THE TECH-LICIOUS

Meet the multilingual robot newscaster with a very human face

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/12/home-robot-pepper/" style="background-color: white; color: #3399cc; line-height: 25.600000381469727px; text-decoration: none;">Pepper the robot</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"> looks like a robot, thanks to an almost-anime design. What then, of Kodomoroid (above, center) and Otonaroid (right)? Both androids have found employment at Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, as part of its new "Android: What is human?" exhibit. Kodomodroid ("child android") can recite news (and weather) reports from around the world in a variety of voices and languages. Meanwhile, Otonaroid ("adult android") is steered by a human nearby and will work as a guide for the exhibition. Museum visitors will be able to talk with the adult robot (as well as take control themselves), but will they be able to look either android in the eye?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This exhibit is right in the center of the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/uncannyvalley/" style="color: #3399cc; text-decoration: none;">Uncanny Valley</a>: the dip in comfort we feel when robot (or anything) becomes something <em>almost</em> human. These androids look human, but they're certainly not and it's an odd feeling when you're stood right in front of you. When your eyes meet, it's weird and probably why I got flustered trying to talk to the robots. But it's that very sensation and the bigger questions that robots pose which form the backbone of this exhibition. What is human? How far do androids have to go to become indistinguishable from humans? Do we even want that? To help frame the question, the museum's collaborated with ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories -- you might recall Ishiguro's <a href="http://www.engadget.com/tag/geminoid/" style="color: #3399cc; text-decoration: none;">Geminoids</a> series, and there's a similar attention to detail, if not more, on these animated mannequins.</span></div>
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<img alt="" data-credit="Mat Smith" data-mep="317872" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/4f06316de3d4dcc04a1c2b88799774c1/200320584/uncanny.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto !important; margin: 0px auto !important; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Each one is made down to the detail, with plaster casts of their muse as well as special kind of silicone to better replicate the appearance of human skin and muscle. We managed to get up close to the adult model and touched her hand in what we hoped was the least creepy way. The surface is understandably cold, but it really does feel like skin: there's a texture and a give to it... and that feels odd too. We talk a little in English, more in Japanese and lip sync isn't exact, more of an estimate, although the Otonadroid will mimic its human controller's head and even eye movement. The arms can also move, but this is more for the overall effect than any particular function: these androids are getting closer to the human aesthetic, even if there's still a few tells -- they're not meant for mechanical tasks.</span></div>
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<img alt="" data-credit="Mat Smith" data-mep="317873" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/6f2c33f4bc99e634071f7833d44a8eb0/200320586/news.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto !important; margin: 0px auto !important; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The child robot remains half-hidden behind its desk, but the adult one is on full show: her hands fidget, she blinks, looks around, even bows when she needs too. Both robots are utilizing information from outside their own remit. With the newscaster, she's parsing existing news, even if the pronunciation is pretty spot-on, and we're told that in the near-future she'll do it in multiple voices -- and languages. She's setting up her broadcast residence within the Miraikan, and will give visitors news reports and weather forecasts throughout the day. Between the two humanoid robots, the Miraikan has added Ishiguro's Telenoid to the exhibition.</span></div>
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<img alt="" data-credit="Mat Smith" data-mep="317874" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/5bf5186bd3fe4a78624936fd22d5f139/200320582/tele.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto !important; margin: 0px auto !important; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Admittedly, Telenoid is a veteran android. It's been around <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/hiroshi-ishiguro-creates-his-creepiest-robot-yet-the-telenoid-r/" style="color: #3399cc; text-decoration: none;">for a few years</a> and is another remotely-controlled robot, coated in a similarly silicone skin, although this one's certainly less humanoid. Then again, that face probably gave it away. The face is intentionally minimal, however: the robot was designed so that whoever 'steers' it will project their personality to it. It's meant to be gender- and age-neutral. When we got to talk to it, the oddest part was lifting it up to our lap, as suggested by the museum staff. When you pick up a kid or a baby, there's typically a degree of squirming, but Telenoid is more passive -- only its neck and facial features move. The controller is positioned only a few meters away, and visitors will be able to talk and control Telenoid, which is monitored through an overhead camera and mics hidden behind the robot.</span></div>
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<img alt="" data-credit="Mat Smith" data-mep="318395" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/9be5a36ab5ba1e52c5e5bb9d45fd0036/200320938/telenoidscontrol.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto !important; margin: 0px auto !important; max-width: 100%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The exhibition is a rare chance to get up close with these high-end (and presumably expensive) robots and includes several other bots -- even the world-famous <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/hondas-asimo-robot-sheds-a-few-pounds-gets-all-autonomous-on-u/" style="color: #3399cc; text-decoration: none;">Asimo</a>. But what's next? For Kodomoroid, it's her (pre-programmed) dream to have her own TV show. She also wants to branch out into gourmet reporting -- even though she doesn't eat.</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The exhibition opens today at the <a href="http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/" style="color: #3399cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Miraikan</a>, Tokyo.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">source-<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/25/androids-humanoid-robots-newscaster/" target="_blank">engadget</a></span></em></div>
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Meet the multilingual robot newscaster with a very human face

Pepper the robot looks like a robot, thanks to an almost-anime design. What then, of Kodomoroid (above, center) and Otonaroid (right)? B...

Harley Davidson Announce Project LiveWire: Their First Electric Bike

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One of my work colleagues Tim, owns a Harley and it is the love of his life.  In fact, (probably to his wife’s dismay) he calls it ‘the other woman.’  If you happen to ride a <a href="http://www.harley-davidson.com/" style="color: #0092dd;" target="_blank" title="H-D">Harley Davidson</a> motorcycle, then no doubt you will be in a similar situation to Tim.  The trouble with a Harley is that they are renowned for having faults.  Just little irksome things that would annoy any biker, but on a Harley the cost is obviously way more to fix than other motorcycles.</span></div>
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<a href="http://technews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/autos.yahoo_.com_.jpg" style="color: #0092dd;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="project livewire" class="lazy alignnone size-full wp-image-16594 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://technews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/autos.yahoo_.com_.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="459" src="http://technews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/autos.yahoo_.com_.jpg" style="background: rgb(236, 240, 244); border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; max-width: 708px; padding: 10px;" width="708" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But I suppose one of the main appeals of owning a Harley Davidson bike is the noise.  They are one of the loudest vehicles that you can get your hands on.  There is no mistaking that growl.  So it begs the question, why on earth have Harley Davidson created an electric motorcycle?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Harley-Davidson team have teased people with a recent YouTube clip. In the clip, the motorcycle zooms down a section of Route 66 in a blur, without giving anyone a clear look at the new bike. But if you want a closer look, just head over to the main website and check it out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The electric bike is called <a href="http://project.harley-davidson.com/en_GB" style="color: #0092dd;" target="_blank" title="Project LiveWire">Project LiveWire</a> and you can only experience the bike if you attend one of the road shows that Harley Davidson are putting on throughout the US. The Project LiveWire Experience begins a 30-city tour across America starting June 24th in New York City, where riders will be invited to take a historic ride. The full 2014 US tour schedule will be announced in the next week on their website.</span></div>
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<a href="http://technews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/www.looles.com_.jpg" style="color: #0092dd;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Project LiveWire" class="lazy alignnone size-full wp-image-16595 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://technews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/www.looles.com_.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="398" src="http://technews.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/www.looles.com_.jpg" style="background: rgb(236, 240, 244); border: 0px; display: inline; float: none; max-width: 708px; padding: 10px;" width="708" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Matt Levatich, President and Chief Operating Officer said, “America at its best has always been about reinvention…And, like America, Harley-Davidson has reinvented itself many times in our history, with customers leading us every step of the way. Project LiveWire is another exciting, customer-led moment in our history.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It does make you think about the cost though.  I mean if it costs a large amount of cash to fix a ‘standard’ Harley, how much is it going to cost to fix a state of the art electric bike?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As always, if you would like to leave a sensible comment, then please do so in the comments section below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">source-<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/2014/06/harley-davidson-announce-project-livewire-first-electric-bike/" target="_blank">tech beat</a></span></div>
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Harley Davidson Announce Project LiveWire: Their First Electric Bike

One of my work colleagues Tim, owns a Harley and it is the love of his life. In fact, (probably to his wife’s dismay) he calls it ‘the ot...

Want to try Sailfish OS without buying a new phone? You can get it on your Android device, but act fast

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<a href="http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/57376-image/Want-to-try-Sailfish-OS-without-buying-a-new-phone--You-can-get-it-on-your-Android-device-but-act-fast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Want to try Sailfish OS without buying a new phone?  You can get it on your Android device, but act fast" border="0" src="http://i-cdn.phonearena.com/images/article/57376-image/Want-to-try-Sailfish-OS-without-buying-a-new-phone--You-can-get-it-on-your-Android-device-but-act-fast.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Jolla’s Sailfish operating system has not had much time in the spotlight lately. It is not because there is nothing newsworthy about it, but in the hyper-competitive landscape of smartphones, the established players are not slowing down for anyone.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Sailfish made its official debut last year, and the reception was generally warm. The media took it for what Sailfish was, a new operating system. The market focus for hardware and the OS in general has been centered on the European markets since then.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Sailfish OS is distinct in that, similar to webOS, it is navigated completely by gestures, there are no navigation buttons.  For some that will mean a learning curve from a device like an iPhone, Windows Phone, or event an Android device, as the "home" button is a bit of a refuge (when in doubt, just push the button).  </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">If you have been wanting to take a look at how the Sailfish experience might work for you, but are not in Europe or did not want to spend €349 ($475) on a new mid-range-spec device like the </span><a class="previewtooltip" data-id="8153" data-type="phone" href="http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Jolla-Smartphone_id8153" style="background-color: white; color: #218cc3; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_self">Jolla Smartphone</a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">, there is good news. Jolla announced that it is going to make available a Community Alpha test of a Sailfish launcher for Android devices, provided they are running Android 4.3 or later.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">The process to get an installation link for your device is simple, but available only for a limited time:</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br />
<ol style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px 40px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative;">
<li style="list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 3px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Send an email to jolla-launcher@jolla.com from your Google account <span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">by June 27, 2014</span></span></span></li>
<li style="list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 3px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Include your name and which device you are using</span></li>
<li style="list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 3px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Await a Google Play installation link with instructions</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Jolla states that your email will be used solely for purposes of registering users for the Community Alpha and keep you up to speed with progress during testing. Once the Alpha test period is over, your email will be purged.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">To participate, the following is required:</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 40px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; position: relative;">
<li style="list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 3px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You must have a Nexus 4 or Nexus 5, or a device running Android 4.3 or higher</span></li>
<li style="list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 3px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You must have a Google account (presumably with unfettered access to Google Play)</span></li>
<li style="list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 3px 15px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You must be willing to provide feedback and report issues during the test period to together.jolla.com</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">After this phase of testing, there will be another test period that will be available to more people. The Jolla Launcher is designed to provide an experience of Sailfish OS, and it will work like a skin on the Android device. Jolla is calling it “risk free,” and it certainly looks like a great way to generate interest. Are you going to give it a try?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">source-<a href="http://www.phonearena.com/" target="_blank">phone arena</a></span></span></div>

Want to try Sailfish OS without buying a new phone? You can get it on your Android device, but act fast

Jolla’s Sailfish operating system has not had much time in the spotlight lately. It is not because there is nothing newsworthy about it...

WSJ: Apple's Smartwatch Will Come In Different Sizes, Pack 10 Sensors

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hot on the heels of a Reuters report yesterday<inset id="1593352240"></inset>, the<i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i><a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-plans-multiple-designs-for-smartwatch-1403245062" style="color: #4296b5; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" x-inset="1"><i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wall Street Journal </i>is reporting</a> that Apple is planning to launch a smart watch that will be available in multiple screen sizes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The new report is at odds with yesterday's from Reuters<inset id="1593352240"></inset>, which claimed that the new wearable would be available only with a 2.5-inch screen. A person "familiar with the matter" <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-plans-multiple-designs-for-smartwatch-1403245062" style="color: #4296b5; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">explained to the<i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Journal</i></a><i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i>that "the smartwatch will likely come in multiple screen sizes." That may or may not be true, but it certainly could make sense-because 2.5 inches is a very large screen to strap to your wrist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Elsewhere, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-plans-multiple-designs-for-smartwatch-1403245062" style="color: #4296b5; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal</i> reports</a> that the new device will include "more than 10 sensors" including ones to track health and fitness. Incidentally, that <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">does </i>align with what <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reuters</i> said yesterday, with one of its sources noting that the watch would be able to measure the wearer's pulse. The glut of sensors is, according to a <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal</i> source, Apple's attempt to "address an overarching criticism of existing smartwatches that they fail to provide functions significantly different from that of a smartphone."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">While <a href="http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-plans-multiple-designs-for-smartwatch-1403245062" style="color: #4296b5; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal</i> claims</a> that the exact specifications of the smartwatch are "still being finalized," it also claims that Quanta Computer will put the watch into production in the next two to three months. That could-and it's a very big could that relies on all of this being trye-see the smartwatch launch as early as this October. Possibly. At this point, with contradictory reports over size from the <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Journal </i>and <i style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reuters</i>, it remains unclear quite what that might bring, though</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">soure-<a href="http://www.gizmodo.in/Gizmodo/WSJ-Apples-Smartwatch-Will-Come-in-Different-Sizes-Pack-10-Sensors/articleshow/36880544.cms" target="_blank">gizmodo</a></span></div>
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WSJ: Apple's Smartwatch Will Come In Different Sizes, Pack 10 Sensors

Hot on the heels of a Reuters report yesterday , the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is planning to launch a smart watch...

10 useful and innovative Google services you may not know about

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<img alt="Google Mars allows users to explore the Red Planet" height="359" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/google-services.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Everyone is familiar with Google's flagship services, like Search, Gmail and Maps. Even blue-sky projects like its </span><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-project-loon/27955/" style="background-color: white; color: #1e8dd7; font-family: ProximaNova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">internet balloon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> and </span><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-self-driving-car/32278/" style="background-color: white; color: #1e8dd7; font-family: ProximaNova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">self-driving cars</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: ProximaNova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">are well-known. But there are plenty of remarkable Google services that many people just don't know about. Here, Gizmag looks at 10 of them.</span><br />
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Google Mars</h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Google Mars allows users to explore the Red Planet" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone knows that you can find your way around using Google Maps. Fewer realize that Google can also you show you around Mars. <a href="http://www.google.com/mars/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google Mars</a>is a collaboration with NASA researchers at Arizona State University and can show visitors relief, visible and infrared views of the Red Planet. Those who prefer a view of the planet in 3D format can use <a href="http://www.google.com/earth/explore/showcase/mars.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mars in Google Earth</a>, in which images of the planet taken only hours ago can also be viewed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mars is actually just one of the distant places Google can help you explore. Its mapping services also cover <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/moon/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the moon</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/sky/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the solar system</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/streetview/oceans" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the oceans</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Body</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#2" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Google Body allows users to explore 3D renderings of the human body" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-9.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Body is now actually <a href="http://www.zygotebody.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Zygote Body</a>, but we're not going to let that get in the way of an interesting article. The software was built by Google and was open-sourced in 2012. Zygote, which provided the imagery for the original Google Body, used the software to build its own version.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Zygote Body provides 3D human models around which users can scroll and zoom. The body can be virtually explored layer by layer or by focusing on certain body parts, such as bones organs or nerves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Person Finder</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#3" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Google People Finder helps people to find family and friends after natural and humanitaria..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-3.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://google.org/personfinder/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google Person Finder</a> was created as a means of enabling people to reconnect with friends and family after natural and humanitarian crises. It was developed following the the attack on the World Trade Center buildings in 2001 and is part of Google's wider <a href="http://www.google.org/crisisresponse/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Crisis Response arm</a>. Person Finder has been deployed for use a number of times, including in response to Typhoon Yolanda, the Boston Marathon Explosions, the 2013 Uttarakhand floods and Tropical Cyclone Phailin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Cultural Institute</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#4" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="The Google Cultural Institute showcases exhibits and collections from museums and archives..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For lovers of art and culture, the <a href="http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google Cultural Institute</a> provides a wealth of "exhibits and collections from museums and archives all around the world," into which you can delve. As part of its mission to organize the world’s information, Google partnered with hundreds of institutions with a view to hosting the world’s "cultural treasures" online. The Institute aims to preserve the world's cultural creations and make them accessible online now and for future generations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Music Timeline</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#5" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Music Timeline shows the history of music by genre and artist" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-5.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While it may not be the most sophisticated of Google's creations, the interactive visualization that is <a href="http://research.google.com/bigpicture/music/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google's Music Timeline</a> is still hugely compelling. The graph shows the popularity of music genres relative to each other since 1950. Users can click on genres to drill-down into sub-genre and can click on sub-genres to drill-down further still to significant artists. Hovering over the visualization will map influential albums onto the timeline by year. And of course clicking on an album will take users through to the Google Play store, where they can buy it (how thoughtful of you, Google).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Music Timeline is part of Google's <a href="http://research.google.com/bigpicture/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Big Picture Group</a>, a research group that "explores how information visualization can make complex data accessible, useful and even fun."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Waze</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#6" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-8.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.waze.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Waze</a> can't strictly be chalked up as a Google innovation; the search giant bought the navigation startup last year. Nevertheless, it's now Google-owned and the the concept certainly warrants a mention. Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app available on iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Users can passively contribute to generating traffic data by running the app during a journey. It's also possible to share reports on accidents, police speed traps or other hazards. The app can then offer up new routes for a user's journey based on historical and real-time data.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">reCAPTCHA</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#7" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="reCAPTCHA digitizes pre-digital texts while fighting spam" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-6.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.google.com/recaptcha/intro/index.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">reCAPTCHA</a> is another Google acquisition. You will know it best as the distorted and skewed pieces of text that you are asked to work out on a website to verify that you are human. People may find them annoying, but often are completely unaware of the secret second life that reCAPTCHA puzzles lead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">reCAPTCHA presents the user with two words that could not initially be read by computers – one that has since been verified and one that has not. By correctly typing both words to gain access to a website, a user both verifies that they are human and contributes to verifying the other word. In this way, the puzzles are used to digitize old printed materials such as books. With around 200 million CAPTCHA puzzles being solved around the world every day, it can make a substantial contribution to bringing old, pre-computer texts onto the Web.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Trends</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#8" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Google Trends allows users to study the search volumes of different terms" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-7.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of all the products or services featured in this article, <a href="http://www.google.com/trends/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google Trends</a> is probably the best known. It is also probably the one into that can suck most of your time once you start playing around with it. Trends has a simple premise: it allows users to look at the volume of search traffic for particular terms. Users can browse current trending search terms or input their own and compare them against others. For example, did you know that during 2010 and 2011, more people were searching for information about <a href="http://www.google.com/trends/explore?hl=en-GB#q=/m/0478__m,%20/m/02mjmr&cmpt=q" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lady Gaga than Barack Obama</a>? You do now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Ad Grants</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#9" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Google Ad Grants provides in-kind AdWords advertising for non-profit organizations" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-0.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most people are familiar with Google AdWords. It's the platform that allows individuals and organizations to pay for ads down the side of a Google results page based on the search term. If you're a non-profit organization, however, you need not necessarily pay. Through its <a href="http://www.google.com/grants/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ad Grants</a> service, Google offers non-profit organizations US$10,000 per month in in-kind AdWords advertising, to promote their missions and initiatives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Google Helpouts</span></h2>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/pictures#10" style="background-color: transparent; color: #036eb5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Google Helpouts connects users with experts in their field for live video lessons" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/google-services-4.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our final service featured is aimed purely at helping people to learn new skills from experts in their field. <a href="https://helpouts.google.com/" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Google Helpouts</a> offers video sessions on topics across a range of categories, such as art and music, computers and electronics, cooking and health. Users can browse the categories or search with specific terms and can offer to give their own Helpout sessions as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">source-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/google-services-unknown-hidden-gems-under-radar/32629/">gizmag</a></span></div>
</div>

10 useful and innovative Google services you may not know about

Everyone is familiar with Google's flagship services, like Search, Gmail and Maps. Even blue-sky projects like its internet balloon ...

Amazing innovation by amazon-THE FIRE PHONE WITH 3D DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE

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<span style="font-size: large;">After what seems like years of rumors, Amazon has announced its first foray into the competitive smartphone space, in the form of the Fire Phone. The largely high-end device packs in some interesting features, chief among which is its Dynamic Perspective display tech and product scanning Firefly app.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The handset sports an industrial design with Gorilla Glass on both sides, and packs a 590-nit 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 display. That comes out to 315 pixels per inch, which should be sharp, but still a ways off the bar set by recent 1080p and 2K handsets. The Fire Phone runs on a quad core 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU backed up by an Adreno 339 graphics processor and 2 GB RAM. The handset features dual stereo speakers, LTE connectivity and a 13 MP rear camera. Buying the device will provide access to unlimited Amazon Cloud Drive storage for photos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The smartphone features four front-facing cameras, which track your gaze to provide stereo vision no matter how you hold the handset. It’s not immediately clear how the feature will be used, but the company has made the developer kit available, so we’re sure to see some interesting applications as time goes on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unique features</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">During the announcement event in Seattle, the company didn’t spend long dwelling on specs, but moved on to the software and unique features that the handset offers. Like other Amazon devices, the Fire Phone runs Amazon's heavily customized version of Android known as Fire OS. The UI features a content carousel (as seen on Fire tablets), as well as a more traditional app grid.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/amazon-fire-phone-details-specs/32597/pictures#3" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="The handset packs an unusual Dynamic Perspective features that projects a 3D image in rath..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/amazon-fire-phone-announced-2.png" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most interesting things about the Fire Phone is its Dynamic Perspective feature, which projects a 3D image inwards rather than outwards. The company demoed the feature on maps and images, with impressive results, and users will be able to use it when playing games or browsing (on Amazon of course), where tilting the device will move to the next product.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another unique selling point for the phone is Firefly, a feature that lets users scan physical products, music and even TV shows, and have them automatically added to their Amazon shopping carts. The Fire Phone even has a physical button dedicated to the service: users will simply hold down the button to begin scanning (and sending Amazon more of their money).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Being an Amazon device, much of the software serves as a portal to the company’s wide selection of media content, including its ubiquitous Kindle eBooks, Instant Video streaming service and the recently launched Prime Music.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/amazon-fire-phone-details-specs/32597/pictures#2" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="The device acts as a portal to Amazon content" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/amazon-fire-phone-announced-1.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="482" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, also like other Amazon hardware, the device won’t have access to the Google Play Store, but makes do with the company’s own app store. The selection in the Amazon Appstore is solid and rapidly growing, but can’t yet compete with Google's and Apple’s offerings. Amazon’s on-device Mayday customer support service, which pops up a one-way video chat box on your device, has made the jump from Kindle Fire tablets to the new phone. Like on the Fire, the Mayday tech support will be free of charge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, the handset is compatible with Second Screen, allowing users to beam the phone's TV shows and movies to a bigger screen. It will require aFire TV, PlayStation or other Miracast-enabled device.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Small touches</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amazon was keen to point out how much love has gone into the device’s software, highlighting a few clever features of the handset’s OS.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the calendar, for example, users can send quick messages to invited contacts by swiping to a panel on the right – a useful feature if you’re running late. Users will also be able to set a timer telling the device to turn off the ringer when they’re in a meeting, and can even set a particular photo album to appear when they swipe to the right of the lock screen. This sounds like a great feature for those keen on showing off their kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From where we stand now, the Fire Phone looks like a very solid looking handset, and is a little more high-end than we were expecting from the company’s first offering in the space. While the ecosystem’s app selection may be a little lacking in comparison to its rivals, the device’s unique features should make it an intriguing new entry to an extremely competitive market.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the biggest surprise is the Fire Phone's pricing. Amazon's Fire tablets have historically had rock-bottom prices, as they're subsidized by their virtual Amazon shopping mall software. But the Fire Phone is, somewhat surprisingly, ringing up for the same starting price as rival flagships like the iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Fire Phone is exclusive to AT&T in the US, where pre-orders will ship on July 25. You can reserve yours on-contract for US$199 for the 32 GB model and $299 for the 64 GB version. The handset will cost $650 unlocked. All of those prices, for a limited time, include a year of Amazon Prime membership.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">SOURCE-<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/amazon-fire-phone-details-specs/32597/">GIZMAG</a></span></div>
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