The Blog: July 2014

Thursday 31 July 2014

[Singapore] Leading Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

Learn how to lead an Agile program leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) * Synopsis: In this course, you will learn how to lead an Agile program leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe). The framework’s underlying principles of lean thinking and product development flow couples with practices that enable the execution of coordinated releases will Read the full article...

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 pegged for September 3 launch

Samsung is reportedly rushing the Galaxy Note 4 out the door in order to combat Apple’s upcoming 4.7-inch iPhone.

Samsung could unveil the Galaxy Note 4 on September 3rd, a few days ahead of the IFA event in Berlin, according to a fresh report out of the Korean media.

The Korea Times*has cited sources at Samsung as saying that the Galaxy Note 4 will be shown off to the world on September 3, a day earlier than the Galaxy Note 3′s unveiling last year. Samsung is supposedly running scared of the iPhone 6*- which*is expected to feature a larger display than previous iPhones and spell trouble for the phablet market*-*and is*looking to make the Galaxy Note 4 available for purchase soon after the official announcement.

Samsung is placing its trust on the Galaxy Note 4 to*make a comeback in device sales, and going by the phablet’s hardware, Samsung will likely have a fighting chance to do so. The Galaxy Note 4 is said to sport a 5.7-inch QHD (2560×1440) display, an octa-core Exynos 5433/Snapdragon 805 processor*for record-breaking*performance, 3 GB of RAM, and a 16-megapixel Sony camera sensor*- it is also said to have*an ultraviolet sensor, an addition that may or may not attract many*consumers.

The report also mentions that plans for a curved screen variant are still in motion, though this particular variant will likely be limited to selected markets. Samsung has hinted in the past that the Galaxy Note 4 will feature a new form factor, and*it remains to be seen if that form factor will bring changes other than simply a curved display.

Source:*The Korea Times

Samsung Galaxy Alpha reportedly launching on August 13

Samsung’s first metallic Android phone will feature a combination of high-end and mid-range features and launch ahead of the Galaxy Note 4.

The latest in a string of high-profile leaks*pegs an August 13 launch for the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, less than a month before the Korean manufacturer’s next phablet flagship is expected to be unveiled.

The Galaxy Alpha, despite featuring specs lower than flagship devices carry*these days, is one of the most talked about Samsung smartphones at the moment, thanks to the fact that it will the first Android phone from the company to be made of metal. Leaked pictures have revealed that the phone’s construction will be a mix of metal and Samsung’s now standard faux leather material, and*a newly leaked picture reiterates the existence of a nano SIM slot, another first for a Samsung smartphone.

In addition to the launch date, the latest leak also offers more details on the Galaxy Alpha’s hardware. Benchmark screenshots reveal*the device will sport Samsung’s upcoming Exynos 5433 octa-core processor (expected to power the Galaxy Note 4 as well), 2 GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel camera (likely a 13 MP unit), and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The benchmarks also confirm specs*leaked earlier, like a 4.8-inch 1280×720 display and 32 GB of non-expandable storage.

The Galaxy Alpha will also feature fingerprint and heart rate sensors, which seem to be becoming par for the course for mid-range and high-end Samsung devices these days. The phone has been*touted as an*iPhone 6 killer, and it looks like it will only be a matter of days before we find out if the Galaxy Alpha will really have the calibre to take on Apple’s next big flagship iPhone.

Source: AllAboutSamsung

Catcha’s iProperty secures US$100M investment from News Corp affiliate

With this, REA Group of News Corp acquires 17.22 per cent stake in iProperty.*The transaction values iProperty at approximately US$600 million Online investment firm, Catcha Group announced today that REA Group**(an affiliate of News Corp) has made an investment of US$100 million in its portfolio company*iProperty Group*for*a 17.22 per cent stake. REA Group is now Read the full article...

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Founders Drinks: How newbies of the startup world can evaluate their cos.

Making up numbers does not work, says Futurebooks’ George Mathew, as he shares tips on company valuation for early-stage startups How can an entrepreneur*judge the value of his or her company when it hasn’t even earned its first dollar? It’s crucial that founders know the value of their companies before they pitch to investors, lest Read the full article...

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Motorola trademarks Moto Maxx name, big-battery Moto X incoming?

While waiting for Lenovo to obtain all regulatory approvals needed to seize control over Motorola and all its assets, present and future, the creators of the wildly successful Moto G and not as popular X are reportedly cooking up X+1, G2, “Shamu” and… Moto Maxx handhelds.

It could be a last-minute adrenaline rush or ego outburst from soon-to-step-down Motorola management. Or maybe Lenovo is already working behind the scenes to resuscitate the once relevant mobile device maker. Another good guess is Google wants to milk the Moto name (or what’s left of it) in the eleventh hour, perhaps realizing it’s giving up on a potential gold mine.

Whatever it is, and whoever’s behind it, Motorola is gearing up for one packed fall. Shamu, aka the Nexus 6, will be headlining the OEM’s roster of new products, according to credible sources, with a customizable Moto X+1 and ultra-affordable G2 wrapping up the unexpectedly encouraging lineup.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the already unveiled Moto 360 smartwatch, which should start shipping sometime in September. And then there’s the Moto Maxx. The what?!? I know, I’m as surprised as you to hear the beefy battery-allusive moniker.

And there’s really no way to find out what exactly is the Moto Maxx. Not yet, as we merely spotted the label trademarked with the USPTO. Sure, no one says Motorola has to use the name just because it registered it, but clearly, they’re exploring the possibility.

Needless to point out that, if a Moto Maxx exists, its family tree comprises of the Moto X, G and E, as well as the Droid Razr Maxx, Droid Razr Maxx HD and Droid Maxx. By the way, notice how members of the Droid line got shortened in time? Is it just me, or does it make perfect sense for a Moto Maxx to follow last year’s Droid Maxx?

But if it is to drop the Droid tag, does that mean it will no longer be exclusive to Verizon? Can we expect it outside of the US too? And could it offer swappable back covers and other customization options, a la the Moto X? All valid questions, all desperately seeking answers. Too bad there aren’t any yet.

Source: Droid-Life

Sony and Huawei confirm pre-IFA Xperia Z3, Ascend Mate 3-centric events

Berlin’s once low-profile annual IFA electronics trade show has greatly gained in public visibility of late, thanks to product announcements from key mobile players like Sony and Huawei, which are expected to unveil something special this September too.

Brace yourselves, the fall Android giants are coming. That’s right, Apple is not the only one with holiday season aces up its sleeve, and Samsung, Sony and Huawei among others should contest the IFA 2014 spotlight between September 5 and 10.

Clearly, the Galaxy Note 4 has an innate edge over whatever Sony and Huawei have in the pipeline, thanks to Sammy’s prestige, marketing muscle, but also innovative features like a UV sensor and, fingers crossed, metallic skeleton.

Meanwhile, Sony is tipped to bring to Germany sequels for the Xperia Z2 and Z1 Compact, dubbed Z3 and Z3 Compact. The two have starred in multiple photo shoots, and clashing spec sheets are floating around, mostly hinting at minor upgrades over predecessors.

But don’t be sad, as Sony may look to roll out a spanking new wearable device as well, reportedly called the SmartWatch 3. Everything shall be revealed on September 3, according to Xperia Blog’s trusted insiders, during a short 45-minute press conference.

As for Huawei, they’ve confirmed themselves an “exciting announcement” for September 4, and the event is set to last a healthier 90 minutes. That probably means the China-based gadget manufacturer plans to intro more than one product, with smartphones, tablets and smartwatches on the suspect list.

The safest bet is an Ascend Mate 3 phablet recently seen visiting benchmarking authority AnTuTu with Android 4.4.2 KitKat pre-loaded, a HiSilicon Kirin 920 chip under the hood, plus 2 or 3 GB RAM and 13 and 5 MP cameras slapped on the rear and front respectively.

The massive 6.1-inch display boasts 1,920 x 1,080 pixels resolution (aka Full HD), and judging by the gigantic juicer inside the Mate 2 4G, exceptional battery life is yet again in the cards. Remember to save the dates: September 3 and 4.

Sources: Xperia Blog , GSM Arena , G for Games

Allview Impera i / Xolo Q900c Review - Dual SIM Windows Phone 8.1

Microsoft has recently relaxed their requirements for Windows Phone devices so besides the classic Nokia/HTC/Samsung/Huawei partners we are now seeing a lot of other brands going into Windows Phone.

And with dual SIM support introduced in Windows Phone 8.1, you can bet that the chinese ODM are jumping this boat. This is the case of romanian brand Allview, with it's Impera i model (the equivalent of Xolo Q900c sold in India).

Allview Impera i - dual SIM Windows Phone 8.1 Preview

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SocialCops raises US$320K from 500 Startups, Rajan Anandan, Manoj Menon

The Big Data company that uses analytics*to solve real problems*for the planet will use the funds to scale up its team SocialCops, a data and analytics startup from India, has secured a seed fund of US$320,000 from Silicon Valley-headquartered startup accelerator-cum-early-stage VC fund house 500 Startups, and*angel investors Rajan Anandan,*MD,*Google India*and Manoj Menon, MD, Frost Read the full article...

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Brand New Apple iPad Air, 32GB, Wifi + Cellular, Silver-SGD850

Brand New Apple iPad Air, 32GB, Wifi + Cellular, Silver

In sealed box. Receipt available.

pls contact me at 91477638 if interested

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[Android] Huawei Ascend G730-U00 Daul SIM Unboxing photos

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MAD Incubator secures funding from Start Up Nation, Kathrein Ventures

It will use the funds to expand into new markets. Currently, MAD Incubator is in home country Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines Malaysia-based business incubator MAD Incubator (MAD) today announced securing an undisclosed sum of funding led by the Malaysian subsidiary of Singapore-based Start Up Nation, with participation from Singapore-based Kathrein Ventures. MAD will Read the full article...

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Wednesday 30 July 2014

Recommend: Mobile GPU

Hi Guys,

my 6990M gave up on my M17x-R3 and thinking to replace another GPU for it.

Here are some of the GPU can be considered:

7970M

8970M,

R9 290X

GTX 860M

GTX 870M

GTX 880M

Budget on the low side (sub SGD500), so might consider 7970M or 8970M. Need some opinion here. And also doesn't look like any dealers have these GPU for sale in Singapore. Anyone where to get it locally?

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Discuss: The "SpongeBob" Silent Power PC

@ Silent Power PC ditches the fan for a "cool" copper afro :eek:

Quote:

The Silent Power PC is claimed to be the first high-end PC able to ditch noisy electric fans in favor of fully passive cooling. In place of a conventional fan, the unit uses an open-air metal foam heatsink that boasts an enormous surface area thanks to the open-weave filaments of copper of which it is composed. The Silent Power creators claim that the circulation of air through the foam is so efficient in dissipating heat that the exterior surface temperature never rises above 50° C (122° F) in normal use.....

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GigOut! launches app on Samsung GALAXY Tab S devices in Singapore

Concert discovery startup GigOut!’s Android app is now preloaded on Samsung GALAXY Tab S devices in the city-state Singapore-based concert discovery startup GigOut!*has launched its first ever Android app but it isn’t on the official Google Play Store. In fact, GigOut! PLUS*is an exclusive offering on Samsung devices in the newly-released Samsung GALAXY Tab S Read the full article...

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Why failed startup owners are diamonds in the rough

There is a lot to learn from founders whose businesses did not take off. They can be valuable assets to bring about a revolution in your company The startup culture has witnessed a renaissance in the past few years as enterprising individuals embrace new opportunities in the market with a bold spark of adventure. However, Read the full article...

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EzeeCube Founder Ashok on building a successful hardware startup

How does one overcome challenges in growing*a hardware startup? Here, EntrepreneurHK interviews EzeeCube’s Ashok Jaiswal to find out more This interview with Ashok Jaiswal*was conducted by*Nathaniel Suen and condensed by Wayne Hann-Yuan Chang*of EntrepreneurHK. EzeeCube is an internet-enabled wireless device that automatically syncs photos and videos from users’ smart device organizes them and remove duplicates.* Read the full article...

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Enermax Aeolus Vegas Laptop Cooler Review

Most people know Enermax because of their high quality Power Supply Units, Cases and Coolers. In this review we look at their Enermax Aeolus Vegas Laptop Cooler. It is made of brushed aluminium and plastic and is active cooled by a 180 mm fan.

Enermax Aeolus Vegas laptopk

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Microsoft details Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1

Update 1 will arrive later this year with features like folders on the Start screen and support for using Cortana in more countries.

Microsoft started rolling out the Windows Phone 8.1 update to devices very recently, and the company is now following up with details on Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1.

Update 1 will be considerably minor compared to what Windows Phone 8.1 brought to the platform, but will still include welcome functionality. The update will introduce Live Folders on the OS, allowing users to group tiles into a single folder. Unlike home screen folders on Android or iOS, folders on Windows Phone will be dynamic and the tiles inside with continue to update with info, like they usually do when put on the Start screen.

Update 1 will also break Cortana’s US-only availability – Microsoft has confirmed that Cortana will be available in beta in China and the UK, and in alpha form for those opting in to use it in Canada, India, and Australia. Cortana will be renamed to Xiao Na on Chinese devices and have some abilities not available in other countries, including a different visual look, animations and sounds, specialized suggestions for people living in China, and the ability to “track local TV shows and celebrities.”

Other features in*Update 1 will include*Apps Corner, which will create a sandbox*mode wherein only selected apps will be available for access to a particular user, improved performance in the Xbox Music app and background sync of content, support for OEM cases, ability to select multiple messages for forwarding and deletion, and VPN enhancements for Wi-Fi users with the option to send and receive data when connected to public hotspots.

With the Windows Phone 8.1 update still rolling out to various devices, Update 1 will take a few months to arrive. However, starting next month Microsoft will make a developer preview available for advanced users*-*it shouldn’t be long before a final release happens, with the HTC One (W8) for Windows possibly among the first devices to run*Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 out of the box.

Source: Microsoft

Things you must know about Thailand’s first gaming startup accelerator

MSeed’s Partnership Director*Saiyai Sakawee talks to*e27 about what’s hot in the Thailand gaming market, the idea behind the accelerator and*its future After a long wait, Thailand finally has its own startup accelerator for game developers called MSeed. Currently, there are 10 teams that have to go through a three-month bootcamp from July to October to Read the full article...

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The game begins: Flipkart 1, Amazon 2

After Flipkart confimed US$1 billion funding, Amazon has announced US$2 billion investment in India. What’s the survival strategy in India now? A day after the Indian e-commerce player Flipkart announced fresh funding of US$1 billion, the largest round by an internet company from the country, the American e-commerce giant Amazon today announced that it will...

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Thailand’s Taamkru raises US$620K in seed funding led by 500 Startups

Participating investors include M&S Partners, IMJ Investment Partners, Ookbee and Red Dot Ventures Recently named as the*Most Promising Startup at Echelon 2014, Thailand-based e-learning startup Taamkru today announced that it has raised*US$620,000 in seed funding led by 500 Startups, with participation from M&S Partners, IMJ Investment Partners, Ookbee, and Red Dot Ventures. Launched in 2013,...

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Latest batch of Apple reports hint at iWatch setback, no sapphire for iPhone 6

Many analysts seem to predict possibly the biggest holiday season in Apple’s history, thanks to unprecedented iPhone demand and the elusive iWatch’s debut, but just as many hint to imminent trouble in Cupertino paradise, on account of countless production hiccups.

Don’t let Jimmy Kimmel fool you, Apple’s first dive in hazardous but potentially immensely rewarding wearable waters is still being carefully prepared. A little too carefully, some may say, as the iWatch, aka iTime, has been in testing for months. Maybe years.

So what exactly is taking Tim Cook and his team of “forward-thinking” employees so long? Can’t speak to previous delays, but the latest is blamed on mysterious manufacturing pickles encountered by Apple’s numerous component suppliers.

No one’s really in a position to venture a precise guess and point the finger to a certain someone, but the bottom line is credible sources all around Asia are suggesting the iWatch will see daylight alongside the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6, sometime in late November or early December.

That’s the best case scenario, mind you, with the pessimistic forecast putting both the iWatch and iPhablet on track for a Q1 2015 launch. Still, a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 should come in time for the holidays, as well as iPad Air and iPad mini 2 sequels, so all in all, it sounds like Apple’s short-term financial prospects are safe.

Speaking of future iPhones, the long-rumored, hotly-anticipated sapphire glass coating is becoming a longer and longer shot by the day. The consensus among tipsters and leakers is Apple can’t possibly handle the large-scale assembly of uber-resistant iOS smartphones, so at best, one or two iPhone 6 versions will ditch Gorilla Glass.

The highest-end models, that is, so the 128 GB 5.5 incher and, maybe, the 64 GB 4.7 incher too. As for release timeframes, our best guesses remain September-October (the petite guy), and November-December (the big bad wolf).

Sources: Apple Insider , UDN , G for Games , Cnet

Super-sized, mid-tier LG G3 variant dubbed G Vista pictured en route to Verizon

It looks like LG’s already packed smartphone portfolio is about to get broader, encompassing a gigantic but mid-range take on the G3 in addition to the actual G3, its jumbo-sized, high-end G Pro 2 variant and shrunken G3 Beat, aka G3 s flavor.

Riding a wave of very positive G3 reviews and progressively booming sales numbers, LG is planning to cover every little inch of the vast mobile décor, gearing up for the launch of a Samsung Galaxy Mega competitor.

Like the Mega, the G Vista (no, we don’t understand the moniker either) is a fairly rare bird, offering phablet footprint at a sensible price point. Well, maybe not as sensible as one would expect, with Verizon tipped to charge $99.99 on-contract starting July 31, and $499 free of contractual obligations.

That’s actually dangerously close to G3’s current pricing structure on retailers such as Amazon, although obviously the 5.5 incher was way more expensive when it debuted. Bottom line, I wouldn’t fret, as LG and Big Red will probably lower the ask to $50 with pacts and $450, maybe $400 off-contract in no time.

And then it’ll all be worth it. With virtually the same winning design language as the G3, rear physical buttons and slim bezels included, the G Vista goes modest in the processing power and RAM departments (quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400/1.5 GB), yet knocks it off the park battery life-wise, thanks to a massive 3,200 mAh juicer.

The rear-facing camera is itself no pushover, carrying G3’s laser auto focus and a middling 8 megapixel sensor, while the 5.7-inch display is satisfactory, boasting 1,280 x 720 pixels, aka HD resolution. And yes, the 8 GB of on-board storage space sounds woeful, but microSD support is around to save the day, and the pre-loaded Android 4.4 KitKat wraps everything with a nice, smooth, chocolaty bow.

The LG G Vista is, according to multiple insiders, expected on both Verizon and AT&T soon, albeit the latter might need to wait a few extra weeks and settle for a humbler, cheaper 5.7 incher with qHD panel and 1 GB RAM.

Source: Droid-Life

Your fridge magnet may be your next fridge, says MIT

Researchers at MIT reopen the potential of magnetic refrigeration systems in this new theory.

Someday, your fridge will be able to cool your beer the same way it sticks notes onto it. That’s according to a new research coming out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which currently analyzes the potential of magnets to control heat.

The research focuses on a nifty little particle-like thing known as magnons, which are technically defined as collective rotations of magnetic moments (“spins”) inside a magnetic structure. They have found out that aside from their general magnetic properties, magnons are also capable of conducting heat. They can, theoretically, move around the magnet while carrying the heat it absorbed, lowering the temperature of the part of the magnet that moves it away from. The effect would thus enable a magnet to produce a cooling effect, and can be used to develop a special refrigeration system that uses the same phenomenon.

Most of the research is still on paper however, and the theories discussed are primarily derived from equations, but the principle is there: magnons behave like electrons, at least in respect to the way they respond to temperature gradients or electricity. The principle may have its differences from thermoelectricity, but the theory presents it as still fundamentally the same.

One of the most looked after potential application of this theory is the development of cooling and refrigeration systems that have almost no moving parts. An energy efficient refrigerator that uses magnons to cool would require less maintenance, and can keep on working for a much longer time (cryonics anyone?). Additionally, the concept can also be used to reinforce the overall efficiency of current thermoelectric generators, which are as of now mostly still used as sub-systems for recycling energy inside another system.

Also, it is worth noting that research into magnetic cooling systems isn’t exactly new. As far as the late 19th century, scientists have already been looking into the possible uses of a similar phenomenon known as the magnetocaloric effect. The principle however is different, and there’s actually another large corporation already investing on it.

Source: MIT

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WTS - Asus Vivotab smart LTE

selling away my asus vivotab smart (black)

Windows 8

with warrenty (bought in march 14)

will give away free magnetic cover x2

Selling for $400 SGD

Contact - sms 98257795

Thanks

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How is life in an accelerator? An insider’s view

How*is being in an accelerator for startups? Utkarsh Apoorva from Quickly shares what he has learnt from the startup’s stint in JFDI A lot has been written about what to do in different stages of building a company. Being in an*accelerator*makes this journey smoother. Now that accelerators have become an*integral part of the startup ecosystem*across Read the full article...

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Tuesday 29 July 2014

[Singapore] Mondato Summit Asia

Learn more about mobile financial services at the Mondato executive summit in Singapore on November 11-12th. Synopsis: Mobile Financial Services (MFS) have experienced success in many Southeast Asian economies, but various hurdles remain to widespread MFS adoption and active usage. Designing and implementing successful MFS offerings in the ASEAN region requires a nuanced understanding of Read the full article...

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Windows Phone variant of HTC One M8 reportedly close to launch

The Windows Phone version of the HTC One will reportedly launch sometime later this year with Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1 out of the box.

HTC could soon launch a*Windows Phone version of the One M8, according to the latest rumor.

There have been many rumors of HTC working on a Windows Phone-powered variant of the One. Earlier this year, it was hinted that the device is codenamed HTC W8, and now WP Central is reporting that the actual title will be*“One (M8) for Windows,” with the phone carrying exactly the same hardware as the HTC One M8, including dual rear cameras and stereo BoomSound speakers.

The phone will reportedly run Windows Phone 8.1 Update 1, the first update to Windows Phone 8.1 that will bring support for smart covers, which means the Dot View case released with the One M8 could be compatible with the Windows version as well. Verizon is expected to be the sole carrier of the device in the US, though a general release will likely take place in other countries.

At this point in time, it’s unclear if HTC will actually go ahead with launching the One (M8) for Windows.*High-end Windows Phone devices have been unable to attract many consumers, with budget devices like the Nokia Lumia 520 making up the bulk of the OS’ market share, and launching a premium Windows Phone smartphone that doesn’t sell well would be a major blip on HTC’s poor financial status.

On the other hand, the choice of a high-quality metallic Windows Phone device among a sea of plastic-based Nokia phones could be a draw for many, though we will only find out how the One (M8) for Windows*will do once it actually goes on sale.

Source: WP Central

ASUS Z97-PRO [Wi-Fi ac] Motherboard Review

The new ASUS Z97-PRO [Wi-Fi ac] Motherboard is a ATX Motherboard, with a lot of features and promising specifications. But you will still find everything from Digi+, 6Gbps SATA, USB 3.0, PCI Express 3.0 x16, 3200MHz DDR3, 10Gbps M.2 and of cause WiFi with ac support.The new ASUS Z97-PRO [Wi-Fi ac] Motherboard is a ATX Motherboard, with a lot of features and promising specifications. But you will still find everything from Digi+, 6Gbps SATA, USB 3.0, PCI Express 3.0 x16, 3200MHz DDR3, 10Gbps M.2 and of cause WiFi with ac support.

ASUS Z97-PRO (Wi-Fi ac) - ASUS Z97-PRO (Wi-fi ac) - Tweak.dk

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HGST rolls out new 12Gbps enterprise SAS SSDs

A new series of 12Gbps SSDs from HGST are making their way to the tech market very soon.

HGST has announced the release new SSDs aimed for corporate use and for data centers. These 2.5-inch SAS drives feature 12Gbps optimal data transfer speeds, and HGST plans to offer them at affordable prices that evenly match their performance capabilities.

The new SSDs are divided into three separate models. The Ultrastar SSD800MH.B will be available from 100GB to 800GB, capable of 25 full drive writes per day within a period of 5 years. The Ultrastar SSD1600MM will be available from 200MB to 1.6TB, and will be capable of 10 full drive writes per day within 5 years. The Ultrastar SSD1600MR will be catered in 250GB to 1.6TB capacities, though it is only capable of 2 full drive writes per day within 5 years.

All three new models have an overall average maximum sequential read/write speed of 1,100MB/sec (standard 765MB/sec) and has a maximum random write value of 130,000 IOPS (standard 110,000). The SSDs will also include several standard drive security packages, such as Instant Secure Erase, and FIPS 140-2 Level 2 Enterpise SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) protection.

Source: HGST

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Next-gen Amazon Kindle Fire HDX tab benchmarked with Snapdragon 805 inside

Anyone assuming Amazon’s Kindle Fire upgrading cycle would be*disturbed by the unveil of the company’s debut Fire Phone is about to be “disappointed”, as a Fire HDX tablet sequel popped up in a benchmark listing right on schedule.

The first wave of Fire Phone reviews is unlikely to please Amazon, confirming the handheld market is much trickier than the tablet PC scene. But life goes on for Jeff Bezos & co., and if fall is nearing, so is a fresh Fire OS-powered slate entry.

Dubbed simply (and confusingly) the Fire HDX, the top-notch 8.9 incher made quite the impression over at benchmarking authority AnTuTu, likely acing all the speed tests, thanks to a quad-core 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor.

The S805, paired with an Adreno 420 GPU, is the much beefier successor of the Snapdragon 800 found inside last year’s HDX. However, keep in mind the 805 is still built on 32-bit architecture, with 2015’s 808 set to usher in the 64-bit computing era to Android. Well, that, and Android L.

Before the Snapdragon 808 debuts, S805 is really the best Amazon could do, which is what we can also say about Android 4.4.4 KitKat, the near guaranteed inspiration behind the next Fire OS build, version 4.0.

Unfortunately, everything else about the Fire HDX 2 (“New” Fire HDX?) is the same old, same old, including 2 GB RAM, 8 MP/1 MP cameras and a 2,560 x 1,600 pix res screen, so we’re looking more at a rehash than a genuine sequel. True, Amazon left itself little to upgrade in September 2013, and in a way, 3 GB RAM or a 10+ MP rear snapper would have been a waste. Ditto for an 8.9-inch panel sporting, say, 3,200 x 2,048 pixels.

Although an AnTuTu visit isn’t exactly official confirmation of a product’s existence, we have no reason to doubt the legitimacy of the leak or the imminence of a New Amazon Kindle Fire HDX. In both 8.9 and 7-inch variations, we presume.

Source: AnTuTu

Photo sharing app Snapeee raises US$4M in Series C funding

Mind Palette, the Tokyo-based startup behind Snapeee, has secured the investment*from Global Brain and others The ‘GB-V Growth Fund Investment Limited Partnership’ managed by Japanese venture capital company Global Brain Corporation, and Japanese magazine publishing giant*Kodansha have together invested US$4 million*into photo sharing app*Snapeee‘s creator*Mind Palette. The investment makes Hiroshi Mihayashi,*Principal,*Global Brain, a part of Read the full article...

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Singapore’s GIC in Flipkart’s US$1 billion funding

It is official! Flipkart has raised US$1B led by*Tiger Global Management, Naspers. Interestingly, GIC has also invested. Why? What is its*interest in the Indian e-comm giant? It’s official. Indian e-commerce marketplace Flipkart made history today, as it raised US$1 billion — one of the largest funding rounds in e-commerce globally! It is the single largest Read the full article...

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iStudio - Buyers beware!

BUYERS BEWARE! ISTUDIO STAFF UNSCRUPULOUS & NOT GOOD TO BUY FROM THEM

My wife bought me the Mac Pro 6 core to surprise me for my birthday.

Yes I was surprised. At the same time I was rather upset.

I have owned more than 10 macs in my life and working with 4 right now. While I do not profess to be a Mac guru, I'm aggrieved at the customer service and this episode with the iStudio floor salesperson that persuaded my wife to go ahead with the purchase.

At $7656, it is no small amount for a personal computer; let alone one without a monitor. (monitor sold separately at additional $1350.)

My main grouse is that based on the recommendation of the salesperson, she made the purchase. Without the monitor but opted for the higher specs for performance. To start with My wife wasn't too sure about buying the Mac Pro because we already had an iMac 27 inch as my main PC. And if she were to get the Mac Pro she would have to also buy the monitor. So the sales person tells her that she can use the existing iMac as a display so that she won't need to get the monitor. Bold statement indeed (however true to a certain extent). But she still doubted it and this sales person got his colleague (in his words, "my colleague, he's a Mac Expert...") to validate his statement on the connectivity issue. The two of them convinced my wife that it can be done. Based on their info she felt that it was a viable solution.

What the salesperson failed to highlight to my wife is that by using the iMac as a display, you need to boot up both computers at start-up and then configure the Target Display Mode every time you want to use the computer(s) That needless to say is totally illogical!!!!! It's not productive at all! Is that how you guys work at studio?

Why would anyone use the iMac as a peripheral device for the Mac Pro unless its for additional real estate for your editing tools etc (extending desktop). Why sacrifice a perfectly working iMac 27"? When I questioned the salesperson, he said he did try to convince my wife to get the monitor but she did not want to as she wanted to use the budget to get a higher spec'd model. I even asked him if he highlighted this fact about the inconvenience of the target mode to my wife…no answer. He just said my wife said it was ok…Well DUHH I guess she was convinced with your earlier explanation (partial)

THE FACT THAT THIS WAS NOT EXPLAINED TO MY WIFE IS WHERE I FEEL THAT SHE WAS MISLED AS A CONSUMER TO MAKE THE PURCHASE.

I have asked her and she acknowledges that if she had known about this then she would have would not have made the purchase. Well at least not without the monitor and certainly would have chosen the 4 core rather than the 6 core which was also the Salesperson's recommendation.

Well as you can tell I did pop by the store to conduct my own "investigation" and to see what kind of resolution was available to me and to test out how competent the staff were…I headed straight to the salesperson and identified myself. There was a little anxiety as I progressively asked him why he did not highlight this important fact to my wife. His defense was that he did but up to the part where it concerned the set up and start-up. He had no answer to that. I requested for option on resolution but he said his manager was not in. No point pursuing that. I then tested him one step further to offer my options i.e. ask around for me to resell the Mac Pro at $7000 and I even throw in the Apple care. I left him my number. At the end, the salesperson called back to tell me certainly no refunds as it's against store policy as my Mac Pro was customised but I then I could buy the new monitor at $1300 or something like that. By the way this was the answer that was given to the sales person by his GM, whoever that is. They are obviously missing the point. I would not be in this situation in the first place if there was no purchase!!!! And as if to add insult to injury they did not "insist" on my wife getting the thunderbolt cable that would enable their wonderful solution to work with my existing iMac.

So here's my advice, the next time any of the salesperson at iStudio recommends anything else, BEWARE, the information they provide could be selectively edited or conveniently omitted to mislead you. You can take the risk but why why risk it. Just do a simple google search for complaints on studio and you can see for yourself some of the other grievances.

As for this whole episode, I suppose the next logical step would be to take it to CASE and see what they think about the misleading statement that was made in the context of this sales transaction. As for the management at iStudio, if your people do not know what they're talking about they don't deserve to be on the floor interacting with customers. Its an insult to the all the goodness that the Mac and Apple brand has come to be associated with and especially to their passionate and loyal users. Some of you may not agree with my opinion or situation but if you were in my shoes lets see how you feel about it. This is certainly unbecoming of a premium reseller of apple products, wonder what the principal have to say about this.

UPDATE

After almost a week they have the audacity to insult me with a offer of a 5% discount on the Thunderbolt monitor and insist that their salesperson did his due diligence in informing my wife. You want me to spend more money at your store? Forget it.

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[Notebook] Apple updates Macbook Pro Retina line silently

Macbook pro retina line updated with faster haswell processor and more ram.

Apple Launches Retina MacBook Pros with Faster Haswell Processors, More RAM Standard - Mac Rumors

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IDA launches accreditation programme for Singapore-based startups

Startups that receive the IDA Accredited Product from the new*Accreditation@IDA programme will be*preferred for government contracts How do you know if a startup is credible and not some fly-by-night operation that will shutter its doors the moment it receives a million dollars in funding and leave customers and investors high and dry? The Infocomm Development Read the full article...

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How bright is Thai startup scene?

Adam Sharpe talks about stumbling across an exciting startup community in Bangkok, and how it will prove invaluable to his own success Launching your own startup can be daunting wherever you are in the world. But when you make Thailand your launch pad, a country under military rule, the task can feel all the more Read the full article...

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Recommend: Restocking of Bitfenix with New Toys in Tow

The BitFenix Casing and accessories such as Recon, Prodigy, Phenom and Shadow have just been restock along with the following new models below

Other then casing, we are also bringing in Bitfenix flo, which is OEM by Superlux (Pictures and details below)

Specs

Materials Steel, Plastic

Color (Int/Ext) Black/Black,

Dimensions (WxHxD) 185mm x 428.55mm x 470.5mm

Motherboard Sizes Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX

5.25” Drive Bays x 3

3.5” Drive Bays x 3

2.5” Drive Bays x 3

Cooling Front 120mm x 2 (optional)

Cooling Rear 120mm x 1 (1 included)

PCI Slots 7

1 x USB3.0, 1 x USB2.0, HD Audio

Power Supply PS2 ATX (bottom, multi direction)

Extras Front Dust Filter, PSU Dust Filter, Tool-Free Drive Locking

Currently only Black Color Available

SRP: $59

Optional: Side window at $10

Unboxing Reviews:

UNBOXING BITFENIX COMRADE - YouTube

Specs

Materials Steel, Plastic

Color (Int/Ext) Black/Black,

Dimensions (WxHxD) 185 x 429 x 470

Motherboard Sizes Mini-ITX, mATX, ATX

5.25" Drive Bays 2

3.5" Drive Bays 3

2.5" Drive Bays 3

Cooling Front 2 x 120mm (optional)

Cooling Rear 1 x 120mm (included)

PCI Slots 7

I/O 1 x USB3.0, 1 x USB2.0, HD Audio

Power Supply PS2 ATX (bottom, multi direction)

Extras / Features Front Dust Filter, PSU Dust Filter, Tool-Free Drive Locking

Current Available Colors:

Black-Black, Black-Blue, Black-Red, Black-Silver, Black-Gold

SRP: $69

Optional: Side Window at $10

Black-Gold version comes default with side window at $79

Unboxing Review:

BitFenix Neos Review [HD] - YouTube

Specs

Materials Steel, Plastic, SofTouch™

Colors (Int/Ext) Black/Black

Dimensions (WxHxD) 250 x 330 x 374mm

Dimensions (WxHxD) Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX

5.25" Drive Bays x 1

3.5” Drive Bays x 4

2.5” Drive Bays x 3

Cooling Top 120mm x 2 (optional)

Cooling Bottom 120mm x 2 (1 included) or 200mm x 1(optional) or 230mm x 1 (optional)

120mm x 1 (included) or 140mm x 1 (optional)

PCI Slots x 5

I/O USB 3.0 x 2, HD Audio

Power Supply PS2 ATX (bottom, multi direction)

Extras LiteTrak™ lighting system, SofTouch™ surface treatment, magnetic heat shield

SRP: $169

Unbox Review:

BitFenix Colossus MicroATX Case - Overview - YouTube

Specs

Materials Steel, Plastic, SofTouch™

Colors (Int/Ext) Black/Black,

Dimensions (WxHxD) 250 x 330 x 374mm

Motherboard Sizes Mini-ITX

5.25" Drive Bays x 1

3.5" Drive Bays x 5

2.5” Drive Bays X 8(5 + 2 + 1 )

Cooling Top 120mm x 2 (optional)

Cooling Front 120mm x 2 (1 included) or 140/180/200/230mm x 1 (optional)

Cooling Rear 120mm x 1 (included) or 140mm x 1 (optional)

x 2

I/O USB 3.0 x 2, HD Audio

Power Supply PS2 ATX (bottom, multi direction)

Extras LiteTrak™ lighting system, SofTouch™ surface treatment, tool-free drive locking mechanisms, filtered intakes

SRP:$159

Unbox Review:

Bitfenix Colossus Mini - YouTube

Specs

Materials Steel, Plastic, SofTouch™ Surface Treatment, SoftFeel™ Earcups

Colors Midnight Black, Arctic White, Fire Red, Cobalt Blue

Acoustic Design Dynamic, Closed-back

Driver 16µ, Neodymium magnet, Φ40mm

Sensitivity 96db /1mW

Frequency Response 20hz-20khz

Rated Impedance 68 Ω

Earpads SoftFeel™

Headband Pressure Approximately 5N

Cables 1m Straight Cable With Remote, 1m Straight Mobile Audio Cable, 2m Straight Cable With Headphone / Microphone Plugs

Connector Gold-plated Φ3.5mm stereo mini-plug with aluminum sheath

Net Weight 200g

SRP:$109

Unbox Review:

BitFenix Flo Headset Unboxing +Overview - HiTech Legion - YouTube

Available in most SLS by tomorrow

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What led Singapore’s Oaxis on the E Ink path?

MK Kuan, Director, Oaxis, talks to e27 about the inspiration behind battery-saving E Ink technology case and the future ahead A couple of days ago,*e27 wrote about the crowdfunded InkCase Plus casing that*surpassed its*US$100,000 goal*in just three hours. A quick recap: The InkCase Plus is an Android phone case that lets its users read and Read the full article...

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WaryBee, the wearable that keeps victims locatable

Malaysia-based startup Warybee has launched its namesake personal safety device on Starhub’s Crowdtivate platform. What does it do? Aiming to raise S$50,000 (US$39,990) on StarHub’s new crowdfunding platform Crowdtivate is Malaysia-based personal safety wearable startup WaryBee. To be embedded in jewellery, its namesake flagship device will trigger an alarm when pressed in an emergency. Everything Read the full article...

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Easy Taxi secures US$40 million in Series D funding

Investors for the Rocket Internet-backed company include Russia’s Phenomen Ventures and Germany’s Tengelmann Ventures Rocket Internet’s Easy Taxi has secured US$40 million in Series D funding*from a bevy of investors, contributing to*its growth efforts in Asia and Latin*America. Led by an international group of investors, which includes German Tengelmann Ventures, the investment company behind multi-sector...

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What’s ‘Intel’ about Intel’s SSD Pro 2500?

There isn’t much “Intel Inside” Intel’s new line-up of Enterprise-geared SSDs.

VR-Zone’s sister site, Chinese VR-Zone , recently ran a review of Intel’s new SSD for Enterprise customers — the SSD Pro 2500. One particular element of interest from the review was the distinct lack of Intel hardware within the drive itself.

While the SSD Pro 2500 uses the same SandForce controller as the earlier 530 series — though Intel claims it as its own with the Intel BF29A41BB0 model number, it is an LSI SandForce controller inside — one notable change is the substitution of Intel NAND flash memory with cheaper NAND from SK Hynix.

This substitution of memory results in some disappointing performance from the SSD with read performance coming in at 540 MB/s and write performance at approximately 480 MB/s.

The disappointing performance can be expected from the substitution of the NAND from Intel’s own to SK Hynix’s. It was an unfortunate move and cheapens the device as a whole. If you look at all the parts used in making the drive, there isn’t really anything “Intel” about it all together aside from the logo on the front. The two most important parts of the device — the controller and the NAND itself — are made by different companies.

Unfortunately for Intel this means that this SSD will be overshadowed on the market by models with a better price-performance ratio such as Samsung’s 850 Pro, which uses V-NAND and comes it at a better price at $200.

MyRepublic 1Gbps Fibre Broadband Residential and SME Promotion

MyRepublic 1Gbps Fibre Broadband Promotion!

For those who are still interested drop me a pm with your contact and i will follow up with you.

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[Singapore] Bitcoin 101, Casual Introduction Meetup

Learn about the basics of Bitcoin in a casual setting * Synopsis: Stop by Bartini Kitchen from 7:30pm to 9:00pm to learn about Bitcoin. Enthusiast Neal Blackburn of Cloud Mining Singapore will be there to help you understand the basics and even get your first coins. You can also use your bitcoin to purchase drinks Read the full article...

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Monday 28 July 2014

[Singapore] Kopi chat with HungryGoWhere

Kopi chats is a series of talks for the start-up community, served specially by NUS Enterprise alongside a good fresh brew of local coffee. * * Synopsis: From humble beginnings starting on “borrowed” desks at a founder’s parents’ office In the early days, “no restaurant wanted to be associated with social media”……….. To a successful Read the full article...

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Weekly Cornerplay: Which is Singapore’s best food app?

In this edition of the Weekly Cornerplay,*Jeffrey Yuwono*compares Singapore’s top seven food apps to find out the winner Welcome to the*Weekly Cornerplay, a guest column where each week we analyse a tech product or service. Foursquare is pivoting to a focus on place recommendations*– e.g. restaurants and cafes — and this made us wonder how Read the full article...

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Knowlarity raises US$16M Series B funding from Sequoia Capital, Mayfield

The Indian cloud telephony startup*will use the*monies to invest in*research and development,*and*boost expansion*internationally Indian cloud telephony startup*Knowlarity Communications raised US$16 million in Series B funding from Sequoia Capital and Mayfield. The monies*will be used to invest in research and development,*and boost expansion*internationally. Earlier this year,*e27 reported the Sequoia Capital-backed company is aiming to raise about Read the full article...

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Gigabyte BRIX - Console killer and the perfect LAN party machine??

..perhaps not, yet anyway.

Will come to Singapore, price will be south of 1k. Product Link

The review below sums it up well. I like to compare it with the Telsa Model S and the situation with electric cars in general, we are nearly there, but the range/mileage (interest reading) still holds as it's biggest drawback and from mass adoption. notice the limitations often lies in technology but at least we are pushing the boundaries.

this little green box too is ambitious, amazing but somehow still not quite there yet. But I believe in time, and in the not too far future.. they will fix it; and all that power in the size of a brick will be perfected.

Exciting times ahead.. LAN parties will never be the same again, and the market for consoles will only get more competitive with such small form-factor PC entering the mainstream scene.

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FYI: Random Linear Network Coding boost speeds with an elegant mathematical approach...

As touted @ Code On vows to dramatically speed up Wi-Fi, cell, satellite transmissions — with math — Tech News and Analysis

Quote:

At its most basic level RLNC relies on an algebraic equation to improve data speeds by reducing dropped packets. Those misplaced data bundles lead to congestion across a wireless network as devices try to recover the missing pieces. What the equation does instead is describe the packets, and somehow if a packet gets lost in transmission, the receiving device can solve for the missing piece without getting bogged down.

.....

Since the RLNC encoding sender doesn’t need to listen for acknowledgements of successful transmission and perhaps retransmit, the sender can continuously transmit at near-wire speed optimized for latency and network throughput. More importantly, RLNC encoding can ride on top of the TCP-IP protocol, so implementation does not require the replacement of communications equipment. But it does require software incorporating RLNC-licensed technology to execute on both ends.....

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Microsoft advertises Cortana-packed Nokia Lumia 635 using Apple's Siri (video)

pNo stranger to the kind-hearted publicity stunts that have made HTC look so noble recently, Microsoft is back in cheap jab mode, going for Apple’s jugular from two directions at once in the latest Nokia Lumia 635 commercial.

What could the low-cost, low-end Windows Phone 8.1-running Lumia 635 and upscale, high-end iOS-powered Apple iPhone 5s possibly have in common? On the surface, they target very different audiences, but we’re guessing that’s exactly the point Microsoft wants to get across in a short but sassy 30-second ad.

Well, one of two points at least, as the iPhone 5s is made to seem both overpriced and impractical in the increasingly competitive voice assistant department. Basically, MS claims that, despite its hefty retail cost “superiority”, Apple’s “cutting-edge” 4 incher is outperformed by the largest but theoretically more modest 4.5 incher in key areas.

This is actually not the first time a phony Siri has been used to make a Windows product look good, as back in the day the iPad was compared to a slew of Win 8 tabs and ultimately ridiculed in a similar fashion. With a little extra humor, if I may say so.

But the lack of (elegant) humor isn’t Redmond’s biggest problem this time around. It’s the courage, nay foolishness to trumpet a feature just introduced on the platform but present on iOS for years now that irks.

Sure, Cortana has its advantages over Siri nowadays, but where was it when the latter debuted, back in October 2011, on the iPhone 4s? Besides, according to many an online reviewer and tester, both Cortana and Siri have their upsides and flaws, and in the end, they mostly even out for a tie in the fierce head-to-head clash. How do you like them apples, Microsoft?

Gigantic 5.9-inch Google/Motorola Nexus 'Shamu' tipped for fall launch

Since it’s been practically established that Google’s Nexus line has a healthy future ahead of it, it’s time to welcome back Nexus 6 rumors, now hinting at a “killer”, gargantuan 5.9-inch model co-manufactured by, surprise, surprise, Motorola.

Hey there, gossipers and rumor mongers, what say we kick off the week with a story that, were it not for its source’s credibility, would be filed under wild fantasies and be forgotten almost instantaneously? Heck, if Android Police hadn’t given it a 6.5 out of 10 confidence level, we’d have probably never bothered with it in the first place.

Of course, 6.5 isn’t that much, so keep the salt shakers nearby, locked and loaded. All caution accounted for, it appears Google and Motorola’s family ties are yet to be broken by the latter’s imminent Lenovo buyout.

So no, the LG Nexus 6 will indeed never materialize, but an out-of-the-blue-surfaced Motorola Nexus 6 could become reality around November. With Android L, KitKat’s follow-up, pre-loaded, and, get this, a 5.9-inch display. Also, fingerprint recognition technology.

The device is reportedly codenamed “Shamu” after the notorious killer orca, suggesting we’re dealing with a whale of a phone (screen diagonal-wise, hopefully, not weight-wise), and a high-ender aimed at the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4. So, um, what’s the point of the Android Silver program again?

Your guess is really as good as ours. Given all the conflicting reports floating around of late, we wouldn’t rule out the Silver family ultimately being the big, fat lie. Think about it, it’s done a splendid job thus far as a distraction from Nexus 6 Shamu and Nexus 9 Volantis stories.

Source: Android Police

Samsung Galaxy S4 goes down in flames, owner is offered free HTC One M8

Anti-competition commercials may be entertaining and effective at times, but HTC came up with a much smarter, cheaper way to advertise its products while mocking eternal rival Samsung, offering the disgruntled owner of a destroyed Galaxy S4 a complimentary One M8.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a page from a competitor’s playbook, as long as the act of stealing borrowing complies with patent laws and works towards a greater good. And clearly, HTC’s latest publicity stunt, though inspired by Nokia (and others before it), is underneath it all a textbook example of philanthropy and flawless customer support.

Support for other companies’ customers, that is, as HTC USA product manager Leigh Momii seized a fantastic opportunity to make a few headlines when bumping into the depressing tale of an unlucky Samsung Galaxy S4 proprietor on Reddit.

Forum user TweektheGeek, like a growing and concerning number of gadget owners, iPhones included, woke up one morning to find his once mighty device badly wounded after an inexplicable fire. The damage, allegedly not caused by any handling mishaps, wasn’t enough to put the GS4 to eternal sleep, but it did nearly destroy it.

Obviously, our story’s unfortunate hero reached out to Samsung’s customer support service immediately, and received assurances his emotional pain will be soothed*in no time. Long story short, that never happened, and TweektheGeek was apparently stuck with a smoked, semi-functional smartphone and… an empty box, which Sammy promised to fill up with a brand new Galaxy S4.

But just as the tale was to reach a bleak ending, HTC entered the picture to save the day, offering the erstwhile S4 owner a free of charge, spanking new One M8. The only condition being, if Samsung ever sent the promised replacement S4, the fresh recruit of the HTC army would sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.

In the words of TweektheGeek, it really was an offer he couldn’t refuse, so he didn’t. HTC 1 – Samsung 0.

Sources: Android Beat , Reddit