Samsung announces latest fitness wearables Gear Fit2 and Gear IconX

Samsung is releasing a new generation of fitness wearables. The Samsung Gear Fit2 and the Samsung Gear IconX. The Gear Fit2 and IconX provide Canadians with greater control over their fitness goals through new features such as precise tracking technology and a standalone music player to offer users the optimal fitness experience.

The Gear Fit2 features an embedded GPS and heart rate monitor (HRM) that offer accurate and robust fitness tracking and measurement no matter the activity, while providing instant feedback on the workout. And all new to the wearables category, is Gear IconX. These truly cord-free earbuds have a built-in activity tracker, heart rate monitor and music player to offer you an untethered workout. Pricing has not yet been announced. Hit jump for specs and availability.

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Apple patents wrap-around screen for the iPhone

A recently approved Apple patent might give us an iPhone in the future that comes with a wrap-around display. Described in the filing, the device will have a flexible screen so it can form a loop and have the image or video be presented in this loop continuously. This means they want to make use of as much of the screen as possible. It won’t be like Samsung’s Galaxy Edge in the sense that the patent stated the sides won’t be used but it could just been a bigger display to look at.

The downside to this is there isn’t existing screen technology that can pull this off commercially yet. OLED is the closest we can get. And also, this is still a patent. Apple could be future-proofing themselves but it doesn’t exactly mean they intend to make the technology in the near future.

Source: The Next Web

Netflix finally gets picture-in-picture support on the iPad

Better late than never, we say. Netflix’s latest update on iOS brings picture-in-picture mode support to its app. Version 8.7.0 will allow for multitasking if you use iOS version 9.3.2 or later. The app will shrink your videos into a thumbnail automatically if you hit home or switch to another app. From there, you can adjust the size of the viewing window or reposition it to where you want the window to be. You’re allowed to pull another window in using the Slide Over feature you it won’t let you play two videos at once. This new update brings with it the usual stability improvements and bug fixes as well.

Source: CNET

Napster makes a comeback

Some of you will remember Napster. It was the home for your music piracy needs back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. That brand is making a comeback as music streaming service Rhapsody is rebranding and bringing the cool cat with headphones his name back. Rhapsody bought the service back in 2011 and it looks like they think that name has better pull than Rhapsody, who has also been in the music streaming business for quite a while. But with big names in the industry, they’ll need all the leverage they can get.

Rhapsody (or should we say Napster?) says in a blog post: “No changes to your playlists, favorites, albums, and artists. Same music. Same service. Same price. 100% the music you love.” And yes, we get the Game of Thrones reference, guys.

Source: The Verge