Amazon's latest Prime phone is the Moto G Play

                           

Amazon has today announced a new addition to its suite of "Prime exclusive" smartphones, unlocked phones that are discounted because they display ads for products and services from Amazon. The new model is the Moto G Play, which sells for $99.99 and will start shipping on September 15th. Preorders for the phone start today.

The Moto G Play is the least expensive model in Lenovo's Moto G family and has lower-end specs than the Moto G, which is also available as a Prime exclusive. The Play has a 5-inch, 720p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage plus microSD card expansion, a 2,800mAh battery, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera. It runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and is compatible with all four major networks in the US, including Sprint and Verizon. Amazon's Prime exclusive version is priced $50 below the standard version that does not have ads. Amazon says that its other Prime exclusive phones, the Blu R1 HD and Moto G, have been two of the best-selling unlocked phones on the site. The Blu is priced below the new G Play at $49.99, while the Moto G is more expensive at $149.99.

Why Intel bought 'eyes' for its drones

For the past decade, Movidius has supplied computer vision processors to a slew of different tech manufacturers. In January, the company began collaborating with Google to produce deep learning mobile devices. Two months later, it developed a visual guidance system that supported near-autonomous flight for DJI’s Phantom 4 drone, which can track a moving object on its own.

New regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration promised to change the way businesses approached drone technology. Now, just one week after those regulations went into effect, Intel has snapped up Movidius for a presently undisclosed price – a move which may reflect a larger shift in thought about drone technology.

Some are optimistic about the future of drones: uncrewed flying devices could soon be used to deliver packages, to provide internet to remote areas, and even to save the whales. Drones have also proven a popular toy for aerial hobbyists and techy kids. Others decry the technology’s more destructive capacity, citing its applications in warfare and covert cyberattacks.

“For people in my industry these things are just showing up and nobody quite knows how to deal with them,” Jeff Melrose, a cybersecurity strategist for Yokogawa US, told The Christian Science Monitor in August.

With so many possibilities in this still-new world of drones, the public is split between excitement and dismay. Consumers may wonder: Is Intel trying to build Big Brother's newest tool, or simply upgrade a backyard toy?

With so few available details, it’s hard to say. But some say the sale represents a shift into the “Internet of Things.” Just as the internet brings people and information together, the so-called IoT connects physical things. IoT devices are the infrastructure of digital connectivity – smart thermometers linked to smart homes which are themselves linked to smart watches.

“Intel’s purchase reflects a growing recognition that drones are really IoT devices, armed with sensors and communication technologies,” Gregory McNeal, White House-recognized drone expert and law professor at Pepperdine University in California, tells the Monitor in an email. “The true power of these IoT devices won’t be fully revealed until they become connected to cloud based infrastructure that can

enhance their performance and safety.”

Either way, it’s pretty clear that drones are an important new venture for Intel – Brian Krzanich, the company’s chief executive officer, served as chairman of the RTCA Drone Advisory Committee which advised the FAA in developing its drone regulations.

Smartphone sent into sky for record attempt

A Smartphone attached to a balloon took to the skies on Monday in an attempt to set a record for the highest live stream from such a device. The Huawei “Honour 8 phone’’ was attached to a weather balloon also carrying a camera and other equipment, and set off from the SSC esrange Space Centre in northern Sweden.

The balloon was expected to burst at an altitude of 30,000

meters (98,425 ft) with the device, then making its way back down by parachute. Peter Lundkvist of Huawei Technologies, Sweden said the balloon reached 18,421 meters before bursting. “Hopefully, Guinness (World Records) will accept this as a world record in highest Smartphone live streaming,” he said.

Infinix Mobility has launched a newsmartphone

Infinix’s Hot series has produced a number of popular devices such as the Hot 2, Hot 3 and Hot Note, but the Hot S exhibits a brew of strength, style and beauty never seen before. See a review of the phone below.

Infinix Hot S – Design and display

The Infinix Hot S comes with a clear, crisp 5.2″ IPS HD display, and an amazing body to go with it. What it gives off in length it adds in thickness, with the Hot S being slightly fatter than the new age ultra slim smart phones. With a metal frame and a variety of colors including  rose gold, black, silver, and blue, the Hot S is a beauty to behold.

The battery and the back cover are not removable, meaning you can only put SIM and memory cards via a slot at the side of the phone. There is a single tray for two SIM cards and a micro SD card, and it feels a little bit crowded. On either side of the USB port at the bottom of the phone are two high-quality speakers, with the headphone port located at the other end of the phone.

Infinix Hot S – Software and performance

The Hot S runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS coupled with Infinix’s XOS user interface. The XOS adds a new dimension to the Android experience, enhancing and maximizing space, battery and data. On the inside, the Hot S packs 2GB of RAM, an upgrade on previous Hot devices which all came with 1GB of RAM. It also employs the popular MediaTek MT6753 chip on an 8-core CPU with a clock rate of 1.5GHz. There are a number of management tools for the XOS such as the XManager and XTheme, which allows the user to manage and edit to their taste. With 16GB of internal memory which can be expanded to up to 128GB via an external SD card, there is ample space on the Hot S to allow users enjoy an efficient, lag-free performance.The Hot S comes pre-loaded with a number of software. The most impressive of those being the video editor, Magic Movie. The app allow users to make a movie of any length of their choice. It also comes with different scores and editing options that gives users the freedom to explore their creative side. Social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Palmchat also come pre-installed with the phone.

A new introduction in the Hot S is the fingerprint scanner, which is located just below the rear camera. The fingerprint sensor adds a new layer of security to the phone. It can also be used to take photographs and pick phone calls. The scanner is fast and responsive, giving the phone a very classy feel.

Infinix Hot S – Camera The Infinix Hot S comes with a 8-megapixel camera in front, and a 13-megapixel camera behind. Both cameras have LED flashes, which allows for great pictures in low-light conditions. It’s one of the best cameras ever seen on an Infinix device. It comes with a number of editing options such as a beauty filter. This makes photographs appear richer, fresher and better. Video quality is not left behind, and the Hot S can also record videos at 1080 HD.

Infinix Hot S – Battery ;The Hot S is equipped with a 3000mAh battery. This provides enough juice to last average users for the whole day. With the XOS, there are

power saving modes which can help to even ensure longer battery life.

Infinix Hot S – Verdict; Infinix has something going on with the idea of a “lifestyle” phone. And the Hot S is a great place to start with. It has a retail price of N46,500 on Jumia. The Hot S is a good candidate for mid-budget phone of the year.

Galaxy Note 7 recall does not affect customers in China

An issue with the Galaxy Note 7′s battery cell has forced Samsung to recall millions of Galaxy Note 7 units shipped since the handset was launched on August 19. Samsung will work with its carrier and retail partners to offer voluntary replacement of all units while customers also have the option to 

T-Mobile offering full refunds for the Galaxy Note 7 get a full refund or exchange their Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge. Customers have obviously been concerned following reports of the Galaxy Note 7′s battery exploding but the company says that customers in China have nothing to worry about.Samsung officially launched

the Galaxy Note 7 one week after it was shipped in other markets. It was announced on August 26 and released on September 1. Despite rumors to the contrary, China got the same 4GB RAM version of the Galaxy Note 7. A statement from Samsung China has confirmed that the inventory sent for customers in China uses batteries from a different supplier which is why the Galaxy Note 7 recall does not affect customers in the People’s Republic. Customers elsewhere have not been that lucky so they will either have to get a replacement or a refund, depending on how they feel about the Galaxy Note 7 now that the issue has been acknowledged and a recall has been issued.

Batteries from Samsung SDI won’t be used in the Galaxy Note 7 temporarily

After the Galaxy Note 7 battery fiasco, Samsung Electronics has decided to temporarily stop using batteries from Samsung SDI in the Galaxy Note 7. This news comes straight out of the company’s homeland South Korea. Various analysts predict that the Galaxy Note 7 recall could cost Samsung as much as $1 billion.Samsung SDI provides around 70 percent of batteries used in the Galaxy Note 7. The rest of them are supplied by Chinese battery manufacturer ATL. After reports of explosions in multiple Galaxy Note 7 units due to faulty batteries, Samsung had to recall over two million units.Samsung is expected to increase

the order of battery units from ATL for the rest of the Galaxy Note 7 devices. Samsung SDI stock price has dropped 2.76 percent after reports of faulty batteries. Samsung SDI reportedly started developing non-removable batteries back in 2014 but failed to offer the required number of units for the Galaxy S6 as rivals ATL and LG Chemicals fared better in supplying the stock.Lee Seung-hyuck, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, said, “For the global recall of 2.5 million units, Samsung SDI is expected to bear the expense for most of the battery parts. Together with the possible sales decline of Galaxy Note 7, Samsung SDI’s operating loss may stand at around 18 billion won ($16 million) in the third quarter.”

Samsung will launch premium home appliances under the Dacor brand

Samsung confirmed last month that it had acquired luxury home appliance company Dacor.
The California-based company is best known for its professional-quality cooking ranges for homes as well as its in-home ventilation hoods. Samsung didn’t immediately reveal why it had decided to acquire Dacor. It was initially said that following the completion of this

acquisition Dacor would instantly start operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics America while maintaining its corporate identity and brand. Dacor will continue its US-based manufacturing operations as well. However, the purpose was made clear at IFA 2016 where a company official reveal precisely what Samsung is planning on doing with its latest purchase.

President of Samsung’s consumer electronics business Yoon Boo-keun told reporters at IFA 2016 that Samsung is going to launch new premium home appliances under the Dacor brand. This acquisition will help Samsung expand its presence in the ultra-premium home appliances market in the United States. It was also confirmed that premium appliances launched under the Dacor brand will also be released in Europe.