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Showing posts from September, 2015

Foxconn, Apple consider investment in Sharp LCD display business

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Summary:   Foxconn has proposed the buyout, which would give Sharp the chance to offload a failing unit. Foxconn may acquire Sharp's LCD business as the manufacturer moves into electronics. As reported by Asian publication Nikkei on Monday , manufacturer Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai, is considering the purchase of Sharp's liquid crystal display (LCD) business. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Taiwanese manufacturer and Sharp have been in talks since last summer, and would involve a majority stake investment by Foxconn -- together with investment by Apple. In addition, Foxconn hopes to secure the Japanese electronic giant's 38 percent stake in Sakai Display Products. Founded in 2009, SDP is a joint venture run by Sharp and SIO International Holdings Limited, an investment firm fully owned by Foxconn chairman Terry Gou. The company develops LCD panels suitable for large screens.

Microsoft delivers new Windows 10 Mobile test build, updated Photos app

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Summary:   Microsoft has released Windows 10 Mobile Build 10536, its first new Windows 10 Mobile test build in over a month, to Fast Ring testers.Microsoft rolled out a new test version, Build 10536, of Windows 10 Mobile late in the day (East Coast time) on September 14. This is the first new Windows 10 Mobile test build from Microsoft since August 12, when Microsoft delivered test build 10512. Microsoft had hoped to push the new build to Windows Phone testers on the Fast Ring at the end of last week, but some glitches held up the rollout. Despite the decision to delay the new build, a couple of hundred Windows Insiders outside Microsoft still got the updated Windows 10 Mobile test build in advertently over the weekend. Today's Windows 10 Mobile build includes the re-addition of the Insider Hub; fixes to mobile hotspot functionality; fixes to two-factor authentication and quiet hours; and repairs to pinch and zoom in Maps, among other featu

Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program was the company's most disruptive news

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Summary:   Apple found yet another way to cut carriers out of the equation with its iPhone Upgrade Program. It can be cheaper than carrier installment plans and gives Apple more of the customer relationship. Earlier today, after Apple introduced its new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, I took a look at the "should you upgrade?" question. Current owners of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are probably better served by sticking with what they have. But I also noted that Apple has a  new iPhone Upgrade Program  that's worth the look. And it may be even more disruptive than the technologies found in the company's next iPhones. At this point, all of the four major U.S. carriers have installment plans available for handsets. That's because we're moving away from subsidized hardware and two-year phone contracts. Apple mentioned this, mainly because it can't really keep showing the price of iPhones at $199, $299 and $399 when most people aren't buying phon

Google breaks out new Street View app for iOS and Android

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Summary:   The new Street View app offers users a window into the world through 360 degree photos. Google has released a standalone Street View app, updating the version on Android and bringing the app to iOS for the first time. The new app brings Google's Street View offerings into line across both iOS and Android. In the two apps, users can flick through Street View 'collections' as well as user-created photo spheres that are displayed in cards at the bottom of the screen. Collections are grouped into themes such as Animals and Wildlife, Oceans, or particular countries. Selecting a collection displays where they're located on Google Maps in the top half of the display. The app also lets users take 360-degree panoramas from an Android phone or an iPhone and publish them to Street View, or alternatively add images from one-shot 360-degree cameras like Ricoh's Theta S. The app also contains a private gallery where