Foldable Screens

Displays that can be folded and rolled up have been shown in prototype smartphones, wearables and other devices -- but when will such products be available?

Advances in technology suggest they aren't too far off in the future. Such devices could start showing up as early as next year or 2018, said Jerry Kang, senior principal analyst for emerging display technologies and OLED at analyst firm IHS.

Manufacturers are trying to launch them in devices like tablets that can fold into a smartphone-size device. It's possible to use these displays in wearable devices, but reliability, weight and battery life need to be considered, Kang said.

Small folding screens will likely come before larger ones, mainly due to the economics of making such displays, Kang said.

Safe Smartphones

Smartphones are among the most popular gadgets that are being used in the market. Android handsets dominate the industry and companies such as Samsung, LG, Motorola and HTC manufacture devices running on Android operating system; however, a security firm suggests that Android-based Samsung and Nexus phones are safest.

Security firm Duo Labs cites security researcher Gal Beniamini, who suggests that about 60 percent of Android smartphones running on a Qualcomm processor are vulnerable to attacks. The security firm found that these devices did not install the monthly Android patch rolled in January this year.

The mobile devices that did not install the patch were left open to attack by hackers. However, the vulnerability was fixed in May's update. Duo Labs reports that smartphone owners who have not installed the May update are at high risk of attacks.

Galaxy S7 Sales

Samsung Electronics Co. reported its biggest operating profit in more than two years, bolstered by brisk demand for its Galaxy S7 smartphones, cost controls and sluggish iPhone sales.

Shares in the world’s largest maker of phones and memory chips rose after it reported operating income of 8.1 trillion won ($6.9 billion) in the latest quarter, exceeding the 7.38 trillion-won average of analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg and 6.9 trillion won a year earlier.

The results underscore how the South Korean company is defying a slowdown in the smartphone market. Galaxy S7 models, which were timed to go on sale earlier than usual this year, have capitalized on a lull in new iPhones from Apple Inc. That, along with a healthy consumer electronics business, is helping to boost profit margins and make up for declining income in Samsung’s semiconductor business.

Chrome Casting

Google Chrome is about to learn a new trick.

The browser is set to be updated with a new feature that allows you to take advantage of Google Cast without the need for a separate browser extension.

Google Cast is a technology that allows you to beam content from your smartphone or browser to your television or speakers. Though Google Chrome has technically supported casting for some time, it required a separate browser extension to use.

With the update, this feature will be baked into the browser itself. All you'll need to do is click on the tools menu in the top right corner of your browser and select "cast." From there, you'll be able to beam your browser tabs to any Cast-enabled display.

Jay Z to Sell Tidal?

Apple is in early stage talks with Tidal, a music streaming service launched by Jay Z, about buying the business

According to The Wall Street Journal, talks are not necessarily close to a sale and are ongoing.

The report claims that people close to the business confirmed the talks but a Tidal spokesperson has denied that the discussions are happening.

The move is said to be so Apple can bolster its own music service Apple Music and is eyeing up Tidal specifically because of its ties to high profile musicians like Kanye West and Beyonce. Both released their albums on Tidal-only upon release, before releasing more widely.

Beyonce’s decision to release her most recent album ‘Lemonade’ on the service first added to Tidal’s most successful month to date earlier this year.

Apple has also had success with this model, getting both Taylor Swift and Drake to exclusively release albums on its service before a wider release.

Tidal sets itself apart from rivals like Spotify by offering a more ‘premium’ or ‘high fidelity’ offering. It charges above average ($20 a month) for a premium service, which offers better sound quality. It says it has over 4m paying subscribers, compared to Spotify’s upwards of 30m paying subscribers.

Independence Day

There will be no post today in honor of Independence Day. Have a happy and SAFE July the 4th everyone.

Free Shipping From Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart is trying to get a jump on Amazon's second annual sales bonanza.

The world's largest retailer is offering a free 30-day trial on its two-day unlimited shipping service, and an extra month free for paying members, starting Wednesday as it looks to sharpen its attack against the online leader.

Beginning Friday, it will also offer discounts on an array of products from swimming pools to electronics that will ramp up as July goes by. These discounts, or what Wal-Mart calls "rollbacks," typically last 90 days or longer.

Wal-Mart's moves come as Amazon is expected to launch for the second year a sales bonanza called Prime Day, which it has touted as bigger than "Black Friday." It underscores how serious Wal-Mart is about boosting its online sales,