LG Says They’re Moving Away from Modular Designs with the LG G6

Last year, LG made tons of headlines when it was announced they would be shifting to a modular design with the LG G5. The device quickly became one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year, and LG even said they were committing more funds to marketing the device than they should.

LG even seemed dedicated to the LG Friends modular system and were doing what they could to entice 3rd-party developers to jump on board at special developer events.

The company had once promised that it would continue to support the modular design with their future smartphones, in an attempt to get customers to invest in the modules. But then the device was released and the reviews weren't as favorable as LG had hoped they would be. This decline in popularity continued throughout the year and it was ultimately considered a flop by the company when they were unable to meet sales expectations. Availability and compatibility issues with the already-limited set of modules were the nail in the coffin for the G5.

This resulted in a 23% drop in quarterly revenue and attributed to LG's mobile division losing millions of dollars last year. Thankfully their appliance division was able to keep the company afloat, but many were wondering if LG would spin off the mobile division to prevent these losses from dragging the company down. LG's Chief Technologist, Skott Ahn, is at CES this week and he assured the audience that spinning off the mobile division is not something they would consider doing.

Ahn also spoke about the upcoming LG G6 at the event too, telling us that it is moving away from the modular design LG invested in with the LG G5. We're told that LG could decide to launch the LG G6 in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress event next month. However, a date has yet to be finalized and they are also considering a couple of other dates for the launch as well.
Source: The Wall Street Journal

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Samsung & BlackBerry Publish Their Android Security Bulletin for January

Each month we talk about Google's Android Security Bulletin, but these aren't the only vulnerabilities that get patched.

Google helps OEMs by taking care of the patches which are specific to the core Android platform, but that's not all there is to it — many smartphone manufacturers add their own skin and some even make major changes to the platform itself so that they can implement the features they want. These changes can also add vulnerabilities, and this is part of why we see other smartphone companies releasing their own Android Security Bulletin each and every month, so we are also seeing BlackBerry and Samsung release their summary of patches for the month of January: On top of the patches Google announced, Samsung is patching over 15 vulnerabilities with their Android security update for January.

Only one of these vulnerabilities has been marked with a high severity level, with the rest being considered medium or low. These have all been privately disclosed, with some dating all the way back to May, but they will be patched in this month's security update. As with all monthly security updates, Samsung is unable to give us a list of which devices will be receiving the update, nor can they tell us when owners of Samsung devices can expect to see this update pushed to them.

On the other hand, BlackBerry doesn't give us individual lists to show us what vulnerabilities they're patching from Google, and which ones they have found specific to the BlackBerry platform. However, they do tend to do a better job when it comes to delivering these updates and have told us that updates are pushed out immediately to those devices that were purchased from their Shop BlackBerry website. Those who purchased directly from a carrier, though, will have to wait until the update is certified and pushed out by the carrier.

Follow the links below for more information:

Source: Samsung

Source: BlackBerry

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Zenfone 3 Zoom and Zenfone AR Hands On

While at CES, Miles got a chance to check out two of the hottest phones announced today. The Zenfone 3 Zoom and Zenfone AR were just unveiled and they look amazing. The Zenfone AR features some monster specs that make it ideal for VR. The Zenfone Zoom 3 is also an awesome looking phone that people are very excited about.

Still no word on the prices of these phones but we will no doubt have that information within the next couple of months. Check out the video for the full hands on demo.

Thanks to Honor for sponsoring our CES coverage. Be sure to check out the new Honor 6X.

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Panasonic Automotive to build Android Automotive In-Vehicle Infotainment System into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Feature Image: Uconnect Access on FCA Vehicles

While most of us are intimately familiar with Google's Android on smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and televisions, few are aware of what Google has been doing for the automotive market.

To illustrate this point, ask yourself the following question: What is the difference between Android Auto and Android Automotive? Android Auto is a system that allows you to connect your phone to your car dashboard display to use certain useful applications, such as Maps, Music, or voice access. On the other hand, Android Automotive is an actual Android-based operating system designed for vehicles. Android Automotive is much more tightly integrated with the features of your car – depending on the set-up, it can even control various sensors and switches in the vehicle.

I can't fault you for now knowing the difference – Google does not really advertise these two (and especially not the latter) as these two derivatives of Android are not really meant to be sold to the end user. Rather, Google has been making behind-the-scenes deals with automobile manufacturers to incorporate Android Auto – and now Android Automotive – into their latest vehicles. But we don't really hear much about these deals throughout the year – that is, until we arrive at big trade shows where companies love to announce new partnerships.

Hence at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Panasonic Automotive has announced a partnership with Qualcomm and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. (FCA US) to build in-vehicle infotainment systems based on Android Automotive.

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Fiat Chrysler Vehicles Meet Android Automotive

The string of partnerships involved in this announcement is complex as each company involved has released press details of their own to show off their work, so let's break it down some. First of all, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles U.S. is responsible for shipping FCA made cars within the U.S. They have partnered with Panasonic Automotive who will be the supplier of FCA vehicles' in-vehicle infotainment systems. Panasonic Automotive is creating their infotainment system based on Google's Android Automotive operating system, and the infotainment system is powered by a Qualcomm processor designed for vehicles.

Two days ago, FCA revealed that they would be showcasing a seamless integration of Android into their 8.4″ Uconnect infotainment system in a partnership with Google. The integration would be demonstrated on a Chrysler 300 sedan, and FCA states that the system was running on Android 7.0 Nougat. In essence, this is full Android Automotive – not Android Auto. This system integrates deeply (and presumably securely) with the vehicle, while still providing auto makers access to Google's wide selection of applications in the Android ecosystem.

Further details of this infotainment system were later revealed today when Panasonic Automotive revealed that they are the supplier partner for FCA's Uconnect 8.4″ infotainment system. Panasonic Automotive is building infotainment systems that are customized to each auto manufacturer's preference. They revealed that companies seeking a rich entertainment experience for their end users can initially design infotainment solutions using Qualcomm's Automotive Development Platforms, and later seed production development and manufacturing to Panasonic Automotive.

Panasonic Automotive is utilizing chips provided by Qualcomm Technologies, as announced in a separate press release. In particular, the infotainment system will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Am processor based on its custom Kryo CPUs. The SoC features an X12 LTE modem, integrated location services, a Hexagon 680 DSP, and an Adreno 530 GPU. Furthermore, Qualcomm has also worked to better incorporate Android 7.0 Nougat features into a vehicle-based UI. These infotainment system will feature an adaptive UI design that can accommodate different applications, screen sizes, and resolutions.

Interestingly, Panasonic Automotive has also announced that they partnered with IBM to feature natural language voice interaction services with their in-vehicle infotainment system. IBM is providing the technology behind Watson to incorporate an eCommerce transaction system, allowing users to perform actions such as placing a restaurant order while on the road.

Android Automotive has flown under the radar this past year, but behind the scenes Google has made major strides in promoting the fledgling derivative operating system. We're excited to see how far Google's Android can penetrate the car market, and if they can continue striking deals such as this one, they are bound to succeed.

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Source: FCA North America Source: Panasonic Automotive

Source: Qualcomm

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Casio’s WSD-F20 Rugged Smartwatch will be the First Android Wear 2.0 Smartwatch

Android Wear did not have an exciting 2016 due to diminished consumer interest leading to major companies holding off on major smartwatch releases. All of that hopefully changes this year with the launch of Android Wear 2.0. While Motorola will not be releasing a new smartwatch based on Android Wear 2.0, Casio remains committed to the Android smartwatch and will be releasing a new rugged smartwatch known as the WSD-F20.

The Casio Pro Trek WSD-F20 is the next generation rugged smartwatch from Casio and adopts a similar rugged design compared to its predecessor, the WSD-F10. Since the smartwatch expected for outdoor usage, Casio has added a protective bezel and button guards on the watch, which lend to its MIL-STD-810G rating. You also get the dual-layer display from the predecessor — monochrome mode for high visibility and low power consumption and color mode for smartwatch functionality.

The new smartwatch also comes with a low-power GPS sensor and color maps which can be downloaded for offline use. This, in addition to its new Android Wear 2.0 operating system, will certainly give the watch a unique appeal in the current market. Casio has also added applications for tracking and assisting outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and fishing among other interesting additions —  an application called Location Memory adds in location markers with notes through speech recognition while "Moment Setter" allows you to pre-program certain notifications. Casio will also add in more original watch faces that make use of the low power GPS and offline maps.

The Casio Pro Trek WSD-F10 is an unapologetically niche product geared specifically towards outdoor use, but it also is the first smartwatch to be announced with Android Wear 2.0. Interestingly, the predecessor Pro Trek smartwatch will also be updated to the latest Android Wear 2.0 OS. Casio seems to be banking heavily on Android Wear 2.0 to not disappoint, but that is a question left unanswered until the OS leaves its beta state and reaches widespread use.

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Source: Engadget

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ASUS Announces ZenFone AR and ZenFone 3 Zoom at CES 2017

Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, Nevada. January 4th, 2017 at 11:30PM PST:

At their Zennovation press event at CES 2017, ASUS unveiled two new smartphones — the ZenFone AR and the ZenFone 3 Zoom.

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ASUS ZenFone AR

The ZenFone AR was the highlight of Zennovation this year as it is the world's first smartphone that is compatible with both Google Tango and Google Daydream. The ZenFone AR prides itself on its capability to be the perfect companion for both your AR and VR needs, eliminating the need to carry two different devices for these purposes. ASUS has worked closely with Google to ensure that the phone meets the requirements of both Google Tango and Google Daydream.

The ZenFone AR is not only unique in its capabilities, but it also bears a distinct look compared to other current smartphones. The back of the device is home to the rear camera and other sensors needed for Google Tango functionality. The front of the device features a 5.7″ Super AMOLED WQHD (1440×2560) display which plays a crucial role in the device's VR functionality. The front also comes with a physical home button, which is likely housing the fingerprint sensor.

Internally, the ZenFone AR packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC and 6GBs of RAM. While the Snapdragon 821 is seemingly already "outdated" thanks to the release of the Snapdragon 835, it is still very much a capable SoC able to power a flagship device such as this. For those worried about heat generation while using the device for AR or VR purposes, thankfully ASUS has employed a vapor cooling system to prevent overheating.

Cameras play an integral role for augmented reality, so ASUS packed a top tier camera module in the ZenFone AR. The main rear camera is a 23MP Sony IMX318 sensor along with a TriTech+ Autofocus system (dual-PDAF, Second-gen Laser Focus and Continuous-focus). The camera setup is capable of 4-axis OIS photo and 3-axis EIS video stabilization along with 4K video recording. In terms of software processing, the ZenFone AR features a Super Resolution Mode that creates 92MP photos by combining four 23MP images, a Low Light Mode, and other preset modes and filters. All the camera prowess would be incomplete without a manual mode, so the ZenFone AR allows changing settings such as white balance, EV, ISO, shutter speed, and focus.

As for the rest of the functionality necessary for Google Tango, the ZenFone AR also features sensors and software that allow for motion tracking, depth perception, and area learning — allowing it to perceive spatial awareness, one of the key pillars of AR.Furthermore, The VR and AR experience on the ZenFone AR will be complemented by an audio system that supports Hi-Res Audio and DTS virtual surround sound. The ZenFone AR also claims boosted external audio experience with a new ultra-loud 5-magnet speaker. ASUS and Google are also partnering with well-known brands to bring the Tango AR experience to customers.

ASUS's press release unfortunately reveals little detail on other internal features of the device such as the storage, battery capacity, and software. But seeing that the device is top tier by 2016 standards, we can expect the other internals to be on par with other flagships.

The ASUS ZenFone AR will be available in Q2 2017. Pricing and configuration of the device will be announced closer to availability. But given the specifications revealed at this time, the device is likely to be priced among the upper echelon of premium flagship devices.

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ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom

The ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom, as its name would imply, is a smartphone focused on photography. But ASUS is also pitching the ZenFone 3 Zoom as one of the thinnest and lightest smartphones available with a beefy 5,000 mAh battery.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom features an aluminum-alloy body which is only 0.31″ thick (7.9 mm) and weighs merely 0.37 lbs (170 g). These figures are impressive when you consider that the phone packs a battery that has a rating of 5,000 mAh. The phone can double up as a power bank to charge other devices as well.

Externally, the phone comes with a 5.5″ FHD AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 5. Under the hood, you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC. ASUS's press release is again rather scant on details, but previous leaks point suggest the device will ship with several different RAM configurations of 2GB/3GB/4GB and storage configurations of 16GB/32GB/64GB.

The highlight of the phone is the dual-camera on the device. On the rear, you get a 12MP Sony IMX362 sensor with 25mm wide-angle lens and f/1.7 aperture along with a dedicated 12MP, 56mm lens for 2.3x optical zoom. The main camera captures pixels which are 1.4µm wide, which combined with the larger aperture, allows the camera to perform better in low light conditions. You also get the Tritech+ Autofocus system which is also present in the ZenFone AR. The front facing camera is a 13MP shooter, with a "screen flash" mode to aid in low light selfies.

The ZenFone 3 Zoom also shares more features with the ZenFone AR, such as four-axis OIS photo and three-axis EIS video, Super Resolution Mode, Low Light mode and more. You also get full manual controls, 4K video recording with continuous Auto-focus, and a promise of RAW file support (with the Android 7.0 update).

The ZenFone 3 Zoom will be available in February 2017. Pricing of the device will be announced later on.

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ASUS has certainly caught our attention with the newest additions to the ZenFone family. The ZenFone AR is a unique piece of technology which is currently unrivaled, while the ZenFone 3 Zoom focuses on the current camera trends but also considers our need for battery life. Now all that is left to unveil is the pricing of these devices to decide their commercial success.

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TCL Previews the New BlackBerry at CES 2017

With CES 2017 fully underway, TCL used this opportunity to preview the fruits of their licensing deal with BlackBerry – an as of now unnamed Android smartphone with a physical keyboard.

Curiously, TCL has not revealed much information at all about this phone – no specifications or even a name were given. The company is opting to instead wait until Mobile World Congress to unveil further details about the phone. Today, all we've been given is a teaser press release video of the new device, which at least gives us an idea of what the phone will look like.

Previous leaks have uncovered that the device is code named Mercury, although again TCL has yet to reveal the official name. In the video, the device looks fairly unconventional, what with its sleek metallic body, the soft touch dimpled back, and most importantly the physical keyboard plastered the front.

Yes, a device in 2017 will have a physical keyboard. And unlike previous iterations of physical keyboards on smart devices, this unnamed BlackBerry device will not feature a slide-in form factor – providing a sleeker design at the cost of some screen real estate. The BlackBerry device will also have a fingerprint scanner which is cleverly hidden as the spacebar key. You also retain the navigational swipe gestures on the physical keyboard interestingly enough. The phone, like most flagship smartphones these days, utilizes a USB Type-C port for data transfer and charging. BlackBerry has also shied away from removing the headphone jack like some competitors, thankfully.

Along with the physical keyboard, the main draw of the unnamed BlackBerry phone would be its security suite. This would include apps that form part of BlackBerry's Android experience like BlackBerry Hub. TCL would naturally be pitching the secure Android experience as an alternative to Samsung's KNOX and other competitors, hoping to fill the needs of a corporate environment.

We haven't seen a physical keyboard on a flagship smartphone in quite a bit of time thanks to the proliferation of touchscreen keyboards. However, if there's one brand that can revive the physical keyboard – it's definitely BlackBerry. We'll be waiting for Mobile World Congress 2017 to learn more about the specifications and pricing for the device.

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