Review: Motorola Moto E

Text and photos by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Smartphones for emerging markets are a thing now. We’re seeing a race to the bottom in terms of price but smartphone manufacturers are pulling all the stops to recreate the smartphone experience found on more expensive devices. Motorola’s first salvo was the Moto G, which in 6 months has proved itself to be the best selling smartphone for the company and enjoyed shipment of 150,000 units in Canada alone. Now the Moto E is taking things down a notch and to a whole new level.

There’s now new competition in smartphones and it isn’t about the best specs, largest screens, biggest storage or fastest data connections. The challenge is to create the cheapest, most flexible and universally viable platform for emerging markets and the entry level of the smartphone segment.

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Titanfall app turns smartphone into second screen

If you play EA’s Titanfall on the Xbox One, you should have the companion app in your life now. The app is available for free download on Google Play Store and iTunes App Store. It serves as a second screen for the game. You can view a full-sized or interactive mini map on your smartphone and view scoreboard updates in real-time. Other than that, the app provides information on things such as weapons, characters, modes, and controls. It even sends you notifications about the game and anything happening in the Titanfall world.

Source: Ubergizmo

HP to cut an additional 16,000 jobs or 5 per cent of workforce

Alarming news coming from HP today as the company says it needs to cut 16,000 jobs which is around five per cent of their workforce, in order to make ends meet, the latest numbers mean that as many as 50,000 employess could be let go in the wake of the ongoing global restructuring efforts.

No turnaround is easy and the PC market, which HP is a leader, has been taking a beating these last few years mainly because of the rise in mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Some companies, like Lenovo, are doing better than expected but HP's trying its best to right the ship.

With the first half of our fiscal year completed, I'm pleased to report that HP's turnaround remains on track," said Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP. "With each passing quarter, HP is improving its systems, structures and core go-to-market capabilities. We're gradually shaping HP into a more nimble, lower-cost, more customer- and partner-centric company that can successfully compete across a rapidly changing IT landscape." 

Source: HP

iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5 case designed to protect you from hackers?

Vysk: Putting Privacy Back in Your Hands from Mustache Production on Vimeo.

If you thought you could use an extra layer of security for your iPhone 5s or Samsung Galaxy S5, Vysk has made a case that doubles physical and digital security for your device. Let us list down the features of the Vysk QS1. It has mechanical camera shutters for the front and rear cameras so it won’t pry into the world and yourself. It has a microphone jamming system and an internal processor that encrypts your calls to make them secure. It also features encrypted voicemail, private messaging, and image gallery.

The QS1 is also designed to protect you against malware with the company’s patented Privacy Network. We’re not quite sure how they protect you against malware but that is an interesting proposition. And before we forget, it also has a built-in battery to give you that extra juice you need.  This comes at a pretty price of US$229.99 though. You can pre-order it from their site or through Best Buy later this winter.

Source: Android Central