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Garmin's new Fenix 7 smartwatches get a touchscreen and a flashlight
The Fenix 7 finally has a touchscreen (and a fancy new LED flashlight too).
Apple's would-be sapphire glass supplier charged with fraud
Not that long ago, Apple was going to build iPhone screens using sapphire glass, but that didn't work out so well. It loaned $578 million to a company called GT Advanced Technologies, which was supposed to build highly scratch-resistant screen covers from synthetic sapphire crystals. Instead, it produced flawed "boules" of sapphire that couldn't be cut into displays and went bankrupt months after it started. Now, the SEC has announced that it's charging the company and its ex-CEO with fraud for allegedly withholding key information from stockholders.
Vertu's latest luxury Android phone is built for jetsetters
Luxury smartphone maker Vertu may have undergone some operational changes over the past couple of years, but that doesn't mean it has broken the tradition of selling people expensive Android smartphones. With its latest update to the premium Constellation handset, the company is targeting the "global traveller" with support for dual SIMs (for the first time) and access to iPass, the world's largest WiFi network.
Want the best Apple Watch display? Get a Sport model
Splurging on a gold or steel Apple Watch might get you a fancier timepiece, but there's one thing you won't get: the best possible display. DisplayMate has taken a close look at the OLED screen in the smartwatch, and it notes that sapphire carries its share of drawbacks over the toughened glass in the Watch Sport. While you're still getting colorful, sharp visuals, the higher-end Watch's sapphire reflects almost twice as much light and washes out the picture in very bright conditions. And no, Apple can't use an anti-glare coating to fix this -- that would scratch easily, which misses the whole point of sapphire. There will eventually be improved sapphire screens that are both scratch- and glare-resistant, but you're currently best off with the Sport (and any other smartwatch with glass, really) if you're an outdoorsy type.
Corning's sapphire-like glass keeps your smartphone scratch-free
Based on hype alone, you'd think that sapphire was the ultimate replacement for glass on phone screens. However, that's not totally true -- while sapphire is extremely scratch-resistant, it's both more expensive and more likely to shatter if your device nose-dives into the sidewalk. Corning may have found a way to combine the best properties of both materials, though. It recently teased Project Phire, a glass that's as resistant to drops as Gorilla Glass 4 while touting scratch protection that "approaches" sapphire. The company isn't saying much more about the technology at this point, but it should go on sale sometime later this year.
Apple salvages its US job plans by turning a factory into a data center
Apple has long had dreams of bringing more manufacturing to the US, but the reality has been harsh at times -- the Arizona sapphire plant it helped build went down the tubes last year after its key partner, GT Advanced, went bankrupt. However, the tech giant has at least managed to salvage something out of this messy situation. Apple tells Bloomberg that it's converting the failed factory into a solar-powered "command center" for its worldwide networks. The effort will see it pour $2 billion into the facility (one of Apple's biggest investments yet, the company claims) and create 150 direct jobs, not to mention 300 to 500 related positions in construction and support. It's not clear when the data center will be ready, but GT has control of the place until the end of 2015.
Remember the GT Advanced sapphire facility? It's going to be a command center for Apple
CNBC reported today that the GT Advanced plant in Mesa, Arizona, originally tasked with the job of making sapphire for screens, buttons, and other bits and pieces of Apple gear, is now going to be taken over by the company that allegedly caused GT Advanced to go out of business -- Apple. Apple will be spending a cool US$2 billion to transform the factory into a data center that will act as a command center for the company's worldwide data network. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey took to Twitter to tout the investment and the jobs (about 150 full-time Apple employees, about 300-500 engineering and construction jobs) that will benefit the state. Ducey has had a good week, with his state playing host to Super Bowl XLIX yesterday and this announcement coming today. I'm pleased to announce #Apple is expanding to #AZ with a $2 billion investment in #Mesa. http://t.co/pfWI8pXALe #AZmeansBiz - Doug Ducey (@dougducey) February 2, 2015
GT Advanced Technologies reaches settlement agreement with Apple
GT Advanced Technologies announced today that it reached a settlement agreement with Apple. Under the agreement, GT Advanced will wind down sapphire production at their Mesa, Arizona facility and will completely exit the sapphire production business. Under terms of the agreement, GT Advanced will retain ownership of all of its sapphire production equipment, effectively putting an end to any rumors that Apple might swoop in and buy the machinery at below cost. As for the loan amounts GT Advanced owes Apple, the settlement agreement stipulates that GT Advanced has four years to pay Apple back, interest free. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, which is subject to approval by the Bankruptcy Court, GT will be released from all exclusivity obligations under its various agreements with Apple. GT will retain ownership of all production, ancillary and inventory assets located in Mesa and Apple is provided with a mechanism for recovering its $439 million pre-payment made to GT over a period of up to four years without interest, solely from a portion of the proceeds from ASF sales. The agreement provides for a mutual release of any and all claims by both parties. As a result of the agreed upon terms, GT retains control of its intellectual property and will be able to sell its sapphire growth and fabrication technology, including ASF and Hyperion™, without restrictions. GT and Apple will continue their technical exchange involving the development of processes for growing next generation sapphire boules as GT continues to build on its successfully deployed ASF115Kg technology and expand its range above 165Kg. GT Advanced and Apple's partnership began in earnest back in late 2013, with the two companies purportedly working together to develop sapphire displays for the iPhone 6. Under terms of the original deal, Apple helped GT Advanced get a manufacturing plant up and running and even financed the purchase of advanced sapphire manufacturing equipment. Per the agreement, Apple's financing was to be accomplished via four separate payment installments to GT Advanced, contingent upon certain operational and technical requirements being met. Somewhere along the way, though, things started to fall apart. According to the rumor mill, GT Advanced began missing technical requirements as early as February of last year. When Apple withheld its last loan installment last quarter, GT Advanced, with just $85 million in the bank and much more owed to creditors, filed for bankruptcy.
Apple and GT Advanced agree to part ways
Apple and sapphire supplier GT Advanced Technologies have reached an agreement that severs the ties between the two companies. GT Advanced's lawyer Luc Despins told a bankruptcy court that the two companies have agreed to an "amicable parting of the ways." Under the agreement, GT Advanced would reveal additional details about its bankruptcy, but Apple's contracts with GT would remain sealed and other documents between the two companies would be destroyed. GT Advanced also will be allowed to sell the sapphire furnaces and other assets in its Mesa, Arizona sapphire facility to satisfy its debt. The final amount Apple will receive as part of this settlement was not disclosed. The assistant attorney general of New Hampshire and other lawyers reportedly scoffed at the secrecy clause of the agreement, arguing that creditors and laid off workers have the right to know what happened to the company. According to a report in Reuters, GT Advanced's bankruptcy centers on the November 2013 agreement it signed with Apple to provide sapphire screen displays for the company's future mobile devices. The settlement is subject to approval by Judge Henry Boroff, who earlier approved GT Advanced's plan to close its sapphire facility. A court approval hearing is scheduled for November.
Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire capture more Mega Evolutions
As Pokemon X / Y taught us last year, permanent evolution is for chumps! Single battle-spanning Mega Evolutions are the new hotness, and the upcoming Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire remakes are progressing accordingly: A recent edition of CoroCoro (which Serebii translated and posted scans of) has revealed Mega Evolutions of Latios, Latias, Pidgeot and Beedrill. Though Mega Latios and Latias weren't detailed, Serebii reports that Mega Pidgeot is a Normal/Flying type with the No Guard ability, while Mega Beedrill is Bug/Poison and capable of Adaptability. Serebii states that while strolling through the Hoenn region's overworld, Pokemasters can ride Mega Latios and Latias into the sky to find Dialga, Plakia, Reshiram, Zekrom and other Pokemon in the clouds. Serebii adds that islands inhabited by the notable Pokemon can only be accessed via flight, and that players will be able to find all non-event legendary Pokemon. There are also details about the MultiNavi PokeNav, which offers MapNavi, TVNavi, PlayNavi (think Pokemon Amie and the Global Trade Station) and DexNavi, which "helps you find Pokemon in the wild and register them in your Pokedex." Though Latias and Latios will still only appear in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire respectively, CoroCoro will distribute a serial code version of the Eon Ticket, an item tied to real-world events that lets players capture whichever eon Pokemon they're missing. We'll have to hope for a similar opportunity once wild copies of Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire appear on store shelves on November 21. If you're struggling to wait that long, you can join our prowl through the eShop's tall grass in search of a demo preceding the duo's launch. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Apple sapphire source GT Advanced Technologies wants to shutter plant
Re/Code is reporting that GT Advanced Technologies, the company Apple tapped to begin looking into making device screens from synthetic sapphire, is requesting court permission to close its plant in Arizona. This comes days after the surprise announcement that GT had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In its filing, GT noted that it had not been able to meet certain manufacturing operation and quality control metrics, causing Apple to withhold a US$139 million loan installment coming due in October. A total of $578 million had been floated by Apple to help GT build the new plant, and the stalled payment put the company into a untenable financial situation. Apple spokespersons have reiterated that the company will do all it can to save jobs in Arizona. Whether this means Apple will bail out GT or even purchase the plant itself is unknown.
Apple's sapphire supplier GT Advanced Technologies files for bankruptcy
GT Advanced Technologies, the company Apple tapped to manufacture large quantities of sapphire, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier today. Over the past year, Apple helped GT Advanced orchestrate the build-out of a brand new sapphire manufacturing facility in Arizona, even providing GT Advanced with a few substantive loans to help them acquire the requisite machinery. Further, regulatory filings throughout the year indicated that GT Advanced had plans to manufacture huge quantities of sapphire, leading some to speculate that the iPhone 6 would feature a sapphire coated display. The iPhone 6 unveiling, however, came and went with nary a mention of sapphire. While the Watch will use sapphire crystals in its two higher-end models, that product isn't due until 2015. A press release on the matter reads: GT Advanced Technologies Inc., announced today that it had, together with certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, GT), commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire. GT expects the court will authorize the company to continue to conduct business as usual while it devotes renewed efforts to resolve its current issues and develops a reorganization plan. GT indicated that as of September 29, 2014 it had approximately $85 million of cash. In addition, it is now seeking debtor-in-possession financing, which, once obtained, would provide the company with an immediate source of additional funds. These funding sources will enable GT to satisfy the customary obligations associated with the daily operation of its business, including the timely payment of employee wages and other obligations. As a result of the filing, and as is customary with public companies, NASDAQ may temporarily halt trading in the company's stock pending the receipt of additional information on the company's financial condition. The company is cooperating with NASDAQ and will be providing any requested information as promptly as possible. The iPhone 6 still employs sapphire for the home button and the camera lens, but that's apparently not enough to give GT Advanced the amount of cash they need to run their business. As for sapphire not being used for the iPhone 6 display, there are two theories percolating through the blogosphere. One is that Apple was hoping to announce an iPhone with a sapphire display but that GT Advanced wasn't able to get yields up to a sufficient level before mass production kicked off. Another is that Apple seriously pursued the idea of a sapphire iPhone display but ultimately retreated after discovering during drop tests that it was more prone to shattering than glass. Following news of GT Advanced filing for bankruptcy, shares of the company are down by over 90% and are currently trading at about $0.90.
Huawei's Ascend P7 Sapphire Edition is elegantly tough
Huawei's a smartphone manufacturer that likes to stay very much on trend. At IFA this year, it unveiled the latest device in its large-screen Ascend Mate series, which includes a fingerprint sensor akin to that of the HTC One Max and iPhone 5s. While that handset was very much the star of the show, Huawei also brought the new Ascend P7 Sapphire Edition along for the world's press to check out, and it's the first time we've seen it in the flesh since hearing about it late last month. Sapphire looks set to become the new buzzwordy feature of next-generation phones, and Huawei's making sure it's quick out of the gate. We know full well what's inside the new P7 edition and how it's likely to perform, which left us plenty of time to drool over the new premium look that'll turn heads and take a serious beating.
Kyocera's sapphire screen is tougher than we expected
Few things in life are more satisfying than taking out pent-up aggression on a poor, helpless phone, and the Kyocera Brigadier gave me that opportunity this week. Armed with a 4.5-inch Sapphire Shield screen, the rugged Verizon-exclusive device claims to be scratchproof and drop-proof because the material is harder than glass. Since an increasing number of manufacturers (including Apple and Huawei) are reportedly planning on using sapphire on future products, I wanted to torture-test the Brigadier with a lot of sharp and abrasive objects to see if it really holds up to its claims.
Everyone's making a sapphire phone, here's Huawei's
Rumors of the next-gen iPhone donning a scratch-proof sapphire screen have been going around since the Apple sapphire plant announcement, and it appears that Huawei wants in on the hype, as it prepares for the launch of a sapphire edition Ascend P7. While no price has been announced just yet (it'll naturally be more expensive, of course), a Huawei rep told us that said phone will be available in its Chinese online store in limited quantity, with the first batch due in September, followed by another lot in November. If all goes well, Huawei will become the first Chinese brand to sell a smartphone with a sapphire screen, but it'll have to act fast as local rivals Xiaomi and Vivo are also rumored to be mulling sapphire devices.
Weekends with Engadget: Tokyo's vending machines, new buyer's guides and more!
This week, we learned about the dangers of stem cell treatment, explored the world of 3D motion capture and went on a vending machine shopping spree in Tokyo. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Engadget Daily: 3D motion capture, the tough reality of sapphire displays and more!
Today, we take a look at the history behind 3D motion capture animations, scratch-test a nearly indestructible sapphire display, watch iOS users join the AR war of Ingress and learn about a $20 chip that detects diabetes. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Corning thinks sapphire displays are trash
With the rumor mills whipping up a storm around some alleged sapphire displays for the next iPhone(s), you can imagine that Corning -- the company that makes the Gorilla Glass displays Apple has been using for a while now -- is a bit nervous. As you might expect, Corning's opinion of the new display material that could usurp its own offering is less than glowing. In fact, to show just how inferior sapphire is, Corning produced a comparison video. Well that certainly didn't make sapphire look like a viable replacement, but as this test was carried out by Corning, it's entirely possible that any material that would make it into an Apple device would perform significantly better. There's also the matter of scratches, which doesn't appear to be addressed in Corning's video. Sure, a few hundred pounds of pressure on the screen is one thing, but how often is an iPhone subjected to that kind of treatment in the real world? The greater danger has always been scratches, and if my own iPhones are any indication of durability, Gorilla Glass is about as scratch resistant as a potato.
Sapphire phone displays are tough, but the realities are even tougher
Sapphire is the birthstone of September, the traditional gift on your 45th wedding anniversary and a material associated with both luxury and ruggedness. It can be found in opulent products like jewelry, camera lenses and fancy watches. Given that, it's also one of the toughest materials in the world, which makes it ideal for military-grade items like aviation displays and even missiles. So when rumors emerged that a sapphire display may be featured on the next iPhone, a chorus of excitement followed. However, many phone manufacturers don't share the same sense of optimism that Apple might hold toward this different kind of next-gen display.
Vertu's Signature Touch puts the luxury back into specs
It's been a year and a half since luxury phone maker Vertu ditched Symbian in favor of Android, thus slowly catching up with the rest of the mobile market. Its first Android phone, the Ti, fell behind the curve with its dual-core processor, tiny battery and low screen resolution; then the more affordable Constellation arrived with a larger screen but also let down by a similar chip. Somewhere along the line, though, Vertu finally decided "enough is enough." The result is this good-looking Signature Touch which, for a change, packs pretty much everything you'd expect on a modern flagship smartphone: a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip, a 4.7-inch 1080p display, Cat 4 LTE radio (with bands covering many parts of the world), NFC plus Qi wireless charging.
