Android One Phones
Source: Google

On September 15, 2014, Google launched a $105 smartphone, the first device from its “Android One�?initiative.  This low-end smartphone (carrier subsidies will drive that price down into the $60s) is currently available in India with plans to roll out to other developing countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and South Asia in the coming months.

Yes, you read that right.  The U.S. is not on that list.

Following Apple’s recent product launch and sales of the new iPhone 6, the Android One marks a very different strategy in the global smartphone game.  Unlike developed countries where over 50% of the population owns a smartphone (over 75% in America), less than a quarter of the population in developing countries have one.  Currently, the iPhone 6 starts at $649 (without contract) and can cost as much as $949.  While purchasing an iPhone 6 may be possible for many Americans (albeit a very expensive investment), it is an impossible purchase for most in India where the average household income is ~US$7,700.

Apple will have a difficult time penetrating these emerging markets given the iPhone 6’s steep prices.  Google, on the other hand, saw a business opportunity and designed the Android One for those who don’t already own a smartphone, and priced it accordingly.

How is this tech giant able to offer such an affordable smartphone?  While Apple sources from global vendors, Google partnered with three Indian device makers – Micromax, Karbonn, and Spice – and the largest mobile carrier and wireless provider in India – Bharti Airtel.  By working with local chipmakers and phone manufacturers, Google is able to control costs for the Android One.  Google is likely to partner with other manufacturers, like Alcatel, Lenovo, and Panasonic to bring the same local-sourcing deal to other emerging markets.

Inside an Android One Phone
Source: Google

To sweeten the deal even further, carrier Bharti Airtel and Google are offering users free software updates for the first six months, and up to 200MB of free data for app downloads per month.

“Access for access’s sake is not enough. With Android One, we not only want to help people get online, we want to make sure that when they get there, they can tap into the wealth of information and knowledge the web holds for everyone,�?writes Sundar Pichair, Google’s senior vice-president of Android, Chrome, and apps, in a blog post.

Google has a number of projects aimed at making wireless connectivity possible to greater parts of the world at very low costs, especially rural and remote areas (e.g. Google Loon and Google Fiber),  to make access to the information highway easier than ever.  Considering how Google’s business is heavily dependent on the number of users using its search engine and suite of software, increasing the number of people who can access the internet with Google’s technology makes perfect sense.

The Future Is Now

Science-fiction things of the past are actual pieces of technology today. At Logic Solutions, we aim to harness these new futuristic gadgets and use them to help you grow your business. Let us create the mobile apps, websites, or healthcare solutions you need to stay on top of the times.

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Jennifer Pan is a marketing coordinator and The New Recruit at Logic Solutions. If you want to get her attention, try talking to her about d20s, (board) games, sci-fi and geeky references, or cute animal videos…or all of them at once. Just don’t bring up her uncanny ability to roll natural 1s.

The post Google Unveils The $105 Android One Smartphone appeared first on 雷技信息科技（上海）有限公司.

If you missed the live streaming, don’t worry! Here is a rundown and highlights of the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple Pay, and Apple Watch.

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Source: Apple

There are two two iPhone models – the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.  Both have a larger screen size (iPhone 6 has a 4.7″ display, iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5″ display) than the iPhone 5S (4″) and are slimmer too.  The iPhone 5S was 7.6mm thick, whereas the iPhone 6 is merely 6.9mm and the iPhone 6 Plus is just a smidge more at 7.1mm.  Both feature HD resolution, with the iPhone 6 having a resolution of 1334 x 750 px and the iPhone 6 Plus with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 px.  Aside from these size differences, these smartphones are essentially the same.

Both iPhones have longer battery lives than their predecessors, a more efficient A8 processor that offers greater CPU and GPU processing speeds, and an 8-megapixel camera with speedier autofocus and image stabilization.  Additionally, the new motion coprocessor, in addition to aiding in image stabilization, aids fitness apps by gathering information from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass.  Plus, the iPhone 6 and iPhone6 Plus’ new barometer detector can sense elevation changes, including when you’re traversing up and down stairs.

The iPhone 6 goes on sale Friday, September 19th starting at $200 (with a two-year contract).  The iPhone 6 Plus starts at $100 more.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay
Source: WIRED

Apple Pay joins Google Wallet, PayPal, and other mobile payment systems as alternatives to carrying around wallets stuffed thick with credit cards, loyalty cards, coupons, and more.   Paying for your purchases will be as easy as holding your iPhone (or even Apple Watch) up to a reader.  It isn’t just a way to pay for stuff at stores like Target, Walgreens, and Macy’s.  Apple Pay can also be used to pay for online services, such as Uber, or in online transactions like Amazon.

Apple Pay aims to solve consumers’ worry about physical and electronic credit card theft by offering this app (already built in to the new iPhones) with security features such as NFC, Touch ID, and a secure chip Apple calls the Secure Element.  You add a card by taking a photo of it and, after getting verification from your bank, you’re ready to go.  During a transaction, a unique device number, rather than the actual credit card information (number, name, etc), is given to the merchant along with a dynamic security code.

For those concerned that the tech giant will be collecting your data, Apple reassures customers that the company won’t collect any information from your transaction – not your credit card information, what you purchased, where you purchased it, or how much you paid for it.  Additionally, if you lose your phone, you can deactivate all payments and payment information remotely without needing to cancel your actual credit card.

Apple Pay will launch in the U.S. in October.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch
Source: Apple

Apple has officially joined the wearables industry.  What makes this smartwatch different from other smartwatches in the industry is its UI – Apple was clear to state that the Watch is not an iPhone interface on a smaller screen.  Instead, users will use the watch’s “digital crown” to scroll, zoom, return to the Home screen, and navigate the watch. When turning the digital crown, the watch translates the movement into digital data.  This is accompanied by onscreen taps and swipes.

Customizable features include three different Watch editions ( Apple Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition ), interchangeable strap designs (from leather to stainless steel to mesh chain loops), two different watch face sizes, and a customizable clock display.

Additionally, the Apple Watch has four sapphire lenses on the back of the device which hold LEDs and photo sensors for detecting heart rate.  This pairs with the Watch’s health and fitness-tracking apps to record your daily activity levels and aids you in taking steps to achieve a healthier lifestyle.  For example, its “Stand” display reminds you to stand for at least a minute every hour for 12 hours.  Every accomplishment you achieve fills a “progress bar” a little more, ultimately motivating the wearer to fill up their daily exercise progress bars.  It does need to be paired with an iPhone to track your distance traveled via GPS or wifi though.

Other apps on the Apple Watch include maps, third-party apps, a drawing tool, a simple messaging system, Apple Pay, and more.

The Apple Watch is expected to go on sale in early 2015, starting at $350.

No matter what your opinions are of these new products, it is clear that the tech giant is, once again, changing the way consumers will interact with their devices, the way competing companies will market their new products, and the how mobile developers will utilize the new functions and toys these new platforms provide.  Developers will now have a completely new device – the smartwatch – and products to write apps for, and it will be interesting to see what kinds of apps will take advantage of Apple Watch’s health and fitness features.

Does your awesome business want an awesome app?

Logic Solutions can create one just for you!
From the coding to the design to assistance with the distribution to enhancements and maintenance, the awesome people at Logic will help you with your mobile game plan.

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Create your mobile app today!

Jennifer Pan is a marketing coordinator and The New Recruit at Logic Solutions. If you want to get her attention, try talking to her about d20s, (board) games, sci-fi and geeky references, or cute animal videos…or all of them at once. Just don’t bring up her uncanny ability to roll natural 1s.

The post Apple’s New Gadgets: iPhone 6, Apple Pay, Apple Watch appeared first on 雷技信息科技（上海）有限公司.

Details behind the reason of this increased security measure are vague.

Phones made by Apple and Samsung (that means the iPhone and the Galaxy, two of the most popular phones on the planet) will be singled out, according to Reuters.

France, Germany and the United Kingdom have all agreed to participate in this security measure as of July 6.

Now for some positive news: Air New Zealand is now allowing mobile devices to remain on during the entirety of most flights.

Does your awesome business want an awesome app?

Logic Solutions can create one just for you!
From the coding to the design to assistance with the distribution to enhancements and maintenance, the awesome people at Logic will help you with your mobile game plan.

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Create your mobile app today!

Pierce Courchaine is a marketing coordinator at Logic Solutions. When he’s not in the office, he’s rumbling around the country in a 1996 Honda Civic he lovingly named Martha. Martha’s air conditioning doesn’t work anymore, her power locks failed, her back left window doesn’t open and her 106 horsepower has made for some heart-pounding races against Vespas. For some reason, he’s the only one who can see what’s special about her.

The post TSA Wants You to Power Up Your Mobile Device appeared first on 雷技信息科技（上海）有限公司.

Image credit: Amazon.com

Amazon just launched its first smartphone, Amazon Fire Phone.  I am assuming that if you’re here on the internet, you’ve heard about it. One of its lauded innovations is “Dynamic Perspective�? a custom-designed sensor system that uses four tiny cameras on the face of the phone to detect your human face (and also how you hold and move the device) and react accordingly. For example, you can launch a navigation menu by physically tilting the phone, something that previously required tapping a button.

The Fire Phone also has Mayday, a free live tech support feature. With Mayday you can access a live Amazon expert via video at ANY time (Amazon aims to respond in 15 seconds or less). He or she will even be able to remotely “draw�?on your device screen to help you through an issue.

There are many more new features like Firefly, total Prime integration, and FireOS that are all covered on Amazon’s product listing �?and on innumerable posts elsewhere. Since I haven’t held one myself, I won’t pretend to have any unique insights about the device, but I can point you to some interesting opinions of others around the interwebs:

 “It’s really great, but people will quickly tire of the bells and whistles�?/b>

Wired offers a thoughtful piece on why Amazon’s new innovative usability might be “too magical for its own good.�?Beyond the review of Fire Phone, I really appreciated this bit of wisdom: “The biggest challenge of modern UI design is knowing when to stop. We have the ability to make every single moment sparkle and dance, so the new task is learning to restrain ourselves, and it’s hard. Most of a good user experience is forgotten, because well-designed often means forgettable…�?/p>

“You thought you were worried about ‘big brother�?before…�?/b>

Joshua Kopstein’s title �?a title="Amazon's Fire Phone is Not Your Friend" href="//america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/6/amazon-new-fire-phoneshoppingconsumerprivacy.html" target="_blank">Amazon’s new phone is not your friend�?(Al Jazeera America) is pretty clear. Kopstein addresses concerns about the company’s overreach in merchandising and double-charging, and the potential for unprecedented spying.

 “Like Apple before it, Amazon is pretty smart for AT&T exclusivity�?/b>

ZDNet’s James Kendrick discusses the upside of sticking to one carrier at launch, especially concerning update control.

“BE OFFENDED.�?/b>

Ok, I just made PC Mag’s Seamus Condron sound like a troll, but in all fairness, his post’s subheadline is “Would you pay $650 for a glorified price scanner? Neither would I.�?He pulls no punches. A friend recently said to me, “People just LOVE to be offended,�?so if that’s your thing, read this.

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Angela Kujava is the Director of Innovation and Chief Smoothie Officer at Logic Solutions. She is an ardent supporter the Oxford comma, and will challenge you to a duel if you believe the contrary. Should you find yourself about to duel Angela, it is valuable to know that her kryptonite is Doritos. She cannot avoid their salty, orange siren song.

The post Amazon Launches the Fire Phone; Opinions Exist appeared first on 雷技信息科技（上海）有限公司.

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