Samsung warns its profits will drop 60% as smartphone demand slumps

Posted by & filed under smartphones.

Samsung is feeling the chill from cooling global demand for smartphones.The South Korean technology giant said Friday that it expects operating profit for the first quarter to plunge by 60% compared to the same period year ago.Samsung (SSNLF) warned last week that its earnings would be hit by slowing demand for memory chips and display panels, a sign that… Read more »

Google showcases the best Android apps for its first-ever Google Play Awards

Posted by & filed under Android, app, e-payment, Google, Google Play Store, online business, online gaming, smartphones, Social Media, Software.

Description: The final winners will be announced live on May 19th at 7 PM PT at Google I/O and will be live streamed. Source: Tech Crunch Date: April 22, 2016 Apple has historically doled out annual awards to those third-party app developers that it believes have created the best apps and games over the past 12… Read more »

Canadians Craving Smarter Homes as Trend Gathers Momentum

Posted by & filed under app, Artificial intelligence, Green Tech, Hardware, innovation, Security, Smart Home, smartphones, Software.

Description: Connected smart home devices are well on their way to becoming as prevalent as smartphones and tablets. Source: Tech Crunch Date: April 21, 2016 A new study conducted by MARU/VCR&C, and commissioned by Telus, found a significant gap between those that believe that smart home technology will benefit their lives (61 per cent) and those… Read more »

The world’s cheapest smartphone is cheaper than expected, launches in India for $4

Posted by & filed under Android, business models, India, market intelligence, smartphones.

Description: Foursquare just announced a partnership with Delivery.com to enable Foursquare users to order food, alcohol and groceries for delivery right from the Foursquare app. Source: Mashable Date: February 17, 2016 A little-known Indian company is launching the cheapest smartphone in the world today. The Freedom 251, manufactured by Ringing Bells, is priced at just Rs… Read more »

Booking an Uber in India might land you a free Valentine’s Day weekend getaway

Posted by & filed under Advertisement, app, e-payment, marketing, smart phones, smartphones.

Description: Uber India is giving lovebirds a chance take a free, last-minute Valentine’s Day weekend getaway with a first-of-its-kind on-demand service on Friday, Feb. 12. Source: Mashable Date: January 28, 2016 In the past, Uber has offered everything from red roses to skywriting love messages to matchmaking services to its riders across the world on Valentine’s… Read more »

Apple Reportedly Considering Person-to-Person Payments

Posted by & filed under Apple, business models, e-payment, Ecommerce, smartphones.

Description: The company is looking to expand Apple Pay into a new domain of financial transactions: direct payments between individuals. Source: CNET Date: November 12, 2015 Apple is reportedly talking to US banks about introducing a payment system that would let people transfer money directly to each other via nearby smartphones. Read More Questions for discussion: 1…. Read more »

Budweiser Goal Lab Introduces Smartest Beer Fridge Around

Posted by & filed under Advertisement, app, Hardware, market intelligence, marketing, smartphones.

Description: BUD-e Fridge: the greatest, smartest, and coldest beer fridge Source: TechVibes Date: November 5, 2015 Budweiser Goal Lab’s latest hockey innovation, the BUD-e Fridge, makes game time with your buds even better. Read More Questions for discussion: 1. Would the smartphone notifications really be of much use or do you feel like they would just add to… Read more »

Here Are The Requirements a Symbol Must Meet Before it Becomes an Official Emoji

Posted by & filed under app, Collaborative filtering, emojis, industry analysis, media, smartphones, telecomunications.

Description: A lot of work goes into deciding new emojis. Source: Tech Insider Date: October 25, 2015 What makes an emoji? Those symbols on your phone aren’t just random. They’re actually designed by a consortium of people in the tech industry so there’s a standard any device can read. Read More Questions for discussion: 1. Do you tend to use… Read more »

This App Is Building a Giant Network for Free Messaging

Posted by & filed under app, bandwidth, industry analysis, national culture, smartphones, social impacts, telecomunications, texting, WI-Fi, wireless networks.

Description: Manila is using the FireChat app to build a city-wide mesh network. Source: Wired Date: October 12, 2015 Last fall hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong and encountered a serious logistical issue: Their phones weren’t working. The sheer number of people concentrated in the area crushed the network,… Read more »