Synaptics bringing Apple's 3D Touch-like experience to Android smartphones

Synaptics has announced the development of its ClearForce force-sensing technology that will bring Apple's 3D Touch-like experience to Android smartphones. The new technology is expected to ship in smartphones in early 2016.

The San Jose, California-based company, which already designs multitouch supported touchpads for notebooks, says in a press release that it has been closely working with "leading global OEMs and LCMs" to offer its ClearForce technology on major flagship smartphones in 2016. The company has not revealed the names of OEMs but these could be the big Apple rivals Samsung and HTC.

ClearForce technology works across a range of fields, starting from variable speed scrolling and picture zoom and panning to unlock and wake-up and right-side mouse click behaviour. The company says it has used its proprietary force-sensing technology that was launched back in 1996 and has over 60 granted and pending patents worldwide to enable its proprietary force-sensing experience on Android smartphones.

"This exciting next step in human interface for smartphones will soon become the norm and highlights Synaptics' leadership in force," said Kevin Barber, senior vice president, general manager, Smart Display Division, Synaptics. "Early adopters of ClearForce include industry leading OEMs and LCMs seeking advanced technology that drives an enhanced and more productive user experienced."

Synaptics is not the only company that is working hard to take on Apple's 3D Touch - the technology that debuted on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Last month, Chinese smartphone maker Huawei unveiled Mate S smartphone with its own force-sensing technology to deliver a 3D Touch-like experience. All this, however, does not mean that the iPhone 6s will no longer be unique in nature. Apple has iOS 9 with some proprietary features and software tweaks to enhance its 3D Touch experience.

Source: Synaptics bringing Apple's 3D Touch-like experience to Android smartphones

Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Vs LG V10

Today, let us have a look at two flagship phones of well-known brands – LG and Samsung. These smartphones are for those who hunt for excellent-performing phones with high levels of functionality.

Both phones belong to the same category and have a lot of features in common. LG V10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 5 both sport a 5.7-inch display, 64GB of internal memory, 4GB of RAM, 16-megapixel primary cameras, and fingerprint sensor.

Now starts the real race. Which device is giving you a little more than the other? Let us have a look.

When it comes to display, Samsung has done a better job with a multitasking Super AMOLED display, while LG loses the race as it comes with QHD Quantum IPS display with a secondary screen. Speaking of fragility, LG manages to impress with a solid stainless steel and silicone Dura Guard build. On the other side, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a luxurious-looking phone which you can proudly flaunt at social events, but it cannot sustain accidents as it has a body of metal and glass. So it is clearly not a phone for people who cannot handle their device well.

Read Also: 'LG V10′ Revealed: Its Latest Dual Screen Smartphone; Comes Wrapped In Stainless Steel With Two Selfie Cameras

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 comes bundled with its own octa-core Exynos 7420 chipset, while LG's V10 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 808. There's no complaining about any of the device's performing capabilities. If you are a microSD card lover, Samsung chooses to disappoint you as it has skipped the microSD slot for this device. The smartphone is available in 32GB and 64GB capabilities, though.

But if you consider nothing else but the microSD slot, then LG's V10 score a point here. This phone comes with a microSD slot.

As you can see, there is not much difference between these devices. We can say that if they are here to compete with each other, then it's a tie. Depending on the brands, some of the specs and features will vary, yet LG V10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 5 are too close to each other to decide on a winner.

Read Also: The Cam War: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Vs iPhone 6 Plus – And The Award Goes To…
Source: Smartphone Comparison: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Vs LG V10

Xiaomi Mi 5 Tipped to Sport Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor

There have been several previous reports claiming that Xiaomi may include a fingerprint scanner on its long-rumoured flagship Mi 5 smartphone likely to launch in November this year. Now, a new leaked detail coming from China tips that the company may use Qualcomm's Snapdragon Sense ID fingerprint scanner technology. Additionally, Xiaomi is rumoured to launch the second-generation of its Mi Note smartphone next month.

A tipster via Weibo has claimed that Xiaomi's Mi 5 will use "ultrasonic fingerprint recognition" which was introduced by Qualcomm earlier this year. To recall, Qualcomm had showcased its all-new ultrasonic fingerprint recognition system at MWC this year which allow devices to create a 3D-mapped fingerprint rather than the flat images captured by commonly used capacitive sensors.

Based on preliminary leaks, Xiaomi's Mi 5 is said to be the first to run on the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor clubbed with 4GB of RAM and Adreno 530 GPU. The handset is said to feature a 5.3-inch QHD (1440x2560) pixels resolution display with pixel density of 554ppi, and arrive in 16GB or 64GB inbuilt storage variants with no option for expandable storage. The smartphone is also tipped to sport a 16-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and be backed by a 3030mAh battery. Additionally, the device, apart from a fingerprint sensor, is expected to include a USB Type-C port, possibly the version 3.0.

In other news, Xiaomi is said to introduce the second-generation of its Mi Note devices next month. Dubbed Xiaomi Mi Note 2, the handset is likely (via Mobile-Dad) to sport high-end specifications including QHD display, 4GB of RAM, 32GB ROM, 16-megapixel camera, and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based MIUI ROM.

Tipster @leaksfly posted on Weibo, "Millet Note 2 material breakthrough!" (translated by Bing) tipping that the Mi Note 2 may feature a different build material than its predecessor.

Separately, Xiaomi CEO, Lei Jun, has claimed that company is targeting to sell 10 million Redmi Note 2 smartphones this year. Notably, the company had sold 800,000 Redmi Note 2 smartphones in China within 12 hours during the first flash sale of the handset.

Jun added (via Android Headlines) that the company sold 2.15 million units of Redmi Note 2 in the first month.

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Source: Xiaomi Mi 5 Tipped to Sport Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor

Samsung Galaxy S6 to Receive the Biggest Update to Date with the Upcoming Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2015, the Galaxy S6, was launched in March this year along with the Galaxy S6 Edge. It eventually made it to the global retail markets the following month to warm and critical reception, making it two of the best flagship smartphones to come out of the market this year.

When the Korean tech giant's flagship smartphones came out, they were already loaded with the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop out of the box. As Google continued to make firmware updates to its mobile operating system, the Samsung Galaxy S6, and the Galaxy S6 Edge were always in step with the updates.

So up until the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop that was the final release of Google before the expected roll out of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow by next week, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge were in step by taking on the regular firmware updates.

Six months after its formal release into the retail markets, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge will get its biggest update to date with the roll out of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow next week.

First to get a taste of the Marshmallow

While it will not immediately take on the Marshmallow update as the right belongs obviously to Google's Nexus devices, but four of the current smartphones and phablets of Samsung are already confirmed to receive the latest mobile OS including the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy S6 Edge+, and the Galaxy Note 5.

Tech Times reports that the Android 6.0 Marshmallow on Samsung's current flagship smartphones will be bigger than the ones previously released since it officially broke ground into the market in April this year.

In addition to the four current Samsung smartphones, a number of other handsets from the Korean tech giant released late in 2013 and 2014 will also get the Android 6.0 Marshmallow updates.

As Android 6.0 Marshmallow will be launched by Google along with two other Nexus handsets including the LG Nexus 5X and the Huawei Nexus 6P, these two devices will actually be the very first to receive the latest mobile OS among all Android devices.

Accordingly, the Marshmallow will come to the Nexus 5, the Nexus 6, the Nexus 7 (2013) and the Nexus 9 about a week after the release of the new mobile OS from Google, notes Realty Today.

Finally nailed a better design

Samsung may have the better bottom line compared to HTC, but the Taiwanese smartphone maker has been an overwhelming match to the Korean tech giant when it comes to the design of its flagship smartphones in 2013 and 2014.

Compared to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the severely criticized Samsung Galaxy S5, the design of the HTC One M7 and the HTC One M8, the design of the flagship smartphones of the Taiwanese company was several notches better than their counterparts from the Korean tech giant.

Its flagship exterior excellence earned for HTC the reputation as the undisputed champion of the Android smartphone design.

Through the HTC One M7 and the HTC One M8, the Taiwanese tech company showed Apple that it is not the only company that could take a slab of aluminum and turn it into a gorgeous tech device ever made. The flagship smartphones of HTC in 2013 and 2014 were considered masterpieces in the mobile communications world.

Samsung has learned its lesson from the design under-achievement that it made on the Samsung Galaxy S5, causing the company to lose its grip on its previous reputation as the world's No. 1 smartphone manufacturer and also seeing its sales declining for three consecutive quarters last year.

With the emergence of the Samsung Galaxy S6 in March this year, the Korean tech giant has ended the run of HTC as the king of Android smartphone design. The 2015 flagship smartphone of Samsung was certainly way better than the HTC One M9, which only offered a slight design improvement over the HTC One M8.

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Source: Samsung Galaxy S6 to Receive the Biggest Update to Date with the Upcoming Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Gionee ELife E8 India Launch: New Flagship From Chinese Phone Maker To Launch October 8

Gionee, the Chinese smartphone maker and one of the largest ODMs (Original Device Manufacturers) in the world, has announced that it would launch its newest Android powered flagship handset, the Gionee Elife E8, in India starting October 8, 2015. The announcement comes just a few weeks after Gionee also announced its plans to make some of its handsets in India. Coming back to the Gionee Elife E8, this phone is widely touted to be a successor to the Gionee Elife E7, which was launched back in late 2013. The Elife E7 won rave reviews for its superb camera, design, and overall functionality. The E8 is expected to top the E7 in terms of all these features and end up being a worthy successor. That brings us to the specifications of the new phone.

The Gionee Elife E8 will be powered by a Mediatek processor. For some, this might be seen as a downgrade owing to the fact that the Elife E7 used the more mainstream Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. However, Gionee has used the powerful Mediatek MT6795 Helio X10 chipset on the Elife E8 which compares well with the current crop of Qualcomm and Exynos chipsets being offered from Qualcomm and Samsung, respectively. The Helio X10 chipset is an octa-core beast with each core sprinting at 2.0 Ghz It also packs in 3GB of RAM as well. This might be on the slightly lower side because we now have devices that offer 4GB of RAM – the likes of the Asus Zenfone 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, being a few examples. Moving on to the display, the Gionee Elife E8 gets an "upgrade" here with the display size being increased from 5.5-inches to 6 inches. The display resolution also sees an upgrade from full HD to QHD (1920 x 1080) to (1,440 x 2560) pixels. The phone will come in a 64GB variant and thankfully, unlike the E7, you do get the option to expand the memory further – up to 128GB using microSD cards. The graphics department will be handled by the PowerVR G6200 chip, which will ensure a great gaming experience. Apart from this, the Elife E8 would also be the first phone from the company to get a fingerprint sensor. Here is the list of some of the key specs.

While the outgoing E7 boasted of a 16-megapixel camera, which as we mentioned was great in itself, the new Elife E8 gets a significant upgrade here as well in the megapixels department. The Gionee Elife E8 gets a 23.7-megapixel camera that supports lossless zoom in real time. And yes we do get the option to record 4K videos as well. 4k was not mainstream at the time of the launch of the E7.

Another major addition to the Gionee Elife E8 would be the fact that it will support 4G LTE networks in India. 4G has made decent inroads into India and several cities now boast of a robust 4G networks, which again wasn't the case during the time of the E7's reign. Powering all this potent hardware would the the large 3,500 mAh battery that should easily help drive the QHD display and still keep the phone powered all day. Moving on to the software front, the Gionee Elife E8 will run Android 5.1 at launch – albeit in a skinned form called the Amigo UI 3.1 – developed by Gionee themselves. Being a flagship, the phone also has the likelihood of receiving priority updates in the future.

At the time of its initial introduction in China, the Elife E8 received a price tag of RMB 3,999 ($630). This translates to a price tag of nearly Rs.41,000 in India. If the phone is launched at that price, it would become the most expensive phone launched by Gionee in India by far. However, initial hints are that the phone might be made available for much lesser considering the market dynamics of India. With the likes of the One Plus Two and the Moto X Play and the upcoming Moto X Style all well under the Rs.30,000 price bracket, Gionee might find it difficult to command a premium for the Elife E8. However, we will reserve a final comment once the phone is officially announced. There is also a possibility that the Gionee Elife E8 would be offered in an online only exclusive sales model. This is yet to be confirmed.

Expect a review of the Elife E8 here in a few days after the launch of the phone in India.

[Images Via Gionee]

Source: Gionee ELife E8 India Launch: New Flagship From Chinese Phone Maker To Launch October 8

Google Nexus 6P vs. iPhone 6s Plus: Flagship Phablets Face Off

The Nexus 6P is Google's big (literally and figuratively) new smartphone. Can it compete with the iPhone 6s Plus?

Though it was just announced yesterday, the Huawei-built Nexus 6P looks like it will be the flagship of the year for Android enthusiasts. Google hopes phone manufacturers and consumers will keep the 6P in mind as they craft premium devices running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. But it has some tough competition with the iPhone 6s Plus, a device Google repeatedly referenced during its Tuesday press event, comparing camera functionality, design, and features.

At its most basic level, the new Nexus 6P looks like a premium device. That hasn't always been true of the Nexus line, which has tended toward affordable plastic devices like the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 5. That started to change when the Nexus 6 incorporated a metal frame and the Nexus 6P builds on that with an aluminum unibody.

The phone incorporates a fingerprint sensor on the back, a slightly protruding black bar for various sensors and a 5.7-inch WQHD AMOLED display on the front. The new aluminum build puts the Nexus 6P on par with the iPhone 6s Plus design, while the display has an impressive 515ppi, which could blow the 6s Plus's 5.5-inch 1080p display with 401ppi out of the water.

Still, despite the screen size difference, the Nexus 6P has roughly the same footprint as the iPhone 6s Plus. It's still lighter than Apple's smartphone (6.27 ounces to 6.77 ounces) but part of the reason for the increased weight of the iPhone 6s Plus is 3D Touch. And the ability to recognize pressure adds lots of functionalities that the Nexus 6P doesn't have.

The differences in the two devices show up under the hood. The Nexus 6P has a Snapdragon 810 processor with 3GB of RAM, so with stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow, it should be a solid performer. The iPhone 6s Plus is no slouch, though, with its A9 processor and 2GB of RAM; it's one of the fastest phones we've ever tested. Both devices share three memory options: 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB for the Nexus 6P, and 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB for the iPhone 6s Plus.

Neither has a microSD card slot. That's a feature that's never been on Apple or Nexus devices (aside from the Nexus One), so no loss there. One feature that has been lost is wireless charging. Despite having it on the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, the Nexus 6P will not be Qi-capable. The trade-off seems to be that the device will charge quickly via USB-C.

When it comes to battery, the Nexus 6P has a monstrous 3,450mAh battery, compared with the 2,750mAh battery of the iPhone 6s Plus. The larger battery on the 6P, combined with new Android Marshmallow features like Doze, which puts the phone into sleep mode when it is not being used, should make this the longest-lasting Nexus phone yet. The iPhone 6s Plus has perfectly average battery life, but nothing to write home about.

The camera test between the 6P and the 6s Plus will be particularly intense. Google took a page out of Apple's playbook and opted to increase the size of the sensor pixel rather than add megapixels. As a result, the camera can take in more light and perform better in low-light settings. Both can also capture 4K video. The Nexus 6P has a 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera and an 8-megapixel selfie camera, while the 6s Plus has a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera and 5-megapixel selfie cam. We will need to do a side-by-side shootout to get a real idea of how the two devices stack up—but if what Google has said about improvements to the camera and the camera API are true, then this might be the best Nexus camera yet.

Both devices have a few interesting features that set them apart, but that gap has narrowed now that Google incorporated a fingerprint sensor into the Nexus 6P. We expect that will be utilized for Android Pay, just like Apple uses Touch ID for Apple Pay.

Another area of convergence for both companies is the move away from carriers. Google will only sell the Nexus 6P unlocked through the Google Store, though it will be compatible with all carriers. This will help reduce bloatware, but also encourage customers to move toward Project Fi, Google's MVNO that allows consumers to have a simple data plan with Google—supported by the T-Mobile and Sprint networks. Apple's iPhones have always been bloatware free, and with its new iPhone upgrade program, consumers can head straight to Apple rather than the carrier.

Ultimately, it is unlikely that many iPhone owners will be making the switch to the Nexus 6P, and vice versa. But it is interesting to see how the design and feature gap has narrowed. We'll see how the two stack up in terms of real-world performance as soon as we get our hands on a Nexus 6P review unit. 

Ajay Kumar is PCMag's Analyst obsessed with all things mobile. Formerly a tech reporter at IBT Media, he has reviewed phones, tablets, wearables, IoT, speakers, headphones, and just about any other gadget that can be carried around with you. He has previously been published in Newsweek. In his spare time, he tries his hand at writing fantasy stories, games on his custom-built PC, and collects Nintendo amiibos. Follow Ajay on Twitter @Ajay_H_Kumar. More »

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Source: Google Nexus 6P vs. iPhone 6s Plus: Flagship Phablets Face Off

LG unveils smartphone with dual display, improved camera

By YOUKYUNG LEEAP Technology Writer

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korean smartphone maker LG Electronics Inc. unveiled a new smartphone Thursday with an additional screen and a camera that can capture a wider scene when taking a selfie, hoping to arrest a slide in its market share.

The V10 comes with another screen above the main 5.7-inch display. The small second screen can stay on to display weather, time and date when the main display is turned off. It has room for frequently-used apps and can receive notifications while using the main screen to watch a video.

The V10 smartphone is LG's latest attempt to make headway in the premium mobile phone market. Its flagship G series phones were edged out by new phones from Samsung and Apple.

The company has lost its market share in the smartphone market in recent months, falling to the seventh place globally as Chinese vendors surpassed its shipments. Is second-quarter market share was 3.8 percent, down from 4.7 percent a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Technology Market Research.

The new phone's front camera is equipped with a standard 80-degree lens and a 120-degree wide-angle lens option. That means a larger group can fit into a selfie shot taken with the V10.

"The ability to take group selfies without a selfie-stick has never been easier," LG said in a statement.

The V10 phone will go on sale in South Korea later this month for 800,000 won ($678) without a contract from a carrier, followed by the U.S. launch next month.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: LG unveils smartphone with dual display, improved camera