What’s new
Strong demand for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 tests supply chain
Tech giant Samsung said stronger-than-expected demand for the new Galaxy Note 7 is causing supply constraints globally, suggesting strong initial sales for the premium device. “As pre-order results for the Galaxy Note 7 have far exceeded our estimates, its release date in some markets has been adjusted,” Samsung told in a statement without commenting on where launch delays could occur. The phone went on sale on Aug. 19 in countries including the United States and South Korea, where it retails for $882.
You can read more details about the Note 7 here.
Fitbit didn’t steal Jawbone trade secrets, ITC judge rules
The two wearable-tech companies have in the past year increasingly found themselves at odds not just in the marketplace but the courtroom as well. Jawbone, which makes the Up line of fitness trackers, filed three lawsuits in two months in 2015 against Fitbit, claiming that Fitbit strategically lured away its employees to gain knowledge of key trade secrets, including its upcoming product lineup, information about its supply chain, and financial data. Fitbit CEO James Park said he was pleased with the judge’s decision.
More info are available here.
New products
Samsung Z2 is the world’s first 4G Tizen smartphone
The company is launching the first ever 4G smartphone running on a Linux-based open source mobile OS — Tizen. It has a small 4 inch screen and 5 megapixel camera, is powered by a 1.5GHz Quad-core processor, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with a microSD card.
The device is fueled by a 1500mAh long-lasting battery, which is further boosted by the unique ‘Ultra Power Saving mode’, which keeps the phone operational, even at minimal battery levels.
You can read more here.
LG V20 teased to come with Bang & Olufsen audio system
After boasting about how the V20 will be the first smartphone to come with a 32-bit Quad Digital-to-Analog Converter or DAC, LG is now flaunting the fact that its audio system, including even its in-box headphones, has been made in partnership with Bang & Olufsen, one of the biggest names in high-end audio equipment. Both the V20’s Quad DAC and this B&O audio, however, can only really be enjoyed with headphones. And not just any headphones but a compatible pair.
More info here.
You might want to know about this
Microsoft apps to come pre-installed on Lenovo Smartphones
Microsoft apps such as Office, OneDrive and Skype will now come pre-installed on Lenovo smartphones that use the Android operating system. Lenovo expects to ship millions of these Android-based devices worldwide over the next several years. This expanded collaboration between Microsoft and Lenovo also includes a patent cross-licensing agreement that covers Lenovo and Motorola devices.
You can read more details here.
Delphi and Mobileye to develop self driving system that automakers can integrate in their vehicles
Israeli driving assistant software maker Mobileye NV said it was developing a self-driving system with Delphi Automotive Plc that will be ready for production by 2019. Mobileye and Delphi said their technology would cater to automakers that may not necessarily want to develop their own self-driving systems. Automakers and technology firms are striking new alliances to commercialize self-driving cars after being caught off guard by Silicon Valley companies such as Alphabet Inc, Tesla Motors Inc and Apple Inc, which have invested millions of dollars in the technology.
More info can be found here.
Fun stuff
Prisma now lets you transform your photos into works of art offline
Prisma, the viral photography app that retouches your pics to resemble the work of famous artists, has updated its iOS app to allow for offline image processing.
Running the deep learning system right on your smartphone will allow Prisma’s servers to speed up processing times, and bring full videos to the app in the near future. The company claims that retouching times will be reduced to 5 seconds on the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and slightly longer on the iPhone 6 models. An Android update is also imminent, and could be rolled out as soon as next week.
You can read more about it here.
