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Huawei Dual-OS Smartphone Is Coming to US in the Coming Months

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 01:45 PM PDT

Huawei Windows Phone-Android Dual-OS Smartphone

Dual-boot smartphones are getting more and more popular, and now that Huawei announced that it will launch one in the US this spring, things will surely pick up some speed.

Still, the road the Chinese company is taking does not involve running Firefox OS or any of the new exotic mobile operating systems alongside Android. Instead, it will be Windows Phone 8 that will run on the dual-boot smartphone.

In an interview with TrustedReviews.com, Shao Yang, Huawei’s Chief Marketing Officer stated that “We are still committed to making Windows Phone devices,” thus reassuring the company’s consumers that they are not leaving this market aside. However, Yang emphasized the fact that Microsoft’s operating system for mobile devices will always end up second, as the company’s Android devices represent the top priority. As Yang explained, “Compared with Android, the priority of Windows Phone is much lower but is still one of our choices of OS. We are definitely using a multi OS strategy.”

Even though it might look like a compromise, offering two operating system on the same mobile device enables users to get the best of both worlds: “With Windows Phone, one direction for us – and one that we are now following – is dual OS. Dual OS as in Android and Windows together.”

Yang admitted that offering only Microsoft’s OS could make people reluctant: “If it is Windows only, maybe people will not find it as easy a decision to buy the phone. If they have the Android and Windows together, you can change it as you wish and it is much easier for people to choose Windows Phone. We think the dual OS can be a new choice for the consumer. It will be on sale in the US in Q2.”

Furthermore, Yang suggested that making devices that boot into Android and an OS other than WP8 is also a possibility, in the future: “We are definitely looking at other platforms. For any new operating system we are open to. We need to watch every OS. I think on this partner (Tizen) we are not very clear.”

Coming from the world’s third largest smartphone manufacturer, the news of having Android delivered with a variety of other operating systems is definitely exciting. Hopefully, the dual-boot smartphones won’t have mediocre specs, as such devices typically tend to.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Android and Boot2Gecko dual-boot smartphone made by Geeksphone and the rumor about Microsoft bringing Android apps to Windows Phone 8.

Samsung’s Galaxy Core Advance Case Uses Ultrasound to Detect Obstacles

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 01:15 PM PDT

Not only texting while driving is dangerous and potentially fatal, but also texting while walking. Samsung’s Ultrasonic Cover for the Galaxy Advanced Core will help you avoid bumping into people or walls while typing on the go.

Samsung launched today three new accessories that are meant to improve the way disabled or visually impaired users handle their smartphones. Ultimately, the three new add-ons for the Galaxy Core Advance could be used by normal people, as well, as their functions are extremely interesting, considering that they get over the out of fashion technical specs.

First of all, there’s the Optical Scan Stand, a raised bracket that employs the smrtphones OCR capabilities to transform text to voice. Obviously, this could primarily help people that cannot see very well the text, or who are unable to speak. On the other hand, it could prove useful to tourists who have the name of a place written on a paper in the local language.

Secondly, the Voice Labels enable visually impaired people to label things from around their homes, in order to identify them at a later moment in time. In concept, these resemble Samsung’s NFC-equipped TechTile stickers. The company explained that “[The Voice Label] can also help a user distinguish how to use electronics by allowing them to record a short explanation.”

The most important accessory, however, is the Ultrasonic Cover, a case that employs sound waves to figure out if there are any people or objects in the way. Mind you, the South Korean tech company figured that a larger than necessary radius would lead to a lot of confusion, so they restricted the case’s detection area to just two meters.

Simply put, Samsung turns people into bats with the Ultrasonic Cover. Whenever obstacles are detected in front of the phone, the user will be alerted either via vibrations or vocal feedback. Regardless of the chosen method, the user will become aware and have time to avoid the person or object standing in front him, thus avoiding accidents.

Even though the Galaxy Core Advance may look ancient because of the hardware buttons on the front and on the sides, these assist people with disabilities to use the smartphone without touching the screen. Besides the three new accessories, such features are of great use for the disabled.

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the smartphone spy lens that helps people see around the corner and the smartphone-controlled i-H2GO toy car that runs on hydrogen.