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Gorilla Glass Ceramic launching on Motorola device soon, but it’s not as strong as Armor
Corning has just announced its new “Gorilla Glass Ceramic,” a stronger form of glass for smartphones, but seemingly not the company’s strongest.
Expand Expanding CloseMotorola will use Corning Gorilla Glass in all of its smartphones starting this year
In a new deal announced this week at MWC, Motorola will begin using Corning Gorilla Glass across all of its smartphones going forward.
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Corning Gorilla Glass DX for smartphone cameras will debut on upcoming Samsung hardware
Corning is probably responsible for the glass on your current smartphone, but going into 2021, the company is looking to expand to another part of the device. Announced this week, Corning Gorilla Glass DX is coming to your smartphone’s camera lens.
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Corning unveils Gorilla Glass 6 w/ focus on surviving multiple drops & 2x improvement
Corning today unveiled Gorilla Glass 6, the latest in the company’s line of strengthened glass for many of today’s devices. The previous generation was announced two-years ago amid similar circumstances of an upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note launch.
Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 has drop protection up to 5.2 ft, likely headed to future Android phones
Corning, the company behind the popular Gorilla Glass brand, today announced the next iteration of its cover glass for mobile displays, a likely candidate for future Android devices. Corning says that Gorilla Glass 5 survives drops onto rough surfaces four times better than other solutions, noting that clarity of the display and touch sensitivity are not affected.
Roundup: Best cases already available for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
Samsung only announced the Galaxy S7 a few days ago, but already a number of case manufacturers have been keen to get our attention. It’s no exaggeration to say there are hundreds of case options already available for the latest S-series flagships…
WileyFox Swift mini-review: Probably the best budget Android smartphone in the UK [Video]
The budget smartphone tier is getting more interesting as every month goes by. What you can get for your money on a low budget these days is fantastic. And it gets better every time any company releases a new competitive low-end phone. While some might look to the likes of the Moto G, or Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3 as the ultimate in bang-for-buck device, there’s a new company from Britain in town which might have just released one of the most disruptive phones so far.
The Wileyfox Swift costs £129 in the UK (that’s £15-60 less than the UK Moto G), and offers an incredible all-round experience for the money…
Ex-Apple John Sculley unveils Obi Worldphones, two attractive and affordable Android devices
Obi Worldphones — a company co-founded by former Apple CEO John Sculley — has unveiled its first two affordable and aesthetically striking smartphones. Both phones are named after California cities: SF1 named after San Francisco and SJ1.5 named after San Jose and feature similar designs, although there are clear differences in specifications and performance.
New sensor technology could allow fingerprint unlock through your smartphone screen
Unlocking smartphones by fingerprint has been possible since the Motorola Atrix 2 back in 2011, with both Samsung and HTC embedding fingerprint sensors into some of their more recent models, but the process could get a whole lot slicker thanks to some new tech.
While current sensors need some space beneath the display, future smartphones could read your fingerprint through the screen. TNW reports that Sonovation has developed ultrasonic fingerprint sensors capable of 3D scanning from beneath the Gorilla Glass used on many high-end smartphones.
Though details on how it will work are sparse, Sonovation says its sensors are “capable of capturing fingerprint data into the ridges and valleys.” It also says 3D scanning can take place if a finger is wet, dirty or oily — all without compromising accuracy.
Google built fingerprint recognition into Android M, making it likely that we’ll see more Android devices launching with fingerprint sensors in future.
Image: PC Mag
BLU Life One goes on sale July 17th, pre-order now for $99 unlocked
BLU has a growing reputation for admirable devices that cost very little, and its latest handset looks to continue that trend. The BLU Life One goes on sale at the end of this week, on July 17th and is currently available to pre-order for just $99 unlocked and SIM-free.
Unlocked 1st gen Moto G LTE gets Android 5.1 update
Android 5.1 is available to download over-the-air on to the unlocked original Moto G LTE smartphone for the first time. Motorola started rolling out the update for the 1st gen Moto G over the past 24 hours or so. As with almost every modern Motorola device, the software is essentially stock Android.
Motorola states in the release notes that you can’t downgrade to a previous version after installing and that it contains a number of improvements and fixes. Along with some of the user interface changes in 5.1, the new software also includes a bunch of bug fixes including:
- Clock in the status bar is not updating and alarms not going off
- Unable to delete SMS messages when the SIM card is full
- No ringer audio while making an outgoing call
- Calculator floating point calculations
- Chrome crashes when launched
- Frequent restarts while watching Netflix
- Wi-Fi not automatically reconnecting to home Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi not connecting after being idle all night
- Wi-Fi connection issues with multiple routers in one location
- Bluetooth discovery is not triggered when you refresh settings
- CPU wakelocks that contribute to heavier battery drain
- Connection and synchronisation issues with MS Exchange servers
- Incorrect default APN
- Cannot unlock the SIM with a PIN/PUK code
- Cannot play ‘pinned’ content
If the update doesn’t show up for you right away, be sure to check your settings menu and search for updates manually. It appears that only unlocked Moto G LTE models in the U.S. are receiving the update right now. If you’re in another country, be sure to let us know when it lands for you.
Samsung posts drop-test video of Galaxy S6/edge (act surprised when they pass)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psyNKKKOKgY]
Samsung has posted a video of its new Galaxy S6 and S6 edge smartphones being put through drop-testing. It will come as no surprise, in a manufacturer promo video, to see that both handsets come through unscathed.
To be fair to the S6, though, it did fare well in a recent independent drop test when put up against Apple’s iPhone 6 (video below) …
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The MythBusters take on Corning’s Gorilla Glass to see how it stacks up against the regular stuff (video)
The displays on most smartphones these days, including many popular Android handsets, are made using Gorilla Glass from Corning, Inc., which is stronger and lighter than regular glass. Just how much stronger and lighter, exactly, is a question that was put to the test by MythBusters Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman as part of a promotional campaign by Corning.
The video (embedded below) puts two phones through quick drop and scratch tests before moving on to other applications for the glass, such as car windshields. A previous entry in the series covered the bendability of Gorilla Glass.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13B5K_lAabw&channel=CorningIncorporated]
Moto G LTE coming to AT&T for $180 on October 10th
Motorola debuted the Moto G LTE almost five months ago. Today, however, AT&T announced that it will begin selling the budget-friendly handset on Friday, October 10th for $180 outright. If you feel that over 200 bones after taxes is too much of an upfront cost, you can spread out your purchase by paying $7.50 or $9 a month through AT&T’s Next program, or buy the device for $80 with a one year service commitment.
OnePlus One hands-on and first impressions (Video)
The OnePlus One is one of the most talked about devices in 2014. This budget flagship smartphone is here to take out the competition with high-end specifications that are comparable with any other top of the line device. OnePlus unveiled the device earlier this year and since then it has grabbed the attention of many consumers.
The first wave of devices are finally shipping and today we’re taking a look at the 64GB Sandstone Black model to find out what all of the hype is about. Check out our hands-on and overview video below for more information and a closer look at the OnePlus One…
Samsung & LG planning to use sapphire-covered screens on premium smartphones – rumor
There’s been much speculation about Apple’s plans for its sapphire glass plant, with many suggesting it will use it as a replacement for the Gorilla Glass coatings used on current iPhones when it launches the iPhone 6.
Samsung and LG reportedly plan to follow suit, with Korean site ET News citing unspecified industry sources as saying that both companies have asked suppliers to provide samples of sapphire covers for its screens.
According to the industry on May 22, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics recently asked ingot and wafer makers to submit samples in an effort to adopt the sapphire cover glass […]
“As late as last year, cell phone makers tried very hard to lower the price of sapphire,” said a sapphire ingot industry insider. “But this year as the mood swung toward using good materials to get premium prices, related industries are responding to the market more actively.”
As rumors go, this one is pretty thin. Samsung is known to have explored the use of sapphire in the past, dismissing it as too expensive, and it is likely the decision remains under constant review. Inviting manufacturers to submit samples would therefore not be in any way surprising, and doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about either company’s plans.
But with Apple investing heavily in sapphire, it is likely that Samsung and LG don’t want to be left behind, so the rumor can at least be chalked up as ‘thin but credible.’
Motorola announces budget friendly Moto E, adds LTE version to Moto G lineup (Video)
Motorola has officially unveiled the Moto E. If you thought the Moto G was the company’s only budget smartphone, think again. The Moto E is redefining the industry with a launch price of only $129 in the US and £89 in the UK.
The Moto E may not be packed with the best specifications on the block, but it will certainly get the job done. Especially for the money. As far as specifications go, the Moto E has a 4.3-inch display covered by Gorilla Glass with a resolution of 960×540 (256ppi), 1.2Ghz dual-core Snapdragon processor, Adreno 302 GPU, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a 1,980mAh battery, and runs Android 4.4.2.
LTE Moto G variant appears on Amazon ahead of official announcement
Update: If you click the “ALL” option and scroll down, Amazon now lists the LTE model, in both black and white, as shipping June 30th and costing $219.99.
When we reviewed the $179 Moto G earlier this year, we praised nearly every aspect of it. For the price, there was absolutely nothing better than it on the market. The one thing we missed, however, was LTE capability. In order to keep the cost of the device down, Motorola limited it to HSPA+ speeds. Today, however, two new variants of the Moto G have shown up on Amazon. A Black “Universal LTE” model and a white “Universal LTE” model.”
In order to view these variants, you have to visit the standard Amazon product page for the Moto G, then click on the “7 new” link. You’ll then see a list of places to buy the device from, aside from Amazon. At the top of that page is a list of all the variants of the device. Notably, two LTE models are now listed. Clicking on them takes you a standard “We’re sorry” page from Amazon.
According to a separate report out of Engadget Mexico, Motorola is also planning a Ferrari branded Moto G that will likely be red with a yellow Ferrari logo. It will reportedly launch in the second half of 2014.
It could be that this is just a mistake on Amazon’s part and that no LTE models of the Moto G are planned. It could also be, however, that this is a sign of things to come and that Motorola is planning to launch an LTE-capable variant soon. The latter corroborates with recent rumors that Motorola is planning some sort of Moto G successor, to be launched very soon. Either way, we’re going to keep our eye on the Amazon page.
Samsung Galaxy S5 confirmed for April, new design, may have iris-scanner
Galaxy S5 design needs to be different to the S4, says Samsung
Samsung didn’t reveal much that was new in a fairly wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, but exec VP of the company’s mobile division Lee Young Hee did tease a couple of things while confirming that the Galaxy S5 would be released by April.
The company is “studying the possibility” of including the iris-recognition security system we told you about last month. If Samsung succeeds, it would be a neat piece of one-upmanship on the Touch ID fingerprint scanner in Apple’s iPhone 5S, iris-recognition being both faster and more secure than fingerprints.
The company also said that it recognized that the design of the S4 wasn’t sufficiently different from the S3, and that we can expect something significantly different from the S5 …
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Pebble Steel smartwatch leaks: metal & Gorilla Glass version on the way
Left: Pebble Steel. right: original plastic Pebble
If you like the functionality of the Pebble smartwatch but are less keen on the plastic finish, it looks like you won’t have long to wait for a metal version. We’ve seen a couple of leaks of the Pebble Steel, seemingly the exact same innards as the existing Pebble watch but with a stainless steel casing and Gorilla Glass.
There are said to be two versions, one in brushed stainless steel (shown alongside the original plastic version above) and a matte black one (shown below the fold) …
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Samsung patent shows what to expect from wraparound screen phone
Image: theverge.com
A patent application spotted by The Verge gives some clues to what Samsung has in mind for the user interface for the wraparound screen Bloomberg reported last week.
There are a few boring ones, like slide-to-unlock and a battery meter at the side, but also some rather interesting ones, like ebook chapter bookmarks.
More below the fold …
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Samsung promises folding displays by 2015, teases phone that becomes a tablet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3x-bAWZWPM
The video may be slightly cringeworthy (hot girls are always turned on by geek tech, right?), but the concept is certainly an exciting one: a foldable display which allows a pocketable smartphone to unfold or unroll into a tablet …
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Deal with Gorilla Glass maker Corning could give Samsung head-start in new display technology
Samsung could see itself getting priority access to new glass technologies after taking a 7.4 percent stake in Gorilla Glass maker Corning and simultaneously signing a 10-year supply agreement.
The net effect of a complex series of share swaps and cash investments, allied to a long-term procurement commitment from Samsung, is a $2B deal that will enable Corning to boost its R&D investment, accelerating the pace of development of new types of display.
With closer cooperation between the two companies, Samsung may prove well positioned to gain access to those new technologies ahead of the rest of the market …
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Corning announces slim, flexible ‘Willow Glass’ [Video]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uXQEpVRtGtw]
Corning Inc., the manufacturer behind Gorilla Glass, Gorilla Glass 2, and other display products, just announced a new ultra-slim, flexible glass called “Willow Glass“.
The Corning, N.Y.-based Company introduced its technology at the Society for Information Display’s Display Week tradeshow in Boston this morning. The main highlight is its ability to “wrap” around a device or structure. Willow Glass is specifically formulated to couple with touch sensors, and Corning is exploring further use in “lighting and flexible solar cells.” The company’s fusion process helps to make the product just 100 microns thick, which is akin to a sheet of printer paper. Willow Glass samples are shipping to customers now, but The Verge expects full production to begin later this year.
In related news, Corning confirmed late last week that Samsung’s new Galaxy S III sports Gorilla Glass 2 (via Sammy Hub):
We are pleased to offer our customers the thin elegance and refined style of the GALAXY S III using Corning Gorilla Glass 2. New Corning Gorilla Glass 2 is an ideal solution for Samsung’s high-quality smartphones, enabling a superior touch experience and a lightweight and slim design, with the damage and scratch resistance consumers have come to expect.
The full press release is below.
This articles is cross-posted on 9to5Mac.