MobileVillage (MV) & Appcelerator (APP) bring you a quick read of the week’s biggest mobile apps news & mobile tech news. In this mobile news roundup: Microsoft layout & remote tech support apps, Google I/O summary, Pixel smartwatch this fall, Apple clean aluminum & recycling robot, iOS 11.4 USB security, unicode bug fix, Twitter secret messages, new Ideapad budget laptops, Windows Your Phone, Microsoft Store developer payments increase, GrandPad tablet for seniors, Intel True VR, Seurat VR tool, China smartphone market crash, China semiconductor fund & more.
New Hololens apps for workspace design, remote tech support
At its Build developer conference this week, Microsoft demoed two new professional apps for HoloLens, which is Microsoft’s AR/VR headset. With the Microsoft Layout app (at right) on your headset or PC, you can measure spaces and arrange furniture or equipment, then via the headset, you can view your layout in the actual space. The Remote Assist app (top of page) can be used as a remote tech support app. It gives the remote tech support rep the same view of what you’re seeing, and they can draw AR arrows or circles to mark real-life objects.
Engadget tried out the apps and was able to quickly and remotely design a factory space, and repair mechanical or electrical issues. You can preview Layout and Remote Assist for free for a limited time starting May 22. See more details and videos on Microsoft’s blog post. — MV
Google I/O summary: Smarter Assistant, Android P & more
A smarter Google Assistant. Android P beta features. Chrome OS Linux apps and augmented reality (AR). New Google Lens features. VR Tour Creator. Shared AR experiences. Camera assisted navigation. A new Google Maps app that aims to be your one-stop planner. Plus: a smarter Google News app, Android Auto and Android TV improvements, and better Wear OS watches coming. All that and more was revealed at this week’s Google’s I/O conference in Mountain View, California. For details, see our quick-read Google I/O news wrap-up. — MV
Leak: Pixel smartwatch series coming this fall
If you like Google’s Pixel phones, you might be excited to know that a Pixel smartwatch is coming this fall. That’s according to longtime, trusted leaker Evan Blass, who in his Tweet cited “a reliable source” as saying that Google will unveil the Pixel smartwatch at its fall hardware event, which is usually in early October.
The Pixel smartwatch would run on Google’s Watch OS, which is compatible with both Android and iOS phones, though as it should also have LTE, you won’t need it connected to your phone to make calls. The Pixel smartwatch will also likely have WiFi, GPS, a heart-rate sensor, and Qualcomm’s upcoming smartphone processor, which promises much longer battery life than the average two days for most current Watch OS models.
The insider source told Blass that besides the Pixel smartwatch and the expected Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones, Google will also announce updated Pixel Buds earbuds. The current Pixel Buds have been praised for their battery life, but criticized for unreliable touch controls, no ambient noise blocking, and not always working well with Google Assistant. Not surprisingly, Google will not comment on the Pixel smartwatch leak.— MV
Apple invests in clean aluminum, recycling robot
Apple, along with the Canadian government and aluminum companies Alcoa and Rio Tinto are investing a total of US $144 million in clean aluminum technology. Alcoa and Rio Tinto created a joint venture called Elysis, which is developing a way of making clean aluminum without adding to the direct greenhouse gas emissions typical in current aluminum oxide smelting technology. Apple says it hopes to see the clean aluminum ready for sale by 2024.
Last month, Apple announced that all of its facilities are now powered with 100 percent clean energy and 23 of its suppliers have committed to do the same. Apple also debuted Daisy, a recycling robot (pictured) that can disassemble iPhones to recover parts for future recycling. Apple wants to eventually make all of its products from recycled or renewable materials. — MV
Upcoming iOS 11.4 security feature discovered
Researchers looking into the forthcoming iOS 11.4 update have discovered a new iOS 11.4 security feature that disables data transmission via USB if the device hasn’t been unlocked for seven days. The toggleable option prohibits data transfer over USB (the device will still charge) when the phone is left locked for a week. USB data sharing will still work automatically once the iPhone is unlocked normally. The move could thwart law enforcement’s ability to exploit that USB connection to get information out of the device without a user’s consent. — APP
How to fix the new black dot unicode bug
Another unicode bug capable of crashing apps and operating systems is now gaining notoriety in the development community. Nicknamed the “black dot” unicode bug, the new string discovered last week consists of the black dot and pointing left emoji (as well as other hidden characters we won’t name here), and can affect everything from Whatsapp on Android to iMessage on iOS. When it comes to iMessage, the unicode bug can usually be resolved by simply deleting the conversation where the string text appears. If needed, you can find more information over on MacRumors. — APP
Twitter secret messages coming soon?
Twitter is now testing end-to-end encrypted, secret messages in its Android app. According to new reports, the Twitter secret messages will be called secret conversations, and allow you to send messages that can only be read by your recipient. Because the Twitter secret messages will have end-to-end encryption, not even Twitter would be able to read them.
In response to a tweet of a report on the new feature, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey replied with a whisper emoji—though when contacted by Mashable, Twitter declined to comment. — MV
Waze alternate ways craze raises ire of cities
Many people daily use Waze and other driving apps to try to avoid highway traffic and take side roads or city streets, but the resulting local traffic has apparently caused inconvenience and accidents for local residents. Even Los Angeles residents, who are used to heavy traffic, are complaining about an increasing number of drivers on their roads. One LA city council member has tried to get Waze to address such complaints, and he’s thinking about a lawsuit. For the full story on how such apps are affecting LA and other cities, head over to CNBC. — MV
Lenovo offers new Ideapad budget laptops
Lenovo has announced new Ideapad budget laptops with Windows 10: the Ideapad 330, the 330s and the 530s. The Ideapad 330 starts at US $250, comes in 15-inch and 17-inch sizes, and can be customized as you like with even a touchscreen and Core i7 processor. The 330s ($500+) and 530s ($800+) are slimmer, more portable models in your choice of 14 and 15-inch sizes. Engadget found the basic Ideapad 330 to be cheap looking but still durable, and especially liked the feel of the chiclet keyboard keys on all three Ideapad budget laptops. — MV
“Your Phone” shows your phone files, notifications on PC
Microsoft says that Windows is soon getting a function called “Your Phone,” which will let you see your Android or iPhone notifications and files on your Windows laptop or desktop. Microsoft’s Your Phone will work best with Android phones, but if you have an iPhone or iPad and Microsoft’s Edge browser installed on both that device and your PC, then you’ll be able to use Your Phone for shared browsing data. Your Phone follows Microsoft Launcher, a feature Microsoft announced last fall that gives Android users a “Continue to PC” option similar to Handoff in iOS. — MV
Intel True VR improvements
At its Global Summit this week in Palm Springs, Intel announced updates to its True VR system, which is used by the MLB, the NBA, the Olympics, and several other sports leagues. The newest Intel True VR system only needs half the number of camera pods, or a semi circle of six sets of six cameras. Each camera captures 13-megapixel images at 60 frames-per-second, and the videos are stitched together on the camera pod itself. The end result is a VR experience of standing in the location of the camera. Last season, five NFL games featured VR highlights, giving fans the feeling of standing on the sidelines during the action. You can view Intel True VR content through the Intel True VR app on Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream headsets. — MV
Google Seurat VR tool available to devs
Last year at I/O, Google released Seurat, a scene simplification VR tool to help VR creators bring high-fidelity graphics to standalone VR headsets with full positional tracking, like the Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream. Now, Google is open sourcing Seurat for developers, so you can use Seurat to bring visually high-def scenes to your own VR apps and have the flexibility to customize the tool for your own workflows. You can learn how Seurat works here, and see how it was used to make the new Blade Runner: Revelations VR app for Lenovo Mirage Solo. — MV
Microsoft Store developer payments increase coming
If you’re a developer with apps on the Microsoft Store, you’ll get a bigger cut of your sales starting later this year. Microsoft says it will raise Microsoft developer payments for all consumer non-gaming apps from the current 70 percent rate to 85-95 percent, depending on how customers find the content. Gaming apps won’t see the Microsoft Store developer payments increase, according to Microsoft’s blog post. The Microsoft Store developer payments rate is already far higher than the standard 30 percent paid by other app stores like Steam, Viveport, Oculus Store, Google Play Store and Apple App Store. — MV
Consumer Cellular offers tablet for seniors
Consumer Cellular, a US carrier that specializes in selling mobile phones to senior citizens, is now offering smart home monitors and a tablet for seniors. The carrier is now the exclusive US seller of the GrandPad, a tablet for seniors that has big touchscreen buttons for the Internet, email and calls, as well as a custom Lyft app with big buttons for “home” or “church” or other preset addresses. The GrandPad’s email app only allows mail from approved senders.
Later this year, Consumer Cellular also plans to offer a network of home wireless hub with motion sensors that will let caregivers remotely monitor loved ones. Thanks in part to the aging population, Consumer Cellular has been been posting sales growth of 20 percent to 30 percent, and hopes to reach $1 billion in revenue this year. — MV
China smartphone sales crash: Biggest decline ever
China smartphone sales suffered their biggest ever decline in Q1 2018. China smartphone sales dropped more than 21 percent since a year ago to 91 million phones—the lowest overall in four years. Eight of the top ten smartphone vendors in China were hit by annual declines, with Gionee, Meizu and Samsung shrinking to less than half of their shipments of a year ago. China’s own Huawei (including Honor) managed to grow shipments by a modest two percent to 21 million phones, keeping its lead with about 24 percent of China’s smartphone market.
Only Xiaomi bucked the trend, increasing shipments by 37 percent to 12 million phones, and overtaking Apple for fourth place. For more on the China smartphone sales crash, see the full story here. — MV
China semiconductor fund aims to compete with US
China’s state-backed semiconductor fund is closing a massive investment round to help cut reliance on imported chips amid a trade standoff with the United States, reports Reuters. After a $22 billion first round of funding, this second round of the China semiconductor fund is close to closing 120 billion yuan (US $18.98 billion), and is open to foreign investors.
China has been targeted by US politicians concerned that Chinese companies like phone maker ZTE could challenge chip giants in the United States like Qualcomm. But after learning that ZTE relies heavily on Qualcomm chips and other components from US suppliers, President Trump has now agreed to support the company. ZTE and many other Chinese tech manufacturers are heavily reliant on imported chips. — MV
Nvidia Q1 revenue soars
Nvidia blew pats expectations for its first quarter earnings, propelled by growth in its gaming GPU chips and its data center businesses. It also says it got nearly $300 million from chips sold to those mining cryptocurrency, an amount it expects to drop substantially this quarter. Nvidia Q1 revenue jumped 66% to $3.21 billion, and adjusted earnings per share surged 141% to $2.05. Wall Street was expecting adjusted EPS of $1.45 on revenue of $2.89 billion. The Motley Fool has the full report. — MV
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This mobile news roundup is by MobileVillage Editor Gary Thayer and Erin Bailey of Appcelerator, a top mobile development platform company. Want your news featured in ‘Mobile Week’? Please check out our guidelines. We give preference to mobile news about trends, innovations, major app updates, big players and official Mobile Star Awards Entrants.
Trending mobile news tags this week: Google I/O summary, Pixel smartwatch, Apple clean aluminum & recycling robot, unicode bug fix, iOS 11.4 USB security, Twitter secret messages, new Ideapad budget laptops, Windows Your Phone, Microsoft Layout & Remote Assist apps, Microsoft Store developer payments increase, GrandPad tablet for seniors, Intel True VR, Seurat VR tool, China smartphone market crash, China semiconductor fund, Nvidia Q1 revenue
