‘iPhone mini’ tipped for a 2015 debut

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are getting as much praise as they are getting flak for their larger sizes. If rumours are to be believed there will be an iPhone mini coming out next year. And by mini, we mean it’ll return to its 4-inch display size. Cowen & Company’s Apple analyst for research Timoty Arcuri said Apple might release the iPhone 6s next year. This device could combine the iPhone 5s’s dimensions with the new curved-edge design. We can’t verify this information at the moment but if Apple did come out with another smaller-screened device, would you buy it?

Source: MacWorld

Sony rumoured to be releasing 12-inch high-end tablet

There is an abundance of 7- to 10-inch tablets out in the market now but only a few have created 12-inch slates. Sony is reportedly working on launching one early next year. Supply chain sources told Digitimes that Sony plans on releasing the bigger tablet in the first half of 2015. It will be a high-end device that will supposedly cost over US$1,000.

What would this rumoured tablet have? It will reportedly carry a 12.9-inch 3,840 x 2,400 pixel resolution display, an 8.6mm thick Qualcomm processor, 8-megapixel camera, and Android 5.0 pre-installed. Of course, these are all just rumours so just take them with a grain of salt for now.

Source: Digitimes | Via: Ubergizmo

Study finds constant smartphone use changes the way your hands work

Credit: Shutterstock / nenetus

If you’re attached to the hip (or hand, in this case) to your smartphone, it is changing the way your fingers work. According to Swiss researchers, activity in the brain cortex associated with your index fingers and thumbs are enhanced in direct proportion to how often you use your smartphone. This part of the mind lights up if you get in touch with people all week and it fades away if you’re away from your smartphone for an extended amount of time. However, those who use basic phones won’t be able to see this change.

This study is showing us how repetitive smartphone use is changing our sensory processing—whether it’s for the good or not, we don’t know just yet.

Source: Engadget

Google gets rid of user testimonials on Play Store

Google updated its Play Store guidelines for developers to ban them from including customer testimonials in the app or game description portion. They want to make sure it takes out any misleading or irrelevant keywords that might affect relevancy and ranking. They want Android users instead to speak about the apps or games through the Play’s comment review system.

Source: Google | Via: Cult of Android