iPhone 6S images leaked: NFC, 16GB base storage and more!

#iPhone 6S

Image: Reuters

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By tech2 News Staff /  10 Jul 2015 , 08:57

It was reported a few days ago that Apple is preparing an ‘S’ iPhone upgrade that superficially preserves the exterior designs of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but introduces some major internal changes as well. In addition to changes such as Force Touch display, upgraded camera system, and a Qualcomm LTE chip, new news leaks suggests that the phone will also be updated with NFC hardware along with fewer and more efficient chips. However, the device will include an onboard storage of only 16GB.

9to5mac has shared a few images, showing a prototype of the next iPhone’s logic board. According to the report, a new NFC chip inside the iPhone 6S is from NXP and labelled 66VP2. Also, along with a ‘slight shrinkage’ in size of the iPhone 6S’s logic board, Apple appears to be reducing the number of chips it uses for its phone. It may use  a Cirrus Logic audio chip, a Murata Wi-Fi module, and wireless power amplifiers from RFMD, Triquint, Avago and Skyworks within the iPhone 6S as well.

As of now it appears that the upcoming smartphone will sport a 16GB variant and is built with a 19nm production process. According to 9to5mac, there is a possibility that Apple may not ship this 16GB flash storage option, and was solely using it for early production and test models.

An earlier report pointed out that the dimensions of the next iPhone, along with the Space Gray colour have been retained. However, it is quite possible that certain tweaks may be included before the launch. Additionally, there are several small changes to the iPhone 6s frame suggesting the position of the logic board and components. The report adds that Apple had recently applied for a patent to hide antenna lines at the rear of the device.

Tags: Apple, Force Touch display, iPhone, iPhone 6s, iphone 6S desing, iPhone 6s features, iPhone 6S images, new iPhone

Oxford University press to launch 3 digital platform programmes in India

Image: Reuters

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10 Jul 2015 , 09:14

Oxford University Press is launching this year three major programmes, mostly for school children in India, by using the digital platform. The Press’ Indian division is 103 years old and has a unique plan to get a stronger foothold in the Indian market.

“We have three main programmes on the digital platform – Oxford Educate Premium, Oxford Achievers and My Map which we are launching soon,” says Ranjan Kaul, Managing Director of OUP India.

Oxford Educate Premium is a digital aid that integrates an e-book with interactive tools and learning materials. It incorporates a variety of resources: interactive animations, videos, poem and prose animations and audios for different courses, instructional slide shows, lesson plans, answer keys, additional worksheets, image references and much more.

Oxford Achievers is a Web-based assessment programme that will help in measuring the impact of a teaching-and-learning process.

“This is a diagnostic tool. It was successfully used in Hong Kong and now customised in India. We have pilot tested it in about 10 schools and have got positive feedback,” Kaul told PTI in an interview.

“My Map is being used in the UK and we are customising the product to the Indian curriculum. It is also an online product and uses simple animation,” he says.

With methods of learning changing and children becoming more visual learners, he says the teaching methods have to undergo changes so that they become adaptable to the learning.

Kaul sees digitisation as an opportunity and not as a challenge.

“We are content developers. Print is a vehicle to deliver that content. Digital is an equally good vehicle and even a better vehicle,” he says.

Two of OUP’s popular products – Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and Oxford School Atlas – have completed 100 years.

“Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is still popular in India.

It is a very useful learning tool. We have been changing the format and design of this dictionary so as to help users, like helping people in writing,” Kaul says.

The Atlas had its 34th edition printed recently.

“We have our own cartography team now. Our 34th edition incorporates the new state of Telangana following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh,” Kaul says.

PTI

Tags: Digital platform programmes, Digital programmes, Oxford University

Android M: Google releases second developer preview

#Android M

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By tech2 News Staff /  10 Jul 2015 , 09:32

Google has released what it calls an ‘incremental update’ to the Android M developer preview. In addition to feature enhancements and bug fixes. The first developer preview ofGoogle’s Android M was released on 28 May. In an update on the developer page, Google has listed the following updates to the developer preview.

SDK platform and system updates: (Nexus and emulator) for building and testing. You can download the updated tools from the SDK Manager, and the system images are available by over-the-air (OTA) update or a download from the Developer page.

Updated documentation: Behaviour changes, API overview, and Permissions documents have been updated to reflect the changes in the platform.

Translations: You can use the language selector at the bottom right corner of any page to switch languages.

In addition, the Android M code samples have also been updated to account for API and behaviour changes.

In addition, Google has listed the following known issues:

System messenger crashes in the 64-bit emulator

After updating to Developer Preview 2, Contacts sync experiences intermittent issues. According to Google, the workaround is clear and re-sync the Contact Storage data after update. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Show system > Contacts storage. Select Storage and then Clear Data.

You cannot share a video in the YouTube app.

Android for Work profile set up is not working properly.

On the Nexus player, Bluetooth share crashes after clearing data. Please do not clear Bluetooth share data, since you would need to Factory Reset your device.

Tags: Android M, Android M Developer Preview 2, Android Sdk, Developer Preview, Developer Preview 2, Google

Japan launches free Wi-Fi on Mount Fuji

#Free Wi-Fi

Representational image. Image credit: Reuters

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10 Jul 2015 , 10:38

Climbers who reach the summit of Mount Fuji will now be able to share their achievement via free Wi-Fi. A Japanese mobile phone network says it will begin offering the service Friday at eight hotspots on Japan’s most famous mountain, including the 3,776-meter (12,389-foot) summit.

The initiative is aimed at attracting more overseas visitors to Shizuoka and Yamanashi, the two states that are home to Mount Fuji. From airports to subway and bus operators, Japan has been expanding free Wi-Fi service ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Users on Mount Fuji will need to enter a user ID and password provided in fliers in English, Chinese and Korean that will be distributed at some trailheads. NTT DOCOMO Inc. will provide the service for 72 hours from the initial log-in.

According to a recent report, C-DOT, the research and development institute of the department of telecommunications, will launch four broadband products developed to fast forward the Digital India initiative, an official statement said.

The products, which includes long distance WiFi system, solar-powered WiFi system, 100 Gbps optical fibre cable (OFC) link and C-DOT’s next generation network (NGN) in MTNL network, will be launched by Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on July 6 as a part of the Digital India week.

With inputs from Associated Press

Tags: Free Wi-Fi, Japan Free Wi-Fi, Mount Fuji, solar-powered WiFi system, WiFi system

Banned! WhatsApp could face ban in UK within weeks

#WhatsApp

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By tech2 News Staff /  10 Jul 2015 , 10:58

WhatsApp could soon be banned in the UK, owing to the strict laws on social media and online messaging services.

According to Express.co.uk, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is now looking at new legislation that plans ‘to stop people from sending any form of encrypted messages’.

Today, there are popular messaging services in the UK namely, WhatsApp, iMessage and Snapchat. If the new legislation is passed then all these services could be banned in the UK in the coming weeks.

He reportedly said, “In our country, do we want to allow a means of communication between people which we cannot read? My answer to that question is: ‘No, we must not’.”

With the new Investigatory Powers Bill, Internet service providers, Internet companies like Facebook, Google and others, will need to keep a record of your activity. The new bill, the pace of which has been accelerated due to recent concerns over terrorist attacks, could be passed by Autumn.

Though the complete details of the bill are still undisclosed, it means that the government will now get to spy on users irrespective of whether they are crime suspects or not. Sounds creepy, doesn’t it?

Meanwhile, popular messaging service, WhastApp, has updated its Web app. WhatsApp for Web has now been updated to include mobile-like features giving users more control over chats and group conversations on the web.

Tags: WhatApp ban, Whatsapp, WhatsApp banned, WhatsApp UK, WhatsApp UK ban