howtogeek.com - Apple's new MacBook has a single USB Type-C port, but this isn't an Apple-only standard. This is a new USB standard, and - given time - it'll spread to everything that currently uses an older, larger USB connector.
USB Type-C is closely intertwined with other new standards, like USB 3.1 for faster speeds and USB Power Delivery for improved power-delivery over USB connections.
Type-C is a New Connector Shape
USB Type-C is a new, tiny physical connector. The connector itself can support various exciting new USB standard like USB 3.1 and USB power delivery (USB PD).
The standard USB connector you're most familiar with is USB Type-A. Even as we've moved from USB 1 to USB 2 and on to modern USB 3 devices, that connector has stayed the same. It's as massive as ever, and it only plugs in one way - so you have to make sure it's oriented correctly when you plug it in.
But other devices wanted to use USB, too! Those massive USB ports won't fit on smartphones, digital cameras, game controllers, and all the other devices out there you might want to plug in via USB. So many other shapes of connector were born, including "micro" and "mini" connectors.
This collection of differently shaped connectors for different-size devices is coming to a close. USB Type-C is a new connector standard that's very small. It's about a third the size of an old USB Type-A plug. This is a single connector standard that every device should be able to use. You'll just need a single cable, whether you're connecting an external hard drive to your laptop or charging your smartphone from a USB charger. That one tiny connector can be small and fit into a mobile device, or be the powerful port you use to connect all the peripherals to your laptop. The cable itself has USB Type-C connectors at both ends - it's all one connector.
Yes, this is many awesome things at once. Not only is it reversible, it's a single USB connector shape all devices should adopt. No more messes of different USB cables with different connector shapes for all the various devices you want, and no more massive ports taking up an unnecessary amount of room on ever-thinner devices.
USB Type-C ports can support a variety of different protocols using "alternate modes," which allows you to have adapters that can output HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort, or other types of connections from that single USB port, for example. Apple's USB-C Digital Multiport Adapter looks like a good example of this in action, offering an adapter that allows you to connect an HDMI or VGA output, larger USB Type-A connector, and smaller USB Type-C connector via a single port. The mess of USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, and power ports on typical laptops can be streamlined into a single type of port.
USB Power Delivery
The USB PD specification is also closely intertwined with USB Type-C. Currently, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices often use a USB connection to charge. A USB 2.0 connection provides up to 2.5 watts of power - that'll charge your phone, but that's about it. A laptop might require up to 60 watts, for example.
The USB Power Delivery specification ups this power delivery to 100 watts. It's bi-directional, so a device can either send or receive power. And this power can be transferred at the same time the device is transmitting data across the connection. Apple's new MacBook and Google's new Chromebook Pixel both use their USB Type-C ports as their charging ports. This could spell the end of all those proprietary laptop charging cables, with everything charging via a standard USB connection. You could charge your laptop from one of those portable battery packs you charge your smartphones and other portable devices from today. You could plug your laptop into an external display connected to a power cable, and that external display would charge your laptop as you used it as an external display - all via the one little USB Type-C connection.
To use this, the device and the cable have to support USB Power Delivery. Just having a USB Type-C connection doesn't necessarily mean they do.
USB Type-C isn't the same thing as USB 3.1. USB Type-C is just a connector shape, and the underlying technology could just be USB 2 or USB 3.0. In fact, Nokia's N1 Android tablet uses a USB Type-C connector, but underneath it's all USB 2.0 - not even USB 3.0. However, these technologies are closely related.
Backwards Compatability
The physical USB Type-C connector isn't backwards compatible, but the underlying USB standard is. You can't plug older USB devices into a modern, tiny USB Type-C port, nor can you connect a USB Type-C connector into an older, larger USB port. But that doesn't mean you have to discard all your old peripherals. USB 3.1 is still backwards-compatible with older versions of USB, so you just need a physical adapter with a USB Type-C connector on one and and a larger, older-style USB port on the other. You can then plug your older devices directly into a USB Type-C port.
Realistically, many computers will have both USB Type-C ports and larger USB Type-A ports for the immediate future - like Google's Chromebook Pixel. You'll be able to slowly transition from your old devices, getting new peripherals with USB Type-C connectors. Even if you get a computer with only USB Type-C ports, like Apple's new MacBook, adapters and hubs will fill the gap.
USB Type-C is a worthy upgrade. It's making waves on the new MacBook, but it's not an Apple-only technology and it will shortly be appearing in devices from practically everyone. Whatever you think of Apple, this time around they're pushing hard behind a new standard that everyone can adopt.
USB Type-C may even replace the Lightning connector on Apple's iPhones and iPads one day - Lightning doesn't have many advantages over USB Type-C besides being a proprietary standard Apple can charge licensing fees for.

cnet.com - Android Nougat is here.
Version 7.0 of Google's operating system for Android phones has been a long time coming. We've spent all summer with the developer build, and now the final version has already started rolling out through over-the-air updates to the first wave of devices.
If you're registered for the developer's build on your Nexus device, you'll likely try the mobile OS first, followed by folks who have any of these Nexus models: the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player and Pixel C. There's no word on when everyone else will upgrade from 6.0.1 Marshmallow to 7.0 Nougat; that's a case by case schedule determined by your phonemaker and possibly your carrier.
(Manufacturers have to test the new Android build to make sure it works with any custom software they layer on top of the base operating system. Carriers run additional tests on phones they sell through their networks to make sure Nougat works smoothly with its services.)
If you're still waiting for Nougat -- or even if you're not -- check out the coolest new features you'll see once the update rolls your way (which could take as long as a week).
Google Assistant
Ok, so "Nougat's" best visible feature (we think) isn't technically part of Nougat at all. But it is part of Google's general efforts to improve its mobile software and get a leg up on Apple's changes to its Siri assistant.
The Google Assistant software coming this fall will let you engage in more natural back-and-forth dialogue with the Android device than you can with Google Now, the current digital and search assistant. It'll get better at doing things like researching a restaurant and then seamlessly making a reservation through OpenTable -- with your voice alone.
Instant Apps
Timed with the release of Nougat but also available on phones running Android versions as old as Jelly Bean, Instant Apps lets you access or use certain apps without having to download and install them. This is especially useful for digital payment transactions, where you can pay with Android Pay instead of whatever system the app would have made you use.
Multiwindow
Looking at two apps at once will become standard on Android phones and tablets. With multiwindow, you can see apps in a split screen. This feature has been available on Samsung and LG phones for a few years, and now it'll come to many more Android devices. It's also very similar to what the Apple iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro can do, thanks to Apple's latest OS, iOS 9.
Google's adding a picture-in-picture option for apps that play video, too, similar to what we've seen on the iPad Air. That means you should be able to watch a YouTube video while also browsing Twitter, or perhaps check email while watching a movie through Google Play.
Reply in a notification
Brought over from Android Wear watches, Google now lets you reply to text messages from the notification shade. When you get a new message, a little alert will pop up at the top of the screen and you can type your reply right there and go back to what you were doing. iOS has had a similar feature for awhile, so it's great to see it come to Android -- and it fits right in to our workflow.
Bundles of notifications
If your notification menu is a mess of alerts, this feature helps big time. Developers can group notifications for a single app. You'll see these grouped together in the menu; just tap (or pull down) to expand it and see each individual alert.
Again, iOS has something similar in its notification menu (you have to manually toggle it on), so it's a welcome addition to Android too.
Doze on the Go
Android 6.0 Marshmallow was the first to get Doze, a battery-saving setting that halts background computing and kicks in when your phone is not in use and sitting still. Doze on the Go does the same thing, except your phone can be in motion (like if it's inside your pocket sitting idle). Google's also working on Project Svelte, which aims to reduce the amount of memory Android needs. The goal is to bring the latest versions of Android to more devices, especially those with lower-end specs.

yahoo.com - We're just two short days away from Samsung's official Galaxy Note 7 release, and the reviews are in. We covered the hot new phablet in our in-depth Galaxy Note 7 review and here's the TL;DR version: It will be the best phablet on the planet when it launches this Friday, and it'll almost certainly still be the best phablet on the planet next month, even after Apple releases its next-generation iPhone 7 Plus.
We obviously recommend reading our full Galaxy Note 7 review before you reach any conclusions. But for those looking for a quick overview of the best new functionality Samsung's latest phablet has to offer, we've compiled the phone's seven hottest features in this post.
S Pen
Samsung's S Pen is at the center of the Note experience and it's better than ever. The physical stylus itself has been improved so that writing with it feels almost like writing with a ballpoint pen. Then, the Note 7's software has been further enhanced with great new S Pen features like a GIF maker, a translate feature, a magnifier and more. My favorite new feature is the ability to pin a memo to the phone's sleep screen, so you don't even have to unlock the handset in order to see the memo.
Water- and dust-resistance
This is a huge deal, and it speaks for itself. The Galaxy Note 7's IP68 certification means that it can be completely submerged in water and come away working just fine. As expensive as flagship smartphones are these days - the Note 7 costs $850 - every single high-end handset should have an IP68 rating.
Camera
Every smartphone out there obviously has a camera these days, but none of them can touch the Dual Pixel rear camera on the Note 7. The low-light performance is phenomenal, it has the fastest auto-focus on the planet, and picture clarity is unmatched. The only complaint in my review was that it's the same exact camera as the one featured on the Galaxy S7. We've always seen progress made from model to model, so I hope this isn't the start of a trend.
Display
Samsung is simply the best in the business when it comes to smartphone displays, and the Galaxy Note 7 pushes it even further ahead of its rivals. The quad HD Super AMOLED display on the Note 7 is breathtaking, featuring incredible clarity and colors that leap off the screen. You won't find a better display on a phone. Period.
Expandable storage
This seems like a no-brainer but there are still smartphones out there that ship without a microSD card slot. I'm looking at you, Apple. The Note 7 comes with just one option for internal storage - 64GB - which simplifies things for Samsung. Then, users can add up to 256GB of additional space with a memory card. Of note, the phone supports up to 2TB but the biggest microSD card out there right now is 256GB.
Secure Folder
The all new Secure Folder feature in Samsung's TouchWiz software gives you a special folder that's protected by an additional layer of security. You can store files, photos, videos or even apps in the folder. To access those files and apps, you'll need to authenticate again with a password, fingerprint scan or an iris scan, which means you can unlock your phone and let someone else use it without worrying that he or she might access your private data.
Battery
3,500 mAh... fast wireless charging... even faster wired charging... two different power saving modes... the Galaxy Note 7 really is the total package when it comes to battery performance. It has enough juice to carry you through a full day of usage under almost any circumstances, and it refuels faster than most phones - even ones with smaller batteries.

bgr.com - Samsung's hot new Galaxy Note 7 smartphone is the best phablet the world has even seen. Period. We published our in-depth Galaxy Note 7 review on Tuesday morning and in it, we explained just how good Samsung's new phablet really is. The design has been dramatically improved, making the phone incredibly comfortable to hold despite its massive 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display. The updated internal components provide more power than ever before. And the new software features make an already great stylus experience even better.
Android fans who preordered the Galaxy Note 7 are already in for a treat when they receive the best new phablet in the world, but it looks like many people are about to enjoy an extra little surprise.
When we first posted our hands-on preview of the Galaxy Note 7, we told you about a great limited-time offer. People who preorder the Note 7 and people who purchase one in the early days following its release will be able to choose either a free 256GB microSD card or a free Gear Fit 2 fitness tracker to enjoy along with their new phablet. As a result, many people jumped at the opportunity and preordered the phone - and it seems like most we've spoken with chose the memory card, which isn't surprising since you basically get a 320GB phone for the price of a 64GB iPhone 6s Plus.
Now, it appears as though many people who preordered the Note 7 are in for yet another surprise.
We've received a handful of emails from Samsung fans whose Galaxy Note 7 units have already shipped. A quick search reveals that other sites have received similar emails, including Android news blog Droid Life. As noted in the blog's post, it looks like both Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile began to ship out preorders on Monday using either next-day or two-day shipping, which means that consumers could begin receiving their new phones as soon as today.
Samsung's new Galaxy Note 7 isn't technically supposed to launch until this Friday, August 19th, so these early deliveries will indeed be a nice little bonus for eager fans who preordered the new phablet. But trust us: Whether you receive your new Note 7 early or not, we couldn't be more confident that you're going to be impressed with Samsung's latest and greatest.

money.cnn.com - Google released Duo, an app that lets iOS users video chat with Android users. CNNMoney's Samuel Burke and Cristina Alesci gave it a shot.

cnet.com - Forget the questionable iris scanner and finger-twirling stylus. One of the most intriguing new features in Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 smartphone and Notebook 7 Spin laptop is HDR compatibility.
High dynamic range video can look even better than conventional high-def and 4K video, with brighter highlights and more dynamic colors. Up until now, the feature was only found in a few high-end TVs and projectors, but with big streaming players Netflix, Amazon and others pushing HDR TV shows and movies, it's on its way to smaller screens too.
The question is: Does HDR in a phone or laptop really matter, or is it just a gimmick? The answer is: it depends.
On the TV side, HDR means a greater dynamic range, i.e. contrast ratio. Typically this means the TV is capable of brighter highlights than a non-HDR TV. For example, if the sun reflects off a car bumper, instead of just seeing the glare (regular TV) it's actually bright (HDR TV). Also included in most HDR content and TVs is Wide Color Gamut, or WCG. A TV with WCG is capable of deeper colors and a wider range of shades than a non-WCG TV.
For more on each of these, check out What is HDR? and Ultra HD Color, Part II.
Beyond the display itself, the key for making HDR work is the content. TV shows and movies have to be specially made to take advantage of the TV's capabilities. Without this, the TV is just making stuff up, and that's rarely good. With HDR content, either via streaming (Netflix, Amazon and Vudu all offer HDR today) or on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs, the TV and content together can create images richer and more vibrant than what's possible on a non-HDR TV.
For more on the content, check out Where can I get 4K Ultra HD TV shows and movies today? and Technicolor punches high-def video into higher dynamic range.
Everything Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 can do
Not all HDR displays are created equal
HDR for phones and laptop screens will arrive primarily from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and the rest, although it's easy to imagine a high-end HDR laptop with a built-in 4K Blu-ray player. These smaller screens should deliver the same improvements with HDR video--brighter highlights and better color--as we see with TV screens.
With an optimistic eye, this is a good thing. Improving image quality, especially in the screens we all stare at for hours every day, is great.
We haven't fully tested any smaller screens with HDR yet, but in our tests of TVs, the OLED-based models with HDR have been very impressive. The Note 7 is one of many phones with an OLED screen, and we're starting to see OLED in laptop screens, too, although none of them have HDR yet.
Most phone and laptop screens use LCD technology, however, and from what we've seen, LCD TVs can be less consistent with HDR than OLED TVs.
Samsung's Notebook 7 Spin has an HDR effect you can turn on and off, and an LCD screen.
Yes, LCDs can do HDR, but to really do HDR you need effective local dimming. No laptop or phone screens we've seen have any local dimming, period, let alone the good local dimming that makes a high-end LCD TV like the Samsung JS9500 or Sony XBR-X930D look great with HDR.
That's the problem with a buzzword. "HDR" is not a binary thing. There are displays that are better with HDR than others. Therefore, there will be HDR displays that -- even though they're called HDR -- offer little to no improvement when showing HDR content.
CNET's TV reviewer David Katzmaier got a look at the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin, for example (review coming soon), and its "HDR" mode is simply a video-processing option that appears to offer little to no improvement. Switching it on and off with standard video made the image look a bit different -- shadows appeared darker, as if lowering a gamma control, for example -- but nothing like the kind of difference seen with real HDR content on an HDR TV. That laptop doesn't appear to support real HDR content yet (its Netflix app showed no indication of HDR, for example), but even if it did, Katzmaier would be surprised if the improvement was substantial.
Beware the HDR buzz
This is the main concern. Just including the phrase "HDR" because people are excited about the concept, but not implementing the tech to make it worthwhile, is going to create backlash. Angry commenters on future HDR articles saying things like, "Well, I have the Snozzberry HDRExtreme and I don't see any difference with HDR content, so HDR is stupid."
So, like all things, take this and future marketing claims with a big grain of salt. Just because something says it's HDR, doesn't mean it can fully take advantage of what's possible with HDR. They could offer little to no increase in dynamic range, or lack the color possible with WCG, or both. There is no minimum threshold as to what is and isn't HDR (if only there was some sort of certification...). Right now, just being able to read and display HDR content at all can technically be considered as "HDR Compatible." Done poorly, that's like saying a 720p TV is 4K just because it can accept 4K content -- even though it's dumbing the resolution down from 3,820 x 2,160 to 1,280 x 720.
Some initial testing of the Note 7 has found that it is indeed bright enough and has a wide enough color gamut to accurately be called HDR. (CNET will test the Note 7's HDR capabilities once we get a review sample.)
Will HDR be the new must-have spec-sheet bullet point for phones as we move into 2017? Time will tell, but it seems like a safe bet.

mentalfloss.com - We use our smartphones for everything from navigating and looking up restaurant reviews to sharing selfies and checking email and the weather. Some of us even use them to make phone calls. Turns out we're barely scratching the surface of what we can do with these tiny yet powerful devices-which pack hundreds of times more computing power than the Voyager 1 spacecraft. Here are 10 amazing examples of how bright minds are putting smartphones to bigger use.
1. FUNCTION AS A 3D SCANNER
Software developed by a group at the Institute for Visual Computing at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) allows you to scan a 3D object by moving your smartphone around it. A 3D model appears on the screen, showing you whether you missed anything, and the app can determine the absolute size of the scanned object. You could use this app to capture faces for a three-dimensional portrait or to copy real-world objects for later study or 3D printing.
2. TEST FOR STDS
This smartphone dongle or attachment performs the functions of a lab-based blood test-specifically, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-to test for HIV antibodies and two types of syphilis antibodies. Researchers recently tested it in Rwanda in clinics that work to prevent mother-to-child-transmission and in voluntary counseling and testing centers. With an estimated manufacturing cost of $34 versus the $18,450 typical for ELISA equipment, this device could advance early diagnosis and treatment of these illnesses in developing countries.
3. GIVE YOU AN INSTANT EYEGLASS PRESCRIPTION
Smart Vision Labs created the SVOne, a pocket-sized device that measures refractive errors in the eye and displays a digital eyeglass prescription via smart phone. The company founders envision it for use by doctors with multiple offices or limited space and to serve patients who struggle with traditional machinery or have difficulties with mobility. Where it could really shine, though, is in developing countries where millions lack eye care. The World Health Organization reports that some 90 percent of the world's visually impaired people live in low-income settings with no eye doctors available and that uncorrected refractive errors are the main cause of moderate and severe visual impairment globally.
4. TRACK YOUR CHOLESTEROL
Engineers at Cornell University created the Smartphone Cholesterol Application for Rapid Diagnostics, or smartCARD, to test cholesterol levels. Users clamp the device, similar to a credit card reader, over the phone's camera then place a drop of blood, sweat or saliva on a test strip. Insert the strip into the device and voila, a built-in flash illuminates the strip and an app matches the image's color values and shows results on the phone. Currently, the test measures total cholesterol, but the lab is working on measuring LDL ("bad" cholesterol), HDL ("good" cholesterol) and triglycerides, as well as vitamin D levels. This app might make you re-think that double cheeseburger, eventually.
5. ASSESS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Dartmouth University researchers built an Android app that knows the smartphone owner's state of mind. The app automatically measures sleep duration, number and length of conversations per day, physical activity, locations and time spent there, stress level, eating habits and more-24/7 and without user interaction. Computational method and machine learning algorithms on the phone then assess that data and make higher-level inferences about sleep, sociability, activity, and other behaviors. When 48 students carried phones with the app during a 10-week term, the data significantly correlated with their mental health and academic performance. The app potentially could be used to provide real-time feedback on campus safety and stress levels, identify students at risk, and assess the quality of teaching. It could also be used to monitor mental health, trigger intervention, and improve productivity in the workplace as well.
6. HELP KEEP YOU SOBER
The Addiction-Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System smartphone app, designed for patients with alcohol use disorder, provides audio-guided relaxation and sounds an alert if individuals stray near a high-risk location, such as a bar they previously frequented. Patients leaving residential treatment who used the app reported an average of 1.37 fewer risky drinking days-meaning more than four standard drinks for men and three for women in a two-hour period-than those not using the app. Patients using the app also were more likely to consistently abstain from alcohol.
7. PILOT YOUR DRONE
An autonomous drone designed at the Vienna University of Technology navigates using the computing power in your smartphone. Drones are typically steered by humans or signals from an earthbound computer, but this one can negotiate completely on its own without external computer input. The smartphone camera provides visual data and its processor acts as the control center, coded in an app. The designers envision a number of possible uses: the device could be sent into a burning building to look around before firefighters enter, guide people in large and confusing areas, or inexpensively monitor illegal foresting. Don't tell the paparazzi.
8. PINPOINT WHERE GUNSHOTS ORIGINATED
A team at Vanderbilt University's Institute of Software Integrated Systems turned an Android smartphone into a simple shooter location system. The Department of Defense has sophisticated, expensive sniper location systems that use dedicated sensor arrays to pick up on a firearm's sonic signature. The smartphone version uses external sensors, about the size of a deck of cards, containing microphones and a processor that detects a gunshot's acoustic signature and exact time. The processor sends that information to the smartphone, which transmits it to other modules and uses triangulation to pinpoint the origin of the gunshot. The system needs several participants, making it best suited for security teams or similar groups, such as SWAT officers...or lost hunters.
9. ALERT YOU THAT THE MILK IS SPOILED
Researchers at MIT developed sensors that can be read by a smartphone to detect ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, cyclohexanone, and other gases. In the future, it could be used to monitor public spaces for explosives and other harmful chemicals, identify environmental pollutants, or detect food spoilage in warehouses. The sensors also could be used in "smart packaging" that detects spoilage or contamination in the foods you buy. Your next phone message could be from that old milk carton in the refrigerator.
10. IMPROVE YOUR HEARING AID
This smartphone app could help improve the quality of life of people who use hearing assistive devices, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and personal sound amplifiers. To remain small and low-cost, these devices typically use not-so-powerful processors. Smartphones, on the other hand, have powerful processors, large memories, microphones, speakers, wireless technology and long-lasting batteries, which can improve the performance of hearing assistive devices. For example, a smartphone could run sophisticated algorithms to distinguish background noise signals and enhance speech.

sensorcon.com - Sensordrone: Tricorder Bluetooth Sensor for Gas Light Humidity & More
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Environmental sensor
Infrared temperature sensor (IR temperature sensor)
Personal weather station
New Sensor Apps to run on your smartphone
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Want a Bluetooth sensor? How about a weather station, temperature sensor, gas sensor, and a whole bunch of other new sensors in one compact package! Sensordrone is an entire tool kit of sensors in a tiny, 1oz (~28 gram) device. Own the world's most advanced and fun bluetooth sensor platform. Sensordrone is the best bluetooth sensor platform in the world for making your smartphone or tablet smarter. Run apps for air quality, weather, carbon monoxide, breath analysis, infrared temperature, color, light, and much more. Android sensors and iOS sensors will never be the same.

searchengineland.com - In addition to the new offline features, Google Maps has added more international ride-service options to compare rates in a number of countries.
Google Maps added two new offline features yesterday, and bulked up the number of international ride-service rate comparison options in a number of countries.
According the announcement, Android users with spotty service - or users who may want to save on data - can turn on the new "Wi-fi only" feature in their Google Maps settings to use the app when they're offline.
Google maps offline
Google Maps also added the ability to save an area to an external SD card on Android devices so that any saved maps do not have to take up internal storage space.
To ensure that Google Maps users with any storage capacity can download and use offline areas when they need them most, we've added the ability to download your offline areas to an external SD card (if your device supports them) on Google Maps for Android. Now you'll never have to choose between snapping more food photos or the ability to navigate offline.
Android users will be offered the option to save the a map to their phone or SD Card when they select to download an area.
Google maps save area
In addition to the two new offline features, Google Maps has also upped the number of international ride-service listings to compare rates in a number of countries.
Along with Uber, Google Maps is now listing GO-JEK and Grab rides in Indonesia. Grab rates have also been added in cities throughout Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Google says these updates are now on Android devices and will be rolling out on iOS.
In Ireland, Poland, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Israel, Android and iOS users both will have access to Gett, Hailo and MyTaxi rate comparisons.

technobuffalo.com - I ordered a Galaxy Note 7 just before turning off the lights for bed last night. I'll probably order an iPhone 7, too, when it hits the market in September, but Samsung's device is already leaps and bounds ahead of what we're expecting from the iPhone 7. Android and iOS fanboy wars aside, the Galaxy Note 7 is an impressive device that pushes the boundaries of what mobile devices are capable of, and there's currently no indication Apple has anything that scratches the surface of what the Galaxy Note 7 can do.
Just take a look at some of the features: the Galaxy Note 7 has a 5.7-inch curved Quad HD display capable of accepting input from the S Pen stylus. Apple is almost certainly not going to have a Quad HD screen, or anything that comes close, and you can forget support for a real stylus. There's a rumor the iPhone will be water resistant, but the latest reports suggest it won't actually be IP68 rated, which means it'll probably survive some splashing but not a full on dunk in the pool as the Galaxy Note 7 can take.
Samsung listened to its fans and brought back a microSD card slot for expandable storage, allowing you to build on the 64GB of base storage without breaking the bank. Pigs will fly in a frozen hell before Apple ever does that. Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 supports fast charging and wireless charging, and there's still no indication Apple will add either of those features to the iPhone 7. The Galaxy Note 7 supports mobile HDR, some of the most brilliant streaming video content and a next-generation feature still arriving on new TV sets. There's no word if this is coming to the iPhone, but I tend to doubt it. Samsung has pushed the barrier with virtual reality, and now has a brand new headset with an even more immersive experience for Galaxy Note 7 users. Apple hasn't yet dipped its toes in that market, so you can rule that out for the iPhone 7.
Apple is working on making the fingerprint reader faster and may offer 3D Touch in the home button this year. Meanwhile, Samsung has moved on to the next big thing: an iris scanner that complements the fingerprint reader. It's fast, and it allows you to create a locked folder that'll keep prying eyes out. There's no indication Apple has any sort of iris scanning tech on the horizon.
And we can revisit mobile payments, even though they aren't new with the Galaxy Note 7. You can use your Galaxy Note 7 to make payments at checkout machines even when NFC isn't present. You need NFC for Apple Pay, so you're limited in where you can actually use Apple's service. Me? I'd rather not worry, so Samsung takes the cake here.
I don't mean to trash Apple or its iPhone products, I just mean to point out that it seems to be severely lagging in the smartphone market. Apple has made its name and, indeed, its business by releasing products and technologies not when they're new, but when they're perfected. That's how it basically created the tablet market and create such demand for its smartphones that it just announced the 1 billionth iPhone sold.
We know that the big iPhone is reportedly set to launch next year, with the debut of the iPhone 8, but can Apple afford to wait that long before people start to switch?

theverge.com - Samsung has today officially launched the Galaxy Note 7, the latest in its line of stylus-equipped flagship smartphones. The Note 7, which is not called the Note 6, blends many of the features from last year's Note 5 with the design and waterproofing of this year's excellent S7 Edge. The Note 7 will be available from all four major carriers on August 19th, with preorders starting tomorrow, August 3rd. Samsung says that pricing will be commensurate with prior Note devices and will be higher than the S7 Edge, which is about $770 to $800, depending on where you look. An unlocked version of the Note 7 will be available in the US at a later date.
For years Samsung has differentiated the power-user focused Note line from its more mainstream handsets by juicing up the specs inside of it. This year's approach is a little different, however: inside, the Note 7 is virtually indistinguishable from the S7 or S7 Edge. It has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (in North America, China, and Japan; other markets will have Samsung's own Exynos processor), same 4GB of RAM, same quick charging and quick wireless charging, and same 12-megapixel camera with f/1.7 lens and optical stabilization as the S7 series. The Note 7 is similarly water resistant (rated to IP68 specifications) and has support for microSD cards, both of which were not present in last year's Note 5. The Note 7 has 64GB of internal storage, compared to the S7's 32GB, and its battery has been increased to 3,500mAh over the Note 5's 3,000mAh cell.
Other similarities to the S7 Edge include a dual-curved Super AMOLED display with quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixel) resolution (albeit at a slightly larger, 5.7-inch size). The dual-curved display is a first for the Note line, and Samsung says it allows the phone to be 2.2mm narrower than the Note 5, while still having the same size display. The curvature of the screen is different from the S7 Edge in that it allows for more flat surface area. The rear glass panel has an identical curve to the front, making the whole phone more symmetrical than the S7 Edge (both pieces of glass are now Gorilla Glass 5). The Note 7 also moves to USB Type-C charging, a first for Samsung devices.
THE NOTE 7'S SPECS ARE LARGELY THE SAME AS THE S7 SERIES
Since the specs are largely the same between the Note 7 and the S7 series, Samsung is differentiating its larger flagship with features. The Note 7 has a new iris scanner that joins the familiar fingerprint scanner and lets you unlock your phone with your eyes. Samsung says the iris scanner is more secure than a fingerprint scanner. It's similar to the Windows Hello login features seen on Microsoft's Lumia 950 and a number of Windows 10 laptops and relies on an infrared camera that works well in low light, but less so in direct sunlight. The iris scanner can also be used to lock apps, photos, notes, and other content in a secure folder, separate from the rest of the phone's data.
And of course, the Note 7 wouldn't be a Note without Samsung's S Pen active stylus. The S Pen has been upgraded this year with water resistance, a finer point, and twice as fine pressure sensitivity (4,096 levels, as opposed to 2,048 on earlier models). There a handful of new software features for the S Pen, including a magnifying loupe, quick text translation tool, and a new tool that makes it easy to create GIFs from any video that's currently playing.
Samsung has also updated its software interface for the Note 7, with a cleaner color palette, softer white menus, and an overall nicer-looking aesthetic. It seems that with each new phone, Samsung's software gets better looking, and the Note 7 is no exception. The company says that the new software interface will likely come to older models, such as the S7, but it did not provide a timeline for when that might happen.
The Note 7 is launching with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but Samsung says that it will be upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat in the future. When that might happen is anyone's guess - the company isn't committing to a timeframe and it has a history of taking a very long time to deliver new versions of Android to its phones.
I had chance to use the Note 7 briefly ahead of today's announcement, and in what has become typical Samsung fashion, the device is both visually and tactilely impressive. The phone's design is a further refinement on the already very good S7 Edge, and it sits comfortably in the hand, even with its oversized display. It's symmetry is not only pleasing to look at, but it makes the phone nicer to hold, as well.
The iris scanner works as advertised, but I'm yet to be convinced that it's easier to use than the familiar fingerprint scanner. It works quickly, but requires that you hold the phone awkwardly close to your face, similar to what I experienced with the Lumia 950. I'll reserve judgement on the other features until I'm able to spend more time with the device, but it's safe to say that the GIF-making S Pen tool is very cool and I'm eager to try that out in my day-to-day routine.
The Note 7 will be available in the US in three colors: black, silver, and a unique blue that Samsung is calling "Blue Coral." A gold version will also be available in international markets. Samsung will be offering customers their choice of a free 256GB MicroSD card or Gear Fit 2 when they purchase a Note 7.
THE NOTE 7 ROUNDS OUT SAMSUNG'S IMPRESSIVE 2016 LINEUP
Last year's Note 5 showed that Samsung can make a large phone that appeals to a wide audience, and while the Note 7 doesn't change that, the new things that Samsung has added can definitely be considered power user features. Samsung has had a lot of success this year with the S7 and S7 Edge, and by all accounts, it will likely have a lot of success with the Note 7, too.

computerworld.com - Uber wants more information from mapping technologies, including more data on traffic patterns and precise pickup and dropoff locations.
The ride-hailing company that introduced mapping cars in the U.S. last year -- and more recently in Mexico -- now plans to extend the initiative soon in other countries as well, according to Brian McClendon, the former head of Google maps, who was hired by the ride-hailing company.
"Accurate maps are at the heart of our service and the backbone of our business," McClendon said in a blog post. Uber wouldn't exist if interactive digital maps hadn't been there first, he added.
So critical are the new maps for the company that it is investing $500 million in their development to remove its dependence on Google Maps, used in the Uber app in most parts of the world, and pave the way for driverless cars, The Financial Times reported on Sunday, quoting a person familiar with the matter.
Flush from a recent fund-raising round of $3.5 billion, the company is increasingly in need of new research as it expands into new markets, rather than use standard, available technologies, the newspaper added.
Google was an investor in the ride-hailing company but Uber has pursued development in technologies such as self-driving cars independently from the Internet giant.
Uber includes some of its own and third-party mapping technologies into its app, and also acquired mapping and location company deCarta in March 2015. It also acquired technology used by Microsoft's Bing Maps, and around 100 Microsoft employees work on image collection and data analysis.
"Existing maps are a good starting point, but some information isn't that relevant to Uber, like ocean topography," wrote McClendon, who is vice president of advanced technologies at Uber. The company also needs to "be able to provide a seamless experience in parts of the world where there aren't detailed maps -- or street signs," he added.
Uber could not be immediately reached for comment. The maps are expected to be deployed eventually also in its self-driving cars. It isn't clear whether the company is developing the maps only for its in-house use, although that seems likely as it appears to describe the technology as a key input for the business.