Next Nexus devices appear to near

Documents published by the US Federal Communications Commission all but confirm that Google’s next set of Nexus devices are in the pipeline, with its manufacturer partner this time being HTC.

In a filing made to the regulator, as part of the approvals process to sell devices, HTC said documents it provided are drafts, and “the final version will be made publically available on Google’s website (http://support.google.com/nexus) at the time the product is commercially released”.

But the actual documents themselves were not available – submission can be made to the FCC under confidentiality clauses.

According to reports, two devices are in the works, codenamed Marlin and Sailfish (unrelated to Jolla’s platform of the same name). They will be launched to support the introduction of the Android Nougat release, although LG is also set to get out of the gate early with this.

The main difference is screen size, with 5-inch and 5.5-inch versions. Other mooted specifications include Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor (possibly Snapdragon 821), with 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 128GB of storage.

The news is not a great surprise, as HTC has previously been mooted (and is Google’s current Nexus partner), and indeed has offered earlier devices in the line (including the original Nexus One). A few months ago the struggling Taiwanese vendor played down reports it had signed a multi-year agreement with Google for Nexus devices.

Last year, Google introduced two Nexus smartphones at the same time (pictured), as it looked to appeal to buyers who prefer different sized screens – similar to Apple’s strategy with the iPhone 6 line. Previously, the Nexus screen size had been creeping up, making it less appealing to users who prefer smaller devices.

But the decision to go with HTC for both seems to have displaced Huawei, which was a new addition to the roster last year, and LG, which was behind several Nexus products. Interestingly, a Huawei executive has previously suggested it was still in the frame for Nexus.

Earlier this year, Google chief Sundar Pichai said the company “could be a lot more opinionated” on the design of Nexus devices, with the ability to add new features on top.

Nigerian league club shows interest in Mario Balotelli

– Warri Wolves FC have indicated interest in signing ‘Super Mario’

– The club via Twitter invited the Italian striker to join the team

– The Seasiders are currently 17th on the NPFL table

Nigerian Professional Football League club Warri Wolves FC have indicated interest in Italian striker Mario Balotelli.
The Seasiders who are currently 17th on the current NPFL standings are desperate to avoid relegation, but their searchlight for a striker has beamed on ‘Super Mario’.

In a tweet via the official handle of the club, the Warri based team invited the 26-year-old player to join the squad.

“Hello Mario Balotelli we have 10 games to play before our season ends. You can come train with us and play for us,” @Warri_Wolves_FC tweeted.
However, Italian legend Andrea Pirlo has advised Balotelli to stop wasting his talent. The 37-year-old has expressed sadness at the player who is on loan at AC Milan, saying the clock is ticking for him to save his career.

“He frustrates me, but I do have so much affection for Mario,” the Milan and Juventus legend was quoted by Mirror (UK).

“He is infectious to be around. When I used to see him walk into training for Italy, he would have this big smile on his face – and I would just burst out laughing – and start wondering what is he thinking, what is he up to?

“Mario should not just be a character the media write about for good stories. We shouldn’t forget what a special player he is.

“I have played with some of the best strikers, and I can tell you Mario has all the attributes to  one of the best strikers in the world.
“By now I thought that is where he would be, that is where he should be. He has no more time to waste.”
the club so as to reach his world class potential.

Warri Wolves will continue their battle to avoid relegation when they face MFM FC of Lagos at the Agege stadium on Wednesday, August 17.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Review

Lenovo has yet again built another superb laptop that not only looks sleek and stylish, but also packs in a plethora of powerful tech under its hood. When taking a closer look at the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, we found that the latest Ultrabook features a 14-inch WQHD (2560 x 1440) 10-point touch-enabled display, which allows for easier navigation around the preloaded version of Windows 10 Pro. Along with the touchscreen, the latest Ultrabook from Lenovo also comes equipped with touch-pad navigation as well as a keyboard-based pointing stick for easier navigation and control.
While navigation has been made easier and more streamlined, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is also a powerhouse under the hood. The device features a long-lasting battery, which offers up to 10 hours of use on a single charge (Usage may vary depending on applications used).
During the review process, we managed to squeeze around 9 hours of continues use out of it while doing day-to-day tasks such as video editing, photo editing, and general internet browsing. While 9 hours of charge may be enough to get a day’s work done, the device also comes standard with a RapidCharge technology. Once plugged into a charge point, RapidCharge technology will get the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon’s battery life back up to 80 percent in just under an hour.
With 9 hours battery life to keep productivity going, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon also features a speedy Samsung PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive (SSD), which is accompanied by 8GB RAM, a powerful 2.40GHz Intel Core i7 5500 U CPU, and Intel HD Graphics. Additionally, the device also features a Qualcomm Snapdragon X7 LTE modem with 4G LTE Advanced Carrier Aggregation support for up to 300 Mbps download speeds.
Moving away from the internal components, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a stunner when it comes to build quality and visual appeal. Constructed with magnesium and carbon fiber reinforced plastics, the device has been made to withstand dust, vibration, scratches, and although not tested within this review, it can withstand – according to Lenovo – radiation, water, humidity, solar radiation, and fungus.
When taking a closer look at the outer shell of the device we found that it is 17.7 mm thin and features 2x USB 3.0 ports, a Mini Display Port and a HDMI port, a Headphone/Mic 3.5mm jack, FPR, and an Ethernet Extension Connection. As the device is an Ultrabook, is does not feature a DVD/Blu-Ray drive. Additionally, the device lacks an SD Card slot; however, external devices can be connected in order to extend upon the functionality needed by the user.
When opening the lid of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon consumers will immediately notice the devices 14-inch WQHD display features an anti-glare screen as well as a backlit keyboard, which is essential in today’s busy business world… especially during meetings, conferences, and seminars.
Apart from being visually appealing, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is also an extremely portable device. Weighing in at 1.2 Kilograms, the device is light enough to travel with either on international business trips, or back and forth from the office. Along with the 9-10 hour battery life, this makes the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon the perfect business partner for the world traveler, or the office warrior.
Conclusion:
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is power device that comes with mostly all the bells and whistles. The touchscreen is a pleasure to use and the overall build quality is absolutely superb. To add to the features, the Samsung PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive, 8GB RAM, and the powerful 2.40GHz Intel Core i7 5500 U CPU make the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon one speedy Ultrabook.
While the device has excelled in most areas it does, however, lack an ethernet port and SD Card reader. To add to this the device could have included a few more USB slots, which could ultimately host external devices such as Blu-Ray or DVD Drives.
Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a lightweight powerhouse, which ultimately makes it the perfect business partner for the world traveler… or the office warrior.