in iPhone 5S is much more than a gimmick. This + iCloud keychain = end of passwords.” So this is not just about security, but also convenience. If iCloud keychain converts and safeguards all of your passwords that you—and only you—can access via your iPhone, then Apple will have scored a tremendous usability coup that potentially makes its phone the key to your life—quite literally.

[Via]

July 30, 2013
Sony Launches the XPERIA Z Ultra in India Rs. 46990, 6.4 inch Full HD, Waterproof and Dust Resistant (Hands On)

Sony today launched the new Xperia Z Ultra in India, the phone is a bigger (really) sized variant of the Xperia Z and in theory really builds on the design and the features of the Xperia Z. The Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4 inch Full HD 1920 x 1080p display with 344 ppi pixel density which is powered by the Triluminous and X-reality engines of the Mobile Bravia embed. The Xperia Z Ultra also features a MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 chipset which is more than capable of powering the device, with Quad-core 2.2 GHz Krait 400 CPU and Adreno 330 the phone is really a mammoth creation in both size and hardware power. The Xperia Z Ultra just like the Z before it, is IP58 certified – dust and water proof which means the the Xperia Z Ultra is Water resistant up to 1 meter and 30 minutes.

For Cameras you have an 8 MP rear snapper and a 2 MP front camera both sans a LED Flash and capable of 1080p video at 30fps. The Xperia Z Ultra comes with a 3050 mAh battery which is embedded into the device and is non removable, the profile of the handset is truly fantastic where it is only 6.5mm thick and weighs only 212g considering the size. Sony have also rounded off the sides so that it does not bite your hands when you attempt to grip this passport sized handset. The phone will be available in Black, White and Purple and boasts lots of freebies from the get go, including Asphalt 7 which is pre installed, Sony Live Content from Indian Idol Etc. and free 3months subscription to Big Flix.

The Xperia Z Ultra has 16 GB inbuilt storage and 2 GB of RAm and you can expand the storage with upto a 64 GB microSD card, class 10 recommended.

Buy Now

July 30, 2013
LG G2 Quick Window Case gets official launch before the phone’s launch.

LG G2 is the next upgrade for the LG Optimus G which is slated for launch on Aug 7th, but the company is not holding back in sending out accessories for the slated handset. Just like Samsung’s S View cover the Quick WIndow case has a cutout window in the front. But LG has gone one step forward and designed a new QuickView UI which will light up the area with incoming call details, text messages, a clock, weather report, alarm or music player.

The availability for the LG G2 is still a mystery, but if LG intention to launch accessories is clear, it seems that the phone is not too far away!

[toggle title=”Press Release”]LG EXPANDS ACCESSORY OFFERINGS WITH PREMIUM SMARTPHONE CASE

Convenient QuickWindowTM Case for LG G2 Available in Seven Colors

SEOUL, July 30, 2013 – LG Electronics (LG) will be introducing a line of premium cases for its upcoming flagship device, LG G2, to be available at the same time as the smartphone. The aesthetically beautiful case, QuickWindow, is the newest addition to LG’s growing premium smartphone accessory lineup, which includes cases, headsets and portable chargers.

An opening or “window” on the cover of QuickWindow allows users to glance at various information displays without having to open the cover flap. With only a light swipe of a finger, the QuickWindow UX will appear in the window which users can view while on the go. Information that can be viewed through the QuickWindow cover include a clock, weather report, alarm, music player, incoming phone call details and incoming text messages.

“LG’s newest premium accessory delivers practical and stylish options while protecting the smartphone, which for many consumers is a significant investment,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our smartphone designers have in mind the type of case they’d like to see on their designs. So it made a lot of sense for LG designers to share with our customers their vision of the perfect accessory.”

The QuickWindow case for the LG G2 will be available in seven different colors, including black, white, pink, purple, blue, mint and yellow. The cases will be available simultaneously with the launch of the LG G2.[/toggle]

July 30, 2013
Samsung Working On 12.2″ And 10″ Tablets With 2,560 x 1,600 Resolution Panels

Samsung has just released three new tablets in the form of the entry-level Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, the mid-range Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and the in-the-middle Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. While all are clear improvements over their predecessors, both in terms of appearance and software, they still lack the high-end components of some of their Galaxy Note counterparts.

According to evleaks, Samsung is to release a 12.2-inch Galaxy Note variant with an Exynos 5 Octa chip and high-resolution screen of 2560×1600 pixels, along with an S-Pen. This will likely appeal to the stationary tablet user, someone who wants a large, sharp display for sketching or drafting. Its model number is slated to be SM-P900.

Another tablet, a more manageable 10-inch variant, will likely join the Galaxy Tab family, and have a similar resolution of 2560×1600 pixels — this is the same density as the Nexus 10 — along with an ultra-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC. Model number P600.

Expect these tablets to debut in the coming months, as Samsung continues to saturate the phone and tablet market with every conceivable price range and screen size.

There also exists the possibility that both of these tablets may have 3GB of RAM onboard. Right now no alleged pictures of both tablets have leaked and it is not known when Samsung plans on making them official.

[Via]

July 29, 2013
Sony And Panasonic Will Team Up To Create 300GB Optical Discs

The highest capacity optical disc on the consumer market today is Blu-ray. In standard form it can hold 25GB of data or 50GB if dual layer. There’s also been the recent roll out of the BDXL format, which increases that capacity to 128GB. But such levels of storage are fast becoming too small, and both Sony and Panasonic have realized this and decided to do something about it.

It has been announced today that both Sony and Panasonic are joining forces to create the next generation standard for optical discs. The objective with these discs is to expand their potential for long term data storage. Both companies hope to improve their development efficiency through technologies held by each company, their plan is to release optical discs touting a recording capability of at least 300GB by 2015. Sony and Panasonic will continue to hold discussions regarding the specifications related to the development of this new standard.

In a joint release, the companies said: “Optical discs have excellent properties to protect them against the environment… they also allow inter-generational compatibility between different formats, ensuring that data can continue to be read even as formats evolve.”

Much larger volumes of storage are expected to be required in the future both amongst broadcast and motion picture industries but also cloud data centers.

Of course a new optical disc capable of storing much larger amounts of data could ultimately make its way on to the consumer market, with 4K Ultra HD video the most obvious material, if indeed 4K ever gets a disc format.

July 29, 2013
BMW i3 Electric Car Made Official Worldwide

Today marked what BMW hopes was a momentous day in its history, and especially the era of the electric vehicle. In a high stakes bid for electric vehicle supremacy, BMW unveiled the production version of the electric i3 hatchback – the first of what the German automaker promises will be a complete range of alternative drive models to be sold under its new ‘i’ brand. Simultaneous presentations in London, New York and Beijing were witness to the reveal of the innovative and much anticipated electric car. Unlike most cars today, the production version of the contemporary-styled hatchback managed to stay true to the concept displayed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The most prominent change from the concept came in way of a five door bodystyle in place of the original three door arrangement, for obvious added practicality and ease of entry to the rear.

The i3 will go on sale in the US for $41,350 in the second quarter of 2014, exclusive of any state or federal incentives that could lower the price or the $925 destination fee. The i3 will be available with three trim levels at launch, which BMW is calling ‘Worlds’: Mega (standard in the US), Giga and Tera.

The BMW i3 is truly revolutionary, with tons of new technology, probably because it was designed as an electric vehicle right from its conception. This has resulted in a vehicle layout unique to the i3, which the Bavarian manufacturer calls ‘LifeDrive‘ architecture. It features components called the ‘Life Module’ and the ‘Drive Module’.

The Life Module is the i3’s pillar-less passenger cell, and is all set to become the first mass-produced monocoque made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The tougher-than-steel material, usually seen only on very expensive supercars, is 30-percent lighter than aluminum, which results in the i3’s relatively light weight of approximately 1,200 kilograms. The Drive Module is basically a 100-percent aluminum chassis which is mounted under the Life Module and houses the hatchback’s powertrain. The 22-kWh, 250-kilogram lithium ion battery is mounted as centrally as possible to optimise vehicle dynamics, and provides power to a rear-mounted synchronous electric motor which drives the rear wheels.

The in-house produced unit, known under the BMW eDrive banner, provides 170 horspower and 25.4 kgm of torque. This translates to a 0-100 km/h time of about 7.0 seconds, but a relatively low top speed of only 150 km/h. Drive is sent through a single ratio gearbox mounted to the end of the electric motor, offering the choice of three driving modes: Comfort, Eco Pro and Eco Pro+.

The lithium ion battery is produced by Samsung and bears a warranty valid for up to six years or 1,60,000 kilometres. It consists of 96 individual cells mounted within the flat floor structure and has been designed to allow the replacement of damaged cells on an individual basis. BMW has mounted the battery as low as possible in the i3’s carbonfibre structure as possible, allowing a claimed centre of gravity lower than that of the BMW X1 compact SUV.

According to BMW, the i3 has a real-world range of 130-160 kilometres, and the standard charger can fill the battery in three hours. However, if you go for the optional SAE DC Combo Fast Charger, you get 80% charge in 20 minutes and a fully charged BMW i3 in half an hour. If the range is an issue for you, BMW provides the option of a 34 horsepower, 650cc two-cylinder generator as a range extender for the electric drive system.

The attractive little car was conceived under the working title of Mega City Vehicle, in order to focus attention on its suitability for urban driving. Reportedly, BMW has spent up to €2 billion (over Rs 15,000 crore) in research, development, testing and production processes for the new four-seater. At first glance, the BMW i3 seems to be properly revolutionary. Technologically marvellous, and visually very appealing, it may become the first real mainstream electric vehicle, in history.

Check out some pictures of BMW’s new electric hatchback, and let us know what you think in the comments below!

July 29, 2013
Nokia Working On Bluetooth-Powered ‘Treasure Tag’ To Track Precious Objects

Is Nokia getting into the accessories business? The Finnish company is reportedly making a Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy-based device that, combined with NFC connectivity, will allow users to “tag” certain objects by attaching it to them, or placing it near them.

Like the Selfstarter-funded Tile, Nokia’s “Treasure Tag” as it will apparently be called will communicate with a Nokia Lumia device via Bluetooth in order to gauge where the tag, and therefore the associated object, happens to be.

The whole idea is to fix this small device to something that’s precious to you: your keys, your laptop, your shiny golden Ring of Power. You’ll then be able to keep track of said object by using an app on your Lumia smartphone. You’ll even be able to find your phone by sending a notification from the Treasure Tag back to the phone, but that will only work if you’re in range.

At this point, it’s clear that Nokia is creating Treasure Tag to expand the desirability of its Lumia line; this is not a cross-platform product, and is unlikely to work with non-Nokia Windows Phones.

The Treasure Tag app, according to The Verge, will let users see where the tag is on a map, or its last location if it has fallen out of range. LiveSight, Nokia’s augmented reality technology recently integrated in the HERE series of apps, will be available for more easily orienting oneself to the object. Users will be able to activate an alarm to more easily locate the object, too.

In terms of usability, Treasure Tag is ostensibly rated for six months of “always on” usage, and will be inexpensive enough to replace on a bi-annual basis.

The accessory requires Bluetooth 4.0, which Nokia is planning to enable across its entire Windows Phone 8 lineup with the upcoming Amber update, which will begin rolling out shortly.

There’s no word on pricing but similar devices are in the $25 range so it should probably be close to that.

[Via]

July 29, 2013
Apple Supplier Report Reveals Plastic Back Casing For Budget iPhone

Rumblings of a low-cost, plastic iPhone have been popping up on a fairly frequent basis throughout 2013, and today the rumored device is making headlines once again.

Apple’s future plan to introduce a plastic device is confirmed within this morning’s shocking report into labor abuses at manufacturing partner, Pegatron.

As part of the investigation, China Labor Watch inserted people inside three of Pegatron’s factories. In one of these reports it confirms the future debut of a plastic iPhone:

“Today’s work is to paste protective film on the iPhone’s plastic back cover to prevent it from being scratched on assembly lines. This iPhone model with a plastic cover will soon be released on the market by Apple,”the report explains.

“The new cell phone has not yet been put into mass production, so quantity is not as important,” a worker wrote. “This makes our job more slow paced than in departments that have begun mass production schedules.”

In addition, China Labor Watch’s company profile notes that Pegatron is responsible for building “low-priced plastic iPhones” for Apple, in addition to the iPhone 4, 4S and the 5.

The report accuses Pegatron of violating labor regulations in China, as well as international labor laws and Apple’s own standards.

Photographs allegedly detailing the new iPhone’s packaging were uploaded to the Chinese forum WeiPhone over the weekend. The name iPhone 5C is printed on the side of the box, possibly leaking the name of the device.

July 29, 2013