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Enjoy virtual reality with Samsung’s Milk for its Gear VR

Virtual reality headsets may not have caught on yet in terms of wearable purchases, but it doesn't mean that we are any less fascinated by it. Samsung is banking on this interest by releasing the Milk VR app which gives access to 360-degree video files to users of their Gear VR. If rumors are to be believed, the video collection will also soon be available for other VR devices as well.



The Gear VR is not yet intended for commercial use but rather for app and software developers, as well as artists like filmmakers who are looking to explore what the virtual-reality medium can do for their craft. These videos in the Milk VR are intended to showcase just that, giving the users the ability to look left, right, up, down or wherever you want to look, while watching the videos. The makers are looking more at engagement rather than unit sales for the Gear VR, and having this showcase of the power of 360-degree videos may entice more people and early adapters to explore how VR can fit into the consumer's mobile lifestyle.


Some of the videos currently available include a flight around Hong Kong's famous skyline, a look at new Zealand's glorious landscapes, a tour through Italy's picturesque sites, or viewing Dubai's waterfronts. They plan to add even more videos which have probably been shot using Samsung's 360-degree camera called "Project Beyond", which is still not available commercially.


If you don't have a VR device yet, you'll still be able to have a preview of what Milk VR can offer by visiting their website. Of course you won't be able to fully appreciate virtual reality to its full capacity since you'll be viewing it on a limited screen only, but at least you'll get the feel of what you can expect when someday you'll have your own Gear VR or other similar wearables.


VIA: SlashGear





LG prepping new G Flex 2

CES 2015 is just around the corner and we're all pretty excited about what new gadgets will be introduced. Last year, it was tipped to launch at the first tech event of 2015. It was only a rumor but now that we're days before CES starts, we're almost sure about the news. Why, the company is believed to be ready to unveil the G Flex 2 complete with a curved flexible display.



Korean website Naver has confirmed this and even mentioned that the new LG G Flex 2 will run a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 processor--the first smartphone to have this particular chip. The phone will also feature LTE-A connectivity and tri-band carrier aggregation. No mention on the rest of the specs but we're guessing the smartphone will still have the same large 6-inch screen with Full HD resolution, curved display, and probably the same self-healing rear shell.


Not much information we can give you but at least we're almost sure about the arrival of a new LG flagship phone. The low resolution (only 720p) of the previous LG G Flex was a bit of a let down but we're hoping the new LG G Flex 2 will have a higher resolution display. We'll know all the details next week.


SOURCE: Blog of Mobile, Naver





Samsung to release egg-shaped 360-degree speakers for CES

If you want room and portable speakers that would not look out of place in 2001: A Space Odyssey, then you better watch out for Samsung's newest speakers that will be released in time for CES later this month. The Korean OEM announced two new products, WAM7500 and WAM6500 which promises to give users omnidirectional sound with its 360-degree egg-shaped speakers.



The sound will "flow in a 360-degree radius," as well as a balance between bass and treble, giving you just the right sound for when you're watching a movie or listening to your favorite playlist. Samsung has dubbed the tuning tech of the egg-shaped speakers the "Ring Radiator," which is mostly about the "groove running the speakers' periphery". But other than that, not much is known yet about the system, so we have to wait until they fully unveil it at the CES which starts next week.


samsung-wam7500-speaker


The WAM6500 is the smaller speaker and is meant to be portable and is battery powered, while the WAM7500 is of course bigger and can be used as a table-top speaker. Both can be connected to smartphones, tablets, TVs and other devices. There is no indication of wireless support but probably there will be for the portable speaker at least. The new speakers will also work well with Samsung's Curved Soundbar range, with the 6000, 6500, and 8500 series, which will also match the 45-78 inch curved TVs from the OEM.


samsung-wam6500-speaker


There are still no details about the pricing and availability for all the speakers. But given the "futuristic" design and promised sound quality, then you can expect a premium price for them. Let's wait for more details as CES starts by January 4.


VIA: SlashGear


Xiaomi to unveil a sweet surprise, could be a 4G Redmi 1s successor

Xiaomi is launching a new phone this new year. A teaser was recently posted on Mi's G+ account showing us an idea of a sweet surprise. The phone manufacturer will be making an official announcement on Sunday, January 4, of what could be a new Redmi. We're not sure if it will be a new Redmi model or just an improvement of the Xiaomi Redmi 1S. Based on the image and the post, my guess is it could be new colors or perhaps a Lollipop update based on the "sweet surprise" reference. But of course, all Android platforms are named after desserts so every version is supposed to be sweet.



We're still waiting for its debut in the US market but the Chinese OEM is still busy working on enhancements. A recent TENAA listing gives us an idea that it could be a Redmi 1S successor. So far, we know it will have a 4.7-inch 720p display screen, 4G LTE connectivity, dual-SIM support, 1GB RAM, 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC, 2 megapixel front-facing camera,8 megapixel main camera, and a 2200mAh battery. Out of the box, it will run Android 4.4. No idea on pricing but phone is expect to be available soon after the official launch.


Let's see if Xiaomi (Mi) will show off this one at the CES 2015 in Las Vegas next week.


SOURCE: Mi, TENAA





Moto X Pure Edition now with 64gb option through Moto Maker

Internal storage is always an issue for heavy mobile users and so any new device with a lot of gigabytes that comes out in the market is a cause for celebration. The Moto X Pure Edition may not be that new but its 2014 edition now has an option to have a 64gb internal storage when created through their Moto Maker. If you're a Motorola fan or in the market for a new smartphone, then that is a very viable option.



The Pure Edition in a way can be somehow compared to Google's Nexus device, in that it offers "a pure Android experience", as per Motorola. The device has the largest internal storage that the Moto X has ever had. The "Pure" setup means it is pre-installed with Google apps, Motorola's own proprietary apps but without any of the carrier apps. This version of the Moto X is GSM-enabled and comes with a T-Mobile SIM but will also work with AT&T and T-Mobile 4G LTE.


Its advantage over the regular Moto X is that it will receive faster updates and has a promised greater performance, aside from the fact that it is not pre-loaded with unnecessary items. Even though there are options for Carrier Choices (AT&T, Verizon, and Republic Wireless) in the Moto Maker, the 64gb option is not available for them and tells you to change your selection.


The Moto X Pure Edition 64gb option is available only off-contract and unlocked through the Moto Maker. If you're okay with this version, you can buy it for $599.99 through the site. And if you're concerned with space in your smartphone, then this is a pretty good deal already.


VIA: SlashGear





Workaround allows DRM functions on unlocked Sony Xperia devices

There are a lot of good reasons for you to unlock the bootloader of your Sony Xperia device, as there are a lot of cool aftermarket software and stuff out there that will make your cool Xperia dievice even cooler. But the downside to an unlocked bootloader is when you lose the imaging features that require DRM authentication – including the X-Reality image enhancement engine, the audio noise cancelling feature, and the BIONZ image enhancement engine among others.



Well, XDA member “jimRnor” and his team have something to say about that. They have successfully brought back these DRM features to the Sony Xperia smartphone series via a flashable mod. Take note that this is only for Xperia devices which have unlocked bootloaders.


Another caveat is that the developers have made it clear that this mod does not return the DRM keys that were wiped during the unlocking of the bootloader. This mod just reactivates the functions that are inherent in stock Xperia devices.


If you’re curious about this mod, check out the official XDA thread at the source link. We would still warn you that since this involves flashing modified content into your devices, it would be very wise to have a working backup of your phone data and system handy.


SOURCE: XDA





NovaKey wants to change the way you type

The premise of NovaKey – a new keyboard app – is that normal touchscreen keyboards still require you to look at the screen to make accurate taps on specific letters. By radically changing the orientation of the keyboard, NovaKey creates specific and unique “gestures” for each character – allowing for what they say is a more natural and fluid touchscreen typing process.



The keyboard map is now made up of circles of characters that you can swipe to from the central area of the keyboard so that each character is a unique swipe motion. The same is true with punctuation marks and special characters.


NovaKeyscreenshot


Being that you don’t know where the characters are the first time you use it, you will always have a hard time with NovaKey when you start to use it. But people who have started to regularly use it attest to the uniqueness and fluidity of their new typing process, giving it a more enjoyable feel. Watch the tutorial vid below.




What we want to know is if it is more efficient than the regular keyboard orientation. You can download this new app at the Google Play Store (check the source link), it’s a free download as of now. Then you can tell us about your experiences with it.


DOWNLOAD: Google Play Store





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