Two new tablets from Samsung have been spotted listed on Zauba, a website which tracks India's import and export. The listings for these devices reveal that they carry model numbers of SM-T719 and SM-T813, respectively. Another crucial information that the listings reveal is the display sizes. While the SM-T719 sports an 8-inch screen, the SM-T813 has a 9.7 inch display. Given that the Galaxy Tab S2 series from last year has 8-inch and 9.7-inch variants (with model numbers SM-T710/SM-T715 and SM-T810/ SM-T815), these new devices could very well be the next generation tablets in the series. Aside from the specs, the Zauba listings also gives an idea about the price tag the new tablets will carry - the SM-T719 is listed at INR 13,817 (around $215), while the SM-T813 is priced at INR 17,271 (around $255). Keep in mind, however, that pricing information on Zauba is not always precise. Via...
Sunday
It's official: Samsung to unveil Galaxy S7 on February 21
Turns out the rumors were correct. Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship smartphone will be unveiled on Sunday, February 21 (19:00 CET) in Barcelona, just a day before MWC 2016 officially kicks off. The South Korean company has also posted a teaser video on YouTube (embedded below) that confirms the same. The video, however, doesn't reveal much - it just shows a man wearing the company's Gear VR headset. "Get ready to rethink what a phone can do," Samsung said in the text accompanying the video. "#TheNextGalaxy will be revealed at Unpacked on February 21." The Galaxy S7 has already been the subject of endless rumors and leaks. It is expected to be launched in the US and Europe on March...
New update to Samsung's Android browser brings support for ad blocking
Samsung has pushed out a new update to its Web browser on Android that adds a new API using which developers will be able to build ad blocking extensions for the browser. The update will only be available to Samsung devices running Android 5.0 or up. Once you update your Samsung Internet browser, you'll be able to block ads by installing a content blocking software that takes advantage of the new API. One such tool is Adblock Fast, which is claiming to be the first free open-source ad blocker for the browser. The team behind Adblock Fast for Android claims the extension allows webpages to load an average of 51% faster. The ad blocker is also available for Chrome and Opera on desktops and laptops. Source |...
Motorola's 'shatterproof' Moto X Force set for India launch today
The Motorola Moto X Force, which is claimed to be the first smartphone in the world to come with a shatterproof display, will be launched in India on February 1 - today. The announcement was made by the company in a tweet yesterday. Are we there yet? Almost! #1DayToXForce, launching on 1st Feb at 3 PM https://t.co/q6VpVxSNrr http://pic.twitter.com/nPyufpRhv5— Motorola India (@MotorolaIndia) January 31, 2016 The event is set for 3PM (IST) today, and you can catch the device's live unveiling by heading to the YouTube link at the end of this story. The launch comes nearly a couple of weeks after Motorola India started teasing the phone on Twitter, and a couple of days after it was spotted listed as 'coming soon' on Amazon India. There is currently no official information on its India price though - in the US, where it is sold as the Droid Turbo 2, it carries a price tag of $624 for the base model. Source |...
Best Apps and Games of the Week
These are the best apps and games that came out this week. Guides by Lonely Planet Guides by Lonely Planet is exactly what it sounds like. The app has guides for popular locations, which tell you more about the place, what to see, where to shop, what to do, etc. It also has offline maps for the locations, along with useful tips. and bookmarking for locations. The app currently includes maps for Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Budapest, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kyoto, London, Madrid, Montréal, Moscow, New Orleans, New York City, Paris, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, St. Petersburg, Sydney, Tokyo, Vancouver, Venice, Vienna, Washington, DC, and more will be added later. iOS • Android Chrooma Keyboard Chrooma is a simple, resizable keyboard for Android that automatically changes color to match the color of the app. There's also a night mode that changes color according to the time of the day. Android Mimicker Alarm Mimicker is an alarm app by Microsoft. The app makes you do certain tasks after the alarm rings, such as snap a selfie or speak a phrase. If you fail to do that the alarm keeps ringing. If you have trouble getting up in the morning then you could give this a try. Android Twofold Twofold is a color matching game, where you have to move around squares and match their colors. You have to match a certain number of colored squares to get to the next level. Use up all your moves and it's game over. Twofold is made by the developers of rymdkapsel and has the same level of polish and finesse in gameplay and presentation. iOS • Android Downwell Downwell is a fast-paced action game, which is now also available on Android. You fall down a well, shoot enemies with your Gunboots, and collect red gems. There is not much else to know nor should you need to. iOS •...
Weekly poll: Huawei Mate 8 - hot or not
We kicked off our review year with the Huawei Mate 8 and set the bar pretty high for the ones to come. And while we were certainly impressed with the smartphone, it's also hard to overlook its flaws, which we made sure to point out. And now that you're familiar with our findings (perhaps some of you also have first-hand experience with the Mate 8), we're determined to find out what you think of Huawei's top-tier phablet. Our classic hot-or-not formulation sums up the question whether the good outweighs the bad. Are supreme build, powerful chipset, fine 6-inch display, and record-braking battery life enough for you to turn a blind eye on a camera that doesn't quite measure up to the standards of the segment and an Android overlay that's polarizing, to say the least? Additionally, other smaller pros and cons could tip the scales either way depending on who you are and which particular bit of a smartphone's performance is higher on your list of priorities. And since we can't really speak for everyone, we're asking you to speak for yourselves and tell us what you think on the matter at hand - is the Huawei Mate 8 hot or...
Week 4 in review: Flagship rumors intensify
As MWC 2016 inches ever closer, it seems that our news section is overrun by rumors and not much else. After witnessing a sea of specs leaks and rumors about the Galaxy S7 line in the past few weeks, now we are finally starting to catch glimpses of the device as well, or at least parts of it. Apple has also been popping up frequently in the news section.Cupertino is set to unveil a brand new generation of iPhones this year - the iPhone 7, which is definitely more exciting that an "S" upgrade. But there is also another reason why the US giant has caught fan attention so early in the year, prior to its typical fall announcement session. Everything seems to suggest that 2016 will see the resurrection of the 4-ich iPhone form factor. Information on the matter is still scarce at best, but the very prospect seems to have everybody excited. LG and HTC also appear to be hard at work on their next flagship offer. The LG G5 is shaping up to be quite interesting and a definite departure from the OEM's signature design and approach for the past few flagship iterations. HTC only recently appeared back on the radar with a fresh batch of flagship rumors and despite the tardiness, it is hopefully still in the game. An upgrade to its signature "M" series is apparently on the way, but this time it might come with an entirely new look, one borrowed largely from the company's recent One A9 model. Lastly, we take a look towards Asia, where Xiaomi has been teasing its own crown jewel for some time now. The Xiaomi Mi 5 definitely shouldn't be underestimated, as it could, very well play a key role in shaping the flagship scene this year. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 28%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 70%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px !important; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } Live images of the Samsung Galaxy S7 front camera and display surface Originating from a manufacturing facility, the photos confirm that the smartphone's production is well under way. Samsung Galaxy S7 with S820 benchmarked, here's how it compares with the Exynos 8890 version This is the AT&T version, while the other result comes from a Canadian model. Lenovo K5 Note launched with Helio P10 SoC, all metal body It carries a price tag of RMB 1,099 in China (around $167). Apple's next 4-incher now tipped to be named iPhone 5se, iPhone 6/6s hardware inside Sources say it will be powered by the A8 chip and come with the 8MP/1.2MP camera combo. Xiaomi Mi 5 to have four versions, pricing revealed Previous rumors had suggested that the flagship will arrive in two different versions. First alleged image of the 4-inch iPhone 5se surfaces The next small smartphone from Apple has reportedly been captured next to an iPhone 5. iPhone 7 Plus again tipped to come with a dual-camera setup A KGI analyst believes that a version of the iPhone 7 Plus will be offered with a dual iSight camera setup. Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe Special Edition with Intel Z3590 chip goes official The rest of the specs remain unchanged, including the 256GB of internal storage and 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Lenovo Vibe X3 launched in India for $293 Going on sale on Amazon starting tomorrow. LG G5 dual camera design confirmed by another case leak Farewell to the rear-mounted volume controls, alas. Xiaomi Mi 5 photographed again, check out the rounded metal unibody The comparisons with an iPhone 6 or an HTC One A9 are unavoidable. HTC One M10 to follow A9 design trend The handset is apparently still in development and heading to...
Poll results: Galaxy Note5 wins platform clash vs iPhone 6s Plus and Lumia 950XL
A winner among droids, and now a winner among platforms - we give you the Galaxy Note5. Samsung's latest in a line that started the whole phablet trend captivated the most of our readers in yet another poll this week. This time around the Note5 gathered more than half of the total votes for an uncontested 51% win. In a more curious turn of events, the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL came in second, 5 points ahead of the iPhone 6s Plus. Persisting anti-Windows rants about lack of apps and the OS being bug-infested don't seem to have affected the Lumia's image in the eyes of loyal fans. The iPhone 6s Plus has to settle for third place in our poll, which in all likelihood will mean zero to the company. After all, the most recent financial report out of Cupertino cited quarterly records in both revenue and profit, which isn't something Microsoft's smartphone division can brag...
Top 10 trending phones of week 4
Apple's iPhone 6s returns to our weekly Top 10 trending chart after being absent for more than a month, leaving it to the iPhone 5s to defend the company's honor. Defend it it did, and is also present this week, the two-generations-old model in 8th, while the current one is in 10th. In between them is the Samsung Galaxy Note5, a spot down from last week. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has dropped 3 places, and we're finding it in 7th, but the smaller non-Note Redmi 3 has dropped off the Top 10 altogether. Climbing up the chart, it's a Samsung Galaxy fest, with the Grand Prime in 6th, one up compared to week 3. The J2 is in 5th, while the S6 is the one that's made the most progress - from 9th to 4th. The Galaxy J5 is in third and the J7 is this week's runner-up - we're used to seeing the two together, but the J7 used to hold the crown for a long time, only not since week 2. The Lenovo K4 Note showed up and pushed the J's off the top and seems to set on staying there for a while. .news-item .n-left { float: left; width: 25%; text-align: center; } .news-item .n-right { float: left; width: 75%; } .news-item a { padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; } #review-body .news-item .n-right h2, .reviews-item .n-right h2 { clear: both; padding: 0 0 3px 0px; font: 400 19px Google-Oswald, Arial; margin-top: -4px; } .n-right p { margin-top: 25px; line-height: 155%; } .news-item { padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; } .news-item p { margin-left: 0; } .n-right h2 .phone-name { display: inline-block; width: 325px; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: text-bottom; } .n-right h2 a { text-decoration: none; color: #000; } .flat-button{ text-align:center; text-decoration: none !important; font: 400 22px Google-Oswald,Arial !important; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; font-size: 150%; padding: 20px 60px !important; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; margin: 10px 0; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -ms-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -moz-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; -o-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out; color: #fff !important; } .flat-button-1 { background: #0CADA7; } .flat-button-1:hover { background: #0A948F; color: #666666 !important; } .flat-button-2 { background: #FF7E47; } .flat-button-2:hover { background: #EE7440; color: #666666 !important; } .n-right .rank-info { display: inline-block; font-family: "Google-Oswald",​Arial,​sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 100; } .n-right .rank-info .current-rank { font-size: 23px; } .circle { background: none repeat scroll 0 0 #8fb28f; border-radius: 50%; height: 23px; width: 23px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px -1px 10px; } .arrow { width: 0; height: 0; border-style: solid; display: inline-block; margin: 0px 10px -1px 10px; } .arrow-up { border-width: 0 15px 25px 15px; border-color: transparent transparent #0cada7 transparent; } .arrow-down { border-width: 25px 15px 0 15px; border-color: #ff7e47 transparent transparent transparent; } Lenovo Vibe K4 Note RANK: 1WAS: 1 specs gallery Samsung Galaxy J7 RANK: 2WAS: 2 specs review Samsung Galaxy J5 RANK: 3WAS: 3 specs review Samsung Galaxy S6 RANK: 4WAS: 9 specs review Samsung Galaxy J2 RANK: 5WAS: 6 specs review Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime RANK: 6WAS: 7 specs review Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) RANK: 7WAS: 4 specs review Apple iPhone 5s RANK: 8WAS: 10 specs review Samsung Galaxy Note5 RANK: 9WAS: 8 specs review Apple iPhone 6s RANK: 10NEW IN specs...
Saturday
Microsoft promises it will address the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 power issues ASAP
Microsoft is still under a lot of heat concerning the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4. This time around, users are justifiably complaining about an improper sleep function on the devices, along with a few other battery management issues that ultimately lead to poor power performance. Sadly, this is far from the first issues that was found to plague the high-end hybrid devices and similar topics have been exploding on the support forum ever since the pair was announced in October 2015. If you don't recall, at a Microsoft even on October 8 2015, the Surface Pro 4 was unveiled as the bigger brother to the Surface Pro 3 and the US giant also endeavored to take things to the next level with its powerful 13-inch tablet-pc crossover device, dubbed the Surface Book. At the time, both seemed like really amazing products with lots of potential, which even managed to justify the eye-watering price tags for some users. Since then, however, many of the early adopters have been dreading the purchase, or at least that is what a quick browse through the support forum led us to believe. It appears both models might have been outed a little prematurely, with a few notable issues reaching end users. Both exhibited a rather annoying flickering issue and a lot of power problems, one of which has become known as the infamous sleep issue we already mentioned. Yesterday, Microsoft outed a new update which is said to offer: .refinements to improve battery charging and thermal tuning, wireless and Bluetooth performance, and to the detach-reattach experience on Surface Book. However, the elephant in the room was still not addressed. It is at least reassuring that the bug was acknowledged, but currently disgruntle users have only a promise to hang on to: We know some of you are still experiencing issues, including issues related to power management, and we are working to address those as quickly as possible. We'll publish additional updates as soon as they are ready. Interestingly enough, there are also rumors circulating that the issue lies within the Intel Skylake processor, which could mean that other non-Surface devices are prone to the bug as well. We will be sure to keep a close eye on the matter in hopes that a speedy resolution will be found and that this will be the last unfortunate set of bugs the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book experience. Source |...
S6 and S6 edge get Marshmallow update in South Korea
Samsung has started rolling out the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update for the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge in South Korea. The final version comes out after a brief beta test where users had to sign up to receive the beta build. Looking at screenshots by SamMobile, the update brings some minor UI changes, such as the updated notification menu and power menu, along with the usual under the hood changes, such as enabling the fingerprint sensor to work in third party apps. The update should eventually make its way outside of South Korea, and also to other Samsung...
The Bluboo Xfire 2 comes with a metal body and fingerprint reader for $60
As with any other great tech advancement in history, smartphones have developed rapidly from luxury to a necessity and as such are constantly becoming more and more affordable. OEMs, especially those operation out of China are always pushing the envelope on what is possible on a shoestring budget and it is an undeniable fact that you can now get a decent mid-range Android device from a major brand for around $200 and enjoy a modern Android experience. But what if you want to go cheaper still? A quick search online revels that you could opt for a no-brand device or a very outdated one for as little as $40. Blueboo's latest model, the Xfire 2 definitely goes one step beyond. We don't typically dip our foot into the vast sear of obscure Chinese brands, but this one is definitely an eye-catcher, at least on paper that is. For $59.99, the handset offers a metal unibody design, with a nice-looking arc and even complete with a 2.5D glass and a back-mounted fingerprint reader. That is definitely great value. The rest of the specs sheet is also decent with a 5-inch HD panel and powered by an MTK6580 quad-core processor and Mali 400 GPU. Memory is set at 1GB for RAM and 8GB for internal storage, but there is also a microSD card slot for up to 32GB more. The camera setup includes a 5MP main shooter with AF and a single LED flash and on the front there is a 2MP unit, which it also has an LED flash of its own. Powering the show is a 2150 mAh battery and the Xfire 2 boots Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box, so you are really getting an up-to-date experience for your buck. The only real, obvious, downside of the Bluboo Xfire 2 specs-wise is the Lack of 4G LTE, but perhaps such handsets will also become reality in the sub $100 price range soon, thanks to MediaTek's latest line of ultra-affordable chips. According to the manufacturer's website, the Bluboo Xfire 2 is currently in pre-sale for the special price, which will later be raised to $69.99, still an amazing value. Both GearBest and Geekbuying currently have the dual-SIM variant listed for $73.86 and $79.99, respectively and shipments are expected to begin in February. Source |...
Google adds a Watch Later button to YouTube notifications on Android
It is a well-known fact that the best technology is the one that goes unnoticed, in other words, things that simply work and you feel like they are just the most natural thing ever and have always been. Amidst all the largescale and revolutionary work Google is doing in most every perceivable field of technology, the online giant still puts a lot of value in supporting its products with tiny details that polish them to perfection over time. Now, don't get us wrong, even Google isn't without error and there are plenty of blunders to go around, but it definitely makes us smile when we learn about the little things the team made time to introduce to the user experience. The Calendar app on both Android and iOS, just got an update with real-time text suggestions and now, the YouTube app for Android also has a new feature. It also fits into the hard to spot category perfectly, so much so, that you either have to be involved with YouTube's Android team on be really, really diligent in sifting through your notifications to spot it. The feature is a new "Watch Later" button, added to YouTube notifications for new video uploads. If you don't recall, back in the summer of 2015, YouTube added the convenient feature that allows users to subscribe for new upload notifications per channel. It is a pretty good idea, but up until recently, you could only tap on the notification to watch the video instantly or swipe it away and probably forget about it. The new style of actionable notification was noticed by fans and it appears is not tied to any app update, but is rather a server-side deal. The other action slot is filled with a quick link to potentially unsubscribe from the feed for the particular channel - also convenient. If you haven't started getting the new style of notifications yet, you will probably notice the change when the next one comes along, now that you know what to look...
2016 Volkswagen Jetta
Sony Xperia M5 and M5 Dual getting Android 5.1 update
Sony has started rolling out the Android 5.1 Lollipop update to both Xperia M5 and M5 Dual smartphones. The update also includes Android security patch for the month of January. Weighing in at around 600MB, the new update bumps the M5's build number to 30.1.A.1.33, and that of the dual-sim variant to 30.1.B.1.33. It brings along the ability to take pictures from the camera using the SmartWatch 3, as well as improvements related to volume and silent mode control. For those who aren't already aware, the M5 will land in Europe in February - it's currently up for pre-order in the UK, with shipments beginning February...
2016 Buick Cascada
Snapchat is aiming for sports fans with live score overlays for NBA games
Snapchat is one of those odd social app experiments that often confuse their very own user base, let alone newcomers. What started out as a fairly clever "no traces left behind" picture chat, has since exploded into a wild mess of often puzzling user content, specially crafted multimedia experiences within the Discover feature, as well as, more recently, a sprawling video sharing community. Amidst all this, there seems to be only one unifying trend - striving for revenue and lots of it. Be it from paid ad content, or sponsored video "lenses" or even paid replays of snaps, Snapchat has been doing everything in its power to back up estimates for the company's enormous market value. Now, it seems, the playful white ghost has shifted its priorities towards sports fans and is striving to become the de facto social platform for sharing sports events and experiences. The newest effort to this end is a special score filter made available to users attending certain NBA contests. The overlay provides live scores for the game you are currently at. The feature is available at every NBA arena and some other matches. It might sound like an incredibly silly concept, but, oddly enough, it appears to be working. Just last week, Live Score geofilters saw 20 million views, gathered on content from 51 NBA games. At this point, we can't decide if the Snapchat team is just incredibly lucky, or full of brilliant social experts, as this new feature could very well open the way to a whole new stream or ad revenue. And Basketball is not the only sport Snapchat is going after. It has been working with NFL to produce Live Story compilations for major games, as well as to offer fans the aforementioned Live Score filters. And with the US Super Bowl coming up, it is anybody's guess just how far Snapchat will manage to take its new...
Huawei officially announces January 31 launch for Honor 5X in US
Earlier this month, Huawei announced that the Honor 5X will be launched in the US at the end of this month. So, we were already expecting it to go on sale around January 31. Now, the company has officially announced the launch date. Yes, the device will be available for purchase in the US starting January 31. You'll be able to grab it online at HiHonor, Amazon.com and Newegg.com. As already announced, it will carry a price tag of $200, and will be available in gold, silver, and grey color options. For those in Europe waiting for the Honor 5X, the phone is expected to land there next week - on February...
Asus ZenWatch drops to $99 in the US
The first-generation ZenWatch from Asus has received an official price cut in the US. A quick look at the Taiwanese company's online store in the country reveals that the wearable device is now available for just $99. The model on offer is the silver/rose gold variant featuring a tan strap. Third party retailer Best Buy is also selling the same model for $99, but it's currently on back-order, with no specific shipping date mentioned. Other third party retailers are currently selling the smartwatch at much higher price - for example, Amazon US has the same model listed for $130. Source | Best Buy |...
MediaTek confirms bug that affects Android devices running its chipsets
MediaTek has officially confirmed the existence of a software bug that has put several Android devices running the company's chipsets at risk. The chip-maker says the issue in question only affects Android 4.4 KitKat devices. First reported by security researcher Justin Case earlier this month, the bug could potentially allow an attacker to enable root access on a vulnerable device. "Root user could do many things, such as access data normally protected from the user/ other apps, or brick the phone, or spy on the user, monitor communications etc," Case said. For its part, MediaTek explained that the vulnerability stems from a debug feature that the chip-maker said smartphone manufacturers should have disabled before shipping the devices. "We are aware of this issue and it has been reviewed by MediaTek's security team. It was mainly found in devices running Android 4.4 KitKat, due to a de-bug feature created for telecommunication inter-operability testing in China," a MediaTek spokesperson said. "After testing, phone manufacturers should disable the de-bug feature before shipping smartphones. However, after investigation, we found that a few phone manufacturers didn't disable the feature, resulting in this potential security issue." MediaTek, however, didn't provide anymore details, just saying that the issue affects "a portion of devices" from "certain manufacturers," and adding that it has alerted all manufacturers about the feature. Source |...
Friday
BLU Vivo XL now available for purchase; company offers limited-time $50 rebate
Announced earlier this month during this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the BLU Vivo XL is now available for purchase in the US. "Celebrating the availability" of the device, BLU is offering an immediate $50 rebate to those purchasing the handset. This means that the Vivo XL will set you back $99, down from its regular price of $149. The phone is available exclusively at Best Buy (online as well as physical stores), which has both gold and blue variants in stock. The offer is only available for the first 3 days of the device's availability, meaning it ends Sunday, January 31. Source | Best...
New Google Calendar update brings smart suggestions
Google has pushed out a new update to its Calendar app. The update brings along a new 'smart suggestions' feature that the company claims lets you quickly create events. "When you begin typing an event title, you'll see matching suggestions―choose one or keep typing," Google explained in a blog post. Tapping "at..." lets you add a location to your event and later get directions. Similarly, tapping "with..." allows you to add people to your event - you can call or message them from the event, but can't send them an invite. Finally, tapping "on." lets you specify the date, time and duration of the event. The update - which also brings support for 30 new languages - is available on both Android and...
Sprint HTC One M8 Marshmallow update imminent
If you are on Sprint and own an HTC One M8 or its special Harman Kardon edition, here is some good news: the carrier has announced the roll-out of Android 6.0 Marshmallow for the handset, and it should begin anytime now. Sprint HTC One M8 / M8 HK Owners! Great news, we have received technical approval on the Marshmallow OS update! OTA will start tonight! Thx!— Mo Versi (@moversi) January 29, 2016 As usual, the announcement was made by HTC's VP of Product Management Mo Versi on Twitter. He said that they have received technical approval for the update and the OTA roll-out will begin tonight (US time). This comes around a couple of months after the Taiwanese company started rolling out the Android 6.0 update to unlocked M8 units in the US. At that time, it was said that the carrier versions will get the update "as soon as possible." If you aren't already aware, Sprint's HTC One A9 has just started receiving the Android 6.0.1...
2016 Dodge Dart
LG hints its G5 will have a removable battery while poking fun at Samsung
Many users were upset when Samsung decided to discontinue a removable battery design and we hope LG does not go the same direction as Samsung as LG is one of the few phone makers that still design its smartphones with hot-swappable batteries. Samsung posted a picture of a Galaxy S6 edge+ with a caption stating that it can charge from 0-to-full in 90 minutes. Then LG USA replied with "Go from zero to full instantly with a removable battery" LG also includes a link to its LG V10 product page. @SamsungMobile Go from zero to full instantly with a removable battery: https://t.co/xBcf65TGno #LGV10— LG USA Mobile (@LGUSAMobile) January 27, 2016 This jab at Samsung could indicate that LG still plans to keep designing phones with a removable battery. Specifically, the LG G5 could feature a removable battery. It's funny to think just a couple short years ago, Samsung used to boast its removable battery when a film crew took the Galaxy S5 on a trip from the East Coast to the West Coast. The battery lasted all the way across the country with a combination of texts, phone calls, photos and lots of time in Ultra Power Save Mode. Once the battery died, a crew member swapped the battery and had a full charge all over again. The LG G5 is rumored to have a 16MP and 8MP camera on the rear and front, respectively, a USB Type-C port, a 5.6 inch QHD display, and a Snapdragon 820 chipset. The LG G5 is expected to be announced on February 21 at Mobile World Congress in Spain this year. Source |...
Xiaomi Redmi 3 review: Precious little one
Xiaomi Redmi 3 is not your usual budget smartphone. The word budget is hardly a good match for an aluminum unibody, a 5" IPS display, a powerful octa-core processor, a 13MP camera, and a beefy 4,100 mAh battery. And yet, here we are. The Xiaomi Redmi 3 may be cheap in price but it does not skimp on features...
Sprint's HTC One A9 is now getting Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update
HTC clearly wants to set a good example in the way it's dealing with software updates for the One A9. Perhaps the company got "inspired" by Apple in more ways than just the handset's looks. The update to Android 6.0.1 is already out for the A9 units that have been sold unlocked, and now it's time for the same software to roll out to devices bought from Sprint. The carrier has announced the release of software version 1.57.651.1 for the One A9. This brings with it the 6.0.1 iteration of Android (which includes many new emojis), but also battery life improvements, enhanced camera features, the addition of Wi-Fi calling functionality, as well as some "system enhancements". The over-the-air update should already be on its way, but if your phone hasn't yet notified you about it, just be patient as these things are generally staged and can take a few days to make it to all devices out there. If you're impatient, you can head to the Source link below and download the 1.86GB RUU file which will load the software on your handset through your PC (if you have HTC Sync Manager installed). Source |...
ZTE Grand X 3 is now available in the US from Cricket
At CES this year ZTE took the wraps off the Grand X 3, an entry level smartphone, and now this is already available to purchase in the US. You'll have to get it from Cricket, though, as that's the only carrier currently offering it. The Grand X 3 is priced at just $79.99 if you bring your number from another carrier, or $129.99 if you don't. Keep in mind however that this is a prepaid carrier, so these prices don't come with a two-year contract attached or anything like that. The phone is already up for grabs on Cricket's website. The ZTE Grand X 3 comes with a 5.5-inch 720p touchscreen, an 8 MP rear camera with LED flash, a 2 MP Selfie cam, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 210 chipset (with a 1.3 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU), 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, 4G, and a 3,080 mAh battery. It runs Android 5.1...
Samsung Galaxy S7 tipped to land in Europe on March 11
Samsung's highly anticipated Galaxy S7 smartphone will begin rolling out in Europe on March 11. This was revealed by leakster @ShaiMizrachi, who has provided some credible information in the past. Mark your calendar: the first European rollout for #GalaxyS7 family starts on 11/3 http://pic.twitter.com/TdhtJIJ2dD— Shai Mizrachi (@ShaiMizrachi) January 29, 2016 If the date turns out to be correct, it'd be a simultaneous global roll-out for the flagship given that just last week reliable leakster @evleaks revealed the same date for the device's US launch, and not to mention that leaked China Mobile slide from last month that revealed March launch for the Asian country. For those who aren't already aware, the handset - which has already been the subject of a bucket load of rumors and leaks until now - is expected to be unveiled at this year's Mobile World Congress, which is set for next month (February 22 - February 25). Source |...
Galaxy S7 to last for 17 hours of video playback at full brightness
The Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin has been the source of quite a few notorious leaks in the past, and most of his posts used to be ranked with high credibility. After Nokia's demise though his reports became controversial at best. Still, a good rumor is always worth reporting, so here is a new hot one concerning the upcoming Galaxy S7 flagship. According to the Russian blogger the Samsung Galaxy S7 will be capable of playing videos at maximum brightness for more than 17 hours. If true, this will surely rank the Galaxy S7 among the best in its class. The Galaxy S7 is rumored to run on the Samsung's latest in-house chipset - the Exynos 8890 with 4GB RAM. The new SoC is going to be company's first to use custom CPU cores instead of regular Cortexes. According to a recent infographic by Samsung, the new processor will provide 30% faster performance and 10% better energy efficiency compared to the one used within the Exynos 7420 (Galaxy S6 series). The Galaxy S7 is expected to premiere this February at the MWC expo in Barcelona. It may come in two models - one with the Snapdragon 820 beast and one with Samsung's Exynos 8890 chip. We'll get more details soon...
Oppo F1 Plus image shows it's differs in scale, not design
We have an image of the Oppo F1 Plus, but you'll have to trust us on this. Mostly because the phone looks exactly like the smaller F1. That's no surprise, the same design has also been used for the A53 and R7/R7s/R7 lite (but not the R7 Plus). In case you've missed it, the Oppo F1 Plus will be a bigger version of the camera-focused F1. The screen will grow from 5" to 5.5" (with resolution getting a bump to 1080p). You get an extra gig of RAM too. Oppo F1 Plus The F1 Plus is expected to launch in India this April for INR 27,000 ($395), a massive jump over the INR 16,000 price of the regular F1. And you still get a 13MP camera and Snapdragon 616 chipset. Oppo has so far only teased the F1 Plus so maybe it has an ace up its sleeve. An INR 11,000...
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) specs confirmed from kernel source code
After updating its "A" line for 2016, Samsung appears to be moving on to its budget "J" family. The Galaxy J1 (2016) is already here, well, at least in Dubai, while the J5 (2016) and J7 (2016) are expected shortly. The latter's existence now looks to be proven even further by some kernel sources, unearthed by one of our readers. The code was spotted alongside recently published kernel sources for the Galaxy A9 and talks of a device, codenamed "j7xlte". Conveniently enough, the code also holds clues to most of the phone's specs. The Galaxy J7 (2016) will be equipped with a FullHD panel, probably a 5.5-inch one, judging by a previous GFXBench leak. Super AMOLED is naturally expected, but if you want, you can try and find more details for yourself using the model number - ss_dsi_panel_S6E3FA3_AMS549JR01_FHD. The new J7 will be powered by a Snapdragon 650 SoC (previously known as the SD 618). There is no mention of memory in the code, but we expect 3GB of RAM. The main camera looks to be a 13MP model with the Samsung S5K3L2XX sensor. The front shooter is reported as a 5MP one with a Samsung S5K5E3YX sensor, 1.1µm pixels, paired with a 23mm f/2.2 lens. Interestingly enough, there are hints of a fingerprint reader on the Galaxy J7 (2016), which would definitely be a wonderful upgrade to the budget line. The rest of the known specs include a microSD card slot and a 4,300 mAh battery. Thanks for the tip Louis...
Isaac Mizrahi-designed HP smartwatch has classic looks, hidden OLED display
HP has added another name to its revolving door of fashion designers who add the looks to the company's smartwatch brains. This one is done by Isaac Mizrahi. And sorry, guys, this one is ladies only. The watch is all form over function - a classic analog movement hides a small OLED display, normally invisible under the mirrored watch face. This isn't an Android Wear timepiece, you get a more limited set of text notifications and fitness tracking functions. HP Isaac Mizrahi smartwatch The watch features a 42mm gold-plated or stainless steel case with Swarovski crystals around its bezel. Mineral glass and 3atm water resistance make this much tougher than most smartwatches. The watch bands are easily exchanged to customize the look. Also, the watch movement is independent from the smart features, which have 5 days of battery life. You can connect to an Android phone (4.4+) or an iPhone (iOS 8+) over Bluetooth. You can snag one for $250 (both color options cost the same). Additional leather watch bands will cost $40 (not available yet). Source |...
SwiftKey updated for Marshmallow, adds new emoji
Popular Android keyboard SwiftKey has been updated for Android 6.0 Marshmallow. One of the major changes, something users may have been looking forward to, is the inclusion of new emoji, that were added to Android in the latest 6.0.1 update. Of course, the new emoji will only be available to those on the latest version of Android, and updating SwiftKey won't magically add them to your Lollipop or even 6.0 devices. Other changes include support for inputting currency for Russia, Argentina, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovakia, Germany, Canada & Australia, bug fixes, and performance updates. The update is now available on the Play...
Microsoft sold only 4.5 million Lumia phones last quarter
Only 4.5 million Lumia phones were sold by Microsoft in the last quarter of 2015, according to the company's just released Q2 fiscal 2016 earnings report. That's down from the 10.5 million figure reported in the same quarter the year prior. This translates into a drop of around 50% compared to the last quarter of 2014. Considering the latest IDC report which said that a total of around 400 million smartphones were shipped in Q4 2015, Microsoft's share comes out to be just over 1% for the quarter. Well, what to say? The numbers speak for themselves. Hopefully Q1 which will be the first where the new Lumia trio - 550, 950 and 950XL is available for the full three months will help turn things...
Huawei sends out MWC 2016 invites
Huawei has sent out invites for its Mobile World Congress press conference. The event will be held at Barcelona's Montjuïc Exhibition Centre on February 21, which is a day before this year's MWC formally begins. "We invite you to join Richard Yu, Chief Executive Officer, Huawei Consumer Business Group, and other Huawei executives, for the global unveiling of Huawei's newest device at Mobile World Congress 2016," the Chinese company said in the invite. "Come see how Huawei continues to meet the demands of the next generation of mobile innovation." Sadly, no teasers were included in the invite, making it difficult to speculate about the star of the event. The company's flagship smartphone - the Mate 8 - was showcased at CES this month, and multiple reports have suggested that the upcoming P9 will be unveiled weeks after MWC. Last year's event saw Huawei unveiling the Watch. We would have placed our bet on its successor, but given the fact that the company just unveiled two new variants of the wearable at CES 2016, a second-gen Huawei Watch also seems...
Thursday
Google paid over $2 million to security researchers last year
Google has released some interesting statistics related to its Vulnerability Reward Program for the year 2015. The company revealed that it paid more than $2 million to security researchers as part of the program last year. The program was launched way back in 2010, and Google has paid a total of over $6 million to researchers till now. Last year, Android joined the program in June, and by the end of 2015, researchers were paid over $200,000 for finding vulnerabilities in the mobile OS. This included the largest single payment of $37,500 to an Android security researcher. Google gave more than 750 individual rewards last year, and those were received by over 300 security researchers. For more information and statistics, head to the Source link...
LG fixes vulnerability that affected millions of G3 devices
LG has fixed a vulnerability in its G3 smartphone that researchers said could potentially allow an attacker to remotely steal sensitive data saved on the device's SD Card. An estimated 10 million G3 units are said to be vulnerable. The vulnerability is in an app called Smart Notice, which comes pre-installed on new LG G3 devices, and can be thought of as a scaled down version of Google Now, delivering you relevant information before you need it. The problem is that the app doesn't validate the data it handles, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code by manipulating the information it ferries to the user. "Using the vulnerability, an attacker can easily open the user device to data theft attack, extracting private information saved on the SD Card including WhatsApp data and private images; put the user in danger of phishing attack by misleading the end-user; and enable the installation of a malicious program on the device," researchers revealed in a blog post. "We informed LG, which responded quickly to notice of the vulnerability and we encourage users to immediately upgrade their application to new Smart Notice release, which contains a patch." Source (registration required) |...
Samsung Gear S2 Classic New Edition goes up for pre-orders in UK
Less than a week after it started rolling out globally, the new edition Samsung Gear S2 Classic smartwatch - which was unveiled at CES earlier this month - is now available for pre-order in the UK. Local online retailer Mobile Fun has both Rose Gold and Platinum finish variants listed on its website, offering them at a pre-order price of $570.99, which translates into around £400 at current exchange rates. No exact shipping date was specified though. Over in the US, the new models were recently spotted listed on Amazon carrying a $319 price tag and shipping time-frame of 1 to 2 months. However, the listings seem to have been taken down now. Source 1 2 |...
Lenovo to launch a 'more innovative, more attractive' phone in US in Q3
Lenovo has plans to launch what it is calling a "more innovative, more attractive" smartphone in the United Sates later this year. This was revealed Chief Executive Yuanqing Yang in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal. © ChinaFotoPress The said device will be from the Chinese company's Motorola division, Yang revealed. If you recall, Lenovo recently said that going forward, its high-end smartphones will use the Moto branding while budget devices will carry the Vibe brand. So, given the brands' popularity in the US, it'd be fair to assume that the device - which Yang said will be launched in the month of July - will be from the Moto line-up. Sadly, nothing else was revealed about the handset. Interestingly, Yang also took a jab at Apple in the interview, saying that iOS has no more room to grow in the US. "Apple already has more than 50% share in the U.S. Can you expect more? I don't think so," he said. "I think Android will take more...
BlackBerry offering free accessories worth $99 with Priv
If you are planning to purchase BlackBerry's debut Android-powered smartphone Priv, here is some good news: for a limited time, the Canadian company is offering free accessories worth $99 with the handset. The accessory bundle includes a Leather Smart Flip Case in black and Sync Pod with 1.2m USB cable. "Think of it as our way of saying 'thank you' for remaining loyal members of #TeamBlackBerry through the years," BlackBerry said in a blog post. As already mentioned, it's a limited time offer, which ends February 24 (11.59pm PST). In addition, the company is also offering deals on its Passport smartphone - head to the Source link below to learn...
Facebook brings live video streaming to every iPhone user
In August of 2015 Facebook unveiled its answer to Periscope and other similar apps focused on live video streaming. But up until now the social network's live video feature has been exclusive to verified celebrities. That's changing, though. From today the ability to stream live video is being rolled out to every iPhone user in the US, with an international expansion coming in the following weeks. This should also make its way to Facebook's Android app soon. You'll know you have the new feature because a new icon will show up for you in the Update Status box. And that Live Video icon is the one you need to tap to get things going. You can add a short description too, and choose who to share with before you go live. While you're broadcasting you get to see the number of live viewers, the names of friends who are watching, as well as a real-time stream of comments. When you end your live session, the recording will be available in your Timeline like any other video you've manually uploaded. Of course you'll be able to delete it if you so wish. As a viewer, you'll see such live videos in your News Feed, and while you're watching one you can hit Subscribe to get notified the next time that person does a...
LG Pay's White Card leaks out, will be required to use the service
We've known since October that LG is working on a payments service of its own, which should launch this year. However, unlike the payment solutions from Apple, Google, or Samsung, LG's entry into this field will not work through smartphones. In an odd twist, LG Pay will require a special "White Card" in order to be used. This card can be seen in the leaked shot below. Size-wise, it's very similar to a normal credit card, and it isn't much thicker either. It is different, though, as you can see. The White Card will essentially hold information from multiple actual credit cards on it - so in this regard it's not that dissimilar from Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay. Marked with 1 above is a small built-in display that will show you the card you're currently using. The arrow buttons marked 2 will let you quickly switch between cards, while the pins seen at No.3 in the image will be used for charging the card. That is needed because this is after all an electronic device. LG apparently thinks older people will be more likely to use its solution rather than go with one of its competitors' smartphone-based options, especially since one can use its White Card at ATMs as well as in stores. The payment service is set to be officially unveiled at MWC next month, and for now it looks like it's only going to launch in the company's native South Korea, at least initially. LG has already pre-ordered 50,000 of these cards, and it's in active discussions with one provider for mass production of even more. Quite a few financial institutions and retailers from Korea will be involved with LG Pay, it's been revealed. And according to an unnamed representative for one of these partners, by next month most card companies in the country will have joined LG's effort. Source |...
HTC One M10 (Perfume) has its specs outed
A couple of days ago famed leakster @evleaks brought us news that the upcoming HTC One M10 flagship (codenamed Perfume) would sport looks that are similar to those of the already launched One A9. And today he's at it again, but this time with a pretty complete list of the phone's most important specs. Let's dive in then. The One M10 is said to have a 5.1-inch QHD AMOLED touchscreen. It shall be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset as you'd expect, which will be aided by 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage (of which around 23GB will be user-accessible). A microSD card slot will be available too. The handset's rear camera is apparently a 12 MP UltraPixel unit, coming with laser autofocus and optical image stabilization. Interestingly, the front camera is going to have OIS too. Unlike past offerings in the One line, the M10 will not have front-facing stereo speakers. However, a fingerprint scanner will be embedded in the Home button placed below the display. The One M10 will run Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with HTC Sense 8 on top. As previously rumored, it won't be revealed in February at MWC. Instead, HTC will schedule a dedicated event just for it at a later...
iPad Pro can update the firmware of accessories through Smart Connector in latest iOS 9.3 beta
Apple sent out the second public beta of iOS 9.3 to interested testers yesterday, and already a new feature has surfaced in this release. It turns out that the iPad Pro can now update the firmware of your accessories, using the Smart Connector. Two different sources have confirmed that this already works for the Logitech Create iPad Keyboard, when attached to the iPad Pro through the tablet's Smart Connector. The update has thankfully fixed issues having to do with keyboard lag as well as missed keystrokes. The message you can see in the image above shows up, and then if you hit Update, a few minutes later the process will be complete. While it's happening, you'll see an indication of what percentage has been already achieved. Hopefully the incredibly generic update prompt captured by the screenshot above will be changed to something more specific (which will include the name of the accessory in question) before iOS 9.3 is finalized. One important thing to note is that while your accessory is being updated in this manner, you won't be able to use it at all. Source 1 • Source...
Oppo has big plans for MWC, teaser reveals
With Mobile World Congress now being less than one month away, the companies that are going to participate are starting their respective teaser campaigns for their events in Barcelona. Case in point - Oppo. The Chinese smartphone maker has not only talked about a new F1 Plus model at the launch of the F1 in India, but it's also released its first teaser for MWC. You can see that image to the left, but even more important is the PR text that accompanied it. Oppo says we should expect it to unveil a couple of big things at MWC. First off, a "groundbreaking power solution" is mentioned, obviously without any additional details that could help us discern what this might be - it is, after all, just a teaser. What's also coming in February from Oppo is "an unprecedented smartphone camera innovation". Here too the wording is vague enough that it could mean anything - software, hardware, or even a mix of the two. Clearly though the company thinks you should get excited about these innovations it plans to bring forth. Together, these are said to "offer tomorrow's consumers a reinvigorated user experience". Perhaps Oppo will elaborate on these things somewhat in subsequent teasers in the coming...
Apple issues voluntary recall of device chargers shipped from 2003 to 2015
Following in the footsteps of Microsoft, today Apple has issued its very own voluntary recall of AC wall adapters. However, in this case there seem to be a lot more units involved, because we're talking about chargers having been packed with certain Macs, iOS devices, and also as part of the company's World Travel Adapter Kit. Apple says device chargers that it's shipped with its products from 2003 to 2015 "may break and create a risk of electrical shock if touched", but only "in very rare cases". There's some good news here, in that not all types of chargers are affected. The issue can manifest itself in those units designed for use in Continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Argentina, and Brazil. Not affected are the chargers shipped with Apple products sold in the US, UK, China, and Japan. The image above neatly sums up which exact models can suffer from this. And if you have such a charger, with two prong wall plug (one of the variations depicted above), then you can easily spot if yours needs replacing or not by whether it has 4 or 5 characters or no characters on the inside slot where it attaches to an Apple power adapter. The redesigned (and safe) models all have a three-letter regional code in there (EUR, KOR, AUS, ARG, or BRA depending on location). If you have one of the bad chargers, Apple will replace it with a good one for free. The procedure you need to follow for this to happen is outlined at the Source link below. You will need the serial number of your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod in order to participate. When you have that ready, you can choose to perform the exchange at your local Apple store or online. Source |...
Case listings confirm the existence of a new 4-inch iPhone
It has been just a little bit over four month since Apple unveiled the iPhone 6s line, but it seems its bubble has already burst, with fans already getting excited and anxious about Cupertino's 2016 releases. September is still some time away, but rumors about the iPhone 7 have been spreading like wildfire for some time now and understandably so - it is a major update this time around, not an "S" model. There is, however, yet another rumor that has been a frequent presence in our news section, namely the possibility for a resurrection of the 4-inch form factor. The alleged device has really been shrouded in mystery, even by Apple standards, with initial rumors suggesting internals, based on the iPhone 5s platform and more recent ones talking of a more powerful iPhone 6 or 6s specs hardware. The iPhone 5se moniker has also been cited on several occasions, but today finally brings some tangible evidence of the existence of a new 4-inch iPhone. It comes in the form of a couple of case listings on MobileFun.co.uk for what is referred to as the iPhone 6C. The accessories are already available for pre-order. It might not be a lot to go by, but the name does strike up instant association with the 2013 iPhone 5c, which was indeed, one of Apple's last phones with a 4-inch display. Of course, even if we assume that the listings prove the existence on a new compact iPhone, there is still a sea of mysteries to solve, like weather or not Cupertino will go for a similar plastic design and what hardware the unit will be based on. Hopefully more info will become available in the following...
OnePlus X will no longer require invites to purchase
OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei announced on the company's official forum today that the OnePlus X will be available for purchase without invites from now on. Previously, potential customers only had "invite-free Tuesday" to get the phone. Currently, the OnePlus One, OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X are sold wihtout invites. For the OnePlus One the company needed one year to do so, while the OnePlus 2 took about four months from its launch. The OnePlux S is the quickest of the three to go invite-free in just three months. Here's what Carl Pei had to say about the milestone. We're extremely excited to be making the OnePlus X invite-free more quickly this time around. With every device we release, we grow more mature and more adept at handling the demands and expectations of our community. We largely owe our success to your unrelenting support, so we hope that this development will make the process of purchasing your very own OnePlus X as smooth and effortless as it can possibly be. As a reminder, the phone has a 1080p touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera with LED flash, an 8 MP selfie shooter, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 chipset running things aided by 3GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, and a 2,525 mAh battery. The software version employed is Android 5.1.1...
BlackBerry Priv launched in India at a steep $923
BlackBerry finally launched the Priv in the Indian market. However, if you have been looking forward to buying this phone then you will have to come to terms with the rather steep pricing. The phone is priced at INR 62,990, which is around $923. In comparison, the phone is priced at $699 in the US, which was already considered expensive by many. BlackBerry's reasoning is that the phone comes packed with high-end specifications and that there is a market for high-end devices such as the Priv and consumers who are willing to pay a premium for premium devices. Unfortunately, even with BlackBerry's relative popularity in India, the high-end market is pretty much dominated by the iPhones, with most consumers choosing to go with Apple if they are spending over a certain amount, and Android largely being the second preference for those with less deep pockets. It remains to be seen how the combination of high price, high-end specs, Android, and BlackBerry brand work in favor of the...