brkiblog

The search giant's latest addition to its Maps smartphone app includes 150 "catchable" Pokemon, part of a hoax we can only hope foreshadows augmented reality uses down the line.

Samsung’s latest flagship phone “raises the bar for top display performance,” says screen tester DisplayMate.

Nikon has launched the high-end Nikon D4s and entry-level Nikon D3300 in India.
The company, which claims to have a 55 per cent market share in the DSLR segment, says it wants to consolidate its growth in the vertical with these new offerings.

The Nikon D4s is the company’s new flagship camera and is a successor to the D4. The full-frame camera offers Full HD recording at 60 frames per second, EXPEED 4 image processing engine and a new 16.2 MP FX-format CMOS sensor. The camera has a maximum ISO of 25,600, which can be extended to an unprecedented ISO 409,600.The camera has been priced at Rs 4,19,950.

The other launch is the entry-level D3300, which will carry on the legacy of the popular D3100 and D3200. The D3300, along with the guide mode for first-time photographers, will have a 24.2MP DX-format CMOS sensor, Full HD video recording as 60fps and EXPEED 4 image processing engine. The camera will sell for Rs D3300 for body alone and with the AF-S 18-55mm VRII at Rs 37,950.

By:indianexpress.com

The Toyota i-Road may not be gender-specific, but it certainly takes Sheryl Sandberg’s advice to "lean in."

That’s because this three-wheeled electric vehicle takes a cue from motorcycles by leaning its operator into turns. Don’t quite understand? Then watch the video above.


 In a recent press release, Toyota announced about 20 people will participate in testing 10 of the closed-roof vehicles through the streets of Tokyo. Testing began on March 24 and concludes in early June.

Powered by two electric motors and able to reach a top speed of about 37 mph, the narrow i-Road is Toyota’s answer to the urban runabout. With the comforts of a car, and the conveniently compact dimensions of a motorcycle, the little Toyota will soon find its way to Grenoble, France, as part of a car-sharing service, according to AutoblogGreen.


While the i-Road may seem too small for American tastes, in 2013 Autoweek overheard Jack Hollis, vice president of marketing at Toyota Motor Sales USA, say “We need to bring something like [the i-Road] into the U.S."

By:www.huffingtonpost.com

It's not often that you read the words "fun" and "glitch" in the same sentence, but a newly discovered glitch in the recently updated software for iPhones and iPads is actually pretty fun.

Apple's phones or tablets come with certain built-in apps, including rarely used programs like Stocks and Newsstand. Until now, you couldn't keep them from taking up valuable screen space on your devices, whether or not you've ever opened them. But now, an Apple expert on the iDeviceHelpus YouTube page found a glitch in iOS 7.1 that lets you hide those useless apps. Goodbye, clutter!

We tested it out, and it works. You need to download the latest version of iOS 7.1 to begin. Here's how you do it.

First, find the apps you'd like to hide and put them all into one folder by dragging them on top of one another. Then, make sure the dock at the bottom of your iPhone or iPad is completely full with icons. Also, make sure there are no other folders on the home screen and that it, too, is full of icons. Then press down on an app icon to turn on "wobble mode," wherein all the icons wiggle around.

Here comes the tricky part: making a folder within a folder. Create the first folder by dragging any two app icons on top of each other. Then quickly drag the folder of unwanted apps into that folder. It may take a few tries.












Then you'll have a folder within a folder. Remove the rest of the apps from the larger folder, so that the only thing in the larger folder is the smaller folder of useless apps. When you go back to the home screen the folder will look empty.

Now make sure your home screen is full and has no other folders except for the empty-looking one you just made. Go into the folder again and pull the smaller folder out to the home screen. It should disappear.











 Now all of those pesky apps are nowhere to be found. Watch the whole video if you need an explanation.


Unfortunately, although the apps are no longer taking up space on your screen, they're still taking up space in your device. When you look at your data usage, you'll see that the apps you've hidden are still using data. Also, if you turn your iPhone or iPad off, the apps you sent away will return when you turn it back on.

In all likelihood, Apple will nix this awesome glitch with its next iOS update. Mobile software makers like to make it impossible to delete preinstalled "bloatware" apps, the idea being that you'll want to use them eventually.

But until then, enjoy the clutter-free screen.

By:www.huffingtonpost.com

BlackBerry CEO John Chen has had his hands full with trying to redirect the misguided Canadian handset maker since taking over for Throsten Heins late last year. Now he’s going on the offensive with regard to product leakers.

In a blog post on the matter, Chen said one of the most frustrating things for everyone is when a critical and confidential project is reported in the media before they are ready to discuss it. Under a best-case scenario, leaks are distracting but on the opposite end, they are downright misleading to stakeholders. While interesting for fans and media, the business implications of a leak are seldom advantageous, Chen noted.

As such, the company is pursuing legal action against a party that recently stole confidential information about a future BlackBerry product and made said information public. Chen said the person in question falsely posed as an employee of one of their carrier partners in order to access a secured network.

Chen didn’t specifically mention which leak he was referring to although a recently leaked build of BlackBerry 10.3 may very well be the target. As pointed out by Engadget, this build not only revealed the existence of an Intelligent Assistant app that could rival Siri and Google Now but it also let the general public in on codenames for yet-to-be-released devices.

Of course, leaks are par for the course with regard to big name technology companies. HTC’s new One M8 hit the web well in advance of its official debut, much to the displeasure of the handset maker.

By:www.techspot.com

Flagship Android phone sells for $700 unlocked in Canada

 HTC is updating its flagship HTC One smartphone by giving it a larger screen, better software and a camera that's easier to use.

The new phone will have a screen measuring 5 inches diagonally, up from 4.7 inches in last year's model. It will help software improvements designed to anticipate your needs, such as offering lunch recommendations when it's time for lunch. That will come through HTC's hub for personalized content, known as BlinkFeed. BlinkFeed itself will be more colorful and will continue to present news, social media updates and other items of interest.

• Compare the HTC One M8 to other smartphones

HTC continues its philosophy of steering people away from the megapixel count in cameras, saying that more isn't necessarily better. Like the original model, the new HTC One has a 4 megapixel rear camera, which is low for high-end smartphones. Instead, HTC focuses on making the individual pixel sensors larger, so that they can capture more light and offer better shots in low-light settings. The front camera, for selfies, is improved, though — at 5 megapixels, compared with 2.1 megapixels before.

The new phone also makes it easier to use the camera's Zoe assistant, which takes several shots over a few seconds and lets you pick the best ones. It also lets you save frequently used combinations of manual settings, so that you don't miss the shot trying to set it each time.

In Canada, early Tuesday afternoon, Telus was offering the phone for $229 on a two-year contract for a Telus SharePlus plan or $700 with no contract. Both offers included an accessory package that Telus says is worth $120, with a battery bank, case and HTC Fetch phone-finding device for your keychain.

HTC said it would also be available from Rogers and Bell before it hit store shelves.

In the U.S., online orders started Tuesday, while retail stores will get them on April 10. It will cost about $200 to $250 US with a two-year service contract, or about $650 US without a contract.

The original HTC One received good reviews and was named the best smartphone of 2013 at the wireless industry's premier trade show in Barcelona, Spain, last month. But HTC has failed to translate that glowing praise into sales. According to Gartner, HTC had less than five per cent of the worldwide smartphone market in 2013.

To break through, HTC plans to emphasize the One's all-metal design. Samsung's phones typically have a plastic back panel, while Apple's iPhones use glass. HTC's design chief, Scott Croyle, said about 90 per cent of the One's back and sides will be made of metal, but the phone's manufactured in a way that makes it tough to tell where the metal ends and where the composite strips begin. Croyle calls it "zero-gap construction."

Executives acknowledge that the company made several operational mistakes in releasing last year's phone, including the fact that customers of the leading U.S. wireless carrier, Verizon Wireless, weren't able to buy it until months after its launch. This time, the phone will be available right away through all the major U.S. carriers.

Aggressive marketing planned

HTC also plans aggressive marketing, including the heavy use of cable and broadcast television ads. The goal is to reach tech-savvy consumers and trend-setters who are likely to recommend the phone to friends. The company didn't specify how much it plans to spend, but executives said it won't try to match Samsung dollar for dollar.

Samsung Electronics Co. currently dominates the global smartphone market. Last year, the Korean company had a 31 per cent market share compared with Apple Inc.'s 16 per cent. Samsung, in particular, is notorious for its heavy marketing. The company spent nearly 4.6 trillion won ($4.6 billion) in advertising in the 12 months through September, about four times the $1.1 billion Apple spent in the same period, the latest for which figures were available. Although Samsung also makes TVs, refrigerators and other products, analysts believe much of the marketing is for newer products such as phones.

By:www.cbc.ca