New iPhone brings face recognition (and fears) to the masses

Apple will let you unlock the iPhone X with your face — a move likely to bring facial recognition to the masses, along with concerns over how the technology may be used for nefarious purposes.

Apple’s newest device, set to go on sale November 3, is designed to be unlocked with a facial scan with a number of privacy safeguards — as the data will only be stored on the phone and not in any databases.

Unlocking one’s phone with a face scan may offer added convenience and security for iPhone users, according to Apple, which claims its “neural engine” for FaceID cannot be tricked by a photo or hacker.

While other devices have offered facial recognition, Apple is the first to pack the technology allowing for a three-dimensional scan into a hand-held phone.

But despite Apple’s safeguards, privacy activists fear the widespread use of facial recognition would “normalize” the technology and open the door to broader use by law enforcement, marketers or others of a largely unregulated tool.

“Apple has done a number of things well for privacy but it’s not always going to be about the iPhone X,” said Jay Stanley, a policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union.

“There are real reasons to worry that facial recognition will work its way into our culture and become a surveillance technology that is abused.”

A study last year by Georgetown University researchers found nearly half of all Americans in a law enforcement database that includes facial recognition, without their consent.

Civil liberties groups have sued over the FBI’s use of its “next generation” biometric database, which includes facial profiles, claiming it has a high error rate and the potential for tracking innocent people.

“We don’t want police officers having a watch list embedded in their body cameras scanning faces on the sidewalk,” said Stanley.

Clare Garvie — the Georgetown University Law School associate who led the 2016 study on facial recognition databases — agreed that Apple is taking a responsible approach but others might not.

“My concern is that the public is going to become inured or complacent about this,” Garvie said.

– Advertisers, police, porn stars –

Widespread use of facial recognition “could make our lives more trackable by advertisers, by law enforcement and maybe someday by private individuals,” she said.

Garvie said her research found significant errors in law enforcement facial recognition databases, opening up the possibility someone could be wrongly identified as a criminal suspect.

Another worry, she said, is that police could track individuals who have committed no crime simply for participating in demonstrations.

Shanghai and other Chinese cities have recently started deploying facial recognition to catch those who flout the rules of the road, including jaywalkers.

Facial recognition and related technologies can also be used by retail stores to identify potential shoplifters, and by casinos to pinpoint undesirable gamblers.

It can even be used to deliver personalized marketing messages — and could have some other potentially unnerving applications.

Last year, a Russian photographer figured out how to match the faces of porn stars with their social media profiles to “doxx” them, or reveal their true identities.

This type of use “can create huge problems,” said Garvie. “We have to consider the worst possible uses of the technology.”

Apple’s system uses 30,000 infrared dots to create a digital image which is stored in a “secure enclave,” according to a white paper issued by the company on its security. It said the chances of a “random” person being able to unlock the device are one in a million, compared with one in 50,000 for its TouchID.

– Legal battle brewing –

Apple’s FaceID is likely to touch off fresh legal battles about whether police can require someone to unlock a device.

FaceID “brings the company deeper into a legal debate” that stemmed from the introduction of fingerprint identification on smartphones, according to ACLU staff attorney Brett Max Kaufman.

Kaufman says in a blog post that courts will be grappling with the constitutional guarantees against unreasonable searches and self-incrimination if a suspect is forced to unlock a device.

US courts have generally ruled that it would violate a user’s rights to give up a passcode because it is “testimonial” — but that situation becomes murkier when biometrics are applied.

Apple appears to have anticipated this situation by allowing a user to press two buttons for two seconds to require a passcode, but Garvie said court battles over compelling the use of FaceID are likely.

Regardless of these concerns, Apple’s introduction is likely to bring about widespread use of facial recognition technology.

“What Apple is doing here will popularize and get people more comfortable with the technology,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, who follows the sector.

“If I look at Apple’s track record of making things easy for consumers, I’m optimistic users are going to like this.”

Garvie added it is important to have conversations about facial recognition because there is little regulation governing the use of the technology.

“The technology may well be inevitable,” she said.

“It is going to become part of everyone’s lives if it isn’t already.”

Mark Zuckerberg welcomes second daughter in Facebook post

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife welcomed their second daughter — August — to the world on Monday with a post on the leading social network.

As they did with after the birth of their first daughter, Maxima, in late 2015, the couple wrote the girl a letter, but this one spoke of reveling in the wonder of childhood instead of visions of a better world on the horizon.

“You only get to be a child once, so don’t spend it worrying too much about the future,” said the letter signed by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan.

“You’ve got us for that, and we’ll do everything we possibly can to make sure the world is a better place for you and all children in your generation.”

A Zuckerberg Chan Initiative established by the couple has pledged billions of dollars to improving life for their children’s generation with goals such as eliminating disease.

The Facebook co-founder is among billionaires who have vowed to donate most of their wealth to charitable causes.

“With all the advances in science and technology, your generation should live dramatically better lives than ours, and we have a responsibility to do our part to make that happen,” the couple wrote, referring back to a letter written to their first daughter after her birth.

“But rather than write about growing up, we want to talk about childhood. The world can be a serious place. That’s why it’s important to make time to go outside and play.”

And, like many parents, they expressed hope their new baby would sleep soundly and take frequent naps.

Princess Diana’s life in 10 key dates

Below are 10 key dates in the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, who died 20 years ago on Thursday in a car crash in Paris:

– July 1, 1961: The Honourable Diana Frances Spencer is born on Queen Elizabeth II’s Sandringham private estate in eastern England.

– July 29, 1981: Marries Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne.

– June 21, 1982: Gives birth to Prince William, second-in-line to the throne.

– September 15, 1984: Her second son, Prince Harry, is born third in line to the throne.

– April 10, 1987: Her handshake with a person suffering from AIDS is beamed around the world, at a time when sufferers were ostracised.

– December 9, 1992: Separates from Charles. Several months earlier, tabloid reporter Andrew Morton had published — with Diana’s covert help — a biography detailing the breakdown of the royal couple, Diana’s struggle with the eating disorder bulimia and her attempts at suicide.

– November 20, 1995: In an explosive BBC television interview she reveals her infidelity as well as that of Charles and casts doubt on his suitability to be king.

– August 28, 1996: Gets divorced from Charles. She can no longer be called “her royal highness” but retains her title of Princess of Wales.

– June 25, 1997: Hands over 79 of her dresses to an auction for AIDS and cancer research, two of the many causes she defended. The sale nets $5.7 million.

– August 31, 1997: Dies in a high-speed car crash in Paris with her new boyfriend Dodi Fayed.

Memorable moments from the MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday gave its top prize to rapper Kendrick Lamar in a televised party that drew some of the music world’s top names.

With political tensions high in the United States and mega-storm Harvey bearing down on Texas, the glitzy annual gala was more somber than usual, with fewer of the show’s signature incidents designed for shock value.

Here are some of the memorable moments of the VMAs, which took place at The Forum in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood:

– Fiery Kendrick –

Kendrick Lamar literally dominated the awards, closing by winning the coveted Video of the Year and opening with a fiery performance inspired by martial arts.

Lamar put on a medley with his nominated song “HUMBLE.,” initially staying hidden between the laser rays before he was chased on stage by ninjas.

One ninja stunned the crowd by appearing to set himself ablaze while still twirling around, before the back of the stage turned into a fence of fire.

– ‘Make Heather’s death count’ –

Two weeks after 32-year-old anti-racism protester Heather Heyer was killed in Charlottesville, her mother Susan Bro came to the awards and vowed to “make Heather’s death count.”

Heyer was killed when a white supremacist supporter plowed his car into counter-demonstrators against a rally involving neo-Nazis in the Virginia city.

Bro, keeping control of her emotions as the crowd applauded, announced that she was setting up a foundation in her daughter’s name to offer scholarships for people pursuing careers in social justice.

– 1-800-273-8255 –

In another social message, the rapper Logic brought the crowd to its feet with the song “1-800-273-8255” — the number of the US suicide prevention hotline.

Accompanied by two rising stars, pop singer Alessia Cara and rapper Khalid, Logic was joined on stage by dozens of people who had attempted suicide and wore the hotline number on their shirts.

– Space frontiers for Katy Perry –

Pop superstar Katy Perry, serving as host of the VMAs, took the stage by floating from the sky in a spacesuit — the emblem of the awards — before incessant wardrobe changes.

While Perry has bared a new sultry side on her latest album, her jokes showed more innocent humor. She called up astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk the moon, and asked if he created “the moonwalk” — the signature dance of Michael Jackson.

Perry also brought a baby doll — teasing DJ Khaled, whose infant son appears in a video — and ended the show back in the sky, this time to slam-dunk basketballs.

– P!NK embraces androgyny –

Pop singer P!NK was presented the Video Vanguard Award for lifetime achievement and marked the occasion with a performance atop a car that looked like it would fly into the audience.

Accepting the prize from television host Ellen DeGeneres, P!NK recalled that her six-year-old daughter — watching from the audience — had complained of not conforming to girls’ ideas of beauty.

P!NK said she replied by giving her daughter a PowerPoint demonstration to teach her to welcome androgyny, pointing to the long list of successful gender-bending artists.

– Lorde makes most of illness –

Lorde, the young New Zealand singer with a knack for the quirky, came down with the flu ahead of the VMAs but went ahead with a performance.

Instead of singing, Lorde took her cues from ballet as she pranced around the stage to her song “Homemade Dynamite ”

Expressing herself with her body rather than voice, Lorde contorted her body before offering big smiles and throwing herself to the ground.

– Fruit before all –

One musician who draw attention on social media did so inadvertently. Jack Antonoff, the producer who also performs in bands fun. and Bleachers, was caught on camera intently eating a banana, undistracted by Katy Perry.

His partner Lena Dunham, the author and director best known for the HBO series “Girls,” tweeted: “My boyfriend just casually eating a banana at the VMAs is a good reminder of why we’ve been at it half a decade.”

Jay Z announces new LP and film 4.44

                                                      Jay Z has announced his new album ‘4.44’ and and a film is to be released exclusively on TIDAL on June 30.

The ‘Encore’ rapper’s company TIDAL shared the details on Twitter posting a 30-second clip of a new song called ‘ADNIS’.

The video features ‘Moonlight’ actor Mahershala Ali, 43, as a boxer using a punch bag, which is be being held by the trainer portrayed by Danny Glover, 70, and it also features actress Lupita Nyong’o.

A second image shared on the micro-blogging site revealed the release date of June 30.

Alongside the image, it reads:”@S_C_ x ‘4:44’ album x 6/30 http://Sprint.TIDAL.com #TIDALXSprint (sic)”

The track appears to be a letter to the 47-year-old hip-hop legend’s father filled with lyrics he’s never brought up before.

He raps: “Letter to my dad that I never wrote/Speeches I prepared that I never spoke/Words on a paper that I never read/Prose is never penned, they stayed in my head (sic)”

The movie is reportedly set to be released through TIDAL only via a partnership with Sprint.

It comes after billboards with ‘4:44′ were spotted around New York City earlier this month.

Jay is set to perform at V Festival this August Bank Holiday Weekend in England and has several US festivals coming up.

They include Made In America in Philadelphia on September 2 and 3 and the Meadows Festival at Citi Field on September 15.

The ’99 Problems’ hitmaker’s last studio album was 2013’s ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail’.

The album couldn’t come at a more fitting time with Jay welcoming twins into the world over the weekend with his wife Beyonce Knowles, 35, whom he also has five-year-old daughter Blue Ivy with.

The ‘Crazy in Love’ singer’s father Mathew Knowles confirmed the arrival of the power couple’s newest additions to their brood on Sunday (18.06.17).

He posted a picture of a birthday note, which read: “Happy Birthday to the twins! Love, Granddad. (sic)”

And he captioned the snap: “They’re here!#beyonce #twins #jayz #happybirthday (sic)”

BET honours Princess of Africa, Yvonne Chaka Chaka

South African music legend Yvonne Chaka Chaka is being honoured internationally with a BET International Global Good Power Award, on 29 June 2017.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s latest accolade, BET’s International Global Good Power Award, isn’t for her music, but for her work related to improving the health of Africans.

The South African songstress, fondly known as the Princess of Africa, has long been synonymous with excellence in the music industry, locally and internationally.

Her lyrics resonated with freedom fighters during the apartheid years. After democracy, her focus shifted when one of her backup singers died of malaria.

“She began the Princess of Africa Foundation, where she works to eradicate the effects of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and to carry out community and social charity works,” said BET. “There, Chaka Chaka focuses on healthcare, education and sanitation.”

The foundation’s work includes making healthcare and vaccinations available to those in need. It also provides items such as bed nets and anti-mosquito sprays. “The foundation also educates citizens about malaria treatment and prevention, and works to promote literacy.”

Beyoncé’s father confirms the arrival of twins

Beyoncé’s father Mathew Knowles has confirmed the arrival of her twins as he wished them a Happy Birthday on social media.

The 35-year-old singer and her husband Jay Z – who already have five-year-old daughter Blue Ivy together – were believed to have welcomed the two newest additions to their brood after reports of the birth surfaced in the early hours of Sunday (18.06.17) morning, and now the star’s father Mathew Knowles has confirmed the happy news.

Taking to Twitter, Mathew posted a picture of a birthday note which read: “Happy Birthday to the twins! Love, Granddad.”

And he captioned the snap: “They’re here!#beyonce #twins #jayz #happybirthday (sic)”

Mathew also posted the same picture on his Instagram account, which featured the same caption.

Meanwhile, all other details on the birth have yet to be announced.

The power couple – who got married in 2008 – announced they were adding to their brood in February when the ‘Formation’ hitmaker posted a photograph of her burgeoning baby bump on her social networking sites.

She wrote at the time: “We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. – The Carters. (sic)”

The pair have remained relatively silent throughout the pregnancy but Beyonce’s mother Tina Knowles hasn’t been able to contain her excitement.

She said recently: “I’m so excited. I can’t wait.”

And 63-year-old Tina – who is also mother to 30-year-old singer Solange Knowles – has also praised her eldest daughter for being an “incredible parent”.

She said: “[Beyoncé and Jay Z are] incredible parents. She’s a really good mom. Really patient and kind. [My biggest lesson was] teaching them that what is on the inside counts more than what’s on the outside. I see her passing it on, and it makes me really proud because that was my biggest lesson.”

#WeirdNews: Sweden hotel offers refund — only if you divorce

A Swedish hotel chain said Sunday it is offering guests a refund — but with strings attached: you only qualify if you get divorced in the year following your stay.

The Countryside luxury hotel group said its “radical” idea was designed to make “more people understand the degree to which it is important to invest in one’s relationship before it is too late,” spokeswoman Anna Madsen told AFP.

If “against all expectations” clients did opt to untie the knot within 12 months, the group said they had only to provide evidence of their divorce to receive a refund for a stay of up to two nights.

The offer is open to all couples “legally married and staying in the same room”, it said.

Google Translate app now unblocked in China

Google on Wednesday made available in China a new version of its translation app that is accessible without censor-evading software, a move likely to fuel speculation that the internet giant was mending fences with Beijing.

Google shut down its www.google.cn website in 2010, moving its Chinese search service from mainland China to Hong Kong in a row over cyberattacks and censorship, and most of its offerings have remained blocked by Beijing.

Chinese have for years been able to utilise a web-based version of Google Translate, but the mobile app has required the use of virtual private network (VPN) software to get around the “Great Firewall”, China’s huge system of online censorship.

“Today we’re releasing version 5.8 of the Google Translate apps for Android and iOS, adding instant visual translation between English and Korean, as well as an improved experience for users in China,” Google announced in a blog post.

It provided a link for Android downloads, while saying iPhone users can search Apple’s app store.

It did not explain why the app was now accessible, and a Google spokesman declined to comment on the matter.

“Google Translate has been available in China for more than eight years,” the spokesman said, referring to the web version.

“Today, we’re making our Translate app work better for Chinese users.”

The move could mark a step forward in China for Google, whose main search engine, its Gmail email service, maps, and other offerings are blocked.

It has maintained a presence in China mainly by helping Chinese companies advertise online overseas and by offering other web ad services within China itself.

The Google-backed Android system powers the majority of the world’s smartphones and is available free for device makers in China and elsewhere.

But the absence of key company offerings in China such as the Google Play app store has allowed a host of Chinese competitors to capitalise on the explosive growth in the country’s online and mobile markets.

China now has a world-leading population of around 700 million mobile Internet users.

Various media reports in recent years have said Google was attempting to negotiate permission to offer Google Play in China, and top company officials including chief executive Sundar Pichai have publicly stated their desire to bring more Google products to Chinese users.

The translation app is potentially less sensitive than some other Google offerings like its search engine, which could allow Chinese users to access content deemed politically sensitive by Beijing.

The translation app, however, offers no search function, nor does it require setting up an account, which means no user data is collected.

“Google has an extremely rich line of products it can offer which are not controversial,” said Fu Liang, an independent telecom analyst based in Beijing.

“It’s not clear if Google can find a reasonable solution in news and web searches, but its other non-controversial services should still have chances to enter China.”

Nokia launches 3 Android devices at Mobile World Congress

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, unveiled a new generation of Nokia smartphones, setting a new standard in design, quality and user experience throughout the range at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The highly anticipated global portfolio features three new smartphones – the new Nokia 6, delivering performance and immersive entertainment in a premium and extremely robust design; Nokia 5, an elegant smartphone that fits perfectly in your hand; and Nokia 3, which delivers an unprecedented quality at an affordable price point. The new range of Nokia smartphones all run Android™ Nougat and offer a pure, secure and up to date experience and will all feature Google Assistant. The launch also sees the return of a modern classic – the iconic Nokia 3310, reborn with a modern twist on design.

Drawing on the hallmarks of the Nokia phone heritage of quality, simplicity and reliability, the range is designed for a new generation of fans. With a commitment to deliver pure Android, users can expect a simple, clean and clutter free experience. Featuring the latest Google services, as well as monthly security updates, Nokia smartphones are safe, secure and up-to-date.

It was also announced that the world-renowned game Snake will be snaking its way back into people’s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger, part of Facebook’s Instant Games cross platform experience. The new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it even more playable than the first time around.

The new Nokia range of Android smartphones unveiled today ahead of Mobile World Congress includes:

Nokia 6 is going global – combining superior craftsmanship and distinctive design with immersive audio and an impressive bright and colourful 5.5” full HD screen, the Nokia 6 delivers a truly premium smartphone experience. The unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers allow consumers to experience a deeper bass and unmatched clarity, whilst Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerfully moving entertainment experience. Available in four colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – the Nokia 6 will retail at an average global retail price of €229.

Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition – celebrating the worldwide Nokia 6 portfolio is the Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition. With 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, this special edition combines the best features of the Nokia 6 family in a stunning black high gloss package and will retail at an average global retail price of €299.

Nokia 5 – a sleek and compact smartphone that nestles in your hand. The Nokia 5 has been precision engineered out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium to create a perfect pillowed body that flows seamlessly into the sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass laminated 5.2” IPS HD display. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform and the Qualcomm® Adreno™ 505 graphics processor, the Nokia 5 brings robust structural integrity, attention to detail and the quality of a high-end flagship to everyone. Available in four colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – the Nokia 5 will retail at an average global retail price of €189.

Nokia 3 – a stunning new smartphone designed to deliver an outstanding experience with unprecedented value. With a precision machined aluminium frame forged out of a single piece of aluminium, a sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass laminated 5” display and seamlessly integrated 8MP wide aperture cameras (front and back), the Nokia 3 packs a truly premium quality smartphone experience into its compact and elegant form. Available in four distinctive colours – Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White – the Nokia 3 will retail at an average global retail price of €139.

Nokia relaunches iconic 3310 mobile model

Finnish brand Nokia, a former mobile star, on Sunday launched three new Android smartphones and unveiled a revamped version of its iconic 3310 model more than a decade after it was phased out.

Unlike the original, which was known for its sturdiness, the new Nokia 3310 will allow web browsing.

The new version will bring back its predecessor’s popular “Snake” game and distinctive ringtones, said Arto Nummela, the head of Finnish start-up HMD Global which will produce the phone under a licensing agreement with Nokia.

“The telephone will allow you to talk for 22 hours, ten times more than the original,” he said during a presentation in Barcelona on the eve of the start of the Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest mobile phone show.

Launched in 2000, Nokia’s original 3310 sold nearly 120 million units worldwide before it was discontinued in 2005, making it one of the world’s best-selling mobile phones.

Analysts said resurrecting the popular model was a clever way for HMD Global to relaunch Nokia’s brand.

“HMD launched three new smartphones and an iconic mobile. It is a way to create a halo effect around the other models by reviving talk about the Nokia brand,” said Thomas Husson, a mobile analyst at Forrester.

In addition to the new 3310, HMD presented three new smartphones, the Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 which will sell for different prices.

The Nokia 6 was already available in China and will now go on sale globally.

“We think (Nokia) could take 5 percent of the global smartphone market by the end of 2019. But it needs to get big quick or it won’t work,” said CCS Insight’s device specialist and chief of research, Ben Wood.

Nokia was the world’s top mobile maker between 1998 and 2011 but was overtaken by South Korean rival Samsung after failing to respond to the rapid rise of smartphones.

Its telephone brand remains widely recognised, especially in developing markets.

Now a leading telecom equipment maker, Nokia sold its entire handset business to Microsoft Corp in 2014.

Last year HMD bought Microsoft Mobile’s handset business and the right to use the Nokia brand.

Under the agreement, Nokia will receive royalty payments from HMD for sales of every Nokia branded mobile phone or tablet.

Huawei launches World’s first smartphone with Leica front camera

Ahead of Mobile World Congress 2017, Huawei Consumer Business Group today launched the HUAWEI P10 and HUAWEI P10 Plus in Barcelona, Spain.

The much-anticipated additions to the P Series continue to lead the industry through old and new cross-industry collaborations with other notable brands, resulting in a stunning piece of hardware and the latest advances in software. The new P Series devices demonstrate the company’s continued commitment to setting new performance standards and inspiring creative expression.

Key features include:

1. Leica Dual-Camera 2.0 for the HUAWEI P10 and Leica Dual-Camera 2.0 Pro Edition for the HUAWEI P10 Plus, featuring artistic portraits with precise 3D facial detection, dynamic illumination, portrait enhancements, natural bokeh effect and HUAWEI Hybrid Zoom;
2. The world’s first Leica front camera with a new, brighter sensor and larger aperture F1.9 for outstanding self portraits;
3. Hyper Diamond-Cut finishing which prevents annoying fingerprints;
4. SuperCharge with only 30 minutes of charging will give you one days use;
5. Availability in Color Of The Year “Greenery” and “Dazzling Blue” – a collaboration with Pantone;
6. Kirin 960 processor, HUAWEI Ultra Memory and new EMUI 5.1 with industry-leading 4×4 LTE MIMO antenna system and 2×2 Wi-Fi MIMO antenna system – which means less dropped calls and signals.

ZTE launches world’s first 5G-ready smartphone

Chinese telecoms giant ZTE unveiled Sunday what it said is the world’s first smartphone compatible with the lightening-fast 5G mobile internet service that networks expect to have up and running by 2020.

The company said the Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) — up to 10 times faster than the first generation of 4G services widely in use today.

The device, unveiled in Barcelona in northeastern Spain on the eve of the start on Monday of the Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest mobile fair, will allow for 360-degree panoramic Virtual Reality video and fast downloads of ultra Hi-Fi music and videos.

“With the new device, the way people stay connected will be changed forever. Focusing on 5G technologies will be one of the key priorities of ZTE´s global development,” a ZTE spokesman said.

Tech firms are racing to develop products that will be compatible with 5G, shorthand for the fifth generation of networks, which promise blazing fast connectivity for a generation used to streaming movies and TV directly to phones.

South Korean carrier KT Corp aims to offer trial 5G services during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

The first large-scale commercial deployment of the technology is expected in 2020.

Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said ZTE was using the phone to “showcase innovation” and “offer a glimpse into the future when people will be able to download full movies in seconds” but it was not likely to be a big seller.

“The sad reality is that this smartphone will not end up in consumers’ pockets because both 5G and Virtual Reality are still years away to be a mass-market consumer reality,” he added.

Founded in 1985, ZTE offers telecom equipment and services and has customers in more than 160 countries, according to the company.

It is the only Chinese smartphone vendor with a meaningful presence in the United States, where its 10 percent market share makes it the fourth-largest vendor.

SAMSUNG YATHIBITISHA BETRI KUWA CHANZO CHA GALAXY NOTE 7 KULIPUKA, YAPATA HASARA YA DOLA 5.3 BILIONI

Kampuni ya kutengeneza bidhaa za kieletroniki ya Samsung imethibitisha kuwa betri ambazo zimetumika katika simu za Galaxy Note 7 zina kasoro na hivyo kusababisha simu kuwaka moto na kulipuka.

Katika taarifa ambayo imetolewa na kampuni hiyo ya Korea Kusini ilisema kuwa kuna uwezekano kuwa kukawa na tatizo lingine ambalo limesababisha lakini kwasasa wamegundua kuwa betri ndiyo chanzo.

 “Kwa hitimisho tu betri ndiyo limegundulika kuwa chanzo cha matukio ambayo yalitokea kwa Note 7,” ilisema sehemu ya taarifa ya Samsung.

Aidha Samsung imesema sababu ya tatizo kutokea katika betri ni uwezo mdogo wa kumudu matumizi ya simu hiyo jambo lililosababisha betri kuwa kupata joto kali na baadae kulipuka moto.

Pia kampuni hiyo imetangaza kuwa imepata hasara ya Dola 5.3 bilioni kwa ajili ya kurudisha simu hizo kiwandani ili kufanyiwa uchunguzi na kujua nini hasa chanzo cha simu hizo kuwaka moto na kulipuka.

Samsung wamesema kuwa kwa sasa wamejifunza na wana uhakika kuwa tatizo kama hilo halitajitokeza katika toleo linalofata la Galaxy Note 8 ambayo inataraji kutoka mwaka huu.

Simu ya Samsung Galaxy Note 7 ilitoka mwaka jana mwezi Agosti lakini baada ya mwezi mmoja simu hizo zilianza kuripotiwa kupata matatizo na hivyo Samsung ikarudisha simu zinazokadiriwa kufikia milioni 2.5 ili kuzichunguza.

KAMPUNI YA LG YAZINDUA SPIKA MPYA ISIYOKUWA NA WAYA

Kampuni ya LG imeamua kuja na kifaa maalum cha kusaidia kutokuharibika kwa spika kwa kuingiliwa na  maji au vumbi.

Ni mmoja ya spika isiyo kuwa na waya na inaweza kupiga bila matatizo na kutoa sauti nzuri na murua.

Ni spika ya aina yake kwa mtumiaji wa radio kubwa na inataka kuisha chaji inajizima yenyewe na kujichaji kwa haraka bila kukatiza muziki wako unaoendelea kupiga kwenye radio  yako.

Kampuni ya LG imekuwa na spika ya kisasa kwa watumiaji wa radio kubwa ni spika isiyokuwa na waya na ni ya kisasa kwa watumiaji wa muziki kwenye kumbi za mbalimbali za sherehe na shughuli zingine zinazohitaji sauti kubwa za spika.