New York startup to use VR tech to rehabilitate prisoners

A New York-based startup is looking to bring virtual reality technology into prisons to educate and rehabilitate inmates globally.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has drawn a lot of attention for its ability to stimulate our senses and transport us to another version of reality. The value of the technology is being recognised beyond entertainment, and is percolating into industries such as education, real estate, and now prisoner rehabilitation, through New York-based startup Virtual Rehab.

The company's founder and CEO, entrepreneur Dr Raji Wahidy, firmly believes in VR's potential to rehabilitate and educate prisoners, ultimately preparing them for a better life outside of prison, reducing the number of repeat offences and re-incarceration rates, and easing the burden on taxpayers. Virtual Rehab was founded on the basis of this belief.

The startup is looking to use virtual reality technology to deliver correctional services and rehabilitation programs for sex offenders, domestic violence perpetrators, and other prisoners, as well as provide them with practical job training.

Wahidy told ZDNet that by offering presence simulation to prisoners as an interface metaphor, Virtual Rehab's technology will allow prisoners to perform practical tasks such as replacing a car battery in computer-generated worlds. The startup uses haptic feedback technology -- which provides a sense of touch -- to make the experience feel more realistic. For example, a prisoner will receive a slight shock sensation if they attempt to replace the battery before the car has cooled down after being switched off in the virtual world.

Importantly, the skills gained in virtual environments are directly transferable to the real world, Wahidy said.

Virtual Rehab will also test prisoners' reactions to real-world conflict scenarios, and score them accordingly.

"We will put them in a real-life scenario where they are confronted with some sort of family violence between a husband and a wife or a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Then we will monitor how they react, whether or not they're going to take the proper action to rectify the situation," said Wahidy, who was formerly the VP of operations at Vodafone.

"The proper action in this case would be that they try to interject and separate the two, and if they don't wish to do that, they should call 911 and ask for assistance."

Wahidy admitted that there are going to be prisoners who don't learn from their mistakes, but insisted that the percentage of people who are capable of learning is higher.

"A lot of prisoners genuinely want to integrate with society, and we need to help them rather than label them as offenders for the rest of their lives and not allow them to work or have the abilities or skill sets to work," he said.

"If we don't train them and just let the prison be a place to punish, then what good have we done?"

The total global prison population is currently sitting at around 10.5 million, of which 2.2 million are in the United States, followed by 1.6 million in China, according to the Institute of Criminal Policy Research.

In the 2016-17 financial year, the US government allocated $8.8 billion for prisons and detention. Globally, Virtual Rehab estimates that $35.2 billion will be spent on prisons and detention in the same financial year.

Citing statistics from the US National Institute of Justice, Wahidy said that two out of three offenders who leave prison return within three years, and 75 percent return within five years. This is a contributing factor to congestion in US prisons.

"Whatever they have in place now, it's not working," said Wahidy. "Every person has good in them. It's up to us to whether we enrich this small good and make it larger or make it worse by using prison as punishment."

While VR has only gained mainstream recognition in the last few years, with research indicating that it's poised for a growth spurt, the technology has been used in the medical field for decades as a tool for therapists to administer virtual reality exposure therapy. Numerous studies have found VR to be effective in treating a range of psychological disorders including phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Wahidy said that bringing psychologists and psychiatrists into prison is not only expensive, but also not always the best way to help prisoners.

"Sitting with a psychiatrist can be intimidating," Wahidy said. "Why not experiment with virtual scenarios to teach inmates, rather than force [psychologists and psychiatrists] onto the inmates and make them open up to things that they might not be ready to talk about?"

Wahidy is not the only one who has been thinking about the application of VR technology in prisoner education and rehabilitation. Impassioned prison education advocate Christopher Zoukis, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg, recently wrote an article exploring the idea of using virtual and augmented reality for the purposes of education and mental health treatment.

"Those focused on the punishment aspects of prison may see the use of virtual and augmented reality as giving prisoners access to expensive games and entertainment. But in reality, content would be focused on educational and vocational skills, literacy, and programs such as mental health," Zoukis wrote.

"Educating and rehabilitating prisoners ultimately reduces recidivism, translates into numerous types of costs savings, and helps integrate released prisoners into society, making them contributing members of communities."

Zoukis has received three certifications while in prison, and is currently completing a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies, with plans to attend law school when he's released in 2018.

Wahidy said it's stories likes Zoukis' that prove more needs to be done to help prisoners become valuable members of society.

He is fully cognizant of the fact that Virtual Rehab will face some significant challenges. For example, some states in the US have stricter laws than others around the use of technology in prisons.

"We will work with government authorities to evaluate how much can we change from a legal and regulatory perspective," Wahidy said. "Obviously, we'll be leveraging the business case, the fact that it has proven to be effective in the medical field, and the fact that [the system] in place now is not working."

Wahidy also acknowledged that there will be challenges when expanding beyond the US and into other regions such as Canada and the United Kingdom.

"Every country has its own laws and regulations, so it has to be localised to that country. Language requirements will also need to be taken into consideration, but it's time we leverage advancements in technology and do good for people who are in dire need of our help," Wahidy said.

"It's a win-win scenario. We're going to lower our taxes, build a better community, build a better future for those who deserve a second chance in life."

Virtual Rehab is currently in discussions with government officials in all US states, as well as venture capitalists, with plans to launch around mid-2017.

Oracle integrates Service Cloud with Oracle IoT Cloud

The packaged open source integration should help Oracle customers find more ways to exploit IoT data.

Oracle headquarters

(Image: file photo)

Oracle on November 14 is rolling out its Internet of Things Accelerator, a packaged integration between the Oracle's Service Cloud and its IoT Cloud.

The new offering should give Oracle customers, particularly in industries like manufacturing or consumer electronics, new ways to use the vast quantities of data collected from internet-connected devices to improve customer service and realize new efficiencies. The open source integration includes implementation documentation to easily configure, extend, and deploy.

"Where we're unique is in thinking about that end-to-end solution," Steve Fioretti, vice president of product management for the Oracle Service Cloud, told ZDNet.

In other words, Oracle is providing the Java running on the devices themselves, the infrastructure to collect messages from those machines securely and at scale, tools to analyze the messages that matter, and the platforms on which to act on those messages. The accelerator, of course, advances that final piece of the puzzle.

"A lot of people offer IoT technology, but we're thinking about [industry] use cases and how we can apply this in a way that that solves business problems," Fioretti said.

The integration should prove useful for manufacturers of any kind of devices that need updates or servicing, such as medical equipment, ATM machines, or gaming consoles.

The company Denon + Marantz, which makes audio and visual equipment like speakers, is using the integration to analyze its customers' speakers. The company actually identified a chip problem in some speakers and shipped new ones to the affected customers before the customers were even aware of the problem. Denon + Marantz has also exploited the data it collects for marketing purposes, developing campaigns based on the ways consumers use their speakers.

"Right out of the box, it's starting to improve their overall customer experience, helping [businesses] anticipate an issue before anybody's even aware of it, and make service predictive and proactive," Fioretti said.

Verizon buys free Wi-Fi kiosk company LQD WiFi

Smart-kiosk company is latest addition to Verizon's Internet of things and smart cities portfolio.

A Palo smart kiosk from LQD.

Image: LQD

Verizon has bought free Wi-Fi kiosk company LQD WiFi in a boost to its smart cities ambitions.

LQD WiFi's futuristic Palo smart-kiosks offer free public Wi-Fi, security cameras, emergency calling, and lighting. They can also deliver information like local community updates, directions, or travel updates using the Pebble OS.

Verizon said new urban technologies such as these are becoming increasingly important as the public's expectations for smart-city infrastructure increases. It is collaborating with LQD over designs for cities, private developers, academic institutions, and entertainment venues.

LQD is working on a project with the city of New Rochelle, New York, which hopes the kiosks will encourage residents and visitors to engage more with city services.

Mayor Noam Bramson said: "We want New Rochelle to be an ideal place to live and work. We recognize that a healthy future depends increasingly on robust digital infrastructure, based on cutting-edge technology that can connect residents and businesses alike in a friendly, accessible way."

Verizon has been building out an IoT and smart cities business, most recently with the acquisition of IoT start-up Sensity in September. Its most recent results saw IoT revenue jump 24 percent from a year ago to $217m.

Mike Lanman, senior vice president of enterprise products and Internet of things at Verizon, said the deal allows Verizon to use its network "to deploy elegant and engaging community technology hubs that connect, inform, inspire and support people where they live, work and play".

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Read more about smart cities

• How to finance a smart city project
• Video: Louisville innovation chief excited to bridge smart city to smart home
• Columbus, Ohio wins federal 'smart city' challenge

Hands on with the Ring Stick Up Cam: Plantpot thieves watch out

Adding security to older homes is a lot easier thanks to a new generation of wireless devices, making any home a smart home.

A few years back someone broke into our building, and into the flat downstairs. They also attempted to break into our flat, smashing the front door, but were disturbed before they stole anything. That was lucky for us, as we didn't have any security systems in place. That's all changed, as we've taken the opportunity to deploy a collection of different wireless security devices outside and inside our home.

One recent addition to our network was a Ring Stick Up Cam. Based on Ring's existing wireless video doorbell, it's a standalone camera with motion sensors that connects into your WiFi network. A large built-in rechargeable battery should keep you going for some time, with a USB connection to handle recharges. We set it up with the optional solar panel, so it stays charged on even the grayest days.

Ring's Stick Up Cam (though we'd recommend using screws to be sure!)

Getting going was quick and easy, using the Android Ring app to connect the camera to the house network, and handle initial configuration. Once connected, the camera could be managed via mobile app, through the web, or from a Windows 10 desktop application. As it uses the Ring cloud service to manage alerts, I could quickly respond to triggers from a phone or tablet no matter where I was.

Using Ring's Android application to control the camera.

A good quality wide angle lens on the camera covers a large area, and this can be tied into a motion sensor to trigger recordings or alerts when someone approaches the camera. Ours is over the front door, and we've tuned the motion sensor to cover the path to the door, but not the pavement (the sidewalk, for those outside the UK) and the street. The camera was easy to fit, with the right screws for the door frame, and an adjustable mounting bracket.

One slight issue was the length of USB cable from the solar panel. It's likely to be a lot longer than you might want, so we tied up the excess and hid it behind the panel, using cable ties to attach it to the panel's bracket, with cable grips routing it around the porch roof.

Perhaps the biggest problem with any WiFi security or door camera is that they're designed to work with US homes, especially those built for earthquake-prone California. That means they're perfectly capable of transmitting through wood and wall insulation, but they do struggle with connections through brick and stone.

That's clear from both our existing Netgear Arlo system and the Ring camera, as both have trouble connecting to a router that's only 10 feet away - just on the other side of a London brick wall.

Despite this issue, devices like this are something of a game-changer. Unlike traditional security cameras they're integrated with every device I use, if only through a web app. Ring provides a good mix of desktop and mobile apps, with a Windows 10 app that's integrated into the Windows notification tools, so I can get alerts on my PC while I'm working.

That came in useful a few weeks back when I was expecting a courier, and our front door bell had stopped working. I was able to wait for the pop-up alert, run down the stairs and sign for the package before he'd started to fill out the dreaded "while you were out" card.

Looking out over our front path from the Ring camera over the door.

The camera was also able to help when our downstairs neighbour found one of their window boxes missing. We could use the online archive of recorded videos to show someone taking their plants at around 2am the night before, information we were able to share with others on our street who'd had plants and pots stolen. The IR camera wasn't quite able to give us a clear picture of the thief, but it was able to at least put a time on the theft.

Internet-connected security cameras like Ring's are a quick and easy way of improving the security of any home. They're easy to set up, easy to manage, and give you peace of mind. There's also the added benefit of two-way voice and video, so you can talk to someone on your doorstep without leaving your desk. If you can't fit a complete security system to your home, then this is an effective alternative - giving you video in just a few minutes.

Will enterprises all soon be relying on the same few hyperscale data centers?

Cisco projects that a mere 485 data centers will be handling close to half of the world's workloads and data in a few years.

By 2020, a good chunk of the enterprise computing world will be relying on a grand total of 485 data centers across the globe to handle their workloads.

Photo: CERN Press Office

That's the call from Cisco, which just released its latest stats on current and future data center traffic for the world.

The bottom line is cloud computing is really turning the IT market upside down and shaking out all its loose parts. There's a great deal of efficiency and economies of scale in making used of shared services that are commodity in nature. In fact, the Cisco analysis holds, a lot of it will come down to 24 hyperscale operators that aren't necessarily data centers in their own right -- they "might own the data center facility, or it might lease it from a colocation/wholesale data center provider," according to the report's authors.

These hyperscale data centers will grow from 259 in number at the end of 2015 (the latest full year data is available) to 485 by 2020. They will represent 47% of all installed data center servers by 2020. "In other words, they will account for 83% of the public cloud server installed base, and 86 percent of public cloud workloads," the Cisco analysts add.

The authors of Cisco's latest data center traffic report project that within three to four years, 92 percent of workloads will be processed by cloud data centers -- versus only eight percent being processed by traditional data centers.

Is this a good thing, to have so many enterprises relying on so few for their applications and infrastructure? Look at it this way: the rise of packaged software in the 1990s resulted in reliance on a core group of software vendors, such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM and SAP. Again, there are many functions that can be commoditized and don't need to be re-invented a million times across enterprises.

The real value is what gets built or configured on top of those packages. The success of the business doesn't come from technology itself, but how inspired and forward-thinking management can use that technology to the benefit of customers and employees alike. Plus, with the rise of big data and all things associated with it -- analytics, Internet of Things, security threats -- things are only getting more complicated, requiring scale and expertise that many enterprises simply can't afford on their own.

The Cisco report estimates that globally, the total amount of data stored in data centers will quintuple by 2020 to reach 915 exabytes by 2020, up five-fold 171 exabytes in 2015. Big data will account for 247 exabytes by 2020, up almost 10-fold from 25 exabytes in 2015. Big data alone will represent 27 percent of data stored in data centers by 2020, up from 15 percent in 2015.

The Cisco report notes that a lot of the traffic is increasingly coming from big data and all things associated with it. "The growing importance of data analytics--the result of big data coming from ubiquitously networked end-user devices and IoT alike--has added to the value and growth of data centers," the report's authors observe. "The efficient and effective use of data center technology such as virtualization, new software-based architectures, and management tools and use of public vs. private resources and soon can all add to the agility, success, and competitive differentiation of a business."

By the way, Cisco provides a definition of what it considers to be "hyperscale" provider:

• "More than $1 billion in annual revenue from Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or infrastructure hosting services (for example, Amazon/AWS, Rackspace, Google)"
• "More than $2 billion in annual revenue from software as a service (SaaS) (for example, Salesforce, ADP, Google)"
• "More than $4 billion in annual revenue from Internet, search, and social networking (for example, Facebook, Yahoo, Apple)"
• "More than $8 billion in annual revenue from e-commerce/payment processing (for example,Amazon, Alibaba, eBay)"

Currently, the report notes, 24 hyperscale operators meet the preceding criteria.

GE Power lands Exelon as Predix customer, co-innovation partner

Exelon's power generation units will standardize on GE's Predix platform under an enterprise-wide pact. The two aim to speed up digital transformation in the energy industry.

GE has landed a large deal with energy giant Exelon to deploy its Predix software suite across its nuclear, wind and gas generation assets. The companies also plan to develop industry-specific applications built on Predix.

The deal, which comes amid GE's Mind + Machines conference in San Francisco, offers a proof point for the company's software ambitions. GE plans to generate $15 billion in software revenue by 2020 by targeting internet of things deployments inside its customer base. GE calls the market the industrial internet.

More from Mind + Machines: GE releases new suite of Predix applications, services | GE Digital builds up its global presence with acquisitions, partnerships

Separately, GE rolled out new applications for Predix platform to round out its suite of industrial internet tools. GE also announced a pair of acquisitions to grow its platform and ecosystem. Predix was built with the help of Dell Technologies' Pivotal unit.

If successful, the Exelon deal will propel GE into more utility accounts under a co-innovation model that rhymes with what IBM does with large clients. In various industries, tech giants partner with large customers to build applications. Ultimately, these applications become standards for other companies within an industry.

Scott Bolick, head of software strategy and product management at GE Power & Water, said Exelon represents "our largest GE Power enterprise deals." The aim of the deal is to combine information and operations technologies.

Exelon has been among the front runners in internet of things deployments and its Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. subsidiary deployed Tom Siebel's C3 IoT platform to track its assets. Historically, the energy sector hasn't been a first mover in new technologies, but digital transformation can boost efficiency and bottom lines dramatically.

Louisville and the Future of the Smart City | GE Digital announces industrial developer toolkit, Predix Kits | Inside GE's Digital Solutions unit: Talking IoT development with Ganesh Bell | GE Power's new software reduces emissions at any coal-fired power plant | How GE is using 3D printing to unleash the biggest revolution in large-scale manufacturing in over a century

GE's deal covers Exelon's generation plants. Exelon said it will deploy GE's entire suite of Predix applications. Exelon will use GE's Predix platform, Digital Power Plant and Digital Wind Farm suites. Asset Performance Management, Operations Optimization, Business Optimization Cybersecurity and Advanced Controls/Edge Computing applications will also be including. The two companies have conducted a series of pilots over the last year.

On the co-innovation front, Exelon's Shyam Krishnaswamy, senior manager of corporate innovation, said the GE partnership isn't about closing technology gaps, but transforming its business. "This is much broader and could impact the entire generation industry."

According to Exelon and GE the suite of Predix applications will be rolled out in 2017 and the implementation will be completed across the generation fleet in two years.

The company also released Digital Power Plant software that aims to cut unplanned downtime by 5 percent, reduce false alerts by 75 percent and trim operating costs by as much as 25 percent. GE also outlined Digital Hydro Plant, the fourth Predix suite geared to the various flavors of power plants.

BlackBerry DTEK60 review: The best enterprise flagship, priced at just $499

BlackBerry DTEK60 review: The best enterprise flagship, priced at just $499

4G speed improves in Brazil

The country is ahead of the United States in terms of average speed, says study.

The average 4G speed has improved in Brazil over the last few months, according to a new report by consulting firm OpenSignal.

Fourth generation mobile internet in Brazil has been provided at an average speed of 19.68 Megabits per second (Mbps) between July and September, according to the State of the LTE report.

This shows an improvement on the 16 Mbps speed noted by the previous global study carried out by the firm, which measured 4G speeds between June and August last year.

In the global ranking of 4G speeds, Brazil is ahead of the United States (13.03 Mbps), Russia (17.56 Mbps) and Argentina (12.19 Mbps). The speed of Brazilian 4G is also above the world average of 17.4 Mbps.

In terms of availability of 4G technology across Brazil, 4G is offered in 54 percent of the country. In that aspect Brazil now occupies the 62nd position in the ranking - in 2015, it ranked 51st, as operators made efforts to improve the service offering ahead of the Olympic Games.

According to a previous Brazil-specific study published by the consulting firm in June, Brazilian 4G users could find an LTE signal just 50 percent of the time. The study suggested that poor 4G signal availability in Brazil was partly due to underinvestment by local telco providers in relation to other countries.

According to OpenSignal, Singapore has the fastest 4G speed in the world, at 45.86 Mbps. South Korea ranks second with 45.77 Mbps, followed by Hungary (40.61 Mbps) and Romania (35.61 Mbps).

At the bottom of the list is Costa Rica (5.82 Mbps), followed by Saudi Arabia (5.97 Mbps), India (6.39 Mbps) and Philippines (7.27 Mbps).

OpenSignal collected simulation data from smartphones from users across 78 countries for the study. More than 500,000 users shared their information on 4G access and more than 17 billion measurements were carried out in the three-month period.

Google launches PhotoScan for iOS, Android to turn print into digital photos

PhotoScan is a separate app from Google Photos.

Screenshot/Google

Google on Tuesday announced a new PhotoScan app for iOS and Android that will turn old print photos into digital photos at no cost.

PhotoScan detects edges, straightens the image, rotates it to the correct orientation, and removes glare, claims Google. Users can simply launch the PhotoScan app and are guided to snap the print photo with four white dots acting as a guide.

Scanned photos can be saved to your phones internal storage, or Google Photos to be organized, searchable, and shared. Google Photos currently offers unlimited photo storage. PhotoScan doesn't automatically upload to Google Photos.

"We all have those old albums and boxes of photos, but we don't take the time to digitize them because it's just too hard to get it right," said Jingyu Cui, software engineer at Google Photos. "We don't want to mail away our original copy, buying a scanner is costly and time consuming, and if you try to take a photo of a photo, you end up with crooked edges and glare."

The iOS, Android, and web app began rolling out Tuesday.

The Google Photos team also announced improvements to its app, adding a new and improved auto enhance, 12 new filters, and advanced editing tools.

Qualcomm wants you to have five hours' smartphone use with five minutes of charging

New Quick Charge 4 technology promises you charging power which leaves competitors in the dust.

Peter Carson, senior director of technical marketing at the Qualcomm Snapdragon summit.

ZDNet

Qualcomm has unveiled the latest embodiment of the firm's charging technology, Quick Charge 4, which is designed to give you up to five hours' mobile device use with only a five-minute charge.

Revealed at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Summit in New York on November 17, Everett Roach, senior director of product management at Qualcomm said the latest generation of Qualcomm Quick Charge will be able to provide faster charging times for consumer devices. In high-end devices, the US chip maker expects Quick Charge 4 to be able to provide at least five hours of extended smartphone use through no more than five minutes of charging.

The announcement comes on the heels of Qualcomm's reveal of the latest Snapdragon 835 processor, developed in partnership with Samsung to pack more power in a thinner, 10nm FinFET packet.

Quick Charge 4 will be available at the same time as the latest processor, which is expected to ship in devices in the first half of 2017.

The charging solution includes new integrated circuits for power management, SMB1380 and SMB1381. Qualcomm says these new solutions have low impedance and up to 95 percent peak efficiency, as well as new fast charging features, such as battery differential sensing.

Quick Charge 4 also supports USB Type-C and USB-PD cables, giving both OEMs and consumers a wider choice for products including adapters and docking stations.

"As mobile devices become more capable and feature rich, people tend to use them more," Alex Katouzian, senior vice president, product management at Qualcomm commented. "That's why consumer demand and awareness for fast-charging solutions is now at an all-time high. Quick Charge 4 addresses that need by providing up to 50 percent battery charge in roughly 15 minutes or less, so you don't have to spend all day chained to your charging cable."

Given partner Samsung's recent catastrophe with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 -- and replacements -- catching fire due to what is believed to be battery issues, safety is a top priority for tech companies now working with hardware related to batteries and charging.

Qualcomm has taken into account not just performance but also safety through the third release of INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage), a power management algorithm which takes into account thermal conditions for charging, and also says protection has been "implemented at multiple levels" to protect consumers through design improvements which "more accurately measure voltage, current, and temperature while protecting the battery, system, cables and connectors."

There are currently over 100 Quick Charge compatible mobile devices and more than 300 accessory products such as car adapters, battery packs, and docking stations which utilize the technology. Qualcomm says that in total, over 600 million mobile devices and accessories support Quick Charge.

According to Roach, there are future plans to use Quick Charge not only to power up our mobile devices but also for drone charging to improve the life of these devices.

Apple iPhone beware: Huawei, Oppo, BBK are closing gap in smartphone sales

China's fast-growing smartphone market is offering favorable conditions for local vendors at the expense of Apple and Samsung.

Against the growing strength of the Chinese, Apple has faltered and Samsung suffered its largest decline in sales on record in Q3 2016.

Image: Gartner

Smartphone vendors have sold 373 million devices in the third quarter, 5.7 percent more than they did a year ago, according to analyst firm Gartner.

But while smartphone sales have bounced back, that growth comes mostly from the Chinese smartphone market, which is paying off for Chinese vendors Huawei, Oppo, and BBK with its Vivo and OnePlus products. These three are the only top five vendors that have increased sales over the period, while Samsung and Apple have failed to win over customers.

According to Gartner, Samsung has suffered its worst decline in smartphone sales on record, falling 14.2 percent year on year to 71.7 million units, which has left it with a 19.2 percent share.

Apple has sold 43 million iPhones, giving it 11.1 percent share of sales, just a tad ahead of Huawei, which has moved 32.5 million phones and now has an 8.7 percent share.

Apple's iPhone sales are down by 6.6 percent across the world, but declines have been steeper in the US and China, where sales have fallen by 8.5 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

Samsung's record decline coincided with its Galaxy Note 7 exploding-battery disaster, which Gartner expects will prevent it boosting sales in the short term and leaves a lot riding on a problem-free Galaxy S8 launch.

Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner said smartphone sales in China have grown by 12.4 percent, benefiting mostly Oppo and BBK.

"In Oppo's case, 81 percent of its smartphone sales came from China, while BBK accounted for 89 percent of smartphones sales in China. These two vendors also grew strongly in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Russia," he added.

According to Gartner, Android accounted for 87.5 percent of all smartphones sold, up from 84.7 percent last year.

Apple's iOS now represents 11.5 percent, down from 13 percent a year ago. Microsoft still managed to sell 1.5 million Windows phones, while BlackBerry sold 755,000 smartphones, but their respective market shares are now approaching zero.

Gartner's figures for smartphone sales differ slightly to recent shipment numbers from IDC and Strategy Analytics, but all three analyst firms' data reflects the rise of Chinese handset brands at the expense of Apple and Samsung, thanks to a combination of saturation in mature markets and cheaper phones with higher-end features from Chinese vendors.

Profits are a completely different story. Apple historically has taken the lion's share of the industry's profit. Depending which financial analyst you believe, Apple's share of profits range between 75 percent to over 100 percent once losses by different vendors are accounted for.

Apple promises to replace iPhone batteries after shutdown complaints

The China Consumers Association has asked Apple to look into complaints that a considerable number of iPhone 6 and 6s handsets shut down without warning. Apple is reportedly looking into the matter.

Apple China is already in communication with its US headquarters over recent complaints that iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s phones spontaneously close down even if more than half of the battery life remains, according to a NetEase report on Wednesday.

Apple China has promised to replace batteries for consumers who have filed complaints over the matter, according to the report, which failed to specify whether the replacements are free of charge.

On Tuesday, the government-backed China Consumers Association said it questioned Apple Inc over complaints that the automatic shutdowns occur when the models still have about 50 to 60 percent of their battery life remaining, even after an operating system upgrade. This may take place at a low or moderate temperature, and the handsets could only be turned on again after being plugged in, according to a letter sent by the consumer rights watchdog, as reported by Sina news on Tuesday.

Given the considerable amount of iPhone 6 and 6s users in the country and the relatively large number of complaints, the association requested Apple to clarify the reasons behind the issues, explain what it will do to correct the issues, explain if there are any problems with the battery, and give feedback regarding how it will handle relevant complaints.

The association didn't detail the number of users affected by the problem. But shutdown complaints were widely seen on Chinese social networks, with many users saying they'd encountered similar problems but failed to receive necessary help from Apple.

The association gave Apple 10 working days to reply to the queries.

The incidents follow Samsung pulling the plug on its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone last month after recurrent battery issues.

Apple's iPhone is no longer the best Google phone

That may sound absurd, but hear me out.

A simple "G" on the back of the Pixel lets you know it's made by Google.

Jason Cipriani/ZDNet

Having spent the better part of the past month using Google's Pixel XL smartphone, I still think Google made one of the best phones of the year.

I have zero hesitation recommending either Pixel phone to a friend, family member, or a complete stranger when asked. In fact, my recommendations as of right now are the iPhone 7 Plus or Pixel XL. You can't go wrong with either one.

The Pixel's camera takes crisp photos and is incredibly fast. The phone itself is a workhorse, with long battery life and practically no slowdown even as it's pushed to its limits.

However, what I find most appealing about the Pixel isn't something you'll find on the spec sheet. It's that, for the first time, there's an Android phone that's also the best Google phone money can buy.

That may sound absurd, but hear me out.

Apple hardware, Google software

As someone who is deeply rooted in Apple's hardware and Google's software, I've long said the best Google phone money can buy is the iPhone.

Google doesn't shy away from making its software products available on iOS. Look at the list of Google apps in the App Store, and then name one of its major software products that isn't available for the iPhone. Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides... They're all there. Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps... They're all there, too.

Granted, the apps often lack some key functionality, and it feels as if Google has given up on keeping pace with Apple's latest software features and design guidelines. For example, last week's update to the Gmail app was the first major update in nearly four years. At the end of the day, however, the apps are available and usable.

With so many variables and inconsistent experiences across Android devices (Samsung pushing its services alongside Google's; LG still trying to make heavily customized Android skins work; the Nexus line struggling to find a purpose), a true Google phone has never really existed. Android devices up until now have primarily been a mishmash of two different approaches butting heads, hoping to make two companies some money along the way.

Apple's hardware design and reliable camera combined with Googles' apps running on iOS made the case all on its own.

Pixelation of Google services

Everything about the Pixel is unapologetically Google.

Starting with the G logo on the back to the startup animation centering around Google and not the familiar green Android robot, Android has taken a backseat to Google when it comes to the Pixel.

Adding to the value of Google's phone is the fact that Google Assistant is -- for the time being -- exclusive to the Pixel. Furthermore, Google Photos now offers unlimited video and photo backup for Pixel owners.

Assistant and unlimited Photos storage are two services those who are entrenched in Google services won't find on the iPhone or another Android device.

Google somehow persuaded Verizon to treat its phone as an equal to the iPhone by pushing out OS updates at the same time Google does. Monthly security updates are a vast improvement over the past Android experience of hoping you'll one day, eventually, maybe, if you're lucky enough, get a software update on a competing Android device. The benefit of regular, timely software updates is something iOS users have long used as a battle cry to denounce Android (and rightfully so).

Google regularly updates the Android version of its core apps -- those same apps you can find on iOS -- with new features and design tweaks. Instead of waiting four years for meaningful update to Gmail, as iOS users just did, Pixel users will have constant access to the best implementation of Google's apps and services.

With Apple's ecosystem, the iPhone is arguably the centerpiece (as well as a gateway product) that ties together the entire Apple experience across the Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch.

As Google continues to push forward its newfound hardware initiative with products like Chromecast, Google Home, and Daydream View, the Pixel's importance as the centerpiece of the experience will continue to grow.

More Google than Android

Naturally, the operating system that powers the Pixel is Android. It's not vanilla Android, the version of Android Google had long pushed as a selling point for its Nexus devices, in turn causing device makers such as Motorola to follow suit and start using a basic version of Android as a selling point.

The OS version may say Android 7.1 Nougat, but this is very much Google's minimalist approach to a proprietary Android skin.

The Pixel launcher breaks away from the traditional app drawer, in favor of adding an extra app icon to the dock. A new search button sits next to a weather widget and the current date on the main home screen. The home button animates slightly at each touch, and the fingerprint sensor doubles as a trackpad to easily reveal notifications.

There are small tweaks and changes throughout the entire Pixel experience, all of which enhance the experience instead of distract from what the phone is capable of.

Nothing to lose

There's zero doubt in my mind that Google has a clear vision for what Android will become over the next few years; leading that transition is the Pixel.

With the Pixel, Google has matched the iPhone in hardware and software, and surpassed it as the best phone for Google services. For someone who wants the best Google experience possible on a smartphone, you aren't giving anything up by getting a Pixel over an iPhone. Actually, you have a lot to gain.

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Samsung gives Black Friday sneak peek of laptop, Galaxy tablet deals

Another PC manufacturer offers sales on its own website, but are its discounts better than at its retail partners?

Like fellow PC manufacturers Dell and HP, Samsung's online store has Black Friday deals of its own.

Electronics giant Samsung joins rival hardware manufactures like Dell, HP, and even Microsoft who are not content to have their PCs sold on Black Friday just by their retail partners. Instead, they want their own online stores in on the shopping madness. Samsung has just posted a preview of its upcoming deals, but is it worth buying directly from the source?

In a few cases, it appears that the answer is "no". Many of the sale prices on its Galaxy Tab tablets are the same that we've seen, and in some cases, chains are offering even lower prices. For example, BJ's Wholesale has the 7-inch Galaxy Tab A for $10 less on Black Friday than Samsung is advertising ($99.99) -- and even throwing in a 16GB microSD card, which the Galaxy manufacturer isn't matching. No retailer is putting the breadth of Galaxy slates on sale like Samsung.com, however, so it may be the only place where you can score some savings on the giant Galaxy View with a 18.4-inch display ($399.99 for 32GB version starting on November 18).

A similar scenario occurs with the Chromebook 3, which Samsung is touting at a $149.99 price point, but Walmart is selling it for just $119 and even Best Buy undercuts Samsung's direct price by $10. Again, you may have better luck with Samsung's Windows laptops, if for no other reason than we haven't seen them on sale in other Black Friday ads thus far. For instance, its budget-friendly Notebook M with Intel Celeron N3060 processor, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of solid-state storage, and 11.6-inch screen receives a $50 price trim for Black Friday to $399.99, the same discount as the more robust Notebook 3 with Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of memory, terabyte hard drive, and full HD 15.6-inch display.

Samsung also has some deals on its more stylish laptops. The Notebook 7 spin is a 2-in-1 available in 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch sizes, both of which are on sale for Black Friday. At $649 the 13.3-inch Notebook 7 spin with Core i5, 8GB of memory, 1TB hard drive, and full HD rotating touchscreen receives a $150 discount, while the bigger version is offered in two different configurations (also $150 off), both with Core i7 and terabyte hard drive. One with 12GB of RAM is $849.99, whereas the other with 16 gigs and an additional 128GB SSD is $1,049.99.

The Notebook 9 is a lightweight Ultrabook also available in 13.3- and 15.6-inch sizes and receiving $100 and $200 discounts, respectively, as part of Samsung's Black Friday specials. The 13.3-inch laptop includes Core i5, 8 gigs of RAM, 256GB SSD, and full HD screen for $899.99, while its larger sibling upgrades to a Core i7 processor for $999.99.

Snapchat confidentially filed for IPO: Report

Valued at more than $25 billion, Snapchat could trade as soon as March.

CNET/CBS Interactive

Snapchat's parent company, Snap Inc, has filed confidentially for its IPO, according to Reuters.

The widely popular messaging app is looking to raise $4 billion at a valuation between $25 billion to $35 billion, Bloomberg reported in October.

It's not clear when Snapchat will publicly unveil the news or when it will begin trading. Snapchat declined to comment.

Snapchat was valued at nearly $18 billion in its latest round of funding in May. In October, the Wall Street Journal reported Snapchat could start selling shares as early as late March with a valuation of $25 billion or more.