Android - page 10

Apple is world’s most valuable company again after Google tanks

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Apple's back on top again.
Apple's back on top again.
Photo: Apple
Apple's back on top again.
Apple’s back on top again.
Photo: Apple

Google is no longer the most valuable company in the world.

Earlier this week the search-giant’s parent company Alphabet overthrew Apple as the world’s top company in terms of marketcap, but it appears that the company’s reign is already after its stock price began trading way down this morning.

An exoskeleton named Phoenix removes cost as a barrier to walking

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Steve Sanchez says the Phoenix is a breakthrough in exoskeleton comfort. “This is the first suit I’ve tried where I don’t feel like I am riding a robot," he said.
Photo: SuitX
Steve Sanchez says the Phoenix  is a breakthrough in exoskeleton comfort. “This is the first suit I’ve tried where I don’t feel like I am riding a robot," he said. Photo: SuitX
Steve Sanchez says the Phoenix is a breakthrough in exoskeleton comfort. “This is the first suit I’ve tried where I don’t feel like I am riding a robot,” he said. Photo: SuitX

Dr. Homayoon Kazerooni has created bionic machinery that can help a person rise out of a wheelchair and walk. Yet, there’s one barrier preventing some people from walking – cost.

This week, Kazerooni’s work takes an important step forward. His company, SuitX debuted a lightweight exoskeleton, dubbed Phoenix, for people with mobility disorders at an initial price of $40,000, about two to four times cheaper than other devices.

Microsoft is acquiring SwiftKey for rumored $250 million

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Microsoft snaps up another hot app.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Microsoft snaps up another hot app. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Microsoft snaps up another hot app. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Microsoft is acquiring SwiftKey, London-based makers of the popular virtual keyboard for Android and iOS, in a deal rumored to be worth $250 million.

SwiftKey insists it will continue to develop its keyboard for both platforms going forward — and it will remain free.

Google wants its Nexus phones to be more like the iPhone

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The official Google phone is coming.
The official Google phone is coming.
Photo: Google
Google could make its own iPhone rivals. Photo: Google
Google could make its own iPhone rivals. Photo: Google

Google’s flagship Nexus 6P delivered significant design improvements last year, putting its hardware on par with the best devices from rival manufacturers. But Google wants the Nexus lineup to be even more like the iPhone.

To make that happen, the company will reduce its reliance on third-party manufacturing partners like Huawei and LG and assume greater control over Nexus hardware, according to one report.

Alphabet tops Apple to become world’s most valuable company

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Google logo
Google's logo
Photo: Google

Google’s parent company Alphabet is now the most valuable company in the world, passing Apple in market capitalization today in after hours trading.

This is the first time since February of 2010 that Google has passed Apple in value. The Cupertino-based iPhone maker has held the top spot since 2013 when it passed Exxon Mobile, but thanks to a strong earnings report today, Alphabet has rocketed to the top.

Thief gets pinched for stealing 38 phones at a music gig

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Work phone, home phone, err... what's next?
Photo: West Midlands Police
Work phone, home phone, err... what's next? Photo: West Midlands Police
Work phone, home phone, err… what’s next? Photo: West Midlands Police

As expensive miniature computers people carry around in their pockets, it’s no surprise that smartphones are regularly the targets of petty thieves.

But one particular thief outshone the rest when he recently (allegedly) managed to steal 38 different phones during a Libertines concert in the U.K., only to be arrested with them stuffed down his trousers.

A work phone and a personal phone I can understand, but explaining away the other 36 handsets was surely a bit of a challenge!

Sharing your Snapchat username just got snappier

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The previous record wasn't even half that amount.
The previous record wasn't even half that amount.
Photo: Snapchat

Tucked away in a recent Snapchat update for Android and iOS, users of the app will notice a new option that allows for the quick and easy sharing of a URL that links directly to their user profile. The link, which can then be copied or shared anywhere a link can be tapped or clicked, takes Snapchat users directly to the app on mobile, and then into the linking user’s profile.

Snapchat pushed updates to both of its primary applications, Android and iOS, a couple of days ago but made no mention of the new URLs.

Super-fast charger promises power in 5 minutes

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ASAP Dash
The ASAP Dash claims it can get you power on the quick. Photo: ASAP

A new portable power supply says it can store enough juice for three full phone charges in just 15 minutes.

The ASAP Dash is looking for $30,000 on crowdfunding site Indiegogo. And if it works as well as it says it does, it could be a must-have gadget for people who find themselves consistently low on power..

Samsung obliterates Apple again in smartphone shipments

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iPhone with Samsung
They’re still running!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Samsung will still be concerned about growth. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Samsung will still be concerned about growth. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Smartphone shipments surpassed a record 1.43 billion units in 2015, according to the latest figures from IDC, and 22.7 percent of them carried the Samsung logo. Despite falling Galaxy sales, the South Korean company still shifted 93.3 million more devices than Apple.

Samsung to copy iPhone Upgrade Program to stop switchers

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Samsung doesn't want you to commit to Apple. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Samsung doesn’t want you to commit to Apple. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Samsung is reportedly planning to launch its own upgrade program to give Galaxy smartphone fans an easy and more affordable route to its latest devices.

The move would be a direct response to Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program, and could prevent long-time users from making the switch to iOS.

Google Inbox search gets even smarter

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Inbox search gets smarter. Photo: Google
Inbox search gets smarter. Photo: Google

Google’s awesome Inbox app just got a heck of a lot more useful for those who leave all the important information they’ll need later inside their emails.

Starting today, Inbox can seek out addresses, contact information, bills, directions, bookings, package tracking numbers and more effectively than any other mail app.

Twitter doesn’t force ads upon ‘VIP’ users

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I'm not famous enough to lose promoted tweets.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Our Twitter timelines have become swamped with ads and sponsored tweets, but if you’re famous enough, you don’t have to see them.

To provide its “VIP” users with a greater experience, and to prevent them from wandering to rival services, Twitter has all but stopped injecting ads into their timelines.

Samsung is bringing all its best apps to iOS

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Samsung apps are coming to iOS.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC
apple-samsung-iphone-galaxy-patent-war

Samsung and Apple have been bitter smartphone rivals for nearly a decade now, but it appears that Samsung may be ready to finally embrace iOS.

Some of Samsung’s best apps (if not all) are coming to iOS soon, according to a new report that claims the Galaxy-maker plans to pull a Microsoft and bring its apps to Apple’s platform as part of its effort to increase adoption of its connected devices.

Sprint ad hits Verizon right in the balls

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Sprint isn't satisfied with Verizon's ballsy claims.
Photo: Sprint
verizon-sprint-att-t-mobile-balls-ad
Sprint isn’t satisfied with Verizon’s ballsy claims. Photo: Sprint

The war between mobile carriers in the U.S. continues to heat up and with the latest battle, it’s personal. Sprint came out with a new ad that directly targets Verizon’s from just a few weeks ago. Using big, colorful balls to symbolize network quality and performance, Sprint claims Verizon’s ad is rubbish and outdated while the yellow network is the true champion.

This one weird website will cause your smartphone to crash

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Smartphone owners are, presumably, furious.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Smartphone owners are, presumably, furious. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Smartphone owners are, presumably, furious. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Watch out for people sending you links to the website CrashSafari dot com, which is causing smartphones and PCs around the world to crash by overloading their browsers with a self-generating address bar text string that causes devices to stop responding.

Although the name refers to Apple’s default browser for Mac and iOS devices, the website also causes Android devices running Chrome to slow down and, in some cases, to actually heat up.

Galaxy S7 could steal 4-inch iPhone’s thunder with a March 11 release

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The Galaxy S7 might arrive in the U.S. on March 11.
Photo: Jermaine Smit
The Galaxy S7 might arrive in the U.S. on March 11th. Photo: Jermaine Smit
The Galaxy S7 might arrive in the U.S. on March 11th. Photo: Jermaine Smit

We’ve heard a lot about the Samsung Galaxy S7 in the past few months. We know it will look like the Galaxy S6, but have big spec bumps , a better camera and battery. It’ll probably rip-off some of the new iPhone’s best features, and arrive in March.

But when in March? We now have an exact date, from reputable leaker of Android smartphone news. Expect the Samsung Galaxy S7 to land in the ides of March, roughly around the same time as Apple is expected to unveil its latest iPhone, the iPhone 5se.

WhatsApp to begin sharing your data with Facebook

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New features found in the latest WhatsApp beta. Screenshots: Javier Santos
New features found in the latest WhatsApp beta. Screenshots: Javier Santos

WhatsApp made millions of smartphone users happy with week when it announced it will be ditching its annual subscription fee, but its next move might not be so popular.

According to a hidden option found in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android, the service is planning to share user data with Facebook “to improve [your] Facebook experiences.”

Surprise! Samsung disses Apple yet again in its latest ad

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Samsung Pay has a big advantage over Apple Pay.
Photo: Samsung
Samsung Pay has a big advantage over Apple Pay. Photo: Samsung
Samsung Pay has a big advantage over Apple Pay. Photo: Samsung

Samsung has long subscribed to the “If you can’t beat ’em, release a load of ads making fun of them” strategy when it comes to smartphone rival Apple.

In its latest ad, the South Korean tech company keeps this trend alive by recruiting comedian Hannibal Buress to show off Samsung Pay’s big advantage over Apple Pay.

And — you know what — as far as petty ads taking shots at your rivals go, this one actually isn’t bad.

Google paid Apple $1 billion to keep its search bar on the iPhone

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Got a new iPhone? Set it up right.
Breaking news: There's big money in search.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Breaking news: There's big money in search. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Breaking news: There’s big money in search. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Android and iOS may be mortal enemies in some ways, but Google clearly realizes the value of having Apple’s hundreds of millions of customers use its search engine.

So much so, in fact, that in 2014 Google paid Apple a massive $1 billion to keep its search bar on the iPhone.